blah

Have had an absolutely shitful weekend. Some blithering old twat tried to run me off the bloody road because he didn't stay in his lane as we came out of the shopping centere, how the guy behind me didn't run up my arse is beyond me. My only avenue of escape apart from slamming on the brakes was to go off into the trees, which promptly made me blow my fuse and reignited both the back and migraine. He didn't even know that he'd changed lanes. GAH!

Although I did have a larf at the fact that he was going so slow that people were blasting him with their horn, 20 in a 70 zone and not knowing which lane you're meant to be in should indicate that perhaps grandpa should hand in his licence and sell the car before he kills someone.

So I've spent all weekend whining about the light, the light and STFU before I duct tape everybody.

I couldn't even look at my laptop because OMG it's bright even when you use it on battery power. and I'm about 5000 flowers behind in my goal for the wedding.

Last night we went back to the local Bistro to see if the previous meal was a fluke and happily it was not! Different cook as well, so that's pretty good. This time we had chocolate pudding as dessert, OMG, it was YUM! so that is now our preferred dining out choice. Except others have twigged, so we need to get there earlier :D

I've noticed recently that lots of places we've been to make chocolate anything really dense and toooooo rich, now, I love chocolate but it doesn't need to be overkill to be wonderful. I once ordered chocolate cake, which was more the texture of a double choc muffin with chocolate sauce poured all over it and chunks of chocolate on top and a chocolate mousse type cream. Too much, so please stop doing it. BTW, each piece of cake does not need to be drizzled [swamped] with chocolate sauce as a decorative effect.

I'm glad Julie won Masterchef, so there :p

Belated Birthday Bash

Tonight we finally went out for my birthday LOL I decided to try the Bistro at the Football club, if you ever come to Bendigo, ask me for the info. It was excellent and there was no way I was going to finish it all. They definitely are not stingy with the food. The prices aren't bad either.

White chocolate cheesecake .... drool..

and they even passed the coffee test! [most places fail dismally]

They're going down like bowling pins in the team trials tonight :(

No, I don't think they should allow riders who have tested positive for illegal drugs back in to the Tour de France. It doesn't matter if it was not performance enhancing, if it's illegal...tough. I don't care if you don't agree, you try being the mother of a long term drug addict and tell me it's okay to make it out to be nothing of consequence. You can't tell me there are no consequences that affect other team riders either. If he was serious, he'd be in rehab getting clean after 3x testing + for cocaine.

So, flame away but unless you have intimate knowledge of drug use and how it impacts on people around you and tell the truth, not fanciful excuses. F.O.

Hopefully I'll be scooting down to the city in the next few weeks, I need to go to the art shop and the coffee shop and the book shop and the errrrrmmmmm, oh! craft shop and then Southland & Chaddy.

Oh and I need to visit somebody & drop some stuff off :D I'd let her know 'cept she's never home when I've called the last few weeks. I hate 101. LOL

I'm bloody glad I ain't a rockstar!

cos there is no way I am going to drop from a ceiling in a sheet.

Went to see Pink's funhouse concert with D2 at Rod Laver on Tues night, excellent! Although the drive down was terrifying due to the heavy rain and icy road :-( then on the way back we had heavy fog!
And as if I just conjured it up...it's pouring again now :D

I said I wasn't going to buy anything but in the end I bought a mug, tshirt and poster. I really must erase the "S" off my forehead!

Every single guy in the audience was waiting for the pink love heart to come adrift :D I should have pics next week as the daughter still has them.

The reason why it was a drive down was because the teenage boy in the family has suddenly discovered an intense need to go to school every day. Usually it's the opposite and I drag him kicking & squealing all the way, so I have concluded that there must be a female incentive :D

Husband likes his new job. So I guess that means we are staying.

Nightynight :D

Forging Flowers by Fire...

I think I may have been a bear in a former life, I feel like hibernating as it's so coooold here. I feel a lot better now and hubby has also been saved from being nagged to death by being gainfully employed. We also succumbed to marketing ploys and got a Mr T flavour waver thingy that I am still to test out.

I had a great birthday in the end and a little bit late, thanks everyone :D I got an Epson printer that prints archival ink so that I can explore mixed media further. I also got from the lovely Ann O'dyne some beeeeyotiful cards with Illuminated manuscript images that in order to prevent from becoming soggy as I drool over them are going to be framed and put on my studio wall. She has impeccable taste in gifts does Ms Ann O'Dyne! Tuesday night I'm off to the big smoke to see Pink in concert with D2.

Here has what has been keeping me busy apart from kids, flowers forged by fire LOL I have lost track of the number of times I have burnt my fingers or stabbed them when sewing in the delica beads *grin* The dark one's are for D2's wedding and I need to make lots and lots and lots! The rest were test one's but am thinking of chucking them in my online shop and selling them. I love the white one's :D No clue how much for though, so will ponder a day or 2 :D

I know I promised no more swine flu jokes...

so how about a tshirt instead :D



you can buy one here

sick kidlet

D2 woke up covered in blood today from a nosebleed, so we're waiting to hear what is going on. Her neurologist wants to see her tomorrow but also wanted her to see a GP today as well. She's been at Emergency since then as she couldn't get in to see a Dr anywhere else and at least they have her medical history with the seizures & medications she's on. The Emergency Dept even tried a few clinics for her but no go. She just sent me a text to say they've moved her into a different room as her nose started to bleed again :-(

Hopefully it's nothing, she said she didn't feel like she'd had a seizure.

Meanwhile back at the ranch we've had youngest home as well, he must be okay as he just came in and asked if he could go to school tomorrow LOL
No he doesn't have swine flu.

I've been torturing some fabric into flowers and now I am sewing seed beads onto them, one tiny bead is stuck under my keyboard randomly sticking a key LOL I've tried vacuuming it out but the little bugger is playing hide and seek with me!

I also got some cam coloured wool, so am making the youngest 2 beanies and scarves from it.

Sorry, I know this is a bit disjointed but I'm worried about the kid. Anyway, back later!

Germany - Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Final - BBC One

I dunno, I reckon this one should have won Eurovision! I mean what's not to love? Tight shiny pants, tap dancing, girls in suits and Dita Von Teese just in case the rest didn't get ya LOL

Bye Sol, we will all miss your cheery face! not.

Did you know that the knitting hook you use to loom knit with is actually VERY painful to sit on? They are. very. You're welcome, I am always more than happy to sacrifice my butt to save others :D

Tonight I will be road testing sewing needles and seed beads :D

In other news, I have now watched the complete series of To A Manor Born, got to Master Boss level in Mafia Wars and was rewarded with a golden toilet :D and watched Eurovision entries on YouTube.

I tell ya, that's the highlight of my life this week, right there. I am so bored BUT have almost mastered the art of being more vertical than horizontal again. I look a bit like a newborn foal or more like an old drunk staggering out the pub at closing.

Hubby cooked a stew with me yelling directions and ingredients from the bedroom lol It was very tasty too, even if he did chop the celery too thick :D

Oh, I forgot, the actual highlight was the idiot [me] who accidentally set the heater to doonah smoulder while I was practicing my vertical skills in the bathroom.

I am off to Spotlight this arvo to obtain some fabric to do a test run for the daughters wedding favours. At last, I have found a way to reduce the number of seed beads I have! I also want to check out the fabric store of wonderment that Jenxo posted about, but that will have to wait until next week. I want some non ironing fabric to make pants for summer out of, so no rush. I want to try my hand at making wearable art. Whether it ends up either or neither is the fun part hehehe

So, hopefully I have kicked the resident bug permanently out now, I feel much better but strangely enough, still tired! I think we should buy shares in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

If you emailed me and haven't gotten a reply, sorry, I am almost caught up.

And now, with a nod to Dogbait who posted the first swine flu joke, here's my contribution

A lion, a bear and a pig are in the pub, showing off. The lion claims, "I'm the mightiest creature on the planet, I roar and the Plains shake." The bear claims, "I'm the mightiest creature on the planet, I roar and the Forests shake." The pig replied, "I'm the mightiest creature on the planet, I cough and The Whole world shit's itself...

and

If you receive an email from the Department of Health telling you not to eat tinned pork because of swine flu - ignore it. It's just spam.

and that's all. Adios Amigos, till next time!

lalalalala

I really hate being unwell and I seem to have been nothing else since we moved here. I'd have to say that it's stress based as the Universe seems intent on kicking my arse just because she can and it all coincided with our move and change of life. So, no point whining about it or you know what happens! However, I am making myself sick by internalising my feelings, so watch out if you piss me off, I will not walk away telling you what I think in my head but to your face. out loud. and I will no longer say thank you to those who don't deserve it.

