PHOTO OF THE WEEK - CHRISTMAS DAY

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Alex and I spent the day over at my Mum's house with my family. Mum prepared a lovely Chrissy lunch and pudding for dessert. We played games and chatted the day away. We had a lot of fun catching up with all the family.

Grandma, Mum and Grandad on Christmas day

My brother Beau

My brother Reece and his girlfriend Sarina

Sarina and Aaron checking out their bon-bon goodies

I can't believe today is the last day of the year. It has gone by sooo fast, and I must say I had a pretty good year with a lot of positive stuff around me. I, like a lot of other people I have talked to, feel a lot of change is coming for this new year. I am looking forward to it.

Have a Happy and Safe New Year Everyone

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - XMAS LIGHTS

Alex, Aaron and I went to view some Chrissy lights last weekend. I have wonderful memories from when I was little of going and viewing the lights every year with my family. Everyone went to so much effort with their displays and it really made it feel like Christmas as everyone was happy and friendly.

Nowadays you don't see as many displays anymore which makes me a little sad. I can understand why though with the cost of everything going up and up. Maybe it will change again in years to come.

Here are some pics of a couple of the displays we saw -

I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS

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P.S. I also just wanted to mention that Katie is hosting a giveaway for me on her blog. Pop on over and leave a comment here to be in the draw to win your choice of one of my pendants. Good Luck!

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Sorry I am a little late with doing this, but I have been really sick all week and have been stuck in bed with no energy to do anything. I am on the mend now though so here we go with the draw for Katie M. Berggren's giveaway -

My Mum and little brother helping me out

Ohhhh who could it be?

The first name out of the bowl was Linda Fleming!

and the second winner is Snicker Doodle Kids!

Congratulations ladies! You now can pop on over to Katie's etsy store and pick out which print you would like for yourself. Email her to let her know your mailing address and which one you have chosen and she will post it off to you as soon as possible.

Go to Katie's blog here

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - WEDDING BELLS

Alex and I had a very busy weekend just gone by. We were up on the Sunshine Coast for Alex's older sister Kate's wedding.

We were all a bit nervous though as Kate is a huge horse lover and her dream was for her and her flower girl to be lead down the aisle on her horses. We were not sure how either of the horses would react to this situation as they have never done anything like this before.

Coming down the aisle

There were a few hairy scary moments as the flower girls horse (who was suppose to be in front of the bride) refused to go through the arch. He dug his little hooves in and wouldn't budge. Kate's Mum had to just go on ahead with Kate.

Kate having a laugh about it

They seemed to be doing well until they got closer to the crowd and he too started to panic, and to every ones horror started backing up into the other horse and almost stood on one of the bridesmaids who were concentrating on coaxing the other horse to follow. Kate tried to nudge the horse forward but he wouldn't go much further, so she had to get off there. She was quickly collected by her Dad to walk her the rest of the way.

Kate being collected by her Dad

Her nervous groom was waiting for her at the other end. Kate's new husband is Scottish so they all looked snazzy done up in their kilts on the day.

This is the groom just as he saw Kate for the first time

It was a beautiful ceremony. I didn't get many photos of it though as it was really overcast and my camera isn't the best in those conditions.

The happy couple getting photos with the horses after the ceremony

After the we did the family photos the bridal party took off to get more photos done. The rest of the guests where offered drinks a nibbles in the venues courtyard, where we all got to chat and catch up with everyone.

Alex's little brother Josh and his girlfriend Petro, Me and Alex having drinks

~CONGRATULATIONS KATE AND GRAEME~

GIVEAWAY!!!!

I have been following the work of fellow artist Katie m. Berrgren for quite a while now. I am in love with her painting style and the sentimental messages portrayed in each and every one of her beautiful pieces. Ever since I found Katie's work all I have wanted to do is share my discovery with everyone.

So in support of this amazing artist, I would like to host a giveaway for her. Katie has generously offered a print of her work to two lucky readers of my blog who enter this giveaway. It will start today and will be drawn on December 17. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you will automatically be in the draw. Easy peasy!

I recommend a visit to Katie's blog here, or check out her portfolio here. You will not be disappointed.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

HOLIDAY SKETCHING

I just wanted to share a quick sketch I did while I was sitting by the pool on holiday.

Now I'm thinking about doing a beach series of paintings.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - I'VE DECKED THE HALLS

It is getting so close to Christmas now!

I am excited about spending time with the family, but Christmas can be such a hard job. I hate trying to juggle all sets of families at the one time, especially when they don't live anywhere near each other. Then there is also the separated parents who you have to go to individually. It is tough trying not to hurt any ones feelings. I think when Alex and I start our own little family we will just be having Christmas at our own home and who ever wants to see us can come to us, lol. I am sure many of you can relate though.

I put up the few decorations that Alex and I have collected over the years last night. We don't have much, but again, once we have a family it will be a bit better. These are not the best photos due to poor lighting.

This is my table center piece

I have always loved this little snowman

This is our little Christmas tree

This is our lounge with the Christmas tree set up

I hope everyone is happy and safe over this Christmas period. Have a great week :)

I'M IN A CALENDAR!!

Talented artist Ann Gardner recently contacted me in regards to joining her and 10 other fellow artists in doing a collaborative folk art calendar for 2010 together. I thought it was a wonderful idea and jumped on board straight away. I am the November girl!

Ann has done a wonderful job with the calendar and I feel very proud to have my art displayed here. Every one's artwork looks beautiful!


Here is what Ann has to say about her idea for the calendar -

"The idea for this piece came to me one day. I love art. I love to collect other people's art, but year after year, I run out of space and MONEY. Wouldn't it be fun to have a little snippet of art from artists all over the world? Best thing is, I get to have 12 new pieces each year and all in one spot."

CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR HERE!

