Monday, August 27, 2007

Give-Away and Goodies

Lately I have been reflecting on the goodness of those who surround me, the kindness and generosity. I have wanted to host a give-away here for a while, so last night I gathered some of the treasures already spread over my desk, took a pause from making bracelets and allowed my mind to wander. To wander over all the wonderful people, known and unknown, who surround me. And as I did I made this junk pin. Of course the knots are those learnt in Nina's class this past March, the fabric bead my attempt at those Nina and others do (I would like to have a lesson in this one - but I think mine look OK), the treasures I have collected in recent years, the top charm includes the word art, and the long bead is one of those I wrapped and dipped in shellac. If you would like to win this pin simply leave a comment below - and for fun, tell me your favourite hot drink ... I will do the draw on Sunday night (Aussie time).
This journal was my Mystery Muse gift from the talented and oh so kind Jane - she really has the knack of felting and not over doing it.
My Dad bought these stones back form a recent trip to the Kimberly in Western Australia. No they are not ancient arrowheads, but rather river stones from the Mary River. He wondered if I would be able to use them. Likewise the rusty tin of cold branding numbers below, given after a trip to a farm sale some time ago. I have used them to stamp with, and think eventually they will end up in a piece of art work or two.

48 comments:

Doreen G said...

Love the pin Julie--My favourite drink would have to be ---Earl Grey tea--

Jane P said...

Just love what you have done yet again, Julie.... My favourite hot drink( thanks to Dot) is Chai coffee/mint green tea......

martha brown said...

I love your work! Your Nina knots are wonderful. I found you through Dotee. My favourite hot drink is Lady Grey Tea -- Earl Grey with a bit of citrus. But mmmm, chai is yummy too. I think that I'll make a cup right now.....

gunnelsvensson said...

this pin is lovely!
My favourite hot drink is also Lady Grey Tea!

Dot said...

You are such a generous soul Julie! Then pin your made is beautiful. I smiled at the number 7 as it is my favorite number.

My favorite drink is Chai Latte....ummm..

The river stones your dad gave to you are stunning. Bet they are lovely to hold. And the rusty tin of branding numbers is so you!!

Mmm..methinks it might be time for me to do another giveaway on my blog. Like you I feel I have so much to be grateful for.

Love you missy moo (that's a nickname I have for Esmeralda and I use it for close friends sometimes too!).

Dotee xoxo

kelsey said...

Lovely pin Julie and I think your beads are "more than" okay! ;-)

Hmmmm....chai latte or a milo for me please!

Kristy C said...

This is just beautiful! Something I want to try eventually :)

Anonymous said...

beautiful pin! My favorite hot drink? Hot coco with extra marshmellows! :)

Sarah Whitmire
sarah@caspiana.com
www.caspiana.com

Dragonlady said...

I really love the pin you made and adore your other jewelry also...
My fav hot drink is French Vanilla Cappuccino

Brenda

Dawnie said...

Super pin my lovely and the fabric bead is Yumm.
hmm...my fav drink..well I am a milo girl..but my man makes the most delish hot lemon and honey drink,made with sweet lemons from my ma and pa's tree.
just the trick for the winter blues.

Hug lovely locks

prawn xxx

Anonymous said...

Oh Those beads are more than O.K. Such a beautiful piece, very inspiring. My Fav hot drink is a decaf/skim/wet cappuccino from StarBuck's. Your thoughtfulness is also inspiring.

Pamela Martin said...

Hey Julie!
Your friend Kelsey left all of the members in the Arttechniques Yahoo Group a note about your "Giving Giveaway" - what a wonderful treat for all of us - once I have everything the way I want it on my ever-developing blog, I will use you as an inspiration to do a "give away" as well! I also learned that you are a teacher - I am as well - your field trip looked incredible - also love the stones your Dad brought you - what a treat. I love your blog and especially the name of it.

I also love charms and charms and charm bracelet swaps - I am currently signed up in the Arttechniques and ATPins group. Hope I will see your work there

My two favorite hot drinks are a coffee I make every morning at our ome called Chocolate Velvet and I also love Russian Tea.

This was fun!

claire said...

Oh I would love to be in the draw for the pin!!

My favourite hot drink is a sweet soy chai... especially if I have made it myself in a saucepan and poured it into my favourite enormous mug!

I love all your stuff....

Claire

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie - Kelsey left a note about your blog and giveaway on our Bad Baby site. Well, your pin is marvelous as are your other jewelry pieces. I drooled over the metal numbers your Dad brought you (what a Dad!) and so enjoyed your photos. It's so much fun seeing flowers and foliage so different from ours here in NA. I would love to learn how to make the paper beads sometime. Is Nina ....Nina Bagley?? Thanks for your fun blog and generosity! Lorna PS Oh, almost forgot...my fav hot drink is organic Irish breakfast tea ...