I used to be so good with change, this time, not so much. I am working on my feeling of displacement but need to stop trying to fit in. If I do, great, if not, sorry, move along if you don't like me. I think I've been suffocating my personality so people like me and I have friends and have to thank someone for making me realise that, even if she doesn't know she did :-)

So, last night I took a night off from everyone's dramas and watched some Midsomer Murders episodes, read a book in bed and stopped fretting and worrying. Did some more knitting for the coat I'm making for BattleQueen 3 [Hi Honey! lol]

Pebbles the cat laid on me, over me, beside me and generally snuggled up to me all night. At 5am she decided to go kitteh pscho all over the house and did the *boing* jump on to me from the cupboard. At that point I told her sternly GO.TO.SLEEP. and she did. HA! at least the cat listens and obeys :D

Did some ideas sketches and worked on getting the image in my head started on paper.

Have revisited a theme I had abandoned for others and am wandering along plotting and planning.

Interesting...

Hmmmmm, who was eating breakfast & surfing the net at Macca's on Anzac Day ;-)

I am in disarray. I decided to rearrange my studio so I had better workflow, seemed like a good idea in theory anyway, but has not quite worked in practice!

Since it's freezing here I am nearly finished making myself a pair of house slipper sock things as I can never find a pair that is warm enough. I know, I have Ugg boots but sometimes they're too warm, if you know what I mean.

Will be back later tonight, my official photographer is at Tafe until 9pm, so can't get a good shot of the disaster and the in progress LOL but I did want to post before my last reader gives up on me!

Hope everyone is doing well, has a normal temp and is not hiding under the table to avoid Swine flu :D

Daily grind

You can tell when I'm busy or just feeling antisocial... I forget to blog! LOL

I'm kind of both at the moment but kids went back to school, we've been running around like headless chooks with family stuff and I really need to get some housework done before my head explodes.

I need a clone or an assistant or both. The clone can do the crap work like housecleaning and all the stuff that is toxic and the assistant can deal with the door to door people and children who fake being sick to get out of school or homework.

I will just create.

Ok, pipedream over and I need to get dinner cooked before the vultures start chomping on my arms.

coming clean...

in a manner of speaking LOL

Ok, so here's the real reason I haven't really been around. A certain witch may laugh her head off :p [ it's funny now but wasn't at first] but I was stepping out of the shower and *someone* had left catalogues on the floor [ Mr Nobody, apparently!] and I stood on a particularly glossy one and went a over t and then down like a sack of shit onto the tiled floor. So, I've been hobbling around as I wiped out the major ligaments that run through the hip, my knee and my ankle as well as irritating the crap out of those joints.

I haven't been able to sit for long periods, so I have resorted to lying back in a weird reclining position in order to read everyone's blogs. As well as lurking in google reader practically wishing people to hurry up and give me something to read! dammit! I'm glad I have a wireless mouse as I've been using the bed as a mousepad to scroll as I haven't been able to reach the keyboard LOL

I am supposed to be in bed resting for a couple more days but last night played hookey for an hour and we went to the Bendigo Says Thanks! concert so I could watch the Choirboys play live :-) Diesel, Angry Anderson & Dragon with a new lead singer was also there but by then I'd had enough of balancing on one leg and we left. It was a great event though and free as well! I know a lot of people here really appreciated them putting it on and truly enjoyed the music.

Husband was sent on a mission to buy The Age on Saturday so I could read a particular article which btw, was excellent. Ann, thx for reminding me AND telling me what page number!:-)

Today I was banished back to the weird reclining position by the husband but it's getting better every day. I've been able to sit up for long enough to write this today :-) tomorrow I want to start getting back to work. If there is one thing I really truly hate it's having nothing to do.

Well, that's it, I've run out of steam, see you tomorrow!

RIP Judd Greedy

So tragic, Judd died today after a crash at Symmons Plains Raceway during Rd2 of the Aussie Superbike Championship.

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

His website is at juddgreedy.com.au

ummm...

Oh my, I am so cornfuzzled! Between following, friending and facebooking I am feeling a little terrorised by technology! LOL

Sooo....

If I am not your friend or follower or facebooker and I am s'posed to be [or if you'd like me to be] please do not be offended, you can email me and make jokes at my expense about my memory *grin* Please put dropbears in the subject line to skirt my most excellent spam filter. My email addy is available on my complete profile over there --->

Anyway, the reason I popped in was to say I hope all my blogger/fb/twitter friends in the Big smoke are okay and do I need to send paddles? or vodka? and oy! how about sharing some of the wet stuff? Seriously tho, I hope everyone and everything stayed dry.

Well, I think I've stopped sulking...

My feelings were hurt but now I'm just snarky. Oh well. Has there been a full moon or did the world tip back into the Mercury thing?

Anyway, building a bridge, I have been a busy little bee chained to my desk and slaving away. I just scrapped a whole stack of stuff and consigned it to the currently unloved creation coffin [ or, rusty old trunk in the corner] and am now working on new stuff. But, have to make a flying visit to Spotlight to get some stuff that the art shops don't sell here. Plus, I have to go to Melbourne to get some paint as no one stocks the brand I use here. *sigh*

Daughter has my new phone in Melbourne. So, I think I'll be training down to the big smoke in the near future. Chadstone & Southland and coffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and Borders!

The house is a mess and driving me crazy so I've been blitzing a room at a time [ or trying to] The cat won't leave me alone as OH is away until the end of the month and so only has me to provide her entertainment and affection. Oh, and the possum in the roof is providing me with plenty of entertainment in the wee hours.

I feel like I'm living a giant game of tetris with boxes everywhere. Still not sure of what's happening in the next 6 months and honestly... can't be stuffed at the moment to unpack. I feel very disheartened. And pissed off because I missed going to Phillip Island for the World Supers :-( and then because I had to chase and chase to get the last of our deposit back.

Frenzy [son's pet insect] gave birth to thousands of eggs in 2 sacks, all of which were put outside to hatch. I don't mind praying mantis's but not squillions of them in the house.

Painting sold :-)

Anyway, I am off to get some sleep, night all :-)



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Now playing: Yothu Yindi - Dhum Dhum - Bush Wallaby
via FoxyTunes

I'm tired...

I'll be back in a few days.

Regeneration

This is my donation to the Bendigo Fightback Fundraiser for Bendigo and Redesdale bushfire victims. The Auction is being held tonight and you have to be there in order to bid. Pebbles the cat caused me some angst by jumping up my thigh [ouchy puncture marks!] and onto the wet size, so I turned it into a mixed media artwork which I actually quite enjoyed, so will do more!

A3 Arches 300gsm Hot Press with 23ct gold, gouache, watercolour and ink.

The text is latin from Carmina Minora of Claudian, which translated into english says :
"Thou who art about to leave thy years behind upon yon pyre, who, by this pretence of death, art destined to rediscover life; thou whose decease means but the renewal of existence and who by self-destruction regainest thy lost youth, receive back thy life, quit the body that must die, and by a change of form come forth more beauteous than ever"

The images are based on various manuscript images all around the same time period based on the story of the Phoenix rising [Aberdeen Bestiary 1200 & Der naturen bloeme 1350] and the tree of Jesse from the Lambeth bible [abt 1140]

Still around...

Looming Deadline...so in busy mode :-)

Have taken in progress shots and will put them up tomorrow some time. When I unearth my camera from it's hiding place in the pile.

Valentine's Day

So some of you will remember the great exploding drafting/artist table that I had and ended up having to get rid of after one too many times of being covered in exploding glass and paint.

Well, for Valentines Day my husband bought me a brand new one :-) [ <--- insert VERY LARGE grin] and it even has wheels *g*

and a Care Bear :-)

I'm not going to be able to get to Phillip Island for World Superbikes this year. Bit sad as I haven't missed any races since 2003 but it's for a good reason so I keep telling myself to suck it up buttercup!

So, back to the drawing board :-) catchya's all tomorrow

Helping Hands...

One of my blogger friends is a Melbourne artist, she has an ebay auction of one of her gorgeous artworks with all proceeds to go to the Bushfire Victims.

You can find the auction at Ebay

I have one of her paintings and you can also visit her blog

Daniel Sanger has also donated an artwork to be sold to benefit Bushfire Victims, you can find it here

Don't forget to visit the Toy Society for donations of handmade toys.

Fun4Paws are also looking for foster carers for dogs whose owners are homeless from the bushfires, if you can help please contact
Luke - 0415 104 044 contact@fun4paws.com.au
Lynne - 0428 844 810 or
lynne@fun4paws.com.au

and visit the linked image below to buy handamde items donated to raise money for bushfire victims.

