EAJC #8, I miss...

Em's Art Journal Challenge this week is I MISS.

I totally miss breast feeding. Oh I LOVE breastfeeding SO MUCH. The little hand, the little teeny tiny baby... the connection, the LOVE. THE LOVE!
A side note to this: a most authentic Goddess I know and I were talking one day about what sort of photos she could take of me... what sort of Goddess do I consider myself to be?

My response, Breast Feeding Goddess, I have never felt MORE of a Goddess than when I breastfeed.

Journalling on the back is:
I loved breastfeeding Mikaela. It was the most wonderful and remarkable spiritual connection I have ever felt in my life. I loved how she grunted until she latched on... how her little hand caressed my breats, and when she got bigger, my face. I loved how she got "booby drunk" after a feed.. in a total state of bliss and contentment. I lvoed the ease of breastfeeding, the ability to feed my child anywhere at anytime. I loved the WHOLE breastfeeding experience & cant wait to do it again!

PS... I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jodes for taking these photos for me *thanks babes*
Bx

EAJC # 7 Shoes...

Em's Art Journal Challenge #7 was SHOES. Mmmm a good one indeed. I have tonnes of shoes, many I bought during my time living in Italy.

But the ones I cherish the most are a tiny little red pair my mother bought for Mikaela when she was about 18months old.
Journalling on the back is:
These little red patent leather shoes are just so very cute.
My mother {Mikaela's Grandmother} bought them for her when she was about 18 months old --> they are gorgeous. My Mum cant help herself when it comes to beautiful shoes and little girls --> especially her first Grandchild.
Its totally obvious where I get my shoe fetish from (and where Mikaela gets hers too).
Its all about shoes shoes shoes Galore!
Bx

EAJC week 6...

It is a beautiful rainy day here. Which, for me = scrapping/artists day! Whoohoooo.

I love getting creative when its raining.... it is perfect.

I have a number of Emily's challenges to share, which I have done but not posted...naughty, naughty! Although, you may appreciate by the journalling... that I could not really post them until we announced our pregnancy.

I have about 5 to post and I will post them individually for the sake of organisation, or my attempt thereof. So lots of posts for today *smile*Emily's Art Journal Challenge for week 6 {Sunday 11 Feb} was LOVE LOVE LOVE:
The journalling on the back is:
Its hard to fathom that this valentines will only be Nath's and mine second one together and we are having a baby!!! We are delighted and excited and feeling so inlove and blessed to have found each other - our true soul mate!

These challenges are so much fun... and really great to be doing when I am pregnant and there are so many exciting things happening for us in 2007. It will be a big year and this "pack of cards" will be a wonderful keepsake for years to come...

Thanks Em for such a gift.
You rock!
Bx

This beautiful young lady...

Is my sister Katrina (affectionately referred to as Katie)... she was there the moment Mikaela was born. They have a remarkable connection and they are very devoted to each other.

At the tender age of 19 Katie had the poise of someone much older, she was very much a part of my pregnancy, birthing and new Mum experience. She was the only one who could come anywhere near me during a contraction.

Since she found out about the arrival of another niece or nephew.... she is moving back to Canberra. I can NOT tell you how delighted I am. I know the babe is not the only reason she is moving back, but it is a major factor.

Although there are 11 years between us, Katrina is one of my closest friends and we can always rely on each other. Age is no barrier for our heart and soul connections.

Nath and I cant wait for her to arrive and stay with us for a while {and house sit when we are in Europe for a month} She brings with her warmth and tenderness... {tho she is really bad at choosing age appropriate gifts... and that is another post entirely *grin}
We are blessed.
Bx

Baby Bump...

Yep, its only 13 weeks but I have a pretty substantial bump already. Which is so funny because with Mikaela I was about this size at around 6 or 7 months, not 3 ! ~ I even have a plaster cast to prove that, oh so helpful, not *grin*~
Oh well, it is mainly due to the fact that I am 10kilos heavier falling pregnant with this bub than I was 7 years ago with Mikaela.

