Moo-Mania - Christmas

I've been attempting to create off and on all day and I have to tell you it was a struggle.  Nothing was coming together.  I went off and had a little nap and when I came back to the 'studio' I remembered that I had stumbled upon a challenge site today, Moo- Mania.  I checked out their latest theme, which is 'Christmas' and had a little play (I'm on a time limit as we're heading out for dinner shortly).  I haven't made a 'moo' for quite some time - it was so much fun!  They're pretty small (1 1/8" x 2 3/4"), so generally they come together quickly!

How do you overcome artist block?  Any great tips would be greatly appreciated!

Joy to the World...

the Lord has come, let earth receive her King!

Inspiration Emporium's challenge for December is 'Joyful Creations'.  When I saw this, I just knew I had to join in on the fun.  (Did you know that my middle name is Joy?)  I've been hoping to create a few handmade ornaments for my friends this Christmas, so this challenge has got me heading in the right direction.

I can't help but reflect the joy Mary must have felt at the birth of Jesus... in our family we are currently experiencing the double joy of twins, identical twins... our nieces Macy and Keely bring much joy to us all.  Here's a snapshot of my Joel, with one of our beloved nieces and she's experiencing the joy of opening presents!  Think she thought that the paper was the best bit - a girl after my own heart!

The lovely 'Mother & Child' image is from ARTchix Studio.

May you have a joy-filled Christmas!

Shades of White - Collage Obsession

'Shades of White' is the challenge over at Collage Obsession this week.  I've spent quite a chunk of the day sorting through the studio and then I had a couple of appointments during the day... time was rapidly disappearing for a little creativity... 'Shades of White' was just the prompt to get me focused and since I've done absolutely no decorating, no creating, no gift wrapping for Christmas, I thought it might be time to start exploring some ideas!

A number of embellishments on this piece come from my recent travels to Melbourne and Tasmania.  The stamped images are all by Stampington and the words are ARTchix.  The beautiful beaded tulle are from some left over pieces from my wedding gown!

As we draw closer to the day, when we celebrate the birth of the Saviour, I can't help but reflect upon how much we need Peace on Earth, true peace, that only He can bring.

In Print - Shades of Colour

It's always a thrill to have artwork published.  I received my free contributor's copy of Take Ten Spring 2012, in the midst of wedding planning, so it's only just now that I'm really appreciating the thrill! These were very quick cards to make.  I used paint samples and simple stamping at the composition's foundation, next I added a beautiful collage image and then the most exciting part, finding just the right textiles/embellishments for the finishing touch!

I think I'll be making more of these!

And it's about time that I sat down to look at and appreciate the work of the other artists that contributed to this lovely issue of Take Ten!  What a lovely way to pass the time of day!

Studio Snapshot: 'Proof'

I'm an early bird, my husband not so much... he sleeps even now as I write!  

I'm endeavouring to organise the 'studio' aka spare bedroom (though there is no room for a bed).  It's a big job and I'm tackling it bit by bit... I do some sorting and then I let myself do something creative.  That's the plan for the past few days at least... I've made a little progress, but there's so much more to go!  It will be so worth the disciplined effort in the end, when I can lay my hands on most anything because I know that I own it and I know where it is!

I was up at 4.30am this morning - I've done some sorting - I've done some playing and have in the midst of it designed a 'Friendship' ATC for December for my ATC swap group.  It's been a delightful start to the day and I've really enjoyed playing with the Darkroom Door's Photography stamp set from the Essentials 3 Collection - it is a very versatile set.  The gorgeous photo booth images are from ARTchix Studio.

Right, well back to it then!  More sorting or playing?  Perhaps a little of both!

A New Song

I revisited my brown paper bag pocket yesterday and literally tore it apart... 

It caused me to consider the fragility of life, of heart-break, of taking risks, of daring to dream dreams, of sharing secrets, of making good from a bad situation... and I've been contemplating the comfort hope can bring in the midst of a disaster... and that we should learn to sing new songs when the old ones no longer hold a sweet, joy-filled melody.

