My Crazy Creative World!

Where Have I Been!!!

2010-03-17T05:10:00.000-07:00

I've been to London to visit the Queen!!!

Well I'm sure it feels like that if there are anyone out there following this blog!!! Especially as I have been very absent for ages!!

Life is busy, no excuses but I am back creating, my mojo is back in fact watch this space as I have decided to venture into card-making and am considering joining a card-making club. I met two very lovely ladies when I ventured out for the sale at Photo Continental last weekend and fought the hundreds of women for the specials!!! lol ... they were members of a club and after chatting decided I would go along.

Here are a couple of layouts I have done recently!! One is very simple, I created this one for a male at work as a gift knowing he isn't into scrapbooking I kept it simple.

As you know some layouts photograph better than other and a couple didn't photograph well to their true potential, but I'm sure you get the idea.

There are a couple of layouts from the Rockhampton Retreat that I did, these are U Light up my Life, My Everything, Inner Peace (I started there and finished at home), What Matters Most and The Love You Give. The Airlie layout with the photo is a gift for a friend and am waiting on a photo as all layouts look better with a photo and it didn't photo well. My most recent ones are from the Queen of Hearts downwards!

So if you are still around, thanks for looking!

Commissioned Pieces

2009-06-04T02:14:00.000-07:00

A friend at work has started scrapbooking, she has purchased lots of bits and pieces and is doing really well. She asked me to do some layouts for her, layouts of their trip to Fiji last year as she wants to give these to her partner for their anniversary next week. I hope I have done her proud and done her lovely photos justice! Its easy when you do your own layouts for your albums but when you do something for someone else you really want it to be just right!

I have done lots of male layouts especially as I have sons, lol ... but I haven't done a lot of adult male layouts so as it was a gift for him I wanted to keep it simple yet not detract from the photo.

Well I ventured to the local scrapbooking shop, $64.00 later, well I couldn't help purchasing more yummy papers for me and well you girls know what its like, you go in for some paper and walk out with the shop, well virtually you do, lol. I brought green, teal and blue ocean and shell paper, I ripped, I positioned I ripped again and positioned and gave up and went to bed, The next morning I threw the paper away in disgust it just didn't match the photo and decided the frame was better and there it grew from there. I knew when I saw the coral designed paper that I would cut out the coral, now that was a feat and a half, I drew inside the edges to make it stand out and I put the coral inside a frame to make it look like it was growing there. I used felt ribbon to symbol the ocean.

The second layout was of the both of them, I chose a black and white photo so I could use colour around them. I love this paper series and instantly knew what the title would be. I coloured the heart with red dimensional magic and again cut out the bird and leaves.

The third layout came together very quickly. I purchased these girlie papers and knew as soon as I saw the flowers they would be cut out, I added the beads to make it more feminine and cut the papers to look like ribbons, the circle framed the photo and there it was finished.

The photo were taken at night so are a little on the dark side but I think you can see what I mean.

Mid Life Crisis!!!!

2009-05-22T00:09:00.000-07:00

Friday, 22 May 2009

Today I had a rostered days off as its my birthday on Sunday, so thought I would treat myself to a new hair colour today, its totally radical!!! My hairdresser had talked me into blonde all over as she felt it suited my skin tone and I have slowly been changing it back to a darker colour, you can see from my photos when I was up in Rockhampton just how blonde I was, personally I hated it being so blonde, I felt I was too old for that totally blonde look. I am naturally a brunette so I have now covered all angles, I am violet (I love purple), blonde and chocolate brown. I don't think the photos truly show you how violet it is, but I know after a few washes the colour will fade, but I am happy with it, nothing like being different, I say!

Shezzy xx

My Mojo is Back!!!

2009-05-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well I am finally finding the time to get the balance between work and place!! I have managed to find the time to get on the computer but most of all I have been creating and it feels so good to be able to do that, I have so missed scrapping!

