Ali J

IndieFixx Feature

I've just had an interview with the wonderful IndieFixx.  I'm in awe, they consider me their new best friend.  :)  Click here to check it out.

Creative Common Casestudy

Today has just been an amazing day for me.  I've completed a mountain of work, and received some exciting commissions which are definitely going to challenge my creativity.  I just wanted to share some of the features that I've had this week, which I'm truly grateful for.

The first, as you see pictured above, is for Creative Commons.  I was interviewed last year in regards to the feature, and I'm excited to see it up on the creative commons site.  I use a creative commons license on the internet where I inform people of when they are allowed to use my images, and for what purpose.  I use the creative commons license on my blog, flickr page and deviantart account.  I have no problem with anyone using my images on their website as long as the images are credited to me, unaltered and it is not for commercial purposes.  The reason I was featured on the creative commons website is that my business "Ali J Art & Illustration" is a casestudy / example of someone who uses the license.  I was very proud to be chosen, and I'm over the moon about the writeup.  :)  You can read the casestudy right here.

I also want to thank the wonderful Ida's Sketchbook who picked me to be her Monday Feature.  Thankyou!   

Interview in Xpress Magazine

If you are in Perth be sure to pick up a copy of Xpress Magazine this week as I've got a little feature and an interview.  The images look fantastic, and there is nothing better then being able to hold it in my hands.  It is a very surreal experience to read about myself - but very rewarding at the same time!  Thanks Em!

(P.S. you can visit the magazine on the web as well - http://www.xpressmag.com.au Enjoy!)

Features - Shop Til You Drop & STM Magazine

How exciting!  Leeloo is now available through the Shop Til You Drop E-boutique which means one of my products "Growing Wild Stud Earrings" has been featured on the Shop Til You Drop site!

Another media surprise for me that I had no knowledge of.  One of my works was featured in the STM Magazine in Perth on the 16-3-07 (Sunday Times Magazine).  I wasn't featured by name - but it was still pretty cool to see one of my ladies in the magazine.  Thankyou Miss Dot for letting me know!  The poor guys at the petrol station though I was crazy when I grabbed the newspaper in excitement and spread it all out on the floor until I could find the picture.  :)

Finally I want to send out a big thankyou to Anne from A Thing Of Beauty who has compiled a list of the top 100 artists/illustrators on Etsy and included me as part of it!  It is amazing just how much talent is on this list, and I'm quite happy that so many of my friends and colleagues are a part of it with me.  Be sure to check out the list and see how much talent you recognise or will discover!

Xpress - Fashion Edition Feature

I'm on cloud nine this week, I've had another press feature released!  :)  This one is for X-Press newspaper available in Western Australia.  This feature is in the special X-Press Fashion issue (a mini colour magazine) for Autumn/Winter 2008.  The article is in relation to my upcoming involvement as a stall holder with Unwrapped : The designer market at South Perth on March the 16th.

I know the article is a little harder to read so small, so click on it to open it in a new window.  On my computer only half the article displays in that pop up window because it is so big, so if it does the same for you save the file to your computer, open it up... and like magic you can see it all in full view!

Some Marie Claire Magazine Love!

Thanks to Madeit I've got one of my images in the Australian issue of Marie Claire Magazine April 2008!

I was very excited to see it grace the pages of one of my favourite fashion magazines.

DIY City Mag Launch

This is just going to be a quick post to cap off the end of the week.  I'm feeling rather exhausted at the moment and I'm going to take myself into the studio for a day or two to create, let my imagination run riot and recouperate.  I've increased my fitness training for my sport, and I've found out I have muscles that I didn't know even existed so both my mind and body need much needed rest.  In addition to that my phone and e-mail have been going non stop with enquiries for some rather interesting propositions, so I'm curious to see what will develop, but I have to pull myself away to continue finishing new projects for next weeks store update!

I'm happy to see that DIY City Mag was launched on February the 14th with the special "New York"  issue.  The longer I illustrate, the more I realise that DIY (do it yourself) is becoming the new trend across the world, especially as we become more environmentally conscious about our lifestyles.  I'm so excited to be a part of it all, and the longer I do it and hear more about it, the more addicted I become.  I love to create new things that a few years ago I would never have tried before.  The launch issue of DIY City Mag focuses on designers & crafters in New York that are making a creativep impact, as well as other artisans of the world.  I'm very happy to see that one of my works has been featured on page 216 alongside the wonderful Lindsay Brackeen!

We Are The Image Makers

I've got some work in Issue #14 of We Are The Image Makers - how exciting!  Thanks Scarlettcat for letting me know.  They've displayed two of my works in the gallery section in the magazine.  The issue contains girl themed images and interviews to co-incide with their upcoming all GRRRL s exhibition which opened on the 8th of February at the aMBUSH gallery in Sydney.  It is exhibitions like this that make me wish I didn't live so far away from them! 

Diaries and Lip Magazine

Well I've received some very interesting items in the mail!

First of all is a diary project that I participated in.  I illustrated the images just after I opened my Etsy shop, boy has my work progressed since then!  Six months later I finally received the diaries in the mail.  (Talk about slow postage!)

I also received Issue 14 of Lip Magazine.  I submitted an illustration months ago, but due to funding delays the issue has only just been printed now.  I was very pleased to open up the magazine and see one of my drawings!  It was certainly a challenge because it was the first time I had a brief to work from, but I really enjoyed it.

I'm also back from my holiday away!  I can't wait to get back into creating, crafting and blogging. I've got a new lease of life and I'm looking forward to a new year of wonderful journeys to share with you all!

Woman Entrepeneurs Feature

Well this week I'm still playing catchup with listing products, completing unfinished projects and many months of projects and e-mails.  This is what I would usually call the boring week - the administration week - but I'm actually feeling very productive.  I'm also forcing myself to stop drawing or painting this week to focus my attention away from it all.  I've got so many ideas, I can't wait to unleash the creativity!  I am really struggling to stay away from the pencils and paper!!

It is also nice to sit back and have a quiet reflection on life and plan new things for the future.  2008 is only around the corner, and I can't wait to see what the new year will bring!

My week has been rather eventful so far.  We have a big tree in the back garden that has fallen down and currently is just balancing on our fence.  It is kind of strange to see, and it will be even stranger to see it cut down tomorrow because I'm so used to seeing it.  It's an awful tree with flowers that have the kind of sap that burn all the other plants it touches and because of that we haven't used our clothesline in months.  It will be refreshing to peg clothes on the line again.

I'm very excited to see that I've been profiled on the website More Than We Know as a Woman Entrepreneur!  Liz, the editor of the site was an amazing woman to talk to and asked a broad range of questions which were very interesting to answer.  If you've ever wanted to know more about me, my business, my marketing and what I do, be sure to visit the article here - December 11th Woman Entrepreneur .  The article there is huge (my printer printed out 10 pages!) I had no idea I wrote so much!  There is also some fantastic information and inspiration from other women who have their own businesses so it is a great read.