Tagged and the return of the Real Women

Natalie tagged me for this one. You are supposed to add a baby pic, this was handy.

SO here goes..... Answering the tag questions.............
HAVE YOU:
Taken a picture completely naked? No
Danced in front of a mirror naked? Yes
Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? Yes
Been arrested? No
Seen someone die? Yes
Kissed a picture? Yes (don't all teenage girls?)
Slept in until 5pm? No
Had sex at work? NO
Fallen asleep at work? No
Held a snake? Yes
Ran a red light? Yes
Been suspended from school? No
Pole danced? Yes
Been fired from a job? No
Sang karaoke? No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? YES
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? yes
Laughed until you peed? Yes (hanging head)
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
Kissed in the rain? No
Sang in the shower? Yes
Ever gone to work without underwear? Yes
Sat on a rooftop? Yes
Played chicken? Yes
Broken a bone? Yes
Flashed someone? Yes
Mooned someone? No
Skinny dipped? Yes
Shaved your head? No
Slept naked? Yes
Blacked out from drinking? Yes
Played a prank on someone? Yes
Had a gym membership? Yes
Felt like killing someone? (momentarily) Yes
Truly hated someone? No
Felt like smacking someone in the face? Yes
Cried over someone you were in love with? Yes
Had Mexican jumping beans as pets? What are they?
Been in a band? No
Shot a gun? Yes
Shot a bow and arrow? Yes
Played strip poker? Yes
Donated blood? No
Ever jump out of an airplane? No
Been to more than 10 countries? No

If you have not already been tagged for this one then please consider yourself tagged.


I had set aside my real women altered book for a while - having lost inspiration for displaying my 'forgotten women'. On the weekend I started these pages which mark a change in style for the book, but not for it's message. These women whose photos have been tossed aside were individuals, who loved, laughed, flirted,traveled and aspired to greatness.

A little fun, I think ...

He wouldn't hurt a fly, ... Would he?

I cracked up when I saw this image on a vintage ephemera sheet I received recently, this maniacal cat just called out to be used. My Charles teams with either Hamish or Maggie (the dog) to chase flies. He will leap high and knock the fly down for the others to chase at floor level. I guess it is a protest against their vegetarian Mama.

What a glorious weekend it has been. I gave myself free time - created, met with friends, created, visited new blogs, created, slept, created, read created ..... Total bliss!

I knew I needed some 'me' time, but I did not know how much until I was in the middle of it - I feel so blessed.

Letting Go ...

Away

Life is a cycle of letting go:

• Letting go of fears
• Letting go of expectations of others, and self
• Letting go of old dreams
• Letting go of stale and draining relationships
• Letting go of time ...

I am learning to let go, because often what replaces the old is something surprising, warming and life affirming. And, I seem to be programmed to hold on ...

Where to put the comma?

A mish mash of musings and thanks ...

Hamish is currently banned from the table as I mark exams. His pen chasing antics, and desire to sit on each piece of paper I need, were surpassed in silliness and drama last night. At 10.00pm I was marking final exam essays when Hamish ran to the table, leapt on top of the pen (and paper) I was focused on, and fell into a coma position, with eyes tightly shut.

Gentle requests for him to move, by the way of delicate taps to the nose were ignored. Speaking sternly only resulted in his eyes being more tightly scrunched together. Attempting to slide him away led to his claws digging into the paper - but no other sign of life.

The look on his face when I picked him up and dropped him onto the floor was priceless, "How did Mummy guess I was only foxing?".

I bought this huge bunch of wild flowers from the markets on Saturday, knowing I would be sitting at the table with a lot of work to do this week. Nature's art is always so perfect.
This mat is 60cm wide and Charles is sleeping peacefully among the towels. I had just dried and dressed my friends little boys in front of the heater, turned around, and there he was. Perhaps his paws were hot and he had to pop them under the mat.
Glorious gifts from Dotee in the mail today. A beautiful doll for my birthday ( in Dec.) - what a serene Mama and baby they are. A tag by Colette Copeland,
a card by Carla Sonheim and a gorgeous ATC that I had secretly admired on her blog. How blessed am I?

More Oriental ATCs

I keep telling myself that I am not going to do anymore bulk sets of ATCs, that I will only do OOAK. Then a theme I like appears ... and I can't help myself. Sometimes I don't want to submit them; I like the effect of nine similar cards all one page. There will be a real pang as I separate these ones. And then, when I get the returns, a healing - as I see a page of themed cards by fellow artists.

