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