My little studio buddy and muse...

Inspired me to create these:





These layouts were also VERY inspired by Ayo and her beautiful music! The quotes are lyrics from her debut album.

Josh may also be Mikaela's muse... she was inspired to create this recently. Its the title page of a mini-book she is creating. She is obsessed with writting "chapter" books (as she calls them). I have quite a collection of them... they are so sweet.

Anne Marie, thanks for your questions in my previous post :) And thanks to all of you who emailed me too :) So here are the answers to your questions Anne Marie:

(a)I love the look of using white pens for journaling and hand-drawing doodles, but I'm having trouble finding a white pen that won't quit on me the 2nd time I use it! What brand do you use? I use Uni-ball Signo, they are my favourite by far. I also use a Bic Correction Pen, Wite Out too... idea from classes I have taken with both Em and Celine.

(b)I've just applied for my first Design Team. I know there's amazing talent out there and my chances are so slim ... but I'd like to keep trying. Any advice? Just keep applying, submit EVERYTHING. Even the layouts of yours that *YOU* dont particularly like, someone else will LOVE. We are our own worst critics. Mainly just ignore the rejections and keep going :)

(c)What are your "can't live without" scrapbooking embellishments? Ehmmm, good question! Is paint an "embellishment"??? WeeeeeL I would have to say chipboard, letters, shapes. Also prima flowers (LOVE THEM) and buttons. I go though phases, like everyone I suppose. My style is just like me, ever changing and evolving.
For your questions Anne-Marie I am sending you a RAK (you have inspired me to another purge of my scrap room)... email me your addy :)

I hope you are enjoying the last few days before Christmas. I ***LOVE*** this time of year, its just gorgeous. The sun, the warmth, the anticipation and excitement mounting in Mikaela...

We've done all our shopping, well Nath is out now getting my gifts, but other than that we are DONE :)

Peace out...
Bx

Christmas Decorations...

This was a class project I finished this week with Mikaela's class.
So cute.
They loved it.
All of them were so excited.
Basically I (along with a lot of help from Nath the night before... thanks hun) prepared most of the project before hand. Therefore the children just had to do the designs on the alfoil. I did the Indian Ink part for them and then they put it all together, with help from their teacher, Heather. It was a hoot. They were such fun, I had a ball. Little cuties they were, so eager and happy. My kinda morning :) Josh was awake when we arrived, then just put himself to sleep and slept the entire time :)

I got quite a few strange looks as I had indian ink all over my hands for the rest of the day (actually I just realised, I STILL do)... and it was SO worth it :)

I only have Mikaela's ornament to share due to privacy... but seriously some of the kids were SUCH artists!! Well they are ALL artists... but some of them had serious talent.

This little project is totally inspired by Celine, who came to visit and did a "Show and Tell" with them a few weeks back. I'd promised Mikaela's teacher, Heather, MONTHS ago that I would do some arts and crafts with them... who says 2 weeks from end of year is too late?? LOL !

Next year I am going to try a "Term Project"... I can't wait!

My 2008 new years resolution... to make it Christmas "time" all throughout the year :)
Love out...
Bx

This is what I see when I walk her to school...

So far today, I have managed to:
* Get my family up, showered and dressed for their days.
* Get Mikeala's hair done - such an issue some days, and a breeze others. Girls!
* Walk Mikaela to school while she rode her scooter.


* Take a few "artsy" photos on the way.
* Do some groceries.
* Post another RAK pack - I posted all the others yesterday... so they are on their way peeps :-)
* Enjoy our neighbourhood.
* Have an SMS conversation with my youngest sister.
* Breastfeed Josh at the local park on the way home, listening to the birds.
* Put the slow cooker on with our dinner - a creamy chicken mushroom concotion.
* Change a nappy or two.
And its not even 11 am. Life is GOoooooooood. Write your own list of all the things you have done SO FAR today, and I am sure you will be surprised with how much you've accomplished. Or not. Maybe its just me - I AM always surprised LOL!

