Friday, December 30, 2011

Art Journal Pages

I have been looking back 
through some of my ever growing collection of art journals
 and I thought I would share some images.






I often do a page when I come across a great QUOTE. 
Something to help me remember it.
I first found this quote when I was making a card for a friend, 
I made her the card and a lovely gift for her birthday 
and the very next day she ended our friendship. 
I wonder if she didn't like my quote.


I am very inspired by the GODDESS.
By all the archetypal stories and legends 
and often explore these themes in my journals.


I am a TREE lover.
Every few pages another tree tends to grow in my journals.
They are the garden of my imagination.


The FEMALE NUDE  is another favorite theme,
this one was in a particularly textured stage.
It's like instant rewind, 
looking back through my journals
 and I can see the stages I was in at that time.


This page was unusual for me as I don't tend to draw angels,
I was playing around with halo's on everything around this time
 and it may have been inspired by a class or a video I had seen at the time.


A scrappy collage all messy and shabby.
I love doing pages like this.
When I have a pile of scraps 
on my table that is when a page like this evolves.


EARTH
Another passion of mine, 
all things earthy and great big boulders stacked up.


Oh look another TREE
this one inspired by the masterful
Gustav Klimt.


BIRDS
 are another beautiful theme I like to explore.


and 
WINDOWS 
and 
DOORS
Just what is out there on the other side ? 
I think its the architectural shapes and the symmetry that I like here.



Thursday, December 29, 2011

Art and Culture




   This is my entry into Lizzie's beautiful 
"Art and Cultures" journal.

Lizzie is from Kidderminster in England,
and her journal is a really beautiful handmade creation, with clever pages that fold out.


As an Australian I have grown up with the culture and art of the Australian Indigenous people
. My work here is heavily influenced by contemparary aboriginal artists and especially the works of my lovely friend Alison Williams~ Contemporary Indigenous Artist, Aboriginal Elder, Wild Woman and all round awesome person. 

Please have a look at her gorgeous works at 

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

creating with the boys


I have had so much 
computer dramas 
in the last half of this year.


I decided to post some of the pics 
from the kids art 
over the years.


MR13 did this one
a few years ago now
~Bird Boy~
as a self portrait / portrait of his
much loved lorikeet
Emerald.
done in pastels


Navy Blue


This was a joint effort with the kids
for Mr8's
3rd birthday <3


the kookaburra and the pirate ship above it, 
done by Mr13 (when he was 8)


Mr13 had an ongoing fascination
 with bushrangers and Australian artists
he did these aged 9


My little one did an amazing job
with these sculpted 
lorikeets
he was 5 or 6


Mr 8 did this bark hut when he was 6
and took out the tio award in the 
Grafton Show <3


Mr8 had a thing for vikings
and used to draw vikings just like this
all over the place.So I got him to draw his very best viking,
and we used it as a template.
He chose the papers and we cut them out
 assembled it all into this.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Felt Play


I love to transform this


into this :-)


Felt play 
is such a beautiful thing to do.
Especially outside
and on a hot day.


I love the way the colours meld but retain their brightness


and all the cool things you can do with felting.
felted rocks and spiral buttons.


and a nest with eggs


and a journal cover .

I can feel some felting fun coming on
over the long hot summer.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Nature, Dreams and Visions


I have had the pleasure this week of working in this beautiful travelling art journal. It was hand made and the above art work was done by Deedee Forrester from California.
Her theme is Nature , Dreams and Visions.
She and I are fellow journey women in the 15 Artists, 15 Journals, 15 Months swap.

Inside her journal there are some very beautiful entries and these lovely words from Deedee~
"Our journals are on a daring flight around the world. Letting go of something we love, something we have started, giving back to each other is as life should be ."

It has been such a pleasure to give my work to Deedee and share my nature, dreams and visions in her lovely journal. I have long admired Deedee's work so was thrilled when she joined up into this swap with me.


Deedee has generously added extra pages into her journal and invited everyone to do more than one if they would like to, so I took her up on her offer and did 2 pages.

The one above I did using stencils and sprays, markers and stamps.
I took this journal down to the local skate park with my boys the other day, and it certainly made those few hours a whole lot more pleasant. 


This page was inspired by one of my favorite lessons I did in a wonderful art journaling course 30 Days with Gulfsprite   taught by the  very talented artist and gifted teacher Christy Sobolewski .


Friday, December 23, 2011

International Art Journal Swap


I have recently shared with you my Totem Animals Journal
that I have traveling with the 15 swap.


I also have another journal out there traveling the world,

I made and decorated its cover
 and introduction pages and sent it on its way.


It has been journeying since 2010
In the


I included a gift of an ATC 
for each contributor in my journal.


This is a spread I did in
 Pearls beautiful
"Poems, Quotes and Verses" Journal


A section of my contribution in 
Milliande's "Connections"


I did a tree of life
inspired by Climt
in Claresters 
"Life on Earth" Journal


Euphaeidae chose a theme close to my heart
Feminine Fertility


So I loved playing in her journal
 and made some interactive pages


And here I have a basket full of journals
 to play in over the next while.


I thoroughly enjoy playing in these traveling journals
and I am eagerly awaiting the day they arrive back home
carrying all the art and dreams my fellow artists have shared.

Artist Trading Card Workshops in Yamba


I am doing a fun kids workshop
making ATCs in Yamba in January 2012.


The ATC  work shop will he held 
at Simply Crafts in Yamba
contact the lovely

 Lisa  and Gabrielle at Simply Crafts

29 Yamba Street

YAMBA NSW 2464 AUSTRALIA

TEL/FAX:6646 3388


This will be a full  5 hour workshop
on Friday 6th January 2012 
and will run from 10.00- 3.00pm.
Cost is $50 including materials.



These pics are from a kids workshop I ran in 
Grafton at the art club last year,
the kids had a fun day and went home with 
a stack of wonderful tiny art works.


A fabulous overview of what ATCs are 
can be found at Cedarseed




Thursday, December 22, 2011

Summer Solstice


Brightest Blessings
and a Blessed Litha
to all of my family and friends in the south
on this longest day of the year.

~ some imagery of past summer solstices celebrated .

Magical Yule Blessings to 
friends in the North

Some information about Summer Solstice

A Litha Prayer for the Earth
author unknown

"Great God, Father of the Earth,
Shine down on this, your strongest day.
Blessed Goddess who gave us Birth,
Bless us who honor your ancient way.
As Summer's light falls to the ground,
lending crops and trees it's power,
the Summer winds blow warm and round,
touching the corn silk and the flowers.
We give you thanks, our Mother Earth,
We praise you, fire of the Sun.
We dance this Solstice day with Mirth,
from dawns' first light 'till the day is done."

and some music for this sacred day






Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A House of Cards


A while back I made a this little house 
card for a special friend.


It is modeled on their cute little cubby/ laundry/ guesthouse 
they generously allowed us to stay in .


It opens up and lays flat so is post able, 
and is made of collage,
Stonehenge paper , modelling compound 
and various paints and ephemera.

It now resides in that gorgeous little cubby , 
as a thank you from us.