My Divine Time

Where Have I Been?

2011-08-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well who would ever have known I would have lost so much time between Blogs certainly not me!

I have to confess I got completely sidetracked, derailed, lost touch with so many and yet created all sorts of new things in a whole new direction that even I didn't see coming. But fate has a way with just surprising you sometimes in the the most wonderful ways. Just as it seemed a potentially great new journey came to a grinding halt another showed up to replace it that has proven to be a whole new chapter for me and I am loving it.

Since my last Blog entry over a year ago I have actually shopped a lot - no surprises there. As a result got to create a lot - not in my usual arena however albeit just as much fun. Renovating, interior designing and buliding my own business to keep my once idle hands full again with loads of purpose and meaning.

But deep down in my bones I know I need to come back to create on an artistic level again to balance all things wonderful. I need a hobby again and so can only declare 'some photo's must come' real soon of whatever I create in my currently very dusty studio and share.

More More More - Day Two

2010-05-24T01:50:00.000-07:00

Day two but this time at Scrappindipity with Linda, Lorrie and Bec. the whole day was so so relaxing and a lot more time for expolartion with a whole 6 hours of playtime and lunch to keep us sustained. Today we added to the mix some chipboard techniques, along with beads in my case and how to create some stunning paper flowers by Bec.

Every canvas just came a live with totally different takes on the techniques and colours that just drove the senses crasy!

A few details only from todays workshop as I deliberatly did not resin mine just yet as day one resin had some disasters and ruined my work with bubbles reacting to the rusty elements from yesterdays class. Linda is used to using an expoxy resin and we had used a polyurethene resin to keep the toxic smells to a minimum in a class room environment. Additionally as I love my texture paste too much it had not totally dried so under the weight of the resin slowly by morning had collapsed and bled everywhere I am afraid. So this one will hopefully avoid those issues by allowing a few days to totally sure the rusty elemenst were sealed.

More or all of the pictures as usual avaiable on my flickr account as usual so enjoy.

Flooded Canvas Beginnings With Linda

2010-05-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my fave bits of my first attempt at a Flooded Canvas with Linda. Masterpiece or not overall I just love elements of this project however the finished canvas worthy of hanging still needs some finishing touches to be fully published! So here are the parts that worked along the way that I managed to capture and as always there are more on my Flickr account especially of the process step by step as it evolved. The most exciting and interesting part of all was the play time and techniques we were introduced to use and of course the messy hands. Some of the techniques I managed to get to work and some I did not quite get down pat first time around, but then thats what a class is all about for me - experimentation and learning.

Well we all look quite happy with ourselves!

Some Yummy Bits....

Some More Yummy Bits Not Quite Finished But!........

And a super yummy friend - Megan

Time to Return!

2010-05-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have been so distracted for the past few months with life in general even I am surprised it has been so long since my last post! However here is every reason to get strated again. Booked in today to do a class with Linda and again tomorrow so expect some photo's of something coming this way........

A No Camera Post

2010-01-29T00:08:00.000-08:00

Over the christmas period during our travelling trip my trusty and favourite camera decided to go on a holiday of it's own and retire it would seem. As I have not been able to make the time to get it to the repair man I have have realised how lost I am without it especially when it comes to 'blogland'!

So as it seems the days are disappearing and what was once a joyful opportunity to occasionally share with you all here what I am up to has now become a little more like ' I really must get my act together' OMG has it been that long! Kinda feeling, not a good one as you might relate as fellow bloggers.

So when I accidently came across two of these very old and missplaced photos in recent days I decided my scanner will have to do for now to share something I have been meaning to do anyway. Some of my original work as a Milliner in the mid 1990's for my own label.

Whilst these two particular photo's are just random they do represent some interesting points to mention. The straw hat is not just a decorated hat from a pre-made hat, but rather as a milliner we start with a raw woven straw on this occaison not unlike a woollen beanie in shape and them have to stretch, steam and mould them over some wooden hat blocks with lots of pins and toxic fumes. Then cut, shape, stitch and connect the brim to the crown as they are shaped separtely in most cases and wired back together in a hidden fashion to strengthen and support the design. Often taking up to 6hrs for a hat like this from start to finish.

My point of design was always based around ensembles so I would always have a piece of clothing I had made from the same fabric to sell as a set. Having also done the 'Creative Clothing and Textile Design Certificate' after my Millinery training to complement my Millinery qualifications. This allowed me to also design, draft the pattern and sew the finished garment. Making the entire ensemble totally original and all hand made by me. In reflection how I found to time to do this as a single, fulltime working mum now scares me. But fond memories all the same and I have literally hundereds of these photos all in albums waiting for me to do something with them.

The second photo actually represents a step further when I was working with a very dear friend of mine who hand made silk fabrics and garments. We would often tean up for fashion events and I would have full artistic liscence to creat anything to go with Marlene's stunning whimsical designs. She so spoilt me in that way as well as all the scraps i would get to keep.Most of the hats I created whilst working with Marlene won many awards in the 'original design' catagories of competitions I would entre that were avaiable to me at the time.

These hats were always made from absolute scratch meaning they were 'Hand Tailored' and started out as flat pieces of mesh like fabrics and would be designed in a similar way to a good hand tailored suit would be - with lots of designing, pattern making, trial and testing before going into production. The wrapping and stretching of the fabric over the final shape is always the hardest part of this process and again from start to finish a good hand tailored hat with a brim would take a minimum 12 hrs to complete. However once completed was always a highlight of my career at the time as they became masterpieces that you really did know where entirely of my own doing. To be able to work with hand made original died silks just made then even more precious thanks to Marlene and fetched some handsome prices!

I often think about going back into this process as a fulltime occupation again and maybe some day will. Who knows what the future holds with us that desire the creative outlet what tomorrow brings!

Free To Use

2010-01-11T18:08:00.001-08:00

Free To Use, originally uploaded by Suzee Que.