This is my final set for the Scrapbook Designs swap.

22 October

I confess I could not think of a title for this post and decided that is was because today is an average day.

The ATC's are for the latest Scrapbook Designs Swap
and while they are not my most creative, they are the most gorgeous colours that I simply can not photograph or scan accurately, I am pretty certain that is because there is a mix of matt and glossy papers.

The post cards were for 'Be Happy Day' in my year 9 class. Rather than end of term parties we have a day to celebrate our year to date and to plan a little. There is lots of food, secret friends gifts and I usually make cards. This year postcards were the go. It was fun, I so enjoy relaxing with the kids.

Today is overcast and gloomy, a perfect craft day - or snooze with a book day. But work calls and I have been long enough on this break.
Have a wonderful week.

Cheery Post

What a lovely mail day, a cheery robin ATC from Dot and a gorgeous concertina card from Sharynne Clews.

Maggie is a fairly happy girl - enjoying some early evening sunshine and a lovely bone to chew (She seems to think it is lovely!). As I commented yesterday we have a few bit and pieces to keep an eye on over the next week or so, fluids and a food diary - but her problems are mostly a few age things coming together; diabetes, arthritis and an allergy. It was so nice to pull into the carport tonight and have her run to greet me - full of enthusiasm and some energy.

Thank you all so much for all your encouragement, both here and privately, over the last few days. Maggie sends a lick and a wag (I didn't know how much I enjoy seeing her tail wag until it was missing).

Maggie Girl

My Miss Maggie has enjoyed several meals today - it takes a lot to put her off her food, she even managed to remove a piece of chocolate from my plate, as I chatted on the phone. This afternoon she managed to act like she was fine, for the hour I tutored. I grabbed the camera to take a positive pic, for the blog, and this is the best she can do.

Last night I took her out to the loo about 10pm and the effects of the nasty sedative hit at the bottom of my stairs, on the wet lawn, as the rain fell. So, yes, there I was carrying all 36kg up 14 wet steps! Realising that trips outside were not very convenient for Mummy she wet the bed, through night - her first indoor wet one since she was 6 weeks old. Poor darling, she is so embarrassed she can't even look at her bed drying in front of the fire, and won't make eye contact in the laundry, where her bedding is being dealt with.

That said, the sedative appears to have worn off, at last, and the steroids seem to be acting on the pain as she has not whimpered this afternoon. Fingers crossed for our results tomorrow.

Sick Bubby Girl

My bubby girl is 9 1/2, not really a bubby at all, and she is not well. Poor Maggie has had swellings in her neck, with increasing frequency, and often needs anti-histamine, without it she has difficulty breathing. She has been whimpering in her sleep recently as well. So today she had to go and visit vet Jade. Maggie was such a good girl and has had all sorts of tests, but has not had a very good reaction to the sedative.

Here she is all cuddled up with the shakes, and the saddest, saddest eyes.

Her bed is huge and she is all curled up in one corner.

Back to School

I have a sneaky feeling that this picture of domesticity reflects the fact it is time to go back to school today.

I am like the children, always dread the thought until I get there - and then it is fine. Love the classes I teach, have not minded doing work for them over the break, and have good friends on staff ....

Come on Julie, get dressed and go!

Bird Musings

This ATC, and I am sure much more to come, was created using stamps from The Green Pepper Press - Wayward collection.

I have recently bought four sheets of these amazing stamps and one set features crows. Which got me thinking ...

As a child I briefly had a pet magpie, a baby who had fallen from a tree, and needed our help to survive. He was a meat eater - so we were told, and with much reluctance I would touch fresh raw mince and break it up for him. I would spend hours stroking his glossy black head. He grew up, got better and my Dad held my hand - to give me strength - to let him leave home, I never forgot. Thirty years on, I no longer imagine he is sitting on the power lines above me ... But his offspring could be, couldn't they?

To this day if I have left over chips at the park I want every seagull to have an equal share - an impossible task.

My neighbours are bird lovers and have all different types of foods for each variety of bird that enters their garden. They have a cage full of pet canaries. And yet, if my friend the magpie, the hungry seagull, or the glossy black crow dare enter the garden they are chased off, with water pistols, broomsticks and shouts. Yep, I know they are scavengers, I know they eat meat, and rotten stuff too - but I have a sneaky feeling that if birds have feelings - there is little difference between those of a crow and those of a cockatoo.

