So Bella Blog's Pay It Forward

I am participating in So Bella Blog's Pay It Forward. Below is text taken from her post about it:

I am entering into the following agreement with the first 5 people who comment on this post and then commit to doing the same on their blog. Just read below and if you feel up to the task, copy the following into your blog and leave me a comment. I am willing to post overseas (I am in Australia), but remember you must commit on your blog to do the same for others.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I send you. But you may be pleasantly surprised. It will definitely be sewing/craft related.
2. What I send will be made just for you, with love, by my own hands. See, I can go to your blog and read your posts and a really great idea will pop into my pretty little head.
3. I promise I will complete all 5 gifts this year - 2009.
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world, that you can touch and feel, and not something cyber.
5. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.

Oh, and remember to blog about your Pay It Forwards after you have received confirmation that they have received it!

Happy crafting!

Extraordinary Mondays - Resonating tune

Currently, this song really resonates with me.

I have a larger than life husband who absolutely adores me. He is the only one who willingly puts up with all my eccentricities and faults. He is also the only one who will ever think of my jelly belly as a symbol of the sacrifice I made for our kids.

I have my two lovely babies who love me with their entire little beings and have hugs and kisses for me everyday no matter how crabby I have been with them.

I have an extended family that surrounds me with love and support. My parents and my in-laws look after me in all the ways a girl like me needs.

I have friends who are oh so dear to me who have journeyed with me through my ups and downs (and still think that I'm not a looney tune) and who I know will drop everything to be there for me if I ever needed them.

Honestly, what more could a girl ask for? God has blessed me and continues to bless me.


I really do like the video too, clowns (scary) and all.

Do you like street art?

Well, if you do, you simply have to be at Condor Tower this Saturday (25 July) from 6pm-11pm. Condor Tower is on St George's Terrace and is currently under construction. It is the carpark that is of great interest. There is a total of five floors and graffiti artists have been hard at work painting the walls of the carpark to 5 themes - Core, Underwater, Land, Sky and Space.

Tomorrow will be the only time it will ever be open to the public so if you really truly like street art, you must be there at 22 St George's Terrace, alleyway off St George's Terrace, opposite the Perth Concert Hall. This biggest street art exhibition has been organised by the group known as Ololo. Check out their website for more information about the project.

A selection of my favs:

Extraordinary mondays - images in my head

I've been asked how long that last painting took me? The actual putting paintbrush to canvas totaled only about 6 hours. However, I've been carrying that image in my head for about 3 years now. Maybe more. I don't know why I do that. Carrying images in my head. I suppose I do that because I really don't get time to paint. In between two kids (babies, really), working full time, trying to hit the gym at least twice a week and now putting together the many pieces to start a 'hobby' business, the last few years have been hectic to say the least. I'd be happy if I could have an hour to myself to spend time painting per week. I've taken to carrying a little notebook around in my handbag hoping that it would encourage me to put pen to paper more often but that notebook is sadly empty. So, I carry images. And then in my head, I mull over them, turn them around, change the mood, alter the angle of the light, tell the story. I even dream about the image! Then, involuntarily the image matures and the urge to get paint on canvas is undeniable. And then when I finally see it on the canvas, there is such a sense of relieve.

Relieve that it came out right. That I translated the image exactly the way I have been seeing it and drawing it in my head. Relieve that it is one less image to carry around. The cacophony of images in my head can be deafening sometimes.

So, I wonder which image will ripen next? I think I know which one but since I still have it in my head, you'll have to wait and see.

Finished!

From this...
to this...
I just love watching layers of a painting come together. I have yet to find a wall space for it. Hope you like it.

Stereophonics - A Thousand Trees

Heard this streaming out of our living room this morning and was pleasantly surprised that Khoa added what he would call "my music" to his playlist. The song makes me smile. Really it shouldn't if you listen to the lyrics carefully but it's such a catchy little song.

Markets markets everywhere

Markets are popping up everywhere! I was passing by Guildford today and show a big huge banner advertising a market to be held at the town hall this Sunday. I also found the flyer below advertising it. I haven't been there and don't know the quality but hey, it would be as close to your old country town market I reckon. If anyone is heading that way, let me how how it is.

The other market is Sunday Best by Unwrapped to be held on 6 September as part of Perth Fashion Festival with applications for stalls closing on 31 July. Go here for more information. This should be feature loads of high quality crafters. Shouldn't be missed and don't miss the deadline for applications for those of you who want to have a stall.