The best day and a gift

I turned 50 and I had the best day!  Celebrations with some close and dear friends, my wonderful family (What would I do without the help from my Sisters and Niece!).

Now, (seeing I intend to live until 100 at least), this is the second half of my life.  Time to get things happening! Can't wait for 2013! 

 To celebrate turning 50 I am going to give a 15% discount on my journals that I have listed in my shop, until the end of December.  If not currently in stock I will still give the 15% discount when sent.

I will also be doing a bit of a catch up and posting again soon.  Please email me if you have any questions regarding the journals.

Breakfast and Dinner

This was breakfast.  Still trying to get used to having protein for breakfast!  Good news is - I can revert back to having museli after the 14 days. It has to be homemade though, as the commercial ones have so much sugar added.  I have been looking around on the net and have seen some good recipes for homemade museli, but if anyone has one they would like to share that would be great.  I have been feeling much better after the initial shock to the system!  And I think I have lost a bit of weight too.  Bonus!!!

This was dinner last night.  Sorry for the blurry photo.  I was allowed to have a stirfry.  Yay.  A semi cooked meal.  I don't mind salads and raw food to be honest, but when you are used to eating something warm/cooked, you miss it when you don't have it.  I don't think I will be going totally raw, but 70-80% perhaps.  I am feeling that my body is better for it, but it has only been 4 days so far.

Going to be growing mung bean sprouts soon.

I have a lot of Leslie Kenton books.  Worth a read.

Raw food - Day 1

Beginning of day 1 of the 14 day plan.  Started off well at the gym.  I know the first couple of days will be the hardest.  I am already craving sugar (one of the reasons for trying this!).  I knew I would, but if I persevere the craving goes away - Right?!!  Hope so.
Anyway.  Didn't much like breakfast.  Being a muesli girl to have to eat smoked salmon, egg and spinach for breakfast was really hard let me tell you.

I was allowed a couple of nuts (4 -6 to be precise) for a snack, and the lunch on day 1 was salad with a piece of grilled fish.

That's the salad part.  I'm not hungry as such, but the idea is to not focus on the food as well I think.  Try and get myself into a mindset that it is for nourishment and only occasionally for indulgence!
I am mainly doing this to feel well and not feel as though I am just dragging myself through the day sometimes.
I am not allowed alcohol or coffee during the 14 days, but I am going to cheat a bit with the coffee.  If I had to give up both red wine and coffee all at the same time - believe me - you would not want to know me!  I will cut down though.
So - let's see how I go.  It is only half way through day one :0)

ATC Swap

In the month of September I started participating in an ATC Swap which has been organised by the ever efficient Bev Lea from Art Queens!
I am having the best time creating these, as I had not done them before and have fallen in love with making art on the small scale.  The ideas and themes are endless.
The first one was monochromatic.  Any one can join the group.  The more the merrier!
These are mine that I created -

And these are the ones that I have received as the swap -

From Glenda Laing

From Ruth Spitzer

 

From Maryse Aluis

Thanks Ladies!!!

The next swap was fun too.  We had to create an ATC with a corregated card as the background.  The rest was up to us!

What I created -

The scan isn't the best I'm sorry, but peeking through behind the corregated card was some lovely scrapbook paper that I had.  I used stamps from Teesha Moore - Love those!

Raw food and Turning 50

Shortly I will be attempting a 14 day kick start meal plan in order to help me introduce raw food to my diet.  I am doing this for a couple of reasons.  I have always been interested in the power of raw food and I have re-discovered books in my bookcase that I have had for a number of years now.  Lately I have been feeling pretty 'Blah' and when I look in the mirror I don't really like what I see.  A lot of it has been emotional, and how I have been feeling about myself, and some of it has been the inevitable change which happens when you approach a certain age! 
So, I have decided that I will 'DO' something about it and be accountable by posting this. 
My naturopath has advised that a lot of the problems I am having are coming from the liver, and after extensive investigation, I have come to the conclusion that this is the best way to go for me.  Can't hurt anyway!
I don't want to go into my next half century feeling tired, bloated, unable to cope.  Even though initially I might feel worse, before I feel better, I want to give it a go.
So, once I have it all set up and cleaned out the pantry, stocked the fridge of fresh food and veggies, I will include you in my journey.
I know it won't be easy, but making an effort to post this will help me keep on the path.  Any encouragement would be good too.  And my efforts might even inspire someone else!  Hope so.

My fridge should look like this soon!!!

Another watercolour finished

My scanner isn't the best, so apologise for the clarity of the pictures.  The watercolours are a bit denser on the actual art piece, but a bit hard to capture on screen.  Some of the finer lines have not shown up either.

Playing with watercolours and collage

Decided to have a bit of a play with watercolours as I haven't used them for a while.  Got to love those old Vogue magazines for inspiration!
As usual, I couldn't help throwing a little bit of collage in.
Need more practise, but think I will do a few more.  These were fun to do.

October already!