These are my latest creations:

Time of My Life - this photo was taken when I went home for Easter and spent the weekend with my two bestie friends.

Me - this photo was also taken when I went home for Easter.

Friends - this layout is made from a kit from my local scrapbooking shop and the photo is of my bestie friend Leeanne at Easter. This was taken of us at the Orbit Restaurant in the Sky Tower, the restaurant rotates around and it takes one hour to rotate, you get to see Auckland and its surround area, amazing view especially at night time when we went.

We Are Best Friends - This photo is of Delys and I, taken on Good Friday before we went out for tea to a seafood and steak restaurant. Are meals had arrived and then the fire alarm went off, we had to stand outside until the fire trucks arrived, then they had to recook out meal! The local backpackers is next to the restaurant and apparently it only takes someone to burn toast and it sets off the fire alarms.

The Dark Knight - this photo is Elliott at Movieworld with the statue of a knight.

Thanks for looking :-)

My Circle Journal Revamped!!!!!!

2009-05-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

My circle journal arrived back on Friday, 1 May 2009 and after seeing how fabulous everyone's journals were I had to revamp mine. It was really basic when it left on its journal to all my scrapbooking friends around Australia, I had done it in a rush and also having been my first ever circle journal I didn't know how it should look. But when I seen everyone's journals it inspired me to be more creative with mine. The complete journal will be on display in Debz Forum once everyone has received their journals back, these pages are just my pages.

Crazy Cat!

2009-05-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share that our cat Spike sleeps in the most stupid of places, everywhere but on the couch, if the kids leave a puzzle on the ground he will sleep on it, if there is a book left on the ground he will sleep on it, here he is sleeping on Harrison's school bag!!

Visit to Toowoomba - 8 May 2009

2009-05-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

I had a rostered day off on 8 May 2009 and Debs was down in Toowoomba, so Lisa and I drove over to Toowoomba to catch up with Debs and also to meet Kirsten another scrapbooker. We stopped off at our local scrapbooking shop as they had a 40% off sale, where we did a small about of damage to our bank accounts!! We arrived at Toowoomba and picked up Debz and went out for lunch at the Chocolate Cottage. What an amazing place, the complex is set up with other little cottage type shops, a quilting shop with devine lace and material that was out of this world, a scrapbooking shop (of course, lol) and other crafty shops. A creative person's dream place to eat and shop. Of course we all had our cameras and I took these lovely shots of Debs and Lisa. After lunch and scrapbooking shopping, we drove over to Kirsten's house and met her and her darling and beautiful girls, Mackenzie her eldest daughter is very creative and she shared her album with us. Of course the cameras had to come out there and a photo of me, Lisa and Kirsten was taken. We said our goodbyes and hit the road arriving home at 7.30pm at night. Lisa had to then drive down to the Gold Coast and she didn't home get until 8.30pm. Thanks girls for a lovely day!!!!!

Latest Layouts!

2009-05-04T00:45:00.000-07:00

I am getting back into scrapbooking, its been months since I have completed a layout as by the time I get home from work, cook tea and clean up its just to late but I have been having withdrawal symptoms from not scrapping and I have my Mojo back!

The top layout is of my mum when she was young, I especially love the cerise pink with the black, so striking and it goes well with the black and white photo. The second layout is a layout I have done for my friend Debz, its a layout of her and her son when I went to visit in Rocky in November. I am sending this to her as well as the layout underneath which is of her and I. I have done it in a collage style as Debz is the collage queen and she taught me how to collage so I hope I have done her justice.

I have also received my Recipe Circle Journal back and the pages that the girls from Debs Forum completed were fantastic and I can't wait to share it on the forum. I have redone my cover pages and will post them here when I finally get ink in my printer to print one tiny black and white photo as I have run out of yellow ink but it wont print black and white, go figure, lol.

Watch this blog, more photos and update coming shortly!!

Hugs
Shez

November News!