I'M ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, after 5 wonderful years together my beautiful partner Alex finally popped the big question. Of course I said yes straight away. I am so happy!!!

I have been back from our holiday for a few days now, and have been dying to post about my big news, but we have been telling the family and I didn't want them to read it here first before we got to tell them in person.

Our holiday was sooooo much fun! Neither of us wanted to come home. The weather was beautiful the whole time so we spent a lot of time in the pool or at the beach, which was just across the road. I really would love to move up to the Sunshine Coast to live one day soon. It is such an amazing place.

Here are a few pics from our holiday -

My fiance (he he!) out at breakfast one morning

Me enjoying my coffee

The ocean across the road from our hotel room

Me in the hotel pool

This beach had a lot of rock pools and you can see the lighthouse in the distance on the cliff

A view from the cliff where the lighthouse sits. We went up there one evening to watch the sun set. It was so beautiful, the photos just don't do it justice!

Another view from the cliff. A lot of people go surfing down there

I am looking forward to catching up on every ones blogs now and seeing what you have all been up to while I was away. Have a great week :)

I AM GOING AWAY ON A LITTLE HOLIDAY

Hi everyone, just thought I should pop on and let you know that I won't be blogging for the next week. My partner Alex and I will be heading up to the Sunshine Coast for a week for a much needed holiday. It will be our five year (dating) anniversary too, which I am also excited about. I am really looking forward to this break away with my beautiful partner.

Have a great week everyone! I know I will :)

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - BEACH TRIP

Hi everyone!

I had a wonderful weekend. I hope you all did too. Alex and I went down the coast on Sunday. The weather was lovely, although quite hot. We stopped in at the Carrara Markets on our way down as we have never been and they are suppose to be really big and quite good.

They were big although not what I would call good markets. I was really disappointed in them. They were basically just a bunch of dollars and cents shops (cheap nick knack imports) all packed together with a few fresh produce stores in between. It was basically all commercial stuff, and there were only a few handmade things being sold there. I probably would not go back again. Just not my style of markets unfortunately.

We headed off to the beach afterwards which was definitely worth the trip down. It was beautiful and the water was perfect. I will let these pictures do the talking though -

Have a great week everyone :)

I CHOSE ORANGE...

for my background colour. It was one of the colours I was leaning towards as orange is blues complimentary colour. I also got a couple of comments suggesting the orange too which helped make up my mind. I think it turned out well, what do you think?

MORE WIP - CHRISTMAS TAGS AND PAINTING

I did some more work on my new painting yesterday and base coated the Christmas gift tags. I am having trouble deciding what colour to do the background of my painting though. Any ideas?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Wow, another Monday! Time is just flying at the moment. Hope you all had great weekends.

I am really excited at the moment because during the week I got to catch up with my very good friend Sally who I haven't seen in over two years. We use to work together at Subway after I finished school, and we became really close friends. Unfortunately we ended up losing contact through lost mobiles, job changes and house moves. I have been missing her like crazy, and this week Sally finally tracked me down through my brother's friend and I went over to visit her on Friday. We had heaps of fun catching up and I got to meet her baby girl who is now 10 months old and her son who I last saw just after he was born, he is now 2. We will definitely not be loosing this friendship again.

Me and Sally's little boy Tyler. He is sooo cute!

In other news I have just been busy in my art room preparing new things and finishing old things.

A new piece I have started

Making lots of pendants

and I plan to make Christmas ornaments out of these blank gift tags

Have a great week :)

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - MARKETS

Thanks everyone for your kind words of encouragement for my first market venture. It gave me a lot of confidence. I was pretty nervous on the day. My Mum, Grandma, and two of my brothers were there though to lend me and hand.

Although we had a nice time on the day, there wasn't really that many people that showed up, and the only ones who did were the residents of the village, no one from outside. I don't think the organisers really advertised there being markets which was a bummer.

I still managed to sell a few items though which I am happy about. Mainly a few dolls and bookmarks sold, none of my art pendants which I was worried about. I don't think it was the right target market to sell my pendants to though since it was at on over 50's retirement village. It was a great learning experience and I wouldn't mind maybe looking into doing the local community markets on a regular basis.

Here are some pics I wanted to share of the day.

My brothers Aaron and Beau at our table

My doll display

Pendants, magnets, bookmarks and felt toys

Mum and Grandma having a look around at the other stalls

MONDAY'S PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been posting much lately. I have been so busy getting ready for an upcoming market event at my Grandparents retirement village this Saturday. I will be selling rag dolls, pendants, magnets, and other arts and crafts. I am pretty excited as it's my very first market venture. I hope it goes well.

Any who, now for this weeks photos. Alex and I decided to invite my Mum and brothers over for a lunch time barbecue on Sunday. It was perfect weather for it and I don't think we have used the BBQ since moving into this house. The food was delicious and the company was even better ;)

Alex on the BBQ

Brad relaxing

Mum and Aaron

ANOTHER PAINTING

Here is another painting I have just finished today. I am really liking painting on the black background and using the black as the outline. I think it really high lights areas. I also like using the technique of gluing tissue paper onto the canvas to give it texture and movement.

This is done on an 8"x10" flat canvas

LOOKY WHAT I WON

Hi everyone,

Today has been soooo hot and we are having another dust storm to top it all off. It is too hot to shut up the house to keep all the dust out so we are just suffering with the smell and the dry eyes. It stinks!!!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you the giveaway prize I won the other day through Val Zdero's art blog. I was so excited and couldn't believe I had won such a wonderful gift! I have been following Val's blog for a while now, she does beautiful painted artwork and has recently started making jewellery with it. If you haven't seen her blog it is definitely worth a look.

I received this print as well as this handmade necklace.

Thanks so much Val for my wonderful gift, you made my day :)