To dance-an awfully big adventure...

At times, life can be a mystery. Inspiration can run away with you..or, just run away. The beginnings of this unit  VSW21 with Curtin  (Observation and Perception)..well, I was having a moment.
The days of painting for enjoyment, and creating for the hell (and fun) of it have been missing for a long time. The thought of having 18 months more of slogging through life AND Uni assignments was getting the better of me.
 However, with time, the projects managed to get me in- and although it might not be "my kind " of painting...going to Uni isn't about going and knowing..its about learning new things..challenges to your abilities- and making it an adventure.
Sometimes, I feel like a 2 year old in amongst a gallery full of Whiteleys and Monets, but so what right??? Like Elizabeth Gilbert says- 'dance anyway'. So, to cut a long story short, here are a few images from my exercise folio and art journals.

I have also been doing some writing units with Griffith uni. Last semester, I did "Creative and Professional writing", this term I'm doing  "Writing the Short Story". Next term I'm doing "Writing for Children and Adolescents".
Yes, this girl wants to write a book.
Long before I fell in love with art- I fell in love with words. Even before I kept art journals- I  always wrote stories and  poetry. I always dreamed of writing books- stories that people would fall in love with.
For many years- I wanted to be a journalist. I gave all that up to be a hairdresser...(LOL)
Anyway, I have had some wonderful feedback from my tutors that tells me, 'well maybe perhaps this is where I'm headed'- I apparently have a (and I quote from my tutor) a "Natural gift for this"(WOW!!!)
So who knows?????I could fall in a big hole, or it just might work -Dance anyway , right????

Speaking of dancing anyway...I also want to shout out to a dear, inspiring friend...who is also a client of mine, (and has been for over 16 years)...she started her writing blog up this year.
Her writing is as inspiring as she is- so go have a look... (Note, the title of her blog is Seeking Wisdom- but the blog address is Seaking Wisdom..so Ive put it in my blog roll like that. Yes, I can spell...(sometimes!!)
Love to all...and until next post,
Dance, my friends, dance.
Debxxoo

For someone special....

This little layout was a labour of love- I haven't had the time (or the inclination)  to sit down and scrapbook for almost 12 months- but sometimes someone special comes along and you just want to do something commemorative- (after one gets over the initial jitters that one may have forgotten how to scrapbook!!!!)...
So, I made this for my dear friend Sarah, her hubby Cam, and the most precious little boy , Riley James.
I have mounted this behind glass in a black frame, so Sarah and Cam can hang it on the wall in their home.
More soon,
Deb, (the see?-I-havent-forgotten-how-scrapbooker..LOL....)xxoo

The Storyteller

So..last year I had a bash at the Archibald with a painting of one of my favourite artists....
Her pic has been tucked away behind a door in my house since then..(cause its HUGE!! and I only have half walls with a picture rail on which to put it).....
I was invited to take more of my work into the glorious Cafe 2340 here in Tamworth, so after some prompting by my husband..I altered her....
Truth be known, I was never really happy with her eyes.
So when I decided to add her third eye, and her mystical crown, and her mehndi on her face and hand...
I was amazed at how much more I liked it...and really, how much more it represents its subject.
*slaps forehead*. If only I had sent it in like this...but you get that.Live and learn, baby!!!
The words "Speak freely, write candidly, read endlessly" have also been hidden in the painting.
So true, huh??
Might need to ink those words on me somewhere, I think...
Love to all...
more soon.
Debxxoo

For the love of a goat......

Its National Scrapbook Day!!!!
(hahahaha ..actually my post has nothing to do with goats.. I just love my old buddy Shirl so much and figured she needed to be famous for the day....)
How quickly does it roll around every year??? Its scary to think the year is already almost half over.
Well. Its actually National Scrapbook Day in the US on the 5th...and that's tomorrow; us Aussies start celebrating today...so we get to do it twice!!!
There is a blog hop going on...and in all my years as a scrapbooker..I can honestly say..Ive never done one..so if you're keen..you can go here or  here to take part and play along.
There are many prizes..and challenges and wotnot to take part in..so if you are partial to a spot of paper and glue type activities...GO FOR IT!!!!
Here is a list of some of the exceptionally talented peeps playing along.....

Sherry Mendoza http://sherryscreations.typepad.com/sherrys-creations/

Katherine Prefol www.scrapeverything.wordpress.com

Kristie Taylor http://kristietaylor.blogspot.com/

Melissa Harris Goodman http://melsartjourney.blogspot.com.au/

Jenny Burns http://burns900.blogspot.com.au/

Tina Dalton http://tdscrappin.blogspot.com.au/

LeAnne Payne http://australianscrapbooking.blogspot.com.au/

Sheree Power http://sheree412.blogspot.com.au/

Michelle Clarke www.blueshell.typepad.com

Jamie Dougherty http://www.jaylynnscraps.com/

Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/

Heidi Kelley http://seesterk.blogspot.com/

Irit Shalom http://iritshalom.blogspot.com/

JJ Sobey http://1-goodthing.blogspot.com/

Scraptherapy http://scraptherapysessions.blogspot.com.au/

Gerry van Gent http://gerryscrafts.blogspot.com/

Cheryl Bodkin Waters http://blog.artsyfindings.com/

Mel Connell http://mouldsbymel.blogspot.com.au/

Gine Kristofferson Silvera http://ginesscraproom.blogspot.com/

Sarah Moore http://sarahmoore-thescrapjunkie.blogspot.com.au/

Samantha Hauzer http://justlovescrappin.blogspot.com.au/

Drew Scott http://www.scrappyhappiness.com/

Jennifer Priest http://hydrangeahippo.com/

Jordie Craig http://combatcardswa.typepad.com/today_is_a_gift/

Kathy Hall http://kat-meowsmusings.blogspot.com.au/

Melissa Elsner http://theprofoundbrunette.com/

Michelle Thomas http://scrapbookdivas.blogspot.com.au/

Trina McClune www.trinamcclune.typepad.com

Nadia Cannizzo www.samnadia.blogspot.com

Lynne Erskine Forsythe http://lynneforsythe.blogspot.com/

Gloria Stengel http://www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com/

