Take a couple of old hair scrunchies,

.. some old files from the recycling bin, three ink pads and a handful of images. What do you have? A couple of weeks of relaxation, time to fiddle and arrange, without really thinking, after long, long days at work.
At the end I wondered what to do with my offerings, so thee ATC's became notebooks - I am so glad I bought the Zutter.

Cards and tags will be packaged together and, "Voila!", some of my Christmas preparations are made. Nice cards are so expensive here in Australia and packs of hand made tags will be appreciated too.

I have been soothed by my needle going in and out of paper, calmed by the rhythm of my brush as it dances between ink pads adding a little colour here and there and strengthened by the time to be inside my head.

Would you like an ATC? No need to trade, just ask. If you are one of the first three I will send you one.

Thank you Jesus, for the peace I feel today. Thank you friends for being there for me through the hours, days or years.

Have a wonderful week!

A season of giving and receiving.

It was only after I photographed this pair that I realised they were not opposites - and had to rehang the roses :)

It has been too long since I blogged so I will load as many photo's as I can tonight.

My life is truly crazy at the moment, I am acting in a promotional position at work and loving the adrenalin that comes from stretching myself, learning new skills and conquering my emotional responses to high pressure situations. I am not even minding the looooonnnnnnggg hours or the cakes I cook to bribe, er encourage, my team to attend meetings.

At home, the heater died and a water pipe burst in the back yard so I have been co-ordinating tradesmen - aaaaaaagh, how is it they are never on time? Even, when I am the first one they come to in the morning. Is it part of tradesman school; How to Annoy the Client 101. I wish they could replace it with:
Putting the toilet seat down 101
Picking up your own Rubbish 102
and
Wiping your feet 103
That said it is nice to have some heating again, and time will tell if I made the right choice.

It was fun to draw balls on sterling silver wire to form the basis of these earrings - gifts

for three dear friends with birthdays in the same week, and another skill from Stephanie's class practiced.

My beautiful hand sewn owl and crocheted sari silk nest were my Art-of-the-Month

gift from Jacky. I was so excited when this little fellow arrived as I had 'lusted' after him on Jacky's blog - hoping he might wing this way.

The tin covers are another Etsy purchase and brighten my desk at school, the happy puppy is also a gift from Jacky - I just love his squishy nose!

Bright vintage style ATC's received from Gaby; I so enjoy swapping with this kind

overseas artist.

Cheerful ATC's from a swap with Doreen, very beautiful the felted card too. Thanks Doreen!

I'll try and get back later in the week to add links. oxo

Time to Relax and to Play

I have spent most of the first week of the school holidays at school, marking, tidying, filing preparing and cleaning. While the the job is never done I am now at peace with my work. School with children is wonderful, school without children is so much more productive! My faithful Archer joined me each day with snacks, his bed and a nice warm heater he was happy.

At night I have played, these ATC's are a mix of vintage charms, original photo's, cheap embellishments, ephemera and lots of paints. Five of them are promised. If you would like a swap please let me know.

Faces, Award and Love

I think I have finished playing with faces now - until I need one. The colours in this top pic are about right for these four - all drawn while looking at magazine pictures. The centre bottom ATC took more than an hour, but at last I got the shading to blend rather than splodge. I was going to scrape the round canvas clean, but after an week or so on the floor, where the dog literally walked on it, the colours seemed to meld a little better and some of the lumps disappeared.

The lovely and talented Bevlea blessed me with a Kreativ Blogger Award; the teacher does so want to correct the spelling :).

The Rules:List 7 things that you LOVE. Link to the person who has tagged you. Choose 7 more bloggers to give the Kreativ Blogger Award to. Comment on those 7 blogs to let the recipients know you chose them.

7 THINGS THAT I LOVE

1. Jesus

2. Family (Furry and Two Legged)

3. Sandwiches (I could eat them three times a day, 15 salad veges, plain cheese and pickles, peanut butter, anything, toasted or not, just fresh).

4. Sunshine and blue skies

5. Reading ( I read EVERYTHING - contracts, books, cereal boxes, signs, the lot)

6. This little art world we belong to online

7. My friends, who are always 'there' - thank you.

I am a dud at passing these on and this is no exception, thank you to all the creative people who inspire me.

Little Bits

I had accidentally squeezed out too much paint when doing my faces so painted some Collections Elements core board frames, then I wanted to make something to go with Mum's purchased Mother's Day gift; the first notepad/journal was born.

Somehow I kept going, painted backgrounds, fabric from the old peg bag, and delicious buttons, each one a source of delight as it was selected from my stash. The end result a handful of little books. I have kept a couple for friends, the rest are now for sale on my etsy.

Faces, with apologies to some beautiful women!

I got lost in the creative zone last night, and I am so grateful! For the first time in ages I lost track of time and played for five hours straight - the result two finished ATC's and two other pieces partially done. These are my first attempts at faces; which I was NEVER going to try, when will I learn not to make sweeping statements?
After creating backgrounds a la Kelly Rae I took some magazine pictures.. and here's the apology, these women WERE beautiful.
I traced over the main features, the first time in blue pen (you can see why that was not a great idea), the second with lead pencil, and then flipped the picture onto my background to transfer the pen/pencil. From there I used paint, Tombow, Distress Ink, water colour pencil, brushes and my trans dermal applicator (thanks Kelsey). I enjoyed 'modifying' the second face, and I guess the next stage would be to draw my own.