Boy, where has all that time gone?  I have been busy.  I have been sick.  I have been away interstate.  But still I feel like i'm on the fast track somewhere.
Couple of things I will share tonight and then endeavour to gradually catch up on posts before it is full steam ahead into Christmas.

Another update of my nephew Flynn.  Hopefully a bit more hair soon!!

I managed to fit in a class by the lovely Kate Mason , taught at Seriously Scrapbooking.  Great class, great teacher.  Had a wonderful time just playing around and doing art with no expectations.  Not quite finished yet, but technique used was collage.  Just up my alley! 
Be back soon!

July 123

Right at the last minute again! 

This was a great 123 challenge.  The colour purple, the word 'My' and using 'chevron'.  I made my own chevron stamp and painted the lettering purple.  I used hand stitching in the background, which was a challenge in itself, but I wasn't game enough to do the freeform machine stitching yet.  (I have been practicing).

Hope you enjoy :0)

Another piece finished

A while back I did a jewelery course with Stephanie Lee through 'Art Queen' BevLea Ross.  I think I have only missed one of these Art Retreats.  They are so good, and I have never had a bad class.
I have made a little piece based on what I learnt.  I never thought I would be the kind of person to solder anything.  Prior to taking this class I didn't even own any tools!  Now I have a dremel and all sorts of things - like a grinder :0).

The base plate is soldered brass, which I have hand cut to size and then filed.  I have soldered a copper ring on to form the bezel (this is the technique that Stephanie so patiently showed us) which was then filled with an image and resin.

A bit remiss

Just want to start the post with the admission that I have been a bit remiss in doing the 'linky' thing.  Not intentionally though.  In my previous post I forgot to put in a link.  Mainly because I couldn't remember where I had gleaned that wonderful inspiration that I use for prompting me out of my slump!  I did remember that Dina Wakley had demonstrated it.  But I have been reminded that it came from here originally - Nathalie Kalbach's creative jump start.  So if I am ever remiss in the future (which I will try not to be) I will endeavour to find out the 'linky' thing before I post :0).

It did prompt me into playing around with a bit of Collage again.

And finishing one of my pendants

Creative Prompt

Sometimes I get into a bit of an 'Arty' slump.  I find that just doing little things help.  The next 123 Challenge calls for 'Purple' the word 'My' and the use of 'Chevron'.
I have been doing a bit of stamp carving (not very well I might add), but learning!  So I thought to help break that slump I would carve myself a 'Chevron' stamp to use.

Well, as you can see, there are a few little missing bits, but overall it hasn't come up too badly.  Might have to do a bit of creative covering up on the layout I think :0).

The other thing that helps me to start feeling a bit more creative is doing something really, really quickly, but with instant results.

I decorate shipping tags to put in my stash for future use.  It is fun and very quick.  All I do is spray paints and mists onto a perspex sheet and then lay the shipping tag face down to soak up the paint.  This is from a tip I learnt from Dina Wakley.  It comes up with a different pattern every time.  In the first one, I have already started layering using a bit of my hand painted papers. I also might stamp some.  I can then pull them out and continue when I have my next creative slump!

123 challenge June

Using the word 'Change', washi tape and blue!  I am loving these 123 challenges, but only just getting them finished right at the last minute.  I must allow myself a bit more time next month.  I have used lasercut timber lettering for the main word.

Trying something new

I have been wanting to learn to crochet for a while now, and have been looking for a place to learn.  All things 'Grannie' are so wonderful.  So when awesome girl Kate mentioned she was doing a class at this little coffee place in Melbourne Street called E is for Ethel (which I have been meaning to get to also!), I knew it was meant to be.
I had an absolute ball and the first thing we learnt was what I was wanting to learn anyway - 'The Grannie Square'.  Now, mine is a bit of a wibbly wobbly square, which I am hoping will improve with practise.  I didn't seem to be able to follow the pattern very well, as I found it a bit confusing (however, I'm sure that is me, not the pattern).  I think I just have to work on my tension.

As you can see I haven't learnt to finish off yet, but I thought I had better stop there or I would end up with a Grannie rug from one square!  So, all those experienced crochet'ers out there, if you have any hints and tips, please feel free to pass them on.  I would love lots of help :0)
I also took some photos of the pendants I have made, but the photos were a bit blurry, so will try again.

Using up scraps

If you are anything like me you have lots of scraps of paper lying around the studio.  I haven't made my own paper for such a long time, but decided it was time to clear out all those little bits and pieces of paper which I can't bear to throw away!  The good thing about making your own paper is that you never know what it is going to look like and is always a cool suprise!  This one was made with black tissue paper, gold wrapping paper and just white scrap paper.  Love that it looks like marble!  Next time I make a batch i will remember to take photos of the process and will post these too.

Studio glimpse

I love looking at other people's studios, so I thought I would give you a bit of a glimpse as to where I do my creative stuff.

I think I have a bit of my Grandma in me.  When she died they had to sort through drawers full of colour co-ordinated fabric.  This is only a portion of my fabric, but it's all the pretty stuff that inspires me!