Helping Bushfire Victims

If you want to help, here are some ways...

Humans:
-Donate Blood - There are a lot of burn victims who need blood. Contact your nearest Red Cross Blood Bank Ph 131 495
-Donate money to the Red Cross or Salvation Army Bushfire Appeals.
-Donate Clothes, blankets, towels etc can also be donated to Fire Victim Appeals through the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. [they are asking for money rather than actual items now, if you can't afford money & still looking to help, please consider donating blood instead]

- Donations to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund can be made at any National Australia Bank. BSB: 082 001 - Account: 860 046 797


Animals/Wildlife:
- You can donate at Wildlife Victoria or WIRES or Help for Wildlife
- Possum Pouches/Joey Pouches - you can either sew or knit* them. There is a downloadable pdf pattern on this page at Long Grass Nature Refuges Blog contact your local WIRES or Wildlife rescue shelter to donate these items.

* pure wool not manmade fibres.

They also need clean old sheets and towels etc but please contact your local wildlife rescue shelter to find out further info on what they need.

ABC Melbourne also have a How can I help messageboard to offer help and to find ways that you can help. There are links to various aid agency appeals and also ways to offer help for wildlife, small animals and agistment to help out fire affected animals.

Pip from Meet Me at Mikes has a lot of info & links for people who are crafty or would like to join the auctions the craft community members are starting. Pip is also accepting any handmade donations you want to make.

The Toy Society is also collecting handmade toys to be distributed to the children impacted by the fires.

Bushfires in the news...

We're all fine, the bushfires are a couple of kilometres away from us and luckily for us the wind did not fan it this way. Although our resident firebugs favourite spot just up the road was checked on several times by the Emergency Service vehicles.

Sadly, 50 homes are apparently gone here in Bendigo along with the Spotlight store, Clark Rubber and a Motorbike shop that was next to them. Also, a primary school at California Gully and a badminton/leisure centre and one of the local pubs :-( Edited : From what I can gather without going to look, these structures are still standing but have been smoke/water damaged. They believe the fire was started by someone throwing a lit cigarette butt from a vehicle :-(

As the area the fire went through has a lot of natural bushland many native animals will also be injured or dead. Apparently there have been humans injured here as well. I don't know for sure how this fire started but I hope it wasn't lit deliberately.

Hubby wasn't home until late tonight and so I was a bit worried when the sky was full of dust and smoke from the fires and I couldn't work out exactly how far away they were. The house we are in atm is surrounded by bush and grass so it would not have taken much for it to get going. Kids and cats in the car and I would have been off. [ I'm not a panicky person but don't know the area well enough yet to judge the level of danger]

I'm used to cyclones and flooding. It's much worse with bushfires because at least you get warning with cyclones and floods, bushfires come from nowhere and take you by surprise.

I'm feeling sad tonight for all the people who lost their lives and their families and loved one's, along with all the devastation of losing homes and businesses especially with the economic climate.

Other area's have also been hit hard, some worse than here with a greater loss of life :-(

Hugs everyone. Stay safe. Send thanks & grateful vibes to those who are standing guard all night to protect us.

rewind...

I did have a post written but it was too sookylala to post. So...

I've become addicted to Vampire Wars on Facebook, obviously a stress release.
I've done backgrounds ready to put something on, what I have no clue... I'm stuck in my own head and can't get it out at the moment.

I think I've developed cabin fever today after cowering inside from the heat for a week. The only time I've left the house was to go get loo paper and icy poles. I thought about making homemade ice cream but it was too hot to go to that much effort, so it's on a later list :-)

I read 2 Ruth Rendell novels and about to start my 3rd.

I really, really need to clean my workroom, it looks like a cyclone came through.

I can't draw in straight lines so Mr Matte Cutter is going to have to matte yet another of my artworks to hide that fact *g*

I can't cut the mattes myself as I tend to then require stitches and although it's trendy to include DNA as part of the authentication process, I don't think blood splashes give quite the effect I was aiming for!

I am thinking of going back to Uni and doing a 1 year Grad Diploma and teaching. Can't decide if I want to do that or not. On one hand, no I'd rather remain as I am but on the other, we bought a house. Or, I could always go back to Banking. or not.

And on that note, I am going to bed. I just bored myself to sleep! LOL

Hazy days...

Eek. 7.30pm and the temp is only just starting to go down again. It's still 40.5C [ it deserves a big C when it's this bloody hot!] I drove down to IGA today and think I seared my fingertips off on the steering wheel after going 2 metres.

We have a HUGE spider on the front door window strip and of course we get a power person rock up to ensure I know how much his company can save me.

It doesn't seem to register that I say No politely, they just keep yammering their spiel. BUT. heh. the spider freaked him out and he left rapidly after I pointed it out and expressed concern that it may jump on him *grin*

I may keep my friend the spider for a bit longer! Well, as long as the door snake keeps him outside anyway :-)

Hopefully we'll have the keys to our house this week, it's such a pita living out of boxes again.

Knitting in summer...

Have had a crappy week, hopefully will pick up. OH is looking for a job again. I'm waiting to open my shop online as they are changing the site so as soon as I have a url, you will all know. So as I don't have worry beads, I made this, my very first beanie and scarf! I found this gorgeous soft and light pink wool, perfect for my friends granddaughter. And as an added bonus, they fit! LOL

In the picture you can see my desk disaster and my model's head is sitting on an image I've just started LOL



and then I made my own knitting looms as I couldn't find smaller one's. Yes, I know it's wonky in this pic, I did fix it!



And now I've started making myself a shawl for winter and cut out some more kreepikats.

I hope all my friends here cope with the heatwave okay, I will go sit in the freezer if I have to!

The CFA are emergency vehicles

To the knob at the Beechworth Bakery Bendigo intersection this afternoon...
You ARE REQUIRED by LAW to give way to an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens going. Just because YOU think the CFA are not emergency vehicles does not make it so. I'm sure your business was much more important than theirs. You are lucky that you chose to gob off through your car window as plenty of people who were stoppped were ready to thump you.

I hope it was your freaking house that burnt down you pompous twat.

A thing of Beauty

Here is the brooch CopperWitch gave me, isn't it gorgeous! This is it's first outing out of it's packaging as I am scared of knocking coffee all over it. Now that I've taken that first step I shall carefully place it with my fave jewels and wear it with the 2 jackets I have not yet worn as I had nothing suitable wear with them. Wonder how she knew I needed something? I so wish I could embroider like this...




Now, after my lovely day out yesterday I have been inspired so need to get back to madly flinging paint and gold around :-)



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Now playing: Elton John - Cold As Christmas (In The Middle Of The Year)
via FoxyTunes

Fabulous Fashionista's & Fella's I got to meet...

What a great way to spend a Sunday. Meeting Fabulous Fashionista's and Fella's and also viewing Fantastic Frocks!

If you are ever invited to a blog meet with the wonderful bloggers of Melbourne, I highly recommend you go,go,go as fast as you can.

I do admit to being terrified about meeting in real life people whose lives I follow by written word and emoticons. They are all warm, funny and wonderful people who I am glad to have met and hope I am invited to the next blog meet. It was as exciting as meeting royalty so I am sure I blathered and bounced like a puppy.

The frocks, shoes and hats were marvelous to look at and one of us who shall remain nameless even flashed the Queen's dress. I was carefully studying the beading of the dress at the time however I did have enough cash to bail her out if required :-) I had a wonderfully knowledgeable tour guide in the form of Copperwitch which made it an interesting and entertaining trip around the gallery.

Copperwitch gave me the most beautiful embroidered brooch on a cushion. Very detailed, delicate and gorgeous, it reminds me a of a cameo but with flower embroidery rather than a face. Lovely :-)

I should also mention that if you plan on visiting the Fashion exhibition here to please book the cafe ahead of time as it's not run the way the majority of cafe's are. More a reserve a bloody seat 6 months in advance if you want coffee type of place. I've never had to reserve a table just to get a coffee before. Very odd. If not for the frocks, I would have suggested we all nick off to Beechworth Bakery. There are also no picnic tables or benches, so bring a blanket [ I forgot ours *sigh*] but it was quite nice chasing the patch of shade around under the tree.

I'm off to go out for dinner with Feminoz and her kids with all of ours. We're showing her the fine dining area here, which is to say, they have airconditioning set to snow *g*

Thanks to all of you, I loved meeting everyone and had a great time.

summer daze

sorry, it's been very hot and my brain has turned to mush. Right now at 6.46pm it is still over 40C and I am melting.

Ice cream for dinner sounds wonderful.

An Engagement...

We hopped the freeway yesterday and zoomed down to Melbourne for the engagement party. Had a good time, ate too much and then we came home again.

