Altered Childrens Book - Dumbo AJ

Just a quick look at the pages I worked on this weekend.



Dumbo AJ - Front Cover



Dumbo AJ - Inside Cover



Dumbo AJ - Time to Fly

Tri-Blue Poncho

I wanted to try out this poncho pattern because it's a pattern handed down from my grandmother, my mother taught me. It's a very simple pattern & I have seen this style of poncho many times before.



I have gone a lil' poncho crazy actually. I have almost finished a pink swirly style one for my niece & I have just started a joined motif poncho in a nice grape colour for myself. The weather is ideal for ponchos right now & I need some more winter accessories like scarves, mittens & beanies!

What to choose?

I want some new doodle books, notebooks, sketchbooks etc . . . I do have a few but they all have a purpose already so I think it's more of a need! Oh but what to choose, I have found so many wonderful, cute, useful books . . . I can not pick just one?

1. Alice in Wonderland Altered Journal/Notebook/Diary - AnistaDesigns
2.  Mountain Monster Screen Printed Pocket Moleskine - finestimaginary
3. Plum-Tastic in Green Extra Small Blank Journal - parksideharmony
4. Blog Mouse/Doddle Pad - lazaflair
5. Dangerous Animal notebooks -  MonkeyDogStudio
6. Little Red and Wolfboy Notebook -  theblackapple
7. Wire Bound - Hardback Journal - My Very Important Notes - PressaRussa
8. White Rabbit Altered Journal/Notebook/Diary - AnistaDesigns
9.  Green and Blue on White Mix Tape Journal - NerdJerk

I really love the Blog Pad & I think it will be great to use, especially since I need help in doing more on & with my blog. I'm a sucker for Alice in Wonderland & I love the leather look of these books. I don't know what to pick!!

Paper Play into AJ

One of the things I love about being on holidays is that I can sit around in my daggy clothes. I am planning to have a shower & become presentable shortly. First, I wanted to pop on & share what I was up to this morning with my little paper squares. I have put them into my AJ. I have no idea what I'm going to do now, but they are in there.

Paper Play

I wanted to have a creative play today but I wasn't sure what exactly to do. I bought a box of crayons a few weeks ago & I decided to try them out. I got some scrap patterned paper out & a few other tools to play with. Here is what I came up with.

I ripped the scrap into small squares which I am yet to decide what to do with. At the moment I'm leaning towards using them in my AJ.

My 1st Doily & this morning so far . . .

Tadah! I got this on the 3rd attempt but at least I didn't throw the towel in. I had trouble getting grasp of the pattern, but when I figured out what I was doing wrong it went smoothly. I made this doily from the Berroco yarn website.

This morning I got up early-ish & started to do some . . . creating (I'm not to sure what to call it) with crayons, watercolours, papered paper & bubble wrap. So far so good. But I have no room. My desk is a mess, I need to tidy up. So I'm going to make a fresh cup of tea (my other went cold while I was in my creative tunnel :P), tidy up & get back into it.

Lists 1-8 in Everything Journal

As mentioned before, I have started to put my lists from the 30 Days of Lists challenge into my Everything Journal. I haven't included much for the month of March yet so this will be a good record of what was going on during my life around this time.

I also wanted to share a taste (the yarn I used) for a crochet project that is almost finished. I have a week off work next week so I'm looking forward to using my time productively.

Final Lists (30 Day of Lists) on Listography

30 Days of Lists has ended & here are my final lists.

I bought Crobots by Nelly Pailloux. I'm so excited with what there is to make! Which is exactly what I needed because I have not made an amigurumi in a while. The Babybot on the front cover is so cute. They are quite small though & I'm used to making more medium sized toys. Learning how to attach beads etc & embroider is something I'm looking forward to. I just hope it isn't to fiddly . . .




Other interesting things I want to try:
1. Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread. Yum!
2. Awesome & adorable Leather Coin Purse
3. Workshop - 30 Days of Play
4. Funny Bunnies are so clever & cute!
5. Painted Cross Stitch Wall

Chicken Dumpling Soup

I like soup. I like eating soup & making soup. I seem to make the same soups though. Pea & Ham mainly. So time to try some new soup/s. I used less chilli then the recipe said. I like chilli but you never know how hot it could be. I will be making this one again (with more chilli). Yum!


Chicken Dumplings in Chilli & Ginger Soup

Some Success So Far . . . Vege Garden Update

The Alysmm has little white flowers which are adorable with their tininess.

Success.





Lots of little Salsa Capsicums growing.

Success.

