It is time I spend time working on play and not so much on work

It really has been a long time since I posted...and in my last post (back in 2019) I had all intentions to start creating and blogging, but life caught up with me. But, as I'm on break for the next few weeks, the plan is to start again...so much has happened, I have a new craft space (I call my studio), have it pretty well organised with new storage and work area...so there is now no excuse.

As today is Easter Sunday, I don't plan to upload anything, but I promise to be back on this Wednesday to share some of what I've done these past 6 months.

Thank you to those of you who are still following me, even though I've been silent. The plan is to be silent no more.

Wishing you all a very Happy and relaxing Easter break!

Until next time...

She's back (AGAIN)

OMG...I've been in the creative wilderness for some time now, but have finally got my mojo back. It helps being on long-service leave too. I have gone back to doing ATC classes with the sensational Kelsey O'Mullane...it feels so good. I will post some of the ATCs I've created in the past 6 weeks or so.

That's it for now... need to clear out emails dating back to 2009...I'm a horder from way back!

Cheers,
Alessandra

I'm back from the wildernesses!

Where do I start, it has been about 3 years since I last blogged...in that time I've move house, bought a house, visited family in the US, changed jobs, and have had a significant birthday.

I don't have any pictures to post just yet of any new projects, but I will soon, so watch this space.

I'm going to attempt WOYWW again, but we'll just have to see. I'm excited, I have a few pokers in a the fire...and am on fire a bit myself...figuratively and literally 😋
Enjoy your day...and until next time (not so long next time)...bye ;D
Hello there

WOYWW A lot has happened in the past 9 months!!!

A lot has happened in Casa Hardwick since my last post in January 2013. Namely I've started back at full-time work, we sold our house, we moved into a rental, we bought a house and we moved in about 4 weeks ago.

Needless to say, not much crafting has happened in this time since all my craft goodies had been packed away and I've only just unpacked everything (but I'm still trying to get my new studio set up).  I no longer have a little studio outside but now I'm under the main roof which means I won't feel the cold so much!!!

So at this stage I don't really have much to report save to say I'm hopefully back on deck!

Here is a picture of my new digs and a couple of the most recent ATCs I've created for the PaperArts group of which I'm a member. (unfortunately my camera battery died and I haven't found my chargers just yet)

August and September swaps
Left - :Victorian Male Fashions" and Right - "Blow your mind"

I will endeavour to check out some of your blogs, and hopefully some of you will be back to visit min again.

I promise to be a little more regular now that I'm almost back to full speed again. Don't forget to visit Julia's blog where she showcases other artists work.  Enjoy your day and until next time.  ;D

WOYWW...The holidays are over! Back to work I go!!!

I have enjoyed a very relaxing (but also very busy) 5 weeks and am re-energised for the new academic year.  These 5 weeks have seen Christmas come and go, a year end and another one begin, friends from interstate coming to visit and stay and the past week and a bit I've managed to do some crafting too.

I've managed to get a number of projects finished as well as starting on some new ones.

In my last blog I spoke about a Mixed Media swap I'm involved in and, even though I posted a picture of the finished product as an amendment to that blog, I've decided to post the picture again.  It is 8" x 10" and is on a flat canvas.  The brief was to create something in Black and White with a splash of Red.

I used black and white gesso, white modelling paste as well as textured paper that I ripped and painted over.  I also added a beautiful Pre-Raphaelite image.  I used copic pens to add the splash of red.

I wish I made 2, one for me and one to swap...but alas I didn't and I will just have to be brave and part with it.  At least I have the photos.

Here it is.

The before.

The after.

Here are some of the other projects I spent time on during the week. (most still need embellishments)

My granddaughter Isabelle and I spent time together yesterday, cooking pancakes and doing craft and this is what we did...(she is really camera shy, so I had to take this one sneaky peaks...still a nice photo).

Firstly I'll showcase Isabelle's efforts, some of these are for me, some for my husband and some for her mum.

For Nonno

For me

For Mum

And these are my effort...as I said...I still need to add embellishments.

So as you can see, I've (we've) been busy little beavers...

Thanks for stopping by...don't forget to visit Julia's blog where she showcases many other crafty people's work.  Enjoy your day...and until next time, ;D.

WOYWW...She's back!!

Hi,
I don't usually refer to myself in the 3rd person but in this situation it is appropriate.  Since my big long creative hiatis I've been creating like a banshi.  Unfortunately, I have no photo of my workspace as I am currently sharing it with my husband, so there are paint tins, brushes, lawn mowers and exercise weights in our shared space. I do have some photos of the projects under construction...so to speak. Don't forget to pop by Julia's blog and see all the other wonderful crafters' blogs out there.

Well, here is a Zentangle background (only my 2nd Zentangle, ever)

 This is an ATC I just finished

 Some ATC backgrounds

And finally...I'm working on a 8 x 10 canvas mixed media project. The theme is black, white and a splash of red...as you can see, I'm only at the black stage (though I did have white and red, but it looked a bit blah, so I painted over the top in black)...if it good enough for the masters...it's good enough for me...lol.