One of my friends was being chatted up by one of the young guys, was so funny. I stood there and listened and tried not to laugh. heh. She was being so polite. I was tempted to stand behind him and make faces at her and had to walk away so I didn't do rabbit ears. So childish I know.

We had a windy incident and the Bride2bee ended up wearing a red vodka cruiser all down her back with some potato salad and pav trying to join the vodka party.

The boys played cricket, Son showed his genetics and held the bat like a baseball bat and swung madly at the air. His mate made a good stand at the wickets and then was clean bowled by a drunk bowler *g* The boys were great though and took it all in good humour and didn't seem fazed they were playing cricket with a bunch of drunks!

And noone managed to get locked into the auto loo's. So all in all a good day.

Lots of photo's were taken and if I can pry the camera off the other daughter, I'll put some up later.

Should have the keys some time this week to the house. I want to clean and bug spray before we start the move. But want to start the move NOW. LOL

Hope everyone is having a good weekend, I'm off to gesso some more boards and sand the others down.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, I hope everyone has a safe and happy night/day.

Don't do anything I wouldn't *g*

Hugs




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Now playing: Kerosene - Art of Survival
via FoxyTunes

I've never seen one of these before...

This is the stove in our house. It's not painted so must have been that way from the Manufacturer. It reminds me of those saucepan sets in the 70's, you know, the lime green and the burnt orange one's. Talk about retro! This may or may not have been the deciding factor for us to buy the house *g*







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Now playing: Adam Thompson - Once Upon A Dream
via FoxyTunes

What a weird thing to happen...

Last night I ate a packet of plain potato chips [ you know those small multipack one's] and ended up in the Emergency Dept until 5'ish am this morning. Allergic reaction, my throat and face started swelling and I couldn't swallow properly. I also had a rash which wasn't all hives but made me look like I was sunburned. But was really bloody itchy!

So, off we trotted and amazingly there was nobody else in the waiting room, so they saw me pretty quickly and gave me some drugs to stop it. Because I have so many drug allergies anyway, they gave it to me by an IV port so they could reverse it if I got worse. I'm a pain for needles anyway, they always have to use butterfly one's. Oh ok, KID size! LOL

The Nurses and Doctors were all fantastic and kept coming to make sure I was okay. Definitely changed since the last Emergency visit I had years ago :-] Altho, that could be because it was a different State and Hospital!

I went to sleep [ phenergan always knocks me out] until they told me I could go home but Poor old hubby had to sit there and read back issues of Woman's Day LOL

So, swelling is mostly gone, I'm still a little itchy but it's bearable.

Potato chips are now banned in our house.

While we were at the hospital the kids rang to tell us that there were 2 huge spiders outside the front door... they were gone by the time we got home :-)[ the spiders, not the kids]

And so this is Christmas...

Well, that's done and dusted for the year! Now we start the birthday loop.

Christmas eve the local CFA came around with sirens and lights handing out bags of lollies for the kids. Was great fun.

D2 got me a ticket to see P!nk in concert in June in a pink card in a pink handbag wrapped in pink paper, along with a P!nk cd. Still picking my jaw up off the floor. I also got a dvd player/boombox cos hubby is sick of me pinching his portable dvd player LOL So son will inherit my cd/dvd stereo, he's happy too LOL

Son got PS Guitar Hero and a fishing rod set as well as a beach towel amongst other loot. I'm sick of hearing Barracuda already! hehehe.


Youngest Daughter got an electric guitar [ she already has an amp] and a handmade [ not by me] spiderweb gothy necklace. D3 & D2 got manicure/pedicure machiney things as well. I also found D2 the perfect gift, a chocolate stiletto shoe in a pink bag ROFL So they were all happy with what they got, so we didn't have to go back to exchange anything. Phew.

Hubby is getting a portable spa but has to pick the one he wants, so he got a gift card for it.

I made WAY too much Potato Salad and Choc Ripple cake, but Oh well. D3 made gingerbread men at 2am Christmas morning and decorated them. She even iced names for each person! LOL

The cellophane on each plate is Reindeer and Snowman poo from Santa [he ran out of coal] bags that I made for everyone :-) So funny seeing their faces! Of course, it was Cadbury's Christmas Balls and Smarties.

So now we have the rest of the school holidays to find stuff to do. Son wants to make cupcakes, go fishing and I've been checking out the fossicking in the State forest info. His mate is coming up for a week as well, so they should be kept entertained.

Then we have the engagement party and the moving into the house and the blogmeet up here as well. It's going to be a great month!

Oh, for the crafty peeps who love op shopping, the local Vinnies here is moving over the road into the old furniture shop, so will have tonnes more stuff. Plus, right next door to the Art shop on High St is an Op Shop but not sure what it's name is yet, will find out next week when I go back in. Think it might be a Brotherhood one. It had a lot of vintage fabrics, wool etc and was really cheap. If you want the exact addy, just give me a yell.



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Now playing: P!nk - So What
via FoxyTunes

MIL update

MIL's retina has not detached yet. It's something to do with the jelly [?????] in her eye. She has to take it easy *snort* and if it gets worse she has to go straight back up to the hospital.

Anyone wanna take bets it gets worse during Christmas lunch? [no, I'm not having a go at her, it's just knowing our family crap happens just at the wrong time LOL]

Well, our christmas is about to start, so I hope everyone has a lovely day and eats, drinks and be merry. See you on the other side :-)



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Now playing: Glenn Bidmead - Breathing Slowly
via FoxyTunes

Merry Christmas

Due to family commitments on Christmas Day and travel time, we have our Christmas at home with the kids on Christmas Eve. Soooo... I hope you have a wonderful happy day filled with laughter and memories to hold.
Love from me :-)

Christmas Animations provided by MUDTRAP.COM

Random Ramblings

I'm feeling very random today. Don't know why, probably just tired.
Wrapped everything to within an inch of it's life, all of a sudden the 13 yr old has decided to be inquisitive [ gah, I hope that's bloody spelt right.] and I even told the 19 yr old not to shake or feel up the presents [ Hi chicklet, I know you're reading cos I am not up that late at night :-) ]

Tonight I'm making the first log for our Christmas tomorrow if it happens, if not I have a lot of choc ripple biscuits in the pantry. Oh well.

MIL has just gone to the hospital as her retina is detaching. Don't know how bad yet, we are waiting to find out. So, we may be down in Melbourne tomorrow as well. Waiting to find out tonight what is happening.

Still working on stuff, got some more barbies and am pondering their fate.

playing with barbies

altered art dolls in progress. While they are drying I've made a face mould and glued it to a canvas, not sure why yet, but it'll come to me :-)

vanilla soap

making vanilla soap [rebatching] yes, that's a wooden ruler. I couldn't find my wooden spoon.

lazing about

I fell arse over teakettle in the street yesterday after coming out of the Art shop. The strap broke on my shoe and I ended up with a twisted knee [yes, of course, the bloody bad one!] and a sprained ankle and landed on the bones I'd broken in my foot years ago.

Guess what I'd just bought? LOL plaster cloth! Hubby said I was being prepared. groan.

So, came home with packets of frozen peas hanging off me like I was an installation piece. LOL
While lying abed diligently following the RICE procedure I tried to watch Dark Knight but kept falling asleep because of the painkillers. So now I've put my sleep pattern even more out of whack and STILL haven't seen the whole movie. I feel hungover today and I didn't even have the fun of getting that way as I couldn't go to the Christmas party *pout*

I disassembled Barbie dolls instead and cut their hair off. heeeheee. Then I wrapped them with the plaster cloth to use as a base to make them into art dolls. I did take pics but the camera batteries are flat, so will out them up later. As soon as they're dry I'll sand and gesso them.

I made some vanilla rebatched soap the other day, so just have to cut it up and put into organza bags with some pretty bows and voila a couple of Chrissie presents are finished. Everything else I'm putting in the mail tomorrow. And then I am done except for the cooking part.

I have to make 2 lots of my potato salad and 4 chocolate ripple logs on Tuesday, so will try Copperwitch's freezing idea for the logs, that way they won't go all ick on the way to the Outlaws on Thursday. Probably have to go buy more flakes to crumble on top by then though *g*

Christmas eve the future bride'n'groom arrive, so after the local Firies do their Merry Christmas lolly run we'll have dinner then presents.

Oh, I changed my mind about etsy atm and am running with a shop at madeit.com.au

Hope you're having agoodweegend!

mmmmm, what are you cooking?

says hubby and son. It smells yummy.
Pudding guessed the son.
Cake guessed the husband.

Daughter had a giggle which made the camera a shake as she was taking process pics.

says I. Neither. Vanilla Soap.

