Thank you to DJ ... My gift!

Well … what a surprise at my door yesterday when I got home from being out socializing (again). A parcel from the very lovely DJ Pettitt … a beautiful piece art made by her very own hands, some assorted prints and some ephemera to boot! How fortunate am I - not only having her as an ‘Honorary Aussie’ friend but to have a piece of her work also!

Above is a scan of the centre panel as it was way too big to fit on my scanner to scan the entire piece. Sadly, it’s a poor scan and does not do it justice - at all. I tried multiple times to get a ‘crisp’ image but because of the ‘lumps and bumps’ of the raised lace and the like it wouldn’t sit flush and scan ‘proper’. The words below the trees read: ‘Growing with strong roots’.

Tomorrows mission is to go to the framing store and organise for it to be framed (obviously - lol). I also want a perspex back to it - as she wrote a lovely message that I don’t want ‘forever hidden’ - even if it won’t be ‘on display’ to others.

Thank you to the very dear DJ … I’m so grateful and appreciative of her very generous gift! Honoured too!

I've been Blogged!

Well … I got Blogged tonight (see right panel) … but in a nice way and it didn’t even hurt … lol. It came from the very lovely Margaret Weiss who I just recently met at the 2009 Creative Soul Retreat. To have Margaret even think of me as a possibility of a Friendship Award let alone pass it on to me has me flawed and seriously ‘chuffed’. Thank you Margaret … *blushing*.

The guidelines for this award are …
"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind of writers".

So … to continue ‘sharing the love’ (ie: friendship) … I ‘award’ …

Dawnie T. - Diana O. - Kelsey O. - Julian B. - Marg B.

Dawnie, Diana and Kelsey are three wonderful women who I met for the very first time at this years Retreat and who I had an instant warmth towards - like long time friends and had known them ‘forever’. Very talented lovely women.

Julian I’ve met once before … and as above, all applicable to her also. I’m just so disappointed that I didn’t get to chat with her more while at the Retreat - hopefully next year.

Marg B … sadly I’ve been a bad friend … ‘bad’ in the sense I’ve allowed ‘life to get in the way’ and haven’t made time for some old friends … Marg being one of those. But she is thought of … it’s just that I allow the trivial things of life to get in the way - at times … sorry Marg.

To all my friends with or without Blogs … I am fortunate for your friendship.

xox Eva xox

What a life ...

I’m alive … as I’ve not written in such a very long time I feel like I need to write an absence note - comes from working in the school system, I guess … lol. As I commonly say to others, my life is not all that ‘thrilling’ but it sure ain’t dull!

I won’t get into what my life has been up to in the past four months - but hopefully, I'll not put you to sleep with my recent ‘events’.

I mostly want to say … how fortunate I was to be part of fabulous team involved with the ‘Creative Soul Retreat’. I felt privileged to work with Bevlea (owner extraordinaire) and Lucy, my equal in being a ‘soldier ant’ to Bevlea … lol. We worked so smoothly together - heads down bums up, no egos, no power plays, etc, etc, etc - we did what a ‘girls gotta do’ kinda thing. Love them both. Friends before the Retreat and even stronger friends because of the Retreat (well … in my eyes anyway - lol).

So … onto the Retreat … my 'thoughts'. *Where do I begin?* Guess I’ll start with my ‘guest’ Stephanie Lee .. who I did not consider my guest. She was soooo easy to have in my home. As much as I love my friends who come stay - I’m usually itching after two or threes days for them to return back to their own ‘nest’ (but they’re still ‘loved’ - lol). But in all honesty, with Stephanie, it was no issue. She felt like family … like a sister ... sisters that don’t fight that is - lol. Such a brilliant artist and a very much down to earth person - no ego and needing no ‘precious’ attention.

As for DJ and Bernie - I loved them equally too … even though they were each hosted by Bevlea and Lucy - we all spent a lot of time together during the day. We all just seemed to ‘click’, like we were long time friends (again … that’s how I felt - can’t speak for the Tutors, Bev or Lucy themselves - lol). We were spoilt with three of the very best Tutors (real people) - so the standards are set at high for our 2010 ‘guests’ (lol).

Now the Retreat … I not only felt it to be successful but believe it truly was. Though I did not manage to complete a class I did not feel deprived as I genuinely felt rewarded in the excitement/joy of those who attended and thrilled for Bevlea and Lucy too. I may appear ‘crusty’ on the outside but I’m such a marshmallow on the inside … but please don’t go around telling everyone that - lol.

Below is a picture (kindly ‘borrowed’ from Stephanie’s Blog) of us all - taken while at Healesville Sanctuary. Left to right is (for those who did not attend the Retreat and don’t know of the Tutors) …

The very lovely Lucy - the brilliant Bernie Berlin - the BOSS, Bevlea (lol) - Superstar Stephanie Lee - the very darling DJ Pettitt - and me (I so hate photos of me - *aaargh*).

And to those who I met for the first time at the Retreat and including those who I already know in person - thank you for making it such a wonderful experience!

If you would like to see/know more:
www.soularts.typepad.com for links of those who attended (more pics) and the like ... and ... if you want to be part of CSR’s 2010 Retreat (and see even more photos of this years Retreat) go visit www.creativesoulretreat.com.au.

And, of course … at the top right hand side of my Blog - you’ll find Stephanie's, DJ’s and Bernie’s links to their Blogs under 2009 - CSR Tutors.

