I GOT TO MAKE SOME CARDS

While I have been out of action, I have had sooooo many beautiful cards from friends, so I have started to make a few simple cards to send out as RAKs and in various colours. It was so nice, not only to make them but to send them on to friends who have really enjoyed receiving them. I am hopeful of getting some Christmas Cards underway later today.

VINTAGE OPTICAL LENS

I have a special project coming up in which I want to use some Vintage Optical Lens, so I had a little play with this one and it was a good thing that I did. I had forgotton that Dimensional Magic will fade dye ink colours, which it has done on this little collage that I made, so I will have to either use sepia tones or another method of fixing the collage to the glass, mmmmm thinking....................

WOW.......7001 VISITORS

It is quite amazing the number of people who come for a visit to my little place on the web. Thanks to everyone who drops by and leaves so many lovely comments for me, it is really uplifting.

Cheers, Rob

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY BLUE AND PURPLE

This is my Blue and Purple beeswax collage for Mixed Media Monday:

http://mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/purplesblues/

Thanks for looking, hope that you enjoy it.

DANS MA MAISON IL Y UN CIRQUE

I have finally had a play with ripping, tearing and glue today and managed to make a house for the challenge on the Dans Ma Maison Il-y- site:

http://dansmamaisonilya.blogspot.com/2008/10/dans-ma-maison-il-y-un-cirque.html

It is so good to create something, hope that you enjoy it.

ANGEL OF SIGHT TO LOOK OUT FOR ME.

In the next few days, I have to have some more quite involved eye surgery. I have had this image which is the "Angel of Sight" for quite some time. This afternoon, I decided to make a collage from it to put beside my bed, so that the angel can look out for me, in the hope that I'll have a successful outcome from the surgery.

ATCs FOR A SPECIAL SWAP

Therese....Brown Cream w words

Rhondie....Wings

Trish....Blue

Wendy....Nature Study

Anne.....Red Black Gold

Chris....Purple with wings

Heather....Words

Niki.......Sewing

A group of my friends recently had a swap which involved making a small star book, and then making each other ATCs to match the theme of the book.

These are the ATCs that I made for them. I also got some beautiful ATCs in return.

A BUSY COUPLE OF DAYS.

I have been very busy in my workshop, had a few things to catch up on. I am going to a 3 day Stamp Camp this weekend, and so have been making some ATCs to swap at Camp. I have also made lots of individual ATCs for some friends, all to different themes which I will scan and add later, I am very happy with them.

I have also made this page for a Chunky Book for a girl who has left our group and is leaving to bo back to New Zealand to live. There are some beautiful pages arriving from all over.

IN MY HOUSE THERE IS AN ELF.

Here is my entry for this weeks challenge on "Dans Ma Maison Il Y"

The theme for this week is to include an Elf in my house, so here is my elf house although the scan doesn't really do it justice.

Have a look at this lovely site and some great artwork on this addy:

http://dansmamaisonilya.blogspot.com/2008/08/dans-ma-maison-il-y-un-lutin.html

GOLD CARD

Thanks so much Mary Beth for this Gold Card Award. Much appreciated.

I will award it to some of the beautiful blogs that I visit when I get the chance.

DANS MA MAISON ORANGE

Here is my entry for the challenge on the Dans Ma Maison site. This is the first time that I have done this challenge and have had fun doing it. I love these houses and am running a swap on my group called "In This House". I have used texture paste, Golden paints, serviettes, images and beeswax to make this "House".

You can check out Anne's challenge site here:

http://dansmamaisonilya.blogspot.com/2008/08/dans-ma-maison-il-y-du-orange.html

AUGUST SKETCH CHALLENGE

This is the card that I made for the August Sketch Challenge on Boomerang Stampers List, I really enjoyed making it, although sketches usually don't suit my style.

GOTHIC ARCH B & W WITH A TOUCH OF RED.

Here is my entry for the Black and White with a touch of Red challenge for this week over at Gothic Arches: http://gothicarches.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/black-white-and-a-hint-of-red/

"I LOVE YOUR BLOG" AWARD

Thanks so much for nominating me for this award Danielle http://dansnark.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-award.html I'm so happy that you enjoy my blog, even though I haven't been too prolific lately with the challenges. As you mentioned, I love Gothic Arches challenge too, but haven't had the time to focus on doing them every week.

