At long last!
Join me at my website for the Blog – sorry about all this clicking! You are NEARLY THERE…promise!
I was trying to keep two blogs – one here for the store and my own Blog, titled ‘Artomology’…but it got too much for me ( I need time to create art)…so do please pop on over to my live (very LIVE!) blog. Enjoy the posts below – there are great ladybird videos when you scroll down…..
xxx Jane Davenport
Chief Artomologist
Jane Davenport Workshop
What a Day! Lots of energy and fun! I set up lots of shots with beautiful, sculptural flower shapes and my students were able to experiment with different lighting techniques, lenses and approaches to each subject. We worked in the studio and created several still life compositions. We also had a ‘field excursion’ to photograph dragonflies in the wild and I found a delightful lime green preying mantis that performed like a true superstar!
Please join the Ladybird Letter to get news of the next workshop.
Photography Workshop
Saturday, January 16, 2010, 9am-4pm
Cost $350 inc GST per person.
This intensive workshop suits photography lovers of all skill levels!
Jane Davenport is an internationally renowned photographic artist based in Byron Bay. Her large-scale outdoor art installations have toured across the world, been enjoyed by millions and featured extensively in the media. Jane’s is Australia’s most successfully licensed photographic artist with card, stationery books and poster ranges available globally.
Jane has taught many photo workshops, but this will be the first in her spacious Byron Bay studio. This is a very rare chance to work alongside her. You will leave full of inspiration, new skills and the courage to fully embrace your image making potential!
Jane will focus on the close-up and macro world of photography as there are many elements that relate only to this fascinating genre of image-making. Of course, many of the skills you will learn can be applied to any type of subject from landscapes to portraits. You will work with creating arresting still-life compositions and move on to the very challenging and rewarding realm of live subjects. You will work inside the studio and outdoors.
You will be creating images throughout the day and Jane will conduct a review of your work.
http://instituteofcute.com.au/products-page/cute-creatures/all-ladybirds/jane-davenport-photography-workshop/
The Bubble Bug is soooooo perfect for summer celebrations! The ladybird shaped and coloured bubble machine is light, battery operated and has a handle, so you can easily take it to parties and picnics to add a little excitement!
You can fill it up with homemade bubble liquid or try our fab bubblegum, chocolate or Stawberries & Cream scented super-bubble Juice!
We have live butterfly kits in the Byron Bay store, and our butterfly popped out of her chrysalis yesterday! (We also have Twiggy the spiny stick insect and ladybirds!)
I immediately went in to portrait mode and created these images. I think they will make a lovely print series – what do you think? Orchids and butterflies are so romantic. I love the in-flight shot. I have more images of in-flight butterflies and the challenges of capturing these elusive creatures on my photography blog.
A brand new butterfly
I have knocked myself out adding a lush Cute-alogue of artwork to the store. For my precious Collectors, keep your eyes peeled for the brand new prints (some appear below…) – totally exclusive to the online store (well, until I get them in the real-life Institute of Cute in Byron Bay next week in our new Gallery area!).
The prints are all Limited Edition, signed, embossed and come in our exclusive poster holder (which is very swish indeed!).
You can read more about each print and see the images by {clicking here}
The Institute gets its first live-in resident – a GORGEOUS spiny stick insect! It started out as “Mr Stick”, but when we discovered it was a ’she’, a name change was in order!
In the Byron Bay store we have “Creature Kits’ and you can order the live stick insects, ladybirds,butterflies and antlions.
We also have the ladybird larvae on display and they have started ‘turning’ (pupating) into the adult ladybirds. Our butterfly is in her chrysalis changing room, and will pop out any day now. It is action stations!
I am working on adding the Creature Cottages to the website…so stay tuned!
- Twiggy is so beautiful!
Ladybirds Garden Shell pendant
Finally the parcel of my newest creations has arrived! I have found ladybird stud-style earrings on my travels for the store, but they are really more for children. But I really wanted (needed!) some super-stylish drop ladybird earrings. So after a bevy of prototypes, I found the process of printing on to shell! The shell used is salvaged from freshwater pearls that are sustainably harvested.
The iridescent gloss of the natural shell shines through the ladybirds. The metal fixtures are silver plated. Of course I had to develop a necklace as well. I suppose you are not meant to be too matchi-poo with accessories and wear the whole set at once, but I love them so much I would wear a matching ladybird dress and shoes as well quite frankly….maybe that’s what I will do next!
If you want to see them (and did I mention I have a butterfly design too?!) go the the jewellery link on the left! I have to photograph them in action on someone and add that to the images. Until then, you will just have to picture yourself sashaying around in ladybird bliss!
Yay! This site is fully operational…I hope! I feel like I have had to really do some fancy footwork to get everything ready for the public unveiling. But as all the hair-pulling moments fade into the background, I can look at the site and think -WOO!! Did it! Crack a bottle of bubbly!
Please let me know if you have ANY problems with the site, spot any flaws, mistakes, broken links – etc! I am all ears (and thumbs after all this time chained to the keyboard!)
The Institute of Cute has just had its first Advt – and we decided to feature our youngest team member! Tinsel is grinning away. She has quite a fanbase with cutesters coming back to play with her time and again (who can resist that ADORABLE face!!).
I am thinking of creating a Tshirt featuring her – what do you think? (I would wear it!).
Tinsel stars as new spokespuppy!
Some memorabilia from the 70’s! I love this classic Sesame Street tune.
I used to have this as my ringtone -- I will have to get it back on my phone again, it’s sooooo cute!
This movie is extremely slo-mo…it will look as if the ladybird has stopped moving, but be patient… I think the ladybird is doing a countdown before taking off -- 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…blast off!
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