So many photos, so many memories

Well it has been a lot longer than I anticipated since I last posted. I feel like it has been a week when it has been two! Since then I have joined in on a free online workshop called Art Heart and Healing by the beautiful, multi-talented Tam at Willowing.It is a great course that introduces healing with your art journalling. I am running a bit behind but hope to catch up this week.

I haven't really done anything in my art journal but have been doing creative things like going through and printing out photos that I want to use in a scrapbook album for my son's 21st and then choosing the papers and embelishments for the pages. I haven't looked at some of these photos for a long time and it brought back some really good memories. It would be a lovely thing if the family sat down one evening every now and then and just went through their old photos and reminisced a bit. Boys don't seem as interested in doing this as girls are and in our fast paced hectic lives this is one thing that can bring us back to each other.
I also taught the second half of my purple iris class on Sunday. It was a lovely day to catch up with friends and paint at the same time.
So my only offerings this week are a couple of doodles that I did last week and a mandala I coloured in. It started as a photocopy from a book I have called Coloring Mandalas 2 by Susanne F Fincher and I added some more lines and curves and then coloured it in with coloured pencils.

 I like curves and swirls

 This one came after a chakra meditation. The bottom looks a bit out of shape but I like the rest of it.

 I was limited in the colours I had so probably didn't match up the colours in the way I wanted but I liked the meditative state and relaxation you feel when doing these.



I am still a bit behind in leaving comments on your blogs but I will get there this weekend. We have a long weekend with the Melbourne Cup on next Tuesday and my work always take the Monday off too so it is a really nice break.
I have just realised that I forgot to lead you guys over to Suzana at Creative Therapies. She kindly featured me on her blog during my absence and my manners flew out the window in not acknowledging that. Thank you Suzana for the mention :) Suzana is all about healing through creativity in our lives and is also currently doing the Artists Way so if you are interested in sharing that journey be sure to have a look.

I did start the Artists way a couple of weeks ago but have been unable to keep up so I have postponed it till after I have finished Tam's course. Sometimes I overload myself so have taken a self care step to drop some balls that I am juggling.

I leave you with a quote from the book

" What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us"

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a great day everyone

namaste

Lee

My baby is turning 21!

Hi everyone

Well as promised I now have the photos taken of what was keeping me busy on the weekend.
My eldest is turning 21 on the 1st of December and we are having a party for him so I thought I would make the invitations. I have had the most generous help from Pam and Jacinta at Scrappers Warehouse who gave me great ideas and where I bought the supplies to complete this little project. As the generation of today does things, most of my sons friends have been invited through Facebook so I only had to make invites for the family and adult friends. I started making them on Saturday and made one card in about 3 hours. I thought, gee maybe this is a bigger job than I thought but then I got into production line mode and completed 9 more by Sunday night, in between helping out in the garden and enjoying the fabulous spring day.

They are based with a red cardstock, then the striped paper  which I have stamped and grunged with a black stamp pad. The photos are also grunged and stuck to red card stock. the stamp was appropriate in saying 'Time Flies'.

 As you pull the ribbon on the right hand side the photos flip open. I chose 4 photos of Scott from baby to now.

 

until finally the details of the party are revealed.I thought the technique was really cool and Scott was very happy with them. He thought he was just getting a standard invite. Well, without girls in the house, I don't have a chance to do crafty things just for the kids so I thought I had better put my best foot forward for this milestone. And yes it makes me feel old but very proud of him.

Now I did mention that chocolate was going to be involved and I had all good intentions of making my now famous chocolate fondant volcanoes but I was so engrossed with what I was doing that i just ended up eating chocolate Toblerone.  Maybe next weekend I will make the fondants and share the recipe.

So there you have it, a very satisfying creative time and with the Toblerone a yummy one too. Do go and visit Pam and Jacinta if you are in Australia and in person if you are in Melbourne. Their shop is packed full of scrapbook and card making goodies and they are lovely ladies. Thanks girls :)

Have a great day everyone

Namaste


Lee

My Artist Date

Hi and thanks for popping in.

Last Friday I took myself off to the National Gallery of Victoria to view the European Masters Exhibition before it goes back to its home. I must say that I was just awestruck by the early masters paintings, the realism, the mood they captured, the glow they had in their paintings was incredible. I have only seen photos of these before and to see them up close was a real treat.

 Here is a shot looking down the Yarra River from Princess Bridge.

And another looking down Swanston Street.I love the sight of contemporary buildings beside the old St Pauls Cathedral and Flinders Street station.

