What's on my workdesk this wonderful Wednesday - WOYWW?

WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday)

Hi everyone,

I have been promising the couple last entries to post photos of my current work area and my "new" work area. Now, part of the reason for the delay is because I haven't quite set up my "new" studio just yet...but I thought I may as well post where I'm at as of today...it isn't very neat! So, you've been warned.

Well, until recently I was working in my study (which is in the house) and I would constantly be dealing with keeping it neat...but since my return from the US and my husband having bought me a great piece of furniture to set up all my stuff...I have now set up (although still trying to set up) in the back garage...this will now be known as "The Studio".

So this is The Study (inside the house)

Sorry about the side view, even though I save it upright, whenever I upload the photos they go back to the original layout...if anyone has any suggestions on how to change/turn photos once in Blogger, please let me know!!!

This is my current work desk.  This piece of furniture is made from recycled Jarrah (Mahogany) floor boards from our old family room (before we demolished it for our extension).  It currently houses all my stamps (well 90% of them) and all my ink pads and other paraphernalia.

As it has been Christmas week, all I managed to work on last week was the Paperarts yahoo group's December Monthly ATC swap - Anatomical With A Twist...so the top of my work desk has the remnants of that swap.

And here it the ATC...I decided to go with a play on words...

Anatomical With A Twist

Well, now to my "new " work area...the back garage which will be converted into my studio (once my husband's colourbond shed arrives and he will move all the 'boy' stuff into his shed!!! lol).

Sorry about the side view again!!!

This is the piece of furniture my husband bought me to house all my goodies (plus the one that I currently use in my study). I have put lots of stuff in it already, but until he moves out of the garage/studio, I can't really progress (that's my story anyway!! lol).

Sorry, you will have to tilt your head again!! (advice to get the images the right way up will be warmly accepted...remember I've already saved them the right way up, it is blogger that uploads them the wrong way).

And here it is...my work area...Great isn't it! It has lots of storage and together with the cabinet from inside the house and the metal cupboard to the right of this hutch (see the main, sideways picture) I will have all my resources in the one spot...no need to keep putting stuff away, I will just cover the main work area with a blanket for now (might make a curtain of some type) to keep the dust off...but that is it.

Well, I haven't got anything else to add as the lead up to Christmas Day and now towards New Years have taken up most of my energies this week.

I'd like to wish you all the very best for 2012 and thank you for supporting my blog and visiting whenever you get the chance.

Cheers,

;D

Post Script to my post earlier today....

I found this in the post today from my friend Roslyn who was one of the two people who encouraged me to start up this blog...a very pleasant surprise from a lovely person I only got to spend the briefest amount of time with, but who will always be an online friend, due to the vast distance between us.  Thanks Roslyn for your friendship and your generosity. xx

Journal and Christmas card

My colourful journal from Roslyn

Some of my latest creations

Hi everyone,

This week I've busily been trying to get the Christmas Cards for my US relatives in the mail, together with a myriad of photos and photo discs from the Family Reunion we had back in September.

Luckily I got them all in the mail by Tuesday, but I think they might get there for New Year rather than for Christmas...but the intention was there.

This year I decided to do 2 main cards rather than the usual variety of cards I create. Here is one of them (the other is exactly the same minus the embossed words...just the bauble).

Unfortunately I'm having scanner problems, so the image is a bit dodgy with splotches here in there (even though I cleaned the glass...it still is coming up with spots...oh, well).

Christmas Card 2011

I also made my niece (in-law) a Birthday Card for her 25th birthday, using one of the stamps I bought on my recent trip to the US.

Julia

On Thursday I did a class at Scraptivate with the wonderfully talented Kelsey O'Mullane.  The class she ran was using UTEE, or Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (or powder).  Kelsey has also recently published her first book, teaching us mere mortals different fun techniques to create ATCs...if you wish to buy one, as I did, check out Kelsey's blog.