Oh. says both. ROFLMAO


I am SO mean!

In other news someone who saw stuff I've made has encouraged me to sell them. and given me a price range. So, I be opening my own Etsy store *g* with a range of necklaces and bracelets. Plus, I'll be putting original art and prints up there as well as at Art Wanted.

and she's off like the energiser bunny....

We bought a house today :-) I'm still freaking out that OMG!!!! We bought a house. We have to stay here now LOL

Boing, Boing, Boing.....

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I am having such a spectacularly crappy day that even my Pollyanna tendencies have run away and hidden from the cranky headspinning witch side of me.

Tomorrow is another day as they say, so perhaps I will be back with some happy news and some art stuff.

"I am the last dragon!" - Draco [Dragonheart]

I was going to tell you all what the kidlets are getting for Christmas, but the youngest daughter has been reading my blog. So, I won't now. hehehehehehe

Although, perhaps I should put my list up? :-) A new book is out by one of my favourite authors.... hint hint.

What I can tell you is the future SIL was nicknamed Mario by youngest, so I've found a vintage tie with Mario on it, so that's what he's getting :-) Brand new & wasn't exxxy either, so that's always a good thing. I might make him a matching pair of cufflinks in polymer clay. All the nieces are getting a necklace and so are my sister and Mum.

Headache has been lurking all day and I had to drive the brontosaurus today as my car's harmonic balancer [ heh. maybe that's what I need fixed too] is still being fixed. I have to take a break from the necklace making and so I am going to work on paintings for a couple of days.


I'm off to bed as I've taken a painkiller and I keep making data mistakes. 'Nite Owls

Happy Dance!

I knew yesterday was not going to be a good day when I woke up at 5am with a beginning migraine. It got worse when the harmonic balancer in my car decided to croak it. Good thing I married a mechanic :-)anyway the day just went south even more, so I went to bed early with painkillers and snored the night away.

This morning hubby checked the PO box and look what Anne sent me :-) [insert happy dancing here]

So pretty! and perfect [ Wonder how she knew about my addiction to diaries? hmmm...] Check out the card on the right, it's an illuminated manuscript :-) and she wrapped it beautifully as well, with a vintage Santa image as well! Thank you so much Anne, so lovely and it's really appreciated *biggrin*

Last day of school....

We had a huge fire here today, the beautiful old church on High St burnt down :-( so of course, D3 wanted photo's. I think I'm still trying to get the smoke out of my lungs.

I finished the necklace for the little gothy one. I think she'll like it, it's too dark to take a pic cos OI forgot earlier, so will whack one up tomorrow.

I made some cold porcelain clay today and used some moulds to make faces, then decided to test the hands/feet moulds. I'm making some art dolls for the girls for Christmas, so just need to wait til tomorrow for them to dry, then paint and glue them on.

creepy looking things....






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Now playing: ADELE - Chasing Pavements
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Hey big spender.....

I've been spending my share of the money the Govt handed out today. Haven't got it, but I'm still spending it LOL

Apart from the boring bills, I bought some items from my favourite jewellery supply place, got my mitts on some cool fabric pieces to make some art dolls with and bought some beads and spacers as well. Oh, and I also bought some Art supplies from my favourite Art shop in Melbourne. Never left the laptop either!

As I was so tired after all that contributing to the Big Spend of 2008, I hoofed it down to the bakery and had coffee and a vanilla slice. Yum.

Daughter2 is getting married :-) so she rang me and spent an hour on the phone telling me about the dress she's picked and having an engagement party in january. Plus, the church and how to have a reception for 80 on a shoestring, plus we're not really into big flashy things that cost a house and your firstborn.

I suggested champagne and chicken brunch, which is what we had. She works at Safeway, so she shouldn't have any drama's getting chooks and champers on special, plus she'd get staff discount. And, apparently I have to make my potato salad for them all. Uhoh.

Then it was back to my mad photoshopping skillz to make some artwork look like artwork instead of a flat biscuit. You'd think someone who'd done photography 4 times would be able to take a photo, but no. D3 did not get her talent for photography from her mother :-)

In amongst all that, we got news that our granddaughter is now living with her Dad and brothers fulltime. Eldest will still have access the same as with the boys. I'm sad but relieved. I'd hoped she'd get her act back together.

Anyway, am exhausted, so I'm off to sleep.



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Now playing: Darren Hayes - The Wrong Way
via FoxyTunes

bits'n'bobs

This is part of what I have been up to. I've finished designing and printing Swing tags and Business cards as well, the new website will go live this week once I've finished it completely. I also have some other things I've been playing around with, so will whack the pics up sometime tomorrow.

 

wow....

I didn't think anyone visited this blog apart from one or two gluttons for punishment.
I just signed up to blogfrog and blimey! a lot of you do... better lift my game and get some real stuff happening here. but, thanks :-) to all of you who do read, I'm very grateful.

Oh and yes, I have been blogging for 5 years. Scary. Lots of drafts hidden away though!

Anyone want to help me clean black printer ink off my desk, hands and face? A brand new official brand replacement cartridge exploded all over me today when I was printing off some business cards and swing tags. GAH!

Back later.

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Now playing: Jon Bon Jovi - Dyin' Aint Much Of A Livin'
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lurking

Sorry, been very very busy!

and today I have spent sorting out the bulk freshwater beads I ordered and they mixed all the colours together *sigh*

And now I am longing for chocolate ripple log cake. with flake sprinkled on top.

Oh, I forgot!

Old age catching up with me!

Hubby got a fulltime job, so looks like we're staying here.

Excercise

Mum & Dad are off gallivanting back up the coast and my sister is on her way down. My cousin is somewhere around the general area as well, so we're having a full house before Christmas. I'm feeling less pissed off at the world and getting back into the groove now. I must have been missing my Mum :-)

I've been having some issues with dexterity lately, so I've been doing knitting and crocheting with wire and beads to help. These are the beads I chose to make a necklace that I forgot to take a picture of before I sent it off. I'm making a redback spider one for the youngest at the moment so will put that up when done.

Plus I'm making a beanie on a knitting loom for one of my friends grandchild, so hopefully it will look like a beanie and not a dead ferret or something! Oh, and I'm making the beanie in wool, not wire *g*








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Now playing: Adam Thompson & Band - Circus Of Mind
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GAH!

Did you know we have a public holiday here tomorrow? No? neither did I.

My day went to shit, so I thought No probs, will just post everything off tomorrow morning. Yeah. Errr, no. GAH!

Reason my day went to shit is because my 13 year old son has a bad habit of sliding around the house, he also has a bad habit of leaving staples in his carpet [ WHY? I have absolutely no freaking idea! I wouldn't have thought it's a trendy decorating statement]

He now knows why it is not a good idea to combine both bad habits. and lucky for him he didn't get blood on the carpet.

He's fine now, although it hurt at the time and really hurt when I slung his foot straight into a vat of betadine. Nothing an icypole and vanilla coke along with some stitch thingys and a hug didn't fix. Oh yeah, and the day off school.

So, sorry, but Thursday is mail day now for all the parcels/cards/letters I was posting out.



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Now playing: Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay
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Huggles everyone!

My feet hurt!

I forgot to let you all know that my parents were here, so I wouldn't be around until Mondayish. Sorry!

Today we did the Dragon Museum and garden tour, watched a wedding, then went on the Talking Tram tour and then to the RSL for dinner and so they could play the pokies. We have to go back and get them in an hour :-)

I am exhausted! Photo's later.

I've been showing my mother [knitter/crocheter extordinaire] how I crochet with wire and beads. She says I don't crochet properly, but her Mother is the one who taught me Apparently I hold the hook and wrap the wire/crochet cotton like I'm knitting. Whatever! it works. LOL

Tomorrow we are off to the Market in the morning and then that is the extent of my here's where we live now tour *g* They leave Monday to go to Brissy to see my little brother. Hubby starts a new job and kidlets go to school, Tafe etc.

I've been doing some freelance work designing some embroidery images. Different but fun. I'm itching to do a full on just for fun painting though! and I got asked to teach some gilding classes, so that's cool. I'm finding work around the place, finally. I hate moving to a new area to start again. It's draining.

Now, I'm off to bed. very.very.sleepy.


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Now playing: Kerosene - Art of Survival
via FoxyTunes

In the studio...

So, have made new batches of gum ammoniac, pounce and gesso. Did you know that cuttlefish bones REALLY stink if you get too close when grinding it up? Ewwwww.

Today I have been gilding and now just have to wait out the drying time. I've been doing initials and smaller stuff rather than full on illuminations. Making Christmas cards to send out, want one? I'm making them with gouache, 24ct gold and Arches HP Satine. Email me name and postal address. I swear I don't have enough energy to stalk you, if you're worried. Oh, and don't wait until later, cos you'll probably get an Easter card instead! hehehehe.

