Lost Aussie on the loose

Labours of Love

Sometimes I set out to make a quick pic' for the blog before I go to bed and whatdoyouknow but the hours fly by, fiddling, tweaking and finessing until it is just Right!...perhaps paint and paper might be easier?  (Those who consider digital  art to be a "simple" affair are sadly mislead!)

Anyway, I'm hobbling still - the MRI scans show that I have severed a ligament in my ankle and damaged a few others as well.  It seems that if I was a Sports Star or made my living on my feet that aggressive treatment would be in order.  However, health insurance being what it is, I have to take the longer house-wifely route and suffer cortisone injections before we can take the definitive cure!
I don't like taking drugs of any kind ever, and my ankle clearly does not either, for 12 hrs post injection I am left with a swollen complaining joint and I am not a happy camper.
The last laugh is that today my much anticipated brand new treadmill arrived.  Dear Hubby with much effort and heave-Ho managed to get it installed in my studio and is now just sitting there teasing me!....Is there any such thing as Virtual Running?

Good good news, my friend Aggie arrives from New York tomorrow to spend a few days with me.  She is going to Art and Soul in Virgina too.  Aggie makes the most divine jewelery and while she is here I hope to set her up a blog and an Etsy store so you can take a peek at what she will be selling at vendor night!

And if you are bored during the day..check out:Perth Radio Mix 94.5

The Week Ahead

Illio Friday - I Spy

Yep, a quick fiddle with this weeks Illustration Friday theme for "I SPY"
No Emma Peel or Anthony Blunt today - more a case of "I Spy with My Little Eye..something beginning with.....?

Wishful Thinking

As the snow and ice melt I'm still shivering.  My sliver of Spring has been garnered from Trader Joe's - a dozen or so tulips blessedly basking in the sunshine that pours in from the skylights over my kitchen table and I'm waiting a little less than patiently for the weather to warm up.

The past days have been a mishmash of catch-up .  I've filled a a number of large and small orders for the Lost Aussie rubber stamps in between ortho and imaging appointments to try and sort out my ankle - which is not healing so well.  Seems like there might be more injury sustained than just a simple sprain! Ugh!  I could probably leave well alone if I was inclined to remain a couch potato for the rest of my life but....jogger, skier, swimmer, sailor- me I don't think that is going to work so I guess we will have to see what needs to be done next.
Magic Wand for warm weather and not so messed up ankle - anyone?

Snow Daze

Hard to believe that not much more than a week ago I was sunning myself on the beach in 106F.  AND was it just last Thursday in Delaware?? that I was jogging in a tee-shirt and shorts with a balmy 70F stacked up on the dial?

Yesterday saw a steady fall of hail/rain/sleet which quickly froze to this wintery wonderland of white.  It's not actually snow and very hard and icy to walk on.

Just as well I had not jumped the gun and planted the pansies!

Illio Friday - Total

It's ages since I played over at Illustration Friday.  This week the topic is TOTAL.

The artwork is entitled "The Sum of Me"

(And for those who wanted to see the complete set, I have put the ICE-9 collages into a photo album on the sidebar of the blog)

Fast and Furious

I've been having the time of my life today.... 8 digital collages all done and printed, with only 5 more to go - due in the mail by Monday so that they arrive in New Zealand in time for  The 9th International Collage Exhibition and Exchange.

Some of the collages were partway done but I had been saving the work so that I could print it on some fabbo wide format Arches Infinity Textured paper. It's nearly $200 a roll, but OhMygoodness...does it make beayoootiful pictures!

These pieces will be original edition only and not run again.  One piece will be up for sale on the site with two others (I think) on permanent exhibit.  When the set of 13 are complete I'll post the rest for you to peek at!

Back From Afar

Well I am finally back on the topside of the world.  My son James and I often joke about him inventing a teleporting machine to make these trips easier - I guess the science lessons need to progress a bit before that happens huh?
Two days and three planes could definitely do with improvement!  Still I was lucky this time to get a few part-full flights and plenty of room to move.

I've come from a world sweltering in 42 degrees C' (which is 108 in the old lingo) to one which is barely 42F (5C in the other direction).  Talk about climate shock!  One day the beach and pool in the backyard, and today snow on the deck, gloves and my trusty Ugg boots.

I'm missing the boys already!  Even though they have grown 6 - 8 cms each since I last saw them and get more "hormonally challenged" by the day, they are still my little chicks and the part that nurtures and loves just "keeps on keeping on" no matter how they grow!  We've had a busy Aussie summer, contending with shaving, girlfriends, the invincible/incredible and are slowly getting to the 'its going to be done MY way or not at all"...challenging times ahead I can see!

I didn't get as much done ARtWise as I would have wished but there were upsides to that too.  Lots of long walks on the beach, time to spend with my Mum and friend Elaine and a few painting chores completed on the house (in between coughing bouts).  I read lots - thank heavean for the Library!

Back here I am going to take a few days to get my clock straight before I start on a list of things to do.  There are the obvious bits that will be associated with planning to move again and although that will loom fast I am sure, I'm going to get stuck into a few artsy things that have been burbling around in my head of late.

I should mention that I did manage to catch up with Nina, Lesley and Michael at the Artistic Journey Retreat in Perth last weeekend.  Sounds like all the retreat guests had a great time and enjoyed the event and the teachers to the max!

James, hope Camp is fun this weekend and David...hit 'em for six this weekend! xoxoxo Mum

Ciao for now!