Productive & Social

Well … I had a very productive and social weekend - totally enjoyable. I actually ‘created’ AND I had fabulous company all weekend. Above are two samples of what I produced - Card from Saturday & Microscope slide from Sunday.

Saturday was a card making day for me - with a friend (Janice - my old high school bud) popping over for the afternoon/evening then another friend (Yvonne Rice from VicStampers) dropped by to pick up an order and stayed to ‘play’ too later that evening.

Today (Sunday) - I had a few people over from VicStampers seeing as there was no VicStampers meeting this month. I had organised Erica, who’s the Jewellery/Metalwork teacher from the school where I work, to give us a lesson on ‘soldering/tinning’ using the solder and flux method (non resin core). I’ve also done soldering with Jenny Crossley, but I picked up a few more tips via Erica and I feel more confident with soldering and using this method. Today’s attendees were - Bevlea Ross, Glenda Laing, Joan McAlpine, Kaye Wolf, Joy Welsh and myself (of course!). Erica was most impressed with us all and said we were so easy to teach - she too enjoyed it. Well all had fun - a great day!

1-4-1 Card Swap - VicStampers

Just made this card above this afternoon/evening for a VicStampers 1-4-1 Card Swap ... thought it a hoot (I'm easily amused - I guess). The leaf covering the 'lower anatomy' is slightly raised which added to my 'humour' (ie: grin) ... don't think the reduced scan shows it's 'full potential' - lol. I'll be making five more and will post out this weekend. Putting it up now as I don't 'advertise' my Blog - so I feel confident no one from VicStampers (who's participating in the 1-4-1 Swap) will see it till they get it in their mail - hopefully Monday.

On Saturday I made six cards on the 'conservativ'e side - *what an achievement*! Then Sunday I woke with a sore back and suffered with it for three very long days - absolutely no fun is an understatement. I've picked up today but I'm still taking it easy for the next few.

Thank you - Lucy!

It pays to be complimentary (and sincere) … literally! Above is a beautiful example of one of Lucy Leatham’s ‘works of art’ that was gifted to me - all because I commented on her Blog on how much I liked it. How generous is she … and … lucky me! What a pal … thanks heaps Lucy … it’s now residing in a very appreciative home - mine!

Had Friday off from work this week - *yay*. I had a ‘Day in Lieu’ owing - which I was going to save for the Monday of Cup Weekend … but our new Principal does ‘not approve’ of that (*boo - hiss*) - so it’s school as normal for all staff (I’ll put money on - that there won’t be many students at school on that day!). Apart from no ‘four day long weekend’ - he’s an ok guy.

So … it was off to Paperific instead. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though we didn’t stay all that long as Bev had/has a sore back and seeing as I did enough damage to my purse in the mere three hours we were there it was a good enough reason for vacating fast - lol. Nice venue, Melbourne Show Grounds, but I also liked it at Caulfield Race Course.

I spent yesterday at home ‘chilling’ and being slightly ‘creative’. I made six Birthday cards (*a miracle*) which will see out my Birthday card making list to the end of the year. I only send/give hand made cards to those who would appreciate it - not those who will toss it in the bin within the week (they get bought ones - lol).

Today I visited my parents and while there I played about with my Lyra Watercolour Crayons, experimenting. I’ve had the full set for well over a year now but I have not touched them since the day I bought them. And this evening I had play with colouring pencils using Mineral Turps - experimenting again and needing much more practice. I didn’t ‘create’ anything - I just ‘played’.

Blink of an Eye Lid ...

Well … the holidays sure went FAST! Two weeks of holidays went in a blink of an eye lid … and one week back at work seems an eternity! *go figure*

But it’s more that just school holidays that time passes fast … my other HUGE ‘blink of an eye lid’ moment is … my baby is having a baby. Yep … that’s going to make me an official ‘dinosaur’ (lol). I just can’t get my head around it … I know my body (ie: wear and tear, etc) and my age says that "it’s to be expected" … but my mind still seems so ‘just out of high school’! Sarah (my daughter) by the way, is the same age as I was when I had her (24 and a half) and she was my second child! Shoooot … it really seems like it was only yesterday that she was born. So … in May 2009 I’m going to be a Nanna (?). I don’t know what I want to be called - yet … but it sure isn’t going to be Grandma! (lol)

A couple of ‘highlights’ during the school holidays were …I had my longest time friend (since Grade 3), Margaret come stay a couple of days during the holidays … she’s lived in Bendigo for a very long time now - so it’s always great when we catch up.

I had a Kaszazz New Product Party at my place and that was ‘busy as’ - 23 turned up! My head was spinning after attempting to be ‘social’ with everyone. It’s hard to be completely ‘social’ when you’re the one being the ‘hostess’. Was a great day though - nice to have nice friends … some came from great distances from where I live too! *amazing*

As for crafting … very little was done. I managed to make only one card for a friends 50th and I made a couple of last minute (literally) ATC’s for VicStampers ATC ‘Shape of the Month’. First is ‘Square’ - I used credit card technique for the background (which I already had previously made) and spotlighted the letter ‘D’. The other ‘shape’ was ‘Crown’ - hence the hat. Both simple but they were very hurriedly done on the morning of the afternoon meeting! The ‘Oval’ ATC shape was done for the September Challenge.