Well, that's it for now...thanks for stopping by.  Next entry will hopefully show the transformation of the images above.

Until next time,

;D

PS, if you haven't checked out my blog from last week have a look as I am offering a prize to the first person to spot the problem. (post your answer on last week's post)

I will announce the winner of the ATC next week...I won't be publishing any of your comments (should you put the answer there so as to give people a chance to work it out)

After just 3 days and lots of comments (which until how have remained hidden), I've decided to announce who has won one of my ATCs for picking up on what was incomplete on last week's zentangle post. The 5th zentangle (row 2 1st left) is the one.  I forgot to finish off the diagonal pattern on the left hand side of the lady's hair before taking the photo.

The winner is...RosC!!! Congratulations Ros, just email me your address and I'll pop one into the post. Thanks to all of you who left a comment...I now will publish all the comments.

PSS  Remember that Mixed Media Black and White with a splash of Red canvas...well, I've finally finished (well, at least I think I am)...this is the finished product:

Let me know what you think...Should I add anything else or is it good enough as is?

WOYWW (well I'm actually a day late) My mojo is finally coming back!!

Hi, I feel like I'm finally back from a deep black hole. As you can see from my previous post it has been some months since I last was here...2012 was a difficult year, but I'm sure 2013 will be a blast!

Today is the first time in 6 months that I've actually had the desire and the energy to create some art.  I've entered a swap in one of the groups I was heavily involved with in the past.  The brief was to create a Zentangle...a what I hear some of you say?  Well I'll add a link showing you some that others have made, but here is my attempt. I'm quite pleased with them.  Especially when each one is done individually with only the central face image being a stamped image.

Well enough rambling, here's what I've done.

Original stamped image

One of the 7 created

All 7 zentangles

Other Zentangles you might want to check out (by various other artists)

Well, that's it for now...thanks for stopping by to have a look and hopefully I'll be able to make regular contributions as in the past.

:)

PS...I realised after I uploaded the images that they weren't all spot on.  I will send one of my ATCs to the first person to let me know what they think the problem is...start looking and good luck!

WOYWW A very busy Wednesday

Hi everyone,

I've been really busy these past 4 weeks. I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last month.  Even though I've been crafting, I just haven't managed to update my blog.

So, this is what my work desk looked like 3 weekends ago... the plan was to post this 2 Wednesdays ago, but I ran out of time.

Anyway this is (was) what my work space looked like.

This what my work space looked like 2 weekends ago:

So what did these desks end up help me create.

Well, those of you who have been following since the start of the year would be aware of my monthly "Paperarts" yahoo group "Vintage Fat Book".  This month's theme was children...so this was what I ended up with:

This month's "Paperarts" ATC theme was an Explosion ATC (better known as a fold out ATC). Unlike other months, only 3 people participated in this swap, but all three of us commented on how much fun we had making these.

This is my Explosion ATC closed

 And open

This is the trio

Finally, I created an ATC for the WTA (Winner Takes All) monthly swap.  Everyone who enters the draw has a chance of winning all the ATCs created.  The winner is selected randomly and is chosen at the end of the month. Unfortunately, I didn't win the April draw, but this was my entry.

So, I guess I have been busy creating, just haven't had time to update my blog.

Well, that's about it for now.  Thanks for popping by and checking out my blog.  Don't forget to visit Julia's blog and check out what others around the world have been busily doing this past week.

Until next time.
;D

WOYWW - Birthday post

Well, another year goes by and I give thanks to the Lord for a wonderful life, a great husband, a great job, a beautiful family, a lovely home...I am truly blessed.

In terms of craft...it has finally happened, I've finally, fully moved into my studio.  Since I took this photo, another table has been added...so much work bench space I don't know what to do with myself.

So here it is:

For the record...all the beer stubbies belong to my husband, who is a bit of a Belgian beer connoisseur.

These are my work spaces (there is another table to the right).

Here are some of the latest creations.  A birthday card for a friend.

The card for my Secret Stamper (a swap as part of the Boomerang Stampers Yahoo Group)

And finally, a Thank you card for a special friend.

Well, that's it for today.  Off to work and to eat some birthday cake!

Don't forget to pop in and check out Julia's WOYWW page and thanks for popping by to visit my blog.

Until next time.

;D

POST SCRIPT: Here are the beautiful flowers my husband sent to me at work for my birthday! Spoilt or what?

(don't know why, when even though the image has been rotated prior to inserting, it goes in sideways!  One day it will work right)

Bird's eye view

Finally another WOYWW post

Gosh,
I have been so busy with work and life in general, that I haven't managed to post my blog for 3 weeks. However, I have been able to be creative during this time of blog flux.

Well, this is what my work desk looks like (actually, this is what it looked like on Saturday afternoon when I took the photo).

