My Efforts at Digital Painting

Well I'm still plodding away with my Photo Impact graphics course. I'm really enjoying it. The past week I've been trying out digital painting which was challenging as I have never painted before except from when I took art at high school & I wouldn't really call what I did paintings. This was so different to drawing & colouring in the pear which I did a while ago.

Fed Up & Frustrated

I just need to have a whinge. I'm sick of falling in a heap everytime I do a bit too much. The last couple of days I've been aching all over, tired to the point of exhaustion & everywhere is sore to touch - even brushing my hair hurts. Didn't even feel like going with hubby to the Australia Day celebrations on Bribie Island while he was working there.

I'm really beginning to wonder why bother going out at all or sitting doing craft or doing my graphics & emails etc on the computer. Can't sit, can't stand - Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. And each time it seems to take me longer to get over the flare-up. Don't know what I'd do without my friends.

Thanks heaps guys. (Hugs)

Time with Mum

Have just spent a lovely week with mum. Dad brought her out last Sunday afternoon in time to do a Blumars craft class. We then spent Monday finishing the class & having a quiet day at home. On Tuesday Dad went home & dropped Mum off at the station so she could go into Brisbane for lunch with her cousins. I collected her from the station that afternoon.

Wednesday was my massage morning but in the afternoon we browsed around a couple of craft shops - had to replenish our supplies.

Yesterday neither of us felt like doing anything so it was just another nice quiet day at home doing a bit of this & that. Mum completed a few more layouts though.

This morning we decided to go to the local shopping centre for a browse around & a nice relaxing coffee and then dad came this afternoon to collect mum. I had thought of going back with them for a few days but was starting to wilt & needed a couple of days at home doing nothing.

These are photos my the layouts I did from Sunday night's class:-

And here are the fabulous ones that mum did -

Girls Night In

Had a wonderful time with a group of friends last weekend (Friday night) - most of whom are from my church. Haven't been to a sleepover like this for a LONG time. Can't remember when the last time would have been. It was a fundraising get-together in aid of Breast Cancer Research & the purchase of hymn books for our Sister Church in the Marshall Islands. We had so much fun. It was based on a pink theme as you can see from the photos - pink tablecloths, plates, cups, candles. We had to wear pink - I even managed to find a pair of pink pj's & pink underwear. We had to take a pink gift for a silent auction & something pink to share for morning tea on the Saturday.

We had 21 for tea on the Friday night - 17 of whom stayed the night.

Renovations

Yay - my laundry is finished. I am so thrilled with it. Have always loved cupboards made of timber & iron. Hubby made an area for my baskets & I have heaps of room under the tubs for all my 'laundry clutter'. I went for a glass splash back as we have been so happy with the one that was installed in the kitchen - so easy to care for.


Mmmm - next on the renovation list is the bathroom. Shower first & then the rest. Haven't decided on what to do with the vanity as yet so any suggestions would be gratefully received.
The floor tiles will be the same as in the laundry.

Ups and Downs

The past week has been a bit of a roller-coaster for me. Had my sister staying a couple of days which was lovely & then I totally crashed on Sunday - didn't go for my daily walk, slept in till about 7:00AM & had to go back onto the bed for a couple of hours mid-morning. Monday was an awful wet day - I didn't walk & couldn't even go outside for a bit. Sore & aching all over.

January with Blumars

We had a on-line weekend workshop with Blumars last weekend. With a few challenges - a card, a layout & an OTP (off the page item). The card had to be in the form of an invitation so I chose a teapot with a Tea Party sentiment.


The layout was to be on a New Year theme which took a bit of thought as a lot of the New Years celebrations were washed out.

There were also a couple of classes which were great fun. One was an little gift purse which is large enough to holda voucher / shopping card. The other class was for a mini-fold out album.


This month had a quick challenge where we had to use photo corners on a layout but not to hold the photos. I used mine as leaves & to hold the petals of the flowers together.

The monthly challenges are photographic in which we had to frame a photo with something, the Layout with a Celebrate theme, a Congratulations card & the OTP is to make a mobile / wind chime thingy. I have got as far as the Layout & the photo.

My layout was based on a pre-Christmas luncheon we had at Storeybrook Cottage in Woodford.

This is my entry for the photographic challenge which was taken at Boreen Point.

Hooray - It's Sunshine

Although we really need the rain for the dams we were starting to get a bit sick of it. You'd think we were in North Qld as since the New Year we've only had a couple of fine days. At least one of the dams is over 55% but the other two are still only sitting at about 17%. Fortunately it seems to clear for a little while in the morning so I can get my walk in & there's only been a couple of days that I've missed. Managed to get out into the yard Monday afternoon once the rain started clearing & again yesterday afternoon. No rain at all today so hopefully we'll have a couple of sunny days now to allow the ground to dry out a bit. I find rain really depressing as I need to get outside & wander around the yard for relaxation. Can't stand being cooped up inside.

Had a great time with my little sister.

My sister & niece have been staying for a few days. I always enjoy their company & love having a catch up. The weather was awful again - rain, rain, rain - didn't walk Friday morning as it didn't stop for long enough so after breakfast it was time for some retail therapy. My sister is starting an album for her foal so we had a look around for some bits and pieces plus my niece is having fun with her craft too and finished a challenge for the Blumars Weekend Workshop. It was craft time that afternoon although I seemed to muddle more than do.

This is a photo of what my niece did for the weekend workshop challenge. They had to draw something that they did on their holidays.

Growing like a weed

These are the latest photos of my sister's foal. He's now about 3 months old & has lost most of his "foal fur" - just has a little bit left on his rump. He seems to be going through a growth spurt at the moment.

Boreen Point

On Saturday we visited friends at Boreen Point (near Noosa - Queensland Sunshine Coast). After a week or more of gusty, squally conditions the day dawned with sunshine - very hot actually. The lake was high due to all the rain - the highest we'd seen it in a long while.


Enjoying our ice-blocks by the lake.

We had a bar-b-que tea & were watched by a cheeky kookaburra which was hoping to grab a snack when we weren't looking.

Rain, Rain & More Rain

Well we have certainly had a good start to the new year. Thanks to the low off the Queensland coast we have had good falls of rain in SE Qld. There is run-off going into the dams now which is great news. Apparently it's the best rain in three years. It would be nice if the days were a bit warmer though - fairly cool for a Qld summer. Usually I swim most days from mid October to early March but to date have only been for a dip three times.

Lockie

Just had to post some photos of my sister's beautiful foal - Kirraweena Lockdown. The top photos were taken on the 4th October, 2007 & the next lot a couple of months later. He is growing so fast & has now lost all his 'foal fur'.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

We hadn't intended to do anything New Year's Eve however was invited to a friend's home for a bit of a get-together. Had a lovely night & actually managed to see the New Year in. Unfortunately with the low off the coast a lot of the New Year's celebrations and fireworks had to be cancelled which was a shame.