It does have its benefits too... its nice to have "popped" out already as Nath and Mikaela love rubbing my belly, holding it and talking to our babe... oh so very sweet.

I have been very fortunate {much as I was with my pregnancy with Mikaela} very little morning sickness, but I this time I had been tired... REALLY tired. Now I am past that stage and feeling really great, new energy and all.
Its all good!
Very good indeed...
Bx

New Life...

Is the name of figurative sculpture... given to us by Nath's beautiful sister Cass and her hubs Matt.

I love this so much, I have admired this collection for years. I just never had a piece... until now!

It is perfect that the first piece (of what is sure to be a major collection for us) came in the form of a beautiful gift, a celebration of a wonderful time in our lives {and I cry just thinking of it, or looking at the statue}. And yes, that is mainly due to hormones *grin*

Nath and I are so blessed to be expecting our first baby at the end of September 2007. We are currently 12.5 weeks pregnant and so delighted and excited to the anticipating arrival of our babe and a sibling for Mikaela! EXCITED excited EXCITED *grin*

So there you go Sheila... your senses are 100% spot on xx!

Love and Blessings to you all...
Bxx

A little Scrapping Exhibition...

Last Saturday there was a snippet in the local paper about a scrapbooking exhibition/competition. The Best of Canberra... scrap a layout onto a canvas based on the things you loved the most about Canberra.

Even tho I didn't have very much time (about 3 days to get the project thought out and completed), it was an interesting challenge and I'd give it a go. Asides... its a SIGN. I saw it and therefore I must follow this path before me... like the Celestine Prophecies, The Secret... yadda yadda {you know what I mean *grin*}

Tuesday I got the canvas's and I submitted them this morning.

Here are the two I did, as that is all I had time for:






The exhibition is being held in Block F of the CIT Reid Campas, if you are local... go check it out!

Cass and Matt (Nath's sister and hubs) are arriving tonight for the weekend... JOY JOY!!

BTW... I am going to share a secret sooooooonnnn *grin* Shaz will be SO RELIEVED!!! I'll tell ALL shortly! See if you can GUESS... also a perfect opportunity for any one wanting to "delurk" *smile*

Have beautiful weekend lovelies....

BIG MUCHOS Love
Bx

Pottery passion...

Here is one of my first "mixed collage" platters...





I am having SO MUCH fun creating these. Thursdays are my days to spend at the studio getting messy and creative. I love it. There is a married couple there in their 90s... so NICE, so kewl... really inspring and sweet.

I have another 9 at various stages of completion, becoming "leather dry", ready to be bisque fired or ready for the final firing after I have glazed them.
Will share soon. It can be a lengthy process *smile* Each plate is entirely different, they are not all mixed collage like this one, some are very simple.

BTW... Mikaela's bust dried up over the Chrissy break and I need to start again ... its a test to see if I really want to sculpt *ha* ~I do, but in the meantime I am enjoying this creative distraction~

Hugs and love...
Bx

Ali Challenge #15...

This is Ali's 15th Challenge (and the 15th I have done... a bit late with this one, but done none-the-less). As with all of Ali's challenges....I really enjoyed this one, once I got started it was a quick one!!
The challenge was:

to come up with you very own personal creative manifesto. Maybe it is one word. Maybe it will be paragraphs. Whatever it is or becomes, take some time this week to begin generating one for just for you.

I decided to do a mini-album, and here it is:

CREATE: make things, get pieces together and just create, make it! Make something, anything even when you dont always want to, just do it anyways. Get out the paint, the paper, glue, sissors and have fun creating pbits of you, pieces for life.


FLOW: Let your creative energy F L O W just go with it. Dont think about it too much. Dont get hung up on the "right" or "wrong" design. Too much or not enough ---> just let it FLOW.