The most delightful miss Suzee Que has uploaded some of the most stunning postcards and free to use images whilst I was away on Flickr you really must check them out by clicking on the links just below the picture displayed above. They range from Christmas to Angels to Ladies and Children of all types and styles. Enjoy!

Back From Holidays...

2010-01-10T22:14:00.000-08:00

Just about on top of things again and will be posting real soon. A fav photo of our trip from a field of flowers at Fonti's Pool.

Flat Stanley arrives from Texas

2009-12-21T22:45:00.000-08:00

Here is Flat Stanley, arrived in nice time at our home here in Western Australia for a tour of the Goldfields and South West Coast of Australia. Enjoy the letter below from his best friend Allison who is in grade 3 all the way over in Burleson Texas! A school project to see what he can learn from other parts of the world to share with the class upon his return. Flat Stanley has already been all over Perth in the past week and will be on holidays with us for the next 2 weeks before he heads home again.

My new firend Cassie will betravelling with us.

Fishy Fishy

2009-12-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Here is this months Paper Arts ATC Swap for December 09 - with the theme of 'Fish'. Just a sneak peak and I will be back tomorrow with the how and more :)

As always my Flickr Account which you can get to from here by clicking on these words - have loads more photos and a tutorial of sorts and what I did to make these. Enjoy xxx

Friends, Family and Our Hearts.

2009-12-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the loss of a love one can just stir up all sorts of emotions that we just don't know about until we experience it at the time, and even then it can all seem quite confusing, challenging and endless to say the least.

Recently some friends whom most of you will know - Lorri and Craig Lennox along with their daughters Bec and Amy lost a family member that was very dear to them being a both a Mother and Nanna - Marjorie Winn.

Whilst both Lorri and Bec have blogged about this process for themselves, I have actually found myself also quite at a loss in knowing how to be there for them as it almost seemed like de'j'avu for me with my own nanna a few years ago now. They both passed quite suddenly, both had cancer in advance stages that was found too late and both were women of an age that kindness to all those around them was still a great part of who they wanted to be and remembered for.

So like most of us we find we lose sight of our art in these times only to remember that it is often what gets us through these moments in some slither of rational thought most likley guided by our angels. I took this photo during a recent visit to New Orleans and with some photo editing I was able to clean it up some what and added some personal extras. I hope that Lorri and Bec might like it somewhat and that it sits well with them. I know it has helped me by creating it and to move on that little bit more again for myself despite the tears and memories of my own.

Backyard Renovations

2009-11-29T08:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak peak of an aquistition I made on Friday from the amazingly talented local artist Nathan (click to go to his web site). This particular art work is 1.1mtrs x .9mtrs and will feature in the our Kitchen Renovation eventually. Now she is home I will take some yummy shots of her myself and post them later of the exquisite details. Mind you I was supposed to be just commissioning a feature for the backyard works with Nathan but had to have this one too when I saw it in person. The backyard art work Nathan is designing for me will be a triptych approx 3mtrs long and in similar colours with a Medusa inspired female and food feast theme given it will go above the cooking areas.

Nathan has done some stunning work together with Kester who has just completed the makeovers mentioned in my last post on our backyard and the front water feature- you must check out his website for his amazing works like the one above. He has placed a similar version of this pond in our backyard with a 3mtr water wall where this peacock mosaic is in this picture beside the alfresco dining area. This pond then flows into the main feature which is a second larger Water Wall into a Koi Pond which is approx 12mtrs + long and has a 2.5mtr long glass section in it to see into the pond and the Koi Fish like an aquarium of sorts. This has all been stage one and we now have stage two commencing with 3 new cedar roofs to go in next over the outdoor kitchen area, the Alfresco Dining and Entrance from the Back Door. More noise, Chaos, Early Mornings and Dust!

Paper Arts - November Swap - Diamonds

2009-11-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

I have no idea where this last week went and how I have managed to not post for almost a week now! There are major renovations happening here at home at the moment with stage one just completed on Saturday after 5 weeks of mess and noise, I guess that kept me busier than I realised! Photo's will follow soon - a whole new backyard and stunning water feature at the front entrance so far. However, still months of work yet to happen well into next year at this stage. I'm excited but what chaos it has created on my otherwise very normal life.

So a quick post on what went out this week for the month of November for the Paper Arts ATC Swap - Diamonds. This one has perfect pearls - interference red used as a feature in the background, with lots of yummy bling red and light pink diamonte flowers on the dress and jewellery. I a little had fun creating a frame this time with my corner punches and running the whole thing through the cuttlebug for something different to a standard stick on finish.

I ended up with three different versions on this one which are shown in my Flickr account as usual but showing here is the one sent as the swap. nest swap is 'Fishies' and it has be in by the 15th so I best get these ideas out of my head and onto paper.

Handmade Gift Set.

2009-11-23T22:49:00.000-08:00

Just posted a pretty gift set on my Flickr account if you would like to have a closer look at the details. The pretty paper is actually made from tobacco leaves and is ever so yummy. If you want measurements or destructions to make one for yourself just ask.

Soot Technique on Gloss Card

2009-11-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

A n old technique from a recent class with Kelsey - quite simple and once again using alcohol inks dabbed onto a white gloss card as the first step. Then cover the card with soot from a candle flame by actually passing it throught the flame just quick enough not to burn it but to leave a layer of black soot. Stamp your image onto the soot surface very carefully trying not to touch the surface with your hand or moving the stamp. An amazing surprise when you lift the stamp if you are lucky and finally a quick spray of fixative to secure your image. Loads of quick easy Fun.

The title was cut from exactly the same stamped image but this time on a red gloss card and no alcohol inks were required. So exactly the same image is used on the top as below and the word 'Dream' was then embossed on top in Gold.

Here is a whole image stamped on red gloss card only, but it dosent photograph so well with the shiny surface unfortunatly.

