Melbourne Cup Day...

I love Melbourne Cup Day...

Nath and his partners got a table in a marquee... we had a buffet lunch and champers.
We made a few bets... didnt win a thing!

Still... it was SO much fun !!!
We had a ball.

I met some really fabulous people. And I have my first scrapbooking client, to do commission work for. Exciting stuff indeed!

Unfortunately I only took my macro lens and therefore no full length shots of me in my frock!

Here's to good & fun times.

Bx

Elsie is SO CUTE...

....She really is very sweet. Tho the dear darling is SO OVER being away from her man and family.... TOTALLY understand that !! I had two of my girlies having teary's on the phone to their family... and we'd only been away for two nights. CUTE AS ((hugs)).

That said... I had a GREAT TIME.
Girlie chats and girlie times.
Wine, beer.... delicious food and rockin' company.
It was so nice to just CHILL OUT.

On Saturday we had two of Elsies classes... I made two very adorable albums, tho one of them was not the actual class project, rather an improvisation. I need to reselect my photos and then I will do that album as "homework"...

Ssssssooooo... here are some snaps of my albums.... which I also added to by sewing stickers down and stamping onto transperancies. I also intend to add some more photos. These albums are really cute {just like Elsie} and I love coming home with goodies for my family.

THey love them too.... so I am one happy chicky.

HOme SWEET Home! Off to help my gal and guy with the seafood BBQ, have a beer and play some cricket.
Happy Sunday night *grin*
Peace and Love
Bx

Off to Sydney....

... for a girlie, scrapping weekend.
Just finished sewing {and delivering} some ballet costumes.
Waiting for Kimbo to come collect me... for the three hour drive.
AND my guy just came home with A PACKAGE FROM DARLENE.
Life is beautiful.... just like She.
So I am off to do two Elsie classes, naturally there will be a show and tell when I return.
Here's to a weekend of fabulous women folk and good relaxing, creative times.
Bx

Pride Challenge from ALi....

Ali has posted another challenge about who we are proud of in our lives.... here is mine.

This is just a quick digi layout I whipped up... I will use this as the basis for a physical layout. Sometimes I do that! Gives me a thorough "sketch" of the layout.

There are a few different styles of scrapping I *love*. I LOVE doing just one (usually 8x6) photo... and I also love the photostory technique, some occasions require more than just one photograph to capture the experience at the time... like Mikaela and Nath playing cricket, or brandings. A storyboard type of layout works a lot better.

In the case of this layout... I will also do another One Photo layout... capturing Mikaela with her new jewels. Just before these photos were taken we had been on the phone with our loving Darlene. She and Mikaela had quite the chat. While I started to cry as soon as I heard Dar's voice. I wont go on and on about her here (tho it would be so easy to do)... I save that for our personal emails... but those of you who also know Dar, are well aware of what a remarkable woman she is. I *heart* you Darlene.

I'll do another layout based on Nath and all the reasons I am proud of him, a bit like my LOVE one I did for him a few months ago, soon I hope. Eik!

Peace and love to you and yours.
Bx

Aussie Dare # 9...

My latest challenge... by Aussie Dares.

"Art Inspiration"
Glean some inspiration from a favourite artist or artwork - eg. colour use, technique, subject matter, etc...it's up to you ) MUST BE a traditional/fine artist (eg. painter like Monet, Van Gogh, Gaugain, Brett Whitely, etc.) - NO PAPER/CRAFTING artists please. Can be a modern or old-school artist/art form (street art/grafitti as a modern example, opposed to Monet as an old-school example).

Inspired by two modern contemporary artists.... David Bray, a London Based Illustrator.
And Yoshi Tajima A M A Z I N G artist!! Totally curls my hair!

I found both these amazing artists in RIOT magazine. BRILLIANT {Australian} mag!! Totally hot!! My work is not near as elaborate or advanced as these (really???) *grin*. I took all of about 1 hour to get it done.