SHARE: Share your life -- your true life. Even the sad bits, share the truth of your life. Share who you are and how you think. Share what means so much to you -- what makes you unique.


MESS: Make a very big bloody mess - and LOVE it. The messier the better. Embrace the messy imperfection of creating art. JOY!


FEEL: Do what FEELS right, not what is "supposed" to work in a design sense, according to a text book, but rather - do what FEELS right to YOU & YOUR unique style and personality.

This mini album and my creative manifesto is a nice little reminder of what really matters to me when I am creating my art. Sometimes when I am really stuck... I think of the advice I give to my six year old... to encourage and nurture her artist within. The same advice works for my inner child - just create, there are no mistakes, its art honey! Create, Flow, Share, Mess, Feel... yeahhhhhh !

Enjoy creating the lifes you dream of.
Bx

Stormy Canberra...

There was a massive storm here last night... thunder, lightening and hail... it was HUGE! Here a couple of snaps that have been forwarded to me... I am not sure who took them so I cant give credit (sorry)
We have REALLY needed the rain due to the drought we have been in for years... but this is really freaky weather for our little city. I wish for more rain, not so much storms!
I have SO MUCH to share… I just need to get some photos taken and uploaded, and I will be able to post my recent creative endeavours:
* Ali Challenge about my personal creative manifesto;
* Emily Challenges.... 3 cards to share
* Wish Jar and Tags... and a few wishes even
* Pottery... mixed medium plate....
Various other projects...

It’s strange, but in my new job, and only working 3 days... my blogging rhythm has been altered. And I am not sure I like it... I know I like to check people’s blogs daily and see them updated....BORING when they don’t. Frustrating even. Maybe that’s just me *smile* But the blogs I love the MOST… like Ali’s is because she posts everyday… even when she travels… I love that!

So am going to make a concerted effort to rectify this sporicidal blogging of mine.

Love and hugs...
Bx

Bad blogger me…

Sorry I have not blogged in a while!

So many things are happening … 2007 is proving to be a HUGE year! I am not sure about you … but for me those I am close to, 2007 so far is rather, uhmmmm, what is the term I am after here? ~huge, massive, life changing~ a major shifting in and around us all**

My baby girl turned 6 a few days ago. Saturday she had a great disco party at KidsCity, 15 screaming and squealing 6 year olds… she had a blast.

Afterwards we had a lovely BBQ with Kyle and Jas and their clan along with my beautiful sister Lee, which makes me so happy. I love having my sister’s visit. And I love just hanging with friends. Simple and relaxing pleasure.

A BIG happy birthday to my gorgeous gal pal Kyles too… it was her birthday Sunday.

ANOTHER huge thing making me SO HAPPY today is that my youngest sister ~Katrina~ is planning to move back to Canberra again. YAH !!! I can just see our weekly family dinners and catching up for coffees… me so happy! She and her man are coming down this weekend to scope it out a bit :-)

This year I have begun holding monthly Artists Circles… so far we have had one gathering which involved most of my Women’s Group, this weekend I am hoping some of my other creative sisters are able to attend. Its so good to just hang out and get creative with a group of talented and inspiring women.

I had my pottery class Monday night and hoped to collect some pieces to post piccies of, but they have not been fired yet. I am thinking of going to the members day tomorrow, should get a heap done then.

Check out this cute little tribute to Kaela here. Shaz is such a darling heart!

Oiw, and check out these Eight Principles for FUN my gal pal Vanessa sent. Very kewl!

** I am not ready to go into all my major changes just yet, but I can share a few things that are pretty major for me.

Working 3 days a week is okay… but I am REALLY looking for a career change and even tho my horoscopes (teeheheheee) are telling me its all about to happen… how is it that I don’t even know what it is yet?? I have no idea what I want to do…. I only know I am sick of what I AM doing. I also know that this will pass - and to put it simply… I have a job and something else will come along… I just need to be a little more alert to the signs the universe is trying to provide me… at the moment I am not getting it *grin*

Easter… 4 days on a house boat with my loved ones and my lifer friend Naomi and her son Jordan (Mikaela affectionately refers to him as her step-brother, which of course I adore).

