A Flashback About Thongs

These are the thongs I sent to Angela van Boxtel, to be included in her amazing Ozzie Thong Art Fence. Thanks to Angela, I have photos!!! I totally forgot to take them before sending them off to her in Manly!
I have another pair waiting for my complete attention, but they can't decide if they want to be covered in ants and bugs or oceanic critters. Wish they'd make up their minds!!!

Acrylic paint, stickers, Smooch, markers/textas and green butterflies.
The green butterfies were readymade but I retwirled their wires and added more bling!!! 
Photography by Angela van Boxtel.

Acrylic paint and flowers created with texture paste. 
Photography by Angela van Boxtel.

If you'd like your old thongs to be hung up on the Ozzie Thong Art Fence with all the other incredible works of art, contact Angela van Boxtel.
Decorate your thongs however you like... some have used natural resources like sand and shells, others have used knitting!! They all look amazing... why not pop over and have a look!!!
If you're on Facebook, simply go to the Ozzie Thong Art Fence FB page.


Flashback 2010 is finished and waiting in Blurb for you to rush out and buy your very own copy. Its a fantastic book filled with an assortment of short stories with no more than 150 words each. So you can have a quick read while waiting for the kettle to boil without having to stop and lose track of the whole story.

While you're in Blurb ordering Flashback 2010, why not order the first book, Flashback 2009, at the same time and save heaps on postage? 
There are so many talented writers in Redbubble, as you can see in this groovy book... and you can thank Anne and Cathryn, two hosts of the Redbubble Flash Fiction group, for making it all happen.

A is for Art

If this year isn't careful, it'll get a ticket for speeding! You'll be pleased to hear I've managed to have a whole day a week just for Art. Well, I'm pleased anyway! I've been creating ATCs (Artist Trading Cards to swap and collect), greeting cards, drawing, painting (practising watercolours) and learning to scrapbook pages (they're not that different to ATCs, just a tad larger). Luckily for me, my favourite art and scrapbooking shop, Abundantias Gold is not far away, and they've endless support, ideas and inspiration.

Having a day a week just for art has created a calm and relaxed lifestyle, just the way life should be. And although I love my work, its so good to be making art a priority. All I have to do now is fit back in photography, animation and of course, more time in Redbubble.

Do you love Australian wildlife? What about quilting and embroidery? You'll love this book by Betty Johnston. She not only created an incredible handstitched Australian quilt, but she's also turned into an amazing book. 

Mrs Echidna's Dilemma by Betty Johnston

Both the book and the quilt tell the story of a beautiful echidna and her search for a suitable home. Its called Mrs Echidna's Dilemma and although a board book, its for all ages and all walks of life. Every home, school and library in Australia should have a copy of this amazing book.

Redbubble is growing and improving constantly... the talent over there is so incredible. If you haven't had a look yet, why not start by visiting this amazing collaboration? The Superheroes Childrens Alphabet Gallery or go for a quick read of unique fiction.
Happy Bubbling!!
(translation... "have a bubbly day")

Hopes, Dreams and Aspirations

2010 has arrived with a flying start... no more saying two thousand and nine, now we're to sound like a cricket match! Twenty ten indeed. I still remember thinking as a child that by 2010 we'd be wearing silver space suits, eating hydrated food (from pills like the Jetsons) and drive flying cars. Its amazing how fast we as children think the world changes. I know its fast, but not that fast!!!! Maybe one day we'll each get a rocket like Origami Man's so we can meet the Venus Fly Trap too.

If a certain little Black Duck can fly through space without a helmet and oxygen tank in the 25th and a half Century, there's no reason to think that we can't do that too one day. What do you mean, he's only a cartoon? Try telling him that!!! 

Just lately, I've managed to take half a day out from the world and give myself an Art Day. I've discovered the world of ATCs. ATCs are Art Trading Cards, miniature masterpieces that you trade with other artists, both locally and throughout the world. Country Bumpkin did a similar trading scheme a while back with their members creating embroidered, cross stitched and smocked ATCs. All ATCs, whether embroidered, painted or scrapbooked are amazing and so inspiring. 

At a recent get together with local artists at Abundantias Gold (that's an FB group link) we found that even with the same base stock, each of us created something so totally different. So different that they don't look like they came from the same sheet of paper!!! Abundantias Gold is also the home of Scrapbooking SA. Each month we have a theme and October's theme was Halloween (surprise). My favourite out of the ones I created was Owl of Paper n Ink...

My big plan for 2010 is to have a whole day or two devoted to art... any kind at all including photography. Hopefully, my time management skills will get kickstarted into action sometime soon, so I can fit everything I want to do into each day! Until then, I'll just have to learn to juggle better or learn not to sleep (like that's ever going to happen).