artist

Two Things

by Chavah Kinloch on April 25, 2011

Moi and this guy here ^^ got married on this day eight years ago. When you find someone as crazy as you, hold onto them, then you too can take photo’s like teenagers that feature stupid faces, too much cleavage (not done on purpose at all, that’s what happens when I wear TRY to cover up) and  an overflowing toy box in the background. Happy anniversary Andrew! We should probably splash out on some proper family photos sometime soon.

I could write a whole bunch of sappy stuff right here but I’m pretty sick today (read tired) and I’ve stumbled across a few images that sum up our relationship quite nicely so I really don’t have to say much at all, I’ll let them do the explaining.

Andrew, thank you for choosing me and working with me to create the life we now have.

Also thanks Pinterest for having somthing for every occasion.

Now onto my number two announcement. I have completed my chicken sculpture! As I mentioned here

Up next I am part of a fundraiser for the SPCA in an event called The Funky Chicken. You’ll find my creation at Jay Jays on Esk St, Invercargill from the 25th-29th of April (Easter week). After that it’ll be available to purchase via silent auction at H &J Smiths, Invercargill store. On the 22nd of May the sculpture/chicken will be able to be collected/delivered to the highest bidder.

That post also features a work in progress photo of my chicken. Here’s what it looks like now:

Hooray it’s done! You can see more photo’s of ‘That Damn Chicken’ on my artist Facebook page.

{ 3 comments }

The Next 21 Days – Day 18

by Chavah Kinloch on March 30, 2011

Andrea’s Story

Let me introduce you to Andrea Spinks, talented artist and fellow health and wellness crusader. Andrea’s story is very different to mine, yet there are also quite a few similarities. I think it’s a great way to show that every body is different and what effects one won’t necessarily bother another. Her’s is a great example in why it’s so good to learn about your own body and just what it needs. Read on to hear what has helped Andrea succeed and find her way to a happier, healthier lifestyle.

My journey to me.

I arrived in Auckland from Christchurch, lost and alone, with big hopes for a new direction in my life. The first night, my flatmates welcomed me with a party, where I met my new best friend. The blonde beauty and I clicked instantly, as she devoured the salsa I had made, excited that it fit into her SureSlim eating plan. Inspired, I decided to add good health to my list of goals. Though I didn’t take SureSlim on board, 3 years since that day I find myself 17kg lighter, allergies diagnosed, immunity increased tenfold, and energy through the roof.

As a vegetarian, it was easy to walk away from unhealthy takeaways and follow a fairly healthy diet, but on a fateful day in October ’08 I met my inspirational boyfriend who introduced me to veganism. Now, I’m not here to preach about my morals, however taking dairy out of my diet was like walking out from a dark shadow. As it turns out, I was allergic, along with gluten – and as you may know, an inability to digest these properly leads to lethargy and weight gain.

Diagnosing my allergies gave me energy to embrace my new life, though my efforts hit a brick wall, when I fractured my foot. A year taken out from exercise brought a stop to my journey and the onset of depression after 6 months in a cast. With many misdiagnosis and surgeons that couldn’t string a sentence together – I found the ‘foot doc’ for The Warriors, who finally helped me recover, victory!

My body had found a comfort zone, and the last 6kg just would not move. I felt defeated, until I picked up the controversial book “The 4 hour body”. In a nutshell it’s a fairly basic healthy eating plan that would scare many an omnivore. However the concept wasn’t a world away from my current vegan diet: I added a higher protein breakfast, cancelled most Carbs, switched to red wine, and one glorious day a week is cheat day. After a further 3kg loss, I write with a mere 3kg until my ultimate lifelong goal, that goal never imagined possible. The plan has become habit, and a lifestyle change.

As the end of my journey nears, I sum up my current state as hopeful. The kind of excitable hope a child has at the beginning of primary school, or a teenager who has just received their licence. I’m opened to a new world with fewer inhibitions, enough energy to tackle what life throws my way, and unafraid of whom I am.

I am Andrea, 5’4, 55kgs, new business owner, artist, best friend, soul mate, and success story.

{ 1 comment }

Which Came First?

by Chavah Kinloch on February 7, 2011

The chicken or the egg?

In this case it’s the chicken. Here’s the very beginning of a chicken leg:

It’s quiet around here today because I’m creating. Thinking of you though :D I’m busy making my very first recycleart project and it. is. FUN.

Totally inspired by Robert Bradford’s ‘Plastic’ sculptures. I’ve got 2 wardrobes full of old toys to get through so what better way to get rid of them!

{ 2 comments }

Six Things I’m Loving Today

by Chavah Kinloch on January 19, 2011

Great clients – This is a photo sent to me from my latest client. It’s humbling to see my work being displayed and appreciated. It’s moments like this that make all the fear you experience when putting yourself out there, worth it.

Buy a painting: Starting from $50

Mayday by Shepard Fairey – A book published by well known street artist, Obey. The book talks about people such as Jean Michel Basquiat who he describes as revolutionary.

To quote Shepard:

They started out on the margins of culture and ended up changing the mainstream. When we celebrate big steps that were made in the past, it reminds us that big steps can be made in the future.’

Definitely one to add to the list of must haves, for me!

Buy it: US$29.95

Jun Arita Tees – A new line of t-shirts for men and women is out, created by artist Jun Arita. There are quite a few really great designs that it makes it hard to pick just one! So I didn’t hehe. My favourites are in the photo above: New York (in green) and New Zealand (in black).