A Wet Afternoon

My 'chook girls' protest against caged laying hens.

I am so glad that once again the deplorable conditions these birds live in has been featured in the Western Australian media. I am even happier that it is being discussed at breakfast tables all over the state.

It would be awesome if all eggs came from chooks with room to move, bugs to scratch for - and as a bonus a vegetarian diet.

If you can't have your own chickens then please remember that choosing free range eggs in the supermarket may cost a little extra but it does make a difference.

All done ...

It doesn't show up so well on the photo, but I just added a little colour and a birdie. Now they are all packaged and in the post.

Peace

I am going to Art Journey Retreat in March 2007, and this little quilt is for a pre-retreat, chunky book swap, using Lost Aussie rubber stamps. I really enjoy working with these stamps, partly because they are beautifully designed, deeply etched rubber; partly because many of the images started out as photos Marie takes right here in Albany.

I am contemplating adding some tabs to the right, but am just going to leave it be, and look at it, for a day.

I don't often explain my art, after all, art is what you see. But as I was playing with this one I was looking at the bare leafed tree - with just a hint that is would be new, and the peace message below - a little like a war memorial. I had been teaching the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in one class at school, and in another, the Vietnam war. This woman (Queen of Spades?) seems to be a little bit orienatal. With so much racism being expressed, I wanted to express hope for peace and forgiveness; for a new day, like those I see around me this spring.

My best e-bay buy ever!

$36au(about $27us) including postage - and I love every cm, every gram of the 4.9 kilos, every twist that is going to be formed.

What is it you ask? Copper wire! And I love copper soooooo much. The large wooden reel (gotta love the reel) - is about 28 guage and will last a life time. The dark red to the right is about 14 guage and the others fit inbetween.

This glorious wire is insulation wire found in a shed and at this stage is still covered in dust. I am not sure if I will be able to use it for jewellery - but for assemblage, pure bliss! The copper goes all the way through. The reels are gorgeous. And I do not have time to play today. Aaaagh, I am itching to get my fingers on it.

Those hard to reach places....

I could not resist sharing taking these pictures of Hamish and Charles, this morning. They have different parents and were 'chosen' within a week of each other, and yet they really are like a lot of brothers.
The best of friends, willing to go that extra mile, prepared to clean the INSIDE of each others ears. And today all was peaceful. However, quite regularly one will decide to nip the others ear (usually Charles), and then it is on! War! Chasing each other, hissing, tackling, rolling ... Until they forget, and the war turns into a game.
The game quite often ends in my big claw foot bath. As they race through the bathroom they will remember what fun it is to slide in the bath. Run up to the top and slide down the inside - like a banana slide. Friends again ... Unless one lands on top of the other ...

As I said, just like brothers ...

And don't you just want to kiss those two little noses?

Fear Less Arrived

This wonderful collage by Kelly Rae arrived today!!! What a joy it is to have one of her originals - and to see how she has built up the layers.

It is also interesting the difference a space makes. I bought the collage reading Fear Less, Kelly has titled it Fearless. And now I read both in her eyes.

If you have not checked out Kelly's work then I have her link to the left.

Breaking the Drought!

Yes, I know it was only a week without creating ... it felt like longer. There are 90 one inch tiles here, all made this long weekend, 63 of them are for Dotee's swap. The other's will make some gorgeous cards later tonight or tomorrow. It was such a joy to create in a way which used so many different ideas, textures and colours; and I am so happy to have my inky fingers back.

The cooking bug has still got me and I now have a huge pot of broccoli soup to divide into freezer containers - after a bowl for now. Yumm! I can eat soup all year round.

Creations of the Day

This week has been incredibly busy as I prepared my year 12 class for their mock TEE (next to last exams) and had parent interviews for lower school. It was such a joy to reach the weekend and to begin a few art projects, and to catch up on some sleep. I am sure I will have some art to share before the week is out.

This morning I baked for the first time in, ummmm, years? So here you see lemon tea cake and lemon muffins. My tree has reached its annual peak. I took over a hundred lemons to school on Monday and it was impossible to tell where they had gone from. I am predicting lemon cordial and lemon butter next.