Lost Aussie on the loose

ATC Magic

..nothing like these mini masterpieces to get the creative juices flowing!  And why, oh why amidst my mayhem am I creating ATC's?  Can't for sure say why, other than out of the blue, some nice lady emailed me and asked if I would trade some and keep the "Spirit" alive.
I've to make 6, send them onto a list of faceless addresses and hope that I'll get a little joy back.

And for those of you who don't know, an ATC - Artist Trading Card - is like a playing card, same size and dimensions and are traditionally traded (and not sold) amongst artists as a way of swapping and sharing artwork.

What else?  The house is making progress.  Little by little it is starting to resemble a home.  I've got to the point where I am putting pictures on walls and on Wednesday the "mechanic"??? will come and FIX the newly laid wood floor (harrumph , don't ask!)   I have painter's elbow from slapping latex on walls and I think we will meet the local recycling target by the time I put the rest of our cardboard boxes out on the street on Wednesday!

Catching Up

I really don't know where the days go right now.  Mostly a continuation of the sorting and unpacking but I did manage a trip into the City at the end of last week to see the new Klimt exhibition at the Neue Gallery. 

My friend Paula, from Delaware invited me to join her and her sister, and it was truly inspiring.  Aside from a few (very) expensive paintings, many of Klimt's drawings were on display, offering much food for thought.

I must get the hang of the snooty NY gallery thing though, no shopping bags, leave your coat home, even if it's raining, and definitely don't get there all out of breath after having tried to be "terribly urban" using the Subway, and catching the wrong train.....
I'm sure the learning curve will continue!

Happy Birthday Honey

To the one who leaps corporate buildings in a single bound, pounds pennies to keep me in the manner to which I am accustomed and who is a good son, father, friend and husband.....
Many Happy Returns Sweetie!  All things together, in good time, God willing!
ILY

Reality Check

After watching a real-time episode of 20/20 tonight, I realised  that all my agonising over carpets, mess and "stuff" to do with this new house is pretty selfish. At the end of the day I am lucky to have a roof over my head and not be one of the sad souls who is sitting amidst a pile of ashes like so many of the poor folk in So. Cal. who have lost their homes in the terrible fires over there.

So the "Singing Heart" moment  for today (thanks Tricia)is that we now have carpet upstairs.  All prim and pretty, even if the getting there was extremely tortured!  They also came to re-stretched and fix the new carpet in the studio and  have I "finally" been able to make headway with getting my art stuff restored to some semblance of normality. 

I guess the upside to all of this unpack and re-move over the past few weeks has served a great purpose.  I have discovered that I have more antique books, photos and bits of ephemera than I will EVER know what to do with.  I have re-discovered many pieces of artwork that were created over the past few years and it was almost like greeting old friends and an education in how far my tastes and obsessions have changed. 
I also picked up some more used Flat Files via the NYC Craigslist this past weekend and after filling them up in no time at all have decided that I have a "SERIOUS" rubber stamp issue.  Me thinks a little sale on Ebay might be in order (when the dust settles).

There were a few little sad points and twisters in amongst the studio restoration.  I discovered that asking someone to "flat pack" papers and prints does not apparently translate well. and most of my printed artwork and (ahem) expensive papers have all been rolled up, stood on edge and are completely wrecked on one side.  Just as well it's today and I can put my tears and frustration into perspective - huh?

Well I am off to bed.  My clock seems to have changed dramatically since moving.  Up early and to bed before 4am!...who knew that could be done?
I'll leave you with a photo snapped in the garden this morning... Last of the Summer Daisies.....

A Little Hallow Magic

Well we have 'finally' unpacked ALL the boxes.... I wish I could say that the house is in better shape for it, but sadly not.  We're still enduring carpet and flooring woes, the length and frustration of which I won't bother to bore you with.  Suffice to say that tomorrow I am going to put on my Hoity Toity Important Banker Wife clothes on and go and find some A** to kick!

Positive side is that while I WHILED away yet another day listening to hammering, stapling and endless blasphemy, dear hubby had got my studio bits and computer gadgets set up sufficiently well over the weekend so that I can start doing a little creating.  At this point, pixels only, but hey...I am REALLY not fussy!