And finally here one with the original technique used in the beginning with White Gloss Card and Alcohol Ink as a background before placing the soot on the surface and Stamping. All these stamps are from Cherry Pie Stamps.

Layers of Collage into an ATC

2009-11-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

This ATC actually has a lot more work in it that is really obvious to the naked eye on your screen I daresay. There is actually 10 separate steps taken just to create the background before there is even a start on the finished and composed surface embellishing and they all have a secret hidden meaning. The words 'Hope' 'Delight' and 'Imagine' as used on another two ATC's below are a part of a 9 in total series and refers to the tiny baby hidden in the collages and now showing in the backgrounds of these ATC's. Once you know they are there you don't have to look to hard. I have actually just uploaded the step by step process I took to create this layered background and they can be viewed in detail here just click on these words. This was a technique I learn't quite some time ago with Audery Underwood whilst doing a "SHE" journalling class which I must photograph and upload sometime soon.

The ATC 'Imagine' is actually avaiable as a swap on my Flickr Account at the moment if you would like it.

Sneak Peak - Project Nearing Completion

2009-11-17T01:27:00.000-08:00

Should be finished over the next couple of days- will post the finished version then in the meantime here is the 'arrived home status' from a class with Anne Marie on Monday at Made with Memories in Rockingham.

A few more photo's avaiable on my Flickr Account here

A dreamer - Now living in the USA

2009-11-17T01:02:00.000-08:00

A dreamer - Now living in Illinois with the darling member of Flickr Lorri AKA Card Happy. What a wonderful swap this has been.

This is a card made with water colour paper and glimmer mists as the background. Gold embossing, stamped and inked Domino, a picture with a double cut frame in gold with Stampin up's oval punches and some simple sticker borders.

A Holiday in Finland

2009-11-17T00:58:00.000-08:00

My Freak Imagination is on it's way to Finland for a permanent holiday - retired at last LOL. Via a swap with Tatsi on Flickr.

This one was a class in Gloss Card Backgrounds and has real crystasl on it.

She is off to Norway!

2009-11-17T00:52:00.000-08:00

This little domino faced darling is making her way to Norway as a swap with Flickr Member Liveartnow.

Bloom - Gloss Card and Transfer

2009-11-15T04:57:00.000-08:00

This ATC as been made on a plain white gloss card dabbed ever so lightly with some Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks with a piece of small felt to create an all over random image. On top of this I have then use the transfer technique taught by Lorri Lennox of Scrapindippity that I like to then scratch into with my finger nails to give that raw look.The Flowers are cut from vellum with two diffferent sized small carl punches and a small flower diamonte in the centre. All mounted on a light blue framers matt. If I have confused you or missed anything just contact me and i will be more than glad to expand on what is here.

Check out my Flickr Account as I have now posted some of my ATC's for Trade and they are disappearing fast :)

50 New ATC's online at Flickr

2009-11-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

I thought I might just randomly every couple of days show a recent ATC that has been finished and comment on the technique used - first up in no particular order is one that uses a mixture of perfect pearls and distress ink refillers all put together with some water into a spray bottle and used as a background finish. The end result really shines in the real deal but I kinda like the composition mostly in this one in particular. A little 3D for an ATC I guess but thats what an Artist Trading Card is all about - ART to Me! I did this technique a few weeks ago with Kelsey at Scraptivate, nice and easy to do and play around with kinda like making your own glimmer mists only the freedom to mix n match what effect your looking for.

As mentioned in the title I uploaded 50+ new ATC's onto my Flickr page a few days ago and they can be viewed clicking anywhere here on these words. The tchniques used in these are over the past few months of classes with Kelsey.

Enjoy xxx

Reversed Canvas Fairy Frame

2009-11-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is my latest submission for the mixed media challenge for the Paper Arts Group for November. We were challenged to use a deep walled canvas frame 5x7inches and a fairy theme - mine is not quite the pretty fairy but all the same I think she has attitude and was quite cute when I found her.

There are loads of little details that the camera no matter how hard I tried just would not pick up, but overall I hope you get the idea. Little bits like the back wall is actually made up of loads of mini mirrored mosaic tiles, and the green flowers are all hand made from white velum that has been cut and then embossed on the cuttlebug, painted to blend with the other items and then a final light dry brush of gold.

The fairy herself is triple layered like paper toile, each layer painted in a different method to add to the 3D effect - layer one in a pearl shimmer, layer two in a fine crackle medium and layer three in a gloss finish as shiny as a photograph.

There is as usual lots more detailed photo's on my Flickr Account HERE that outlines all the details and processes I used to put this piece this project together.

Over the coming days I have ready to upload 52 finally completed new ATC's to share along with a Clear Acetate Romance Journal - so stay posted and remeber sneak peaks are always on my Flickr first.

Loads of New ATC's and Latest Project

2009-11-05T22:59:00.000-08:00

All on their way this weekend - taking photo's now, then edit, then upload, then share - stay tuned ......

Mixed Media - Paper Arts Swap

2009-10-29T00:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peak at the entry for my Paperarts Mixed Media submission for this month, the theme was a slide mount book and I chose to work with my new Alice Stamps. I used embossing, stamping, shrinkies and some anything goes background papermaking. All the photos including the 'process used' for making the background paper is avaiable in detail on my flickr site here.

ATC Paper Arts Swap - October

2009-10-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

This is part one of my October swap with the Paperarts girls - my ATC's. We had two themes this month being ATC's ' Fractured Fairy Tales' and then a slide book on any theme you wanted - I chose to do an Alice in Wonderland theme .

My chosen fairy tale was 'Beauty and the Beast' and with all the hype of Twilight of late and Vampires I figures if Beauty had a chance to update her choices she may well only date Vampires these days? Or at least that was my take on the 'Fractured Fairytale Sarcasim I could come up with any way. Above is the ATC made from the left overs on the right, the middle is the back of the ATC's and the one on the right is one of 12 made in the series.

