Lounge makeover

I bought 2 chocolate brown leather couches and a lazyboy chair - I call it my herd of cows!  It's probably the one thing I regret buying for my new home.  I should have waited until I moved into my home and lived here for a while before deciding on new lounge furniture.  Anyhow...they're here, so I have to learn to love them for the next few years.  I still need to do a lot of decorating (there are also no pictures on the walls yet), but added a touch of red to cheer my herd of cows (and me) up.  Here's what it looks like...

Before (really blah and boring)

 

 After - a bit warmer and happier

One of the new red tablecloths will find its home here.  I'm also on the lookout for a bigger coffee table.

Mixed media makeover

This is one of the projects that I worked on last weekend.  I bought some basic key holders from a craft shop, replaced the barbed wire with ribbon, repainted and decorated the keyholders, and they are now pretty jewellery holders hanging in my dressing room.  Here's the makeover process...

Weekend in review

Aaaah, a weekend of pottering around.  I love pottering around.  On Saturday, I visited my aunt in hospital, had lunch with a friend, and bought some fabric.  I really really really don't like sewing.  But occasionally I'll get my ancient sewing machine out and make a few tablecloths.  This gorgeous fabric inspired me.  Now I just need to find the time to actually make the tablecloths.  Hmmm...nice idea for Christmas gifts...

I have a rather large stamp collection, and they are generally well used.  Couldn't resist these 3 stamps from Tim Holtz.  I'm working on a mini book of truths and wisdom that I want to remember, so these new stamps will work perfectly

On Sunday, I pottered around with ink and paint, and then rested on the patio with coffee, Miss Ruby on my lap, and this book - I'm already halfway - oh my goodness, it's a good read.

I'm really happy that this is a short week - just 3 days of work, and then a looong weekend.  Yippeee!

Art journal

I've been playing with some art journalling again.  I made this page on Sunday, and literally finished it in 45 minutes.  I mostly used spray inks with stencils, a Tim Holtz stamp, and a Sharpie journalling pen.  Love the results

Weekend in review

I am loving the London Olympics!!  This weekend I watched archery, synchronised diving and gymnastics; I can't wait for the synchromised swimming.  And it was so great to wake up to the news that Cameron won gold last night for South Africa.

"London - Cameron van der Burgh was the king of the pool on Sunday night, bagging South Africa's first medal of the London Olympics when he won gold in the men's 100m breaststroke in a world record time of 58.46 seconds.  The South African led from start to finish as he annihilated the rest of the field" (news24.com)

The rest of my weekend was spent pottering around at home, tidying up a bit, playing with some art supplies, going for a walk, and reading.  Lovely - I need many more weekends like this. 

I did all the work - tidying up and uncluttering, and guess who passed out exhausted on Sunday afternoon??  Not me.  Miss Ruby was sooo tired, so she had to have her beauty sleep.  She's such a sweetie!

Mixed media artwork

This is a piece of wall art that I created last Sunday at the Seedpod Studio in Broadacres.  The process is wonderfully messy, and it's a lesson in 'colouring outside the lines'.  I was fortunate enough to be the only person attending the class, so Michelle (the teacher) and I could play with various tools and techniques.

I will hang this in my craft room as a note to self for when the dark, difficult days overwhelm me, and for when I feel unloved and forgotten and alone.

Layout to share

Just sharing a few scrapbooking layouts from my trip to Italy last year...

I am so enjoying the act of creating again.  After immense challenge and change during the past 8 months, I'm rediscovering me the creative person, me the artist, me the writer.  The sound of paper and the smell of adhesive and the texture of paint on my hands all say "shhh, everything is going to be all right".