seedlings
This weekend I worked on some cards for the mid-winter gocco swap organised by Sarah. It was exciting to bring my gocco printer out of hiding and justify my bringing it across the world in my suitcase.
As has happened before, I made a few mistakes with these. I had been hoping to use two colours of ink, but I ruined that screen, and then decided to play it safe for the remaining one i had. The only type of card I could find in town was thick Italian watercolour paper, but actually I quite like the look of the fine brown ink on its texture. I really need to experiment more with this little machine. There's so much inspiration out there.
So these are little postcards with birch seedlings on the front. The other day when walking down our road, I saw a little circle of these, freshly planted in a garden. While birches are so much a part of the winter landscape here, they also remind me of home- there's a row of them at the bottom of the garden at my parent's place.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the other participants in the swap make. You can see some more here at the gocco-swap flickr group.
Thank you for all your comments on my last post. It was great to read your suggestions and thoughts, and I am hoping to respond to my overdue emails over the week. I've decided that I'll answer any questions within the comment section of each blog post. I hope you know how much I appreciate your feedback and love the comments you leave. But I have gotten so behind in my correspondence lately, that I think this will be a good move.
Some very good things that happened today: I found a shop here that sells thin elastic (this is more exciting than it sounds), the NZ comedy duo Flight of the Conchords won a Grammy award (go on, treat yourself to some clips on youtube), and it was warm enough to eat our lunch while sitting on the front step. For ten minutes or so.
that looks like fun... I'm tempted! x
Posted by: caireen | February 12, 2008 at 07:38 AM
lovely prints Melissa.
Keira looks so cute in her little sweater and orange dress....love the flower.
Lori
Posted by: lissilulu | February 12, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Your darling girl sipping from her teacup has to be one of my favorite photos ever!
Posted by: Sarah | February 12, 2008 at 09:08 AM
Just heard Jemaine and Brett on National Radio this morning! They were hilarious. Beautiful cards!
Posted by: laurelandash | February 12, 2008 at 09:23 AM
These are beautiful! Hadn't heard about the "boys" winning a Grammy - they are hilarious!!
Posted by: Amber | February 12, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I love those gocco cards! Have you ever considered selling some in your etsy shop?
That is a great shot of Keira.
Posted by: Louise | February 12, 2008 at 09:36 AM
beautiful - all of it! keira is so well-dressed, as always!
Posted by: kirsten | February 12, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Your gocco, as always, is beautiful. And how cute is Keira? Love her outfit, from the haircut to the boots.
It's interesting how much the NZ entertainment scene has become more global in the last decade. I think Jane Campion/Sam Neill may have been the forerunners. In any case, go the Conchords.
Posted by: Megan | February 12, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Love the photo of your little lady drining her tea :-) Flight of the Conchords was on the radio on the way to work this morning, laughed my head off, good start to the day.
Posted by: Pauline | February 12, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Flight of the Conchords have the best song about gaming EVER! lol
Love the birch prints...very pretty.
Posted by: muralimanohar | February 12, 2008 at 10:33 AM
wow I luv your gocco... well done. I am soooo curious about gocco.... is it easy??
luv Abby
ohhhh what a gorgeous pix of your babe on the step.... beautiful.
Posted by: Abby | February 12, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Does everyone in blogland do gocco?! I am so jealous and am totally loving all these prints I see! I love the birch postcards. Just gorgeous! Good job. You are one talented lady :)
Posted by: Bluebirdbaby | February 12, 2008 at 11:19 AM
That is the cutest photo of your little one!
Posted by: Marina | February 12, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Kiera looks so scrumptious. A clear winter's day can be so peaceful. The cards are beautiful! Birch remind me of my home too : my M and P have some very tall ones in their garden, they were planted when I was born.
I'm glad Melissa that you are finding your steady ground over there, job, daycare, school, and craft!!!
X Lies
Posted by: Lies | February 12, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Well done NZ- I love those boys - they are hilarious.
Cards look great - I want to get one of those gocco printers. I love to print but feel a bit limited with my old silk screen.
Posted by: Rachael | February 12, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Your gocco prints are beautiful and makes me have great hopes for spring. :)
Posted by: Emma | February 12, 2008 at 10:48 PM
The cards are wonderful. Lucky you finding thin elastic, I know how exciting that is, I'm still hunting...
Posted by: Ruth | February 13, 2008 at 01:39 AM
keira is the most beautiful girl in the room! or porch!
Posted by: mims | February 13, 2008 at 03:31 AM
Beautiful wintery goccos- I love birch trees!
Posted by: K | February 13, 2008 at 05:51 AM
Love that last photo... hopefully spring will be here soon! :)
Posted by: Chara Michele | February 13, 2008 at 08:10 AM
Flight of the Conchords are awesome and deserve every award going!
Posted by: Angie | February 13, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Love your gocco prints. Once again I hope I had a gocco print set as well, but as far as I know there are none available in Finland, just plain old silk screen stuff.
Posted by: Merruli | February 13, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Gosh your little girl is just gorgeous.
Please don't feel overwhelmed by all the comments - I know I don't expect a direct reply from someone in such hot demand ;)
Hope the job etc is going well..xo
Posted by: Nikki | February 13, 2008 at 09:59 AM
those prints are delightful! I have linked you on my blog with some photos of my Arlo wearing your shoes...hope thats okay?
Posted by: Vicky | February 13, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Love the gocco and the birch saplings, love the snipits on your discoveries in Norway, love K's sweater, the way she's sipping from her cup and the sunny sunshine in the lovely picture from this post. Oh yes, and gotta love those boys from Flight of the Conchords, funny fun - way to go boys. Hope you're keeping warm and the sun keeps on shinin. Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | February 13, 2008 at 11:55 AM