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Maria Blackman Creates

@mariablackman.bsky.social
224 followers 405 following 283 posts

She/her Artist 🖌️ Writer ✍️ Reader 📖 On Noongar Whadjuk Boodjar (Perth, Western Australia)

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Day 9 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - home. Oh, to be a cosy witch dozing by the fire in her tidy cottage ✍️ #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #papercuttingart #home #cozywitch
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
8 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - crisp. The original drawing for this envelope was an ink drawing of a severe looking Victorian gentleman. I kept the offcuts after I made the envelope and turned him into a fun seeking Victorian gentleman who can jump in the newly fallen crisp autumn leaves!
A photo of a handmade envelope with a SCBWI ARTOBER "postage stamp" that has a drawing of autumn leaves and a label that says "To the gentleman who looks severe".The reverse of the envelope Inside the envelope - the man's shoes stepping in autumn leaves A photo of the offcuts from the original drawing. The section where the feet have been cut out is visible
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
SCBWI Artober day 5 (camp), day 6 (quiver) and day 7 (feline). Video of quiver below! scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #papercuttingart #inkandwatercolour #kidlit
A photo of a small pencil illustration of an adult and child looking at a starry skyFront of a handmade envelope. It has a label with the text "Will you walk into my parlour?" and a postage stamp with a drawing of a flyA silhouette of a black cat with blood dripping from an outstretched paw
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Day 4 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - human ✍️ #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #papercuttingart #skeleton
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Day 3 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - crush. Even a witch's cat says "If I fitteth, shall I sitteth". #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #inkandwatercolourillustration #kidlit
A photo of a small watercolour illustration of a calico cat sleeping in an upside down witch's hat. Next to the hat is a pair of lace up boots
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Day 2 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - nocturnal #scbwiArtober2026 #scbwiARTOBER #nocturnal #papercuttingart
A handmade envelope with a label and postage stamp. The label says "Flames and wings a flutter" and the stamp has a drawing of a candleThe back of the envelopeInside the flap of the envelope are moths and candlesA full view of the envelope with candles and moths
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Day 1 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - pumpkin Ages ago I saw a video about making envelopes out of old artworks so I made a bunch of them which I then forgot about. For this year's Artober I'm turning them into little paper artworks. #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #papercuttingart #inkandwatercolour
A handmade envelope with a "postage stamp" that says 1/10 SCBWI Artober and a label that says "One for sorrow, Two for joy"The reverse of the envelope. It had a label that says "By Maria Blackman"A thumb and finger open the envelope. Some colourful bits of paper are visibleA pumpkin and two ravens emerge from the envelope
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Just spent some time updating my writer/illustrator website. Wasn't as easy as I remember things but maybe I am nostalgic for the good ol' days of blogging in the mid 00's? mariablackman.net/about/
mariablackman.net
About – Maria Blackman
We had a Tawny Frogmouth bird living in our front garden for a while. I love these birds – they have so much personality! Soon after, I turned our garden visitor into a picture book story.
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I just finished reading The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden and it's one of those books that was so good I can't think about anything else now. I'm also afraid to pick up anything else to read because it won't be as good as The Safekeep! Gosh, the problems of a reader
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
If you're feeling down, may I recommend looking at the fat bears of Katmai wildlife reserve? This is one of my new favourite things. Well done to all the brown bears of Katmai, I will have trouble voting but you are all fat and all winners in my eyes explore.org/fat-bear-week
explore.org
Fat Bear Week 2026 - Explore.org
Explore.org is the world's leading philanthropic live nature cam network and documentary film channel. Our mission is to champion the selfless acts of others, create a portal into the soul of humanity...
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I'm delighted that my entry to the KSP Writers' Centre Horror Story competition was awarded Highly Commended. Congratulations to all who were shortlisted and thank you to the KSP Writers' Centre for this exciting competition 😊 #horrorstory #shortstory #writer
A photo of a book open to a page with the title STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE By Maria Blackman Highly Commended and the first few paragraphs The front cover of GLITCH, with images of a female cyborg, a fawn, handcuffs, headphones, a grub, a spooky house and a gloved hand holding a surgeon's scalpelA photo of a certificate stuck on a fridge. The certificate from the KSP Writers' Centre is to Maria Blackman
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The first thing that's annoying about the ABC Top 100 Australian Books site is that when you sort by authors, it's alphabetical by first name, not surname?! Does no one know how to alphabetise properly anymore?