May- June… Nath, Mikaela and I are going overseas to Hong Kong, London, Belgrade, Paris and Italy for 4 weeks holiday… practically have it all sorted. SO SORTED that we are not really that excited about it … YET, if you know what I mean? I know I am a weirdo, but it feels too surreal or something right now.

Simplifying…for some time this has been one of my main aims {or maybe it is a continual quest to attain a more simple life}… and this year it has all fallen into place. My relationships and my life is SIMPLE.

Life really is, just very, very simple!
I am SO loving that.
I will post photos later today/tonight (I hope) *grin*

Enjoy life gorgeous ones!
Bx

Shimelle's Challenge...

Shimelle's "I have to confess" mini album was so much fun!
*I* of course could only think of two things... my dear darling helpful guy had to give me most of them. Bhahahaha

My confessions are:

1. I can NOT keep a secret... you know the GOOD ones about *ME* or my family. I just can not keep my mouth closed!!
2. I hate cleaning the fridge... say no more!
3. My studio is always MESSY... usually always, very ocassionally it is SPOTLESS, for a whole two seconds a month.
4. I am a spend thrift... well ~ I am after all ~ an artist *grin*
5. I am NOT a morning person... really I *love* staying up late.

I loved doing this album, tho it did take some time.

Enjoy your weekend lovelies... Nath and I are off to Adelaide to see his parents and go to a party....

Bx

Emily's Challenge...

Week # 5...use some ephemera from your week

I used the ticket stub from the Egyptian Antiquities exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia I went to last Friday with Jode, Jake and Mikaela... our own Mummies and little ones "Artists Date"


Fun times.
Bx

Ali Challenge # 14...

The challenge from Ali was:

This week I want you to take a look at those "extras" that are truly delighting you right now and making you want to create. Make a list and then CREATE a layout that details your favorites. I love how people ended up making layouts about their essentials - very cool idea.

So, mmmmm - perhpas my "issue" is that there is not a LOT "delighting" me in MY scrapping world right now. All funky and stuff {grimace}! I gave it some thought and I have decided that my EXTRAS really are all the stuff I have stored in my supplies but dont use... instead I GO BUY MORE CRAP --- what is with THAT??? I have EVERY product imaginable. Truly sad. Well it is when you are in a funk or generally uninspired.

So THIS layout has been created using acrylic paint (LOVE) and watercolours (always fun)... then some new acrylic stamps by Rhonda Farrer... CUTE AS! Then the ever gorgeous Prima Flowers, of which I have a tonne of! Oh and that TAG I got with a bath towel or something for the home... does anyone else JUST HAVE TO collect all TAGS off anything... and then rarely use them?? Yeah, well finally I used one and I am so happy I did!


So there you go... the EXTRAS that are truly delighting me right now... is to use up some of the stuff that "I just had to have" and rarely use *stupid grin* and a roll of the eyes for good measure!

Deep Sigh.... I am happy NOW!

Peace and creative joy out..
Bx

An afternoon of bubbles, art and rain...

Is there any thing cuter than two kids creating bubbles or playing in the rain? Nope!


While we are in the midst of a serious drought and water restrictions, every drop of rain is greatly celebrated, and no more so than by these two angels.... Jake and Mikaela were SO excited, it was a joy to watch them.
I think they both enjoyed this part of their day a whole lot more than the Egyptian Antiquities from the Louve Exhibition we took them to earlier in the day *grin* Ahhhh one can only but try... certainly is an experience taking two bright kiddlets to the art gallery.
And now its time for a game or two of Yatzee with Mikaela...
Have beautiful weekends people.
Peace, Love and Art...
Bx