As always I am MOST inspired by my 5 yro girl, Mikaela (do you have any idea how long it takes to straighten her hair? Bhahaa!!) I wish for her to always fly with her own wings. Hidden Journalling:

May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace. May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them. Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.

Teach love to those who hate, and let that love embrace you as you go out into the world. May the teachings of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them. Remember, those whose lives you have touched and whose have touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished. It is the content of the encounter that is more important than the form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart. Find time each day to see beauty and love in the world around you. Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is different in our own way. What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility. Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience. May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on another's judgment of your accomplishments. May you always feel loved. Unknown

Peace and Love ...
Bx

Putting my hands to clay after 20 years....

Is HUGE for me.
I have had this on my things to do list for years.
YEARS.
And it only occured to me last year (or maybe the year before)... just how many years it had been.
You see... 20 years ago I was selected to take part in the Gifted and Talented program at my high school, when I was 15 years old.
You were able to choose your own subject... I chose *art* ~ sculpture as my medium.

It took me about 16 weeks to create a {slightly larger than life} bust of ... owh gawd (keep in mind) I WAS 15, so ehm.... George Michael !! Big hair and all.

My teacher was terrific and very helpful... on the day we were to cast my creation I was so excited. I arrived in class and my teacher stood before me with tears running down her cheeks ... as she explained to me that my art piece had been accidently knocked over by a young student. It was destroyed.

I was heartbroken.
Not angry.
Resigned perhaps?
I knew there was nothing I could do about it.
The school photographer had taken some photos when I was about half way into the project... and I wrote an article for the year book.

CLEARLY.... I was shattered about this event for ages, years, almost 20years in fact!! But I realised this... a couple of years ago... and my lil sis Meeges bought me a book on getting into sculpting {bless her dear heart}. I realised that I must get back into sculpting. And I have... I am doing my course at last, but at least I am doing it, NOW, how sad if I had never got back into my pottery and sculpting??!! Ever!

It is certianly my aim to complete another bust... this time of my daughter! Oh what a lucky girl... at her 21st there will be a table FULL of scrapbooks AND a life size bust of her at age 6. Mmmmmmm, joy to be Mikaela !! With the slightly eccentric Mama! Oh the LOVE!

Oh....and THE OTHER saddest part to this story... Nath & I do NOT have a life size bust of George Michael (mid 80's) in our living room today and forever. Sad. Really sad.

So Monday nights between 7pm-10pm... you will find me getting all messy with clay... lost in my meditative creative art. And I am loving it SO MUCH!

One day I will do that arts degree... one day!

*grin*
Bx

AEzine Challenge # 5...

AEZine volume one : issue five, Challenge: This week I want you to create something that celebrates your own creativity. Even if it is simply writing the statement "I am creative" and sticking it on your mirror that is excellent. If you want to take it a step further put together a layout titled "I am creative" and talk about how you feel about your level of creative confidence. This is not a layout you have to share if you don't want - but sometimes letting our fears out in the open is the first and best step in overcoming them.

EDIT: Sunday morning... here is the layout, I edited some of this journalling out, but will leave it here :-)
CELEBRATE CREATIVE CONFIDENCE:
My creative confidence makes me feel... home. Or rather, I am at home with my self confidence and my creative confidence is an extension of that, it is not separate.

When I am in my scrap haven... my space... I am lost in creating, designing and just being *ME*... hours can go by and I am as content as can be. Its such a great space to be in... Nath and I come home at lunch, and often I do a speedy layout during the hour... it is the best feeling - getting creative in my lunch break before returning to the day job *grin* And my camera... I'd be lost without it... I snap everything.

This year I have grown so much, in so many ways… I have really embraced *Me*… flaws and ALL. And I choose to focus a lot more on the ALL. I accept my flaws, those little pieces that although are not perfect, are as unique to me as my fingerprint. Over the years I have made much progress and change towards my self-critical attitude… I more the person I would have been had I grown in a nurturing, protective and supportive environment. I also realised that change and the quest for self-improvement lasts a lifetime! I decided to get happy and confident with *ME* NOW!! I have freed myself to be content and happy with my experiences and with the woman I have become. To be proud of overcoming the obstacles in my life… and the achievements I have made.

