Accepting the inevitable...

To cheat or not to cheat... THAT is the question...

It's over a week now since I have posted - and this from someone who was going to blog on a daily basis this year. It's my first major slip up... and though I could list many things that got in the way, I'm not much of a fan of excuses, admission of guilt is somehow easier. And inevitable.

Having said that, I am going to share with you what I have been up to and give you a quick round-up, of my life since last week...

I have been busy with school. I have had regular Tuesday night classes for the last 4 weeks which have been fantastic. Some of it confronting, a lot of it challenging, and all of it confirmation that this is right. I may not know the destination at this point, but I do know that I am on the right path.

I had last Friday and Monday off and spent nearly the entirety on art and study. It was a really good chance to re-visit some of the theories and practices we have covered so far, and a chance to ponder and reflect. I also managed to finish one of the major parts of the first module which I was happy with, though I have yet to complete a 2000 and a 1000 word essay in the next few weeks. No time to take a break.

Last Friday night I had a friend come and stay and it was lovely to see her. She came straight from work and we went out for dinner, did the final artwork for her upcoming wedding, went out to brekkie the next morning, and spent time hanging out in the city for a few hours, just browsing the shops and sitting by the river with a drink. All the while chatting without break. About all the important things, work, family, weddings, love, loss and grief, clothes and internet dating... Pretty much everything! So so nice to catch up.

I have seen 3 movies, all of which I would recommend - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, My Week with Marilyn and The Artist.

Wow - what a line up. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a delight to watch - full of colour and spirit, and a great cast to boot. An extraordinary adventure into the exotic.

My week with Marilyn was a moody and beautifully shot insight into another era and beautiful to watch. Both Michelle Williams and Eddie Redmayne were fantastic.

The Artist was an unexpected surprise. Despite it's awards, it was not top of my viewing list, but due to an expiring ticket, I took the chance. Wow. It was really really good. I Loved it. Totally connected with the characters and was captured from beginning to end.

I have been on bookdepository.com and ordered a few books which will add to my pile of reading, as I have realised very early that my reading will have to increase if I am to even survive, let alone thrive, in this course. The TV is not getting much of a showing, apart from maybe a couple of faves, but none of this gazing blankly at the screen when the viewing is of no real interest.

Last Sunday I was invited to a family dinner to farewell my cousin's daughter who is off to India for 3 months of volunteer work. Such exciting times. And so nice to be a part of it and hang out with the young people of my family. They are such great company and full of energy and character.

Work has been ok. Quiet on a few days which has allowed me to catch up on some additional reading and internet surfing/googling. And this morning, my blog. If it lasts for a few hours I may even add in some posts for the last few days.... just to fill a few of the gaps.

I'm feeling good today. It's a Friday, the sky is a bright autumnal blue and I am looking forward to a busy weekend.

Enjoy!

Sunday snippets...

Whoa.
What a weekend.
Seems like I caught up on a lot of sleep.
Two early nights.
Two lie ins.
AND two Nana naps.

But in amongst it all, in all that time of rest, I have also managed to do some sewing and catching up with friends (Thanks Lyn for your wonderful patience and guidance in pulling together Nikki's purse pattern - I reckon I bought the kit at least 18 months ago) and also great (as always) to catch up with H too.

Such a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon on a lazy weekend.
And how cute is this purse?

Creative weekend... Lino printing using an old mangle as a press

Some time ago I bought an old restored clothes mangle on ebay. It is a beautiful piece and I bought it with the sole purpose of using it to print lino artwork... pretty much giving an old piece of machinery a new lease on life, reinventing it as a printing press. It is old, it is beautifully restored, and it is extremely heavy! Given it's weight and size, it is difficult to transport and is unlikely to fit into my flat. Thankfully my parents are both encouraging of my creativity and have been good enough for me to leave it in their home just waiting for me to get motivated to put it to good use.

Well over a year ago now, a friend and I gave it a bit of a test run, but it was quite hit and miss and we didn't do a great deal, though some results showed promise. Since then the mangle has sat dormant in my parents home.

Another friend has been saying for a while now (knowing our shared love of the art) that he would like to come and give it a shot too. At last we finally managed to organise it and Timmo came and stayed this weekend and we gave the press another run. This time round (after a bit of trial and error) we managed to get some great results.

Take a look...