Caterpillars had started to have a go at the Basil, but I have gotten it back on track. I still need to find a way to keep caterpillars away. Any suggestions?

Semi-Success.

The Cucumber I'm unsure of, they are tall with plenty of leaves but the leaves are starting to go yellow. Maybe those bottom round ones are meant to fall off . . . such a learning experience.

Success.

The Tomatoes are going great & have needed the least attention so far.

Easy Success.

Finally the Spring Onions that got re-planted by the dog. They are growing but sparingly & unstructured. I planted some more.

Semi-Success.

Lists on Listography

I have been participating in the 30 Days of Lists using Listography.com. I mainly use this site to keep track of things like movies I watch, music I like, games I play, current to-do & wish list etc. I like using Listography for this challenge because I can add to it as I think of things, I can link items on my lists & it is quick & easy.
List #22 has been my favourite so far. The inspiration for this list introduced me to Jill's Today I Saw blog. I really like this idea & Jill's drawings of what she sees are fantastic.

Here is my list of what I saw on the 22nd of March.

 I have started to transfer these lists into my Everything Journal which I'm looking forward to posting about very soon.

And something I absolutely have to share, my latest Etsy WANT!

Marion Max Fannie Pack

Other interesting things I want to try:

1. Blind Scribble drawing. Great fun!

2. Using a book for an Altered Art Journal

3. Folded Paper: Froebel Star.

4. A super-easy, super-cute bracelet

My Vege/Herb Garden

I got a raised garden bed for Christmas, it took a couple of months to finally set up & get the soil then I was able to get planting. I planted seeds for chives, parsley, cucumber, spring onions, sweet basil & lettuce. Now I have sprouts, yay!

Sweet Basil



Burpless Cucumber

Still waiting for the chives & parsley to come up, the spring onions are a bit all over the place because the dog decided to have a dig so I need to plant some more. I also planted pre grown seedlings of beetroot & cherry tomatoes (which are going great), & a already grown salsa capsicum & red jalapeno plant.

Salsa Capsicum

My Weekend Inspiration

1. Crochet Bunting by PaisleyJade

2. Inspiration Wire by artsychick75  

3. ulubione oblicze zimy by mumkaa

4. A sweet Kiss for you by Daniela.H

5. Ruling Pen & Inktense Pencils by carmelscribe

6. Stack of Squares by Ms.toosh

7. Opposites by Pat Pitingolo

8. Gruppo by Donnaraita

9. Zentangle by PaperArtStudio

EveryDay/Everything Book

I have been inspired to make a small journal for just regular everyday things by this post at Inspiration Everywhere. I love the idea of a SMASH book.

I have the perfect book to do this in. I got it for my birthday. It's cover is made from a recycled license plate.

It's designed as a travel journal but that's not what I'm going to use it for. I like that I can take the individual page out that I am working on. It makes it so much easier especially since the pages are only small. Here are the first few additions to my Everything Journal.

Why I have been MIA

My last post was at the start of last month, how slack! However most of my spare time (until yesterday) was spent reading a 766 page book. Such a fantastic book that I had trouble putting it down (hence no posts), and all other things got neglected. And now I have learnt that it’s a trilogy!! If they are as big & brilliant as the first one then I’m sorry but more neglect will happen. Hehee.



The second book is scheduled to come out in 2012, thats a long wait . . . and movies after that?! Now my addiction to this book is over I am starting to notice other things to do & I have started working on some projects. I also need to pick the next book to read.

My Must Haves AJ Supplies

I enjoyed reading about other Art Journal Everyday participates Must Have Supplies over at Blazer Designs. 

It was interesting to see what other artist use . . . on a regular basis, as I primary set of materials, their favoured tools of creation.

I have decided to share my 5 (set limit) most used medium/tool.

1. Gesso

2. Mod Podge

3. Watercolours

4. Paint Brushes

5. Patterned Paper

Fix It Fridays are Fun!

Fix It Friday #83 - Such a fun photo to edit this week, I couldn't resist. This is the original:

Colour Edit

Black & White Edit

Vintage? Edit

Not only was this photo fun to edit but it has made me want to take some great, fun, action photos of my own!

First Fix-It-Friday

I have been following iheartfaces for a little while now & today (finally) I have participated in something from that blog. Fix-It-Friday #82.

Original:

My Edit:



I like to play around with the lighting/shadows/highlights first. Sometimes the highkey photo effect is good for this. Then the contrast is the next to change. However when I do this, occasionally it tends to leave the person looking washed out like this:

I'm absolutley not the most experienced person on photoshop (far from it). For me I find that adjusting the skin tone can bring warmth & more of a natural glow to the face.