Here are the rules (or guidelines, as I prefer to think of them):
1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Link to the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate seven blogs you love to read
4. Link to those blogs
5. Let those bloggers know with a comment that they've been nominated.

People I've nominated - please don't feel obliged to do the same. These memes are fun to do, but sometimes they can feel a bit like a chain letter. I can talk for hours about the blogs I love to read and why, but the people I've nominated shouldn't feel pressured to do the same.Seven blogs I love to read! (Only seven? That's hard.)

I would like to nominate the following blogs to receive this award.

Mary-Beth http://myjourneyintoart.blogspot.com/,
Bethel, http://bethelofbethania.blogspot.com/
Anne, http://creativesharing.blogspot.com/
Carol, http://carol-creative-expressions.blogspot.com/
Martina, http://artymarty62.blogspot.com/
Adrienne, http://adriennegoodenough.blogspot.com/
Linda, http://atclindab.blogspot.com/

Hope that you enjoy all of these blogs, each one has a slightly different focus, but each one has lots of lovely artwork and interest.

A GREAT GIVEAWAY.

I love Anne Le Toux's blog and artwork, and at the moment she has a giveaway of one of her beautiful collages, so go along and leave a comment for her on

http://bullesdorees.blogspot.com/2008/08/cadeau-plein-de-bulles-ou-giveaway.html

and you will have a chance to win.

GOTHIC ARCH CHALLENGE - WHITE

Here is my entry for this weeks challenge on Gothic Arches, I so love these little arches. Here's the link: http://gothicarches.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/shades-of-white/

TRINCHIE

I just had to give this a try on Mixed Media Monday, a Trinchie, 3" x 3" little collage. Quite a nice size to work in, especially after doing ATCs and inchies, this is a great size to make a little work of art. Here's the link:

http://mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/trinchies/

GOTHIC ARCH - FOR THE BIRDS

I have finally finished all my angels for the book swap that I was in and can now concentrate on doing some fun things for me, so I have made a Gothic Arch for this weeks challenge "For the Birds" Here's the link: http://gothicarches.wordpress.com/2008/07/27/for-the-birds/

NEW COLLAGE

Here is a collage that I made for my Sister-in-law, who is very ill in hospital. I put it in a clear perspex frame so that she could also read the message that I put on the back. She loves it and has it beside her bed in the hospital.

ANGEL SKINNY BOOK

I have gotten carried away and joined in 6 groups for an Angel Skinny Book swap in Jessie's Chunky Book Swap with girls from around the world. I have to do 12 pages per group so will end up with 72 pages when the swap is finished, but that also means that I have to make 72 pages, must be crazy but the end product is going to be wonderful, I have had quite a few pages in already and they are all gorgeous. These are the pages that I have done so far, I am still working on the last page. The third page down looks very black, but is Fantasy Film and is very gold/green.

MY PAGE IN AZZA'S BOOK

Here is the page that I made for Azza's Collaborative Book for 2008. I wasn't

going to take part in it this year due to my sight problems, but with a lot of encouragement and help from Jessie and Chris, at the last minute I did the pages and was lucky to be a part of a gorgeous book.

MAKE IT MONDAYS

These pictures are of a double page spread that I created in an Art Journal and they definately qualify for Lisa Vollrath's "Make it Mondays" challenge for this week which is "Green".

WOOOHOOO......I'M BACK IN MY WORKSHOP

....................and it feels so good to have enough sight to be able to "play" again.

The first things that I have made are these Artists Trading Cards for a luncheon that I and lots of friends are attending next Sunday to welcome one of our "Internet" friends, Jackie form Arizone USA who is visiting Australia and staying for a couple of weeks. We are all very much looking forward to her visit and counting down the days until we finally get to meet her in the flesh and also to catch up with each other for one of our famous 'Get-togethers'.

FOR NOW

Unfortunately due to eye surgery that was unsuccessful and two subsequent operations in the last two weeks, I am unable to create any art or use my computer "FOR NOW". But, with the grace of God and a wonderful eye surgeon.......I will return as soon as I am able. I would like to close this post with a favourite quote which feels most appropriate at the moment. See you soon!

"Creativity is a celebration of one's grandeur, one's sense of making anything possible. Creativity is a celebration of life - my celebration of life. It is a bold statement: I am here! I love life! I love me! I can do anything!"