I took Ann's advice and decided not to keep shoving furniture & stuff in the studio around as I am still feeling less energetic than usual. Hopefully the ants in the pants will return soon and I'll be happy. I have been walking for 30 mins but then have to have a nanny nap to recover.

Hubby went away for 2 weeks to the tropics, so I'm a tad jealous. He is working though, so I'm not that jealous LOL

We finally bought a new dishwasher as the one I had is 19 and only works erratically [the youngest daughter] so I sucked it up and spent the money. It was on sale though, $495 for a Dishlex is cheap!

Well, must twaddle off and start dinner.



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Now playing: Graeme Connors - Let The Canefields Burn
via FoxyTunes

Back again!

Well. That was not a fun break. I missed going down to Phillip Island for Motogp for the first time in years. I had pneumonia for the 2nd time, except this time it was in both lungs, apparently it was viral and then turned to bacterial. You know it's going to be bad when even the soles of your feet hurt while you are lying down.

Anyway, I am a lot better today. Last Friday I honestly thought about my mortality and of course scared myself stupid. Mind you, the Dr helped with the OMG!!! I don't wanna die bit, so I did exactly what I was told to do, rest, drink plenty of water, take antibiotics religiously and various puffer thingys. Then promptly had to add another allergy to my list of medication I definitely can't take again or the mortality question will raise it's ugly head.

Now one of the kids has had it as well, but he should be well enough to go back to school on Monday. We both just went for a follow up visit and the Dr has pronounced us well on the path to healthiness again. TG.

Mum and Dad diverted their holiday and came here earlier as they were a bit worried after talking to hubby. I had 3 days of my Mum looking after me *g* They've gone now to Geelong to see my Aunt for 2 weeks, then come back here for 2 weeks before chuffing their way back up to Brisbane to my brothers place.

You should see the mess in my studio! I have to reorganise again after the rearrangement of the house for visitors. sigh.

Away....

Will be back in a few days.

I absolutely love this! Totally worth watching.

They can be found at Myspace or their site

Go on, shake your bingo wings with me *g*

Softies for Mirabel

Pip has put up the last round of auctions to raise money for the Mirabel Foundation, so this is your last chance to grab a gorgeous soft toy!

bleh

Sorry, am under the weather. Ever since I had that blardy pneumonia a bug only has to look in my direction and I glom onto it.

Back tomorrow with some pretty shiny things :-)
and a place I found to buy some vintage patterns by download.

Cold.

Well, the weather played a nasty trick today. Beautiful weather all weekend, then wham. Gale force winds and biting cold rain. Harumph.

Of course the bloody shed door had to fling itself open at the height of it. The cat stuck her head out the door, then looked at me as if to say "You're going out there? Are you crazy?". When I got back inside she was laying on my chair in front of the heater.

I finally found an old arcade game that my MIL loved to play and wanted a copy of. Rodent's Revenge. All anyone could remember was something about a mouse and a cat. I've been googling it for a while trying to remember what is was called. It came out on W95 and if you want it as well, the link is here works fine on Vista as I have been playing it all afternoon LOL

Oh noes! Wahhhh

Anyone have a broken microwave? I need the glass turntabley thingy that you put food on. I use them as a palette and mine is broken :-( or know where the hell I can buy one from? Short of stealing mine out of my new microwave [ somehow I don't think I could justify why I pinched it for paint LOL ]I have no clue.

I have no idea why but goauche seems to mix better on them, must be magic :-)

Apart from that, I have done absolutely nothing today except watch V8's [ well, absorb the race through my eyelids would be a better description! heehee] and read a book.

We bought the beanbags btw ROFLMAO should have seen us putting the beans in. I am but a shortarse and hubby kept lifting the bag up higher while I was coaxing the beans out. Grrrrrr.

I read the instructions that said to fill the bag while in the bathtub but decided that as a grownup I could handle it. We're still picking the bloody things up.

What's even funnier is hubby has been full of static the last few days, every time he touches something or someone he shocks them. Anyway, the beans keep attaching themselves to him. If he keeps this up, he'll pass for a snowman!

Taking a deep breath...

and jumping back in.

I've entered an artwork I just did in a competition.

Details and image at a later date.

OMG. I am absolutely freaking out.

Messin' with the kids

I bought tickets for St Kilda vs Collingwood semi for the 2nd eldest and her bf yesterday. And actually got great seats for them. Wasn't on purpose but shhhh, they don't know that.

So, she rings me tonight to ask if we want to send the 2 bratlets down for the Royal show. Errrm, no, says I, but, you can grab me a show bag. A Hoff show bag. [The contents of The Hoff showbag, which costs $16, include The Hoff Wig, The Hoff Love Dice, The Hoff Headband & Wristband Set and the The Hoff Dollar Bling Necklace.]

She still thinks I'm joking.

Yes. I think I found my personality again, it was obviously on an extended holiday along with my sense of humour.

How to look like an idiot without any effort required...

change your mobile phone and chuck away the sim card packaging without writing down your new number. Then, ring important places to change your number and realise you don't know it! DUH!

Nice knowing you all!*

There's definitely one positive if the world comes to an end tomorrow...

I won't ever have to listen to the teen next door playing his doofdoof music so loud it vibrates my entire house ever again. The minute his olds are out the door he turns. it.on. EVERY.DAY. MDK to the MF. Nah, I actually have a present that I am going to leave on their doorstep for him...

NO! I am a nice person *g* doesn't mean I haven't thought about ringing the elec company and telling I'm moving and making an error in the addy LOL. I have a wonderful wireless headphone set that I am going to put there. Maybe he'll get the hint.

We did notice that the beanbag chair thingys we want are in the catalogue for BigW that came the other day. The sale starts on the 10th, so it's the Day after tomorrow sale *g* Perhaps they think everyone will be so relieved that we didn't go bang that we'll all rush right out and buy stuff on sale. ROFLMAO

* ermmm, just to clarify, I am in the world is not coming to an end because they flick a switch camp. They've had smaller one's of these for a long time. Plus, ya know, blind faith and all that jazz :-)

Softies for Mirabel

Pssssst...wanna see some great softies? Go here and you can even own one! Not necessarily for a child in your life, you could also buy one for your inner child *g*

Meet me at Mikes Ebay store

Meet Me at Mikes has a blog here which explains what Softies for Mirabel is about :-)

Echoes

I had a big clean up in my studio last night. Tossed images I've been working on into my trunk and locked it back up. Strange how something happens or you talk to someone and things change and you realise you've been on the wrong track. Oh well.

The new stuff is working well and I finally have a connection to them.

I also found in my ratpack a cd of a Uni assignment for Video Editing. I uploaded it to Youtube to watch as I don't have a mac anymore. We got a HD for this. I can't believe how young the kidlets were!

On being a Fantastic Frog and Muso Magic

I had 2 fun days last week...

I volunteered to help out at a Muso Magic [ go, click, I'll wait till you come back, drop down the recent school workshop box and it's there :-) ] workshop run by Adam Thompson [ ex Chocolate Starfish singer] If you ever get the chance to help out, jump in both feet. Or, if your kidlet gets the chance through school to do the workshop, sign the permission slip and send it back immediately by registered mail to the school *g*

Yes. It's that good.

Yes, it's motivating but not in a visible way. Adam transmits his energy out to everyone there and you just kind of absorb it. He doesn't waffle on about being positive etc it just happens naturally.

The kids have heaps of fun as well as learning to write a song and perform together. Adam and his team are excellent at what they do. You can't top Adam and Glenn [Goat Man] I wish I could bottle the magic they really do create. Seriously.

2 days and I know all of the kids went home feeling great about themselves and are now probably thinking of things to do that they would never have dreamt they could.
The kids wrote and performed the most amazing song and got up there and sang it like they were rockstars!

Made me feel great too :-) watching it happen. I got goosebumps when the kids performed it live on stage for the first time. And I am still feeling happy.

I'm really glad I got to meet Adam, Glenn and Linley and see them as people who care and are excellent at what they do, rather than just a name and picture.

PS. And, yes, Adam Thompson sounds exactly the same while jumping around with kids in a room as he does on a cd. Even with an iron on his head. The Goat man is one cool dude too.

Groundhog Day

Remember that movie? I'm stuck in a special screening just for me. I try to be positive with the eldest and stay hopeful. At the moment though, that hope is slipping away. Tough love is aptly named, although it's tougher on the parents.