2008-12-28T23:45:00.000-08:00

I decided it was time to catch up on some scrapping and my little Grand Niece has turned 1, so thought I would scrap her. Sorry for the quality of the photos, not sure what happened there. I did a layout of her from a kit purchase from my local scrapbooking shop where you create a layout from kits provided, shoppers get to vote for the one they like and if you win you win $20 and your layout gets to stay on display in the shop. I was late getting my entry in (ummmmmmmmm a week I think) but they allowed it. I really wasn't into winning I just did it for fun and have now purchase the Christmas kit to scrap which I must do as it is meant to be in by the 31st and I haven't started, lol. I enjoyed the challenge as they are paper I wouldn't normally pick so they really take you out of your comfort zone. This kit you had to doodle and doodle I did, the layout is of Kelsey with lots of doodling you can't miss which one I am talking about. I scrap Kelsey sitting on the grass, this was her 1st birthday. The one of her and I, this photo was taken when we all went home in May, I just couldn't help myself planting a kiss of her gorgeous cheek!!

The layout of Harrison in his boxes is derived from Elton John's song, rocket man and also Frank Sinnarta's song "fly me to the moon" hence the title. I couldn't decide which song title I would use but once it was finished I knew it was "fly me to the moon". Harrison loves boxes and is always cutting and taping and gluing something in our house. Currently his wardrobe is hosting his rocket and two other bix boxes are in his room. Mind you I remember when I was a little girl and I used to go and stay at my Nana's and Uncle's home, my uncle was an electrician and had his own business and always had boxes in the garage, I used to play for hours in them. Cheapest entertainment in the world!

The layout of all us girls is of my sister and her girls and of course me! I currently have this photo and layout sitting on my desk at work.

Not much else to report for November, it passed with a blurr. I still have December to write and I will do that shortly.

Rocky Visit!!!

2008-11-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

On Friday, 21 November I flew up to Rockhampton to visit Debs, the owner of Debs forum. We have chattered for months on the phone and have developed a lovely friendship so it was time to finally meet her in person. The flight was delayed and I thought I am never going to make it up there but I did and thankfully no Brissy storms that night and the flight was smooth, except for the very bumpy landing that I wasn't expecting! Yes I am a nervous flyer and I put that down to Chris watching Air Crash Investigations all the time, in fact he watches them over and over, even I know some of them off by heart now!! Debs was exactly how I expected her to be, what a lovely kind soul, gorgeous lady with an amazing smile that made her face glow! We sat down underneath her home to catch up with a glass of wine and barcardi. It was a late night as Debs is a night owl and it was after 2.30am before my head hit the pillow!!! It was great to meet her partner, Pete and her darling gorgeous little man, Brods! He has the biggest eyes and I just love him. He is a special little man and I was allowed to make him a drink, so I felt very privileged. Debs and I chattered into the night and the next day walked down to her local scrapbooking shop and did a little damage to my bank account, lol. We then walked down to her local pub for lunch and for $8.00 you can get crumbed steak the size of a dinner place, it honestly takes up the entire plate and there is no room for chips so they put the chips underneath, in fact I should have taken a photo, gawd what a slack scrapbooker!!!! We enjoyed a beer as the weather was so so so hot up there, my makeup was melting!! So we had a couple more beers, I introduced her to the pokies and she introduced me to Keno. Debs won $15.00 and I lost $10.00 so all and all it was a great afternoon. We went home rather giggly and content! Debs gave me lessons on scrapping a collage layout which I called double trouble!! She is an amazing scrapper and very talented when it comes to collage! I had to fly out on Sunday morning at 10.15am so it was lots of photos in the morning. Debs is hoping to make it down here in February, can't wait!

October Craziness!!!!

