Floating Around in Bubbles

Holiday 'Snaps'

2012-01-22T17:26:00.001+10:30

I went for a mini holiday this weekend in the CBD of Adelaide... Last night my work friends and I had our belated Christmas Bollywood Party. It was a blast!!! Everyone got dressed in gorgeous, colourful traditional sarees (mine was green of course) and other Indian clothing, ate amazing food, danced and laughed!!! We all took loads of photos but the pics I'm sharing here are what I drew on my way home on the train... after having a delicious yum cha breaky and going for a wander up and down Rundle Mall.

Firstly, I did an owl getting speed wobbles while riding on a rough road (the Tour Downunder was on and I've owls on the brain from doing my Sketchbook Project), one of my shoes (without the blisters and bandaids... nobody wants to see that!), and my groovy new bag (holiday souvenir).

Then as I gazed out the window at the gorgeous sea view our train has most of the way home, I drew a pelican, then gave him a few friends.

I haven't worked out why my suns always look unfinished without a face, but it could stem from living in the world of make believe half the time!

Always feels so good to draw!

Hope your weekend was just as amazing as mine!

Owls and the Sketchbook Project

2012-01-16T23:50:00.002+10:30

I joined the Arthouse Sketchbook Project late last year - all of a few weeks ago! (saying "last year" makes it sound so long ago!). We had various themes to choose from and I've chosen 'Why did the owl make everyone laugh?'. Well, why not, I thought, everyone needs a good laugh now and then... thinking that it would just be awesome to draw heaps of owls and things that made others laugh. Note I said 'others' and not 'people'. You know I can't draw humans very well... and if you didn't, you do now!!

I've been drawing quite a few sketches over the past couple of weeks, and have finally drawn one I'm happy to share. Its still in pencil form and scanned pretty rough but I think its pretty cool. Its not exactly an owl, but these birds behave like owls, so I'm including them in my project.

This first owl is a Tawny Frogmouth, an Australasian 'owl', famous for pretending to be tree branches or squawking with their big yellow mouths open to scare intruders away. I love them. They have so much character and attitude! Their chicks are totally adorable too, all you can see are fluffy feathers, big black eyes and huge sharp beaks!

If you need a quick art fix or want to learn more about this project, check out Arthouse Sketchbook Project or the Sketchbook Project group at RB.

You can never have too much art or creativity in your life!

ArtDolls and ATCs

2011-08-28T17:27:00.000+09:30

Life is wonderful... but you all know that!!! My world is surrounded by art ... at work and at home. What more could I ask (apart from more time so I can get more creations finished!!).

Here is my latest creation. She's an ArtDoll for a swap at an online world of creativity, Born2Create. I've named her 'Piper the Happy Hippy'. So named because of what she's made from... pipe cleaners!

The pipe cleaner bones are covered with calico strips and matt modpodge, that great glue that sticks just about anything! Her hair is made from fake ostrich feathers (wool) and her face is painted with copic markers.The necklace is acrylic crystal beads threaded on blue wire... I love the coloured wires we can get these days. Not just gold, silver or clear anymore!

She has a sunflower in her hair which, when down, is nearly down to her knees and wears groovy hippy style cotton print clothes - trimmed with zigzag scissors (can't remember their correct name!) and handstitched.

So that's Piper, all finished and packed into an envelope, ready for her trip to WA... where hopefully, she'll be well received!

Still crazy about ATCs (Art Trading Cards). They are such wonderful little artworks that just get the creative side of the brain working really well. I found a box of them at work and when I've a spare moment, they'll be added around this wooden frame we have on a wall in the shop (Country Bumpkin). So many amazing creations... all embroidered by hand. Such inspiration!!!

I swap my ATCs both locally and online. In the past few months we'd had themes from 'Friendship' through to 'Way Out West'. Mostly I create my ATCs with papers, fabrics, inks, glimmermist (and other paints), scissors, punches, pipe cleaners, bling and beads, plus a few (!) other things.

Crochet has also been entering the creative space these days... must be all the cold weather! Scarves, gloves and flowers have been created...

I'm just having so much fun!!! Hope you are too... Happy creating everyone :D

Friendship, swaps with Born2Create

Coffee, Tea and Meeee, swaps with Born2Create

Blue, swaps with the locals

DSP - Polkadots and Stripes, swaps with Born2Create

Oriental, swaps with the locals

Baby Girl, swaps with Born2Create

Twinchie Swap with Kerri from B2C

The Beach, swaps with the locals

A Day in the Life - for Drawing Day

2011-06-04T23:23:00.000+09:30

A most exciting day in the life of me...

I woke up (always a good start to the day), fed Socks our cat, had coffee, started a sketch, gazed out the kitchen window, played games on my iphone, destroyed the greys in my hair (and almost turned it orange but that's ok... better than grey!!!), had lunch and another coffee, chatted to our neighbours (their rabbits anyway), mowed the grass, pulled all the weeds and soursobs up, sang Meatloaf and The Beatles loudly while mowing and weeding (with the headphones on so didn't hear my horrid singing voice, therefore sounded brilliant!!!), had dinner, watched the box (Dr Who, then a movie 'the Ugly Truth' (very funny!) and now 'Notting Hill' while typing this for Drawing Day)... so far, that's my day. Told you it was exciting!!!!

Thanks for looking... I enjoyed my day and I hope you had a wonderful Drawing Day too!!!
:D
Jenny

ps... I'll get the textas out in a bit and see if I can't improve my scribbles... wish me luck :D

Its Today!

2011-06-04T10:26:00.002+09:30

Happy Drawing Day to you!!

