20 January 2009

Created Like Crazy!!











Whew, Last week was a busy one - I created like crazy, and enjoyed every minute of it :)
The pictures above are only a small sample of some of the things I made... there was more!!

On Sunday, Bec and I were attending the Burlesque Lounge Retro & Vintage Fair - so I decided to add some collage paintings and aceo's to my jewellery for sale.

The Fair was fantastic, with lots of funky people setting up gorgeous vintage stalls, and the buyers were lining up down the street to enter the building!!

The $ales were terrific and both Bec and I were thrilled so see so many people 'liking' our hand-made goodies....... at one time we had two ladies 'fighting' over one of Bec's necklaces.... and one of the ladies just picked it up off the display board and said "MINE!!" - hahaha, Bec must make more of those :)

Here's a sample of the hand-made goodies that I made. I think Bec will post on her blog soon too.

16 January 2009

How to have a Good Day - by Bec

How do you have a good day? How do you help make sure it is a good day?

Visit my Daughter Bec's Blog for some fun inspiration - oh and make sure you put on your socks... teehee

Published in the Gallery - ArtTrader magazine


What a suprise I got today, when I received an email about the ArtTrader Magazine producing a book later this year. They were letting me know that I might have some of my artwork published. It's a great magazine, so a comprehensive book would be fabulous!

I went to the current issue (5) of the magazine and there I was in the gallery section. Three of my cards all nicely lined up smiling at me! :)



The magazine is a free online magazine, so go visit the site and download it to your pc now - don't try to print it, unless you have lots of paper and ink. It's bigger than you think.

This issue features amazing art, critiques and interviews with Suzan Buckner, Randi Marx & Tracie Rozario.

I love Suzan's artwork and have included her link so you can go be inspired too!

11 January 2009

3 Canvas Paintings started in one day




The other day I got myself motivated and began three canvases in one day!! I have almost finished them now - so three days, for three canvases was a good achievement for me. Also, I did manage to photograph them all in step by step stages. So perhaps I will be able to add a tutorial or something soon.
It was great fun playing with them, and seeing them develop. I know I have some work to do on my faces - as they are not my forte at all. Playing and learning from my mistakes is the best way of developing myself........ so don't cringe at those mistakes because sometimes I have found my favourite works have 'evolved' from mistakes, or from something I wasn't totally happy with at first. It's as if the mistakes are meant to be there, so the evolution and new artwork can emerge!!
Here's the 3 pieces -

5 January 2009

The Turban-Wearing Man's Visit 5 Jan 09


Card by Anita



He walked into my shop, came to the counter - I knew who he was because I saw him outside the arcade near chinese shop with another girl - talking to her and writing things down...... numerology or astrology i thought....
Well, He said to me:

You have a generous heart and give and have been hurt badly in the past.
The last few years have been bad for you, health wise, financially, in love and emotionally - pretty much all areas!!
Money comes in, but it also all goes out - leaving nothing much extra.
He gave me a piece of paper and asked me to hold it in my hand - a screwed up ball of paper.
Then he proceeded to tell me: in February this year, everything will change for you - everything will become good. The bad luck has been surrounding you and it will totally go away in February 2009. (Almost like he believed i had been cursed or something haha) - He told me to watch for enemies, or for people not necessarily enemies but people who can 'steal my ideas' - he said I am very 'open' and trust my information to others - and that there is a risk of someone taking my ideas or something I have created am doing, and making the money i deserve..!! He said he can change this, That I have to help too,and that he will put me and my business in his prayers. He said i must trust my ideas and allow them to work for me without giving too much information away to anyone else.
I mentioned that I might be moving or changing things in my shop - he said whatever I decide will be good - and that people will follow.!

He kept talking to me about my life - generally, he was accurate.
He talked about my health, said that it had not been very good - in several areas, and that it was going to improve and all things will be better in 2009.
He said my heart was strong & kind.
He said financially things will be a lot better and I will have the money I wish for, along with good things.
He told me that my husband (and i'm not wearing a wedding ring!) respected me very much, that he was not understanding things in the past and made a mistake. He said that love will be much better from this year onwards and so will everything else.