And oh the joy it brings, when your are able to share your deepest secrets with those you love and trust and they support you no matter what.  Yes, I'm discovering that wonderful joy in a new way, with my lovely husband!

Since completing this quilt yesterday, I've heard of a number of heartbreaking, sorrowful circumstances and an outpouring of overwhelming grief is all around.  It's time to mourn with those who mourn, and to pray for comfort, peace and hope for those who are suffering.

'Paris'

Paris is one of those places I dream about visiting one day, but for now I admire it's beauty from afar.

'Architecture' was January's theme for my postcard swap group, yes January, 2012.  I did finish this a few months ago, but I thought it was time share it with you!  All the gorgeous stamped images are by Oxford Impressions and the mini photos came from Typo, in the sweetest little tin.  I just knew they would come in handy one day!

My Heart Song

I've had an amazing year, one full to the brim with blessings.  My husband being the most special blessing of all.  He's the miracle that I was beginning to think would never be!  And he's a happy reminded of how God's plans for our lives are perfect and so is His timing!  There's a story to tell, our love story, and I will share it with you in time.  The engagement, the arrival of our identical twin nieces, the wedding, the honeymoon, holidays, long service leave... so many treasured moments and all in one year!  

I'll share some of the memories (and photos) of those moments with you in the near future, as I catch my breath, take time to reflect and find the best place to start.  

Just this week, I remembered that I had signed up for an online course with Jenny Doh way back in January and I still hadn't finished the first week of the course!  Life has had such a different focus for me all this year and any creativity was directed towards preparing to wed my sweetheart, Joel.  Anyway, I was thrilled to discover that the course was still available to me online and I've been working hard on it most of this week.  The course is enabling me to clarify my current heartfelt creative goals.  I've been reminded of the importance to create daily... it's not always going end with pleasing results... but being disciplined and turning up each day is what it's going to take to develop my artistic skills and it's also a pretty excellent way to spend part of the day.

'My Heart Song' is this morning's creative result.  It's simple, but hidden within are secrets, hopes and dreams and promises.  It's been so long since I've been able to sit in my 'studio' aka spare bedroom and play.  

It's my intention to play daily, for the pure joy of it, for discovery of new techniques and skills, for good health (creating makes my heart sing), for discipline (it's good for us) and to really discover what it is that I love doing creatively the most!

How about you?  Will you challenge yourself to do something creative? - daily!

TIME - TicToc

Time is ticking and all that! In my previous post I mentioned being way behind in my postcard making for the swap group I'm involved with this year. Well I'm happy to say that I'm all caught up!

This postcard was inspired by the theme 'Time'. I've used Oxford Impressions Alice in Wonderland images, Collections clocks and scraps of papers. There's a bit of washi tape along the top (taken from my rapidly growing collection) and pretty ribbons!

My new art space is practically set up, but I'm over 3000 kms away, holidaying in Melbourne with one of my bridesmaids, so not much creating happening at the moment. More like treasure hunting! We're off to Tasmania tomorrow, leaving my poor hubby to fend for himself for most of November!

I'm blogging via my iPad... Very experimental, will see how it goes. Hopefully more postcards to come soon!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

'Giraffee Safari'

'Giraffee Safari' postcard for Trish

Our postcard swap group has continued into 2012 and up 'til yesterday I was 9 months behind in postcard making.  What with the engagement party and wedding organisation, along with organising my classroom, so I could leave it for long service leave for 6 months, it's been a busy year!  Yesterday I finally got to play creatively for the first time in my new 'studio' (aka as spare bedroom) and knew I wanted to at least finish the two postcards I owe to Trish.  Joel and I fly out to Jakarta on Friday and I'll be able to hand deliver them to her, which is very exciting!!!  She never receives mail over there, so this is one of the few times Trish gets mail from home - when visitors come!

