Pieces of me

recovery mode.......

despite John's argument to the contrary - I find it exhausting to talk for 9 hours straight! Yesterday, I spent the day doing just that at Paperiffic in Melbourne - so today, I'm feeling pretty exhausted & have gone into recovery mode (a couch, a good book and an old quilt!!) Still, I DO like talking, and had a great time demo-ing the new product ranges for Stamp It - we were in the wholesalers section of the event - but I did manage to sneak out for a quick lunch and to zip around and look at the retail section of the show - which looked great. So much better to have this event at Caulfield this time around - much more room. loved it!

This week I've spent some time working on some pages for my current art journal project. I saw a youtube video of claudine hellmuth using acrylic paint to do an image transfer and wanted to try this brilliant idea out for myself.

1. Paint the surface with a thick layer of white acrylic paint and put your image photocopy side down into the paint. Rub over the surface to flatten/embed it into the paint.
2. Allow to dry completely - I left mine for about an hour. Spritz all over with water.
3. Gently rub back the paper till the clear lines of the image appear. Don't rub too hard!

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I edited this image in photoshop first by converting it to B&W, then using the Photocopy Filter to bring it down to detail lines.

Completed journal page:

A bit of line detail added in with a black marker. Coloured areas are done with alcohol inks. Texture paste in the white areas of the design.

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I couldn't stay away from the transfers and used this as a beginning for this "metamorphoses" page.

The butterfly in the LH corner is done using the paint transfer technique as above, the butterfly wing in the RH corner, and the book text have been done using gel transfers.

Flower is coated (thickly) with JS texture paste, then left to dry, then given a wash of color. The paste is flexible, so once dry, it can be shaped.

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The big ole head is was handsketched then detailed with paint, crayons, pencils, black marker.

Easter Sunday John & I did the walk up Donna Buang - well, I went in good faith - took a look at the marker at the beginning of the walk that said it was a 24km, 6 hour return hike and said "whatyoutalkinaboutJohnny?", from that point I only promised to go as far as I could and then turn back. LOL. I made it almost 1/2 way, turned back and got the car then drove to meet John up the top. I think I could've made it all the way up the top, but no way was I going to be able to cope with the 12km return trip all down hill. As it was, the 5km's I did downhill killed my ankles and knees. I'd like to attempt it again, but next time we'll have to put one of the cars up the top of the mountain first so that we know it's a one-way trip! John, of course, made it to the top before me - he decided to run part of the way after I left to return. Crazy man. Here's some pics before we took of in opposite directions.

tuesday

I sat down at lunch time to edit some photos for the blog, of an art journal page that I completed this morning - 2 1/2 hours later................what a drag.........it takes forever! I think next time I'll just video it - much less of a hassle & more fun to play with the finished product! :))

Last week I got some long awaited alcohol inks! Can't tell you how long I've wanted to play around with these!!! Also, I've got a current thing for butterflies & have been inspired by one of the biggest loser promo adds where they have circles/words, these three things have coalesced in my latest couple of projects - a layout & the art journal page.

Here's the layout:

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And, the journal page step-by-step photos below - here's some notes on the techniques used:

1. collage background: torn book page strips layered on backing carding using Craft Smart Glaze paste
2. texture paste: thin layer spread over collage bacground to sit in gaps, etc, to give a little more texture in preparation for sanding
3. background before sanding: jo sonja titanium white paint, lumiere paints, adirondack alcohol inks brushed over surface and lightly blended
4. sanded background: this photo shows the background with more white paint brushed in to help blend the corner/side with the colours. It was sanded again after this photo was taken & the paint dry.
5. wording before sanding: title/wording inked & painted in

all the rest is pretty self-explanatory. I totally love the quote by E. O'Neill that I have used on this page, total inspiration:

"Set yourself free from anything that might hinder you in becoming the person you want to be. Free yourself from uncertainties about your abilities, or the worth of your dreams, from the fears that you may not be able to achieve them, or that they won't be what you wanted." E. O'Neill

    

Friday

I followed a link to this video. Check it out! So funny!!

hx

able to function again!

The heat has broken. So grateful! In melbourne we had 5 days of 38-40 degree temperatures in a row. Yesterday the change came through, and today it is only going to hit 24. I cannot function in this sort of heat - I spent most of the time on the verandah, in my hammock, reading. Our place is not only a charming, 100 year old weatherboard, it has no airconditioning! So, after 2 consecutive days of these temperatures, it's like an oven!!

Cocoa & the babies went back to school today. I loved them, but so, so glad to have the house & laundry back. The cats are too!

Here's one of the babies - 2 days old. How adorable is it? I just love those tiny little claws & feet.

more pics:

I know the one of the left isn't really clear, but I had to include it to show the one draped over the top of the others - look at it's little butt!!!