Inspired by my latest InsideOUT magazine, here is a random Q&A...
WHAT ARE YOU...
Buying - as little as possible! May be a first for me LOL! Tho I am always buying scrapping stuff - ATM I am sticking with the bare essentials (my monthly Sissey pack)
Changing - nappies :-)
Drinking - Illy coffee, only two a day - tho usually one.
Doing for dinner - see above
Planning as a Getaway - PalmCove at Christmas time, we have an apartment - its our annual family retreat - we cant wait:-)
Listening to - whatever I have downloaded onto my computer. ATM Crowded House.
Reading - Magazines, mainly house, home and garden ones - they are my FAVOURITE inspiration items. Plus brain can not read a novel just yet LOL! Maybe when on holidays.

If you are interested in playing along, answer the questions on your blog and send me a link, I'll add it to this post. I really like doing these short quick Q&As, its a good snapshot of today and works perfectly as a layout. Actually I have a "Gal Pal" mini album where I got them to answer these questions... MUST finish it and share with you.

Here are few finds from the magazine too - inspiration galore:
DavidMetNicole - a very kewl shop in Surry Hills Sydney - must get myself there, when?? I do not know, soon!
This site - which is all about trend spotting fashion, architecture, food and more.
Will add more later... seriously kewl stuff!

Have a lovely day people.
Gotta Love this life! - Crowded House like!!
Bx

And the winners are...

ALL OF YOU! (who commented on the RAK post)
If that is **YOU**... please email me your addy so I can get them out to you :-)
Joy joy JOY !!!

I really like Sunday nights... getting organised for another week ahead, I feel that all in our lives is sorted and in order... by Wednesday that feeling has all but disappeared - which is why we have Thursday and Friday to enable us to look forward to the weekend approach! LOL.

I am looking forward to walking Mikaela to school tomorrow... the start of the fourth (and last) term of the school year for us. 10 weeks of a finely tuned routine. BAhahahahaha HA ! I can dream :)

I HAVE actually attempted to put together a schedule of what my day MAY?? look like. How funny it'll be to look at in a few weeks, when the REAL schedule becomes clear!

Just for fun... I share with you this photo of Mikaela and her totally ridiculous manicure she did herself. Whist on the phone to the lovely Lusi recently, Mikaela comes into my studio and says "mmmmm, yeah... not very good" I am distracted and not sure what she is speaking of "what?" I ask. Mikaela shoves her bright red nails (and MOST of her fingers) into my face and asks "are you cranky?" Ah... YES, if I were not so busy laughing!!! Silly girl!

Off to watch some teev with my guy. Not the cricket either!!
I hope you all had great weekends...
Now email me your addy!
Bx

Friday at ours...

Hanging with Kim, Mikaela and Josh in my studio {technically Josh is not actually IN the studio, rather outside the door in his pram}. Listening to Ayo, Ben Harper and Bob Marley...

I created a slightly cleaner studio so that we can get a few things sorted...

Mikaela sorting the threads getting ready for our RAK giveaway! (Make sure you have an entry :-) Dont be shy!! You have until 1124am 13th October to enter) She is really helpful, especially when she is put to task (thanks to Kim... who is the one to get the project underway).
Getting Josh's birth announcement cards done, again - with Kim's help :)
Finishing these layouts...
Happy Friday peeps!
Bx

Making your dreams a reality...

This is my Wish Jar I created some time ago... inspired by Keri Smith.

Along the same lines as my "dreamboard"... making your dreams and desires tangable and therefore achievable...

In very basic terms, my wish jar contains my list of 100 things I want to do before I die.

Interesting that I find at different times my blogging community are thinking along the same vein, Ali recently posted along this same matter.

I must say... the list IS very powerful. Since I created my wish jar... I have realised a number of wishes, such as:
. Meeting Emily Falconbridge
. Climbing Pisa tower (and let me say my "wish jar" is the ONLY reason I got to the top... otherwise there is no way I would have done it... in fact I was even chanting the mantra "100 things, 100 things" as I climbed, kinda terrified to the top LOL!!!)
. Climb the Eiffel tower (okay...technically not met as we took the lift!!)
. Have a healthy and happy baby in 2007
(there are many more... but I have a baby boy on my boob and dont have the time to elaborate!!

