desert sun

well we've just come back from alice springs. fresh and happy, seeing our world anew. full of ideas and plans. 

we stayed at a caravan park just outside of town...i tracked down a second hand bike for earl so he could ride to his kids gigs. i also found a pram for jasper so we could walk around this desert town. it was covered in red dirt so i scrubbed it down and let it dry in the desert sun. it dried a beautiful matt faded dust colour and i became quite fond of this pram. we almost ran over a hilarious running lizard with it. you know the one's that run standing up on their back legs?

i also wanted to show you a most special place that i fell in love with. 

it's an aboriginal run art centre called tjampi desert weavers. all of the objects in this gallery are made by aboriginal women living on communities (out bush) and made from dried grasses collected from their country. while they're out collecting grass for sculptures they might also visit their sacred sites, find some food and perform ceremonies. they pack the car up full of kids and women and off they go! it really is an art practice that strengthens culture. walking into the alice springs gallery i could really feel all of this. i just walked around beaming. looking at grass sculptures depicting animals, people and beautifully shaped baskets, there is just such a vibrancy in each piece. i just wanted to collect it all! i came home with a tea spoon sculptured out of dried grass.

after seeing this place i'm so inspired to make something lovely and tactile...lucky that i'm working on a special wedding commission for some talented friends who make hot chocolate. so excited about this project, because i just love it when cool folk declare their love for each other! will be sure to share when i'm finished.


ooh and i forgot to mention that i have a new stockist...nook in queensland. possibly the most lovely name for a shop. might have to go and visit them some day!


i also found a very cute shop in alice springs called novita to stock when i close my eyes... although travelling lightly i only brought two books with me. and they have already sold out! so i will post some more books up to that red town soon.


busy busy days x


rachel xx

drawn to words

well i sit here with a rather big belly and big happy plans...our little family is going to alice. i’m so excited. i am really itching for adventure. 

i feel like my old self again. that twenty year old self, that just knows everything will fall into place if you just follow your gut. physically, it will be hard not to! my aunty claims that we skrobalak’s have gypsy blood. she may be right. i feel happiest when i’m moving.

i have been drawn to writing lately. i love that it is so instant. and can be so confessional. huge inspiration came from  the new harvest. i’m done with glossy mags...i think. 

and lucky me, maeve has decided to share my words and pictures in her next issue. 

i have some words to welcome new babies too...destined for a cute greeting card.

so at the moment my world is all words.

much love...

rachel xx

a nice space to be

maybe it's because it's winter or maybe it's because i'm pregnant but i seem to be focusing on what i want from life with a kind of razor sharpness. and much of what i want is in this very home, my son, my husband and the little kicking being in my belly.

i want my house to be a nice space to be in. a place for creativity, food, and people. it's getting there, or maybe it's already there. but i just enjoy being a little home maker! 

we recently did up jasper's room...stripped the wall paper, painted the walls white and pulled up the manky carpet to reveal beautiful floor boards. being a north facing room, we thought it would be a great setting for earl's photo shoot performing for kids. we were very lucky to get tea and jam photography on board and some kids from our hood. all of this happened yesterday and it was so much fun! thank you to every one who came along...i'll be sure to show the photos here just as soon as we get them from the talented tea and jam folk.

i've decided to focus more on writing and illustrating picture books and would really love to find a publisher for 'when i close my eyes...' i find the process of writing and illustrating so completely satisfying! and it's something i can do from home, or while travelling (if we end up going to alice springs for earl's music workshops!!!)

much hearts

rachel xx