No waaaaayyyy!!!!!

Markus!!!

I'm shocked!!

(seriously though, wtg Nas!!! lol)

Oh. Dear. Lord.

Helllooooooooooo Mr Hordichuk!!

I know, I know, I know - those 6 words hardly constitiute serious hockey analysis, and I do try so hard to keep the inner bunny under control.

But sheeesh, I have a pulse!! (and it appears to be going a little faster than usual!)

This is what happens....

....when you give a digital SLR to a 6 year old and say "take a nice pic of mummy's new haircut"

:D

From Alison, to the Charmed ladies (and gent)....

A few months back, a group of you came together to make a gorgeous gift for Alison, who is *still* in hospital - one year today :(

Allie doesn't have all your addresses, so has asked me to pass on this, her thank you note, via my blog

Thanks, everybody, from me too

Happy V-Day everyone

I hope everyone's having a good lurrrrrrve day :)

I've woken in a strop because the curse of Friday 13th cost my Canucks a win in Dallas, but hopefully it will get better as the day goes on, eh?

Here's my card for Ian.....I went for something a little non trad because I'm not really the slushy lovey dovey type, so wanted something a bit different from the usual hearts and flowers. Bah humbug :)

Alison came up with the line "my Valentine makes me smile" (ta bessie! good one) and this is what I came up with



Andy Warhol eat your heart out :D

Am actually quite pleased with this one as it is the first three part stencil I've ever cut, and I really like the look - especially the way everything doesn't quite line up properly so it leaves the odd white bit reminiscent of 1960s litho prints.

I will definitely be cutting more 3-parters.

Here's the original image from google that I based the stencil on:

OWOH - we have a winner!

It's drawing day for One World One Heart 2009, and the winner of my shrine or necklace (winner's choice) was comment # 97 of 228 - SpiritMama!

SpiritMama said...
Your shrines are so wonderful, I would love to win one!
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway!

Waxela (wa-shay-la)
SpiritMama
http://www.spiritmama-art.blogspot.com/

Good luck to the Dancing Queens!

It's my turn again to host the newbie CJ over at UKScrappers, I always enjoy this opportunity to get ten innocent victims hooked on circle journals :)

I am a CJ pusher *insert evil cackle*

This time around the girls have voted to call themselves the Dancing Queens (they were on a bit of an Abba kick at the time...), and so I thought this silhouette of laydeees having a boogie 70s style would be just right for their "good luck, enjoy your first CJ" cards.

Nice easy cards, as I had to make 10 (not sure why I only photographed 9, I deffo made 10), and didn't have much time.... a bit of spin n splash (never get tired of that toy!), some gold card for matting, a couple of gems, a bit of ink stippled around the edge, 'good luck' stamped inside, bish bash bosh, job's a goodun :)

Have fun with the CJ queenies!

nice lady just came round and cut my hair....

I can see again! yay! (my fringe was down to my chin before lol)

I like it, maybe I ought to start getting it cut more than once a year :)

Forgot to take a decent photo ...

... this was just snapped with my phone

A needle felted tree (and somewhat wonky sun) for Alison's birthday card

I hope she likes it

Fashions change, but ink is forever

This is, I think, my penultimate Tattoo CJ entry. Pity because I've really enjoyed this circle.

This is for Rhian's CJ which had an open theme - ie anything at all to do with tattoos goes.

I thought I'd do something about how each decade has its own signature style, I should know, like everyone else who had a tattoo in the mid 80s I have a Celtic armband :D

The big craze in the noughties is apparently stars, which are far and away the most popular tattoo at the moment, especially for girls. Kat Von D has a lot to answer for :)


The background paper I made for this entry is one of those impossible-to-photograph jobbies, as it's heavy on the glimmer mist and has lots of fairly subtle stamping that doesn't really show up on the pics, but you get the general gist.

It's orange and red distress inks on heavy watercolour paper, with gold, copper, and red glimmer mists on top, and over stamping using red, orange and pink distress inks and rust Stazon.



This CJ is also my first ever attempt at sewing on paper, I haven't done the neatest job but I'm glad I gave it a go.

The title was stamped and embossed with pearlescent garnet EP from Stampendous.

And the dymo-stylee labels were made with my Around The Block label maker using some of their "designer" tape

and that's about it

Wrong bench Kes!

oops!

from last night's game vs Nashville

a post NHL career as a human cannonball beckons

seriously, I haven't seen the game yet, I hope he's ok! looks like his landing was softened by a number of Preds though so I expect he's fine.

What's your dream tattoo...?

...if money, time, pain, work etc etc were no object....

that was the question asked by Anna, the owner of the latest journal I've come to tackle in the Tattoo CJ.

I wasn't sure what to do at first as I already have my dream tattoo, my beautiful orcas. But then I thought of all the cool places I'd like to have tattoos if it wasn't for my job.... and this is what I came up with.



Anna's album is one of those see through acrylic jobbies. Which was SO much fun to work on! I enjoyed the challenge of knowing that the work on each side would show through to the other side etc etc.

It was a bugger to photograph though, hence me taking it out into the garden and holding it up to the sky, please excuse my two week old nail varnish that really needs to come off!