The first one I made is a little cheeky (racy, whatever you want to call it) and took its inspiration from a similar one that Kelsey made as a demo for the class.  It is interesting to note that the same stamp was used to create the UTEE image on the circular frame and the crackled image on the background...it is amazing what UTEE does.

She Knew She Could Control Him

The next one I made was pretty straight forward...I think the image is of screen siren Veronica Lake...I'm sure someone will let me know if I got it wrong.

Dreamboat

And last, but not least is this one using a male image (which I rarely do)...I was meant to be landscape, but I liked the look of it in profile...so there it is. You can see the snazzy effect that the UTEE makes when not stamped into...it looks like real enamel.

Dreamy Reflections

Well, I guess that is enough for this instalment.  Hopefully you saw something that you liked.  Thanks for stopping by to visit.

Until next time,
;D

PS  I probably won't get another one in before Christmas, so I would like to wish you all as safe and Holy Christmas and hope that 2012 will bring all that your heart desires, but most of all, I wish you health, as without that, life can be a real struggle. 

What's on my work desk this wonderful Wednesday?

Well, we're now getting to the pointy end of the year and for some bizarre reason, I had signed up for 3 largish swaps and a couple of smaller ones...and with one day left, I think I've got them all done!! Yippee!

I've already posted about the Christmas book that I did for a swap with a group in the US...hopefully it isn't far from arriving on that country's fine shores.

A couple of local swaps entailed making a calendar for 2012 using quirky/sassy sayings for the pages.  This was to be created in an A7 format.  Unfortunately only 6 people signed up, so we have decided to do 2 months each, to make up what should have been 12 people.

So, here are my two pages.  I selected the months of April (which when my birthday falls) and August (that of my husband).  Genevieve, our host can decide which month will be which, but here is month 1.

Do not distrub!

This was then followed by:

Everyone seems normal!

I was also lucky enough to attend a workshop run by Jen Crossley at Scraptive where I made, from scratch, an etched metal book and learnt how to bind pages (signatures) into a book.  After a bit of agonising when things went a bit awry I was happy with my final result...to truly personalise my book, I managed to etch my thumb print onto the metal cover.

Front view

This was supposed to be the side view, but for some reason every time I try to flip it, it disappears off the page!

The final activity I've been working on has been a monthly swap for my paperarts group.  This month's theme was "Mother's sage advice", so the ATC had to have images and quotes that fit this theme...so here is my interpretation...

Mother's Sage Advice...some pretty good advice to live up to, I reckon!

I apologise to some of you regular followers who may also be part of paperarts and I've spoilt the surprise of what this month's ATC might look like, but I'm sure you won't mind too much.

Well, I guess that is enough for this post, I can't believe I've been able to create so much in such a limited amount of time...and my studio is almost there, so next blog might have a picture of my new working area...at the moment I'm using two different areas, one in the house and the other in the garage (which will ultimately be my studio)...so watch this space.

Thanks for stopping by again.  See you next time.
;)

What's happening this fine Wednesday?

I never thought going back to full-time work was going to be so tiring after practically 9 months of being on leave!  I have 3 swaps that I'm involved in that are due in the next couple of weeks (with one due in the US by Dec 3) and I have FINALLY finished the Christmas Book pages for the ATT yahoo group.

I made 23 of the following pages and I will receive back a book containing 23 pages from 22 other players (plus mine). Here is what I finally came up with.  I hope the other players like the page I created.

Front of the page

Back of the page

I'm still working on setting up my studio...hopefully I will get time tomorrow to take a photo and upload it for you to see.

Well, that's it for tonight.  Thanks for stopping by.

PS...Happy Thanksgiving to all my US family and friends for tomorrow!

Cheers,
;D

Trying hard to sort out my Studio/Study/Craft room

I can't believe I've been back from the US 5 weeks already!!! And 5 weeks later, I'm still trying to sort out my Study/Craft room.  My wonderful husband has bought me a piece of furniture (a buffet hutch really) that we have set up in the back garage, which will soon become my Studio.  We just have to wait until he gets his new shed, so that we can move all his stuff out of the garage, so that it then will house my car and my craft stuff.