A few of the 100 things still to do:
. Meet Bono and Nelson Mandela
. Meet SARK, Sarbrina Ward Harrison and Keri Smith
. Meet my blogging sisterhood... friends I have made over the years
. Own a villa in Tuscany
. Work in Africa as an aid worker for a year or so
*grin*... loving dreams, we have gotta have them!!

I have more to add to my life list... I will post in its entirety soon.

Oh and please make sure you are part of my RAK giveaway!!

Gotta go change a dirty nappy!!
Peace out...
Bx

Oh My GODNESS....

Look what my FIL just gave me... I am ONE LUCKY GIRL!!!

I think there must be about 400 of the cotton embroidery floss...


Plus another 500 or so of the Tapestry Wool...


When Nath was just a wee-een, his parents owned a hobby store, these threads have been stored in their garage for some years... and now they are mine YAH!!!

SO I MUST GIVE SOME AWAY... make a comment on this post (by 11.24am, my time... 13th October - Joshies 1 month bday). Tell me what it is you enjoy about scrapping classes, or what you'd like to learn in a scrapping class? Even if you are not a "scrapper"... I am sure you have an opinion...

Come on all ya lurkers, I'd *love* for you to "de-lurk" yourself!
Bx

Saturday is a good day to...

Get BE from here.
The word "Romantic" is a photo I took in Serbia May this year.
Inspired by Jen. Thanks love!

Not a bad aim for tomorrow...
Have a great weekend romantics!!
Bx

Finally I can share....

The most fabulous news.
The uber talented, the wonderful, my friend "Ms Celine Navarro" is coming to Australia to teach classes at PaperCrafts 2-4 November....
Whooooooo - Hoooooooo! She is a little excited about it too!!! Just slightly :-)
So whats gonna happen is this.... Me and my clan are all going...Nath and Mikaela and our newborn bubba are going to stay at the hotel at the Penrith Club... were its being held.

I will either take babe with me to Celine's classes, or Nath will look after him/her with Mikaela. Depends on the booby sitch etc. I couldnt express with Mikaela, such a numpty :-) Its just weird to me... like what the???

Soooooo... a couple of other friends and their hubs and kidlets are coming tooo..... so this is sure to be an AMAZING weekend and adventure...

Celine is coming to Oz... Whoo hoooo!
STOKED peoples, totally stoked.
Even more so, that my guy agreed to this adventure... but of course, he is such a darling!

Anyways loves...
hop to it,
get registered,
get organised...
I can NOT wait to see you all there!

LOVE!
Bx

Daily Something...

And so I "begin", and by begin - I mean - so far all I have managed to achieve towards my "Daily Something" is to buy this SUPER cute journal by this lovely artist {ALL her things are SO SO yummy}. I got it at Diafora, a fabulous home and giftwares store I have loved forever, it is such a beautiful shop. Being there gave me my DS for today, but I am too tired to do it right now. So I will do it tomorrow!

I just had to share how very adorable this journal is...
Other things for today...
** It was my *very first day* of being a SAHM again! WhooHooo. I finished work yesterday. Such a relief. NOW I can get onto my list of a trillion things to do before baby arrives LOL!

*** Nath caught a plane to Sydney to collect my new car. When I picked Kaela up from school this afternoon- she was REALLY excited, jumping up and down and squealing. She made me laugh SO MUCH. For Mikaela... a car is ALL about the alloys, or mags... or whatever they are called. She approves. I feel very spoilt, she's a beauty! Nath has an IS300 - they're the same colour and they look very CUTE side-by-side in the garage. We are seriously DORKY! I have been told that a Lexus is a "pimp" car in the USA... mmm that is funny, they aren't here, unless you are in your early 20s... I have seen a couple. Quite hilarious really - I assure you Nath has no intention of "pimping his ride" anytime soon LOL!!

***** I CLEANED my scrap room, like sparkly clean. Will post pics tomorrow.

There are other exciting things a happening too, like people booking flights and plans to visit when baby arrives... all very good stuff indeedy.

Happy Hump Day loves...

Bx

Share-sies...