Nothing fancy on here technically speaking. Hand was just cut out from patterned paper that I had laid my own hand on and drawn around. Letters are Heidi Swapp I think from an old Costco kit, sprayed with irridescent gold glimmer mist and coated with stickles. Neither of which really show up on the photo, the red stickles on the tiny heart don't either, but they are there, honest.

The swallow and the "take a walk..." are rub ons.

The file folder on the back opens to reveal the journalling:



Ummm, what else? The flourishes around the outside are Autumn Leaves stamps stamped with royal purple Stazon.

and all the rest of the stamping on the back page is snow cap Ranger pigment ink

This was much fun, thanks for the challenge Anna!

One World One Heart 2009

***edited to add - comments are now CLOSED***

Oops! I'm a little late getting my One World One Heart giveaway up on my blog - time ran away with me a little, as it has a habit of doing.

Hopefully there's still plenty of time for people to find me and sign up, as the big draw for all the winners won't take place until Thursday February 12th.

You may be familiar with OWOH already from other blogs, or the article in Artful Blogging, but if not, check out the site >>here<< to read all about the big giveaway, how it started, what it all means, how much fun it is to blog hop and meet new friends from all over the blogosphere, and most importantly, the list of all the bloggers taking part, and the amazing "prizes" you might win!

I am offering a custom gift to the winner on my blog, a choice of either a personalised mini shrine, or a necklace:

If you win, and would like the shrine, I will make it around any theme you choose, here are a couple of examples:

The one on the left was on a bird theme, the one on the right is my own little offering to the gods of hockey, hoping that they will take mercy on my team(s) and grant them the odd win (it isn't working!!!!). You could choose any theme you like - maybe hearts, inspired by One World One Heart, or perhaps I could incorporate photos of your children or pets.....or, well, anything :) I like a challenge :D


If you would prefer the necklace, this will consist of a stamped / collaged / etc pendant in a Ranger memory frame, again to your own theme, strung on a necklace with beads etc appropriate for the colour scheme. Please specify square or rectangular frame, and how long you would like the chain. Here's a bad photo of a simple one I made for a Halloween swap, just to give you an idea:


Whichever one you go for, there will also be some extra goodies in with your prize, you won't be disappointed ;)


Entering for this giveaway is simple:

1. Please leave a comment on this post. Just one comment please.

2. You don't have to have your own blog to enter, but please make sure there is a way for me to contact you if you win.

3. This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere, worldwide

4. You have until Wednesday February 11th, 2009 to leave your comment. I will draw the winner at random on Thursday February 12th, as will all the other OWOH participants.

5. Don't forget to visit the OWOH site for the full list of all participating bloggers - 400+ and counting!!

6. I wish you the Best of British luck!!!!

Old Skool!

I think I've actually finished this month's fabric CJ entry - for RainbowJoy - ahead of the due date - whoot!!!

I am still on my embroidery kick, can you tell? :D I really need to do something a little different next month, maybe felting....

Anyway - back to this month. The other CJ I am currently in is tattoo themed, and clearly the tattoo vibe has cross pollenated over to the fabric CJ this month.

I have always loved the old school "Sailor Jerry" style of bold, iconic tattoo designs, not that I have any like that me'self. But I love them on other people - swallows, nautical stars, pin up girls and of course the classic sacred heart.

So - I sketched a sacred heart with scroll onto linen, and embroidered over the top with black thread for the outline, and various different variegated threads for the colour.

The "MUM" is black satin cord couched onto the top of the scroll with black cotton.

The "old school" is hand drawn onto cream hockey tape

And I got the lovely fabric from good old ebay

I made a bit of a mess of the binding, which is a pain, (it's not as wonky at the top right corner as the photo makes it look, though) - but I'm still a novice at this quilting thang. I'll get the hang of it eventually.

It had to happen eventually

In fact, I'm amazed it didn't happen sooner

To be honest, for a fight that's been brewing for 6 years, it was a bit of a disappointment in the end, kind of a damp squib

But hopefully it was enough to close off that unfinished business...

John's new solo album is out tomorrow

Can't wait.

I haven't read any reviews or fan opinions, and have only heard the one track that was on his MySpace. I've ordered a copy but I don't know when it will arrive, as it's coming across from the States. I'll hear it when I hear it (but I hope it's soon!)

The photo made me double take. I've missed this man, and breathing underwater.

Friday Five catch up

The hlog girls went with a Sunday Seven this week instead of a Friday Five, so here it is, along with last week's Five that I seem to have missed:

1. Do you have a day off from work or school for MLK day?

I’m guessing this is Martin Luther King day? That one’s not recognised over here…

2. Are you sick of the unusually hot or cold weather?

Who has unusually hot weather? And can I move there?! Freeeeezing here today, we are all sat in the office with our coats still on, shivering

3. Do you care about the football playoffs?

Nope, I’m not hugely interested in any kind of football, either the English or the American kind. I do very occasionally watch a bit of CFL, especially when the BC Lions are on, but to be honest I don’t really know what’s going on half the time (Kat needs to give me some pointers :) )

4. What new TV show do you like this season?

Ummm, I can’t think of anything, the IT Crowd was good but the series was short and is already over. Ditto Ace of Cakes, which seems to have been bumped a couple of shows in (sob). Heroes series 4 is due to start soon I think, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m not really watching anything else….except ‘ockey.

