Check out my Calendar Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Creating in the Gyrlie Shed ...

Well I have been really busy in my Gyrlie Shed - even had a break this week down at Fingal with my girlfriend but still was making these there too - ohhh no rest for the wicked...just wish I knew I was being so wicked so I could enjoy it more ... ha ha
I had a great time at the beach with L & M even went for a surf one day but paid for it over the next couple but gosh it was worth it ... Yes I will be doing it again when I go to visit... I don't think I've actually surfed for over 25 years so what a bit of a shock to the system especially as the surf was so rough with all the rain we have had of late.
WHAT HAVE I BEEN CREATING ... sorry got a bit sidetracked there ... The last few years I've made family & friends calendars for Christmas/New Year with photos - so a sortta scrapbooking thingo but using photos that are relevant to them & me over the last year. I start off with a back calendar that I print out ... adding relevant dates, tide times and on family ones, birthdays etc... I will add the photo collages in a slide show for you to see ... some will look simular but all are a tad different. I found a very old family studio photo before Christmas when I was looking for something else [ isn't that when you find the most important things] and I scanned it so our kids will be a tad surprised to see it among their the photos on their calendars... To finish off the calendars this year I've added two holes at the top with hinged rings and ribbon so they can hang them how they wish. Last year I went to the expense of having then bound with a ring type of thing but it didn't prove to be very successful so back to the two holes... life is one steep learning curve I feel ...

Our visitors ...

Here it is Mon 7 already ... where has that first week gone!!! ... all the family were gone well before New Year so we had a quite New Year on our own, which I gotta say was nice even though if any of the kids had been with us would of made it a bit more special.
Talking of Special I said I had something special happening on Boxing Day ... well here it is ... Our eldest daughter[on right]& her family were down for Christmas, our youngest daughter[on left] brought her family over[she lives on the norhtside of town] for the day, Boxing day and our son & his wife at the end of the table called in for lunch. This was such a surprise as I haven't seen him for a couple of years now and nor have his sisters but we did see our d-i-l in Sept. when our NZ living daughter was over. I knew they were popping in for lunch but we had decided we wouldn't tell the girls - well their reaction was worth the secret ... ha ha Our son & his wife were to spend the Festive Season on the station they work on, some 11-12 hours west but as it had rained so much they took the opportunity to skid-daddle out of there as they are owed so many holidays. It was so good to see them both it sure put the 'icing on the cake', so to speak. The littles love to see their cousins but it was a bit special for them to see their Uncle who is larger than life to them when he talks about what's happening out west/bush...ha ha Oh yes that is prawns they are all shelling for their lunch ... they all love a bit of seafood...yummmmm

Welcome to 2008

Welcome to the New Year 2008 ... hope it is a great & creative year for you all.
I'd like the thank you for coming by and thanks to all that leave comments - I get a real kick out of them ...
We had a great day yesterday, New Year's day .. my girlfriend & her daughter came around and we all went out for Breakfast as it was my hubby's birthday as well ...we were so full we didn't need to eat again until last night ... ha ha. I then went and spent time in my GyrlieShed/ArtShed, where I'm off too again now ... will have photos to upload soon ...

Free Downloads still available

I had forgotten that TenTwo Studios had made this generous offer of free downloads and whilst crusing someone else's blog I found their link and had a look and find I'm still able to download the images... so check it out TenTwo Studios

Thanks so much for your generous giving Lisa Vollrath.

Family Collage ...

I didn't know what to get my M-I-L for Christmas so one of our daugther's suggested a Family collage to help Nanna remember them all which turned out to be a good idea so I made it into a fridge magnet - thanks to all the advertiser's magnets that contributed to the cause ... ha ha
It is just a bit narrower than a full scrapbooking page about 12"x11" ...
Not too good a photo again but I had to cover it in plastic and of course forgot to take the photo first ... daaaaa Nanna loved it.

Check out some my Christmas card...

This is a selection of my Christmas Cards that I made for this year ... all very simular. I just wish I could blame the eggnog for the not too good photos but alas 'tis just I in that 'rushed' state but it gives you a bit of an idea...

