Free Santa Envelope to print

Like many other people, my beautiful sister in-law suffers from bouts of Depression. We live  a thousand kilometers from each other, so I can't just drop in and make her a cuppa, or give her a hug.

I thought to myself what can I do to make her smile.

So I made her a little 2 inch cut out of a Blue Wren (Blue bird of Happiness) that I painted on heavy duty water colour paper. Complete with a little stand. Put it in a hand made card. Asking her to keep it on her desk at work, so she will know every time she looks at it, I will be sending her smiles and hugs in my thoughts.

Unfortunately I didn't think to take a photo until it was already in the mail. I did however make an envelope to go with my card, and being so close to Christmas I also made a Santa one that I thought I would share for anyone to download and print  if they wished.

The image is my own as is the design. I found the free snowflake brushes at Easy Elements

Free Envelope Template is hosted on my Flickr account.

Remember to disable borders in your printer dialog, and also check ' fit to page' so that it prints to A4 size.

I didn't realize that the the writing on the back says OH OH OH until I'd finished, but I think it's rather cute so I left it as it was.

Enjoy :)

Also linked to Whimsy Wednesday.

Minni Ks trip to the Vet

We live close to a golf course, where they have a huge rainwater pond used to water the greens. When it's hot, I like to take my two dogs there for a swim. They absolutely love the water, and we usually spend about half an hour getting soaked. Them and me.
It's about a 45 minute round trip, and since I spent much of my time sitting these days. I need it.

It's Monday, and off we go to the pond. Everything's great, the dogs have a ball. I have a laugh at their antics.
Later that afternoon, I notice Minni is holding her tail strangely. Still later, more of the same, only worse. When hubby comes home, we attempt to to see what is going on. She struggles and whines and scratches and is obviously in distress. So am I. We glimpse something that looks swollen and fiercely red.

We decide a trip to the V.E.T. is needed, and because she seems otherwise well, and it's now after hours. We make an appointment for the next day.

Tuesday rolls around and she's still holding her tail funny and won't let me look.

That afternoon, one little black doggie gets to go for a ride in the car. YIPPPEEEEE. All by herself, no need to share us. Double YIPPEEEE.............. Only; the destination is a real disappointment.

 Poor Minni.

In the end it turned out that the trip wasn't necessary at all. I't seems she must have had a prolapse which had righted itself by the time we got to the vet. We should add more roughage he said.

At least we know there is nothing serious going on, and she has a clean bill of health. Good teeth, ears, eyes, heart, and we know we are doing something right. Not that we needed the extra expense at the moment. Sigh.

She got a jab too, although I'm not a huge advocate of over immunizing, and don't think they need shots every year.

Whats all the fuss about anyway.

:)

The Never Ending Journal.

Well its nearly the end of November, and

I'm starting to panic just a wee bit.

Christmas is coming...........................Gulp

Last year I started making a journal for my half sister in Europe, and I'm desperately trying to finish it. She has been to Australia a few times, so we have had some time to get to know each other. She is a beautiful person and I wish we'd had the opportunity to grow up together. This is my way of showing her a little bit of my heart, and also a way for us to share our lives. She likes to write. So, my pictures, and photographs, her writing.

I still have work to do, but thought I would share some of the pages I've finished so far, over at the Web of Whimsy .

I love Paper-cuts, and have been trying my hand at it. This original is done on an A3 sized

piece of cartridge. 

The photo of my niece is in my Flickr account where someone suggested she could be a mermaid. 

Oh No! not more snails.

 Couldn't help myself. Sorry (well...... not really).

I attempted some gelatin printing here, and want to do some more. It will have to wait until I have a proper studio to work in again. It's a pain not having somewhere to work properly. My kitchen bench doesn't cut it.

This is by far my favorite.

I've also discovered that I really like the poetry of Henry Van Dyke. Here is a link to his Poem 

" The Foolish Fir Tree"

So sweet and Perfect for this time of year.

Of course I still have to bind it and decide what I'm going to cover it with. Hard or soft cover.

Should be interesting, having never made a book before.

Fingers crossed :)

Christmas Gift Idea

After making her a dress last year, and being pretty pleased with how it turned out. I've been thinking about what to make my granddaughter and her cousin for Christmas this year.

The little Miss is doing Calisthenics, and loves to dance and twirl. So I thought what could be more perfect than making them both a Tutu. So I'd better get to work. I'll post photos when they're done.

In the mean time, here are some photos of last years dress.

I found this tutorial at Create and Delegate which gave me the basic idea.

I tie-dyed the white t-shirt with Turmeric to get that amazing yellow, and dripped ink from an eye dropper onto the wet material for the pink.

That yellow is pure sunshine. It makes me happy.

