Frameworthy Challenge

At ScrapbookGraphics, one of the websites I visit, they have a challenge each week based on a different artist. The idea is to research this artist and his or her work and then produce a Layout that is inspired by the artist. I love this challenge as everyone has a different take on it and I also get to learn about a different artist each week. This week the artist was Escher and I really love his work. He was fascinated by stairs and staircases and I love them too. Anyhow I found a photo I took in Sicily, converted it to Grey Scale, duplicated it twice and resized these, framed them all, put them on a background and added some gold leaves and a quote. I was happy with the result. I really love collage, digital or otherwise, but always with images and text.

Our latest Project and a GrandDog comes to visit

When we moved here we inherited an old `above ground pool pad'. The pool was long gone but the sand pad was there, looking pretty sad and ugly. So after 12 months here we have (after giving it a lot of thought), started our landscape project. We decided to begin by laying turf - Sir Walter - Alan picked up the turf today and we have spent most of the day unloading and laying it. Of course it was over 30 degrees C here today and humid so we chose a perfect day to do this job, trust us. Now Alan will build a pergola to cover half of it, we'll add a water feature, some plants in pots and we'll install an outdoor shower - a nice alternative to a swimming pool. Should all look good when we have finished it. So this photo shows the result of today's work.This week we have also had our Grand Dog Gypsy to stay while Sue and Brian are away. Gypsy is really cute and squizzles her way into places Bella has never been allowed to go. Here she is on our bed with me while I am having my early morning cuppa. We just can't get cross with her, she is such a lovely little dog.

My Fairy Name

I loved Kate's fairy so much that I had to do a layout with my fairy,

Yarrow Elffly -

She is a cheerful sprite.
She lives close to vixen and badger sets.
She is only seen at midday under a quiet, cloudless sky.
She dresses in black and white like a badger. She has delicate green wings like a cicada.

I think she is really cute :)

August DATC's

We had a lovely theme for the Digital Art Quirks August Swap - `Happiness is' and after watching my cat Lewis sleeping one morning I decided to use him for this theme. In the wise words of Eckhart Tolle `I have lived with a number of Zen Masters, all of them cats'. We also organised a `DATC Wedding Card Shower' for Pam, a member of our swap who was married earlier this month. Pam is a florist so I chose white roses for her. I usually put the back and the front on one 6x4 file for printing at Big W, so this gives you an idea of how the reverse of the cards look. With all of my cards I love the reverse as much as the fronts.

Images of Spring

I had a lot of fun doing this today, these flowers are in a vase in my living room. They are all home grown and beautiful.

Spring has Arrived

I just love it every year when spring `officially' arrives, signalled to me by the flowering of our Jasmine and the Orange Blossom. I have been out picking Jasmine this morning and the house is filled with the scent as well as with the fresh spring air blowing in from all the open windows and doors. We have been out gardening nearly every day this week and it has been wonderful. I am even enjoying weeding and mulching in this weather. Then last night I picked our own home grown organic Snow Peas, Rocket, Basil and Parsley for dinner. Today I am also packing away Doonas and winter clothes (goodbye black stuff), digging out my flip flops and board shorts and really enjoying walking around the house, (we have tiled living areas with rugs) in just my bare feet. Roll on Summer. We are looking forward to doing some fishing and kayaking on the Noosa River later this week so I am also breaking out the hats and sunscreen. Woo Hoo!

A Busy Week

Well I had a wonderful birthday last week and thank you to everyone for all the good wishes and gifts. All really special and appreciated. So now I am 56 and feeling better than ever LOL. Alan gave me a new Digital Camera for my Birthday, not an SLR, I decided that I just wanted a Point and Shoot that was more advanced than our present camera which we bought in 2003. Anyhow I now have a Canon IXUS 75 and I am very happy with it. Alan took this photo of me with it on my Birthday. I also bought myself a couple of books - `The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle and `Animal Vegetable Miracle' by Barbara Kingsolver. Both very interesting. In addition I have recently bought several books about collage and Artist Journals/Altered Books, and these are also very inspiring. Then on Sunday we celebrated Father's Day at the beach and I took this great photo of our Grandsons Sam and Tate. We have also been busy harvesting Paw Paws, a really huge harvest, and I have included a photo of these. I am still learning about this camera, for a P&S it is pretty involved, but I love the small size and the huge screen, great for older eyes :)

Happy Father's Day

Happy Fathers Day to all the Fathers. Today especially I will be remembering my Father who died in 1988. He was born on Father's Day (although in 1923 there was no such day of course) but he was born on Sunday September 2 1923. This image incorporates 2 postcards he sent to me from Edinburgh in Scotland, many years ago when I was about 7. I treasure them because they show what a caring and thoughtful Father he was.