Merry Christmas

Well 'tis nearly time for Santa to arrive ... I've put the oats out with heaps of glitter so Rudolph can find the way - a little hazy here in south/east Queensland ..... Merry Christmas to my Dear Friends and Thank you for stopping by and a bigger Thanks for leaving a message - I do so love it when folks comment.
I got 6 doz. + Chrissie cards made and sent ... some things aren't finished but never mind they can be finished after Chrissie ... I've put up some decorations - heaps on the verandah where we will have a roast lunch for Chrissie, decorations in the garden plus I've cooked the pork, I've wined the cake [for trifle], done some sampling of the wine, made the jellies, wrapped the pressies and have my Mum here with us tonight ... so I think I'm as ready as I can be so I'm off to bed to dream sweet dreams - like being Thankful/Grateful for all my Family, my Special Friends, my Friends I'm yet to get to know well, Thankful for a good life, a free life and also Thankful to those that are working all over Christmas helping fellow Australians enjoy another Christmas ... like our Doctors, nurses, firepeople, policepeople, life savers, soldiers and all the others that are on call - Thank you.
Our Eldest daughter & family will be getting up in a few hours to drive here to spend Chrissie with us plus have a few days - so that is going to be so much fun. Boxing Day we have a surprise coming and I'm so excited ... shhhhhh
So have yourself a Merry Christmas don't drink & drive and keep safe ... and ENJOY... ohhhh quick I can hear a jingl-a-ling ...

'tis nearly Christmas ... busy, busy, busy...

Well home again - had a great time with the boys, sadly didn't see too much of Y. & R. but that's business ... Jayden had a wonderful school concert - he was a frilled necked lizard along with all his class mates plus in another skit he was a sheep. It was so good to see another sortta story-line from the kids and I think it helps them to remember the message ... be kind to each other and be careful with fire in the bush - it was a real Australian themed concert. Good on you guys.
I was kept busy with getting the boys to school etc but had the days to myself so I was able to get a whole swag of Christmas cards made - No I don't have them sent yet but that's the problem with coming home again ... tooo many other things to do, but hopefully if I get myself off this machine I will get them out by tomorrow.
I did take the boys to the movies last w/e - they wanted to see Bee Movie which I must say I did enjoy too. Big day out when we are with them as it takes over an hour to get to town, tow trips to Mackers, movies, Christmas shopping and then the dreaded grocery shopping then home again with a couple of pit stops along the way - way dark when we got home so it took me all of the next day to get over it ... No, I'm not conceding to old age...
Last night we got to go to our Granddaughter's 1st Belly Dancing Hafla [Concert we think it means]. Of course Tanika looked beautiful and danced like a belling dancing queen ... now that's not a bit of Grandie pride coming through is it ... ha ha
So once I get my act together I will post some photos for you all to see plus a few of the cards I've made as well ... I just love it when I go to my camera when the Grandies have had it as I have some very interesting photos and angles plus things I would never consider taking a photo of ... ha ha

Seaside Collage

This is a 8" x 10" paper collage I did over the last few weeks... cut & paste a very relaxing way to spend some free time...

I'm around still ...

Gosh life has been a tad hectic of late [last 6 weeks] but we have got Lucy's Stamps all packed up and on it's way to it's new home .... but not before a bit of a party to celebrate 10 years of pressing rubber.

Lucy's Stamps started with the pressing of Ratty & ended with the pressing of Ratty...

others had a go at pressing too, under the watchful eye of Lucy ... ha haWe were a might bit pleased to see the presses go and then the rest of the gear [this container was full by the time it left] ....even poor Snowy nearly got packed ....Had a few days off for some R & R and we went and did a SoulCollage w/s down in northern NSW which was so great and have had a day or so here and there since doing more SoulCollage.

This week I had my Mum's Day Respite Centre's Christmas Party to attend - we had a lovely day ... just wish I could have kept the glasses .. don't ya just lovem....

now I'm off to do some Marnie duties ...

Gosh how where did Christmas come from ... sure has snuck up on me this year so, guess what I'll be doing while doing my Marnie duties!!! ... yep working my "little" fingers to the bone ... ha ha ... not too much chance of that eh?

Week gone... WHERE!!!

Gosh this last seven days seemed like a very quick week ... been trying to help my friend Lucy with her business as she is closing down and of course there is heaps to be done so will be busy for another week or so but then it's, all over Red Rover by the end of Nov. To me it will be a bit of a sad time but on the other hand, I have been so fortunate to be a part of all the fun for the last 10 years now it's time to more on - upward & forward ... look out world, we are adventurous spirits...

