Lost Aussie on the loose

Simply scraps..

  Today I went of on a fun fabric trip with my friend Mary.  We headed off to a very well known place in North Carolina called Mary Jo's.  It is a huge warehouse looking place filled to the brim with fabric, trim and "stuff" of all manner - that one could possibly need for sewing and it is quite easy to pass many hours in there simply deciding what you MIGHT pick, nevermind what you actually end up taking homel!

Since I know perfectly well I already have a substantial amount of fabric decking the walls in my studio I decided that I would be a very sensible shopper today and stick to buying scraps and bits (with the exception of a few good bits of ribbon that I needed)......

..well not sure what went wrong with that plan, for seems like a chunkOchange simply dropped out of my wallet when I went to pay for my basket (FULL) of scraps...what's up with that?

Of course I felt totally vindicated when I got home and unpacked my new stash O stuff!...and prompty got to work to make my last Artchix RR quility for my buddie Miz Chrissy ...amazing what you can do with scraps...huh?

Photoshop Fun

When I was back in Australia this past June/July I took oodles of photographs - quite on purpose, having learned that for art, there is no better stock material than your own.  No copyright issues, nobody to ask permission of and the ownership of the finished product is unequivocal....nevermind the satisfaction quotient being right up there with the stars!

What to do with all the photos then?  Well it's no secret that I am a Photoshop nut and some of my favourite moments are passed pushing the pixels into a shape that is both pleasing to my mind and my eye.   So apart from using the photos as base images for a lot of my rubber stamp designs, I like to make secondary artwork from them. 

So in a moment of frustration with another of today's projects I turned  towards a little PS therapy this afternoon and just for fun, reinterpreted my original photo.  Colour me Purple!!

Altered oldies

I broke out some of my new stash of "instant ancestors" today to complete a page in a RR journal project that I doing  -  altering the photos a la Karen Michel style.  For sure the pinks and reds make a wild departure from the former sepia tones!  What fun!

I've packaged up the journal and it will be on it's way to Aus' this afternoon, one more thing crossed of the week's "To Do" list. 
I've one more Fabric RR spread to do for my buddy Chrissy and then I need to finish the collaborative Music CD swap that I am doing with Sylvia Luna and friends.  Once those two items are done I can return back to working on the website!  The new stamps need a better page and a shopping cart are the two "must do's"

Huntin' & Junkin'

Well the good news for the day is that I have finally heard from my Zinecat buddy - Carla in Louisianna and feel thankful that she and her family survived hurricane Rita unscathed.  They don't have any power but are coping with life with the aid of a couple of generators and lots of cool down time in the pool with the kids.

In the more tranquil setting of NC I have been working my way through the bundle of treasures that I garnered from the trip to VA and the flea market in Raleigh.  My current fetish is collecting vintage cabinet photos and I am pleased to say that my collection grew enormously in the past few days.  I love altering these puppies and doing "stuff" to them that gives them a whole new and unexpected life.

It was actually amusing to listen to a couple of ladies foraging amongst the flea market boxes alongside of me, bemoan the fact that all these lovely pictures were being left unloved....little do they know the new life that is being bestowed upon these delightful characters in the most unexpected way!

One man's trash is another chick's treasure!

Art N SOLD

WEll I'm back from my journey to Virginia and feel happier having enjoyed a successful time at Vendor Night at Art N Soul.  The night was great fun, meeting friends both old and new and of course the fact that the new Rubbah was well received has made life seem all the rosier!

There were lots of North Carolinians at the event as well as a bunch of new folk who have never been able to attend the West Coast session before.  Everyone seemed to be happy and smiling and all in all, having a great time.

Driving there was a nice change from having to hoist bags and baggage through security and long lines at the airport.  We even managed to do some kewl junk hunting on the way back, stopping at the mega Flea Market in Raleigh, which is a must do for any collage desperado!

Today I have been doing trip clean-up and reading my new issue of Teesha Moore's Art and Life, which I like a lot.  Juicy reading and followed hot on the heels by a new issue of Cloth Paper Scissors which arrived in the mailbox today...plenty of food for thought for the coming week!

Nothing Like Friends

I talked on the phone today to some friends, all of them far, far away from where I am.  One torn with the strife that a hurricane might bring, another with stuff to deal with in a family that has already had way to much to bear, and then finally, one from "home".    A friend of 20 something years.  A girl (woman) who can, no matter what, stretch my face with a smile.  Someone who knows me like no other.