Linda said...

Hi Julie,
Your pin is gorgeous! I love all the different bits and fabulous textures. My favorite hot drink is fresh brewed coffee...strong and hot!

All the best,
Linda

Beckie Holso said...

Oh! Your "junk pin" is anything but! It's very neat =)

I'm curious about why you want to know the hot drink...? Mine is Caramel Apple Cider with whipped cream from, where else, Starbucks =)

Arty Lady's blog said...

Your pin is wonderful and thanks for the opportunity. My favourite hot drink would be weak tea (with chocolate) but if you asked for any drink (rather than hot), I could list a number including bundy, wine etc.

Anonymous said...

How generous of you to offer up one of your wonderful creations to us! And what a wonderful "junk" pin!! (I wish my junk looked that good -- I just threw out 12 bags of the stuff, and was pretty sure none of it would have looked good turned into art!, LOL!) Please enter me into the draw for this beautiful pin. My son, Payton (7) is sitting here with me and thinks I would really look nice with it on! (and I have to agree with him!) BTW, my favorite "hot" drink, (because I can drink it either hot or cold) is good coffee! Shauna Thornton

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie

I LOVE the pin you have made. Your artwork is amazing and I have loved it always. Your blog is my most favourite place to visit, very inspiring.
My favouite hot drink is hot chocolate made with milk not water and marshmellows on top.....oohh just thinking about it is making my mouth water, I may have to go and whip up a mug now.

Kind Regards
Julie Q
Esperance

Kylie Mell said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

hi julie
i have always enjoyed reading your blog and looking at your beautiful and now i have very good reason for telling you so. My favourite drink is Madura decaf tea with milk and sugar.

carmel said...

oh dear how can I follow all of the above comments except to say ditto! mmmm own a piece of Julie's work ahh I think I could live with that LOL
fav hot drink? can't beat a hot whiskey - good brown sugar/clove studded wedge of lemon/good Irish whiskey/topped with boiled water - complete with good friends in a cosy pub with excellent live trad. music, oh boy memories are now flowing. Hugs, Carmel xx
ps tnx for your lovely comment on my blog xx

Carla said...

I love the pin you've made, I would be great to see it in real.
My favourite hot drink is green tea in the morning and decaf for the rest of the day
Greetings
Carla
from the Netherlands

Natalie B said...

Hi Julie

As always just gorgeous........ and so generous of you too. I would love to enter this competition as I KNOW my neice would love this so much. So if I did win, I'd give it to my neice, so hopefully that would be ok.

My fav hot drink - Hot Chocolate, with one white, one pink and one yellow marshmallow... hehe I'm fussy and like one of each coloured marshmallow with my HC. Big hugs to you Julie and this is gorgeous.

purplemajic said...

Hi Julie

Your pin is gorgeous - please put me in the draw!! And I love your blog.

My fav drink? Milo in the morning, strong good coffee during the day, and hot chocolate at night - not sure which is my favourite, as I enjoy them all.

hugs
Lynette

Ev said...

Love the pin, as usual it is stunning work. the felting by Jane is rather inspirational too...you lucky duck.I am looking forward to seeing what you do with those stones.

As for hot drinks it would have to be a hot strong black coffee, the kind that has the chocolate like flavour of good and expensive beans and not scorched like a lot of coffee seems to get. Though at night it would be either a strong cup of tea or a hot steamy hot chocolate or Milo.

Nettie said...

G'day Julie,
Just read a lovely story on another blog about a missing lot of Charms from a swap you'd participated in & that's where I got your name from...so thought I'd come & take a look at a fellow Aussie's blog. My favourite hot drink would be a hot cup of tea...white with 1 sugar in a BIG mug.
NettieP

Jo Anne O. said...

Kelsey posted to our group (Bad Baby Art) about your give away so I thought I would pop over and see what was happening! I really like this pin..it has a very organic feel to it...and copper is awesome!

Now, favorite hot drink?? Ohh..easy one! Coffee! I love coffee but due to some health issues I can only have it once in a blue moon...BUT love coffee double strenght with a bit of milk and sugar...nothing better!

Thanks for sharing your art Julie! I have book marked your blog to come back and see what else you are up to!

Jo Anne Owens from Pennsylvania!

~marilyn said...

Hi Julie...Kelsey sent me to see your blog and lottery. Wonderful work! It's a treat to see your photos of "real" Australia, too. In the states we tend to see the same images over and over that can't possibly represent all of your country. My favorite hot drink is a latte for everyday or hot spiced wine for special times. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
www.FunkyPeacockStudio.blogspot.com

Heather said...

Hi Julie,

Your pin is gorgeous! My favorite hot drink is Earl Grey tea.

Heather Price

Melissa said...

Oooh! I have just the vest for this pin. :)

I don't drink hot beverages. In fact, I ice just about everything (tea, coffee, etc but I don't ice chocolate milk). About the only drink I drink hot is mulled cider around the holidays.