He looked at my life-line on my right hand, he said I will have a long life, that I will die in my own home (I asked.. in my sleep? - he nodded) Then he said that I will have grandchildren. (I wasn't sure if he meant there when I died or what)

He asked me to choose my favourite colour, asked me my age.... I replied that I liked lots of colours, but would pick green. I told him I was 46 years old. He said I was a young looking 46 (teehee) then he asked me to open the paper he had given me in the beginning. He said if he was correct with the paper that means the 3 things in my heart will come true for me.... He said, he would explain the 3 things in my heart - Health, Happiness & Prosperity.
I opened the screwed up paper - it said GREEN 46 - don't ask me how!!!! I have no idea.
He then gave me a black stone (with a hole drilled in it) and told me to keep it on my possession. He then proceeded to tell me, that to remove all the remaining bad luck and to help bring in the good, even though it was coming in February, I needed to place this stone into a glass of water overnight (fridays) and on the next 3 saturdays I needed to drink a little bit of the water and sprinkle some over my head/body.
He told me do not cut your hair, cut your nails or body, do not wash the clothes you wear on the Saturday!! for the next 3 saturdays.!!

He asked me to place some money in between his religious photographs in his diary, i told him i didn't have much money on me, that I couldn't take it out of the till (I was working at the shop)So I gave him all my loose change. He asked me if I could give him something from my heart - so he would remember me and that I would remember him....... I gave him a little magnet with my artwork of a vintage girl, watercoloured with praying hands and angel wings.
He said he believed it was from my heart, and accepted it - then he touched my left hand and shook my right hand.

He asked what I had done to my elbow.......(I was wearing my support) and he asked did i fall onto it. I said No, a chiropractor accidentally caused tennis elbow. He told me it was on the mend, and would be ok soon.

He said he knows that when he sees me again, i will be much happier and richer too.

AMEN!!

FOOTNOTE: Tonight after posting this I found this post by ANITA - This lovely card she made seems to be so appropriate for my post today, so kindly Anita has let me use it here to show you all - so pop over and say hello to her too :)

30 December 2008

Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses


Here is the last of the set of 6 I made. For some reason Blogger would only allow me to upload 5 at a time!

The Title of this post is what is written on the card.

Stampotique Cuties






I made some ATC's (Art Cards) using the new range of Stampotique Rubber Stamps we have in our store...... love them!!
These were stamped with a black inkpad and embossed with clear embossing powder. The scan of these pics shows them a bit lighter than they really are, and I would have liked them even blacker..!
It would have worked better with black embossing powder - but I didn't have any available at the time of making them. The backgrounds were hand-painted and embellished using my trusty glaze pen (couldn't live without them)
I will make some more of these for trade and sale on my ETSY.
ENJOY!

I Scrapbooked - been a while!!





I attended the Printblocks Trade Workshop - I must admit I haven't done any layouts for a while. It was nice to actually create something using my photographs from our Bangkok/KL holiday. We got to use some gorgeous new papers and die-cuts from Amy Butler. Amy Butler Her fabric designs are now available in papers.... woohoo. They are gorgeous designs and with a subtle look of fabric. The die-cuts were especially nice, as they are quite vintage - which is right up my alley.

Here's a few pics for now. I will post again later with some more showing the MINI BOOK we began to create in the class. I finished it at home using some more of those holiday pictures.

Thank you for looking :) If you click on the individual pictures you can see a large picture which shows the detail and paper layering.

10 December 2008

Bec needs some Blog Love





Check out her latest tags - using the cutest "Stampotique" rubber stamps. I'm having a play with these too, they are quirky and fun.
We will be retailing them in our store.

Visit BEC and send her some blog love :)

6 December 2008

One Lovely Blog Award


The lovely Michelle has presented me with another blog award, and a lovely one it is.
Thank you so much Michelle :)

As I have just awarded some awards (whew) I am posting this to show my appreciation. I have a little plan for some new style awards, so keep tuned!