Please join my give-away from the previous post.

Art and more..

These little houses are the first 7 of 45 I am making for a swap as part of Creative Soul Retreat in March next year. I think perhaps I am nuts, but they will look fantastic when we all have 45 in different styles, sizes and shapes. the backgrounds are all the same, torn vintage papers, and they will all be coated in shellac, as for the in between - whatever is on my desk.

This Tassel Secrets Doll is a step out for me - working in pinks and some purples. She will be available on my Etsy in the next day or so.

This needle felted ATC and the one below were so fun to make, and a great way to use the tiny fabric scraps on my desk. The 'River' tassel doll was a commission and is (I think) hanging in her new home.

Thank you

I don't like those crutches I don't, what if my tail gets caught?

Thank you so much to everyone who sent mails and left comments over the past week. It has not been an easy time, however my foot is healing, and some work issues are being resolved. I have been so blessed by your kindness and checking in online has been a joy.

This beautiful ATC came from Genevieve, a West Aussie who surprised me by sending the ATC while generously sharing her stash of a fibre I particularly liked. Thanks Gen.

These three ATC's are all stunning, all different, and all one-of-a-kind they are the results of a swap with Debbi.

Debbi has her beautiful work published in almost every issue of Somerset Studio and I was so thrilled to be able to swap with her. Debbi is another West Aussie.

While my foot healed I stayed out of the art cave and read a stack of books, Harvey, however, maintained his rituals and spent part of each day watching the birds through the window, while keeping the arm of my chair warm.

Trading ATC's

Just a few short weeks ago I left a comment for the amazing multi talented Gaby asking her if she would like to trade with me. I was blessed and a little surprised when Gaby instantly replied that she would like to. The ATC's above arrived today (with some wonderful ephemera) and I was blown away; so much wonderful detail and yet the cards are still almost flat. The flowers in the middle card are hand painted, there are tiny seed beads glued to Nadine's dress and the backgrounds are full of colourful layers of paint and stamps.

Some of these ATC's are winging their way to Gaby and Debbi. Did I mention how excited I was when Debbi, the Debbi Baker, asked if I would like to trade with her!

To do these I grabbed a handful of chipboard and paper frames and applied rusting paint, then dry brushed a little verdigris paint on top and let the oxidising solution do its thing on both paints at once. While they were drying I took a handful of green toned paper scraps and sprayed the whole lot with walnut ink. It was then the fun began, using little bits and pieces off my desk (and the floor), some Tombow water colour pens and distress inks I fiddled and arranged for, well a long time..

Off to check the bread pudding in the oven, YUM!

Take one background....

What a blissful day it has been, sunshine after four days of rain, coffee with friends, sleep and nothing, that is right,nothing I 'had to"... time to be...

sold

A couple of weeks ago I did the background for two address books, a set of Altered Book pages and five ATC's, I finally finished the projects this week. The first of the ATC's flew the nest this afternoon and the AB was posted weeks ago. If you need a new address book I put them both on my Etsy, along with some plain ones so you can make your own.

I do like Etsy and I must confess I am shopping there more and more. In a world full of packaging and a thousand items made the same - too often in sweatshop conditions - it is a pleasure to buy the handmade and home made. I like using the search by location function and finding other artists in my area and I like the personal contact with both sellers and buyers.

I didn't actually set off to do a promotion, but I have been reflecting on my appreciation of this site as I shopped and listed items today.Where do you shop for gifts?
Whatever you are doing today I wish you peace within and soul food to rest your eyes on.

Rusty Experiences

Address Book on Etsy

I had not created a thing for over a week between my trip away and waiting for my fingers to heal. Last night I headed into the art room and sat and stared at my desk a little hesitant at first, lots of ideas in my head, in the end I played with what was there - some papers and buckles I had rusted over the last few weeks.

Hanging Note Pad - Going home later in the week.

I have had a few people ask me how I achieve my rusty colour and wondered how to answer. I seem to use a lot of different methods to achieve the same shades of colour on different surfaces. For example, paint, shellac, bleach and vinegar, salt, Haymes Paint Effects, water pastels and coffee. Sometimes I combine multiple techniques. Often I am surprised by the colours that result.
ATC: But thousands die, without or this or that. Die and endow a college or a cat

~Alexander Pope~
Harvey is doing as well as can be expected. He spends most of his social time with Archer so perhaps I will let Archer fill you in later in the week. I don't think he is sad but he is still very serious and and bewildered by each new experience. Today I vacuumed for the first time since he arrived ... he is still under my desk recovering.

ATC: One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that the cat only has nine lives.

~Mark Twain~

This and That

I have been helping out in a jewellery class at school; and picking up a few tips myself. In a quiet hour last week while most of the student's were working on projects I made this bracelet. I think every wire wrap is shaped by a question: Can you show me jump rings again? Is this tight enough? How do I? It was a nice haven, a comfort zone within a comfort zone; wire within teaching. I didn't have anyone in mind as I made this one so I have popped it on Etsy.

Thanks to Sherry, Kate and Dawn for participating in PIF you will get surprises soon.

Pay it Forward

"I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog." is what I read on the talented and kind Gunnel's blog a few weeks ago. Yesterday this lovely quilted Christmas card arrived in my mail box - despite the fact I was fourth to comment.
Now I make the same commitment to you - I think it will be some of the ATC's from the same series as the one above which will wing their way to you.