2008-10-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

Well its now 25th of October and where has the month gone! I have survived two birthday parties .. nothing like a testosterone party with three extra boys sleeping over for Elliott's birthday!! I must have been crazy!! Took them to Laserforce, they were loud all the way there and back again, swinging in the backseat, I swear Aliens had take over their bodies like the old movie the bodysnatchers!! The swimming pool lost inches of water from all the water bombs and I swear the whole neighbourhood for about a one kilometre radius could hear them yelling and screaming, lol. Harrison's 10th birthday was a lot more easier, Chris, myself and Harrison went to Movieworld with two of his friends, much easier and less noise! It restored my faith in having birthday parties ... but me being me I wouldn't have it any other way! Its called building memories and losing your hearing all rolled into one, lol.

I have now completed six weeks at work and this week was the first week that I had my energy levels nearly back to normal! I even managed to complete three layouts today which was fantastic, I finally feel like I am getting back to where I was before I started work. I feel human again!

Chris walked in the lounge the other night to see me standing on top of a chair, he asked what are you doing!!! I was standing on top of the chair to get the best shot of my three boys together! I'm no photographer so I am more than happy with the end result! They may fight like cats and dogs but underneath it all, I know that they do care about each other. I create the "Adore" layout and then "We Are Best Buddies" with the photo. I plan to take one to work but can't decide which one. The "We Are Best Buddies" layout is a partial scraplift from Debs my friend at Debz Forum. When I saw her layout with the ripped star I just knew that was what I wanted to do, you can see her layout at (http://www.debscreations.net.au/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=41) and when she kindly said I could scraplift it, it wasn't long until it was created and here it is. I have not completely copied it as that is just not me and I have made the layout my own as much as I could. Thanks Debs for allowing me to scraplift your star.

Happy scrapping!!!

Us Two! (Scraplift)

2008-10-25T01:57:00.000-07:00

Debz Forum for the Month of September had a challenge where you had to scraplift another person's layout. I had the honour of scrapping Shell's layout from TBSS (Tear Bears Stamps and Scrapbooks http://www.tearbears.com.au/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1953/ppuser/2) website. You can see the original layout there. As soon as I saw her layout I knew what photo I would use as I have been waiting for the right layout to do the photo of Chris and I, taken at Jo Jo and Willis house in New Zealand when we went back home for a holiday in May 2008.

The layout has changed slightly as I used a larger photo which then resulted in the square having to be made bigger. I didn't have six buttons so only used four and I did some slightly different doodlings and different colours. I just love this design and I love the result of mine.

Sweet Treats!

2008-10-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

Made this tin to hold my sweet treats when I feel like that sugar fix at work!

Harrison vs Superman!

2008-09-21T01:24:00.001-07:00

Life is Passing Me By!!!

2008-09-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I have updated my blog since being newly employed! Its been a hectic two weeks getting my head around working and more so, getting my head around working full time! It has been 15 years since I have been in full time employment, I have worked but it has always been just part-time. The job is very busy and very stat driven so there is a lot of pressure to perform! The first week of work I was so exhausted but the second week was much better and I have a better understanding of the processes of the job. The boys are all settled and not phased at all by me working full time which is fabulous, and they certainly love the extra pocket money!

Scrap booking sadly has taken a backseat and I haven't lifted a piece of cardstock in two weeks and I miss it ... I pop in from time to time to read the Challenge Chics Forum and catch up with everyone that when I do I get the urge to scrap. I have received one of the ladies journal for the Circle Journal that I am organising so that has given me the inspiration to start! Its a process that I am really enjoying leaving a piece of my creativeness in someone else's journal.

Not much to report really, have had 4 groups of friend stay this month which has been really lovely. Took the boys to White Water World, Elliott had an accident on one of the rides and is now sporting a huge bruise on his stomach and massage swelling, but it is settling down thank goodness. Harrison has had a massive ear infection and Cameron has had nits ..... just normal family activities, lol. Chris and I took Harrison to Movieworld todayas he is now finally tall enough to ride the Superman Ride and Lethal Weapon ... he has waited two years to be able to ride it! Well not much else to report, will try and get some layouts up this week! Happy scrapping, happy painting, happy whatever your passion it! xxx

Challenge Chicks!!!!