Joseph Zinker, therapist, painter, sculptor, poet...

For and on behalf of Rob - Len...

ONE WORLD ONE HEART UPDATE

Congratulations to all the winners that were drawn on the 14th of Feb. The winners of my 2 items were StaciRoseDesigns and WhistlestopCafe and their gifts will be sent out this week. I am thrilled to say that I was also a winner and I will be looking forward to participating in next year's OWOH. Well done Lisa and all who contributed...

OWOH AND THE WINNERS ARE.....

The winner of the first draw for the Fabric Collage was Sandi from the Whistle stop cafe and the winner of the second draw was Staci from staci rose designs.
Thanks to all those that entered. I have really enjoyed being part of this great event. Thanks to Lisa for organising it and to everyone for the lovely comments on my blog. See you all next year. Looking forward in the future to spending more time accessing everyone's blog. Happy Valentines Day!!! Rob...

PURPLE GOTHIC ARCH CHALLENGE

Although I'm a little late with this Gothic Arch Challenge, I had decided to make it anyway. I love these little arches. There is a new one due tomorrow.

Here is the link to the challenge. http://gothicarches.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/purple/

ONE WORLD ONE HEART

This is a world wide event to bring bloggers together and make new friends, you can read all about it at One World, One Heart on this addy: http://oneworldevent.blogspot.com/

I have done a special piece of art, a fabric collage with image transfer for this event, it is 10" x 8" on a firm backing, ready to hang. If you would like a chance to win, please leave a comment below this post and you will be in the draw for the prize. You must have a blog to enter into this contest. The winner will be randomly drawn and announced here and notified by email, I will make the draw late on Valentines Day evening (Australia DST). Good Luck and thanks Lisa for organising this lovely event, a great way to meet other bloggers and a "feel-good" happening to be involved in. I would love you to sign my guestbook and let me know where you live. Thanks, and go spread the love.

UPDATE: I can't believe what is happening here, I have 99 messages now, so I think that it's time to go off to my studio and make another gift for when I get over 100 messages. The love is definately spreading, and there are some gorgeous creations being given away.

OK, (2 hours later) Here is my second give-away, it will go to the second name drawn out. It is made from Aqua Swarovski crystals, beautiful multi coloured glass beads and glass seed beads, with a beautiful little crystal heart on each end. The photo doesn't really do it justice, but you can get the idea.

FRIDA

I have been collecting pictures and artifacts to make a collage of Frida and after doing the tin niches, I decided that it was a good time let my muse free and created my impression of Frida. Hope that you enjoy it. Please enlarge it to see the detail clearly.

TIN NICHES FROM MEXICO

This is the larger of the two niches, it is 280mm x 150mm

This niche is smaller and measures 135mm x 80mm

A few weeks ago, I bought some beautiful tin niches which are made in Mexico and have been itching to get to them and decorate them. I had a wonderful day yesterday and have done a large and small one and am so thrilled with them. Unlike a lot of my art which I give away, my husband LOVES these and they are going to have a permanent home here with us. Hope that you enjoy what I have done with them. I think that I will have to get some more to give away as gifts to my family and special friends. These are available from Paper Forest in Australia...... and Joyce is great to deal with. Here is her addy: http://www.paperforest.com.au/

BUTTON DOLLZ

I've been watching with interest all the lovely Button Doll creations on Wednesday Stamper and Artchix and so I decided to have a little play with one of my own. Great fun and I'm looking forward to making some more later.

The original Button Dolls are attributed to a Spanish artist called Nenufar Blanco from Barcelona in Spain, she has many beautiful creations on her Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nenufar-blanco/sets/72157602578791060/

Enjoy

GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WIN.......

Over at her blog, Catherine Matthews-Scanlon is giving away 2 copies of her new book "Art from the Heart". It looks like a wonderful book and will no doubt be on many wish lists, including mine. All you have to do is visit her site and leave a message to be eligible to win....... http://cmscanlon.blogspot.com/2008/01/giving-away-two-copies.html

ANOTHER ISMAKI CHALLENGE

I have found a little time to make another card for the challenge on Ismaki.

Here is the link:

http://ismaki.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/challenge-1/#comment-142

Thanks girls for the challenge.

Rob