This is Timmo's beautiful piece which measures about 6" square.

These are both my pieces and are around about postcard size. 

The bird is a rerun of of a lino I carved a couple of years ago.

Here we are with the press - note Timmo's newspaper printer's hat.

Thanks Mum and Dad for hosting our creative chaos this weekend, and thanks to Timmo also for a great weekend, a great chance to catch up and to get creative. Now it's time to get carving more lino's, so we can get back there soon and give it another go!

Weekend in the country...

Well, it's Sunday and the end of another weekend. The working week looms (boo), and just two weeks from today, it will be Christmas day.

To escape the craziness that life in the city is at this time of year, I was lucky to hang out with friends Malcolm and Marion at their country home in Mirboo North this weekend. 

It was a lovely weekend. With lots of highlights.

A photography shoot on Friday afternoon. (Mal is a photographer and I went along as he took group shots of seven cousins, as a Christmas gift for their grandparents).

The local Saturday Market.

A walk along the main street and a spot of shopping and bargain hunting.

A pavlova making lesson (thanks Marion).

A nest full of newly hatched chicks.

Watching Marion prepare sourdough loaves and the excitement as they rose between stages of kneading.

Smoochy cats and a long walk in the bush with the dogs.

An echidna.

A good thunderstorm and lots of rain.

Preparing and then sharing roast lamb together... followed by pavlova of course!

A game of scrabble, where I wasn't totally walloped.

Lots of fresh air, green fields, rolling hills and twisting roads for some fun driving.

Good company and lots of chat and laughs.

And last (but certainly not least) a new man in my life.

More pictures to follow tomorrow... right now, I'm going to bed. 

It's been a big weekend.

Winter sunshine...

It has been an absolutely spectacular weekend. Blue skied sun-shiny days, cold nights with open fires and family in my favourite place.

Happy Birthday to my big brother Tim. xxx

Back to work tomorrow.
Blah.

My favourite places...

Point Lonsdale Lighthouse.

This is one of my favourite places. 

Where is yours?

Just one of those perfect Autumn days...

Autumn is without doubt beautiful.
Perfect autumn days are sharp.

The sky is bright blue.
The air clear.
The earth is damp and rich.
The sun still warm.
And you can't deny the colours are magnificent.

There is more to life...

"There is more to life than increasing the speed."
 GHANDI


It's been a busy week here and the long weekend is just a breath away. I do plan to take a bit of a break at some stage...
though in the meantime...

Tonight am off to see Banksy's movie "Exit Through the Giftshop" at ACMI.
On Saturday I hope to head to the Sister's Market in Brunswick.
Sunday I want to head to Camberwell Market.
And Monday? I might get to sleep in! Catch up on some reading. Watch a movie.

And amongst all that, there's sure to be a bit of planning and dreaming about my impending trip to the USA... (more details next week).

I may even get a bit of blogging done (and belatedly return some comments to all my neglected faves)!

Enjoy the weekend everyone.

Sew it Together... a lovely crafty gathering

Well, it's Monday night and I have promised myself a computer free night, but before the week disappears, I just want to tell you a bit about my weekend. A weekend where I got to hang out with over 60 amazing crafty lovely ladies, all connected by the world of craft, sewing and creativity and everyone of them bloggers.

First up. It was busy. It started straight after work on Friday when about 30 of us met at Nikki's studio to meet and greet and enjoy a few nibblies with one or two drinks... and really I didn't stop until I hit the sack on Sunday night. 

Today at work, when asked what I did on the weekend, I could happily say that I caught up with friends. Now, understand that I had not actually met most of the people I spent time with on the weekend, but   (being lovely bloggy readers) you will understand that having spent most of the weekend with creative bloggy people was heaps of fun. And that whilst I had never met the majority of these people before, I already counted them amongst my friends

Across Friday night and the Sew it Together day on Saturday, there was much squealing, smiling, hugging and laughter as people met one another (more often than not for the first time) and as people put faces to blogs and made connections with people they had met and got to know only through their blogs. Throw in lots of crafty inspiration, sewing, good food and sharing of tips and tricks, and it was always going to get noisy and be lots of fun.

What a treat to spend time with such lovely women and make connections that had begun on the internet! And make lots of new friends too.

