New Page for Mum's Book

Well, I finally have got into this book . It took me 10 months of thinking and now I'm drowning in so many ideas (not to mention that I'm a bit under the pressure to finish before Mum goes back home). Here is the layout:


I have to make a confession: addicted to the crackle paste...


...rusty things, waxed linen...


...and gauze.


To be continued...

New Project - Book for my Mum

I know some of you are waiting for the "Just in Case" book I was making in Judy Wilkenfeld's class at Creative Soul Retreat. The truth is: it doesn't exist any more simply because I wasn't happy what I made. Instead I started my new project which still doesn't have a title but it is dedicated to my Mum. She is leaving in August and I have to finish it by than.

One of the pages I managed to finish...


Closer look to some details:










To be continued...

60th birthday book

After 5 weeks holidays my first week back at work couldn't start busier:

1. routine work on the ward (BTW I'm a clinical nurse on an acute surgical ward - orthopaedics)
2. giving two in-services to the night staff
3. preparing the meeting for the Orthopaedic Nurses Association of Western Australia (ONA WA) - where I was elected as a president while I was enjoying my life at the Creative Soul Retreat in Melbourne)
4. preparing the ONA WA study day with which we are already running late
5. and on the very first day the girls on the ward told me that "the team has decided" that I will be making a birthday card for our manager’s 60th birthday.

Oh dear... They don't understand that creativity, in my case, requires "a bit" of thinking time before I lay my hand on any projects. But people who know me (and the girls on the ward know me very well) know that I have a big problem with saying NO. So I added another job to my list "things to do" which had to be done within few days.

Back cover:

One of the book pages (guess whose):

Details:

Last page - Pocket for the gift voucher:

Front cover detail:

Finally finished but still drying...

Ready to go...

And the reward? The expression on my manager's face says it all...

Happy 60th Ronnie!!!

CSR 2010 - Part 4 (Leonardo da Twinchie Swap)

Prior to going to the retreat I signed up for the Leonardo da Twinchie swap. It took me ages to make the decision what I wanted to do. I was playing with different ideas and finally submitted the Vitruvian Man. I hope the other girls in this swap were happy with my choice.


Even though 25 people signed up we ended up with 18 twinchies. Sorry I haven't had time to make anything yet (but I will); I just placed them randomly onto piece of paper for photo shoot.


And before I forget: Big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this swap.

CSR 2010 - Part 3 (Laurie Mika - Wearable Reliquaries)

The class with Laurie Mika was on the very last day which was a bit messy as we had to leave our rooms by 10 o'clock. This resulted in packing before the class and taking just the necessary: clay. Without my embellishments I felt a bit lost because I don't like working with limited material. I managed to make 2 reliquaries:

Escape

Nr. 2

...and I wasn't happy at all with a final result.

Since I had to overcome the feeling of disappointment I decided to make the most of the class and ended up with a kind of ATC (size is not exactly as it should be - my ruler was already in suitcase).

Scars

The next and the last was pure play in order to kill the time until the end of the class. The next piece managed to be backed and I finished it this morning.

Fragment


Dear Laurie has made name badges for each students attending her classes (imagine the number of badges she made considering that she was teaching all 4 days).

All in all I'm much happier with the stuff now.

And Laurie... she is such a fun and inspiration. It was pleasure to spend some quality time with Laurie and her sister Lesley outside the workshops. Cheers Laurie, I hope we will see each other some time again.

CSR 2010 - Part 2 (Secret Garden Journal with Jan Harris)

Even though Jan Harris came as a "replacement" for Judy Wise I have to say that she won my heart in a tick of the moment. It's not only her art but her quite and delightful personality are what has placed her not only in my but in many hearts forever. What an honour to gain such a friend! I hope that our pathways will cross soon again.

Everyone who knows me know that I never finish anything in class but guess what: I managed to finish not only one but three and a half pages of the journal and few more backgrounds. What an effort!!!

CSR 2010 - Part 1 (shopping)

After 4 weeks of holidaying here I am again. I have to admit I have great difficulty to concentrate on reality and every day tasks. The time of travelling, sleeping in, fun and relaxation is nearly over. I have been away for 4 weeks and have seen and done so much: shopping and sightseeing in Melbourne, than 4 days at the Creative Soul Retreat in the Dandenong in Victoria, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast and again back to Melbourne for more shopping (what a dangerous city for the Credit Card!!!).

The highlight of the trip has been Creative Soul Retreat at the Country Place Retreat in the Dandenong Rangers, Victoria. The big THANK YOU goes to Bevlea, Lucy and Eva who have done such a wonderful job in organising 4 memorable days for all of us who love art and creativity.

I have attended classes with Judy Wilknfeld, Jan Harris, Lauri Mika, Ro Bruhn and Jen Crossley's. I know it looks pretty suicidal to attend all those classes within 4 days but I took it easy and made sure that I had good social life as well. And I certainly had it. Poor Brenda, my room mate, she had to put up with late nights and early wake ups. I hope she is going to forgive me.

I know many of you would like to see what I have done over there. Because it's getting late I will start with shopping part first.

The day before the Retreat I went with Brenda to Abrakadabra, an antique shop which rather looks overcrowded and dusty room with a lot but really A LOT of great goodies. I got few bits and pieces but the biggest score was...

1. Antique Photo Album

Looking the photos this photo album is probably dating from the beginning of the 20th century. Take a closer look to the closure, pages and photos:

I love the closure...

...and the photos are stunning...

Shopping continued at the retreat.

2. Two necklaces from lovely Jen Crossley:

- altered old perfume bottle

- bird house: Time shall unfold

- book covers

3. Tinny booklet necklace from Judy Wilkenfeld



4. Two necklaces from Susan Lenart Kazmer





5. Embellishments

(unbelievable how they look tempting and dollar by dollar you end up few hundred dollars lighter)



This is the end of the shopping part but more is to come from CSR 2010 in next edition...