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The Proud Mum - this morning before being shuffled back to school:

We were mobbed by all the grade 3/4's when we brought her back with the babies. They're not going to know what hit them with all the noise, etc & cocoa has pretty much had the run of the house whilst she's been here - I've let her out of the cage each morning & she's just hung around doing her thing. She even started hanging on my leg like the cats when I cooked dinner looking for veggie scraps. LOL.

Wish we could have one of our own, but just so not practical with the cats.

o.k., besides swinging in my hammock & reading, I decided I'd have a go at crocheting some flowers. Because, I am a glutton for punishment & why buy something that will only cost me a couple of dollars pre-made, when I can agonise over creating it myself for many hours? Somebody, just whip me now! Seriously, I am an embarassment to both my mum and my uber-crocheting grandma who used to whip up one of those covered coathangers in an afternoon. I only know how to (badly) chain stitch. So, anyway, I looked up on the web for a tutorial on how to make the flowers - came across this. It was described as a great step-by-step tutorial for those that don't crochet. Great! I thought. That's me!! I'm clueless! Show me how!!!  I was totally lost by the time it got to round 2. I found a list of stitches here, which was great & got me through round 1, but that was it - my "flowers" definitely didn't look like flowers, more like some kind of impressionistic type blob - sort of how I imagine one would look after a 12 hour bender. So, not to be defeated, with my meager knowledge in hand, I just kind of made it up as I went along & they came out o.k. I stress the o.k. Anyone who has crochet knowledge, yeah, I know, but just squint.

I did a couple in wool first, then switched to some rayon thread that I had. I love, love rayon - I discovered it when mum and I went through a mad, tassle making frenzy back in 1995. Yeah, it's slippery, and a little hard to work with, but does this stuff suck up dye really well, or what!???!!

I kept the end threads attached because a) rayon doesn't knot really well - it tends to come loose & unravel & b) I wanted to use them to attach them to the layout.

When I started, I didn't really have anything I wanted to use these for, but since they were there, I put them with this photo of Erin for a quick layout :)

Well, quick if you don't count the time to make the flowers!

Have a great day!

hx

just our luck......

So, Erin was desperate to have the class bunny home for the weekend and, after much deliberation, we decided she could have it this weekend, which in Melbourne, included a public holiday on Monday - she was so excited she would have the rabbit for 3 days. Me, less so. We have 2 cats that pretty much have the run of the house, so it's an exercise in keeping them out when the rabbit is roaming free.

Anyway, the rabbit was in a nesting frenzy - we assumed it was on heat. Everytime we got it out of the cage, it was munching up paper, pulling out its fur, etc, etc. I was pretty relieved that it would be going back to school this morning and the laundry would yet again become mine and the cats domain (they normally get fed in there), no more changing newspaper, etc, etc. Of course, last night the rabbit gave birth to 6 babies. LOL. No one even knew it was pregnant. We are now stuck with it for at least 10-14 days till they open their eyes, and now have to keep the cats completely out of the house, much to their disapproval, lest they snag a baby bunny. Of course, Erin is in heaven.

I've been tagged by Shirley - I'm so, so bad at keeping these things going, but here's 7 random facts about me:

• I detest food that wobbles (custard, jelly, whatever), no way I can eat it, doesn't matter if I'm out to dinner & someone has made it for me, not going to happen.
• I have a passion, o.k., well borderline obsession for romance novels
• my favorite colour is green
• I love competitive sport & played netball for years, I go back to it periodically, though haven't played for the past 1 1/2 years - I must be due for another renaissance.
• I have a compulsive nature, when I find a hobby that I like I do it obsessively till I know everything I want to about it.
• I love to cook. I like to experiment with whatever is in "season" here in the Yarra Valley and find out as many good recipes as I can to use it. Right now, it's apples.
• I cannot sit still for long periods of time, even during my favorite TV shows, I have to either read, or get up and do something else during the ads.

hx

kicking the habit - day 5

I have a secret, shameful addiction......yes, I admit it. My name is Helen, and I am addicted to Pepsi Max. Not Diet Coke, not Pepsi Light, not Coke Zero. I HAS to be Pepsi Max! I have tried in the past to kick the habit, before Christmas I had it under control, only having a can on Pizza Night (Friday). But, Christmas was the killer, all those shiny, bright, bulk boxes - 30 cans for $7.99 - my god - that's less than .50c a can! How could I resist? It's more than any sane woman can bear. So I cracked. Just for Christmas, I said, I'll buy a box (or two, or three), so that we've got some there for visitors, etc. Not to mention the fact that if any of the kids went near my box of cans I was like a lioness defending her cubs - snarling, bearing my teeth, drooling (oh, o.k., wait, do lioness's drool? maybe thats just me?)

