The village is....

WooHoo! I finally finished the houses to swap at Creative Soul Retreat in March. I laughed at Janet's comment on an earlier posting - that by the end I would be a master builder; I am not sure about that, but by the end I was definitely on a roll and anything on my desk was fair game to become building materials.

And here is Archer smelling scrumptious (please tell me you did not just sniff the screen), after his visit to the Grooming Gallery on Monday.

Hello

Antique bisque doll head earrings

Archer: Are you in there?

Hi everyone, time has flown since I last blogged and so much has happened good and bad.

I have been sick, and truly the list sounds like the Lament of Job, my foot continues to be an issue, a winter cold, conjunctivitis, mouth ulcers and more - just when I though I had escaped winter without being sick. So there was not much art completed at all.

These earrings have been sitting waiting to be constructed for ages, it is nice to finally have them finished and dangling merrily.

I thought you might like these pictures I managed to capture during a game of hide and seek, often the pace is too fast as the game is combined with chasey in the furry world and I get pictures that are a blur.

Last week my new nephew was born - he is smoochalicious and i am besotted already! While he was arriving my Mum had my niece to stay and we had a giggle playing hide and seek -it was nice to be a participant.

Work has been difficult. I have to be careful what I say, but essentially for the first time in my life I had to raise a concern about some abuse I was experiencing. The decision about how to handle that was taken out of my hands and some interesting decisions were made which ultimately left me feeling unsafe at home as well.

More houses for the Creative Soul Retreat village.

Now I am feeling almost 100%, the dark cloud that has come as I battled situations and sickness is lifting and I can enjoy the outdoors as summer saunters in with the help of daylight savings! Long afternoons in the garden are coming, furries all coming to pester and chase the weeds as I pull them. Early evenings on the deck with a cup of tea or a glass of red and all while unconstrained by jumpers, jeans and joggers (OK, I couldn't resist the j's).

Harvey: At last she recognises my Indian roots - dahl on nahn bread.

I just checked I have well over 200 blog posts to catch up on so there will be a nice night or two browsing for inspiration and catching up as well.

Phantom: Can't a bloke have a bit of privacy while he cleans.

My friend got married and I got rust

so we're both happy. K married a farmer with a shiny new tractor, clean new ute and lots of modern stuff (I had to put that in because F will probably read this). On the farm there is also lots of beautiful rust and F has quickly become an expert at bringing special pieces in and asking K if I would like them. I do. I hear the neighbours have joined the fun and are contributing as well. These two lots are the result of our last two visits - the shearing combs are for a design I have had in my head for almost a year, the rest could become anything, or I might just keep looking at the stash, enjoying the colours and textures.

The pin above has an old rusty lid as it's base and is my comment on landmines. If you would like to buy it drop by my Etsy store.

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.

One of these things is not like the other ...

I am sitting here feeling very sad and sorry for myself so decided to blog and in doing so, knowing I tend to find the positive as I write, that perhaps I may lift my spirits.

Last night I intended to do a little work in garden and then walk Archer, I did not make it past the bottom step. Well actually I did, but I made with a CRASH as I turned my ankle and landed on my bottom. Positive note: I could have landed on Archer - his end would have been instant, my sorry long, like the piece of string.

Twine actually; as waves of nausea crashed over me I had the presence of mind to grab a piece of twine and tie it to Archer's collar. I lacked the presence of mind to tie the other end to anything. As I sat calling vainly for help (my neighbours were all walking their dogs) Archer ran up and down the road thinking he was being chased by Charles who was in fact chasing the end of the string....For anyone new here Archer is my little dog and Charles the cat. The string was about 20 meters long; blue and yellow stripes. It is good to have the full picture.

Eventually I crawled up the stairs and called Mum. Off to the hospital we went, the nurse said, "It's broken", the man in brown said, "I'm the cleaner". When I asked if he did feet as mine were rather dirty he confessed he was in fact the doctor, then he said, "It's broken". The x-ray technician was called in from home, and was happy about that?!?. She said, "It's not broken".

The Cleaner/Doctor said, "It still could be. See your doctor." Off we went for crutches - lots for people 5'2" and below or 5'10" and above. I am 5'7" and a quarter. Needing something for the night we took the small ones. It was not successful. I could write another chapter about that, but as I have now written rather a lot and have found a little smile I will leave you to deal with the rest of your day. Iam wondering if this deserves a mid week gin and tonic?

Bits and Pieces

I made the notebooks above using some of my scrap paint backgrounds and my Zutter (current favourite tool) for the binding. Quick easy and satisfying.

The bag on my left is a "Just because ..." gift from my friend Ky and her Mum. It is a bag which folds down into a pocket on the front and is one of a collection they have made for the Animal Protection Society fundraiser. I am so blessed to have received this, and in a work week that has had some particularly difficult times it was especially nice to come home to. The dollies there will appear listed in my Etsy just as soon as I get time.

This wonderful copper (and you know how much I love copper) collage is my INKrediblyRt Mystery Muse gift from Vanessa. I keep running my fingers over that embossed background.

I couldn't resist this picture of Phantom and Harvey - but I get the impression Harvey wishes I had :)

I am hoping the shame of having a blog photo up revealing my dirty windows might also make me clean them...I will let you know how I go w ith that one.

Enjoy the weekend.