Here is the front of the National Gallery of Victoria. The glass wall with the blue writing on it is actually a waterwall, very effective.

After catching the tram to the Carlton Exhibition Buildings I stopped in a the Craft Expo and called in to see Anna who had just finished demonstrating at a booth there. We had a great time shopping, watching demonstrations, shopping, looking at new products and shopping and buying things like............

 These lovely butterfly paper cutouts

Some more great stamps

 Some paper kits 

and a journal handbag and ATC box

And some paper cutouts that i will use as stencils.

After I had spent all my money I was booked in to see the movie about a expedition to the Titanic at the IMAX theatre. It was in 3d and was fascinating to see the places they can now get their cameras in to.  After the movie I was booked in to see the Titanic Artifacts exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. I had about an hour before I could go in so I went to have a look in the rest of the museum. I am ashamed to say that after living in Melbourne for 23 years this is the first time I had been there. I walked around the rainforest exhibition and the Melbourne history exhibition which were both great. I will definitely be going back again to see it in more detail. 

Here are just a couple of things I saw - some textile designs

 Some beautiful lead lighting and some pieces that you vintage girls will love.

After that it was on to the Titanic exhibition

I have always been fascinated by anything to do with the Titanic so I have been looking forward to seeing the exhibition for a while.

I absolutely loved my day in the city and will definitely be making it a regular occurrence. Isn't it funny that it seems the city where you live you generally see the least of. I suppose you take it for granted that you can go anytime you want but in reality you spend time going on holidays everywhere else but near home. 

I know I promised details of my weekend but the light is too bad now for good photos of what I was up to so will post them in the morning.

Sweet dreams and good night everyone

Namaste

Lee

Life is a journey

Here is another page completed on my play date with Anna. Yes we did a lot, don't you agree that when you are with someone else doing the same things you get so much more done than on your own, well at least that's what I found last Friday.

I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I forgot to take step by step photos.  Here are some photos of what I used that I put together afterward.

The background was sponged with White and Claret rose using a round sponge.

Then I added a photo I liked in a magazine. I love the flowers and her whole look( you will see this in the final photo. I then added some stamps about growth, journey etc.

I then used Antique Green for a stenciled flourish down each side and also on a script stamp randomly over the pages.

 

Here is the page so far. I say so far because I think I want to journal on this page about what the stamped words are about but not sure if it will be too much so I am leaving it for a while to see what feels right.

Anyway, that is all I am posting today. It is magnificent weather here in Melbourne today so I am going out to enjoy. Tomorrow I will post the photos and stories about my ME day in Melbourne that I had on Friday and about what has kept me busy this weekend - all I can say is that it is creative and satisfying.... and yes chocolate will be involved at some stage!

Happy Sunday everyone

Namaste

Lee

Sun is shining, internet is back online, all is good with the world :)

 In a previous post I promised to post the photos of the pages that I did when Anna came to play last Friday. I was inspired by the alcohol technique and a stencil that I had.
I started with a background painted in Jo Sonja Orange and Yellow Deep, blended in stripes across the pages. Then when the background was dry I painted a coat of watery black over the top.

 While the black was still wet I flicked drops of Jo Sonja Glass and Tile Medium part A over the top which created these cool patterns.

 I then looked to my stencils and used what was supposed to be an octopus. Anna saw a head with spiky, wavy hair so I stenciled with Carbon Black and then with Pale Gold on one side

I also had a pad of adhesive patterned papers and cut out dress shapes and stuck them on.

 

 

And came up with this. I thought the colours of the dresses went well with the background

I then used my Pale Gold paint and a border stamp that had dots and stars in it.

 

Added some journalling and thoughts on what the page was saying to me.

We all are individuals, with our own inner strength just waiting to be tapped. We all have our own inner wisdom if we choose to listen to it instead of listening to everyone else. Afterall we know ourselves the best don't we.

So ask yourself periodically - 

Are you listening to your inner wisdom, the part of you who knows you the best, who has your best interests at heart?

Enjoy your weekends everyone

Namaste

Lee

Gifts, bargains and doodles

This week I received in the mail a lovely package from Rosey. A lovely garland, a handpainted peg, handmade tag and a yummy Mochaccino sachet. Thanks Rosey, you are so generous and creative. I love all of the gifts. Hop on over to visit Rosey's blog for gorgeous, pretty creations

After work yesterday i stopped in at Spotlight and found these little treasures in their sellout bins. Some beautiful textured shiny cord in 4 colours and boxes of sequins. I love it when I find these bargains. I can feel a bling bling page coming on.