I enjoyed using the new Marth Stewart dripping blood punch as you can tell, along with Tim Holtz rock candy crakle medium. I played just a little with Picasa to create the background picture and the grave scene. Lots of red Copic pen and an old German Noval lost a few pages in the process.

And you can never get enough of embossing so just a little here on the cross for a lttle touch of drama on the 'left overs' ATC.

Cherish Friends - Weekend Class Results

2009-10-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peak of a weekend class I did with Miss Mel Connell at Scraptivate - more to come, gotta get the housework done first LOL!

You can check out all the photo's on this project in the meantime on my Flickr Account here

Okay the worst of the housework is done so here is some more. I went to a class with my friend Nicole on Saturday to do this beautiful Shadow Box Canvas designed by Mel at Scraptivate. Nicole has just become a Grandma for the first time so it was perfect for her 'precious' baby boy Nate with a few twists on the colour theme of course.

I on the other hand had no idea as usual what photo I was going to use but this one just popped for me on the day with the colour theme of some very cherished friends of mine I made whilst last at a Medical Retreat oversea's for some much need holistic health care called Sanoviv (click on the word to check it out or on Dr Wentz Blog Here ). The above photo was taken before I placed the clear plastic over it with it's front frame for protection. Mel had us use a canvas reversed so we had a shadow box to work with, so we covered all the yuckky staples with a very clever frame made with with gesso and stencils.

We played most of the time with the golden paints and gesso getting the frame ready and making just a little mess :). I've never really played much with butterfly's before but must say I rather liked it. Mel has this 'pen and palm' of your hand roll that just makes them come to life that was so easy! I guess I will be playing some more with butterflys now....

Melt Art , Texture Paste and Goldens.

2009-10-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

I must confess give me colour and texture and I think I am most likley in my favourite zone when it comes to creative time. I am in the process of working with just these mediums on a new project and so was inspired to share these older faves in the meantime.

This photo shows a mould I made from a brooch of mine that I have never been quite game enough to wear - love to repurpose! So a mould from some of Suzi's 2 part moulding compound was createdand then poured into with her clear UTEE. This gives me the perfect way to use it over and over again in a variety of colours and textures once tarted up they all have a character all of thier own. All I have done on this one was is to use my Golden Paints and colour her up to my hearts content no sealers required before or after.

However of course there is always left over paint and left over mess from any creation of mine and the temptation to use it all up on anything else around me is usually the next step. There were these pieces left over from a swap some of you may recognise and they were soon revamped as well into the following work using the same techniques.

Now for those of you who actually read to the bottom of posts here is a giggle for you - I have been very quite and unable to blog over the past 6 days because I - yes me - not my son as he moved on some time ago now actually exceeded my massive download limit for the month and so was booted off! I have never done that before in my life and had to laugh at some now fond memories when this was usually a result of excessive downloads by a teeneager hoarding music and movies onto his computorium as he would call it. If he reads this I will never live it down!

A Place to Bark - Get Involved!

2009-10-16T10:08:00.001-07:00

Earlier this year I had the great fortune to meet in person and actually work along side the one and only very very talented and adorable Bernie Berlin in a class of hers on ATC techniques. I was attending the Creative Soul Retreat in Melbourne whereby I met not only Bernie but also DJ Petitt and Stephanie Lee over a three day weekend. Needless to say that it all ended too soon but I did have the fortune to meet and make many new friends along the way with a bevy of new creative skills.

Well it was whilst we all got to know Bernie on a personal level over the three days that I learnt of her amazing tireless efforts to save dogs especially from the puppy pounds that breed puppys in horrible conditions to make a profit over their welfare. Bernie actually runs this shelter full time and it seems so very often over crowded and in much demand with a great degree of passion as well as her art. Bernie's tireless efforts on this project or hers unfortunately also has to incorporate a great deal of fund raising to make it all possible and at the moment has rallied up some 21 artists that we all know and love to support her by donating original works of art which are currently up for auction via the eBay auction Party Animals as advertised above.

In the hope that you might at least visit her site A Place to Bark and look into the great work she does and even place a bid on one of the many auctions to help raise some much needed funding that I post this message to you all. I myself just love Suzi Blu's painting and at the time of this posting was the lead bidder (fingers crossed), but of course I am keeping a very close eye on a few others too, so check them out now!

Bernie and myself on the last day.

Life long friends made at CSR 2009 - my roomies at the retreat Nic Hohn and Lady Di.

Safe? or Sorry?

2009-10-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Works for me!

Yummy Fabric Wrap Belts

2009-10-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous girlfriend of mine Debra invited a group of friends over to play on her sewing machines for an afternoon of girly stuff so that we could replicate her most desirable wrap belts that she wears often to our delight.

Well my little head just couldn't get around all the yummy colours, textures and beads that I just had to have it all of course. So with lots of crazy random machine embroidery my little ' belly dancer' days got into the creative 'JuJu' of this little number as you can tell!

We ripped up old silk shirts, skirts and anything that was fair game if it had colour or glamour applied to it in any fashion. Hoards of yummy bling from any where and every where were spread before us like a feast. We pleated, scrunched, ripped and tore and occasionally swore when those needles broke! But otherwise we just went to town or at least I did.

I am yet to complete it for photo's of it adorning my hips, but do have plans for matching shoes at least to complete the look! Just imagine?

Wisteria in Full Bloom - Over the Back Fence.

2009-10-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many of you were ever lucky enough to grow up around the magnificent dangling vines of Wisteria, but some very fond child hood memories of mine are of what seemed to be giant big Willow trees with the most splendorous display of the deepest hues of purple Wisteria growing all through it in what appeared to be the most blissful harmony to me at the time.

At the time I just loved to immerse myself in it all by lying under the big old tree's and letting the wind sway it all from side to side with those streaks of light just shining through to keep one reminded that the day was only young and there was plenty more to do!

