Happy New year...

(Ben's police lego)

Hannah and I had great fun putting Ben's police lego together on Christmas Eve... and Ben had great fun playing with it on Christmas day.  I have many fond memories of playing with lego for days on end as a kid.  It is a lot more specalised now then when we were kids and I think like then I enjoy the constructing of it more then playing with the things we made, if that makes sense?

I have bought a new imac (I am in love, it's a dream to use, with a wireless keyboard and mouse and a 21.5 inch screen it truly is a thing of beauty) so anyway I will be able to post more often as I used to have to rely on my work computer and was governed by the hours I was there.  So I am excited about getting back into painting and posting again.  Although it is hard to get back into things when it is lovely and warm outside and there are so many things happening in the bay, concerts and films at the wineries, friends to catch up with and there are always things going on in town (I love it when the cruise ships come in and town fills with tourists, I really love that).

Anyway I have enjoyed the break from work (art) for the last few weeks and I think it was needed after the manicness of getting ready for the art markets in the last few months.  With the end of the year only a few days away I am thinking of my new years resolutions and what 2010 might hold for me, I do hope it will be a little less emotional and not such a roller coaster of a ride.

Thanks for all your support over the last year and I hope to catch up with you all in 2010.

x

kooky faces...

(me)

(Ben)

I am in love with photo booth...!!! we have been spending far too much time manipulating our faces on the computer lately. Each new photo brings on another whoop of laughter with tears streaming down our faces. I could see the potential of developing some cartoon characters from these images, a great tool.

My brain seems to be quite mushy at the moment so many things to sort and get done before Christmas. So nothing creative has been happening at all lately... I must admit it has been nice to have the little break as it has been a busy and eventful year.

We put the Christmas tree up late last week and Ben helped decorate it... he put all the silver baubles together in a group, all the candy canes in another group and the soft Christmas toys all together in another bunch... so funny he does the same thing when decorating cakes, all the pebbles are scrunched up together on one side of the cake (lucky person who gets that slice) and the rest is bare. Anyway when Hannah saw the tree she had to spread them all out, it was too much for her. Ben didn't mind Hannah's alterations, he thanked her for her help.

little red

(little red)

It has been crazy busy the last few weeks and I haven't had much time to get some new work done... although I have nearly finished this one above (I am really loving the red and brown together).

I have just had a phone call this morning letting me know that all my items at the Christmas art market have nearly sold out and with two weeks of selling to go I should get some more stuff to them asap... so that is what I will be doing this weekend.

busy busy busy...

final year students exhibition...

(Me and Adele)

(Jonathan, me and Anthony)

(Me and Michael)

(Anouska, me and Sophia... me trying to be taller)

(Heather and me laughing at something funny)

Was so good to see the final year students again for their exhibition, I will miss them all... I really hate this time of year, I have known some of them for 4 years, seeing them everyday, and then suddenly they are gone. It is hard...

I am glad...

(the first 'hope floats' all finished)

(the second 'hope floats' not quite finished)

I am feeling glad at the moment, glad of who I am, where I am and what I am doing...

And I am glad Christmas is coming, I love Christmas... but mostly I think I love the preparation for Christmas. Thinking about putting up the tree, thinking about presents, thinking about Christmas food, and writing lists.

I am glad for Mona at the post office who doesn't charge me as much as the other ladies do to send my parcels... Thank you Mona!!! (I have been to the post office three times this week already).

I am glad it is raining on my flowers that are very near death as I haven't gotten around to watering them this week (my mother will be glad of that too).

the art market...

(The beautiful historic Ormlie Lodge)

(my table in the middle of setting up)

(Mum and Dad taking over near the end while I had a bit of a look around)

I wasn't quite sure what I was taking a photo of as it was so bright I couldn't see my camera screen so I just had to point and shoot... but the photos didn't come out too bad.

That was an experience I would want to do again... the day of the market was the hottest in a long time, even as we arrived to set up early in the morning we were already sweating in the heat. There were so many fantastic displays with wonderful products, good to see so much local talent in one spot. I think the organisers can chalk their first art market up as a huge success. I sold out of a few things and ran out of business cards... and since the market I have had a few phone calls from buyers wanting more.

I have another 'hope floats' painting nearly finished and will post that later in the week as well as an updated version of the one from the post before.