Sheridan and Susie (and others) made the trip from QLD. Trash came along all the way from the UK (well she was here visiting family but what great timing... and it was so nice to meet her and sit next to her on Saturday while we all sewed and knitted up a storm together)!  

I was lucky to hang out for most of the day with these lovely ladies... Deborah, Rachelle, Jan, Lizzie, and Jodie travelled all the way from Ballarat! Imagine! Crazy hey!

I also got to spend time with Holly, and Cathie and Sandra and Nikki, and I met the lovely Karen and Juddie and Ellen.

There were lovely prizes, swaps and even the paparazzi were there!

If you were there and I haven't mentioned you (sorry - there were so many new faces and names to remember), please make sure you say hi and I will come and visit you!

Sheridan, you did an amazing job organising it all. Thanks for all your hard work, it was a fantastic couple of days.

And then, as if I hadn't had enough excitement for one day, I spent Saturday night making kiddie cocktails for one gorgeous 11 year old and her friend!

Happy Birthday Violet!

Stitches & Craft loveliness

Last Friday, I took the day off work and headed to the Stitches and Craft show. It's always a treat to take a Friday off work, but to be spending time doing crafty workshops and meeting lovely crafty people and bloggers is hard to beat.


And then, as if Friday wasn't enough, I also went on Saturday too to catch up with more crafty goodness.

I created a sock owl, in Claire's workshop. Go take a look at her blog and say hi at Craft Schmaft. She is gorgeous and the workshop was lots of fun, she was so patient and looked after us all (even when I took the LONGEST TIME EVER to decide what colour sock to choose. The owls were all so different and so so cute.

Then, how could I possibly go to the Stitches and Craft Show and not do a workshop with Sandra from Pepperberry. I actually met Sandra last year at the same show at Flemington, where we found ourselves in a few of the same classes. She is AMAZING and I love her creations! And she has done such incredible things in the last year. Truly, I don't know how she does it all.

She has such an incredible energy and is obviously loving what she is doing, it's impossible not to be inspired.

I also caught up with other faves Nikki, Michelle, Cathy, Jodie, Bec, and met lots of lovely new blogging friends too... Caitlin from pippijoe, Holly from two cheese please, Jacqueline from Zippyzippy in Horsham, Gillian from Silly Gilly fame, and Kim from Emiti Crafts (she is new to blogging, so make sure you drop by and say hello).

I know I met lots of other crafters and bloggers too, so I am sorry if I have forgotten to mention you here, but it was lovely to meet you all and thanks for dropping by and saying hello to me. Leave me a comment and I will come and visit.

And, as it is Friday already, I am excited to say I will be meeting lots of these lovely people again, and lots of other crafty bloggers too, as we all head to Sew it Together, tonight at Nikki's studio, and then all day tomorrow in the city. Hopefully I'll see you there.

Yay!

From Paris with love...

Last weekend I flew to Canberra. The NGA (National Gallery of Australia) has been hosting the "Masterpieces from Paris" exhibit and it is finishing up in April. This is the first time these paintings have travelled outside of France and the opportunity to see them, was too good to miss.

My Mum and Dad were also keen to visit and so they drove up, and I met them there. We were not alone in wanting to see the masterpieces in 'the flesh'. Gough Whitlam (former Australian Prime Minister) was there, being wheeled around in a wheelchair with a personal guide. And hundreds of others too.

The crowds at the exhibition were RIDICULOUS! Who would think all these people would be interested in looking at art! The queue was more than a few hundred metres long and there was a waiting time of 2 plus hours.

It was suggested (and we agreed) to pay for NGA membership (reciprocal rights with NGV) which meant we could 'jump the queue'. It was not an exclusive offer just for us (though many decided to stay in the queue) though it meant that after a half hour process, we were in. None of us were keen to spend 2 hours standing in a queue and it was well worth the additional $20 it cost to join.

The exhibition was stunning. The paintings I had only ever known from art and history books and art classes, were displayed before us, and again I was reminded that art in real life is so much more beautiful (of course) than in the pages of a book. Being able to see these works of art, get up close and see the brush strokes, see the texture and layers of paint, was a treat.

Canberra was buzzing and the weather was beautiful. As the Capital of Australia and it's political home, Canberra is often more known for it's politics, legal fireworks and porn (though maybe not in that order) than for it's art. Hopefully I will be back in the future to see more of the art and it's reputation changes a little!

