Start to the Weekend.

Ok first of all - we haven't set a wedding date. But today, I tried on a wedding dress for the first time. It was a nice and a little surreal experience. In a way I guess I expected it to be an emotional moment, but then at the time it was...well...it was really just like trying on a REALLY nice dress!
So then I put a veil on, so I might feel a bit more weddingy...and well...i saw a bride in the mirror, and I guess that bride was me! I kind of felt like a kid dressing up. Like I was still just putting a beach towel over my head and pretending it was a veil. I tried on 2 amazingly beautiful dresses...but I don't think either of them are going to be my wedding dress. I'll know my wedding dress when I see it.

I really can't wait to be married. I think the exciting thing is that I'm going to be married to the love of my life. Not the wedding. I feel good about that though - I mean - that's why you get married right? Because you want to marry your life with someone elses. Although the wedding part is pretty exciting... =)

Lisa (my friend) & Jayde (my sister) are up for the weekend so we've been catching up, doing lots of shopping, eating, playing guitar hero (yes - I'm the Summer Drummer!) and we watched 'Bride Wars' tonight, which I actually really enjoyed! We're all feeling weddinged out though now.

I just read Mem Fox's "The Green Sheep" three times to Ari and now she's fast asleep...and I nearly am too.

Goodnight,

Flavour Series + Print Progress

I've nearly finished my "Vanilla Cherry" painting. (about time!). The reason this one has taken longer than expected is that I keep changing it. Chopping and playing with it until it's just right. I promise I'll post piccies very soon.

I've already got some ideas for the next one in my 'flavour' series too. It's going to be "LIME!". I never used to like Lime flavoured things as a kid (especially lolly snakes and jellybeans - ew. the green ones are always the last ones left), but as an adult I've come to discover the amazing "Lime Spider". Lemonade or Sprite, some Lime milkshake syrup, and a dollop of Vanilla Ice-Cream - Heaven! Oh! Speaking of soft drink...I found my beloved Vanilla-Coke back on the supermarket shelves! Yaaay!

I've also made some progress on the printing front. Today I worked out how to scan my images in at a higher dpi so that I can create awesome art prints. I can see them coming to fruition in the near future. So keep an eye out.

OK now I'm off to change a pooey nappy, put a very tired baby down for a nap, and then maybe get to finish this painting!

Much Love,

*nerd moment alert!*

I just checked my google analytics account and it says that my traffic to this blog is up by 1600% this week!! OMG. Wow. I am so flattered. Can that be right? If so, if you're reading this right now, then I have to say I'm so very thankful that you have taken the time out of your day to read about my goings on! hehe. that's all i wanted to say...x

Girly Time.

I had some much needed girly time last night with one of my best friends - Tabitha (or Tabi as she is affectionately known.) She picked me up, and we went to Sunshine Plaza, while Ari stayed with my mum. We ate sushi at the new sushi train there, and then browsed the shops, but mostly sat and talked and ate frozen yoghurt and it was wonderful. You know what? I didn't even buy anything! Well, apart from dinner, which was also my belated birthday present to Tabi. It was so nice to have some girly time again. I don't think I realised how much I missed it.

3 Cameos

Yesterday I made and took photos of 3 new cameo necklaces. My favourite is the pink & cream fairy one, and I only have 1 of them! While I thought long and hard about keeping it for myself, I decided to list it as an auction so that anyone can name their price on it!
I will eventually order more of these pink fairy cameo settings...but for now there's only 1.
You can click on the photos to go to their listings.

Tonight I'm going out for sushi & shopping with one of my best friends Tabi! I haven't had sushi in ages! Yum.

Dreaming of Spookier Times...

Can I just say...I kinda love the idea of Halloween. I know that there are many deeper darker traditions associated with the occasion, but I really love the simple concepts of Halloween. Dressing up, making fun of 'scary' things, making new friends, and while eating a bucket load of lollies....what could be better? Oh yeah, Christmas.

It's a shame that us Aussies don't celebrate Halloween in the same way that the USA do. I find we kind of do a half-assed job of Halloween. I think it's slowly catching on...year by year...slowly...more kids are trick-or-treating...we are seeing more decorations coming out in the shops...but I just think it would so OH SO DREAMY to decorate like this...

