Paula Mills Art

My daughter is 7 today! We had a great day, 5 little girlfriends off to the movies this morning. Then back to our place for cake and tea. We kept it simple and it worked like a charm - no hyped up anything, it was smooth, gentle and relaxed. Some of the party decorations came from a gorgeous little Golden Book I found about a month ago. Its a story about a little girl called Molly who is having a party, but its billed as a Party Cut- Out book and it has invitations, place cards, decorations and games to cut out and use - I am so grateful that whoever had it before me did not cut anything out!. I though you might like a little place card download, if you click on the images (front and back) it should give you a decent print size.

Paula here - just back from a break at the coast, the weather was a bit rough but it was still refreshing. I read, walked on the beach, played silly games with my kids, did some baking, some doodling and general relaxing. No Tv or computers for 6 whole days! I feel rejuvenated and ready to go! My mind is bursting with creative ideas, now all I need is some time and space. I hope I have bought the openness of the beach back with me.

These little puzzles are courtesy of the Baptist thrift store in Waikanae, NZ. I must say I hesitated, just a little, you know that thought that runs through the head (do-I-really-need another-vintage-something-floating-around kind of thought), but, then I decided it was blog worthy, and surely if its blog worthy, its got to be had? And besides, who could resit a little boy in bright red shoes!

There is something comforting about sending and receiving greeting cards - maybe it's the fact that it is one of the few traditional ways of communication that has managed to stick around in the face of new technology. I love to collect old greeting cards and pour over their pretty pictures and hand scrawled messages, imagining the story behind each one. This love of greeting cards has led us at Sweet William to a make our own cards as well as have a few professionally printed in time for Christmas '09. (very excited!) We reveal those at a later date but in the meantime this lovely orchid one is available in our etsy shop.

New illo done for Illustration Friday - blogged here. I had a little break from my creative pursuits for a few days - I switched off the computer, went shopping , bought some new magazines, painted my toe nails, did some exercise, played with my kids, went into town on the tram, etc. and then picked up a pen again to do some doodling and I felt refreshed. As they all say, a change is as good as a holiday. Thankfully, I am also going on holiday, with my family to the beach for a week. YAY!

It can be fun to come up with new ways of using what's in ones stash. I have a stash of wallpaper, which today got the chance to become something new again. A little wallet, a poshed-up bulldog clip and an early start to christmas decorations. {someone else appreciated our little re-interpretations and included us in a great article. Read Dionne's piece here }

dearmary , originally uploaded by paulamills . These two were also found at the lovely trash and treasure market. Sometimes I feel a little guilty about buying things that really have no purpose and some people may see just as clutter, but these two lovelies were to good to pass by, so they come home with me and make me feel happy - there we go, I have found a purpose for them!

moretins , originally uploaded by paulamills . Recent finds at a wonderful trash and treasure market, here in Melbourne. I was so pleased to bring these lovely old ladies home with me, to sit with my friendly tin collection.

The theme over at illustration friday this week is 'strong' and I couldn't get passed my first cup of tea that helps me function every morning, getting three little girls dressed and out the door on time for school, kinder and the day. I seem to draw lots of tea cups, ohh well, we heart tea - what would the world be with out it?

I have been meaning to do this little illustration for a while now but I have been to busy trying to find those bargains in the op shops! It is a numbers poster to match up with the ABC poster that we sell in our etsy shop . I am quite pleased with this as it offers a slightly different colour way - we often get requests for more 'boy' colours, tricky for me, as I have three little girls.

We have noticed at Sweet William that Op shopping just aint what it used to be. With vintage becoming more mainstream, it's hard to find those lovely, undiscovered charity shops, run by volunteer grannies, who like to have a chat, over their cup of tea about a crochet covered hanger. The charity shops now have almost become an 'industry' in their own right - competing with the glitzy high street chains, full of young fashionistas looking for their next cool, retro, vintage 80's dress to wear on Friday night. Ahh well, it is still better for the planet at the end of the day. It may mean we will have to travel out of town, into the country to find those genuine granny charity shops - they are still out there. Therefore I was very pleased to find this lovely dear themed tin today, at my local charity shop - I did have to fight off a couple of others who were eyeing it out but in the end it was mine.. for 4 bucks! YAY long live charity shops, we love them. xx

It is a beautiful spring day here in Melbourne today, bring on Summer! A friend of mine bought me this blossom branch from her garden, which looks so lovely on my sideboard in an old enamel jug, I had to share it with you all.

Yes, you heard me right, I love the bill blues, but not the blues that come with paying bills. I'm talking about the blue prints you find on the inside of envelopes - ooh yes, when I open a bill, that's the first thing I look at (the bill itself can wait). I usually put the nice ones aside for my ever mounting paper pile collection. I turned by latest pile of envelopes into a garland. Now, that's a cheerful thing to do with a bill don't you think?