And to top it all off, there was a magnificent fireworks display on Saturday night which was a perfect send off after a great weekend.

A perfect view with perfect comapny...

I am meeting a friend here for lunch today. The Dunes in Ocean Grove.

A perfect view with perfect comapny.

Wishing my life away...

Is it just me, or has February just flown? It's March tomorrow and I'm still getting accustomed to writing 2010! This is the last day of summer and whilst I know it is true, it just doesn't seem possible (nor am I happy about it!).

Each week, as I go to work on Monday, I wish another week away. And I have to remind myself that life is far too precious to wish 5 days away out of every week. I never seem to have enough time to do the things I like to do. And yet...

Out of every 24 hours,
I sleep 8,
I work 8,
I travel to and from work 1.5,
I cook and eat 1.
I shower, wash, clean, housework 1.

That leaves 4.5 hours of every day that seems to disappear.

Where? I have no idea. But that is the key. Four and a half hours of 'spare' time every day... let's say four just to round it off. Three, if I add in a little bit of padding. And that's not even including the weekend!

What am I doing with all this free time? And if my answer is "not very much", then what an earth am I thinking?

Life (and time) is too precious to waste.

Abbotsford Convent Sunday Markets in the sun...

Under the sunny skies on Sunday, I met with Nikki and wandered the creative hub that is Abbotsford Convent. The skirt and shirt makers market, the gallery and a makers market were all sharing the space and we wandered quite happily, chatting along the way and enjoying the Sunday atmosphere.

We recruited a few more bloggers (we should be on a commission) and met some lovely crafters and artists. What a perfect way to spend a few hours immersed in all this creativity.

I even took photos to share and link to... And then (tonight) disaster. Whilst I did a clear out of my SD Card, I managed to corrupt my card and lose everything... BEFORE I downloaded the new pics! Not happy about that at all...

And so, in the absence of images, please go and have a look at the websites I link to below... there are some amazing and inspiring artists out there (think I might have to go back to take some more pics next time).

Thanks Nikki for your lovely company. Call me anytime you want to go again!

Nikki (my lovely wandering and blog recruiting companion)
Elise Hurst (I just love her illustrations)
Jan Bell (soft sculptor - hopefully she has a blog up and running soon!)
Shoko Mafune (I love her ceramics and especially her hug bell) and she does classes too!
Wendy June (Such magical drawings)

And because I don't have any images from Sunday at the convent, I have posted a pic I took a few years ago at Mt Macedon.

Luna Park Fun... how can it be called the scenic railway, when your eyes are tightly shut?

My Christmas gift to my cousin Jen and her 4 kids was to take them to Luna Park. It took a while, but we finally made it today.

I was determined to be brave and go on everything they did. No backing out. If I was scared, there was no way they were going to know a thing about it.

All good in theory, until we went on our first ride. Violet (the second youngest) was with me and I could feel her heart beating as she sat snugly against me. She asked me to hold on to her tightly. No problems, I thought, just who's holding on to me?

When we got off just two short minutes later, she was fine. Said she had a great time. Me on the other hand... my face was pale and sweaty and I am told I looked rather sickly. And I sure as hell felt it!

I don't remember the ride's name...
I call it the nauseator.
Two words...
NEVER AGAIN


Stunning day of sunshine and craziness.
And just in case you are wondering?
No. I didn't.
Not after the nauseator.


I did however, manage the Scenic Railway. The rollercoaster that has been scaring people witless for generations. What I don't understand is the name... yes I know it's high, I know it runs the border of the park, I know the view stretches to the beach and across the entire park... but how can it be called scenic, when your eyes are tightly shut?


Dodgem Speedster Monty.
You're never too young, or too old for the dodgems. So much fun, even for me at 42!


G-Force. And in the background, just part of the tracks for the Scenic Railway.


There were smiles all round.


This is the crew.


It was always going to be fun, with such a crazy bunch!
Thanks guys, I had a great day.


Glad to see I wasn't the only one exhausted at the end of it all!

Studio sneak peek...

It's Friday and the weekend is here.

It's going to be a busy weekend.
There is an auction.
A visit to Luna Park.
A catchup with a special friend.
A market to browse.
Lots of late summer sunshine.

I love weekends.

Hope you have a good one too.