white forest fungi

white forest fungi, originally uploaded by shannongarson.

Forest Fungi and Beastie Bowls from the Umbrella Collective show.

self protecting crafters

Fliss from Udder makes wonderful toys

I wanted to write this post which is both alarming and inspiring. my friend Fliss from Udder made me aware of a theft. The victim is Ann wood (a wonderful artist who I have written about before) and I don't know the perpetrators but through the benign and protective influence of this strange little corner of the blogging world their dreadful crime was outed and stopped!



These people stole Ann's design for one of her birds. They then had the temerity to get themselves high profile stockists and press throughout Australia. I find this simultaneously believable and absolutely shocking. Craft artists work so hard to make their art and make so little money and Ann Wood's birds are so

original and whimsical. For these people who are obviously clever crafters, to think it would be OK to rip off another's designs and profit from them is outrageous.

What I found inspiring about this whole sorry tale is that the crafting bloggers went into Nancy Drew mode and not only defended Ann but also tracked down the perps and contacted the owners of the stores that were trustingly selling these copies as original works. As a result of this cyber-community effort the copied birds were pulled from the shelves. Excellent work everyone. I'm proud to be part of such a community.



This is some more of Ann's amazing work.

exciting events

The studio is full of pots, packing and new projects. I'm getting ready for our annual Umbrella Collective show. The Umbrella Collective is a group of five Queensland artists who have joined together to exhibit and pool our joint resources.

We are:
Florence Forrest
flying star toys

Shannon Garson
porcelain

Kylie Johnson
paper boat press

Liana Kabel
plastic girl jewellery

Rebecca Ward
jewellery

Every year we hold an event in Milton where we launch new work and meet
our supporters. This year "Delightful Things" is on Saturday 17th November
from 9am - 2pm at St Francis Theological College
233 Milton Road Milton
(entrance via Baroona Rd.)
This is our website it is full of photos of our latest work and
information about each of the artists.


Blueberry Ash, tiny flowers like ragged fairy's skirts. If you miss the Umbrella Collective show, the weekend after on Sunday the 25th of November I am part of a craft fair at GOMA (the Brisbane gallery of Modern Art)


Rocket flowers, gone to seed...