Lost Aussie on the loose

Round and Around

Not sure why, but faces and circles seem to be a recurring theme in the artwork that I have been creating of late.

It's odd because I never seem to have a particular thought in mind when I set out to create a collage.  I usually open some grungy background file, a focal piece and then seven or eight other files, pulling and pinching bits that catch my eye until I arrive at a satisfactory outcome.  Sometimes it takes minutes, and other times it can take hours, by the time I have filtered, blended and masked the different elements until I am happy.

The "Max" cat likes it when it takes a long time as it means extended cozy moments where he is ensconced in my lap and has his paw on my right arm - perfectly happy hampering the creative process!

Looking backwards - and forwards

Christmas is done and dusted, as they say, with a treasure trove of wonderful gifts, gadgets and books duly opened, admired and variously installed!
Aside from family treasures I also received a number of lovely mementos from my Artpals (who know who they are) and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart :-)

And now, the New Year looms!  Hard to believe that yet another one has passed and it will soon be 08 that we write on our cheques (or checks, if you want the US lingo)!  Where does the time go?

As I catalogue artwork created each month on a folder on my computer it seems that 2007 was a relatively 'sparse' year.  Probably due to the fact that for the last 12 months we were moving and then not moving, changing jobs and then changing companies and then moving for real!  Hard to get focussed with all that going on.

I'm looking forward to 2008, with boxes finally unpacked and even if there are projects to do around the house they will now be "as desired" and not for functionality sake, so that instead of waiting for workmen and deliveries I'll be able to get my head around and into all the ideas that have been burbling away in there for the last so many months!

Before I get around to all that though, there is the rest of the boy's vacation to see too, and hopefully a bit of snow skiing before I head back "downunder" with them in a few weeks time to get them ready for another school year.  From what I gather it will be a "warm" change from 40F to 40C! Can't wait!

A Very Merry Christmas

We took our small men into the City tonight, to see the fabulous Rockettes.  A New York spectacle to be sure and one that set us all joyfully off into the Christmas mood.  And by now, they are fast asleep, the tree resplendent with all the gifts and booty to be opened tomorrow (even the stuff that Mother had to hide from prying eyes!)

To each and everyone of my friends and family who pass by the Blog space during the year, my best wishes to you and yours for a very Merry Christmas!  May Peace and many Blessings be yours.

Illio Friday - Horizon

Seems like ages since I created a piece for Illustration Friday.

This one is cobbled together with a mishmash of photos from Australia and a little vintage stock and speaks to "New Horizons" - perhaps what 2008 will hold?

'Tis The Season

Apparently even the Dawg is ready!
Though can't say that I am for sure! 

We've had the flooring guys in the house for the last two days and after much fuss and foofoolah they appear to be finished - in my books they are anyway.  This has been one of the most tortured projects ever and although I am not 100% satisfied, I will NOT deal with this any further!
Yesterday was a total nightmare.  Amidst trying to cook dinner around saws, planks of wood and all, the worker bees decided I should make them coffee.  So off to the percolator I run and start all that, in the middle of which the onions which were frying on the stove got so hot and smoky that they set off the fire alarm.  The head worker bee starts yelling at me to turn the thing off as the noise is upsetting him....well of course I would, if I damned well could...like I want to stand there with sirens blasting and all hell breaking loose?  It turns out that the code to turn off the fire alarm was just ANOTHER small item that the previous owners had neglected to leave in our possession!
An hour later and not without considerable stress and hassle the wretched thing was disabled and silent.
The three workmen had by then finally finished their work and were lingering suggestively with hands somewhere just outside their pockets....
Ho ho - hum...I wonder what they wanted???   Tip tip tip perhaps?
But honestly, after having endured this flooring saga since September is it really my responsibility to financially congratulate them for a job finally done?  Perhaps they can call upon the company who has had our many K's worth of money from the outset for their little tipperoo?

Needless to say, yesterday's fiasco has left me feeling a little more "Grinchy" than angelic and loving!

Thank heaven for boys, dawgs and twinkly lights to mend the mood!

Little Art & Lots of Family

The focus of my days seems to have shifted sharply!  Starts with cooking copious quantities of food at breakfast for two hungry men and continues non-stop from there.  No complaints whatsoever, it's just nice to have my Happy Mamma Pants on again - even if there is little time to create ART!

Our tree is finally up and cheerfully trimmed.  It's an oddball creature, no highly co-ordinated fashion item here, simply a tree resplendent with a mish mash of ornaments that have been lovingly collected over the years.  The boys decorate and sign a new ball for the tree each year and then there is always some special new addition.  We found "that" particular item at the fabulous ABC Carpet & Home Store today - a funky, glitzy little acorn..well why not?

All I need to do is find the tree skirt, which seems to have magically disappeared in the last move, along with some rather lovely vintage lights.  No doubt they will surface when I am about to find the Spring decorations!