Not sure if it's inspired by the dark side of homemaking or impending Halloween... the choice is yours :-)

And "S" would be for...

...silly, stupid or just inSanely distracted with all that is going on and typing too fast!
Yep, a good friend kindly pointed out that I had missed out the letter S in my Middle Name Meme.
What can I say?
Ssssorry?

Sadly I have just half my carpet.  The rest is apparently on it's way from Canada???  So one more week without the fixin's for the floor and furniture shoved into all other available Spaces.  And definitely quite bent out of shape as the carpet they laid today is resplendent with several stains and marks and needs cleaning?  ...hmmm gotta wonder what the hardwood will look like after it's done tomorrow!

Waiting...waiting...

..after several impatient weeks the new carpet comes tomorrow and the hardwood floors the day after - Hooray! 
I can't tell you how sick and tired I am of living in mayhem and mess but there was hardly any point in unpacking and putting rooms together only to have to shift it all again to get the new carpet in.

I've been trying to complete artwork that is due for several projects on a sawhorse table and using a cardboard box for a cutting mat, running to Staples and Target each time I needed some bit of paper or implement to get stuff done as all my Studio equipment is still in boxes...ugh!  And tonight I'll have to unplug the computer and printer again and move it all out of the way - I guess I can do it, just ONE more time!

In between my mess, life goes on!  I had the wonderful opportunity to meet up with one of my brothers this past weekend.  He lives in Vietnam and was over for business.  It's probably well over a year since I saw him last and was lovely to be in the same space on the planet, even if for a short while.

I've been remiss in keeping up with Blog-land buddies with all that has been going on, so I apologize. Carla very kindly nominated with her Intrepid Artist award.  A while ago Ro nominated me with the Thinking Blogger award.  My other friend Carla, nominated me as her Rockin' Blogger and latterly Sarah and Christine have both tagged me with the Middle Name Meme.

So, tonight before I unplug and get cracking on some more moving, I'll leave you with a photo that I took a few days ago in Soho.  Great amusement listening to the passers by, who were trying to figure out if these chaps were sculptures of mimes!

And...the middle name game
ALISON
A- Adventurous, definitely!
L - Lively
I - Insatiable appetite for  learning new things and exploring
O - Open minded (gawd I lived all over the world, who couldn't be!)
N - Never say NEVER! (except perhaps to moving again in under 12 months!)

See you all again when I am a little further down the domestic path of peace and tranquility!

To dance, to dream..

..why not?  It's all about courage, the zest for life and the willingness to take a chance on the next new chapter of life - right?

I had a call from a girlfriend today all agog at the fact that they might be moving to London and figuring that as one of those odd creatures who seems to move around the world at the drop of a hat, without too much fuss, that I might be the conspiratorial ear who would understand her need for frolics and adventure!
"Sure" , I said, "it can only be fun, new and exciting!"

There are times when I envy people who have roots, stayed in the same house for aeons, their linens stashed neatly in the same drawer for years, a place for each and every thing they own but I do empathise with folk who want to travel and explore, and I dont just mean on vacation, but where you get to soak up a new culture, sink your teeth into a new environment and see how other's live and breathe. 
So all I have to say is...Oh yes, Miz T...you just go for it ...I would, and I do, each and every time..

No, not Gesso

Well, surprise, surprise, I am painting again!  No, not the art variety, sadly.  The studio is still packed in boxes awaiting the arrival of the new carpets.  So while we twiddle our thumbs for what seems much longer than a New York Minute.. it's the walls that are getting the treatment!
I also go a hairball and decided that all the stairs would NOT get new carpet and we would re-finish the lovely oak wood that is underneath the manky mess!  Not sure if this was a good idea at all as so far I have pretty much mangled most of my fingers (with and without gloves) trying to get all the old staples and nails out of the treads.  Might have to re-think this one!

I'll leave you with a few more pics of the back bits of the house. With the garden getting slowly back into shape and a pool that is now clean and sparkly, even if we will have to put it to bed in a few weeks or so.  Thank heavens for this sunny weather!  Splish splash :-)

Oh and a very big thanks to all of you who have left comments, sent emails and snail mail cards wishing us well in our new house!