Pause ...

I hit pause today and took some time out, time to play and to regain my strength for all the next week will bring. I have been making a few Christmas pressies, and I know the special friend who is to receive this one, will not mind that she appeared here first.

After I took the photo I stamped 'fly' in blue ink to the right of the dollies head - it finished the piece off nicely. It has been fun making disposable art- covered note books, fridge memo pads and journal covers. I'll post some more after they arrive at their new homes.
My little Charles did not come home last night - I pray he is not in pain - and that he wanders home soon. Update: After two nights away My Charles has wandered in calmly - and seems a little irritated by my fuss and cuddles ... thank you.

My Little Friend

My friend's little boy turns 5 tomorrow. B and I have a special bond, besides sharing a birthday. B loves beads. When he stays the night he likes to share my bed - although he knows that five year olds will sleep in the special room with a new night light. I sent him off to bed with a handful of picture books last time he visited and went back to the lounge to find out who had won Australian Celebrity Survivor. Ten minutes later I checked on B, imagine my inward giggles and delight when I realised he had abandoned the children's books and was lost in a stack of beading magazines. This adorable child has loved beads for as long as he could hold them!
A few months ago we were shopping together when he spotted a beaded candle holder and was instantly smitten. It was a long skinny shape and I could not think of another use for it, however, it got me thinking about this old candle holder. A coat of paint, a couple of handfuls of cheap glass beads and I just know he is going to love his lolly bowl.
B was shopping with his Nana and Mum, they are the best op/thrift shoppers ever, when he spotted this cat tunnel. I am told they got no rest - and this kid can nag - until they bought the tunnel for me. I confess to being a little dubious as to whether the boys would like it.
The top and bottom photos are Hamish in the first 15 minutes of its arrival! The middle is Charles just yesterday!
Note: The plants were patients and have recovered to the point where I sent them home - poor things.

Gifts in and Gifts out.

I was a naughty girl! I opened my Christmas present from Dot. I did not even try to resist ... And I am so glad that I did not.

Let me introduce Harold, the rooster. I am a big fan of roosters - ummm let me re-phrase. I think I like the image of Roosters; the colours, those glossy feathers, the self confident demeanor, the image... Real roosters, at least the ones I have come in contact with, smell, eat worms and seem to be overly randy.

Oops I have diverted. Dotee also included this fabulous collage, included is a picture of a baby art doll she made for me last month. It is such a personal, made-for-me, collage with words of encouragement and favourite colours included. The card/ATC is a gorgeous work of art in itself.


This is the cover of a miniature ATC file I made recently, a group of us sent ATC's to encourage a friend and I wanted to create a bright and arty file. I have used another of my scrap paint backgrounds, and for the purists - the stamped city (Green Pepper Press)is deliberately sketchy. My 'Lady in Pink' uses a torso and face mould from Krafty Lady. When I look at her I see a 1950's cleaning lady all dressed up for a night on the town - a bit of 'mutton dressed as lamb'. With no offence to cleaning ladies - as mine is the BEST and beautiful.

So glad for craft supplies ...

I do enjoy the sight of parcels ready to give, and envelopes filled with good wishes.
This time of the year is always financially challenging, and Maggie's vet bills have added their bit. I am so grateful for my well stocked creative zone. I made this bracelet tonight. It began life plain wood with no spacers and was from my local $2 shop. I messed up one of the tiles, but was able to add the beads. Now I have a OOAK piece of wearable art which I will be very pleased to give as a gift. I only bought two of the bracelets at the time, I think I will stop by and see if there are more next time I am on the main street.
I recently had this journal, bookmark and fridge calendar returned from Stamping and Papercraft where they were published earlier this year. Even as I was making them, back in March I was thinking of my SIL. This is the card.
Tomorrow is the last day of school for the year. There is always some sadness as classes are disbanded and some children leave. And yet, as I have begun tidying and filing ready for next year I have felt some enthusiasm begin to creep up. I am going to be in school next week getting as much done for 2007 as possible. I will probably make the excuse that my holidays will then be free ... But deep inside I know, letting go is easier when I have the next group of teenagers to focus on.

Look at my mail!

The wonderful Dotee has done an amazing job of putting together our 1" square collages. I have not been able to take a photo I am happy with yet - but every square is a piece of art in itself. I keep picking this up and looking at it over and over again. Each time I find a new detail. Thank you to all the talented artists who participated.

Take one painted background, add animals ...

and voila! Some ATC's I am happy with. Thank you Uncle Scrooge.
There must be a touch of Uncle Scrooge in me, I can't bare waste and always brush excess paint onto the pages of a watercolour pad. If there is a lot left over on a palette I will use the credit card technique to drag it on. Sometimes I will paint it onto foam stamps and stamp a layer. There are usually ten or 12 pages being filled at a time. Sometimes I will stamp excess ink into them as well. This page has been 'finished' for at least 12 months now, but it was only last night that it called to me.
I have enough paper left for three more cards and then it is gone. I love that - a complete one off. I could scan my 'good' sheets - but somehow that would detract from the whole point; unique papers made from waste paint.
I'm off to the markets now, I have another type of creating in mind this afternoon - in the kitchen! Enjoy your weekends.

Time and should be's

I took a day's leave today to spend with my baby girl. It didn't quite work that way as I spent most of my time asleep. I think she did too! And then I played a little - I should be making Christmas goodies, but had no inspiration for them, I picked up this vintage little owl picture and let my fingers do the thinking.

Wednesday night when I couldn't sleep I decorated this tin for a secret Santa I am taking part in. We all gave hints as to what we like and the person receiving from me is a Tim Holtz fan.