I decided to play so made myself a Paper Collage over the week end ... found an advertisement that took my fancy and it just grew from that ...The garden got a well earned drink this last week - we are so grateful for the rain that we did get and as always the plants are grateful and put on a wonderful show... This pretty Gazania is one of my newer ones - yes I had to plant new ones a few months ago as it has been so dry & with our water restricitons so tight, I lost so many of them - I know what you are thinking they are just so hardy but ... isn't the colours in this one so awesome...

These other beauties are at Lucy's ... the Geisha Girl [ purple flower] is in Lucy's garden and was attracting so many of the black & white butterflies but they were too quick for me ... ha haThe cactus is also at Lucy's but it looked so happy that all it's flowers seemed to glow....Well I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful week ... if you do get to check my blog please leave a comment or a message in my Guestbook at the bottom .... thanks Chris & Jordan ... OOroo...

Had a Wonderful Time ...

Hubby & I had a wonderful time away this last week even if it were only overnight but we did get to visit with some of our wonderful friends that we don't see that often now we live so far away. Sadly I forgot to get my camera out to take photos at G & B's place - ohhh so tranquil among the gum trees and those biscuits G. had made were to die for - they called them the $250 biscuits so I must get the recipe and with Macadamia nuts in them ... well do I need to say more ... ha ha. I did remember to get my camera out of my bag at B & N's but I left it on so long to get their wild birds I ran out of battery and would you believe I forgot to take my charger... drrrrrrr I can go anywhere and I take my cell phone charger & camera battery charger but not this time ... ha ha Think I will blame L. as she had so much excitement happen the morning we were leaving we were a little out of it but what can you say when her new little neice was born - she's a little beauty too. Here are some of the wild birds that come to B's place to be fed - they actually believe they follow them around Australia as there are always birds waiting for them wherever they decide to park their van on their travels .... ohh did I forget to tell you that they belong to the Grey Nomads!!! There were lots of rainbow loriketts, pigeons & doves plus two galahs so I'm guessing they are a couple.

These guys look like they are asking to join us for arvo tea ... the larger one it a Magpie and the smaller one is a Butcher bird - we do have a lot of black & white birds here.

Now this is one cheeky butcher bird helping himself to the bowl of mince - you can see how close he is and we were strangers in their enviroment.

We got up the north coast near Sunshine Ariport well before dark so had a bit of a walk on the beach before tea ... we had forgotten how lovely and powdery and soft the sand it along the coastal beaches ... beautiful. We also enjoyed watching some guys playing with their kite board in the surf, a chap doing a spot of surf fishing and a family walking and playing along the water's edge - man they were all having some fun. We were up fairly early next morning and off to Moffat Beach to meet up with my friend M., at a coffee shop we have frequented often over the years and I just knew what I wanted - cameral banana pancakes with 'the lot' ... my it did seem to be a 'lot' more than I remembered, so I really needed a doggie bag but man thinking of it makes my mouth water ... yummm, just as well I don't live up there or I'd have an even bigger weight problem. It was great catching up with M. and what the family are doing - really keeping her on her toes that's for sure. On the way home we called into our youngest daughter's but sadly her littlies were still at school but we didn't want to get caught in the traffic too much, so didn't wait - ohhh famous last words they are ... ha ha We also called into where we used to live and see how many changes had taken place - like always you leave a place you have lived in for many, many years and you go away for what seems like such a short time and there are so many changes - undecided as to if they are good or bad. We got to call into one of our neighbours just for a few minutes and then back on the road again. Call into L. and pick up our Gilly, she was so glad to see us and wasn't letting either of us out of her sight. So that was the end of our little road trip.

Look What was Out to Greet me ...

When I got home my poor garden -that is so neglected with this dry we are having - was putting it's best foot forward with these lovely flowers ... my hippes and dieties. Even hubby's nasturtiums were in full bloom and the little blue fairy wren was waiting on the path ...