Well today I chanced to see some Wisteria albeit not quite the same colour but equally as pretty on the back fence of an old homestead Nino and I have been restoring over the past 3 years during a photo shoot we were attempting before the next big project commences next week with the outside landscaping.

Needless to say I was distracted as I easily am with a camera and off I went to get some quick shots before I got busted - so I hope you like them and they may have some sweet memory for you too with Spring so deperately on it's way.

Susie = Sanity!

2009-10-11T01:04:00.001-07:00

I found a site to create my own signature at the end of my posts mid last week - dam didn't work, couldn't get it right, frustration set in and the whole process got the better of me might I say! Then I thought to contact the most divine Ms Susie of First Floor Flat to ask if she could advise where I was maybe going wrong.

Well to my delight she wrote an entire very detailed and extended version of just how to do everything and more with regards to personalising your very own signature click here - like the white box issue, the boarder issue, backdating your signature process and HTML scripts the works! Hooray, now here I have my very own signature but only thanks to Susie and some last minute help with some transparency issues from my super clever brother.

Download free fonts @ fontspace.com

2009-10-10T03:00:00.001-07:00

I just lost quite a few hours but well worth it searching this website with loads of free fonts for your projects or just everyday correspondance. If you are unsure about how to download and install these onto your computer let me know via my contact details in my profile and I will do my best to help.

post signature

http://www.fontspace.com/

Where to From Here?

2009-10-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

I thought it might be fun to throw it out there for some idea's on 'What Shall She Say?' in this ATC. I had such wonderful feedback on my earlier posting about the thought for the day "go think it over" it made me think about this one and finishing it! So comment away and let me hear what you would have her say.........

Royalty Free Images - Piddix

2009-10-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Brilliant Customer Service offered at this store by Corinna of Piddix, and well worth a look at the moment while she has her specials too! I now have 29 of her downloads (some yummy freebies in that number) all royalty free and ready to use in great quality for my resin projects so keep your eyes peeled they are on their way in my future posts!

Corrina also offers a newsletter with freebies several times a month that is just delightful - itty bitty butterflies was this weeks download.

You can find Piddix here.

Picasa and 'Dud' Photo Saving

2009-10-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick photo I took today with my 'just arrived' in the mail 'Mega Macro Lens' of some random flowers in my kitchen. The actual photo shown below wasn't really to my liking at all, as it has just a little macro detail in one corner and blur everywhere else making it an overall 'dud' and usual 'delete' for me. However I figured I had nothing to lose but time and played around a little with it in a program called 'Picasa' I had just downloaded in recent days on advice from some firends. Well I am quite excited at the possibilities of this little 'dud' now and all the options I had to play around with. For now it all seems quite endless to say the least. I found myself quite excited how this and so many more photo's could nicely become a background piece in any mix media / journaling / ATC or even custom jewellery with some little extra fun. The mind boggles as I like being able to create work from my own art work if you know what I mean. O no I feel another urge to go head on into another 'some thing' in the pursuit of creativity - photo editing and mixed media where does it all end I hear you say?

This is the original photo to compare to the 'edited' one above. I actually continued to play around with some more basic creative tools with the edited image as a background and created a collage of our baby conure 'Chu Chi'. Not quite what I have planned for the new background piece but thought I would share another feature of Picasa being the collage feature with you here. However I placed some lovely text on the image and it has not come through into Flicker for me. But you can see it properly here in Picasa online - Enjoy.

A Thought for the Day

2009-10-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

A recent ATC share - Spin and Splash Technique.

Unbelievable!

2009-10-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a link I found on Judy Wilkenfeld's blog red velvet that I just had to share - what amasing talent, dedication and patience!

Pictorial Webster's: Inspiration to Completion from John Carrera on Vimeo.

The Hand on My Moo Card

2009-10-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Some of the girls at my last ATC class were rather taken by one of my 'Moo' cards last week. The one in particular having a little metal hand on it that came from a bigger picture. So in my sorting of photo's in my new Free Picasa Program today I came across the photo I had used for that card design and figured I would expand on where the picture actually came from and how 'Moo' works for those of you who asked after my last posting.

Some time last year a dear friend of mine Raelene and I indulged ourselves as one does in a day of shopping at the local craft fair. Well whilst we were initially scrapbooking buddies we found ourselves totally immersed in all things fabric, beady and shiny. Enter our "Wild Women" concept and a theory that we could have play dates creating little women of all sorts of fancy on canvases to adorn our walls. Raelene of course being assured by me that no great sewing skills were critical to achieve a result! She believed me and what a successful day was had by all as it was the school holidays and both her daughter and son had a go too!

After lots of random stitches and rouching and no particular rules at all the end results of our first ever "Wild Women" evolved and above are the snippets of the close up details of mine. Enter "Moo" cards as these photo's are also in my Flickr account and from there I found the link to create "Moo" cards as some of my friends had given out to me to my delight in recent times.

I love the "Moo" card concept because not only are they delightfully collectable, swapable, practical as a little blog address cards between friends, but I think also doable as a tag for items to sell. Who could ask for more - o yes and matching stickers too!

So from the Moo website it allows you to utilise a collection of photo's from a source nominated by yourself which in my case was my Flick account. you then get to place a little 'snippet view window' (my terminology there) all over a photo till you find a piece you like and save as your very own card design - toooooo easy and they say in just 4 easy steps here. The marvellous thing about this concept is that you get to do this to as many photos as you like and in my case I printed 5 each of 20 different pictures and had 100 printed. But you can print 100 of the same or 100 completely different ones! All for the same price - no printer around town would consider that even remotely doable and make it fun at the same time!

This was raelene's first attempt at her "Wild Woman". I was totally thrilled given I was contending with " but I don't sew" go figure!