Those of you who have been following my blog will remember from my last blog that I had created some backgrounds for the Tissue Paper technique swap that I was involved with.  Here is what I finally came up with.

VOGUE

Followers will also remember that I'm involved in a year long Vintage Fat Book swap.  This month's theme is 'Music'.  Once I selected the paper I wanted to use, the rest came together pretty quickly.  I dyed the lace with tea to give it that vintage feel.  My favourite composer is Mozart, so he had to be part of this month's creation.

'MUSIC' - Vintage Fat Book page.

The Paperarts group, of which I am a member, have a monthly raffle called WTA (Winner Takes All).  Members have a month to enter an ATC into the draw.  At the end of the month, the previous month's winner selects a winner (using random number generator).  So, here is my entry for March.

WAITING

Well, I guess that is it for this week...hopefully I will be able to get back to my weekly posts.  Finally the weather here is starting to cool off.  As it cools off here, somewhere in the world it is heating up.

Thanks for popping by and having a look.  Don't forget to drop into Julia's blog and check out what's on other people's work desks this Wednesday.

Until next time.

;D

Yet another hot Wednesday WOYWW

Hi everyone,
Our summer is continuing to drag on with temperatures in the mid to high 30s (Celsius) [95 - 104], which aren't out of the ordinary, but the humidity sure is. Anyway, enough whining!

I had a very productive Saturday in which I managed to create 3 pages for this month's Vintage Fat Book, 9 backgrounds for this month's Paperarts ATC swap "Tissue Paper" technique as well as creating a card for my Secret Stamper buddy.

So here is what my workspace looks a bit like this...similar to last week, just with this week's resources.

This month's Vintage Fat Book page theme is "Women in Literature"...so after a bit of thought I decided on Agatha Christie.  So, this is what I eventually came up with.

Agatha

I also had to get a start on 9 ATCs for the Paperarts Feb monthly swap.  This month's theme is based on a technique..."Tissue Paper Backgrounds".  So I decided to make my own tissue paper backgrounds using a variety of products; from alcohol inks to home made glimmer mists. I went on to select a focal image, but that was as far as I got...the witty wording/catch phrase hasn't inspired me yet...I have a few days left before I have to have them completed. It will be this Saturday's job.  Here are the ATC backgrounds I finally came up with.

Well, that's enough for this week I guess. Must go and check out Julia's blog "Stamping Ground" and have a look at other people's work spaces.  Perhaps you should check it out too.  Click on the link above.

Until next time.

;D

Sitting up late on a Wednesday night (Thursday morning) WOYWW

Hi everyone,

Well it is now Thursday morning, 1am to be exact , when I should actually be in the land of nod, but I'm sitting up in bed writing this week's blog.

Having had a busy weekend (again!!) not much crafting got done, but I have at least 3 swaps that need to be completed within the next 10 days.  I managed to get a start (and complete) one such swap...a steampunk swap.  Only having been involved in a steampunk swap once before I'm still trying to get my head around the whole concept. In the end, I decided to go with a clock/watch background and added a piece of watch mechanism for each ATC...This is what I ended up with.

As each one is slightly different (except for the same focal image and the hot air balloon) here is the whole set of 9 I completed.

Tomorrow night hopefully I will get a start on my next Vintage Fat Book page.  This month's theme is "Women in Literature" and I think I have decided to go with Agatha Christie as my author.  I will post a postscript by the weekend if I get the pages completed by then.

My work desk, has changed slightly since the past couple of posts...mainly because I ended up doing most of my work on the lounge room floor.  But anyway, here is my "inside" workspace.

Well, that's it for this week, short and sweet.  Thanks for popping by and checking out my blog this week.

Until next time, check out what other, very talented people have been up to this past week...http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com.au/

;D

Another Hot Wednesday...WOYWW

Hi everyone,
Well it has just gone midnight Thursday (12:02 am to be precise) and I thought I'd share some little creations, not only made by me but also by my two grandchildren Zac (11) and Isabelle (7).

I didn't get much done craft wise except for the little canvas creations we did on Saturday afternoon. These little creations weren't actually created on my work desk, but rather on my front verandah.

P.S. These canvases are 2" x 3" (good fridge magnet size).

A close up of the artwork on my fridge, created by me, my granddaughter and grandson.

The next 4 canvases are created by Isabelle.
We used Copic markers for our artwork.

 This is Isabelle's drawing for her dad.

 Stars in Space

Artwork for mum

Isabelle's artwork to complement my efforts (to come later).

The next few are Zac's effort

 Artwork for mum

Dad rocks!

And finally...my efforts

 Happiness is... (notice the similarities with Isabelle's effort

Circles

Unfortunately I didn't get much time to stamp, so there wasn't any point in posting a picture of my desk, because it didn't change from last week.

Well I guess that is enough for this warm Thursday...

Oh, just thought I'd let you know that I survived week 1 back at work and today was the first day I actually didn't feel tired...see, I'm back on the horse!

Until next time,
check out the other workdesks.
http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com.au/

;D