As you may have noticed, lately I have been playing a bit with PhotoShop, which I *love*. I am a big fan of the Adobe Creative Suite and was first introduced to it some years ago. As a Technical Writer... I found it to be an invaluable tool of the trade, creating manuals and quick reference guides. Only recently have I been able to dabble in the fun (un-work) related side to the package, and I am having a ball. I am in no way an expert by any stretch of the definition {or imagination :-)}. Fortunately for me, most of the enjoyment is in the learning, which is such a good thing as there is SO MUCH to learn. I have done an evening course for InDesign, but mainly I am self or on-the-job taught.

A few finds I thought to share as you may find useful also:
Action Central - has a VAST and WIDE variety of actions and tutorials for FREE (and we like free :))

Of particular interest to me was this tutorial on CREATING ACTIONS... I am yet to give it a go, but its on my list of things to do!

PhotoShop Support... lots of kewl stuff here too!

I recently purchased these gems... Itty Bitty Actions (borders) by the talented JinkyArt. LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Seriously yummy stuff. REALLY love her colour popping actions too. Much!

I am hoping to upgrade from CS2 to CS3 veeeerrry soon. Okay, really I am just wishing and dreaming LOL! Tho my ability to manifest is rather remarkable at times!

In the meantime I am having a ball altering my pics... and taking more.

TODAY... we are taking photos of our "love" room being set up for baby :-)
Life is good.
Happy Sunday peeps.
Love and Peace out...
Oh and if you have some links or resources you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you.
Bx

This weeks recap...

I *LOVE* this photo of Mikaela, I took one day after school this past week when we went down to the lake and fed the ducks and swans. The scratches on her face are courtesy of our cat Paris. I was not home when it happened, it occured last weekend when I was at GreenHills.

The story I received:Nath was in his study. Kaela outside playing in the courtyard, came tearing into the house....
N. (to Kaela) whats wrong??
M. Noooooooothing

She runs directly into the bathroom and applies wet tissue paper to her bloodied face. THEN goes into see Nath to show him after she's patched herself up a bit.

I found this story SO funny... when they arrived at Green Hills to pick me up, Kaela ran towards me in excitment and all I could see were the scratches all over her face... meaning she'd been tormenting our cat.

The fact that she tried to hide it... well that just cracks me up!

Kaela has had Paris since she was about 3 years old, no amount of scratches have ever stopped her bothering the cat, and I doubt they ever will !!

Here I am at 33weeks pregnancy... all is going very nicely.
Photo was taken on Friday morning before we headed off for the day. I attended an "Artist Business Workshop" with the Australia Business Arts Foundation. It was such an amazing day, to say the course was SUPERB would be a serious understatement... it was SO informative and inspiring. I have so much information and a tonne of resourses to run with.

Not to mention the other 20 fabulous artists I had the pleasure of spending the day with... it was by far one of the best things I have done for *me* in AGES.

Check out the timetable, and if there is a course near you soon... GO GO GO!

It was a great day... Nath came to get me at the end of the day... and I am pretty sure I spoke non stop without taking a breath until we reached Mikaela's school some 20 mins later LOL!

I now have LOTS of ideas percolatting in my mind about how to use all this wonderful information, and where I am going to take it all...

This weekend has been pretty great, went to Cootamundra (about 1.5hours drive) to attend Lilly's 2nd Birthday celebrations... so cute. There were 5 pregnant women there, including myself and I felt right at home *grin* There were also about 8 kids and quite a few babies for Mikaela to practice playing big sister on. She has been SO insistent about having a brother... it was great to see her bonding with an 8mnth little girl and decide that she was rather cute and that a sister wouldn't be so bad afterall *grin* Nath was the proud father-to-be just grinning most of the day!

Then there was all the usual weekend stuff... Kaela's horseriding, fruit and veg shopping at the markets, getting creative... making mini-albums with Kaela, family time... snuggling and watching movies, chatting with girlfriends. A nice relaxing weekend. I love driving in the country-side too, so that was nice to do.

Nath has an operation tomorrow... so he has to drink all this yukky stuff. Hopefully its nothing to serious. Drs are just taking a look-see to make sure all is a-okay. I am going to be there to hold his hand and will be sure to let you know how it goes.