From that day I made up a gift box of Goodies for a friend Trudy's birthday whom managed to create this one all by herself. She didnt even wait for us to get together and learn or share just straight into it! Trudy is mostly into glass and so adorned her mermaid's hands with glass pieces she had recently fired.

Then there was Joaquin, Raelene's son a total star who created these little delights as the male version of our creations on our play date. He has had so many comments on his work in my Flickr account he has out done me in my own account as a favourite!

You have to love his choice of colours and patterns - it was a lesson for me of what was in my junk box!

Hope you've enjoyed this share - leave me a comment or tick the boxes below to indicate your thoughts to make my day xxx.

ATC Update - Almost all Loaded!

2009-10-04T02:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the first ' bulk upload' of most of my completed ATC's from the past 2 years mostly from Kelsey O Mullanes Fortnightly Classes at Scraptivate and the occaisional Lorrie and Bec Lennox get together at Scrappindipity along the way too.

Some works are actually in progress because I felt they still were fun to photograph anyway. There are much more to come as I arrange a few playdates and get those nearly finished all done at long last. As always view everything in my Flickr account here as I can't get too many on my Blog with out slowing it all down too much. A slide view to the left is in progress and should show up soon if it's not there yet.

Inspiration and Collaboration - What?

2009-10-03T08:18:00.001-07:00

You know sometimes how things just pop into your head and you just have to say it, do it, or what ever but you need to make it happen! I have all these favourite photo's of my favourite things around my home that I have been pondering on doing something rather special with to share and maybe even fill my Etsy Store with. So go figure but some how I think I am going to get together some ideas and reduce them down to 'cutsie small' and turn them into wear able art pieces or jewellery of some kind. My project for the next week so I hope to update the outcomes this time next week if all goes to plan and get some feedback from those of you who know!

Moo Stickers to Share With You .....

2009-10-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

As promised they have finally arrived so if you want your "very own stickers" - the first 5 comments I will send you a full sheet of my "very own art" stickers to you.

Be sure to email me your address!

Fun Fun Fun - An Excuse to Party!

2009-09-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

A class with the adorable Mel on Wearable Art

See more on Flickr of every thing I managed to make in this range but generally I did a class with some friends that meant we got to play with our hoard of stamps and beads. Yes Stamps and Beads! Two of my most favourite things.

First we got to stamp with stazon ink onto shrinkie plastic as above, cut it out, toast it and watch it shrink like little kids down to about a third of it's size and then turn our treasures into charms. In true Brenda style I just had to go overboard and create lots and lots and lots with colour colour colour and now I need a party to be authorised to wear this very loud ensemble - any invites pleeeease?

Stone Angel - Freebie

2009-09-24T00:48:00.000-07:00

A few shots in macro from around my garden - feel free to take this image and create, just be sure to share and link back to me. There are more on my Flickr if there is one you prefer let me know and I will send it to you.

Newest Family Member - Sun Conure

2009-09-23T23:34:00.000-07:00

UPDATE - WE CALLED IT "CHU CHI"

It was my partner Nino's birthday recently and he has been so wanting an Avery for such a long time I decided I would get it started for him as a surprise this year (and they say grown men don't cry!).

Months ago we ( Nicole and I ) schemed up a plan to get him a hand raised baby Sun Conure as close as possible to his birthday. Well we were able to bring this one home on Sunday only a week late so I was pretty happy with that and Nino was esctatic. In the photo slide you will see the parents, the breeder, it's first feeding at home and it's siblings all taken since Sunday.

You may wonder why I am calling it 'it' because we can't decide /agree what to name it. You cannot tell with Sun Conure without invasive and expensive surgery what sex they are which makes it even harder to decide. So any one who has a suggestion it would be well received - at the moment it is just known as 'cheeky' because he is such a character.

Sun Conure's apart from being so colourful are the most affectionate and cuddly bird I have ever known. They can be taught to talk some what but they are best known for thier personality and cuddles. I can see more to come in the coming years along with 28's and Rosella's I am informed. I daresay the second backyard is about to become a bird sanctuary knowing Nino.

ATC's and New Light Box - Testing

2009-09-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

Had to play with my new light box before going to bed since buying it earlier today. So bear with me and let me know how it shows up on your screens if you don't mind by leaving a comment for me 'please please pretty please' as my mother would say. Especially before I go ahead and photograph them all (again ) LOL

This one titled 'Forbidden Tales ' was created a few months ago with Kelsey at Scraptivate in her fortnightly technique classes. Her technique has us using a scrunched up piece of tissue paper in the background and then using an embossing pad over the raised surface with an embossing powder. You can see her work on her blog listed in my favourite blogs as KO OK to the right, and you can see more of this particular ATC in various shots on my Flickr account -Enjoy!

Tell me if you see a difference - the top picture was taken in a different spot in the light box than this one and this one was uploaded from Flickr as opposed to the first one was direct from my hard drive. I seem to find the one's from Flickr look better but are often shaped wrong?

Sharing Spring

2009-09-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

Just sharing some flowers in my kitchen right now. Bring on Summer I have had enough of this horrid weather. More shots on my Flickr as usual.

Just bought myself a portable studio and lighting kit today to resolve my frustraions with ATC uploads, along with some new lenses and filters for my camera. So there will be a lost few days photographing lots of my things to upload and share. I'm excited and the washing can wait!

Yippee - My Moo Cards Have Arrived

2009-09-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's always a fun day when lot's of parcels arrive in the mail and today was one of those day's. Not that I like to shop online or anything! Here is a sneak peak of some of my work in the fabulous little moo cards to share with every one. Whilst the photo is not the greatest I will upload something clearer with more yummy details. Moo cards are so much easier to hand out than a piece of paper with my contact details and of course my blog address now :). You gotta have some just because they are so much fun to create online and so cute to carry around in thier little wallet that can act as a keyring - had to have two of those!