Most of the papers are from the Nostalgia line by Ruby Rock-It, stamps Tim Holtz and I've used some lovely washi tape too!

Now onto the next postcard... Clocks (Tic Toc)... time is ticking and I have a deadline to get this next postcard complete... tic toc, tic toc, tic toc....

We're Getting Married!

Yes, it's true!  Joel proposed in December, I said 'yes' in January and we're getting married 4th August (eight days away)!  Life has been a wonderful whirlwind this year, with many more amazing things to look forward to for the remainder of the year and the rest of our lives!

Photography by David Sobik

With eight days to go, you can imagine we're right in the thick of final preparations and I'm determined to remain calm and enjoy this special time of anticipation and excitement.  There will be lots of handmade goodness to share with you once the big day is over.  I've been incredibly blessed with many of my friends making beautiful contributions to our wedding decorating - I can't wait to see all the handmade goodness all set up and ready for our special day!

Photography by David Sobik

This is my beloved and this is my friend.

Date Night

'Date Night'

I'm away from home and you never know, tonight might be a 'date night'!!!!

What is your ideal 'date night'? 

Dinner?  Movie?  A romantic stoll along the beach?

All these awesome stamped images are by Paperbag Studios - love them!!!

Christmas Joy

'Joy'

Yes, I'm either a little late or way to early to wish you joy and happiness for Christmas, but nevertheless I will and you can take it now or leave it for later in the year!

My little catch cry for 2011 was 'fighting for joy' and so it's quite fitting that my final postcard for 2011 (for my postcard swap group) is called 'Joy'.  Early in January I wrote this.  Meeting Joy... I'm looking forward to getting home and reading what I hid behind her almost a year ago!

But for now, the joy in this day is having crafty time with most of the postcard swap group!  Shelley we wish you were here!

Head In The Clouds

'Head In The Clouds'

Sometimes it's safer that way, keeping your head in the clouds.  Sure it isn't realistic and it surely won't help you solve any problem at hand, but it's quite a pleasant escape... floating on air, flying around in your dreams and forgetting about your troubles.

The start of this new year has been an idylic one for me... perhaps a little too idylic and I wonder if I'll come crashing down from the clouds with an almighty thump.  But for now, I'll keep my head up there in the fluffy fairly floss until I see a storm cloud coming!

Can you tell I'm on holidays and presently don't have a care in the world?  So blessed!  So thankful!

And very grateful for creative time to play with Paperbag Studios rubber :)

Shine

'Shine'

'There's a time for every star to shine'... and this 'lil princess is shining bright today.  She's received her crown, is dressed in all her glory and is ready to fly.  She's making a wish, is ready to soar to great heights and 'shine'!

I'm really enjoying the challenge of using these wonderful Paperbag Studios stamps in new and creative ways.  My starting point for this piece were the assorted orange and turquoise trims... when I saw these I knew this little princess was going to have turquoise hair!  She wears it very well, don't you think?!

Wish... Fly... Shine... perhaps it really is possible - especially with turquoise hair!!!

New Year Bliss

'New Year Bliss'

And a VERY Happy and Blessed New Year to you! 

I had a wonderful night seeing in this new year with friends (usually I pike out and go to bed instead, but this time I was determined to stay up way past my bedtime and see this new year in).  What more could a girl want than great food, wonderful company and a good laugh playing a Wii game or two - I have sore muscles to prove it!!!  There was bubbly, sparklers and fireworks too!   

I have some very special things that I am looking forward to this year... new additions to the family, long service leave, travel and a newer car are big blessings I am really thankful and excited about.  I'm sure you'll hear more about all of these as the year progresses.

My New Year Bliss today was being able to start playing around with these gorgeous stamps from Paperbag Studios latest rubber stamp plate, 'Shine'.  I've been itching to try these out and they have been quite inspirational for me today! 