 Also yesterday I did another doodle. On the same background colours as the other one. I seemed to be taken with swirls, curly cue's and circles.

I am in serious withdrawal from having access to the internet when I want to at home and can't wait till the internet goes back on on Monday. I will be a bit behind on my comments on your blogs but bear with me. :)

Today my affirmation comes from Louise L Hay, the queen of affirmations

"Beauty has a healing power all its own."

Take time today to notice all the beauty around you, drink it in to all of your senses.

See you on Monday

Namaste

Lee

Sharing creatvity

Hi everyone, thanks for visiting :) I am still without internet at home so while I am at work on a break I thought I would pop in and say hi.

I just looked at my previous posts and realised that I forgot to put a couple of links to those who inspired my wave of doodling.  Kelly's lettering and doodled pages are so colourful and beautiful and Rebecca's zentangles and portraits are so detailed.  I marvel at their imagination.
While I am sharing the creativity, visit Cindy's blog for her doodling and her magnificent mandalas. Mandalas are something I have on my to-do list and Cindy's are certainly inspirational. Her sense of colour combinations are beautiful.

Now, Christmas is coming so join me in Kerryanne's "Simply Christmas" to participate in 12 weeks of fun. Guest bloggers are planned as well as handmade gift tutorials, inspiration and ideas to make your Christmas as stress free as possible while indulging in your creativity.

Last Friday my dear friend Anna came over for a 'play day'. After an hour or so of having a show and tell about all the new books, stamps, papers, embellishments we have accumulated, we got down to putting paint to canvas and paper.Well, it was actually after a couple of coffees, slices of chocolate cheesecake and a lovely lunch out in the sun.

Here is Anna showing me her new Copic markers.
I think I have just added another thing to my Christmas wish list!

How much fun is it when you can get together with someone who shares your passion? Lots!

I left my photos of the journal pages I did at home so will post them in the next couple of days.

Confessions of a Hoarder

Hi everyone
Thanks for your lovely comments over the last few posts. I really appreciate the time you take to stop by and visit. :)

After my doodle yesterday I went for a lovely walk in the freezing cold air and came across this flower. It was right in my path, just meant for me.

I love the bright orange and the petals are really shiny and soft. I think I will turn it into a painting one day. What do you think?


I have a confession to make. I am a clutterbug and hoarder.

Phew! there I said it out loud.

It is a time honored tradition passed down from my mother and I have been a "collector" since I was young.

I go through cycles but my husband, who is totally the opposite, keeps it from overtaking. At times I really hate it and then go through a de-clutter that honestly feels so good when I am finished - which is what I have been doing this week, bit by bit. 

I did get into my wardrobe yesterday and tidied up and gathered two bags of clothes to donate to the local op shop. Now that feels good.
Along the way I had a few fights with these...

  I also found a few things that I just can't let go of......yet

yes they are tap shoes from when I was 17

I also love my scarves and have them hanging on a towel rail so I can easily pick which one I want to wear.

 and ended up with this

 Now to my medicine man from yesterday. I did do a meditation to get some insights and I can tell you that after two foolscap pages of writing I had a lot of information including his name, where he lived, who he was and why he is with me now.


This morning I did another doodle. It was on a background that I did yesterday and thought it looked a bit flowery. So here it is.

..From this






















to this.....
 

I hope you all have a great weekend. I have run out of my internet download till the 10th so I will try to post from work next week. Thankfully I have upgraded my internet so this wont be a problem in the future. 

Here is one of my favourite quotes

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."
Henry Ward Beecher

Namaste

Lee

I'm still in my pyjamas at 11am!

Ok, Ok so I have taken this relaxing week off thing too far being in my pyjamas so late, but what the heck. I like doing things just cause I can!

Yesterday I didn't get any de-cluttering done, I had my dear friend (who is also my hairdresser) come and cut my hair while we solve the problems of the world (and our families). After that I rang my mum and caught up with her week (she is 800km away). An hour later I thought I had better do something so I did some background pages in my journal ready for any spurts of inspiration. I then had a physio appointment. By the time I got home from that I didn't feel like cooking so dear husband said "did you want to go Mexican for dinner?" Well you don't have to ask me twice and I was out the door quicker than he had time to say "What wine do you want to take?". After stuffing myself with chilli  and the obligatory chocolate desert (called Death by Chocolate) I rang my sister to catch up (she is 1500km away). Another hour and a half later it was bedtime.  So not very productive on the de-cluttering side but hey it will still be there tomorrow.