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Aug 30th sighting: Christmas stockings at grocery story. Haven't even had Halloween yet!!
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Happy Wear It Purple Day! 💜🏳️‍🌈 #wearitpurpleday #ally
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Yikes, I'm on the train going to work and someone's reading Atlas Shrugged 🫣
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I am so thrilled to be a featured writer with this project by WritingWA and Yagan Square. Writers were asked to contribute a short prose piece or poem about winter or nature. My poem Mycelium Network is one of them! #storiesfromwa #writingwa #dragonflypublishing #poetry
A poem on a digital screen in Yagan Square (Perth city). A woman stands in front of the PERTH letters at the bottom of the digital tower.
The poem reads:
Daylight runs off, the air temperature cools
while the earth pulls up its blanket.
Beneath the soil’s surface
a threading network spreads
extending mycelium threads
whispering
Where are you?
Are you there? 
Hello, yes, I am here
while above small vertebrates slip through the undergrowth,
nocturnal birds hunt,
humans sleep in beds in rooms in buildings
unaware that a kingdom of liberated spores is
reaching out to each other, binding together 
underground building ever increasing colonies
that will burst out of the ground 
when the sun pulls off night time’s cover
to reveal soft domed cities that are neither animal nor plant.
Mycelium Network by Maria Blackman
WRITING WA 
Dragonfly Publishing
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
I saw a trailer today for the Klara and the Sun film. I love Kazuo Ishiguro's work and this is one of my favourite novels ever. I'm so scared that the film won't live up to the book!
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
My first born (aged 12) wants to go protest One Nation next week (it's on a school day, middle of the day) and I said no because that would be truanting but secretly I am so proud 🥰
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I have a mini 'book nook' artwork on display at Paper Bird Books, the most beautiful children's book store ever! #papercuttingart #booknook #inkpendrawing #thetempest
A photo of a book nook depicting Act 5 scene 1 of The Tempest. It is on a shelf in between Shakespeare books A photo of the interior of the Paper Bird Books store. Mid afternoon light hits the wall
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
More writing good news! I have a story accepted by Night Parrot Press for their Little Journal. I am so excited for this! www.nightparrotpress.com #flashfiction #nightparrotpress #writing #littlejournal
nightparrotpress.com
Home Page - Night Parrot Press
Night Parrot Press is an independent publisher based in Boorloo/Perth, Western Australia publishing works of non-traditional fiction and non-fiction in experimental forms and genres.
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Good news! I've been shortlisted in my favourite writing competition. Also! Support your local writers' centre and writing community!
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Fare thee well, Neil!
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I just wrote to my MPs to act on genocide now. You can write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/writ...
actionnetwork.org
Write to Your MP: Act on Genocide Now
The Australian Government to meet its obligations under international law. Send a letter to your elected MPs calling on them to raise this in their party room and on the floor of parliament — and to d...
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Positive post! I am a judge for a children's creative writing competition (on the Year 7-8 judging team) and it is so much fun for me reading their stories. I love all their weird, creative, inspired by Hunger Games/Percy Jackson/Nevermore stories 🤩 #creativewriting
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Micro-fiction fans, NYC Midnight has a new competition and it looks interesting! Join me in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social Two-Story Writing Challenge on July 30th! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/two-story #nycmidnight #microfiction #writingcompetition
nycmidnight.com
Two-Story Writing Challenge — nycmidnight
The Two-Story Writing Challenge is an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to create two original short stories in 72 hours.
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sonjamondello.bsky.social @sonjamondello.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Hearing the term monoculture reminded me of this. #NPC #PaulineHanson #auspol
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
City2Surf has an Amnesty International team. I've just donated to their fundraising page, and you can too city2surf26.grassrootz.com/amnesty-inte...
city2surf26.grassrootz.com
Amnesty Sport Team in 2026 Voltaren City2Surf
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
A Clive Palmer UAP brochure landed in my letter box. I (and my letter box) feel defiled.