Our friendship grew over nuts and bolts, moments shared in and out of sterile grounds and respite sought in the oddest of places - behind the morgue even!  (Yes, I used to have a life in a lofty place, leaping tall buildings as part of a team who put Humpty Dumpties together again...)

As for frienships..this one has endured.  Twenty years we have know each other, ten years since she and me have put in a daily grind on the same rota and still we can share a happy hour over the phone, yakking like we were sitting on a porch not five yards apart and as if it were yesterday that we spoke and not some several months.

So this art piece is for "Mandy"....and for all the friends who keep us smiling and sane - as the world goes quite crazy round about us.

Insight

Today's dose of worldly revelation includes the fact that is is highly dubious to launch a new series of rubber stamp designs when you are desperately trying to get out of the door and head to an Art Retreat/Vendor show.

However, I am not complaining! 24 sheets of the new Wubbah are wending their way across to Europe and several more are heading to various points across the US map!  Since each package is a personal one, they take time to make up to the owner's specifications and that is the part that I like the best!

Apart from playing "MailRoom Maid", today I scored a manicure and pedicure so that I dont quite look like the studio heathen when I get to Virginia Beach.  Took a few zzz's by the pool with a book and baked a little in the sun (Aussie NoNo) so that I dont look like the  Halloween Ghost version of the studio heathen AND managed to print off some original artwork, matt and package it so that that small chore is done and ready to go!

I also finished up our small and select Fabric RR project and got so heady with the mailroom thingy that it is all wrapped and taped and not a scan to be had, so I am going to have to beg Lisa to do some post "post" scanning on my behalf! Puhlease!

Last thought and wish before bed...Happy Birthday to the little'est of my "Little" Men.  12 years of Wonder and Joy.  I am a long way away, but my heart is in your pocket - as always...  I love you Sweetie Pie!

Queen For A Day

I've always admired two women of our far past - Queen Elizabeth I and Joan of Arc.  Each of whom stood up staunchly for their beliefs and had the courage to rail against many of the social injustices of their time.  Neither of these women were afraid to say what they thought and very often crossed the boundaries of what was considered to be "acceptable' in terms of expression of thought or behaviour and did this not just for their own edification but for the betterment of others.

And my point?  I guess I am slowly learning that people who call themselves 'artistic' are not necessarily blessed with liberal minds or the ability to walk far from the madding crowd.  That being forthright comes with a cost that most people are not prepared to pay...and if you stick your neck out, likely it will get chopped, or worse you might be burned at the stake!

...and if I were Queen for the day..the mandate would be "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"...Really!

For the love of..

Ah well, my little man did not win his hockey grandfinal, though I am told they put up a good fight with a 3-1 loss.  Manypeaks is a good team and I know both sides played well.  Given that this is the first year young "J"  has been put to the manly test of field hockey - which believe me, in Aussie Land is played as an Olympic  game!!...he should be very pleased.             (He even plays Left Wing just like his proud Mamma did when she was a hockey girl!)

The rest of the Sport update includes a result for the Eagles which means they will play in the Grand Finals...yahooooooooo!

Artwise, Saturday is pretty much a day of rest though I did pack up the FIRST order of the new stamps to my buddy MIZ Sarah Fishburn....thank you sweetie!!

And I did do the quickie BLOG art for the day and a couple of pieces for the Collage Cat ART PARTY. 

This evening we passed a few delicious hours of utter get out of mind free time watching Jane Fonda and J.Lo in "MOnster Mother in Law" ...oh so great for a laugh and testament to the fact that a great craftswoman might grow older, but her skills remain a beauty to behold.  May we all be so lucky!

and on that note!!...bon nuit!

Re-pose

Now and then, in the midst of all the busy days and lists of "ToDo" stuff, there comes a time when you need to take 5 minutes to make something superfluous - and just for the heck of it.  So Miss Repose here is just that, my unbidden piece  that will close the day before I head to bed.

One last thing to "DO" before I hit the pillow though..is Yell ""GO GRAMMAR!!!""...as my son is playing in his first hockey grandfinal today and I wish him and his team-mates all the very best - Speedy feet and good goals.

Oh...and Go EAGLES!...    :-))..it's Aussie Rules SemiFinals today too!

Niters!