Jaz x

sick =(

I feel worse today. So I went to the Dr this morning. When I got there the receptionist asked me if I had any flu type symptoms and when I said yes, she directed me to the corner of the waiting room which was sectioned off for 'flu patients'. I was sitting there looking like Michael Jackson with a surgical mask on...thinking "yeah, so if I didn't have the flu when I got here, I'm going to have it by the time I leave".

Anyway, I've got some antibiotics now. So for the remainder of the day I'll be resting up, drinking tea, and hopefully getting a little bit of painting done...

Jaz x

Mixing Flavours

Today I'm working on another "flavour" painting. Following on from "Blueberry" - I've decided to do a "Vanilla" themed piece. The thing is...I keep getting "Cherry" in my head as well...I can't shake it. I think I dreamt about a cherry painting. While I still feel driven to continue this vanilla painting...I think it's actually going to be a flavour mix. Vanilla Cherry. Hey, if Coca-Cola can do it - why can't I?

Oh - and speaking of Coke - where has all the Vanilla Coke gone? I'm starting to get very worried about the lack of it on our supermarket shelves...it's my favourite!

Rose Amongst the Butterflies

Hello!

I've just uploaded some pics of my newest painting. It's called "Rose Amongst the Butterflies". It's kind of a play-on-words in a way...like a rose amongst the thorns...I don't know...the name just fit!

She's painted on a wood panel (so nice and smooth to paint on!), which is signed by me and then lacquered to protect the piece. She hasn't been listed for sale yet because I'm trying to figure out how to frame her. I usually sell my paintings "ready-to-hang", but I'm having a hard time trying to find the right frame for this. Until I find one...I'm wondering if I should sell her 'as is' (unframed)...so that the buyer can decide what type of frame they would like...I'm not sure? What do you think?

Had a better day today with Ari & Wade. They've both improved a lot. =) Yay!

Playing Dr.

Just a quick post...

It's 6:40pm and it's the first time I've sat down at the computer all day. Which is strange for me! I can hardly think straight at the moment. There's so much going on, and both Ari & Wade have come down with tonsilitis! Ari is awake every hour or so through the night, screaming...the poor thing. She doesn't want to eat and barely wants to drink. She's been to the Dr and she's on antibiotics...so I'm hoping they'll kick in and do their job very soon. I also took Wade to the Dr today and he's on antibiotics too. Oh, and in between that Drs visit and the rest of my day, I had to get a blood test as well (just checking sugar levels and so forth - nothing to worry about!). This was all done by 10am.

Anyway, tonight I'm going to try and finish the painting that I'm working on. I'll post pics as soon as it's done. If not tonight then in the morning. Hopefully we'll all get some sleep tonight...

Tick Tock

Last night I stayed up late again listing a ton of my Beanie Babies on eBay. I've collected Ty Beanie Babies on an off for the past 10 years or so. My collection now stands at around 300 beanies (all collectable/some very rare) and they are stored in 2 LARGE storage containers at the moment. In approximately 8 weeks we'll be moving house and we really have to de-clutter before then! Tons of stuff needs to go. Which made me realise that I should sell some of my Beanie Collection (at least 1 of the containers!) which will be less to move and also might make a few dollars to help in the move. So far I've listed 71 of them - I'll be listing more later tonight. You can view the listings HERE.

Wade was home again sick today, which was nice having him home, but of course it's not nice that he has to be sick. Anyway, this afternoon I managed to get a little more work done on this painting (see pic left). Just added in a little more detail on the face. She's coming along nicely...

OH! This morning Gemma & Kurt came over for a play, and I noticed something on Ari's head. When I looked closer I realised it was a tick! eek. Luckily it was only a very small one, and with the help of Gemma, we got it out without her even noticing anything. The tick must have dropped onto her head while she's been outside. Lucky we're moving back to the city =)

Framing?

Wade's sick. He's home today with a cold. Hope it's not the flu. Or Swine Flu. =(

Last night I took a couple of photos of a painting that I'm currently working on:
It's on a fairly thin panel (approx 5mm) of really smooth wood. I LOVE painting on something so smooth and it allows the colours to blend really nicely as well. I'm slowly adding in more and more details...I'm still not 100% sure what else to put in it at the moment..So far I'm picturing it as a colourful piece with butterflies and maybe some other insects...

My only worry is how to frame it when it's done...?