November 5, 2012

the castle.



there are a few contributing factors as to why it's taken me a week to write about my day at 'the school'. number one would be a hectic work week that after the most magical megan morton filled monday EVER, was a little too much for me to handle. number two, would be my growing obsession with the walking dead. thanks to singapore airlines, whilst london bound in june i got fed a few enticing episodes, i haven't looked back since. the third, pure excitement. i was overwhelmed with inspiration to say the least, so it has taken me this long to process just exactly how lucky i was to be a part of this class. rachel castle has been on my radar for some time now. thanks to the wonderful world of blogs, i have encountered her work a few times and been completely won over from the get go. for how i came to discover the one and only megan morton, well her work is no stranger to my inspiration journal or image downloads folder, but her creative baby, the school, has just recently had me at hello. when i saw megan was hosting a rachel castle screen printing class in sydney, my heart sank, shortly after it had exploded. i was fresh outta cash post europe adventure but i wanted nothing more than to be involved with this incredible creative duo. megan's classes are hardly bank breakers but i had to be sensible, although the thought of paying for airfares and enrolling over eating dinner that week, played on my thoughts for at least an hour. i sadly closed my computer and walked away. it wasn't until the following week or so that i was talking to one of my favourite girlies about the school when i discovered megan was bringing her baby to queensland. that's right ladies and gents, my city! i was all up in that shopping cart like nobody's business. i hadn't been paid longer than 5 minutes before a fortnight's worth of rent and then some was securing me a place at the school. not only a place at the school but an opportunity to be a part of a small screenprinting class led by rachel castle. i was beside myself. i told everyone that would listen and began counting down the days. it wasn't long before my new dress, shoes and necklace (all bought for the occasion) were walking themselves into anna spiro's shop at 10am on a monday morning. i won't dwell on the part where i ran for the train, missed it, had to catch a cab 5 blocks and ran up the pineapple lined stairs with a few minutes to spare. i was there, the room was beyond beautiful and megan morton was preparing herself for her welcome speech. i grabbed a chair at the end of the table, not before snapping several pics and excitingly pulling my inspiration journal from my bag. rachel castle entered shortly after and gasps were heard all around. it was like the queen had arrived and again, i was beside myself as she made her way to my end of the peony laden table. it wasn't long before she was inking her screen and creating work before our very eyes. we all sat completely besotted as she talked us through the process. within minutes we were sketching up our designs, consulting each other's opinions and chatting like old friends. i couldn't have picked a more gorgeous group of women if i had tried. these strangers were now creative companions and i was in my element. in between mixing colours, snacking on love heart shaped friands and instagramming to my heart's content, i felt for the first time in forever as though i had found my calling. tubes of fluro paint, pretty pastel tones and beautiful mottled watercolour paper had my senses running on overdrive. i was soaking up every bit of creativity in that room and boy was there a shit load. as i queued, watching intently as rachel guided each of us through the steps, i instagrammed my heart out, noticing with complete delight that megan was liking each photo as it uploaded, from the very next room. it wasn't long before i was asking 'rach' if i was doing it right and yes, you heard me, i was nicknaming the castle after only a few hours of being in her presence. i couldn't help but laugh when megan followed up with 'don't worry, you'll be calling her mole by the end of the day'. i openly chanted about how amazing this whole experience was whilst pulling my squeegee at exactly 45 degrees and chatting to rachel like we were old friends. correction, i was wishing rachel castle was my friend. i have never touched a squeegee in my life and as i was inking up my screen and working with rachel to create works before my very eyes, i knew screenprinting and i were for life. i was picturing baked goods on tea towels, napkins and a whole range of cakes adorning the walls of my future bakery. i was baking cakes rachel castle style and i'd never felt happier. (ok, maybe i have but boy this is up there)  as i picked up momentum and confidence my cakes began to look like a sweet treat production line. it was time to complete these cakes with my small ode to rachel. with the help from the gorgeous kara (friend and helper of megan and the school) we mixed an absolute delight of a colour that rachel later termed a new tone for the upcoming range. (insert squeal here) the cherry on top aka the rachel castle dot was the icing on one of the most incredible creative days of my life. i cannot begin to thank megan enough for introducing me to the world of rachel castle, an opportunity that will continue to inspire each and every one of my creative endeavours. a big call, but one that i know this creative duo can upkeep. as i pack my suitcase for my new life in europe, you can bet your bottom bakery dollar that my screen and squeegee will take pride of place amongst carefully selected treasures. it's time to deliver europe a whole new selection of baked treats, kit and nancy style. 



the setup.


peonies as big as my head.


megan's one off castle/gorman number. 


jocelyn's provisions outdid themselves.


welcome to queensland!


anna's shop was all kinds of perfect.


inspiration MM style.


working her magic.


rachel putting love in the coconut.


deliciousness.


sketching.


baking, rachel castle style.


my colour palette.


fresh off the screen/out of the oven.


surrounded by beauty.


these ladies!!! <3 p="p">


did i mention we got to take home our very own RC??!!


the finished product.


best.day.ever.


7 comments:

trudyflorence said...

Love reading about your day. So happy for you my tart. xx

Zara said...

You came up with the prettiest design, you little creative one.
What an amazing experience. You've made me want to try screen printing.
x

Bungalowgirl said...

My goodness, I am swooning with excitement for you, what an incredible experience. I want to screen print now too- those colours you mixed are gorgeous. Any spare prints for sale?- can already imagine one of those framed in miss lion girl's room. What are you up to next? mel x
ps i am still interested in any wallpaper or sheets your plan to see before you travel.

Unknown said...

Oh my wow! So much goodness around here, I just don't know where to look first! How exciting and wonderful. Can't wait to catch up soon and hear all about it!
Sophie x

Unknown said...

You've been nominated for the very inspiring blogger award. Thank you for inspiring me with vintage finds, pastel loveliness and beautiful blogposts. Have a look over at:
Www.PoppyFoxathome.com

Evie said...

love the excitement in your words! looks and reads like a super fantastic day x

E R I N said...

aghhhh sooooo cool!! xxx