Bec's Holiday Journal


Bec created some gorgeous journal pages from our holiday in Thailand and KL - you can see more of them on her flickr page :)

5 December 2008

Awesome Giveaway



The fabulous Chrysti is giving away a fabulous calendar...... yes, that is the picture of the front of it by the talented and awesome Karyn Gartel The calendar is filled with such amazing goodness by some very talented ladies like Chrysti - Go check out the link, and enter......... but I've already sent out my "Positive Vibes" to the universe to win - teehee

Blog Award





I received another Blog Award, this time from the talented Tanya - Thank you Tanya for awarding me this :) I really appreciate you thinking of me and I absolutely adore your little "Gothic Petite Dolls".
Please visit her and see these for yourself :)

These little awards are so inspirational to me, they show me that my art is appreciated and that sharing is caring. I'm so grateful for my creative blog friends. You all constantly inspire me to stretch myself, to create more - to indulge my passions!! teehee

I would love to pass this award onto the following people:


Bec Lennox (Yup, My daughter - because she has now got a new artful blog - Bec is so Wild and Precious - I love her new blog name, it suits her to a T. Go visit her, and say hello :)

Susan Sager Brown - I love her blog so much, and we share a lot in common :)

Susan Tidwell - yup another Susan (talented aren't they) - I love the christmas theme for her blog - very festive :)

Alisa Nordholt-Dean - Some very pretty things here.

Sue McGettigan - yup another Sue!!! Goodness, It's Sue Day LOL
Go visit Sue's blog to hear some upbeat christmas tunes which made me smile and see some gorgeous work too :)

Shonna Buckaroff -Gorgeous whimsical creatures and fabulous art!

3 December 2008

EXHIBITION 36 - Mixed Media Book by Susan Tuttle


The very talented Susan (Ilka's Attic) has released a new mixed media book, and it looks divine.
To win a copy, visit her blog or you can purchase the book from AMAZON -

Tuesday evening's cards






Here's a few more I made tonight..... its time for bed now, so sorry no explanation :)

ACEO / ATC's






I also managed to make some new cards over the last few nights - these are made to be framed. We (Bec and I representing ourselves and our store Scrappindipity) are attending a designer craft fair this coming weekend - and I wanted a display of affordable mini artworks, so how perfect are atc's and aceo's..... I love trading so will also be taking my "trade folder" with me :)

2 December 2008

Retro Mini-Book







I finally got some time to get a little creative again - yay.

I started this little mini book last week while at a friends house in Rockingham.

It was started by hand painting a layer of cream paint (MM) then I added a layer of gesso and smudged it around, leaving little bits of the creamier colour. Next came some more colours stamped with a foam stamp (my newest) I mixed some colours onto the stamp and randomly plonked it on the page.
Then I grabbed another stamp and did the same thing.
A chipboard bird and branches were also painted and when it was dry i glued the chipboards in place.
I then completed each page the same way with the painting, and collaged some retro pinup girl images into various pages. Some pages are left prepared to add more imagery or text as I decide later on.
This is a different colour combination for me, i usually go for the messy grungy look - and rather liked playing with something different.
There are 10 pages in total.

18 November 2008

Thailand & Malaysia





Wow,
What an awesome trip - an adventure!! In Thailand we visited some absolutely mind-blowing temples, and the history of the place was incredible. Spending was fun, we went to Chatuchak Market - not enough time in a day!! It was so big, crowded and humid - but who cares about that when shopping - right? LOL
In Malaysia, we went to the Elephant Conservation centre in Kuala Gandhar - an incredible place where they take care of the elephants - it's totally free, and you get to feed, ride and wash the elephants - bathing with them was such fun, and a true highlight of the trip. Bec and I donated some money to them, as we all thought they did an amazing job. Check out the photos - a once in a lifetime experience for me. We all loved it. I also had major anxiety as we travelled the Sky Bus - 2000 feet above sea level to what looked like a true 'fairy castle in the sky' - the drop below was terrifying for me, and my anxiety was confronted head-on...... I cried like a little girl with fear - but managed to actually DO IT..... YAY!!!!! We were among and above the clouds!! So totally majestic, a view to behold.... and of course I had to get back on to come down the mountain!!
WHEW, It was good to come home after long flight delays and no sleep for a whole night!!
I missed my art, and came home to some beautiful packages awaiting me...... Thankyou to all my art-friends, your generosity is incredible and your talent so inspiring. I hope to scan some of my goodies soon - I just have to get over the jet-lag/anxiety thing first LOL

It's been over 2 weeks since I made anything, and even with my elbow slowly recovering, I don't want to push it too much. We (Bec and I) received some gorgeous new stock for the store (Scrappindipity) and I can't wait to get stuck in and play with it all....... so watch this space.

Here's some holiday shots: