This is the ATC I have made for an Arabian Nights swap on the ArtTechniquesATCs yahoo group.

When I showed my Dear Heart he looked puzzled and said "what has that got to do with the Arabian Nights?!?" Being hormonal I saw red and wanted to kill him even though I know that this ATC is not very Arabic feeling however I returned with "can't you see the belly dancer?" in a how-dumb-are-you-tone. "That's a belly dancer?" came his reply ... death was imminent ... he was only saved by the sweet voice of the Princess asking "Daddy, of course it's a belly dancer, can't you see the coin belt?"

So I suppose an explaination is due as to why my Arabian Nights ATC is far from Arabian. When I think Arabian Nights I think belly dancing, which is something I love doing and only wish I didn't look like a floundering beached whale when I do it! The pattern on the serviette I used reminds me of the beading and coins on a belly dancing coin scarf/belt. The image highlights techniques I wish I was better at ... back bends and floor movements ... as well as the incredible beauty and joy of belly dancing.

The lake is on fire !?!

Our local lake .... Lake Wendouree ... caught on fire last night!

As you can see from the picture there isn't any water in the lake. It has been mostly dry for a few years now ... gets a little water in winter with the rain but not enough to fill it back up. I must say I am mighty sick of this drought and everything being so dry and dusty ... after 10 years I've had enough. I get fed up with the people who build new houses and immediately landscape their yards ... we are on water restrictions people! Why plant a garden that you aren't allowed to water? I know that weeds and half dead plants don't look that great but I'd rather see them than water hungry non-natives!

Better stop ranting now and go get creative ... ciao

An apple for the teacher

I have spent the day at the pool with the Princess and Dear Heart and they are both asleep exhausted yet I'm the one who swam laps! At least it gives me some alone time which has been sorely lacking over these school holidays.

Last week was spent at my mum's place catching up with family and having a wonderful time ... swimming, ice-skating, doing jigsaws, hanging out, eating ...

This evening I have been working on ATC's with the theme "Back to school" for the ATCOZ yahoo group. I decided to use the photo of my first day of school and originally had a different colour scheme and embellishments in mind which is why I printed the photo in sepia the other day. Yesterday I purchased these ace blue & white floral serviettes and bingo the whole design changed in my mind as the dress I am wearing is blue and white. I think if I had used a black & white picture the image would have popped more. Unsure if this ATC is finished as yet.

ATC Frenzy

After a little time feeling creatively uninspired and coming to accept that I am no great artist ... phew ... I have been on an ATC frenzy this last week and been really enjoying just playing again.

I had a little rant on ATCOZ about the use of stickers on ATC's as I personally don't feel that a sticker plonked in the middle of a card is art ... unless of course you are in primary school. This led to one member organising a sticker collage swap and I figured I'd better participate ... boy do I have a lot of stickers in my stash ... I hadn't realised how many until I was preparing for this swap. So all the ATC's in this group are made completely with stickers ....

This ATC was created for a pink themed swap. How could I go past using this beautiful photo of the singer Pink which I altered slightly and then printed on tissue paper. The lace was also painted using Twinking H2O's and the brads embossed with Opals.

Fianally I had fun making a paper ATC quilt for a patchwork themed swap ... so much easier than making a double bed sized quilt from fabric - can't imagine I will ever do that again!

Well that's it for now. I have to sort out my financial woes after watching Oprah today!

Pushup Princess

You could be forgiven for thinking that title refers to pushup bras! I must admit that I do love them considering the girls have been heading south for a very long time now and I prefer a bit of cleavage no matter how fake it is. Alas no ... it is not the over the shoulder boulder holder that I am learning to master but the real bum up face to the floor physical execise. Yes I have been doing pushups and I am so proud of myself! I started out doing one pushup and it was so painful I could have cried ... and I can't do the traditional "boy" pushup yet, maybe that will come when I am stronger. I am now up to five pushups a day and pushup one and two are fairly easy and by five my arms ache. That's right five! I suppose you thought with all my bragging that I was doing way more than that however I have learnt slow and steady wins the race.

Oh well now I'm off to the laundromat as my stupid washing machine is broken again!

Inspired by ... Connie

I participated in the 2008 Technique Fat Book on the "arttechniques" yahoo group and after receiving 120 technique pages I was looking for a way to store/display them. I was inspired by Connie who posted a way of binding them on her blog and here is what I came up with ...

This is the cover:

Inside the technique pages have been bound into four small books:

Each of these small books can be removed from the base of my 2008 Technique Fat Book for ease of use when referring to a particular technique. The back cover of each of the small books slides into a slot between the lining and base of my 2008 Technique Fat Book.

Thanks Connie for the inspiration.

Tagged by Lucy

Some time ago I was tagged by Lucy and I am now trying to remedy my slackness by addressing this. Problem is I can't think of six blogs to tag to so that may have to come later as Lucy has already tagged some of the blogs I would have tagged ... hmmmmm

The rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you (link above)
2. Mention the rules (well here they are!)
3. Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself (well that cuts out my lion story ... sigh)
4. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them (still to do)
5. Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets then know they've been tagged (obviously this is still to do)

Here are my six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself:

1. I don't have any pets
2. I'm into family history
3. I'm easily distracted
4. I don't like ice cream
5. I love sunday morning sleep-ins
6. I'm naturally very messy

Here are the six bloggers I'm tagging: (coming soonish)

Inspired by .... Laura Ryan

I love getting the Cloth Paper Scissors magazine as I find many of the projects inspiring. Here is one project I have actually finished. In Issue 16 Jan/Feb 2008 on page 28 Laura Ryan shows how she turned an old pair of overalls into an art apron name tag with heaps of pockets.

WOW I so wanted to do that! However I didn't have any overalls ... never fear we have plenty of op shops in town ... pity none of them had overalls. A few months later on another op shop foray I found a pair of maternity overall/shorts - perfect.

With scissors, sewing machine, brushes and bleach I was ready to go. Word of warning - use bleach in a very ventilated space AND bleach eats away at your brush bristles so use cheap brushes. Below is a picture of my art apron. I love the fact that I can add embellishments to it over time so it is an evolving object. It was far easier to make than I expected and I'm really happy with the result.

Happy New Year

Oh my it has been some time since my last update and here is another one with no pictures attached. I will remedy that in a few days and start providing some art updates ... a catch up on 2008 before I start creating in 2009.

What I really wanted to do here today is to list my goals for 2009 which is shaping up to be a very busy year for me so I am trying to keep these goals simple.

• Complete the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) at the University of Ballarat
• Grade to my green belt in karate
• Improve my flexibility and core strength
• Improve my contact with family and friends
• Create beautiful things
• Remain positive and happy

I wish everyone a safe and happy new year and am sending out cyber love and hugs to you all!