Leanne Allinson http://leanneallinson.blogspot.com.au/

Wendy Crafts http://wendycrafts.blogspot.com/

Agnus Kasprzak http://www.a-place-in-my-dreams.blogspot.com.au/

Natasja Cats Verbeek www.vintagetearooms.com

Kim Jeffress http://www.glasshalffull-kim.blogspot.com.au/

Gina Rodgers http://gingerbread.typepad.com/

Trudi Harrison http://scrappinwitht.blogspot.com.au/

Steph Devlin: www.stephdevlin.typepad.com

Beck Beattie: www.justmebingme.blogspot.com

Melita Chow: http://simplyscrappingbyhisgrace.wordpress.com/

Emeline Seet: www.scrapvilla.blogspot.com

Crece Thomas: www.crecet.blogspot.com

Rebecca Boyer: http://rebeccaboyer.blogspot.com.au/

Emma Rose Sabourin Rayburn: http://auntieemsscrapbookingbeading.blogspot.ca/

Brandie Partello: http://parttotell5.blogspot.com/

Marjie Kemper www.marjiekemper.typepad.com

Susan Pyrcz Weckesser: http://mysweetearth.blogspot.com/

Iris Babao Uy: http://irisbabaouy.typepad.com/creativecorner/
Susan Mintmire: www.papercrafterscorner.com


So..get your scrap on...and get involved. Its such a nice way to spend the weekend, don't you think???
A big shout out to all of those lovelies at Retreats around the country today...especially those in Darwin doing the courses with this exceptionally talented artist..
Sp...get to it guys!!!
More soon,
Debxxoo

Must be nice to be Mother nature.....

So... creatively speaking. since the start of the whole UNI thing.. there hasn't beenva lot of time for "making stuff just for the sake of making stuff".
It would appear that every painting, drawing, sculpture,photograph ...anything really,  has  been for an assignment or exercise or project for a unit I am doing.
Save for a few Blythe customs.
This little baby isn't a real Blythe.   She is a BASAAK BLYBE ..from Ebay. But you can rip them to bits without worrying too much about the fact that you are cracking open a $150 + doll. (These ones are about $32ish delivered.)..And... my justification for them is that when it comes to doing a real custom..Ive had practice... and confidence before attacking a real one.
Note: They are not even a scratch of the quality of the real ones. I have to replace their bodies..(usually I wacck a Moxie dolly body on them)because their legs fall off..and the eye change mechanism doesn't change smoothly..and breaks easily..and when you get them their whole scalp just..falls off!!!  But the face is similar stuff to the real one..so its good for practicing carving mouths and stuff too....
So..... here is me yanking out her eye chips to put in new ones.......

 Then.....painting her some new eye make- up.....

 Note: this is a real Blythe with her eye chips out..I just like how freaky it looks ...TEEHEEE.....

 This is my little Cyber punk chickie with her re-root. this stuff is an angora wool blend in a ball from spotlight a few years ago...(you can still get it there)

 See How she has different eyes?? Soooo fun.... It must be nice to be Mother Nature.... Its a very nice feeling getting to decide how someone will look.

She even had a little ink done!!! (they're really just  Marah Johnson rub- ons) and a Kaiser-craft blingy thing for a nose stud.

On a more personal note..I'm beginning to miss scrapbooking. So watch this space....Who knows?? I might even just do a bit for old times' sake....after I do some paintings for Uni, of course......
What are you making this weekend???
More soon, Deb XXOO

A small thank you.

On this, one of our most hallowed days, we bow our heads in respect for those who served, those who died,those who still serve and those who altered our history for eternity.
There is so much to be said, but today is not the day for fancy words, or long paragraphs about how I feel.
On this day, it is about them.
I would just like to say to all our Servicemen and Servicewomen, past present and future; on behalf of me and mine;
Thank you.
Debxxoo

..On being a teen girly..

So. The day began as it always does, with much rushing about and complaints about wishes for sleeping longer and "do we have to go to school really???"..we all carried on and went to school and work.
Nothing unusual. Just a normal day.
Once the school day was over and  the trip home commenced, there was much excited chatter and phone to friend banter about the process that teen girlies all over the country were lining up for- the One Direction pre-sale.
Of course, I acted very non-chalant. This was Miss M and her friends' business to worry over..not mine.
However, as the excitement of turning on every computer in the house, logging on and running from room to room to try and get on site to buy tickets for a bunch of girlies...and shrieks of "oh no!" and "I cant get on!!!" began to frizzle away the calm quiet of my afternoon cuppa..the nerves began for the girls.
What if they didnt get tickets?
 Would this not be the worst thing that ever happened to my teen girl in her" whole life" (to quote the child)????
( I think not...however as her Mum...I'm here to help)
Cake was eaten.
Lots. (I eat when I'm nervous).
Daughters' arms were flapping all over the house.
It was time to step in.
I signed in with my trusty Firefox. Completely un-trendy but so efficient..and taaadaaa!!! 9 tickets were purchased.
Then the screams of panic elevated into shrieks of joy..and more phone to friend excitement began.
So. they are going.
I am feeling somewhat vindicated as I have been poo- pooed for being the only Firefox user in the house.
I like it when stuff works.
Lets just hope the ridiculously long time line until the actual concert is not fraught with the typical boy band grievances.
 They bloody well better show up. Or else.
Debxxoo