I've been busily trying to finish some of the swaps (Australian and International) that I signed up for earlier this year and since my return.  I also have started my first task as Co-moderator of the Paperarts Yahoo group. I am in the process of sending out the first returns...Spooky House ATCs...I will post a picture here of the swap, but I must first get the permission of the other players.

I also participated in a Spooky Microscope Slide swap with the Paperarts group...here 3 pictures showing the front, inside and back of my contribution.  I hope Glenda, the recipient of my efforts will like the finish product.

I had lots of fun making this...I've never done a Mixed Media swap, so it was a learning curve for me, but also lots of fun.

I have to take a photo of my new studio "workstation" and post it for you to see.

Well, that's enough for now...must go and get creating.  I will update this blog later today when I will post some more photos.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog.

;D

I'm back for galvanting around the country side!

Hi everyone,

Well, I'm back from my overseas jaunt.  I had a fantastic time catching up with so many of my US relatives and I think the highlights this time around would have to be New York (the whole place...what a city), Niagra Falls and for those of you into rock and roll music, the Foo Fighters concert in Cleveland on September 20...what a show!

Another highlight, craft related, would have to be the bargains to be had with a strong Australian dollar and the fantastic prices over in the US for arts and craft supplies...I did most of my shopping at Michaels with a visit to Jo Anns...I only wish I had more space in my suitcase (and more money)!!!  I knew I shouldn't have packed so many clothes, many of which never saw daylight outside my suitcase...lol

Here are a couple of photos of my booty...some stuff had to stay in the US, to arrive home at some later date as there was no more room in my suit case.

I also had some master classes with my Aunt who showed me how to knit socks and a beanie (hat)...here is what I made...not bad for a first attempt, though I think one of the socks is longer than the other...and if you look at the second image, one could double as a jock strap...lol

Well I guess I'd better get back to my study/craft room and sort things out and find homes for all my purchases...now to make artzy stuff with them all!!

Finally, here is proof of my Foo Fighter concert outing...had a blast...Love Dave Grohl!! (but love my husband more!!! lol)

Until next time,

Bye
;)

Blogging all the way from the USA

Hey,
It has been ages since I managed to blog about what I've been up to.  Well, by the end of August I needed to do three really important things...1.  Finish my Steampunk swap for my Paperarts group...check; 2. Finish my 20 "red" pages for my Collaborative Book for my Boomerang Stampers List group...check and 3. Depart for the USA...check.

Well needless to say I got them all done (I was sticking 1 and 2 onto SSAE at 7:10 am on Wednesday 31 August as I was heading out to catch the taxi to the airport).  A special thank you must go to my husband who popped the envelopes into the mail for me later that day.

Today has been a monumental day for my sister, my niece and I who together with 37 or so members of my mother's family managed to have a fantastic family reunion at Mayfield Heights Park in Cleveland Ohio.

Unfortunately I have no photos to post at this stage of either my two most recent swaps, or of the 5 extra scarves I've knitted or of our family reunion of today...but once I'm back home I will be posting some photos.

Must be off to bed now, as tomorrow morning we're off to Niagra Falls (on the USA side).

Until next time....
:)

Gosh, full-time work is such a creativity killer!

I know I've been very quite for almost a month!!! I've just recently started a full-time teaching job at a local high school as well as having had a lightning trip home (two 4-5 hour flights within 80 hours!! This doesn't include travel time and time waiting in airport terminals). BUT this weekend I will be finishing off some projects that need to be completed by 31 August...so watch this space and I might even have time to post before heading off to work on Wednesday morning.

Now, off to create!

Well, that's it...short but sweet.
;)

No idle hands here!

I've been doing a bit of everything these past few days, both knitting and stamping.  I've now completed about 9 "ruffley" scarves in about 3 weeks or so, plus complete 1 basic one and have started (but have left for about 2 1/2 weeks) another.