Until I pull the last round of pics out of the camera I'll leave you with a little something created the other night when "all was quiet"...
Ciao for now :-)

The Best Gift Ever

I was up early today as my much anticipated Gift from Australia was on it's flight path, on track and on time! So zoom zoom went the vacuum cleaner, towels out -check, linens all in order - check, dust bunnies all exterminated - check, rubbish (trash) out - check, Chrissy presents all well hidden - check, painting complete, furniture moved, massive quantities of favourite groceries procured yesterday..showered, dressed and ready...

And at 1pm sharp, the BEST gift of the Season arrived, my two, even more taller than I remembered, gangly boys arrived (and Hubby of course!)  I am definitely the smallest member of the Family now, but it was heartwarming to be wrapped inside of big youthful arms and hear the words "Oh, I've missed you Mummy"!...I guess they are never too big for that huh?

All three men were rather zoned out for most of the day, jetlag and a messed up internal clock, but I have to say they gave it a good shot, keeping me company until about 10pm when the three of them started variously collapsing into bed!

Thanks to the boys I have learnt more about my MAC in one afternoon that I could out of any book or Apple Tutorial.  They are both used to using MAC's at school and so have all the shortcuts and hotshots down to the N'th degree
(Note to self - lock up MAC when we leave or I might find it missing :-)!)

So tonight I am pottering about quite happily, knowing that even if for a short time, my house and home is complete, and so am I.

Tomorrow, is decorating day.  We will put up our tree and for the more 'Antipodean" style folk, Christmas time will begin!  We keep our tree up until Epiphany in January, and this year I think it is David's turn to decide whether we top the tree with an Angel or a Star!

(Silly face photo booth - courtesty of Mickey MAC)

Itty Bitty Knitting

On Sunday I poodled off out and about, intent on finding this Yarn Store, which is actually not that far from my house.  I was quite delighted to find a wonderfully stocked shop with loads of eye candy and plenty of stuff to hurt the wallet in the worst way (sorry Luv!).
I picked up a ball of yarn here, another there and when it came time to check out the lady looked at my pile with a raised eyebrow.... "quite an odd mix you have there?".  "Yes, well" I replied, "they are for knitting dolly things so one skein of each will be just  fine!"
.. I did manage to slip a few balls of something exotic into the bag as well, and that lovely stuff is well on it's way to making a Christmas gift for someone special.

However, I digress, the pieces pictured here are packed up and ready to send to a friend, who very kindly sent me some sewing patterns for Blythe dolls.  I had spied a dolly in a photo of her Studio some time ago and it turns out she is a secret Blythe fan too!  Ha, imagine that :-)

After a few abortive attempts at working off a hat pattern for Blythe dolls that I found on the internet, I just decided to wing it and create my own....don't ask me what I did, as this is the prototype, though it's not that hard really.  Goes something like this - cast on 4 stitches on US8 needles,  knit the next row,  increase incrementally followed by a knit row for about 12 rows then knit all rows down until it fits, then make a few rows of rib to keep the the bottom from rolling.
The scarf is pretty simple too - cast on 4 stitches, garter stitch for 6 rows, decrease to 3 stitches and work to desired length, increase to 4 stitches and work a further 6 rows, cast off and add some fringe bits to match the hat.

If you are desperate for "real" instructions, email me and I will try and be a bit more precise!

Feeding Inspiration

I found this quote while I was perusing the 'net tonight and it rather made me stop and think.
A day or so ago I'd gone into Borders to use my "bucks" and coupon to purchase (yet another) mixed media book - anticipating hours of fulfilling reading and loads of inspiration.  What a sore disappointment.  Yet another "file in the bookcase" object which took less than 20 minutes to read cover to cover without one iota of new or different information.

The object lesson is, I think, that it is time to look within, and not without, for inspiration.  The dilemma of course lies in the RISK.  Do you leave the pack and go create with what is inside your head and your heart, even if it does not follow the artsy/crafty social mores?

Photograph :Copyright Marie Otero 2006

A Little Holiday Cheer

Usually I am very bah-humbug about Christmas - or if you want to be politically correct - shall we say - the Holidays.
Probably because at any given time I am minus most of my Family or away from my own Home.
This year I get to have Christmas with my Sons, at "home" in America and although I'll be far away from many members of my Family, it will be exciting to cook turkey, decorate the tree and sing carols with the Boys here.

My pal Carla and I were yakking on the phone the other day, contemplating the Season, and I was totally shocked as she related an instance where someone had been offended by her wish of a "Merry Christmas".  How horrid!  It seems to me that regardless of your religion or cultural background a wish of Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanuka or heck, a Merry Christmas should be taken as a simple greeting and wish for a wonderful time when we smile at friends, new and old and offer cheer to those that we meet along the way.  Does it always have to be so politically correct when it is a good wish from the heart?