My Drawing Day is off with a flying start... or hopping I should say! The neighbours are visiting on this gorgeous sunny morning. Decided to draw a 'day in the life of me' cos my life is so exciting it needs to be recorded!!! lol

I'll get outside in a bit and give you a closer look at our friends. Hopefully they'll visit for a while today. Mowing the grass will have to wait till later!

Stay tuned :D

Its Drawing Day - Saturday 4th June 2011

2011-06-04T00:40:00.002+09:30

Just the other day while I was flicking through the calendar seeing what was coming up in May and June, I remember thinking... 'cool, Drawing Day is coming up!' Well, it feels like it was just the other day!! Its incredible how fast the time flies.

What a wonderful way to end the week... these last few have been more hectic than usual... but the embroidery magazine has gone to the printers (well nearly, at least the patterns have gone) and so I can relax again and get back to not being such a workaholic. Yay!!! Love the job though... I get to draw for a living, even if its only tracing! Its all good!!!

I've some groovy new textas to play with tomorrow and some beautiful paper to draw on... Just need to think of something to draw... but I'll leave that until I've had a snooze. At least it'll be easy to catch up on what everyone's drawn... Redbubble has a group dedicated to Drawing Day here. See you there!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Drawing Day!!!

Bubble Analytics - Easy to add, Useful to have

2011-05-01T11:50:00.000+09:30

With huge thanks to Mitch and Karin both of Redbubble, I found out that Google Analytics is now available! We've waited years to be able to add this kind of data collection code.

The following is where it was found and a quick blurb about what it is (thanks to RB)...
Home → Knowledge Base → Advanced RedBubble →
Google Analytics
RedBubble allows you to use Google Analytics to track and report on visitors to your profile and works.
To use this feature, you will need an account with Google Analytics.
If you already use Google Analytics, you can add your RedBubble profile and works pages to your Google Analytics account using your "Web Property ID".

my entry for the Longest Illustration forum

Can't believe its been this long since I actually wrote anything... time flies so fast when you've loads of work to do. But at least our bills are getting paid!!! And I'm getting lots of practice coding with html and php website pages for Country Bumpkin. One day, the site will get a complete overhall, but until then, I'm just updating products, articles, events, home page and other stuff... plus I produce their webletters each week. The overhall will more than likely done by Fab, our new graphic designer, but I'll be her sidekick for the grand event! Hopefully Lynton (our other graphic designer) will get interested in having a go too, cos its such a great job creating websites!
My inner nerd loves doing this job... geez, I don't know, fancy getting a thrill from pressing the "send" button at MailChimp or uploading a page to the admin!!!!

On the home front, living in a house again is fantastic. Lots more work than having a unit cos there's more to clean and fix but having the space is amazing!!! And even though I spend more time mowing grass and pulling weeds than actually gardening, its great having the veggie plots there to use when I eventually find more time to dig and plant!
At least I've managed to read a book (a really short one and I was sick at the time, which sort of slowed me down!), create a few ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) while discovering my inner scrapbook addict, paint a pic for the Longest Illustration and ahem, play facebook and iphone games. Ahhh... but good news, I've just recently managed to squish my fb game addiction. Can't say the same for the phone... I've got drawing apps, camera apps, The Creeps!, Plants vs Zombies, MailChimp app (cos I can't seem to turn work off), Pocket God, GodFinger and a 'few' others. If I wasn't scrapping and drawing and painting as well, I'd be really worried that I'd become a total game nerd...

What are you up to these days? Any exciting news? Huge news (I'm a bit behind but this I do know!!) Karin has *sold over 2000 items*... such an incredible thing to do!! I'm soooo happy for her!!!! May she (and us all) sell many 1000s more!

Nice chatting to you again, I promise not to leave it so long next time!

Happy bubbling,
:D
Jenny

A Flashback About Thongs

2010-10-23T11:53:00.005+10:30

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

2010-09-16T13:42:00.002+09:30

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

2010-01-02T18:13:00.000+10:30

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).

Happy Holidays and Super Sales

2009-10-20T12:52:00.004+10:30

Wow... time certainly flies really fast these days. It's over halfway through October already!!! I've been a bit quiet lately, but not so quiet I didn't notice Darren's generous idea... Donating calendars to Aussie Helpers. Mind you, that was just yesterday! What a great thing to do. I urge you all to try and help if you can, but if not, pass on the word so that others who don't know Darren can find out how to help as well.

While I was away driving around the countryside of Victoria, I had a few sales!!!! One was a win from a challenge, but the others I have no idea who bought the other items, so a huge THANK YOU goes out to the Universe for buying my work... 2 tees and 2 prints!!!! wOo Hoo!!!!

Dandilions

Incoming Tide ... a large framed print

Koala Heaven

Koala Heaven was sold to Ravenmadd with many thanks!

Butterflies Galore2 ... a large canvas print

While I was away, I took hundreds of photos, so I'll be sure post some photos very soon! Hopefully, there'll be enough photos to create an animal calendar to compliment my other 2010 calendars.

I've also got the most awesome photo of the moon (if I don't say so myself) and a bit of artwork I created on Sunday. So nice having an Arty Sunday!

Last of all... for those of you who love colouring in, Wacom have a new competition on... Ink Write Win. It may or may not be nearly over, but go on over and have a look. They've not got loads of entries so you've got more than half a chance of winning one of their new Bamboo wacom gadgets!!! Good luck :D

Thanks for listening / reading all my news. I hope you all have a totally beautiful day!!!

ps... if you go to Loft in the Mill tell them Thelma and Louise sent you!!

Feathered Friends

2009-04-26T22:51:00.011+09:30

When floating around the bubbles of RedBubble, watch out for these two birds as they chirp and chatter in the Tshirt gallery of GG.

They're also happy to show off on greeting cards and prints for your walls. These two can even be seen dressing up Keds' shoes at Zazzle's GeorgiegirlofRB.

I hope this works :D