I'm also trying to keep on top of all the swaps that I've crazily put my hand up for...so this week I've started work on my contribution towards the Boomerang Stampers Collaborative book that is due August 31...but as most of my resources are back home (and I'm only going home for 4 days in about 3 weeks time) I have decided to start part of it here, before I work on the bulk of it at home and then compile it here on my return...Confused yet?  I don't blame you. But here is phase 1 of my page, it will be part of the focal point of my page.  I have selected my favourite colour of course...

Life is the Art


Now, that it is all that I will reveal as I don't want to spoil the page for anyone who is involved in the swap...I don't want to kill the anticipation of getting the Collaborative Book for the participants.

And now the scarves...I really love these scarves... a dear friend has encouraged me to make them as after I made one for her, her work colleagues said that they loved it and would love to buy one...so I am busily making them, some for me, some for my friends and some for sale...If you want one, just let me know and I'll let you know how much.

Here are the latest batch:

 I don't know why Blogger keeps putting this photo in, landscape rather than profile...but I guess it is just a quirk.

Today I will start work on a Steampunk swap for the Paperarts group I'm in, but as I don't have access to a printer here, I have to head off to the local library to print off my images so that I can get a start on this swap.

On the issue of Paperarts@yahoogroups, I've bravely put my hand up to co-moderate this group as the current owners/moderators are moving in a different direction in their lives and asked for group members who might want to take over the administration of this group.  I have got HUGE shoes to fill, but I am very excited about working with Lucy, who will be the owner/ co-moderator...we will be taking over from Barb and Bevlea in October...so, how's that for jumping in at the deep end...I am really excited about it, but there is a bit of trepidation as I am aware that the group has many, very talented members...I know I have their support, but it is scary all the same.

These women are very talented, so do yourself a favour (in the words of Ian "Molly" Meldrum) and check out their blogs.

Well, I don't have much else to show or say at the moment, so until next time....
:)

Another Wednesday Post On A Friday

Well, here I am again...second post in two days but I am so excited about the ATC swap I am currently working on that I thought I would share it with you all.  This swap is called "Altered Magazine Face".  The aim of the swap was to find pictures of people (not necessarily famous) and to modify the picture such as to change the appearance of the person.  You could change the appearance such as to totally change the look of the person to make them unrecognisable, but I thought I would do it in such a way that the person could be identified.

This for me is a big shift from the sort of ATCs I normally create, so I jumped in with a bit of trepidation...after having asked for advice from some artists whose work I really respect and admire (and actually use to inspire what I do).

So firstly I will post the raw images (some with only a couple of modifications)...in effect, all I had done was add white gesso to the matt board and also used it to adhere the image to the board.

Raw Form

As I worked, I wasn't happy with the 3rd image on the top row, so this morning I decided to give it the "old heave ho" and replaced it with a picture of Emma Watson.

So, after many hours of pottering around with each ATC...this is what I finally came up with:

The Final Product

Now to compare each ATC one after the other:

Sir Leo

Abby

Panda Eyes

The Courtesan

Flyboy

Brittney Does Alice

I have no raw form of Emma Watson because I was in such a hurry to replace the young boy that I decided was not going to make the grade.

Princess Emma

I guess that is enough for this post as I have stacks more ATC swaps I need to get onto.

So, until next time…thanks for visiting.

J

3 Letter ATC Swap

Today was spent trying to get a start on (and finish) an ATC swap I decided to sign up with the "Artist Trading Card" yahoo group that I am in.  The requirement of the swap was to create a 3 sets of 3 ATCs each creating a 3 letter word. So after some consideration and a review of the resources I had at hand I decided on the following three words: SEA, SKY and ART.

So here is what I eventually came up with:

SEA

SKY

LIFE IS ART

Well, that's about it for now...got to get ready for a dinner date with my husband!!!
Until next time.
;-)