  

Snaily Days

Last Friday, my granddaughter and I collected some snails from the garden. I had planned to give them to my neighbour, who keeps lizards.  Although I didn't want to knock on the door during the day, as the husband works evenings.  I couldn't leave the creatures in their container on the front step, in the sun. They might only be snails, scourge of many a veggie patch, and; I was sending them to be eaten. I just thought, broiling slowly in a plastic container would be a cruel way to go.

So, they got a reprieve as I released them back into the wilds of my back yard. At least until I speak to the neighbour, about where to leave them.

I know, I know. What a dork!

Anyway. I couldn't resist taking a couple of photos.

And one for this months Whimsy

Have a great day :)

Pen Sketch Possum

Another quick pen sketch done last month. I used a photo of a Brush Tailed Possum I took while on a weekend trip with a dear friend in 2009 as a reference.

Years ago, we rented in an old house, in an old suburb that was becoming popular again. So, as the developers were knocking down the homes around us, ours became a  magnet for all the creatures they displaced.

Noisy little critters I might add. I cant even begin to describe the horrible sound they make when they fight among themselves. Scared the life out of me the first time I heard it.

By the time we had to move, there were five living in various places in our roof and garage. No small thing, considering they are solitary, and territorial by nature.

There was a small entry area at the back door, overhung with branches, where we started feeding the little female, fruit. Bananas and sultanas were a favorite.

Much to our delight, she would come down and take our offerings from our fingers. She even let me touch her one day. I've never in my life felt anything, so thick and soft as her coat.

Of course, in the end that house was redeveloped too, and I still wonder what became of all those Possums.

Another Tangent

I don't know about anybody else but I never feel like I have enough time. These days I am at home, and I still feel short of time. In fact, even more so than when I was working full time. Go figure.

Mind you, it doesn't help any that I take forever to write even the simplest post for this blog. Which is in fact one of the reasons I started blogging in the first place.

To get over an irrational fear that someone somewhere might not like what I say, or god forbid, someone has picked up on the fact that I know next to nothing about the rules of grammar.
That if I'm flawed in any way, People might not like me. Must be perfect...must be liked............must be......

 I even signed up to the daily writing tips blog.
Yet more than half the time, I don't open the emails they send. I'm too busy reading everything else?  burnt out? on reading overload? couldn't be bothered?  going off on a tangent? ( now that's something my hubby does, not me :D)

 Huh!

Don't get me wrong I'm no dummy either.

Maybe

a

little

Scrambled.

Struggling with the same sorts of insecurities as the rest of humanity.

Maybe I should simply stop worrying and post the post already.

What was I saying?

Oh yes!!!!

Imperfectness, is not an affliction.

Hope the sun is shining on your part of the world. :)

Colleen, Sprites, and Whimsy

I came across this wonderful Music and Video on You Tube, and found it inspired these little sprites. Sorry about the quality of the picture. Just quick pen sketches, and one of them has a serious problem with too many fingers (lol).

 I adore the dream like quality of this clip, and spent a bit of time listening to her music, and loved it.

Boris hasn't an Inkling

For some time now, I've been feeling stale and unmotivated in my artistic/crafty life. It isn't that I haven't been doing or making things, but rather, that my own creativity seemed to have gone missing in action. Lost somewhere in the ether that is my life. I've been wondering if I would ever find it again.

So I have been loving these Inkblot challenges.

They have got me thinking, seeing, and looking again.  I see so many possibilities for each Inkblot. I'm beginning to feel like the cobwebs are being blown away; and it feels good.

So here is this weeks silliness.

It seems, Boris has watched one movie too many.

Have a great day.

Define Moping.

Mope:  verb, moped, mop-ing, noun

verb (used without object)

to be sunk in dejection or listless apathy; sulk; brood

Today, is one of those days when I  I'd like to take a vacation from myself. When I want the world to just Shut, Up, and go away!!!!!

I want nothing more than to crawl back into bed, and pretend nothing exists. Especially, the thoughts floating around in my head.  I want to wallow in self pity and have a big whine about how bad I'm feeling.



And then I think.

Get A Grip, and get some Perspective


I have so many wonderful things, qualities, people, to be thankful for. When I add them up they far out- weigh the negatives in my life.

There are so many others less fortunate than myself.

Why am I moping?

My life may not be perfect. So what!

My Life is GREAT.

Whimsical Wednesday

 My first foray into the Web of Whimsy.

This New Day

Little Queen,
Herald the dawn.
Awake the dark heavens.
A cacophony of colour.

Little rabbit,
Twitching whiskers.
This joyous day begins.
White fur glistening silver.

(Manni)

Everything is Clover

Clover Heart

A reminder to myself to look for the extraordinary, in the ordinary.

Inkblot Challenge 1

This was done for the Inkblot Challenge over on ~ dt.haase ~ website, and was a lot of fun to do.