Aaaaanyway, now it's March & good little consumer that I am, I've faithfully bought a fresh box every time the cans were almost finished. First I tried to limit myself to having one a day with my lunch (my dentist has been on at me at keeping these sort of things with meals), then it'd get to 11.30, and I'd really need my Pepsi................lo and behold, within a few weeks finds me cracking open my can at 10.30........and then some days finding excuses to have another one. Friday with Pizza, grabbing a can on the run, breaking a nail. You know? All the real excuses.

So, Monday, I made a stand. The last box ran out on Saturday. I didn't buy more when I went shopping Monday. So, I made it to Tuesday (bought a can at the supermarket when I had to get something else). Wednesday I broke and had to buy a Diet Coke at the service station (they didn't have PM, and I really didn't enjoy the coke), Thursday, looking good. Today, it's Pizza night - so I have a legitimate excuse. O.k., so I probably didn't need to buy the 2 litre bottle, but at least I have the girls to drink some too. Now, I just have to make it through the day without opening the bottle till the Pizzas get here.

hx

yeah, it's time for a rant (again)

• Sunday - internet blips out in the afternoon (must be an outage somewhere, turn off computer, wait to try it tomorrow - it's sunday, should really spend some time with family away from computer. Yeah! Good idea.)
• Monday - no internet. Ring server, tried rebooting, turn it off, turn it on, reset, change password, kick it (oh......right.....that was just what I felt like doing). Told service representative would call me. Call me now!
• Tuesday. Service rep attempts to call while I'm at Yoga, on my mobile, no message, "number withheld" notification, no attempt on home phone number. Love that total "customer comes first" effort that they've got going on. Ring them when I get home, go through the story, complain. Told their is an outage in Croydon. o.k., so that's my problem (how come no mention of this yesterday......hmmmm???). Will be fixed by end of business. 'kay, can live with that!
• Wednesday. still no internet. grrrr. rang again. Outage fixed - so why no internet? Turn off modem at wall as per instruction (still gotta love that, with most high tech stuff, when all else fails turn it off then on. LOL). but, alas, still no internet. ahhhh......she sees the problem, something with my username, will put me through to a service rep & they'll fix it right up. sounds good to me. Service rep, doesn't listen to anything I am telling him (obviously, he knows best) says "yes, yes, yes, we have organised someone to call you they'll do so between 9-5 today. Starting to feel a little (read: lot) ticked by now. But what I can do?
• Wednesday 5.45pm, No call. After having to go down to the library and issue invoices for the 33 books I sold on ebay and whose auctions all finalised today, not happy. Rang again - got onto Jim (i just call him o'lord of the internet) . Ran through my list of grievances - by now I am keeping a running record - he checks my line and says he can see the problem (clearly, he is magic). My email address has a capital "H" at the start. The email address I've only been using for the past 10 years. The system, which obviously, has just noticed my wicked waywardness, (oh, rebel me) has locked me out. We go in, re-enter the information, he performs some magic on the other end (told ya) - and voila, I have internet, again! I say "tell me this couldn't have been done on Monday?" Jim, diplomatic dude that he is, declines to make an incriminating comment. Nonetheless, I think I love him.

Lesson learned: when all else fails, keep ringing. Eventually someone will have a clue.

hx

sunny days & favicons

It's Autumn. My favorite season. Can't wait till the leaves start turning and I can get some good photos. I'm sure it must be about time for us to make a trip up to Bright.

So good to wake up to blue skies and sunshine this morning - it has been so cold here in Melbourne. Apparently it's going to warm up to the 30's again next week, can't wait! I hate the cold weather - the ceramic heater that I have in my bedroom died on me last night, not a good thing! I had to go all rebellious and break out my winter quilt.

I was so excited last week - I made myself a FavIcon. You know those little pics that sit next to the websites listed in your favorites file? I noticed that some of them had cool images & set about finding how to make one of my own. I used the daisy that's on one of the blog banners I use because, hey, if you didn't realise it, daisies are my favorite flower :) (I only put them on almost everything that I do). Anyway, if you add the site to your favorites folder you can check it out (you can always delete it later, but I want everyone to see it! LOL!!).

Totally easy to do - go to this blog & it'll tell you how to add it to your typepad blog -  I'm sure the process is much the same for any site - I did mine in about 5 minutes - didn't even have to shrink down the image.

John woke up and decided that torture was on the agenda today - it looks like we'll be carting wood up from the creek to fill up the woodshed. Hate that. Problem is, our main heating is the woodheater - so I don't have a lot of choice if I actually want to be warm this winter.

Alana has been doing some photography for her art class/folio - love this image that she took of Erin.

this one of Kosta is cute, too.

Love that look of fear in his eyes. LOL.

Have a great weekend!

hx