The garden should look lovely in a week or so as we have had some well needed rain in the last few days - sadly some people have experienced some very windy weather but all was OK with us, thankfully. This is a small canvas I did for a friend as a bit of a joke as I had given her an alphabet stamp set but somehow I had lots the capital 'A' so when I sent it on to her I also sent this canvas... so now you might understand why the 'A's' are all red... ha ha ..... ohh BTW she got it, too ... ha ha Well I'll be back with you all in a couple of days - hubby and I are going away overnight so we can catch-up with some old friends... be good now ...

Home again ...

I can't believe I've been home over a week already and not shown my photos and what I got to do while we were on our girlie roadtrip ... I think it might have something to do with all the life changing things that happened while we were on that roadtrip and things that have happened since ... sequence of coincidences - synchronicity= coincidence of events that seem to be meaningfully related... We took off on the Tues - had a few things to do at the border, on the way south, called into Crystal Castle for lunch - a place I would recommend everyone visit at least once in a lifetime. You now pay to go in but the money is being used to improve the gardens and I can assure you it is, as the gardens are so much bigger and so well kept since my last visit - I think this is the the 3rd or 4th time I've been there. It was a very hot day & I started to get a migriane so we stayed overnight at Sawtell - what a lovely seaside place to stay ... up next morning and on our way to visit with our friend Rob ... who just has the view to die for... in the country, nice and peaceful where we were made ever so welcome and we made art for two days. Here is Rob & me looking through the door of her studio and you can see Lucy there in the window reflection ... I think this is cool as it means we are all in the photo.Our art mainly consisted of paper collage along the lines of SoulCollage but onto canvas boards. Lucy got carried away finding word quote in her magazines she had and her collage was just that all saying that said & meant a lot to her and where she is/was heading in her life. [This is a very soul seaching/mind mapping/ mind blowing art form that we love.] Too many words so she then made a jigsaw of her most favourite saying for the day. Rob showed her how to do beeswax finish. Rob was working on a lovely purlpe collage when we left so I hope she shows it too us soon. I did three collages - 2x 8"x 10" and one small 5x7 which I've called Lucy's journey as it does tell what's happening in her life too. The beauty of these sorts of paper collages is that you don't realise what they mean until you have finished and look at them again through seeing/admiring eyes not art eyes.

Our time with Rob & Len was over all to quick and we had to head home again. Here is photo of Lucy with crystal light on her cheek from Rob's beautiful crystals that hang in her studio window.On the way Lucy took me into a little town called Bangalow to get fuel ... never knew the place existed but was soon to find out why I had to see it. We got back and all sorts of things had happened but all good ... Lucy is closing her business & finding something else in her life ... I will miss her as she is also moving away for where we live but not far ... I've also decided to do some new things in my life too .... We were home by Fri night and I turned my computer on to find that I was invited to a SoulCollage w/s - this is something I've been wanting to participate in for 18 months but haven't been able to organise to get to Melbourne to do so with Karen who is a facilitator of SoulCollage. Now where do you think this w/s is being held??? yes Bangalow on the Byron Bay road ... synchronicity again... This week I've been helping Lucy just a couple of days. I went to the movies on cheap Tues and saw the movie Almighty Heart with Angelina Jolie - gosh she is a good actor. Thurs. hubby & I celebrated 39 years of marriage which is unbelievable, we must of been such kids as we don't really feel old enough to be coming up to our 40th Ruby Anni next year. I'll tell you a funny little story ... during the week I was tiding up the pantry and could see a solid plastic carry-all in the very back of the top shelf so got it our thinking I could use this in my artShed - it also had another container in it that would be useful too. As I was getting it out I came across a packer of liquocrice that my hubby adores - it has fallen in the back & he has forgotten about it so pulled it out to the front again and there was a box of our favourite choccies Ferrero Rocher - now how long had they been there - must of fallen to the back too so pulled it to the front too ... thinking I bet hubby will see these and give them to me for our anni. - I wasn't worried as we both love them. Hubby came in later and when I came in I found my little chair I use to climb up to see into these cupboards gone and door shut, end of story... I thanked him for putting the chair away but told him I was looking for a particular lid for a glass bottle to use as an extra biscuit barrel - 'did he know where there was one' ... well as helpful as he is he found one for me - problem solved and I didn't think anymore about it. On the day of our anni he give me this box of Ferreros and I just smile to myself and he then proceeds to tell me ... he had actually bought them while I was away on my girlie roadtrip and hidden them in the back of the pantry as he knows with my arthritis I have problems getting up there and he couldn't believe it when he found the chair there and 'his' choccies in full view ...well what a laugh we both got when I relaid my thoughts on it ... just two old cronies that think alike I guess ... haha but it was still lovely of him to remember our anni plus give me one of his special lovey dovey cards he always finds for me - don't give up girls when we were first married he used to forget too not until I made a point of forgetting to get/make him a card one year did he do the turn-around. As a special treat we are off on our own roadtrip next week to visit friends and stay overnight up the northcoast. There are so many lovely people to catch-up with and I've lost a couple of old [not in age] girlfriends this year so think life is a bit too precious to miss an opportunity to visit.