Ro Bruhn said...

Fabulous pin Julie, your fabric bead looks terrific.
My favourite drink would be Koko Black's hot chocolate if I'm feeling decadent, otherwise Chai tea without milk.
I love the rocks and look at those stamps

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhh.......lucky you getting those rusted branding numbers.
Love the pin and I guess my all time favourite hot drink would be Twinings English Breakfast Tea, wouldnt survive without it.
Cheers
Glenda in Shepparon

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhhhh and I cant spell and forgot me email addy, must be late in the evening or almost morning one of the two LOL, must go have a drink of that tea and then spend half the night up and down to you know what. :-)
Glenda from Shepparton
glendangeoff@bigpond.com

Anonymous said...

Your pin giveaway is scrumptious! just like my favorite hot drink..Banana walnut coffee late with all that whipped cream! But when I can't get one i like Earl Grey and or green Tea hot! Thanks for such a nice offer!!! Also your blog is great! Love the eye candy! Hugs,Ina

Teri Velazquez said...

Hi Julie--

Love the pin--wish I knew how to make those knots! I really loved the bookmarks...I don't think I've ever seen anything like them here--very inspiring. And I really enjoyed seeing the outing pictures with your class....what a wonderful day!

Thanks to Kelsey for letting us know about your wonderful pin giveaway.....my favorite drink is at a coffee kiosk out here called Dutch Bros. and it's called a Kahlua Kicker! It's made without Kahlua....but is very yummy....

Teri V in Portland, OR
teri.velazquez@gmail.com

Cat said...

Another beautiful creation! Love your pin.

My favorite hot drink is simply black coffee!

You have some nice treasures - sounds like your Dad knows you well!

Marrianna said...

Your pin is so great! I am just getting into altered art and found object art. Thank you so much for sharing.

My favorite hot drink is tea. I have a great friends who creates fantastic pottery and she gave me a mug w/no handles. In the cold winter here in Flagstaff, AZ, I fix a cup of rasberry herbal tea, sit at my desk and look outside at the beautiful and sunny yard, and sip my tea with gratitude for my life, my health, my art, and my friends. Marrianna from Flagstaff AZ USA

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful piece of art jewelry! You are such a talented lady. I really love your bookmarks too. They are such a great design. Okay, one more thing - I'm just green with envy over that awesome rusted tin of branding numbers. What an incredible find! Your Dad is so awesome - can he start hunting stuff down for me too? LOL

Sea Dream Studio said...

Hi~ Saw your lovely things on ETSY and came over to ck out your blog. Lovely! I do love your work. Very interesting and well done!
take care~Dale
~SeaDreamStudio
PS~ about that hot beverage... coffee with a shot of Bailey's Irish Cream

Anonymous said...

Wow, what inspiring artwork - your jewelry is breathtaking - Kelsy let us know about your giveaway. I have to say you are a generous soul, especially giving yourself as a teacher. We love to drink hot chocolate with tons of marshmellows when the weather turns cold here in Missouri. Hugs
kjackson

Anonymous said...

I'd LOVE a chance to win your lovely pin, and your other work is great too!!! I also learned of your blog through Kelsey! I think my favorite hot drink is spiced chai with honey.

Sandi(sugarbushfarm)

Arlene Mobley said...

What a beautiful pin! My favorite hot drink is starbucks coffee with cream and sugar. I'm off to check out the rest of your blog!

arlene9999@earthlink.net
http://alteredbyme.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Hi there Kelsey!
Your give away is a kind act, thanks!
My Favorite drink is a mocha latte, cold or hot, any time day or night!

Have a great hairday! Becci in Kansas

Anonymous said...

Julie you have been truly gifted with an artistic heart as well as a generous soul, love your creations as always and hope to one day sit and share a hot chai chocolate or perhaps a cup of pepermint tea with you and your fur babies, take care and keep creating with that speacial gift,love Charmaine. xx

Genevieve said...

Julie, my favourite hot drink would have to be the humble cup of tea, strong but a bit milky with two sugars. Thanks for offering us some blog candy.

Cheers!

Debbi Baker said...

Hi Julie - What a wonderful response you have had and no wonder! What a fabulous pin! I love it as much as everyone else!!

I am one of those indeterminate types when it comes to my hot drinks - nowadays I drink tea all day long (strong, tiny bit of sugar, skim milk) but I love coffee as well so for variety I have it occasionally throughout the day (black or white but always sugarless) and always decaf at night (it didn't matter when I was young but now it keeps me awake - actually when I think about it nothing has changed except that now I need and want my sleep!). PS Love those beautiful branding numbers - just glorious.

dogfaeriex5 said...

my fav is 2fold...hot chocolate w/marshmallow creme and ginger with honey lemon tea.....
xoxo~kim