2008-08-28T21:39:00.001-07:00

Myself, Lisa, Sharon and Rachel all caught up whilst Sharon was down for her son's operation! Of course we went scrapbook shopping and I spend quite a lot on supplies .... hid the receipts in case Chris saw them, lol. These ladies are such a neat bunch of ladies! So looking forward to the next time we can all get together! This photo was taken at one of the local scrapbooking shops on the Gold Coast! Little Izzy is such a wee darling, so contented and such a good baby, but then Rach is an excellent mum! I will miss her when she returns home.

My First Circle Journal - Recipes

2008-08-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

I am organising a recipe circle journal on the website .... there are nine of us in it and we post out the journals on the 29th of August! My theme is black and white and I am open to anyone recipes, from tried and true to any culture! I have done a sign in page and there are 8 tags for everyone to date and to leave a comment! What a fabulous way to have someone else contribute to something you have created!!!

Sisters, Best Friends - Debs Pink Challenge!

2008-08-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

WOW I so loved doing this challenge after always mainly doing boys layouts, I loved the fact that it was pink, one of my favourite colours, I got carried away with lots of flowers and lots of hearts! I used lace, pretty polka dot pp which btw I love polka dot pp, ribbon etc ... just stocked up on some fabulous polka dot ribbons! This photo was taken in the backyard of our first home in Otago in NZ! We are sisters, soul mates and best of all best friends! I love you SIS!!!

Sisters!!!! - Victory at Last!

2008-08-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

I loved scrapping this photo of my sister and I ... we had this little red bike or trike I think it was called way back in my hay day, lol. I had the bike, she came along and tried to get me off the bike, she wanted to ride it! Mum came along and yes you can see the end result ..... was victory at last for my sister and I had to sit in the back seat whilst she got to ride the bike!! lol ... you can see the victory on her face!

For this layout I used paint and rubbed it light all over the page, then with bubble wrap created the spots to the left hand side. I hand drew circles and then placed scallops all around both edges and dots inside to end up with the doodled circle which initially I wasn't sure if I like it, but once you put all the elements together, my outlook changed and I now love it! The flourishes are stamped in black paint! As you can see I am enjoying paint and I just love the effect that it has on your layouts!

My First Photo Swap!!!!

2008-08-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Publish Post

This was my first ever photo swap where I swapped a photo with Trish from Debs Forum! I initially was very wary scrapping someone else's photo as I wanted to do the photo justice! Trish is a very talented lady who has a natural talent for heritage layouts so when I saw this photo I knew I had to do a heritage layout! I was very happy with the end result and I love the layout that she did for me!

Tear Bear Challenges #1 and 2!

2008-08-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Tear Bear website is one of our sponsor in Debs Forum. I had to set Challenge # 2, had to be 12x12, minimal one pp, 10 eyelets, 30 buttons, doodling on the page! This is my take on my own challenge which I am really really happy with the end results! I do enjoy paint as a medium on a layout as it just give so much more depth!

The second layout, Challenge # 1 you had to do a 12 x 12 layout, have lace cardstock (which I forgot, but did do lace ribbon), lace, ric rac and ribbon had to be on the page, a teddy bear must be on the layout, pp! I did my teddy bear that I was given when I was three years old and I still have today! It so enjoyed doing this layout, the moment I picked up my Teddy all my memories of my childhood with him came rushing back, happy memories! I printed a large 8x10 photo and cut him out, I cut out a heart and use that for journalling!

Dear Diary - Scrapwitch's Challenge

2008-08-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

WOW this would have been the hardest challenge that I have ever had to. Scrapwitch's challenge involved us taking a photo of ourselves seven days in a row, then diary why we like or dislike our photo being taken. I struggle with how I look, I hate my shape of my face (fat in other words, lol), dislike the broken capillaries that evolved from horse riding! But I did it and I am so pleased that I did, but the one thing I have learned is that certain angles hide your imperfections, lol. Scrapwitch completed a 365 day challenge, what an amazing feat!!!!

