tsk tsk

get off the quilt

what a week! Poor Miss M has been so so sick with possibly swine flu (the doctors are not testing for it now), tonsillitis and croup. Some worrying moments, but thankfully, all is better now and I can have this day to catch up on so much. Trust me to offer a discount sale on my ABCme work just before this all happened.

So, I spent the week doing little work, whilst taking care of her. I planned to finish some quilts, but really I've just made a mess of the house, by spreading every piece of fabric and wadding across the floors. And then spent most of the time yelling at the kids and dog not to walk on them. How dare they????

I tried to concentrate on some house matters. It has been so crazy hot here, so I've been looking at ceiling fans because I hate having the aircon on unless it is over 35 degrees C.  I even bought a new light shade for the stairwell and can't wait to get it installed. I have loved David Trubridge's work for so long. And I've been just oohing and ahhing over lovely houses. I followed Fiona's trail and started a tumbler blog, just so I can have somewhere to place all the interior things I like and dream to have in one spot.

Now, heaps to do...

The usual dilemmas....

I'm on the hunt for a well priced printer, hopefully one that is local, if not somewhere in Australia. I have so many ideas in my head and when I find the time to actually execute some of them, I seem to hit a wall.

And the cycle of life and work balance starts all over again. The ideas I had in my head are replaced by new ones.....and then I hit that wall again. Nothing eventuates. I find it really difficult to turn these ideas into something that is tangible. Something a bit more than my greeting cards. I guess I'm thinking in terms of surface design and product design.

I have managed to have some of my work develop further. Next year, Galison stationery will be releasing some notepads and sticky notes with some illustrations of mine. And I recently sold a design to LeSportsac, albeit I have yet to see anything from them. Mmmmmmm????
Of course, I can't show you yet, hush hush and all.

So back to finding a printer in Australia that doesn't cost a fortune. I'd like to start maybe with some notebooks, like these mockups I made. But then, if I found someone, and had a heap made up, I'd then have to sell them. This would mean I'd somehow have to find the time to actually leave my surroundings and market myself at the trade shows.

But then who would look after the kids? You see, there's that wall again.....If I could just lock myself away for a week, without any interruptions from anyone in my house, I might get somewhere!
HA, like that is going to happen.

ABCme personalised art for kids 20% off

Now, until the end of August, you can receive a personalised ABCme on paper at 20% off the recommended retail price.

Paper or mounted with matboard only. Sorry, this does not include framed images, or canvas prints.

IF you would like to order, please make sure that you mention this promotion in your email. See the site for all the image and colour choices and details on how to order.

fevers and felting

i jinxed myself.

Today Mr A is at home with fevers and sniffles. So much for a good week to concentrate on work.
There has been so much flu about this year, including the dreaded swine flu, but this time I think it is just his 6 year old molars cutting through.

So, as planned I still made a quick trip to Wooloongabba's Antique Centre today and dragged him along. We ended up buying a 2nd hand jigsaw puzzle which will no doubt fill my coffee table for the next few weeks.

Amongst other things disastrous and disappointing, (yes that is how I feel when my day in the studio is postponed...again) I accidentally washed Miss M's woolen dress in the washing machine. So now I have a very, out of shape, felted and shruken mess. What to do? What to do? It is no good to pass on to anyone, so should I use it for some sewing project? Maybe for my matryoshka's somehow.

It is really springish here, yesterday even summer like. I ventured into my garden and it really needs some TLC. I even have this 'thing' growing in my pool area. There are plenty of cobwebs and leaves that need fixing.

On a brighter note, a dear friend of mine has launched her self into the world of Etsy and is using her wonderful sewing skills to make handbags and more. Go and have a little peek.

aggghhhhhhhhhh

all pirate parties for 3 year olds must have the following:

champagne
pavlova
chocolate money
face painting
a canoe on the lawn
a sandpit
French patisseries
a treasure chest with cupcakes
pin the parrot on the pirate's perch
and a sunny blue sky

my friend K did a fantastic job today for her son's birthday. We had so much fun.

I made eye patches for my kids. Even Miss M who went as a mermaid insisted she have a pretty patch.

Birds Bay

I have managed to finally have 4 hours to myself this week! YAY. The last two weeks seem like a blur. With sickness in the house, weekends away, family visiting, school athletic carnivals, and student free days I feel like I haven't been doing too much work at all.

I have managed to finally complete a commission for a lady in Greece. She contacted me sometime ago and asked if I would like to create some artworks for her holiday houses called Birds Bay. In the end I finished 6 pieces for her and these are three of them. Except i think they look really crappy here. i couldn't seem to get a decent photo of them.

I am so looking forward to next week so I can concentrate on some work. please no one in my house get sick.

cards cards cards

just a super quick post....

I have 3 new square shaped cards in my shop. And I received my new business cards in the mail today from moo....that's it. I'm in a super hurry!

magical weekend

We had the most beautiful weekend. We celebrated a great birthday with fantastic people in the most heavenly place. It was really sad to see it all end and drive home to reality. Even the sunset was magnificent..like it was orchestrated just for us.

This week, the kids have 2 days off school due to the Brisbane Show holiday. On Wednesday I hope to be going to  A Walk in the Park and sell some of my bits and pieces. It is a fundraising day, and from what I understand there will be plenty of  F U N  for the kids. So if you are in town and want to avoid the show, look at this website, sign your kids up for a walk ( i think it a lap of the park) and come along. There will be lots of things to do. Starts at 10 and finishes around 12.

summer quilt

a friend of mine is celebrating her 40th birthday this weekend. About 10 couples are all running away from the kids and heading to a resort for what one of them described as 'schoolies for 40 year olds'. so I'm banking on the fact that she is running around like a madhatter now trying to get everything in order and that she doesn't know or have time to read this blog. But one of the presents I will give her is this quilt.

She loves these colours and is a very summery person, so I'm hoping that she will like this. I just have a few little threads to snip and double check there are no major flaws..minor ones are OK in my books. More photos will be over on my flickr page.

There isn't much else to say, the week has been one full of colds and tonsillitis so if I owe you an email, apologies. you might get one...but then again.....

the power of snot

Last night I went to sleep with the new week planned out in my head.
20 minutes later, Miss M woke me and my week's plans are now but a dream.
Fever and snotty noses have such power over a mother. So today, I haven't tried to work at all, even whilst she has been sleeping. I'm just taking the day and taking it slowly. I'm a little vague as I sit here staring at stuff around the house. Between loads of washing, fresh flowers and freshly made waffles make me happy.
I'm thinking of buying an Apple TV. Does anyone have one?