On a funny note [ which isn't really funny but more macabre] I heart Yahoo search. They've got the first husband pegged right with their alternate search suggestions for his name MUWAHAHAHAHA! I know it's mean to tease, but if I said it I'd get sued. LOL

Anyway, I have had busy fingers, I sent in my contribution for the Mirabelle foundation auction on Ebay that Pip from Meet Me at Mike's is running. This is my very first original designed and made by me softie!

Meet KreepiKat :




I've also made a version in polymer clay as a pendant and a print one for a tshirt. I've become rather enamoured of him, so if the cats in the house aren't careful, he'll be getting the best sun spot to lay in *g*
I'm working on a painting today but the photo will have to wait until the photographers get home :-)

What a load of manure!

Can you believe this freaking BS? The horses that survive Hendra virus get put down anyway! Why not put them down when they are sick then? Why wait for them to recover at all? Why put them through it all? If they're serious about the human risk, would that not be more logical to reduce it? The practical cynical side of my brain is also wondering who pays the astronomical vet fee's incurred while treating the horse?

I can't articulate the rage I feel for this complete and utter BS.


Hendra virus claims $200k racehorse Tamworth
The two-year-old gelding is being put down despite surviving the deadly Hendra virus that claimed four other horses at Queensland's Redlands Veterinary Clinic.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24182088-1248,00.html


I know I haven't posted much. I swear I am really, really busy. Apart from the pneumonia putting me a month behind, I am also working on new stuff. Good news is that I am being weaned back off medication and can start excercising again.YAY. Plus, 2 pro photographers in the house, you'd think I'd be able to get photo's of artwork and stuff. no. not so much. They are busy too LOL

Journalisation of a brain

My daughter is having the same problem I do when it comes to creative process.

"Where's your journal?" was the most oft asked question while I was at Uni. "Ummmm, right there with the rest of my work I would reply." Most often followed by " Well, where's your ideas and process for the piece?" which would have me explaining that it's all in my head. I go straight from brain to fingertip, with a short side trip to OMG, that looks like crap, let's start again. So, my journal would have multiple versions of the final image in various stages BUT with no clear path of why I went there.

I just can't journalise my brain. no matter how hard I try. BUT. I think I have found a solution to my dilemna. I'm going to work it like a swatch [inspiration, design or style] board then when it's finished, take a picture and voila! A visual journey of my creative process. Phew.

So. tried the theory out *g* and true, it did work. But now I get asked why is there a Robbie Williams poster hanging off the side of the board? and why is there a Max Biaggi photo in it as well? And why are there recipes for ham and vege soup? alongside paint test strips and lyrics to Puff the magic Dragon? and Library Due Date receipts. Pics of friends and family and dates to remember. One of my daughters photo's that has no direct correlation to the artwork in progress.

Very simple. That's my creative process for everything. It's all what makes me think of what that piece of artwork is about and where it came from.

So, Daughter is now working on her own board in the same way.

Still in bed...

this is getting annoying. Apart from the idea of no technology in the bedroom going down the loo, you can only watch so much tv, read blogs and books before everything becomes too much effort. Amazing how bright screens can be, even reading an email was hard.

Poor kidlets come to visit their really young and cool Nana for fun stuff and all they get is the shrew in the bed asking if they've brushed their teefs and read their books. Oh, and had a bath. Although they're currently playing Wii bowling, so they're happy.

So, I've been stuck in bed since I came back from Melbourne, the house is a mess and if I venture beyond the sickroom I end up crying because well, the house is a mess! Poor hubby. Luckily for him, I can barely talk, so he's spared the yelling part. He tries, but we have incompatible cleaning methods, so usually I end up cleaning up his cleaning. To him, it's neat and tidy, I see a rubbish tip. LOL

I am starting to feel better tho, even starting to feel hungry & can at least sit up without my eyeballs falling out of my head. So tomorrow I'm getting up. I can't stand it anymore. I've been doodling in my art journal, so have some ideas. LOL although maybe not.

Toodles, everyone have a weekend!

Vertical Gardens

I came across an intriguing link on another blog to this site called Vertical Gardens by Patrick Blanc.

What a great solution for small space gardening! The possibilities are endless. Instead of grafitti, they could put this on ugly concrete. Although, probably not in high smog areas like the tunnels. And so easy even black thumbs like me could implement it. If you click on detailed presentation he tells you how to make it using easily acquired items, seeds and cuttings. I'm going to do a trial run in miniature *g* the less death & destruction I wreak on the plant world the better, I think.

I have felt left over from cushion making and pvc plastic from our move as well as a metal frame from our old dishwasher wheel contraption. So, it's a recycling bonus as well.

I don't think it would be water hungry as it seems the felt would hold the water and reduce the amount it would require, perfect for drought areas.

So to me, all in all, seems like a great way to garden.

Let me know if you try it and I'll post pics of my attempt.

Sniffles was the name....

OzFemme has been unwell, go make her feel better. Then come back here and make me feel better as I've since caught her germs even though we live in different states and with different germ factories kids.

I snuffled my way to Melbourne to see my GP. I haven't been able to find one here and he already knows the ins and outs of all the ducks. Youngest daughter also needed to have a blood test done, poor kidlet was not happy after. They tried many drinks of water and hot packs to try and coax her veins up with no luck. At one stage they were even looking on her hands and feet to see if they could get a cooperative vein. The Dr ended up doing it himself. From a very small vein.

Then I dragged myself* to Southland for some shopping therapy. and tissues.

I got the Countdown Spectacular 2 dvd that I have been chasing for ages. Big W is having a dvd sale, so we got some more movies. Handy now that I am stuck in bed feeling like fat cat has taken up residence on my ribcage. I also got the complete 6 series & Specials of One Foot in the Grave which is as good as chicken soup! I love that show.

We had fun trying to catch trains at both Sthn X and Flinders St. The line we needed at Sthn was closed [found out later that a train upline had a door stuck open] and at Flinders their display thingy was wrong, the other one was blank, with the added bonus of a track change to the blank side with no warning. Everyone getting on kept asking where the train was going. LOL

Well, I'm off to turn the bathroom into a steam room. Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Hugs Bunnies.

* 2nd eldest drove us around, she's on L plates still, so got plenty of practice in. We were nearly in an accident as some silly cow in a tarago with squillions of kids decided to pull out from a side street over 4 lanes of traffic. All the kidlet could say once we pried her hand off the horn and the stream of obscenities subsided was how glad she was that her Dad made her pay the extra for good brake pads he installed. LOL Oh yeah, youngest piped up with "Wow. you sound just like Mum" Hmm.

Life in the country

Overnight I have succumbed to the evil flu/cold germs floating around. You would think that the fresh country air would scare them off, but no. Tomorrow I am going down to Melbourne on the train for the day...

Anyone want to take bets on the number of death stares I get from other commuters as I sneeze and snuffle my way to the SE suburbs?

To the [ahem]friendly person who emailed me : I'd just like to point out that I was not bagging out Hugh Grant in my previous post. I've just read his Wiki bio as well as a couple of interviews and from that I have formed the opinion that, no you are quite correct, in Real Life he would not be a sad loney git. Probably more a cynical smartarse like me and the lovely Anonymous commenter who actually comprehended what my post was about.

So, there you have it *grin*

OMG! When did this happen?

I have obviously been a closet Hugh Grant fan for years without even realising it.

And it hasn't been obvious, even to me. We bought some new dvd's on sale and I grabbed Love Actually as it was on special for $3. Anyway, youngest daughter and I are putting them away and she says "Would you like me to put all the Hugh Grant movies together?"

HUH? WHAT?

Yes. That's right, I wrote that correctly. I have enough movies with Hugh Grant in them to have a whole Hugh Grant category. When did that happen? I wasn't aware that I even liked his movies. So, I've been turning this over in my mind all night. It's a bit troubling, does this mean I like romantic comedy's? or, perhaps sad lonely gits?

I've always been the sensible one, head on straight. Not the one who watches romance and reads Mills and Boon and cries at weddings.

But apparently I am.

I am a meat popsicle.

It's 4pm here and I'm sitting in bed huddled under 2 doonahs and a cat. Heater going like the clappers and it is still freaking freezing in this house. 4c degrees. Obviously, I am so cold my brain is frozen as well as I just read the BOM weather report and it says..
Weather Pattern:
A vigorous cold front will move through the rest of eastern Victoria this
evening then further cold fronts will move from the Bight to cross Victoria on
Tuesday and Wednesday


I read vigorous as vicious. LOL I like my version better.

Poetry

My son has a poetry assignment for school. One of his is called an Ode to Poop.

Kenny has a lot to answer for!

more!

My all time favourite music....

Phantom of the Opera by Nightwish

Help? Where? Rhetoric over action strikes again!