My Sister's Birthday Album

2008-08-25T14:47:00.001-07:00

These are the latest pages that I have scrapped for Donna's album that I made for her birthday in
Februrary this year, I keep some pages blank for her to chose what she wanted in them. She wanted one each of the girls and one of the three generations! She also wanted one of her and I but I haven't gotten around to that yet! I am very happy with these and hope she will be too.

Had My First Temping Assignment

2008-07-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

Well not much has happened on the job front since my last post except that after I posted not getting any replies to my emails I got a phone call from a consultant and they wanted to put me forward for a position. I had to drive into town for tests, typing speed and Office Suite test. I was amazed to find out that even after not typing for well over a year my typing speed was 84wpm! I did well on the office suit of packages too even though I feel I am hopeless on Excel. I was in the top three for the position but sadly didn't get it, but I know that it wasn't for me. I have been offered a couple of temping positions and had my first temping position. It was a lovely first assignment, the two ladies I worked along side were lovely and it made the transition into temping very easy! So until I find permanent work I will do some temping assignment and that way they can go down on my CV and shows that I am willing to work and it also gives me work experience in Australia.

I have still managed a couple of layouts too and I have just finished on a a friend who is an amazing lady from the SM website. I made a double layout so that the other ladies who are also involved with the challenges could be part of the layout. She is an amazing scrapper, so talented, a ray of sun shine in the scraproom and a joy to know ... just hope my layouts do her justice!

Monday, 23 June 2007

2008-06-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

Its Monday last week of the school term and then two weeks of holidays, yeah!!!! I love the holidays as it is great getting out and about with the boys or just vegging out at home! I decided to try another technique with paint, yes I am addicted to paint at the moment and whilst this is a traditional colour for a boys layout that is the brilliant thing about art you can be as traditional or as non traditional as you like. I chose salmon pink, blue and purple as one of the photo is over exposed and can't be altered so I just went with it. I am happy with the end result.

I have started looking for employment as it is now time to get work. As much as I love scrapping it doesn't pay the bills!

Wish me luck!!!!

Busy doing What- Scrapping of Course!

2008-06-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

These are my latest layouts, I have enjoyed trying different techniques! Had a trip home for Chris Mum's 80th birthday which was really lovely. We caught up with so many friends and family.

Poppets!

2008-06-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Thought I would have a try at doing Poppets. I had a lot of fun making these two, one was made for Cameron's friend Sean for his 16th Birthday. The other was for Chris' friend Garry for his 60th Birthday. As you can see they are whimsical and fun just like me!! lol.

Experimenting with Paint!

2008-06-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

Thought I would try and dabble with paint on my layouts, have seen some fabulous layouts done with paint! These are what I have done over the last couple of weeks! Had lots of fun doing them and exploring with a different medium.

Panomime Layouts for a Pantomime Album

2008-06-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

I am starting a pantomime album of the shows that I was involved with for five years in NZ. A fabulous group of mums and dad putting on shows for a week each year for thousands of children. We are not actors nor singers but we got up on stage and gave our best with lots of applause from children and adults alike.

Layouts of Myself

2008-06-01T19:46:00.001-07:00

Its not easy doing layouts about yourself, but sometimes it is necessary to leave something of yourself when you are gone!

Scrapped Layouts of My Darling Sons

2008-06-01T19:36:00.001-07:00

Here are a few of my favourite layouts that I have done of our sons!

Scrapbooking Layouts!

2008-06-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

Layouts of my grandniece Kelsey! She is the most cutest little poppet with so much character. I got to meet her for the first time in May when we went back home to NZ for a holiday. She has so much character and is a good wee baby. My sister is a very happy Grandmother as is my brother-in-law being a Grandfather! She is loved by her aunts and her grandaunt!