"Wherever you are is always the right place. There is never a need to fix anything, to hitch up the bootstraps of the soul and start at some higher place. Start right where you are."
-- Julia Cameron

This year… I feel that I have arrived at being *Me* I have given myself permission to be happy, it is a choice!

And part of being me… is being an "artist". I came to realise this year… that I AM an ARTIST. I began to embrace that concept… and to stop comparing myself to others. In my scrapping… in my photography… I just began to focus more on *ME* and my gifts.

I began my blog, and through my blog… I have made so many spiritual and creative connections, and they have certainly helped me with this journey {many, many thanks}...

I have also actively undertaken to *do* more and create more…
This year I have creatively achieved:
• Artists and studio days
• A "manifesto" of my dream… an oil and various mediums canvas collage
• A "dreamboard"… a collage of images of my dreams and desires on canvas
• Attending scrap booking workshops, which helped SO MUCH to free up my creativity.
• Attending PhotoAccess courses and beginning my Certificate in Creative Photography
• Attending courses at the Canberra Potters Society
• Scrapping challenges... so much fun, and a great way to free creative energy!!
• MORE scrapping... this year I have completed more than I have in the previous five combined!! Easy!
• RELAX, JUST BE and JUST DO IT !!!

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. C.G. Jung

I have so many things to be grateful for and proud of… my art is my own and whether it is {in some way} similar, alike or different to anyone else’s it does not matter, and no longer impacts my work. I decided to change my focus and energy from trying to figure that stuff out… to simply embracing *Me* and applying my energy to my art.

All I do is celebrate my passion and creativity… I give myself permission to just BE and create. And let it happen.

I am excited about my creative confidence today... and what it holds for the year to come. Anything is possible.
At times I still feel vulnerable, as though my work is not good.... I ask my friends for approval.... I seek appreciation. I look at a piece of work I have completed, and I think to myself "What the hell was I thinking??" or "What a mess!!!" I do NOT destroy it... I put it aside and move onto my next piece of creation. I tell myself the same thing I tell my daughter... "Its not a mistake....its ART honey!"

Thankfully THERE IS ALWAYS MORE ART TO CREATE.

Peace, Love and Creative Confidence.
Bx

Congratulations Papy...

Today Mikaela's father {Papy} had his Graduation Ceremony... at Llewellyn Hall, The School of Music, Australian National University.

He completed his Diploma of Information Technology in Systems Administration.

Not bad for a man who only arrived in Australia 4 years ago... almost exactly to the day.

I am proud of him for this achievement today, and since he arrived in Australia... he is doing so well.

Mikaela was pretty excited too.

I am happy with the photos I captured.

It was a fine day.

Kaela, Nath and I bought him a gold frame for his certificate and he was delighted!!

Peace, Love and Respect
Bx

Butterflies...

You are the most beautiful thing
I've ever seen
You shine just like sunlight rays
On a winter snow
I just had to tell you so

Your eyes sparkle as the stars
Like the moon they glow
Your smile could light the world on fire
Or did you know ?

Your mind's full of everything
That I want to know
I just had to let you know
I just had to tell you so
You're my butterfly
Fly high
Fly fly fly

Lenny Kravitz - Butterfly Lyrics

Photo Story...

No words are required here... except to say that although Nath and I are very different, we are also very the *same*... and sometimes it surprises us how much we think alike. Bahahahahaha.

My girlfriend Kim took these photos... I am so thankful. Captures *US* perfectly. This is US!

If these photos offend.... WHAT THE???... this is the beautiful & fun stuff our life is made of.

We were at Dave & Di's to celebrate Jasmin's 4th birthday... I will post more about the princesses soon. I painted their faces like butterflies.... oiw, cute they were!

