I miss AC/DC

Not the band, the voltage. We have been without power since Sunday, ugh. I have been going to work in jeans and with my hair all 'just out of bed' looking - cause it is. I think now our water is running out. Bugger.

Wet weather weekend

So we've been planning a weekend getaway for the last two months, the weather has been so good we just needed to get to the beach for a break. I locked it in and booked an apartment with ocean views in Caloundra. Thanks to some asshole depression named Oswald our weekend away has involved a wild, windy walk along the beach, swimming in the pool while it pisses down, a sauna, and lots of coffee drinking and reading the weekend paper. The early morning beach swims and beach-front dining plans have gone awry. Thank Jebus we brought the coffee machine and the red wine.

Private 2cm plunge pool on the balcony

keeping us sane

epic beach views...

   

A little bit trash bag, a little bit Russophile

Reading - I like it almost as much as writing. This year I already have my reading list sorted and sourced! I have just finished The Clan of the Cave Bear, a little bit silly but very 'I can't put you down' silly. Now I'm chowing through the second Sookie Stackhouse book Living Dead in Dallas. Who would have though I'd be reading a trashy Vampire novel? But hey they're pretty good and I scored the first three in the series for $3 at Vinnies!

After that I might have to raise the tone a little and sink my teeth into some Tolstoy - this is going to be a long hard ride, but I'm ready and I'm in it for the long haul - all eight parts and 963 pages - yeesh!

Then I think it's time for more trash with some more vampires and some leggy prehistoric peeps. Then onto Farewell to the East End, a birthday gift from a best friend, then Kane and Able and finally to top it all off the cheery Cancer Ward. Most of these I got from the Lifeline Bookfest - if you've not been yet get yourself along and stock up on 2013 reading gems! 

Handwriting Day

Today is Handwriting Day - so what are you waiting for, write someone a letter! I love getting post, however letters and cards are few and far between these days - it's all just bills and junk mail. Make an effort to make someone's day a few times this year and write a friend a card or a letter - xxx.

Cute... from here.

Wrap it like it's hot

I like giving gifts. I like wrapping them up and making them look cute. During 'birthday week' I have had some lovely presents and also some lovely gift wrapping. One of my best friends drove over to drop off my present - it was wrapped in a page from Frankie and she cut out a duck to use as a card! Love it. Mr reread wrapped his present in the bag it came in (from Folio Books). My people are lovelies.  

Pretty wrapping from here

From here ... 

Pretty! From here.

Lifeline Bookfest January 2013

Ooooohhhhh. I love the Lifeline Bookfest, I get a bit carried away. I was there for almost two hours yesterday and only really made it through the unpriced children's books section. I filled (like really filled) two big bags with beautiful old books for $22.

Now I have all of today to think about what I'm going to do with them. I will make some into cards and tags - some of the really beautiful ones I might make into wall hangings for kid's rooms. I will need to go back as I can't let all those books sit there for nine more days without a rummage.

If you're in Brisbane get yourself along - they are open late and lovely new books are put out each day. You'll be inspired to make something from the books, magazine, old tapes etc. if you spend long enough there. Happy rummaging.

Hiawatha looks like a pretty good all-round kinda guy!

How gorgeous is this typeface...

Totes good idea - from an Enid Blyton book

Favourite Golden Book of all time.

Cute! From a book called The Little Red Bicycle.

Multi lingual!

My booty of Golden Books.

From a Marcel Marlier book - I think the guy was a full devo.

From the Hiawatha book - beautiful illustrations.

Another from Hiawatha.

Another Marcel Marlier book Debbie's Dream - seriously what six year old has a pout like that! FFS.

Birthday week

It's my birthday week - I'm getting geared up to be the birthday girl. I have received some cool stuff in the mail already and a hand-delivered 2013 calendar (featuring semi-nude men) all the way from Ulm Germany. I friggin love birthdays.

Very cool card made by my mum.

Cool stuff inside, all from old cigarette boxes, transfers, cards etc.

Favourite child, ha ha.

My brother lives in remote central Australia, so there's not much chance he'll ever see this post.

Additions to my Pyrex collection.

Was inside the card, reads 'stolen fruits are the sweetest'. 

Another tea towel! This one will make a good cushion cover. 

Be my funny little Valentine

It's almost Valentine's Day - not really. But if you're thinking about giving a card to the one who you are now comfortable enough to fart in front of (or behind of) you really should buy handmade. 

Cause, come on let's face it, Valentine's Day is a silly made-up holiday to make money for dumb companies like Hallmark. Do you know Hallmark uses a by-product from kittens to make their sappy, pulpy schmaltz? Well they don't but they are evil, I'm sure of it.

So order online today to make sure you get the perfect card to surprise Mr or Mrs Object of Your Affection. I have 40 cards in the Esty shop and nearly 20 more here in the Made It shop. And if you think mine stink - then there are hundreds more handmade lovelies on both sites. Tell the big corporations 'it's not you it's me' and buy local or handmade this valentines Day. Muah xoxoxoxo.

From Etsy, here. 

The many shades of Sybil

nonchalant 

is that the postman?

I've marauded the postie, time to rest 

More collage...

I'm really getting carried away with the collage, dot thing. Today is my last day off before I go back to work - yoink! - so I am getting in some yoga and some mindless craft. Woo hoo.

Some brooches that are half finished and some of my new collage art...

Monday finds...

Today is my second last day before I return to work - gosh, how the time has flown! If I never had to work again I don't think I would. I'm not the type to get bored, I would spend all day making and creating, lunching out, swimming and so on and so forth. So on this hot Monday (it's over 30 degrees Celsius here again today!) I have found some very 'cool' Etsy and Made It lovelies.

From Soviet Vintage...

From Crow White Pottery...

From An April Idea... 

From Oh Susannah Handmade...

Mixed media

I am getting into the whole mixed media, collage thing at the moment. Not quite sure what I'm going to do with them yet ... what do you think?