Gloves, hats, mittens and scarves

Gosh, we need them all today. It is cold and windy. Icy cold winds coming up from Antarctica. All the animals are hiding away and I don't plan to leave the house for the rest of the day... at least until feeding time. I might boil some potatoes and carrots for Juliet.

Yesterday it poured rain all day. I stayed inside reading and working on some little art and craft projects. An ATC for a friend which required a lot of glue so it is taking a while to dry. Of course because it is sitting there I had to add to it with a touch of gold paint.

I also finished a little 3x3 which is being sent to the USA.

I really am enjoying small art at the moment.

I have also been working on some real estate.

I have to admit a lot of my spare time has been spent reading lately. I am really enjoying books again and seem to always have one or two close by. I don't watch TV anymore so I have more time to spend with books. Right now I am reading an old favourite trashy horror writer, Dean Koontz. I still love his books after all these years.

Vampire bunnies and other scary rabbits

I have joined a group swap on flickr where we set a theme for a set of embroidered pieces and the other people in the group embroider us something for our theme. For my theme I chose 'Vampire Bunnies'. I cant wait to see what the people in my group come up with. First I have to do one for myself so I need to get out my sketch book and do a design later today.

I have just sent off this little piece of art for a swap on swap-bot.


This one is heading off to Georgia, USA.

I am also working on my first ATC (artist trading card) which has to be sent out in a few days as well. It is currently drying on the windowsill of my art room.

Hey! That is my pillow!

I am doing a 3x3 inch art swap and the theme is 'Red'. I think three inches square is such a fun little size for my ladies. Here is mine ready to go.


I am a bit annoyed that I smudged the outline on this though. I am already working on a blue one and I think I might do a few more swaps for this size so I can have a small collection of miniature art to frame and hang up in Dustin's new bedroom.

Today I have to get ready for our weekend away to Strahan. It is Scott's birthday tomorrow and we are taking his new boat to the other side of Tasmania for some fun. Three families all together so it is going to be a great weekend. Get ready for LOTS of photos when we get back.

Don't worry! Someone is coming to take care of the kittens :) Although we will miss them while we are away.

Lazy school holidays

It is school holiday time and although Dustin only goes to kindergarten two days a week we are still in holiday mode which includes sleeping in and lazy mornings. Our mornings go like this:

5.00am Scott gets up and gets ready for work (no holidays for him).
5.01am I wriggle over into the middle of the bed and go back to sleep.
5.45am Scott comes and kisses me goodbye and wishes me a good day. I grunt and go back to sleep.
7.00am Dustin comes in and crawls into bed with me and gives me a kiss and a cuddle and goes back to sleep.
7.30am Dustin gets up goes out into the lounge room and watches cartoon/news/porno movies? I don't have a clue because I am still asleep. (For the record we actually don't own any porn that I know of).
7.40am Dustin comes in to tell me he is "STARVING" I tell him ok I'll come and make him breakfast then he goes back to the TV and I go back to sleep.
7.50am Dustin comes in and says "MUUUUUMMM!" I'm STARVING". I say "OK Honey I'm getting up right now" he goes back to the lounge room and I go back to sleep.
8.00am Ruby comes in and gets in bed with me and gives me a kiss and a cuddle and goes back to sleep.
8.10am Dustin comes in getting mad now and I tell him I am coming. I lay there for a second thinking about what a bad mother I am and then go back to sleep.
8.30am Ruby wakes up and asks me to make her a hot chocolate. I say OK she goes to join Dustin and I go back to sleep.
8.40am Both kids come in and jump on me and put their cold hands on me and plead for breakfast.
8.41am I contemplate giving them permission to make their own pancakes for breakfast but am deterred the the mess I will inevitably have when they are finished so I reluctantly get up and make them hot chocolates and breakfast.


So yesterday I finished my lady in the storm and put her in a little vintage Italian brass frame. I'll hang her up in my art and craft room when I buy some little nails in town today.

I've kept the little silk print that was in the frame and put it in a draw for future use. I love these little Italian frames and will have to get some more. They are great for little embroideries like this.

Oil paint and embroidery

I pulled out my oil paint a little while ago and have been working on a painting in my art room. It is the first time I have tackled oils since having the children. Now that I have a room I can leave it out to dry and not have to worry about my little helpers touching it.


Yeah, I'm a little rusty but it has been fun. I also forgot I had given the kids most of my brushes for their art so I am fumbling through with what ever I can find.

This little lady in the red coat has turned up in another little project I am working on.


This one is embroidery and water paint on linen.

I've been doing a little bit everyday on these. I always seem to have several projects on the go at once. I'm also working on another one like this.


The weather is looking great today. Hard to believe it is the first of Winter. We haven't had much rain, hardly any wind and the weather report this morning said we are not going to have a very cold winter. I'd love a cold Winter but all the animals don't. Today I have to set up a little house for Dustin's chook Sylvester who is officially moving into the orchard.