Bx

Canberra Nara Candle Festival...

This Japanese candle festival was so beautiful... just gorgeous.

I am so glad that we went (it was one of those, no I do not yet want to be spring/summer... I am going back to winter days and nights... pretty bloody cold) !!

I had my first class at PhotoAccess yesterday morning... and my teacher Sian, told me about it. So thankful she did!!

It was such a magnificent sight.

Mikaela made her own lantern and joined in the procession. Very sweet. I dont have any pics (that make any sense) of her because she MOVES.... argh a tough one in the dark!!

Although I learnt quite a bit at my first photography class, there is still a LONG way to go!!Hence these night photos are not the best - the joy for me ~is in the learning~ ABOUT things I am passionate about!! As opposed to boring work stuff.... or life stuff... you know that character building crap (sarcasim peeps, tis the Aussie humor) Baahahahaaaa!!

Peace and love on a sunny Sunday.

Bx

AEzine Challenge # 4, layout...

This is the actual layout to the photogathering challenge of Ali's. Which I posted the other day. The journalling around the photos is the same from that post.
It was fun.
Kinda chrismassy feel to the layout.
That was not intentional, trying to pick up the colours in the photos.
I didnt realise how green my eyes were in those photos, unitl I had them printed.
I used Heidi Swapps' fuzzy rub-ons... man they are tough to get on, but well worth it.

Okay... so I just took another look at Ali's newsletter. In line with her example, I have also created this little number...tho I do not have my entire collection of photos at hand, so I did the best I could:


Oh and thought I would share my DailyGuru quotes for today:

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." -- Denis Waitley

"It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere." -- Agnes Repplier

Have beautiful joyful weekends!
Bx

AE Challenge # 1....

So I finished {Ali's} AEzine Week 1 challenge... a little late, but better late than never as the saying goes.


















Mini, mini, mini... its all about mini. My classes with Ali in August TOTALLY altered my scrapping style... well her and Cathy (journalling/storywriting goddess)
I have *MORE* mini albums... inspired by one of my good galfrands... Di... to share soon.
I am loving doing Ali's challenges...I am getting so much more done!! And in a more creative manner. Maybe its the word "challenge" that gets me?? Yeah. I LOVE THEM. Especially yummy creative ones. So much Joy. I wish you all love, peace and creative passionate happenings.
Bx

AE Challenge # 4...

Pieces of me...
OR rather... pieces of my face!
A Self Portrait Collage...
You know what I love the most about summer?
Freckles...
yep!
{I love freckles... aka freakles}
They remind me of my youth... running about afterschool in the sun, on the beach with my siblings.
Summer joy.
It is almost here... yah !!

Edit: This is rather coincidental... just got Ali's latest newsletter AEZine v1, i4.... and this weeks challenge... IS - yep photo gathering. I think, peeps.. I have done just that!
Kewl.
Bx

My lil sis is a firestarter....

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. Albert Schweitzer

Dear Sister
They are called fire starters... and you are absolutely one-a-them *grin* in the BEST kinda way sweets.
It is one thing to rekindle the flame of a person who is grateful and thankful… and appreciates the importance of having met (remarkable) *you* …. It is an entirely different thing when they take it and run.

I want you to know I am thinking of you during your heartache. I am SO very proud of you… and the dignified way in which you are handling this situation… and honouring yourself.

I wish for you a person who has the passion and courage that you do, a person who does not require any of your flame to make themselves feel *alive*.

Your true love has their own flame, their own strength. They are equal to you… and not afraid to be passionate, courageous and brave. Your true love has an inner spirit very much alive which requries no rekindling… they simply want only to *BE* WITH *YOU*.

Honour your flame sister.. and do NOT let anyone take it from you again. Ever. Embrace your flame, your passion, your creativity and *you*

You are a gorgeous soul Meeges.
*YOU ARE A GODDESS... and YOU DESERVE NOTHING BUT THE VERY BEST*
I love you.
Bx