EDIT 7 August: Nath's operation went really well... he is like a "super recovery" type, which is fabulous! We found out the issue and he will need to be medicated for life... but it is no MAJOR biggy and we are grateful to know what it is and that we can treat it! Whoohooo! I am SO proud of my guy... so so so proud :)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
Happy Sunday evening...
Love and Peace out.
Bx

Enjoying hanging with Mikaela this week...

NOT so enjoying working at the same time… and coming out to an ALMOST totally demolished house at times LOL! No, not really, Mikaela is pretty good… and I do take her out for lunch dates. She hangs out with me in my studio/office and works on little art projects.

We do get out and about, tho its so cold here that there is not a LOT of outdoors time we can tolerate anyways… a quick ride down to the local shops and we are near frozen!!!

So I am doing a fair few hours, after-hours and my house remains a tad neglected.
Oh well, thankfully the cleaner is coming today. Its all good.

I am also enjoying these new found delights when I get a spare moment or two...
*Nic Howards blog

**Pencil Crayons blog This was in one of Ali's newsletters... I *love* the use of pencils and scrapping... fun fun!

Managed to squeeze in Emily's latest challenge, Goal of the week:
Mine remains "Operation Organisation" for my girlie scrapping weekend, which is only 9 sleeps away... slowly slowly I am getting there!

Not much else to share right now... tis supposed to snow today!!
And my sisters are coming to visit on the weekend... and that is about all.

(hugs) and love
Bx

lots of projects under way...

As Nath said to me as we walked (me a little uncomfortably) to the movie (nice one, I got a free pass in the mail this week :-))...last night "honey, you're on the home stretch" with this pregnancy. I still have a ways to go, thankfully my anxitey has been taken over by pure excitement... basically I am totally obsessed (really?? LOL!) - ALL I can think about is meeting our little babe. That 4d scan made me even MORE obessed than I was before, if that is at all possible, plus lots of other little babes arriving to the world. Its a wonderous time in our lives and we are so very blessed... this I know.
However, it is nice to break away from the obsessing from time to time (or just redirect it)! Thankfully I have tonnes of other things going on to keep me occupied, a couple of which are:

* Mikaela is on school holidays for two weeks... this week she was in a swim focused program, I went with her on Thursday morning - it was so nice to just hang out together for a few hours and limit the gravity pull on my body. Mikaela is getting so big now!! She and Nath are out for their usual Saturday morning bike ride.

* My gal pals and I have an annual weekend retreat at a dormitory style conference centre about half an hour out of town... we are all so excited - scrapping with great friends from 8pm Friday to 5pm Sunday, and they put on some pretty fabulous (okay probably NOT fabulous as such, but I am not cooking.. and for me THAT is fabulous enough :-)) meals... which leads me to the next matter keeping me occupied...

* ""Operation Organisation"" is under way... so far I have about 11 projects conjured in my mind and only 4 of them are "set to go" Last year I got some 43 layouts done in the weekend (all pretty simple). This year my focus is albums and mini albums - and I suspect I am being rather too ambitious, but that is kewl! Once I have them all prepared, they are set to go... and I can do them at anytime!

* My travel journal from our recent Europe/Asia trip remains "a work in progress" and I need to get all the journaling typed up for my 12x12 album (argh!!)... so here are some sneak peaks of where I am at with it so far:

Yesterday I was totally spoilt by my dear friend Kylie, who bought me the latest Basic Grey range, collection pack (Infuse), as a belated birthday gift! She is such a darling :-)

Nath and Mikaela just got back... Nath collected this from our PO BOX... another little goodie for me (Kyle, you will LOVE LOVE too)...

Right now... we are listening to Beethoven for babies (BTW, do you think? If *I* dont like too much beethoven.. the babe wont?? LOL!!)... as Mikaela creates a canvas masterpiece... and I get on with my travel journal!! Nath is off to work for a couple of hours...

Tonight we are having family movie night, watching BarnYard, enjoying popcorn and snuggling on the couch all together.

Tomorrow my gal pal Kim is coming over for a few hours of scrappin time (seems like forever since I scrapped with her)... JOY JOY JOY.

