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 Murder of Misty and other gruesome tales

Until I sat down to write this update I had been thinking that I have been incredibly slack these last few weeks as I felt I had not done much more than read and sleep. How wrong I have been! Firstly I quit my job ... yay for me! I am sooooo much happier although paying the bills will be a little harder we survive these challenges. Dear Heart and the Princess have been happier too.

To say I'm a bit messy would be an understatement ... I just seem to have better things to do than cleaning a house. Now that I don't have to haul myself into work each day I have vowed to get this place clean ... I started on the kitchen last week and it is now beautiful and sparkling clean ... sent heaps of stuff to the op shop ... cleaned out every cupboard ... wiped down shelves etc ... now I just have to spread that out to the rest of the house ... hahahahaha ... the laundry is next as the most amazing amount of crap gets shoved in there.

And in amongst being the domestic goddess I am I have actually been making ATC's and trying my hand at inchies and a pendant ... the pendant was a dismal failure so that can be relegated to the rubbish bin with no hard feelings. Inchies are stupidly small ... 1" x 1" squares ... and I haven't finished so no pictures yet. However I will show you some of my ATC's.

The yahoo group arttechniquesatcs runs an Artist of the Month (AOM) swap. This month the artist is Misty Mawn whom I admire very much and must apologise to her profusely for "murdering" her style. Here are my attempts for this swap:







The yahoo group ATCOZ is running a bear swap. This will be my first swap with this group and I am a little nervous ... I hope they like these bears. I have been carrying around this bear magazine for about 15+ years because it is just so odd ... like a VOGUE but for bears .. with fashion tips, horoscopes, Dear Abby, etc ... very cute. I transfered the images using Opals and I'm really happy with how they turned out.








I broke my needle felting needles last week so haven't been able to play with those ... boo hoo ... and looking for something else to try I was inspired by Ruby & Lay Hoon to try Zentangles. Here are some of my efforts.









So that is it for now ... I have to go be Mum and wife now ... ciao

Butterflies

Completed my butterfly ATC's for the July challenge on ArtTechniquesATCs. Here they are:

Colour My World

The yahoo group ArtTechniquesATCs is holding a monthly colour swap. I participated in the blue swap and should be receiving my trades soonish. Since then there has been a red and a yellow swap. I have made cards based on these colours but have not officially joined in the swaps. For each I have tried to only use the colour specified - which isn't always easy!

Broken Hearted was created for the red theme (obviously) and uses the nail polish technique to create the heart.

I think of yellow as being a very happy colour and thus Happiness in Bloom was created for this theme.