Mosaic Pieces

2007-05-06T20:52:00.000-07:00

These are my latest creations. Mosaic rooster and gecko.

Mosaic Pottery Cat

2007-04-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

I made this cat out of earthenware clay which was a heavy grog clay. It was coiled piece by piece into this shape. I attended a two day workshop and covered it is mosaic tiles and half marbles to create this piece of art which I have called "Shiraz" as it is made to resemble the Hawkes Bay with grapes and grape vine complete with leaves all over this piece.

Earthenware Pieces

2006-10-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

The cat is actually a jug. Clay is earthenware covered in an earthenware glaze. Not ideal for inside use, as is very heavy. Would suit outside for watering planters. The photo does not show how fantastic the glaze actually is. The colours are chocolate brown and teal. The eyes look very spooky, but are not like that at all. It's tail is the handle and it's mouth the pourer. I made a little mouse and have glazed it with the same glaze also. This jug is for SALE as is the mouse.

Parrot made out of earthenware clay and is unglazed terracotta. I will be making more of these parrots and will be glazing them with underglaze and oxides, like my coal range, bach, , etc below. Parrot is currently for SALE.

Pieces for Home

2006-10-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

These I made for our bathrooms. Fun and funky.

Presents I have Made/Commissions

2006-10-04T04:13:00.000-07:00

This piece was made for my sister for Christmas. The flash as you will see in most of these photos doesn't allow the faces to show up. This piece is modelled on my sister and I when we get together. There will always be laughter, wine and good times to be had. She loved her present. She is accompanied by her cat and dog.

This piece is titled "Relaxing with Hawkes Bay Wines & Cheeses". Curently for sale.

These are my series of "dressing up girls". Two are themed from left "dressing up in Mum's wedding dress", "Staying at Nanas" (SOLD) and "Dressing up at Grandmas" and "Staying at Grandmas".

This is one of my series of sophisicats, this piece has since (SOLD).

My youngest son commissioned me to make this piece for his teacher for Christmas and it is modelled on him and her. He is presenting her with flowers.

This was a piece made for Chris for Christmas. It is fun piece modelled on his Saturday afternoon Grandpa Naps, complete with Spike our cat, all the remotes, Saturday paper once he had finished reading it, an empty coffee cup and half eaten piece of toast.

Jill & Ivan - commissioned by my friend Jill. This is her and Ivan sitting on the couch, she loves to read with a coffee by her side, Ivan loves computers and electronic gadgets. This piece is complete with remotes and at the back a picture that she would put up on her wall at home and he would take down, I hide it behind the couch for her.

My First Kiln

2006-07-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here is photo of my first kiln, we drove down to Sanson, south of Palmerston North a fortnight ago to pick up the kiln. It is a dinosaur, but it is a good dinosaur which should last me for a while until I progress to a bigger kiln. It is very exciting yet a little daunting, but I have so much support from the Pottery Club that I belong too. John has already checked it over for me and is going to replace some of the fibre on the door, but other than that he said it was a good buy and it will be great for my first kiln. The previous owner's husband was an electrician, so it has been well maintained. Another member has kindly offered to take me through my first firing as it isn't electronically controlled, it is mannually operated and whilst I know how to do it, it will be great having someone who has a similar style kiln to guide me in case I do something wrong. I will update once I have it wired in and have done my first firing.

Thought I would share this, rolled out some clay, covered it in plastic to stop it drying out, not sure why as it is so wet and damp at the moment that the clay doesn't dry out very quickly. I checked it yesterday to find that Spike our cat, had decided to walk all over the clay and leave his calling card. Initially I was going to blend the indents out, but it would cause the thickness of the clay to change, then considered turning the clay over, but decided to leave it the way it is as I know once it is turned over he will probably walk on that too. So my next batch of coal ranges, houses etc will have hidden paw prints inside them, lol.