I'm hopeless at consistently keeping a journal and get a bit frustrated by them.  This year I thought I'd try a different approach.  I've collaged this work on a really big envelope and added a journal entry for today on an index card.  I'm planning to add thoughts and ideas to this envelope as the year progresses... shall see how it goes!

The envelope contained a really sweet and thoughtful card from my Dad and on the back of the envelope is printed 'For Arts Sake'... I found that by accident when I'd almost completed the collage - it just added to the bliss!

I've had an absolutely wonderful first day to the year... creative time, chats to some friends and a surprise visit from my adorable nephew, who requested a visit with me.  We watched Dumbo together and shared pizza with his family.  What a perfect, blissful, wonderful day!  So thankful for God's blessings for me this day!!!

The Stampers' Sampler Cover Girl!!!

This was in the mail yesterday... that's my card on the front cover.  What a thrill!!!

and a two page spread inside!

I have so much news to share from the past month or so, and I'm nearly on holidays, so I shall catch you up on what's been happening in my little world really soon! 

Bloom - PDCC106

'Bloom' - a pink silk cuff

I've been happily at play this morning, experimenting with more free motion sewing... I still find it a real challenge to get my hands and machine in sync, but there is only one way to improve my skills, so I continue to practice when I have the oportunity and time.  I've been wanting to work with this gorgeous soft pink silk since I've purchased it and felt like doing a bit of beading today too!  The latest Play Date Colour Challenge #106 gave me a little more direction (adding yellow & grey), it grew like topsy and I taught myself how to make these sweet yellow flowers along the way! 

Stage Fright - Inkurable Stampers

'Stage Fright' ATC

Have you ever had a sudden onset of 'stage fright'?  Was it a one off experience or is it an ongoing/forever kind of thing like it still is for me?  Aparently, when I was in Year One, I suffered from such a severe case of 'stage fright' that I never did manage to get up on the stage  that night.  My mum told me the story, a very long time ago and I don't remember much of the details... I think I may have been an angel in a Christmas play... it's times like these I wish mum was here to ask!  I have no conscious memory of this event... the blurred memory of mum's story causes me to think that she tried all manner of things to get me up there on the night and nothing worked!  As a teacher of Year One's now, I find myself in a similar position to mum... convincing some kids that they really can get up there and do it, just the way we practised.  Most manage it and occasionally it's too much for some... but hopefully they will learn to be brave and conquer the fear enough to get up on the stage and perform.

Orange, Purple and Green is currently the challenging theme at Inkurable Stampers.  I struggled to get started with this piece until I found this ARTchix collage picture, she was my starting point and I enjoyed setting the scene with Oxford Impressions new plate 'Vintage Circus'.

Technology - Holding It Still

'Holding It Still' Postcard

It's postcard swap time again and I'm pretty pleased that mine is completed well in time (for a change).  November's theme is technology. And my, how the technology for photography has developed over the years!  I got my first camera when I was about 11 or 12.  My parents bought it for me so I could take photos whilst on a school camp - I still remember the precious excitement of having my own camera.  I'm pretty sure I still have those first photos tucked away in a safe place and I know when I look at them again many good memories will come flooding back. 

Today, I totally love having a digital camera!  It's so nice to not have to worry about the expense of film and to just keep snapping away until you get a more than decent shot!  The only thing to worry about now is my computer crashing before I've backed up all of my photos, because it's pretty rare for me to print them.  Earlier this year I thought I'd lost all my photos on my computer... yes, I had a very big melt down, but thankfully my techno-wise friend came to my rescue and nothing was lost!  Hopefully I have learned my lesson to back them up!

The camera is a Kaisercraft rub on and pretty much else is from Dark Room Door (the photobooth photos and great range of photography themed stamps).  The film strip is pretty old... I have a LOT of it... one of my friends cleaned out her garage before she left the country and found tins of filmstrips from her earlier teaching days.  I was totally thrilled when Trish handed over two tins of it to me!!!