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
I just signed the open letter to the PM calling for a suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel - Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
actionnetwork.org
Suspend diplomatic relations with Israel - Open Letter to the PM
Australia cannot keep treating Israel as a normal diplomatic partner. Sign our open letter to Prime Minister calling on the Australian Government to suspend diplomatic relations with Israel.
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Just finished reading The Rot by Evelyn Araluen. What a poet, what a force. She'd better win the Stella Prize for this #evelynaraluen #stellaprize
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Adding Jazz Money and Matt Chun to my TBR list
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
c.org/dbBCbdgGCd
c.org
Sign the Petition
Remove Palantir products from the Australian government
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
I don't have any illustration projects that I'm currently working on so something I like to do is make little fun things like this ginger tabby kitty that is pouncing on its tail. #papercutoutart #childrensbookillustration #kidlit
A photo of a small paper cut out cat next to a small pot plant and a crochet toy. The cat appears to be pouncing on its tail.A photo of a small paper cut out cat next to a framed Monet print. The cat appears to be pouncing on its tail.A photo of a small paper cut out cat next to a small Maneki Neko that's on top of a book case. The cat appears to be pouncing on its tail.
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
I'm doing Poetry month and it's going better than I expected. It's a good way to keep up a writing routine and it helps me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile amidst the...horrors. So far I've been alternating between fun short poems for kids and more personal poems (not for kids). #poetry
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Watched the 2004 version of The Crow and oh my gods was it a disappointment. Should have looked at some reviews before. Not even Bill Skaarsgard could save it. And I'm not just saying that because I'm stuck in the 90s (well I am still a 90s child but the film was objectively bad)
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Can't believe it's nearly April. What a year!?!? But the upside is that April is NaPoWriMo. Who's doing this? It's my first time, though I did have a go at a different month long poetry challenge a few years ago (didn't get past the first fortnight) #poetry #NaPoWriMo
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Just learnt that there's a NaPoWriMo in April which sounds like a delightful way to spend April (writing a poem per day for a month) #napowrimo2026
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Exciting writerly news - a short story I wrote a few years ago for a NYC MIDNIGHT competition has been accepted into an anthology of speculative fiction by Bowen Street Press 😊 #specfic
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Well done Japan and well done Tillies, we still love you 💚💛 #AFCasianwomenscup
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Go Tillies! 🇦🇺 #matildas
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Attention writers who like short, flashy stories and a competition with a tight deadline to get that adrenaline pumping, join me in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social Flash Fiction Challenge on May 1st! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/ffc
A graphic with the text THE FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE MAY 1, 2026 MY MIDNIGHT.COM
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Chris Miller @thelittlepakeha.net · 06/03/2026
If you're doomscrolling, guess what? So far there are 51 kākāpō chicks hatched and thriving this season, the same number of birds as we had in TOTAL in the 90s! Only one chick has died and there are still fertile eggs waiting to hatch!
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Got lots to do but this lunar eclipse is too good. Perfect timing for Perth
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
I got an honourable mention in the NYC Midnight Scary Story comp, feeling frightfully pleased. Fellow NYC-ers, how did you go? #NYCmidnight
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Glenn Kirschner @glennkirschner.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Hey friends, you know the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Tonys. Now meet the Peddys, in this searing new piece by my friend Buddy Winston. @buddywinston.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/buddywin...
open.substack.com
The Peddys
The institutional refusal to audit the Epstein ledger has reached a state of terminal absurdity, a bureaucratic stalemate where the names of the powerful are treated with the same sanctity as classifi...
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mr dog @firstdogonthemoon.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
We finally understand what we are seeing... forever shocked no longer surprised. Today's cartoon... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
How many nameless trafficked children… how many… how many | First Dog on the Moon
Can I somehow unknow this? Is that OK? Please
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Agreed, sadly
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kat @kgt.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Same. Sorry to whoever’s DMd me, I’m not doing an age check
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Ursula K. Le Guin Bot @leguinbot.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls.
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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Went to the library today and added to my TBR list.
Photo of two books. A line in the sand; 20 Years of Red Room Poetry, and Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fatteh
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