I still have some stickers to arrive and have a little plan for those, so lets hope they arrive tomorrow and I can share that plan with who ever is lucky enough to be looking!

Polyvore - A First Attempt and Quick Share For You ......

2009-09-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

I literally created this in a matter of minutes on a very clever site called Polyvore after Nic Hohn referred me to the site via her blog for some journal fun - try it out you are going to love it!

First Love by brendagrace on Polyvore.com

It all starts with a quick shop just as we all love (with out the credit card) collecting items you might like, lots of other work to get inspired about along the way and then some fun editing and 'bang' you get to publish, keep and share - and all for free might I add!

OMG OMG OMG OMG !!!!!!

2009-09-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

"O MY GOSH!" - I can't believe todays news! I got this message below and nearly fell off my chair with delight!!!!!!!!!!

"Hi Miss Brenda! What a lovely blog to visit! So many gorgeous things to see!
You won a prize from my Blogversary giveaway! You can find it here . I think I have your address still. If I don't I'll contact you again. Thanks for helping me celebrate. Hope you enjoy your prize! marsha "

This is it - "Dreamporium" and it could not be more perfect at this point in my life! I very proudly own 3 originals of the Divine 'Miss Marsha's' work from 'Tumble Fish Studios' and 3 Limited editition prints, sorry now 4. Will post photo's and blab soon but be sure to check out her work for yourself as she has a free image page avaiable at the moment!

Check it Out!

2009-09-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yum who wants one of these darling kits?

Ha beat you already got my order in so be quick!

Wednesday Wishes is Maxine and Audrey's new on line store you have to check it out and the adorable 'Nichos' range along with new oodles of new unseen before German Scrap. Thanks Girls xxx

What Did I do Today ?????

2009-09-18T07:55:00.001-07:00

Resin Class - Beginners 101

Well the day finally arrived I had my chance to learn some resin skills to complete my jewellery pieces I made with Stephanie Lee at the Creative Soul Retreat I did back in March this year whilst in Melbourne. Today I learn't the techniques to place resin in bottle caps on domino's and trinkets. Whilst next week we will be playing with moulds, layering, finishing technques and tinting.

Whilst I have not completed those particular pieces of Stephanies in this first class today I certainly will be getting to them now and posting soon!

The very talented mixed media artist with who I am lucky to only live around the corner from her store - Lorrie Lennox took it upon her brave self to teach Nicole and I(below) just what we needed to know to get addicted. This is her with her adorable daughter Bec.

These are just a snippet of the photo's of the day - all my class step by step photo's in order and some minor instructions are on my Flick account in the Jewellery Collection Album so be sure to check them out.

Next week we get to day 2 and finish the items so more to come then. In the meantime I had to leave all my precious new items at the store over night to set so as not to risk damaging the surface on the way home.

Just because I know I will have made way toooooo many trinkets for little ol me - I will post next week a 'give away' from these classes to celebrate my new blog and life in general casue I can. Odd's will be good as it's a new blog so leave a comment on the next resin entry - cause I love comments!

Love Love Love Love Fuchsia's

2009-09-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Fresh from my garden today, can you believe it I got my camera out to keep going with my ATC upload and got sidetracked photographing the garden.

Only to play with them once I brought some inside. How could I help myself they are such stunning little Diva's!

As they were in the garden - see more on my Flikr account.

Had to Share - De Hua Long - 6yrs

2009-09-14T03:32:00.000-07:00

Today I got a lovely surprise in the mail and just opened a letter from World Vision on my sponsored child from the Luchun County, Yunnan Province in the Peoples Republic of China. Inside I found a photo of a very happy little girl who is looking so much better than in her previous photos in recent years in my mind.

Her name is De Hua Long and her birthdate is the same as mine ( less a lot of years of course) which is why when choosing to sponsor a child it was such an easy choice for me on this occaision. Nino and I have been sponsoring De Hua now for the past 4 years and are so looking forward to her watching her growing up in the years to come and to one day maybe even get to meet her. I hope you enjoy her photos' as I do. I think De Hua has a very special smile that signifies hope and real joy.

This is the photo that arrived in the mail today, the first photo is from when we first started to sponsor Du Hua. Of course being a milliner the hat attracted my attention at first and then the birthdate sealed the deal with a very special attachment in my mind as if it was always meant to be especially considering I had always wanted a girl of my own having only one son myself.

Above is a letter that was sent on behalf of De Hua's father (who also cannot write ) to tell me some of Du Hua's life. I understand she lives in a village surrounded by mountains and tree's, that the main crops are paddy rice and corn with some vegetables grown in the winter months. They speak Hani minority as thier native tongue and he hopes that I will like his child and be good friends.

Fraser Island Beginnings

2009-09-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

This is the three of us on our way over to Fraser Island after meeting in Harvey Bay. Lots of great vibes and good intentions to enjoy and immerse our self in nothing but good old fashioned girly fun and paint!

This is of course the view of the island as we are arriving to our Island Retreat - cool blue waters and beaches as far as the eye can see.

Then the beautiful stunning stroll down the pathway to our villa for the next 3 days.

Not long after we are into it - the days as they progressed in detail will follow. What treats I was in for and what surprises I achieved, such creative direction and nurturing will be forever with me.

Fraser Island - Last Official Days Work

2009-09-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here was my last Days official work -on the Sunday a canvas, my first in more years than I can remember. It would have to be over 21 years at least since I even used a canvas and if I did I don't still own it anyway. The credit for the design basis really must go to Nic Hohn as the Creative Coach but all the same it does have a 'brenda' slant for those of you who know me will well see!

Nic actually even had me crochet the wire for the flower - some thing I definatly have never done and tried to get out of doing. Crochet that it is! Never had the patience, teacher or talent as a child for this one as I almost always had my hands in glue or on my sewing machine from the age of 6. I knitted a dress for my favourite doll once but that was about all LOL I have a photo of that one and me with my first toy sewing machine so shall post thsoe for a laugh in the coming week.