5. What's the next DVD on your Netflix queue or on your list to rent?

I don’t really rent movies, I don’t have time to watch them. I did make an exception last week to watch the Love Guru – which I instantly regretted as it sucked HARD. But generally, the only films I get to see are kiddy ones with my 6 year old, so the last one was Alvin and the Chipmunks :)

6. What book or magazine are you currently reading?

I usually have a couple of books and mags on the go at any given time – I’m currently making my way through this month’s Somerset Studios and Cloth Paper Scissors, and I’m also part way through reading two books – Bad Science by Ben Goldacre and Open Ice by Jack Falla

7. Is anyone else sad that we have to wait 11 months for Xmas?

No! I need that long to recover from the last one!


1. Do you make New Year's Resolutions?
Not really, sometimes half heartedly, this year not at all. I do have goals, but they aren’t new year specific.

2. How much TV do you watch?

Not that much – although it’s almost always on (kids watching Spongebob etc)

3. What kind of pet would you like to own?

A dog, definitely, but it would have to wait until I’m retired or something daft, as I don’t think it’s fair to have a dog alone in the house while everyone’s out at work and school. As far as lower maintenance pets go, we already have a pair of lovely friendly rats and the cutest pygmy hedgehog on the planet.

4. Do you recycle?

Yes. I’d want to anyway, but the tiny waste bins the council give us mean that I haven’t got much choice.

5. Have you just wandered around the town that you live in?

Just aimlessly? Not really. I don’t tend to do much without a purpose. And it isn’t the most exciting or pretty town, to be fair.

it's not quite Big In Japan...

.... more like 5 minutes of fame in Taiwan.... but hey, I'll take it :D

My mate Anam over in Oil Country was approached at the tail end of last year by a tattoo magazine from Taiwan called 'Tattoo Extreme', as they wanted to run a piece on her tattoo-related scrapbooking.

They were clearly impressed by what she sent them as the result was a 7 page article (should have been 8 pages but one got missed off in a printing error, apparently)

You can see the full article here

And at the top of page 7 (see above), if you look very carefully, you'll find me :)

Three of the bits on that page are mine, and there are also contributions from my Tattoo CJ pals Lori and Willow, and the lovely Rhomany too.

Great fun - thanks for including me in your project, Anam x

I'm slowly playing catch up....

I have been getting worryingly behind with my collaborative commitments recently, partly because life in general has been busy, and partly because the fabric work I have been doing is so much more time consuming than paper stuff.

So I am pleased to have got another entry for the Tattoo CJ done and dusted

This is Vicky's book and her theme is "My First Tattoo"

Well, my first tattoo is verrry old :)

I had it done when I was just 16 (sorry Dad!!!!), and it is a Hawkwind logo.

For those of you too young to remember the space rock geniuses (geneii??) that were Hawkwind, here's what the logo is supposed to look like:


And here is the oh-so-cute Dave Brock, who was singer/guitarist in the band in their best era:



I got a Christmas card from him one year, I nearly fainted with joy!
I've still got it somewhere.....must try to find it......

Ahhh, Hawkwind, Here and Now, the Stonehenge free festival, those were the days!

Anyway, back to the CJ

The background was made with glimmer mists (which makes it so difficult to photograph!) and a mask I cut of the band logo from acetate.

There is also a fair bit of stamping of suitably "space rocky" swirls and things using pigment inks in toning colours.

I highlighted my tattoo on the photo with a little pronged frame thing (I can't remember the proper word for these - a conch? something like that), stamped and embossed the title, handwrote the journalling, and edged the lot with acrylic paint.

That was about it

Close up of the journalling:



(the bit at the end isn't very clear in the photo, it says "I thought it was so damn COOL at the time, but to be fair, it hasn't aged all that well :)")

Close up of the left hand page - I was trying to capture the shimmeryness.... glimmer mists are so fab but you just can't capture it in a photo....



Now on to the next Fabric CJ entry - see you in three weeks!

I either need to learn to sew quicker....

... or go back to paper, nice, easy paper....I can finish a paper CJ entry in 1-2 days, these fabric ones take 2-3 WEEKS!

But that does mean a lovely feeling of satisfaction once it is finally done

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :)

just like that :)

It didn't help that I decided to do this one entirely by hand not machine, but I figured I needed the practice if I am ever going to speed up....




This is an 8x8" quiltie for Wisher's book.

It started with the harlequin pattern which I embroidered in very sparkly gold thread on black cotton fabric with a music print, and then I built the rest around it in a similarly regal stylee.

Very unusual colours for me but I like how it (eventually!) came together



My by-hand zigzag stitch is painful to look at, it looks like I was drunk when I did it lol

In my defence though, it is really difficult to get a little tiny needle to come up through loads of layers of fabric, batting, and heat-and-bond, and actually emerge where you wanted it to!