Buy it: $35.00-$39.99

New Years Resolutions Printable – Created by Maddie over at lilmagoolie. Guess what, they’re free to download, so go get yours.

Download it

Hip Hop Documentaries – My husband and I are doco freaks. We love them, doesn’t matter the topic, we’ll watch it. However, lately we’ve been on a hip hop documentary overload, which suits us just fine. I love hip hop and my husband, well, he looooves hip hop. Hip hop plays a pretty big part in our lives, I’d forgotten just how much until we began watching these docos. It’s been so fun to watch and feel the excitement pump through our veins again. It’s sparked a lot of fun memories and made me realise just how ingrained the culture is in our lives.

One of my favourite quotes, from the documentary Rhyme and Reason:

Rap is something you do. Hiphop is something you live.

Crown Decor – In fact, anything with a crown on it. Some people like birds, others like cars, I like crowns. Our relationship goes waaaaay back and I still can’t get enough!

{ 2 comments }

Six Things I’m Loving Today

by Chavah Kinloch on December 15, 2010

My Sussie Skin Care Package: This arrived for me on the weekend and I am in love. My favourite product is the eye cream  Toucha’ Love. I started using it on Monday because I am having a fierce reaction to something in Invercargill. It’s like hay fever symptoms quadrupled. I found myself on Sunday having to sit with a bag of frozen veges on my massively inflamed and puffy eyes. I was the freak show in my home for my husband and our friend. I got mocked all night. It felt like my face was on fire! So yeah…I’m not looking so good this summer… Sunday morning I woke up and put on some Toucha’ Love and oh.my.gosh. My eyes felt so relieved! They were cooled, less puffy and I’m now feeling the most normal I’ve felt in weeks. Thank you Sussie Skin!!!

Strawberry Picking: I’m always on the lookout for things I can do with the kids on the weekend to kill my ever-growing boredom, so when I saw in the local paper that there was a pick your own strawberry farm in the next town over, I decided this was what my family would be going to do on the weekend. I figured it would be a good chance for the kids to learn where strawberries come from. Obviously they know they grow on plants but you know, I wanted to expose them to how they get from one place to another. So off we went on a little road trip to the farm. I had no idea where it was actually located… just figured we’d find it… and we did! So there.

We got there, were greeted by the sweetest dog I’ve ever met and got to picking our strawberries. It was a lot of fun! The big kids searched out the biggest and reddest strawberries they could find and we walked up and down just a few rows. The kids took the containers full of strawberries to the counter and I headed to the car to grab my purse. Guess who forgot their purse at their house 35 minutes away… The lady was awesome though and we agreed to meet at the Farmers Market the next day which is in my town so no long drive or long walk for her back to her house to get her bank account details. It was nice to feel trusted enough to drive away with goods we hadn’t paid for. You don’t see that much nowadays.

Melissa Muirhead NZ Artist

Melissa Muirhead’s Painting: More original art by a fellow kiwi. This painting is called The Impermanence of Form and is done by very talented artist Melissa Muirhead. This might just be my favourite of all the pieces I own. I never picked myself for a still life girl but I sit every day and stare at this painting and think about how much I love it. Thank you Melissa!

Family Time: I had the crappiest week I’ve had in about 7 years, last week. It was all made better on the weekend when this was the scene in our home. This is basically what it looks like in our house every weekend. Everyone huddles in our tiny kitchen, we all fall over each other, make a tonne of mess but have loads of fun and the food that gets made is frickin’ insane. How could you not cheer up being surrounded by all those smiles?

My Mum: Sometimes it takes another woman to understand just what you’re going through. These arrived for me yesterday, completely out of the blue. I couldn’t figure out who they were from because my husband has only ever given me flowers twice in our almost 10 years together, I knew it wouldn’t be him but I kind of wanted it be lol. Although totally happy with who they were actually from. The card was hidden behind the wrapping and I eventually found it, they were from my Mum. My Mum is amazing with floral art. She’s done weddings, birthdays and funerals galore for free and I’m always telling her she can make something out of it for herself. She didn’t make this particular bunch but flowers are my Mum’s signature gift and I’m thankful for them. Otherwise I’d never get any! She must have sensed I was having a rough time after this post and sent me these to brighten my week. Consider my week well and truly brightened!

The Christmas Spirit: I was able to participate in a Christmas ornament swap this year and the photo above is the wreath I made for my swap partner. This year I’d been struggling to get into the Christmas spirit but when I forced myself to get creative and take part in this project there was no stopping me creatively. I made it weeks ago now but I couldn’t post an image because I didn’t want to ruin my partners surprise. Giving something I’ve made to someone else to enjoy makes me really happy and brings a lot of positive energy into my life. I’m really looking forward to Christmas now.

{ 2 comments }

Exhibitions, Articles, Auctions and Opportunities

It’s been quiet around here this week. My husband has been on holiday and my in-laws were in town so I’ve been off having family time. I had planned on having posts all ready for the blog so no one got lonely but alas, my capabilities didn’t quite stretch as far as my mind this [...]

“Interviews With Escapists”

Doesn’t this title just grab you? It sounds intriguing doesn’t it? To me it does anyway. This is the title of upcoming solo exhibition by Karley Feaver. Remember Karley? I mentioned her last week in this post, she was kind enough to send me gorgeous fabric to use in my projects. Through a series of [...]

← Previous Entries