It’s been a while…

since I’ve been around. Somehow working from home has left me with less crafting time, not more.

Today I stumbled upon Julie Prichards YouTube art demos. Check it out!

I have been an admirer of Julies work for some time and am wrapped she is showing off how she does it. I’m all inspired – I’ll have to dig out my paints (but maybe after I’ve done some work on my Christmas card?)

x Michelle

Now much crafting…

The bushfires here in Melbourne have cast smoke across the town; it is a constant reminder of the mammoth disaster that occurred here on Saturday February 7th.

I have not been directly effected. None of my family or friends have died or lost homes. Yet somehow it has effected all of us, every Melbournite.

We all heard the warnings before Saturday, we lived through that day… it was like stepping straight into Hell itself, when stepping outside that day. The horrid north wind came up so quickly. We lived through the hottest Melbourne day ever (46 degrees C). I am always drained after such a hot day, but this time, as events unfolded, it was with growing horror as each piece of news was received. It was like prodding a sore tooth; I didn’t want to hear anymore, yet I couldn’t help but check the local radio and internet for the latest updates. The death toll went from 40-ish to 90 and just kept growing (currently stands at 186 but we’ve been warned there is more to come, still over 100 people missing). Over 7,000 people homeless…

So there hasn’t been a lot of crafting lately. I’ve done a few items for the school’s fete…

x Michelle

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2009! I have a feeling it is going to be an especially fantastic year!

I have managed to get my craft room / study tidy. This was in desperate need after the rush to finish Christmas presents and cards. So far I’ve made a few cards to restock  my general supply and have many grand plans. I will also be getting back on track with those weekly challenges that I had let slip while studying last year.

Resolutions?

a) JUST DO SOMETHING! Stop fussing, stop being overwhelmed by other fantastic work and just create my own stuff. Only with practice and experimenting can I improve.
b) USE UP ALL THE STUFF I HAVE! And I’ve got plenty of stuff hidden away.

Happy Crafting,

Michelle

No time this week…

Last week I had joined into both the Mixed Media Monday and the new Gothic Arches challenges. This week I haven’t had the time. so rather than continue to worry and fuss about it, I’ve decided that there won’t be any challenges for this week, or next week. After that my school work will be complete and I’ll only have Christmas to worry about.

Usually for Christmas I make my own cards. This year I thought I’d have some more time on my hands and make presents for the boys’ teachers and for family members. With my youngest at both Kinder and Daycare this year, he needs 5 presents on his own – at least son #1 has only one teacher!

Just to make my time-challenged life a little more challenged, I’ve been offered a part-time job. It is exactly what I’m after; part-time, close to  home, an “ethical” industry and using my Engineering/Quality skills … it’s just going to take up more of my time.

Something will have to give – probably the housework!

Hope your creating is going well!

Michelle

All is well…

All is well in my part of the world… I haven’t been making much art, so I haven’t been blogging it.

I have been studying part-time, so that has kept me busy. I got retrenched last week, so I will have more time on my hands, once this gloomy transition time has passed… I am going to be home with the kids, doing “housewife” things (*shudders*) – the first time in over two years… so I will need some transition time…

I shall begin creating soon,

Michelle

Back from Adventure

I’ve been back from my adventure for a while now. It went really well; kids had a great time, the weather was WARM and the caravan was lots of fun.

I haven’t been doing much crafting, as I’ve started a night school class that is taking up a fair bit of my time. I’m laying the foundations for a career change, which will hopefully give me more crafting time – that’s the plan, anyway.

So I am still around. I’m doing a little crafting today, so I should have something to post soon!

Be true to your creative selves!

Michelle

Off on an Adventure

I’m off on an adventure for three weeks, with limited art supplies and internet access.  I’m not too sure how I’ll go. I do have a new sketch / journal book (my husband bought me one, as well as one for the boys!). My plan is to sketch, journal and write and fill the entire book during those three weeks.

I will miss our weekly challenges, but I shall return!

Hope you all continue to make some art each day.

Michelle

Easter Crafting

Woohoo! My family has gone away and left me to crafting. I’m so used to spending only an hour at a time, that a whole day is a little daunting; so much opportunity, where to start?

I’ve got plenty done: this weeks 4×4 Friday challenge of diVinci’s women complete, a MOO card swap well underway, my stamp made for this month’s Green Pepper Press’ Street team Crusade and a start on next weeks Mixed Media Monday’s Bright Colours. My only problem is that my family has taken our camera, so I can’t take any photos to post. Arrgghhh!

If one creates art without anyone seeing, has one created anything at all???

*sigh* all the pics will have to wait until next week.

It is awfully quiet here…. They can come back now!

Michelle

Creating, not Blogging

I haven’t updated this blog for a while or done many challenges as I’m working on a Fat Book swap.  It’s due by the end of February and it’s been very challenging; creating a piece for someone else is so much harder than doing it for myself, as I have been with the different challenges I’ve completed. I’m determined to stick to my commitments, though, so I won’t be doing any challenges until I’ve finished this Fat Book.

I’ll have lots of pics to add once it’s complete!

Hope everyone is enjoying their creative time.

Michelle

Back from Beechworth

We have returned from our caravaning holiday to Beechworth, very relaxed but with no crafting done.  I did manage to pick up some lovely old theatre programmes from a Bric-a-Brac store (everything else was too expensive to cut up or alter!). Beechworth is in northern Victoria, about 3 hrs drive from Melbourne. It is an old gold mining town which dates back to the 1880’s. It is also famous for its Ned Kelly (the Bushranger) connections.

Here is our caravan, all set up in our lovely shady spot.

This was our view of Lake Sambell:

x M.