Djeran edition #11
We’re well into Djeran, the Noongar season when the nights gets cooler, the mornings dewier, and the leaves start falling. I’m loving all the red blossoms that dominate at this time of year. And the bright, still days are perfect for crafting, gardening, swimming, progressing great ideas, taking occasional naps… pretty much anything! Hope you’re enjoying this ‘great to be alive’ season.
Circus WA Logo development
Logo application
Sometimes a brand needs a freshen up, without changing its logo or key design elements. Other times a brand has completely outgrown its shoes, and needs a whole new pair. That means a thorough redesign. It takes time and attention, but it results in a fresh new look that’s as satisfying as shopping for a great new pair of (actual) shoes – ones that fit perfectly, go with everything and last for years! I love this process. For me it means really digging deep to understand a client’s audience or customer base, and coming up with something timeless and beautiful that really suits them.
I’ve been working with the team at Circus WA and independent web team FinelySliced and Art+Freedom for the past year to develop a new ‘pair of shoes’ for Circus WA to stomp in. We’ve strategized from the ground up to build and launch the new brand, starting with a new logo. It features on a range of merchandise, including tote bags, tees and sweaters.
The recent Anzac Day commemorations inspired a fast-but-slow craft project at my place.
All the remembrance poppies motivated me to make one of my own. In the time it took for my husband to make a stovetop coffee, I’d cut out giant petal shapes from bits of paper and card, and had them ready to glue onto a ‘stamen’ to create an oversized flower.
In that sense it was fast – and I spent some time reflecting on how such simple acts of crafting (honestly, a 7 year old could do it) are so satisfying and yet so often overlooked in our busy adult lives.
But I also wanted to make it slow. I wanted to extend the spirit of reflection that comes with Anzac Day, and not have it evaporate on the 26th April. So I’ve decided to make a poppy a day for 30 days, and create a poppy wall in my studio that will grow over the next month or so – a neat lead-in to the new Noongar season.
I’ve had to adapt my initial plan for a poppy wall full of colour, because just as I started the project, Perth went into lockdown. Since going to the shops for coloured card is not essential, I’m making do with what I’ve got. Black and white tones – at least in the early stages – will reflect this reality. Let’s see how long it is before the colour returns!
I’m in love with this plant for a few reasons. It’s got stunning yellow flowers, the pods are delicious in curries, and it gives me a chance to say my new favourite word: mucilaginous. So much better than ‘slimey’, don’t you think?
Okra is super easy to grow from its nice fat seeds, but like most plants it has a big personality and certain demands. It loves warmth (much like tomatoes) and hates wet feet. Which is weird for a plant that’s sometimes known as the slimey superfood.
Related to the beautiful Hibiscus plant, both the blossom and pods of an okra plant are edible. The heart shaped leaves are edible too! It’s the pods that have the mucilaginous properties. If you’re not into that, adding something acidic like lemon juice or vinegar can help. Cooking them long and slow will also break down the sliminess. It is good for you, though, so embrace the mucilaginous,
I say!