More to Follow I promise, It's Nino's Birthday today so I have to keep it brief :)

Sneak Peak - Fraser Island

2009-09-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

My next blog entry will have to be all about the inspiration and consequent renewed passion with life after my invaluable time spent at the Fraser Island Retreat with Nic Hohn recently.

and yes my atcs are nearly all uploaded.

Preserving My Family History

2009-09-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

This was my very first ever attempt some time ago to produce my own work upon being introduced to scrapbooking as a means to preserve my treasured family photos that I had the great fortune to be entrusted with.

These photos are of my grandparents on my mothers side and my great grandparents also on my mothers side. The cutie on the chair is my grandmother and the curly hair cutie is my grandfather.

I loved making this one for all the sentimental reasons attached to creating something special as a true treasure. More detailed photos are available on Flickr on this project under my Antique Photo Albums Collection.

A Quick Good Morning and Share

2009-09-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

This morning was just stunning with the first real rays of sunlight pounding through all my windows I was inspired to share what seems to be the very welcomed day of spring. My computer where I am actually sitting right now cannot even be seen in the photo below for all the sun.

From this window I look out onto the front of my home onto my patio where we often have breakfast and you may be able to make out the pots of annuals that are process of being planted for the upcoming months of summer. This patio is always my favourite place to sit and watch the world go by. I will be excitedly blogging about this patio in upcoming weeks as my larger than life angelic bronze statue has finally arrived and the water feature guy is installing o so soon. I can't wait this will not only make a grand statement to the entrance but most of all flowing water sounds to my office and kitchen which are the windows to the left in the photo.

But most of all my favourite plant of all time within view of my office window is my very own Divine Camelia - Stunning dont you think?

A Work in Progress

2009-09-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

I must admit that the vast majority of my creative time over the past two years has been spent exploring all sorts of techniques and mediums in the pursuit of attempting to find my footing back into the world of art to create a future for where I might like to go on my journey of life. Over the next few days I will be endeavouring to digitally capture some of this journey specifically through my small collection of ATC's , Paper Arts, Glass, Silversmithing and other mediums to share via this wonderful new blogging process you have all introduced me too. I intend firstly to catalogue everything in my Flickr site and then select a few photos here as I blog about it. So I invite you to see more pictures and close ups on flicker than is practical here.

I plan to start with my adventure into the ATC world with Kelsey of Scraptivate and Lorrie and Bec Lennox of Scrappindippity who originally introduced me to this amazing world wide addictiion and of course the life long and creative friends I have made along the way.

By the way these two ATCs were scanned I think I am going to like photographing them better - any advice?

The Divine Miss Lotta

2009-09-07T23:45:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been very blessed to make the acquaintance with the Divine Miss Lotta or better known as Princess Lotta to her friends.

At the end of last year I attended a 'Lost Wax Casting' workshop at the Fremantle Arts Centre (FAC) tutored by the adorable Sarah Elson in my pursuit of silversmithing and jewellery making. It was here that the infectious personality of Lotta first attracted my attention and our friendship was born.

Since then we have been nicely bumbling along with an occasional catch up mostly of her gracious invites to events I have been totally unaware of like our first joint venture at the David Walker Work Shop at the National Gallery in the pursuit of our desire for excellence in jewellery making (see Lotta's blog for that one, link below) and then just this weekend at the 'unwrapped' market at PICA as part of the whole fashion week extravaganza.

The irony is that July last year I attended the very first 'Made on the Left' market as a sneak peak into the world of what and where I thought I might like to go creativley again as an exhibitor. If you notice below there is a black rose in the upper left hand corner that is actually a ring - this was the only item I bought on the day and have worn with glee ever since.

Well you have most likely guessed that when I met Lotta at the FAC several months later and then looked up her blog which lead me to her Etsy site - I realised it was one in the same person! WOW ( her husband was manning the store at the time )

So of course for my son's recent 21st birthday she made me the ultimate matching two piece ensemble necklace to go with my favourite ring. You can see me wearing it in the photo to the left at his birthday under the family heading. Lotta has her full range also available at Behind the Monkey in Mt Lawley and if you a handmade jewellery addict like me this is a treasure trove you must see of so many talented people.

Funny how some things are just meant to be and how the universe just makes it so. I have had quite a few of these lately it seems.

http://princesslotta.blogspot.com/ http://www.behindthemonkey.com.au/ http://www.fac.org.au/ http://www.madeontheleft.com/ http://www.unwrapped.com.au/

All My Work

2009-09-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

I am busy up loading all my work that is photographed to date onto Flicker at the present moment ready for blogging. So if you would like a sneak peak of whats to come in detail please feel free to check all my work - current and past that I think I might like to blog about soon. Use this link I have provided below or the Flikr link to the right in the side colum. Bxxx

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendagrace333/

My Studios and first posting with photos!

2009-09-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

Here is where I feed my creative soul - all my love and appreciation must go to my adorable husband for building all these boxes of goodies from Ikea for me to fill with my stash of treasures xxx Double click on the pictures to get a better view if you wish I kept the photos small for the listing.

This of course is my "Clean Studio' as I call it where the nice stuff happens and the finishing is done on the bigger projects. Then there is the back studio I call my 'Dirty Studio' for the bigger messy things like painting, jewellery grunt work and glass work when I am lucky. My husband gets to share this space with me when I let him otherwise his car gets to sit outside on occasion :) Cheeky Me!

So thats my first official 'test' entry with photos lets see how I go from here... Try clicking on the 'flicker photostream' to the right for more details on each individual photo and a few more to share.

Beginnings - Testing!

2009-09-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here goes like all of us virgin bloggers I guess - where do we start and how many mistakes will I make till I get this right? So with a lot of encouragement from too many friends to get my act together and get a blog along with my adorable husband over my shoulder I am about to break ground hopefully with photos and all.