Original Inkblot

To

Angus Angler

On being a Grand-ma

Once you get over the shock of realizing that you've suddenly become a Middle aged woman. With a middle aged figure. That is, somewhat round and squishy in the middle. Laughingly called a Cr-apple by my sister and myself. Or Holy Crap I'm shaped like an Apple, what on earth happened. Last time I looked I was skinny and my knees worked the way they're supposed to.

I know, I know. I could be doing something about the whole Cr-apple thing.  I have in fact, lost ten kilos in the last few months. But that's another story.

In my head I'm still twenty. Unfortunately the body knows better and is letting me know it. Would you believe, the Hokey Pokey is not my favourite dance.

I digress.


Fridays, I get to play with my Granddaughter, and I look forward to her visits immensely. The little Miss is three, and each week I notice that she has more understanding, and better motor skills. Her imagination has taken off in leaps and bounds too. We have fished for stars, casting our lines and reeling them in singing Twinkle Twinkle in our boat, (aka the bed) for half an hour or more.

We make mess, glorious mess. Painting, drawing, cutting, gluing. The house always looks like a bomb's hit by the time daddy comes to pick her up. But who cares, we've had fun.

The little Miss doesn't mind that Gam-ma couldn't sing her way out of a paper bag either. Nor do I need to worry how my dancing skills are. She thinks I'm great, and besides, I do a fantastic rendition of the Little Teapot.

What can I say.

Being a Grand-ma Rocks!

Todays Inspiration

When I found this cruising You-Tube I was captivated in a way I haven't been for some time, and just knew I had to share it.

I love it so much I thought I'd like to try my own version of this Idea.

Watch this space.

Watercolour

Over the last few years I've had a computer of my own to play with. Thank goodness for hand me ups, and sons who give them. I've fallen in love with Photography and Photoshop. The way you can change things again and again. Easily and without too much messing about. Paints aren't as forgiving.

As a result I haven't painted with actual paints for some time, and have never seriously used watercolour. I've always been more of a Pastel girl really. But I've been missing the feel of real paint and thought I would get back to basics, brush up on my painting and drawing skills, and see what happened.

This is the result.  Hope you like it.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on the angle of the head?. My dad doesn't like it, although my sister and I think it's fine.

Fairy House

I made this little Fairy House a couple of months ago to use in pictures. Although I haven't done a great deal with it yet. I'm hoping to write my first tutorial on how to make one in the next couple of weeks. Wish me luck.

In the mean time I found this gorgeous poem on Your Daily Poem

The Summer Song

By 

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The meadow lark’s trill and the brown thrush’s whistle From morning to evening fill all the sweet air, And my heart is as light as the down of a thistle – The world is so bright and the earth is so fair. There is life in the wood, there is bloom on the meadow; The air drops with songs that the merry birds sing. The sunshine has won, in the battle with shadow, And she’s dressed the glad earth with robes of the spring. The bee leaves his hive for the field of red clover And the vale where the daisies bloom white as the snow, And a mantle of warm yellow sunshine hangs over The calm little pond, where the pale lillies grow. In the woodland beyond it, a thousand gay voices Are singing in chorus some jubilant air. The bird and the bee and all nature rejoices, The world is so bright, and the earth is so fair. I am glad as a child, in this beautiful weather; I have tossed all my burdens and trials away; My heart is as light – yes, as light as a feather; - I am care-free, and careless, and happy to-day. Can it be there approaches a dark, dreary to-morrow? Can shadows e’er fall on this beautiful earth? Ah! To-day is my own! No forebodings of sorrow Shall darken my skies, or shall dampen my mirth.

Mr Wagtail

  Just lately I've noticed this Willie Wagtail hanging around the garden. He seems to have claimed it as part of his territory and I love watching him out of the windows or from the garden. Another one of the little things that makes life sweeter.

Something to make you Smile....

  I came across this this morning, and I though it was great fun, and very uplifting. It reminded me that people are nice, even though you don't see it that often.

  I hope your day is filled with wonderful moments, and kind, thoughtful people.

  This project was made by Improv Everywhere, as a part of the Guggenheim Museum exhibition stillspotting nyc

  I thought I'd add the link for the site I originally found this on. It's full of cool and interesting things,and worth book-marking. It's called  Design Fetish 

Good Morning Monday

Sometimes I wake up feeling less than happy with the world. Occasionally it has to do with lack of sleep, at other times it's just life.

  On those days before I get out of bed. I will remind myself of three things I have in my life, that I am grateful for. It's a technique I've only recently learned, and I actually try to do it everyday regardless of how I'm feeling. It's surprising, and amazing, how something this simple can help turn around the way you think from pessimistic, to optimistic. It has definitely helped me.

Spring has Sprung

Officially it's still winter here, yet when I look around I see fat buds and blossoms on the trees.
I love this time of year, and thought I might share a couple of photos I took in the back garden yesterday.

Where to start

I thought I would start simply, by posting one of my favourite photos.
This was taken out of my dining room window last spring. I was experimenting with Bokeh and I love how this turned out :)