My ART ...

Here I am with some of my ART to show ...

This is the canvas I have finished tonight before I leave on my girlie roadtrip ... I've made it for a girlfriend who has a dream of a Seachange which will be a great 'leap of faith' for her... I hope she likes it ... it's only small at 12cm x 22cm canvas that I picked up in New Zealand when over there on a working/holiday this year.
This is the 5" X 7" canvas I made with the Grandies over the school holidays.
Thanks to MacDonalds Happy Meals - NO I'm not going there with the
what fors or where fors with if the meals are what you should give the kids - we do it each school holidays and see the movie advertised and then use the boxs etc to make a canvas and they all look so forward to making their canvas. I forgot to take photos of theirs but this is mine - they do their own background and cut-out their own pictures that they want to use. I think all kids enjoy some creativity in their lives just the same as they love to help cook too another school holiday treat with Marnie.

I did this one while ago but was waiting for the special punch I just 'had' to have ... ha ha thanks Jean. The dresses are made with another punch too. It is only a small 4" sq. canvas.

Doing OK

Well I'm still around but feeling ever so much
better after such a hectic few months. I'm now getting ready for a wee bit of a road trip with my Girlfriend - doing a Thelma & Louise ... we feel the need to get away from it all for a few days so should be fun ...
I made a lovely card this w/e for a friends 50th ... got my camera out to take a photo of it but got lost in the garden going back to my Gyrlie shed and then forgot ... drrr ... somedays I wonder why I get out of bed! I'll try and make another similar to show you all...

Here is what distracted me in my garden ... these little violas are the loveliest shade of purple and just pop up in my pot plants from time to time what a wonderful surprise.

I thought you might like to see my resting Angel too... who is just near by but with the drought we are in I have lost that lovely pink/red flower plant now.

Out the back I found our nasturtiums in full flower - they just grow wherever they think we need some happiness I think ...
I'm looking at showing some art stuff later ... have a great day ...

Back again ...

Well I'm back again after being away for a time plus having lots of family fun ... one of my daughters was home on holidays from o/s so we all made the best of it - getting together and having fun - making memories with all. When that daughter went home she took her younger sister with her so I had Grandie duties ... looking after her two littlies so we spent time with my eldest daughter and her family so we have been very very busy since Nanna has been here ...

While all together we spent a family day at Australia Zoo home of the Crocodile Man the late Steve Irwin - this man had so much vision and his work still goes on and the park is becoming bigger and bigger - it's been about five years since we last visited... The zoo is getting so big now

you nearly need more than one day to give it a good look-over.

After a big day we looked a rather mottly lot wandering into the new South East Asia area as we were all getting a tad tied.

I'm a great lover of the Elephant God and I was thrilled to find this very large Ganesh next to the Elephant enclosure.

The kids loved Cameron the Crocodile - all kids did, so we couldn't get a photo of his mouth as there were just too many people there .... Cameron is a replica of crocodiles that are believed to be still in existence from the edivence that has been found on crocodile expeditions. All had a wonderful day ...

Before they all went their seperate ways after spending a long w/e together we got to have a

photo shoot ... thanks to Lucy ...

While we were up bush with all the Grandies, the kids were thrilled with Jayden's guinea pig ,TJ or is that TeeJay, who loves to be brushed .... so everyone had to take turns ...

I did find time to do a bit of card making plus a small canvas 5" x 7" - the kids also liked to do some art on a canvas but I'll show you one later ... here is my motivational canvas ...

Well off to bed now as I've not been well - just too much excitiment no doubt ... ha ha