Well it is tomorrow and yes the clutter is still there but I can't miss listening to my favourite shows on Hayhouse radio so while listening to shows about dreams, astrology and enlightenment, I did this

Now, I started with the teardrops at the top so where did that face come from? Suddenly he just started appearing. Anyway I say him because I look at him and feel a medicine man. I think I will meditate on him later and see what he has to say.

I also booked in a day for myself in the city Friday next week. I want to go to the national Art Gallery of Victoria to see the European Masters Exhibition and also to go to the Melbourne museum to see the Titanic Artifacts exhibition. I have been looking forward to seeing both of these and hope to get some great photos of Melbourne city as well.

So the "plan" for today (notice i said plan in inverted commas, totally up for change LOL) is to declutter my wardrobe. I walked in there before to see what I would wear today and nearly got lost. Today I feel like I am in Jumanji and I need a safari suit and a compass to find my way through the jungle. So wish me luck. If I don't re-surface by tomorrow send someone to look for me please. Anna is coming on Friday for a art play day and I have to be back for then.

Till then I leave you with a thought for the day by Wayne W Dyer

"When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.”

I hope you enjoy each step today and dance like there is no one watching

Namaste
Lee

Doodle day

Well, you can tell I am at home on a weeks holiday at the moment.Why do these precious weeks off always go so fast? Each time I say to myself that I will be organised and will plan the week to fit as much in as possible. Well then life gets in the way - how dare it?!!
After seeing Anna's new kitchen yesterday it spurred me on to de-clutter a couple of cupboards so that everything doesn't fall out when you open the door and so that I can reach the saucepan I need without putting on a rope and workhat to go in and find it. It was good to cross that one off the list.


Today I just needed to do something creative, anything; so this is what I did before the day started in case I don't get to do anything else. A doodle, zentangle.

Now its about time I got off this computer and do something else on my list, maybe another cupboard or read a book that has been sitting on my bedside table for a month now. Well, I think you know which way I would like to go but better see if I can do both. First some sustenance, a coffee and a bit of chocy:)

My affirmation from today is from the dear Louise L Hay

"I am organised and productive. I have lots of energy, and I enjoy getting my life in order"

Have a great day everyone.
Namaste
Lee :)

Grand Final week - Take 2

Hi everyone

Well what a weekend it has been. I love my AFL and especially love watching the season's culmination which is the Grand Final. Even though my team was not playing it is still a great game to watch and Saturday's game was a nail biter, right down to the siren which signaled that it was a draw. Now in AFL only the Grand Final is replayed if it is a draw, that's the rule love it or hate it, so when it was over we didn't have a winner and we have to do it all over again next week. The good thing for me is that I have a very dear friend who was able to get two extra tickets and

I AM GOING TO THE GRAND FINAL!!! 

It will be my first ever grand final and probably my only chance of going to one unless I become a member in the future. To be in the crowd at the MCG at a normal game is great but to be at a sellout crowd of over 100,000 cheering fans will be awesome. The atmosphere is like nothing else ( oh the U2 concert came close) and it will be a day long remembered.

Anyway, i digress....

I received a lovely package in the mail late last week from Gina. You may remember from my last post that I had one a giveaway that Gina had on her blog and I was able to pick whatever I liked from her Etsy shop. I choose the green tree frog and shell stamp. 

I couldn't wait to try out the stamps so thought I would use them in my art journal. This is my first one and I hope you like it. These little frogs are well camouflaged in nature so I wanted to convey that in this layout. 

The prompt I choose what "What green means to me". The same colour can evoke so many different emotions in everyone from calm to irritating, cool to hot, happy to sad, exciting to dull, quiet to noisy. I think it can reveal a lot about your personality in the tone of the colour you use and the colours themselves. You can tell what sort of mood someone is in by the colours they choose to wear that day, further the colour you choose to wear can also then change the mood that you are in. I tend to go for bright colours but also love looking at pastels, I just don't seem to be able to paint soft colours - too heavy handed I guess.

anyway, here is the progress of my two pages

I want to thank Gina for her generosity and I hope I have done your stamp justice. As soon as I have used the shell stamp I will share.

Here is the quote for today

 comes from one of my favourite authors Cheryl Richardson

"Think BIG. There are unseen forces ready to support your dreams."

Hope you are having a great day.

Namaste

Lee