December... what?
Newsletter 77
Hello gorgeous excuses for humans! Can you believe that it’s December already? I certainly can’t. I was mulling over why I might be thinking this way and realised that I’m so used to this being a frantic/mad time of year for me and my business. I’m used to doing lots of markets and being in the marketing mindset. I mean, what even is Black Friday?! This year, I’ve utterly and completely taken my foot off the accelerator and it’s wonderful! I’ve got some weekend days free for picnics with friends and I’m getting fully absorbed in my garden. Drawing and painting for fun is something I’ve also been doing. It feels really nice to step away from the consumeristic spin on Christmas and really appreciate the best things in life - community and nature.
Saying that, I do have a few markets coming up in Adelaide before Christmas if you’d like any nice sustainably and lovingly made gifts.
The Last of the Creatives (9am-2pm) 8th December 2024
Willunga Artisans and Handmade Market (9am-1pm) 14th December 2024
Handmade Christmas Market @ Fabrik (11am-9pm) 21st December 2024
Stirling Market (10am-4pm) 22nd December 2024
You can also find my goodies locally at the Hahndorf Academy, The Atelier in Crafers, Red Cacao and The Mylor Post Office. If you live further away, I’m still doing free shipping on my website until the end of the year and giving a free blank greeting card with every order over $20.
VLOG
What I’ve Been Up To
This month has been pretty fantastic! My family band ‘The Norbu Pellets’ performed our Album Launch and first ever gig. It was sooooo much fun! My favourite memory was belting out ‘Milo From The Bilo’ (a punk tune) with my sister and getting every single word right! Here are a couple of photos, you can see more over on our Facebook page. If you missed the gig, you can listen to our album here.
I started and finished a very lovely commission for a babies room of an underwater scene, and it was so relaxing to paint. If you’re interested in commissioning me for an artwork, feel free to get in touch. See some more of my creations in ‘Your Mid-Monthly Dose of Whimsy’.
Your Mid-Monthly Dose of Whimsy #3
Greetings beautiful people! I hope November is treating you well. I’ve been working on a very lovely commission for a babies room recently which I can now share. I hope it fills you with lots of summertime water adventure memories.
One pretty major thing I did this month was traveling to Newcastle to blockade the world’s largest coal port. It was quite the adventure, you can read about it here. You can also browse my Garden diary below.
Blockading the World's Largest Coal Port
I just got back from an incredible (and important) adventure. Last Wednesday evening, I boarded an overnight bus to Newcastle with a bunch of amazing people from Adelaide. Twenty hours later we arrived at the ‘Protestival’ - bleary eyed and determined to be on the right side of history.
November/December Garden Diary
See a time lapse video of me painting the ‘G’day From My Garden’ here.
Art Classes
I have one last workshop for the year on December 20 which is 'Christmas Cards' at Between the Vines. I taught this same class recently at Stangate House and it was fantastic! Why not book in and make some lovely handmade goodies for your loved ones this Christmas.
If you want to book ahead for 2025, I’m running a whimsical watercolours class (all about play and experimentation) on the 17th. Book here.
The free online art class this month was all about drawing kookaburras! Check it out.
How to Draw - Kookaburra
Oh the kookaburra, what would Australia’s soundscape be without them? Follow along with me as we draw the kookaburra step-by-step. All you need is pen and paper, enjoy!
Gifts For You
The gift in the real mail to my wonderful ‘Letterbox Legends’ (and one general subscriber) this month features my ‘G’day from my Garden’ letter, a blank ‘Wilfred the White-Lipped Tree Frog’ card and little Eucalyptus lady magnet. If you also want a monthly dose of whimsy in your letterbox, you can subscribe for as little as $5 per month.
I’ve created a special little colouring book for my beautiful paid subscribers with all of the animals in my 'Australian 12 Days of Christmas’ book which they can download in the email following this one. Free subscribers enjoy this complementary ‘Christmas Koala’ for some lovely Christmas colouring. You can also join me at the Steamroller Park gazebo for a book reading and free colouring-in this Saturday (10-11am), drop in if you’re around.
With love and a dose of whimsy,
Zinia