First Mosaic

2006-07-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

I have attempted my first Mosaic and I must say whilst it was hard work, it was also a lot of fun and at the end of the two day workshop I had three blisters from using the tools that cut the tiles to prove how hard I had worked, or in other words, how poorly I handled the tile cutter, lol, but it was all worth it in the end. I attended a two day workshop along with nine other ladies and I must say, it was a full two days, the other ladies were lovely people and everyone was so supportive as there were three of us who had never attempted mosaics before, some ladies were cutting glass for the first time and then the others were expanding their knowledge. The workshop was run by a lady whom I had worked with in the past and does the most amazing mosaic pictures and the other lady a well known artist who paints, creates mosaic and also does felting, which was very intriguing, might give that a go one day too. Day one was spend drawing the pattern, cutting and gluing, I think I had more glue on my fingers than under the tile pieces. Come the end of the day I wasn't happy with the sunflowers, it was suggested I put one flower behind the other, but the end result was terrible and you couldn't tell that the flower at the back was a sunflower, so Sunday morning was meant to be when I completed the background, and then grouted the picture, instead me being the perfectionist that I am pulled all the flowers apart and recut them so that they looked more like sunflowers than an abstract of flowers. But the end result I am now happy with.

Delys' 40th Birthday Hat Party

2006-06-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

These are photos of my dear friends, Delys and Leanne at Delys' 40th birthday party that I went to in June 2006. I made and decorated her birthday cake, (please see other post below). Delys had a theme to her party which was a "hat party" and I ran out of time to make a hat, so whilst at the Hire shop buying foil for the cake board, I found this rather hairy spider which I attached to a cheap $6.00 hat and there you have it a spider hat! We had an awesome fun night with lots of laughter and singing. Delys' daughter brought along her sing star (playstation 2 game) .. and Leanne and I were found singing "I Got You Babe", rather out of tune, but still, we had a lot of fun.

Delys's 40th Birthday Cake

2006-06-24T21:24:00.000-07:00

My dearest friend turned 40 in June. She made and decorated my 40th birthday cake, so it was my turn to return the favour when she turned 40. Here is her cake. It is a 10 inch cake, it was about 4 inches deep and the cake is totally iced in icing, except for the plastic cow and the candles which were wine bottles.

I made the roses to signify her avid love of gardening and modelled figurines out of icing. Her at the age of one sitting on a potty, her at the age of 10, being a schoolgirl showing her knickers, her at the age of 20 being a rebellious teenager drinking and smoking, then at the age of 30 being a hard wording dairy farmer and then the middle figurine is her being 40, elegant, beautiful and mature.
Here is Delys blowing out the candles which were wine bottles, appropriate as when we get together we always enjoy a wine. It was a fantastic birthday party and Delys loved her cake. Delys being a cake decorator herself, knows the hard work that goes into cake decorating and loved her cake. It had to travel from the Hawkes Bay all the way up to Whakatane, but it survived, only one petal broke off in the trip up .... must be my safe driving!!!

Artist at Work and Play

2006-06-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

Artist at Work and Play

Photos of Exhbition

2006-06-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

My First Exhibition

2006-06-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

These are pictures of my Kiwiana Exhibition. What inspired me to re-create my memories of growing up in rural New Zealand was when I was talking to my children about a long drop toilet or outhouse, they had no idea what I was talking about, so I created one. I had so much fun creating it and telling a story within a story that I made another one. In this exhibition you will see a wringer washing machine and old double concrete tubs, a coal range complete with pots that were designed to fit on the one elelment. I remember my grandmother having these. There is also a push lawnmower that not only my father used when I was a young girl but was also our first lawnmower when my husband and I were married. You will see Kiwi cottages complete with the traditional corrugated iron roofs and verandahs. I hope you enjoy my blog! Picture of myself and a Kiwi Bach.