This is a great find I found in an op-shop for $20.  It sits between my mixed media desks.  On the right is where I do my scrapping and journals and to the left is my computer set up.  I have yet to paint it, but because I am impatient I had to set it up and use it straight away!!  It holds all the stuff I use regularly and is within easy reach.

Top of cupboard.  I have inserted an IKEA divider and some wooden containers for my pens/textas/pencils etc..

Underneath this is a drawer which holds ink pads, scissors, double sided tape, glue sticks and the like.  I intend to paint it white and I have the most fantastic roll of 70's contact that I want to use to line the drawer.

Finally, a little look at where I make my jewlery (I will be putting some in the shop very shortly).  The drawers are very sentimental to me, as my Papa made these and I remember them in my Father's workshop as a child.  Now they have passed on to me to hold all my treasures.
I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse in to my Art space.

Worn and rusted

A while back I buried some fabric in the back yard, forgot it for 5 months and this is what happened.  Not the bugs!  I added them later.

I also rusted some fabric and added the drawings via a technique using a hot press.

I used an ink pen to do the drawings and then photo copied them onto a special paper which allows you to heat transfer directly onto fabric.  This process is quite tricky as you need to move fairly quickly and know exactly where you are going to position the picture on the fabric.  As I only had a limited amount of this fabric that I had rusted it was a 'hold my breath' situation that it worked.

I then used some of the buried fabric to hand stitch onto the piece to add a bit of dimension.
I can spend hours doing the ink drawings.  I love it so much.  There is usually a medium or process that makes you feel that you have been transported to another place.  This is mine.

Carved stamps

Finally got around to getting a decent photo of my first carved stamps.  I used an ordinary eraser, and did a simple design for the first one, using a lino cutting tool.  I had to remember to make sure I wrote the word on the second one backwards (one discarded stamp later), so it is a bit wonky and out of balance.  Next time I will write it out on paper first. I kind of like wonky though.  Will do a few more for practice and then attempt some larger ones.

Treasure found!

I can not believe what I found!  My local op shop was calling me yesterday and look what treasures I discovered.  Some I will be able to use in my mixed media pieces, some will be for my friend's girls dress up box and the rest will be sorted and played with and coveted.  A use will be found eventually!
The fun was in the opening and sorting - which happened very shortly after this photo was taken!

123 Challenge

This is my first entry for the 123 Challenge.  The Challenge was to use the colour orange, the word 'enjoy' and bakers twine. 123 Challenge
The papers I have used are a mix of hand painted and scrap book papers.  The black letters are painted Heidi Swapp chipboard letters.

Mixing it up a bit

I have been trying out a few different styles using my journals, to give you an idea of what you may be able to do with them, and also to challenge myself a bit.  It is hard to move away from something that you are comfortable doing, and I struggle with that.  Using one of the chipboard journals I decided to go for a bit of a grunge look.

Hopefully it is not too blurry.  It is a bit difficult to see, but there is a half sheet of clear acetate with a stamped flower image on it, that is sitting on top of the front cover.  I painted the cover with gesso, added images and another layer and then rubbed back a bit to expose some of the underneath.  The numbers to the right are from some scrapbook paper scraps, and I have randomly rubbed 'letraset' letters and numbers over the whole thing.

I have also made some handmade stamps, and created this page using one of my large chipboard albums with the black inserts.  I love using the black backgrounds in my work.
(I tried getting a photo of the stamps I made, but again too blurry, so I will work on that and add it another night!)

I hope that I have inspired you a little.  I have a few more projects to share (very soon).  Please have a little look at my shop whilst you are here.  Any feedback on what you might like to see would be very welcome :0)

A different style for me!

This journal was such fun to make!  It was quick and made me step out of my comfort zone.  I tried not to think too much about choosing colours to place together, and went purely by instinct.  It is a journal that can be added to, or can be left as is, but knowing me I shall be adding stuff (Can't help myself!)

This class was taught by the very talented (and lovely) Ro Bruhn, who has a studio in Melbourne.  She showed us some great techniques and I had a great fun day.  Once the journal was stitched together we could add all these cool embellishments down the spine.  I have in my mind to make another one, and add beads.  These journals lend themselves to so much!

Some inside pages

Hard to see in this picture, but the paint used on the inside cover is quite luminous.  Looks fantastic when the light catches it!

A bit more on the Journals

Recently I had the absolute pleasure in taking one of DJ Pettitt's classes, organised by Bevlea Ross - Queen of Arts in Melbourne.  All that know DJ will agree with me that she is the most amazing person, and one of the best teachers!  I had such a wonderful time.

As you can see I am not the best photographer, but it gives you an idea of how the journal is progressing. 

I am gradually adding to it bit by bit.  The front cover has a texture to it by using modelling paste!  Great technique, which I am sure I will be using again.

The inner pages are made from watercolour paper that has been washed with paint (very randomly I might add) and then stitched and collaged.  I have only just started to decorate each page, and realise that they are going to take hours and hours, so this is definately a work in progress, but also a labour of Love!