Sooooo, the crisis people can't even find them a caravan or 2 to go where the house/garage was?

ROFLMAO. And people accuse me of being cynical. What a freaking joke.

Yes, I am a big fan of self reliance and responsibility, however, sometimes the help on offer is useless. Giving them a caravan and hooking it up on site and organising for the family to take part in an owner builder relationship to rebuild would be practical. Finding a civic minded builder to help would have been more practical, or even nominating them for one of the shows on tv, instead of a garden makeover they have a whole block they could make over. 3 years dumped into crisis accomodation where they have to pay rent and utilities does not help a family recover from losing everything.

And, the council waits till winter? Yes, that's practical help.

I'm not a fan of just doing everything for people, but putting forward other options other than short term crisis help needs to be incorporated. Practical help, not looks good on paper and pat me on the back help.

A CRANBOURNE family of eight is out in the cold after bulldozers moved in on their makeshift home.

Shortly before 10.30am on Thursday, two police cars arrived at the Darcy Court property to remove Vince Grant, his pregnant partner Karen Dyball, their four children aged 12 and under and Mr Grant's 76-year-old mother, Patricia.

By lunchtime, the garage they had been living in was demolished. Hours later, Ms Dyball went into labour a week early and was taken to Frankston Hospital where she gave birth to a healthy son David Bradley. Read more

Let's do the time warp again...

Time just seems to keep getting away from me.

We are moving my studio around [yes, again!] I just can't seem to get it into a proper workflow, so we're changing it from the 2 rooms into 1. I need an uncluttered easy to get to space in order to work and it seems impossible in this house. Could just be my brain though LOL

I am allowed to start excercising again [light only, no joint impact at all] so have chosen bellydancing ROFLMAO This should be veeeerry interesting!

I have my eye on a house, slightly out of town, in a smaller town. I am seriously sick of house hunting. The house we're renting has no heating and it's absolutely freezing here. Even the cats are getting under the doonah's. The first time, I thought hubby had suddenly grown a full pelt! We've bought heaters but they still don't seem to heat the house to comfortable. Then again, being a tropical girl it may just mean I am doomed to feel frozen forever down here LOL Hopefully by the end of the year, just in time for summer, we will be in our own house and I can paint the bloody walls any colour I like and hang a gazillion pieces of art if I like!

Oh, and have a straight floor.

Well darrrrrrlings, I must be off to see if I can create a masterpiece *g*
Luvyas all.

Aha!

We wandered down to view the Archibald '08 exhibition which is currently ensconced in the local gallery. I was a bit hmmm about this years winner but seriously, the images you've seen on tv or photo's do not do the actual image justice. In person it is vivid and full of movement and subtle textures and shapes. I can now see why it was chosen as the winner.

The Heath Ledger image is also wonderful but feels very dark and foreboding. Although, that could just be my layering after his death. Mildly creepy and I felt like a bit of a voyeur looking at it. Don't get me wrong though, it's a great artwork and powerful, I felt like he was going to reach out and poke people.

One by Leslie Rice that was split into multiple images that you could barely see. In fact, I walked past half of it before I realised the frames weren't empty [could partially be the lighting though]

My personal favourite after the Del Kathryn Barton piece was by Hong Fu, Dr Joseph Brown

Afterwards we wandered across the road and browsed the Antique/Secondhand shops. I found a set of wooden cats that I hinted at hubby as my birthday present and a couple of beautiful marcasite pieces that I drooled over as well. Could keep me entertained for days in there LOL We decided to go to the Beechworth Bakery for lunch, which was really busy.

Then we came home.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I am in my studio wondering which thought to release first :-) I've finally finished all outstanding webwork, so am freeeeee!

I'm back

I spent a lot of money at bookshop and drooled for hours over the manuscripts. Learnt a lot of information.

Proved beyond doubt that I really do not have any social skills whatsoever.

Antikva's big city adventure!

No cooking, No cleaning but Reading, Room Service and Restaurants for 3 days :-)
I'm off to Melbourne for this -

Conference: Imagination, books and community in medieval Europe
An international conference at the State Library of Victoria, 29-31 May 2008
This international conference will examine the role of the manuscript book in nurturing both the imagination and a sense of community in medieval Europe, focusing on continuities between medieval and early modern visual, intellectual and religious culture.

I had to change the commenting permissions, if you have any probs let me know.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Question of the day...

Why do people join fan clubs if they're not fans? Numbskulls.

PS. I haven't been here cos I have been sick with some stoopid arse bug thing. Feeling better now though. Guess I better finish the redecorating LOL and put everyone's links back up before you all think I don't love yous all anymore :-)

PPS Don't you just love rambling run on sentences with improper grammar?

PPPS. It is absolutely.fricking.freezing here. We're not buying a house unless it has central heating to the wazoo and warmed toilet seats. GEEEEEEZ.

I blink and a couple of weeks whizz by...

Sorry, got a little bit carried away playing Mah Jong solitaire on Facebook lately!

I had my Mother's Day last Sunday as D2 and her BF were up for the weekend.
I got a true daylight work lamp, a sewing machine, some ugg boots and a Jennifer Fallon book, a set of Phantom mags and tyres. And, flowers. Score! LOL

Apparently we are now a holiday destination LOL Eldest is having her gallbladder out some time this month and we're having the baby here until she recovers.

I'm going to a conference in Melbourne on the 30/31 May. Imagination, Books and Community in Medieval Europe. Might have to take the grandaughter with me. heh.

I've been asked to do a 2 part gilding workshop, so need to get some work done to show them. All of mine have gone to their owners and photo's don't really show the gold glimmering. I've been doing test sheets for it to show the different methods of gilding ie. old method, modern method and writing out my recipes for ink, gesso and paint as well. I see my Immuno specialist in 3 mths, so hopefully he'll give me the ok to go back to using pigments.

So, I have one final corporate client site to finish off and then I will only be consulting for them. But apart from friends and family, I am done with web dev/design. Unless of course, I urgently need money to buy art supplies.

I've also been reading a lot. I've found 2 new Aussie authors, Jennifer Fallon and Fiona McIntosh I've found this cool little second bookshop and have been haunting his shelves. He has great old books on art that are reasonably priced. At this rate, I'll have to buy more shelves LOL DH says we shouldn't be looking at houses to buy, we'd be better off buying an old library or warehouse *snort*

Wel, that's it for this weeks enthralling instalment. LOL

Hugs everyone!

I am not invisible anymore!

must be magic! LOL Nah, I think I finally whined at the right person. I'm going to be in Melbourne [again GAH!] at the end of May for a conference on Illuminated Manuscripts. Hopefully I'll have time to swing by and check out Michelle's latest exhibition entries. I really love her Happy Days piece. My friend Ty is moving back to Melbourne very soon, so I am really happy and dying to catch up. A couple more of the gang from Uni are also gravitating to Melbourne [ hmmm. funny how they all turn up just as I leave! LOL]] for work. So, I've been changing stuff around, not just furniture and hopefully everything will be ready to unveil on Thursday. I'll also have some news by then and hopefully be able to invite blackmail/guilt people into coming along. Well, I'm off to get some sleep. It's freezing here and I have a book to read :-) Hugsyasall.

You can see me

but I can't. Having a bit of a tech problem at the moment. Back when I can see myself again!

Definitely a WTF moment.

I bought a motorbike racing dvd [official] and just watched it. The sound track is not the sound of motorbikes as you'd expect nor some commentator waffling on, not even silence... Elevator music. and REALLY freaking bad elevator music. WTH were the producers thinking and WTF were the *official* lot who approved thinking. The only thing I can conclude is that noone watched or listened to it prior to approval. Either that, or they were all out to lunch.

Acrylic paint

I used to paint in acrylic but since Uni have painted only in gouache and watercolour. Decided to use acrylic again today and figured it was like riding a bike... Ahem. Nope. Not even close. I ended up grumpy that it dried so quickly and was really gluggy and thick. Back to gouache LOL Got some bookshelves today for my studio. I don't have enough storage space and I can't find anything unless I hunt through piles of books and reference material stacked on the floor. Which makes me even more grumpy. Afterwards I went to Dymock's to order a book and picked up 2 more Aussie SciFi Fantasy writers to read and a book for the boy. He's reading a series by an Aussie as well but I couldn't remember what number he's up to [ about No 7] so I got him the new Skullduggery Pleasant book. He's happy. His other sleep problem is caused by not having a book to read when he goes to bed. Didn't even factor that in. He's been read to since he was a baby then when he was old enough, he's continued to read before going to sleep. It didn't occur to me that he'd developed a ritual. And, speaking of which, I am off to bed as well.