Enjoy your weekends lovelies... I hope your heart is smiling :-)
Bx

29 weeks now...

Which means:
11 weeks to go! JOY JOY JOY! Things are going really well... we had an appointment with our obstetrician on Thursday... and he laughed (I am pretty sure AT ME) because the baby is 31 weeks in size. Mmmmmm. Men!!

For Shaz and my sweet lil' sis, Lee..... HERE YOU ARE - another photo of me and baby... I guess seeing this I can understand the laughter. Tis rather funny!! See for me... looking down, I dont think I am THAT big *smile* and asides, even if I am... I am only going to get bigger hey! LOL!
Nath's parents have arrived from Adelaide today, and Jean tells me that the clothes I have bought for bubba today are too small. Lucky we are going to buy some more tomorrow... AND begin setting up the "love" room for bubba.

Speaking of LOVE... inspired by the ever-talented Lusi and her love letters box... I have made one for me and Nath:
Thanks Lusi Lu Lu for inspiring me with this lovely project, I had such fun creating this keepsake for us. For more detailed pictures, go here.

I hope you all have a great weekend...
Bx

We couldn't resist...

Weeeeeeeeeeeeks ago now, when we were in Piccadilly Circus, London... we passed a large group of artists doing portrait drawings. OF COURSE we could not resist getting one done of Mikaela. I have not photographed the entire picture, it says "Mikaela 6 years, London 18 May 2007" and of course the artists name. He was just so talented.

So many talented brilliant wonderful kind artists in our world. He was so sweet and really into his craft, you could tell by watching him how much he enjoyed what he did... and particularly drawing Mikaela.... they giggled and smiled. It was so sweet to watch. Mind you, Mikalea took it all VERY seriously, I have never seen her so quiet, calm and serious for such a long time. LOL!

I need to get a frame for it. Add that to my list of TTD!
Peace and Love out...

My little ~artiste~...

So we were heading out the door to see Shrek 3.
Mikaela drew this.
In Microsoft Paint.
How cute is that?

Shrek 3 was funny... quite a few laughs for the adults too.
Home for a great roast chicken {I am loving winter food}.
We watched Tim Burtons Nightmare Before Christmas (aGAIN... I think Mikaela has seen it about 100 times, tis her favourtie)
Then some more Paint art (I will add the updated version of Shrek later... right now Little Miss needs my help)
Then its bed...

Happy Saturday JOY!...
Bx

MORE Challenges...

... I am getting into, came to my attention via AEZine (and is actually totally inspired by the AliSTAR herself!) AND the ever gorgeous Gigi is on the team… her work is so fabulous!! In fact the entire team ROCKS !! If you have not checked it out yet… go have a look at the “One Little Word” challenge site.

Since I was traveling… I was not able to do, or post, my challenge responses on time. I was able to sketch ideas and layouts so when I got home I was able to do them in a flash!

I have decided to use this challenge as an ART JOURNAL… total creative mess-about-fun stuff. I have created a 12x12 album to house these pieces.

Here are my first three challenges:
Word Up #1… GO ! This poem by Theodore Roethke has always “spoken” to me… I really love it !! Especially this line.. so immediately when I saw the word GO I thought of this poem, and maybe because we were GO GO Going on our holiday… it just fit and worked.

Word Up #2… STOP! Stop and smell the roses… it’s a cliché but oh so true.


Word Up #3… MY! Mikaela is so funny at the moment! Her latest “thing” is to ask me who my favourite in the family is, when I respond “both of you”, she says “No Mum you have to choose one, just one… me or Nath… I wont get upset” USUALLY I say her and we all laugh… occasionally I say Nath or the Baby … and we laugh!! (I figure it will be good material for her to tell her therapist one day). Geez… see how she goes when our wee babe arrives. Eik!

STILL working on my travel journal… it is rather HUGE. Its coming along nicely and I should be able to post some pics soon. My gal pal Kyle is coming over for our usual Friday get-to-gether… and Sunday we have a scrap day… whoooohoooooo. I am ALL OVER LOVING SCRAPPING LIKE A RASH AGAIN.

It’s a beautiful life.
Bx