Flat Susan and WOYWW...

Flat Susan arrived 2 weeks ago from her busy big city time with Eliza from Queenartoypia she has been made my Neet and I popped my name down for her to come and visit and see the sights and boy have we been out and about since.. Flat Susan sure has been around so thought the first stop should be a coffee at my favourite coffee shop. Flat Susan was helping me make a list in my travelers notebook of all the places she wanted to see while she was in Geelong and the Surf coast.. 

Two salty old sea-dogs from different eras sit 

out the front of the Cunningham pier.

The first stop on our sightseeing tour was to the Bollards at the Geelong waterfront. The colourful bollards are the work of artist Jan Mitchell. Jan was commissioned by the City of Geelong to transform old timbers and piles from a city pier, demolished in the 1980's. Jan turned over 100 of them into remarkable works of art.. They are all along the bay waterfront and also at the Melbourne airport. I was lucky enough to stop by a few times and watch her paint them and talk to her myself she was a lovely lady. Sadly she passed away in 2008 but what a legacy of work to leave behind. 

Flat Susan is sitting in the bottom of the parrot cage.. 

Lifesavers bit hard to see but Flat Susan is on the front ones right shoulder.

This houses the carousel unfortunately it was
shut at the time.

Above and Below depicts members of the Volunteer Rifle Band playing in Geelong's first band recital in 1861.. Flat Susan sat on the music stand looking at them all..

We have done a lot in the few weeks that Flat Susan has been with us.. So many photos so will split it up into 3 blog posts. Hope you enjoy her posts. We are enjoying her stay with us she will be zooming off to Spain this Friday. But before Flat Susan goes we are off to the Surf coast beaches tomorrow.. 

Corio Bay Geelong Victoria Australia
The Bollards are all around the bay area

I am posting this on WOYWW too as I know many people follow flat Susan from there.. 

Have a great day

Sandy :) 

New journal and WOYWW...

So look what is on my desk my much loved and used art journal and look what is beside it yes its all shiny and new and so flat next to the other one.. So glad I have not done the cover on the old one look at all the paint and stuff all over it but that will get rectified shortly. Have to figure out something special for it. There is about 6 more pages in the old one to do and its full but had to have the new one on standby.. These work so well for me, as this is my I don't care journal and its all just play.. If it works it works if it doesn't, well just turn the page.. Some of my favourite pages are in this though and as its my first ever mixed media journal so it will always have a special place on the shelf.. 
Some of my favourites...

Still my very favourite page, love the owls.. 

I always enjoy flicking through and seeing what I have done and the huge journey this has been.. Looking forward to starting the new one and wondering what will be in this one that will be favourite pages.. What is your favourite journal to use?? There is so many options, hand made copic stitched, ring bound, moleskine and Dylusions. I do have a small Dylusions one that I use for sprays.. 3 watercolour ones too as seem to use those a lot. 

Well another WOYWW is here and its time to pop around desks with my cuppa and to see what you are all up to. 

Have a great day 
Sandy :)

WOYWW #268

Hi everyone. I have been away for a while from WOYWW and have missed you guys.. So thought I would pop in and say hi and show you that I have been busy making art.. I have been doing the Index card a day challenge and have been thoroughly enjoying making art for a prompt every day.. I have also joined in doing a lot of collage after joining Teesha Moore's Artstronauts group and have been loving that too.. My index cards are spread over my desk as I have been sorting to print on my copier to use in my collage. My art has changed a lot since I started and I think I am finding what I like to do.. Some of my favourite index cards I have popped here big for you to see.. They are all on my blog if you want to see them all.. There is 52 so far and only 10 more days to go ..

So this is short and sweet as I am off to load and photograph today's ICAD card. Looking forward to popping around to see what you have all been up to.. 
Have a great day
Sandy :)

WOYWW #253

My book came yay!!! woot woot... I have been so looking forward to playing with the lettering in the new Joanne Sharpe book 'The art of whimsical lettering'. So have been doing the exercises in the book and I am up to #4.. Its such a fun book there is so much more information than what I thought. So I am terribly pleased I brought one of my very own...  So lots of markers and pens as it was time to experiment... Lots of fun being had, that the practice watercolour of the leaves got pushed to the side to finish another day... If you are wondering what that stick is on my desk here is a bigger photo of it.. 

Its my daughters wooden toy clothesline that has been in the top of the cupboard for years. I am using it to dry my Gelli prints, it works perfectly for that... I just had to restring and glue one of the arms back in.. The top comes off for easy storage when not in use... When someone said the other week when I was in such a mess with my Gelli prints. That I needed some where for them to dry, did I have a clothes horse.. I thought wait a minute I have this.. 

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.

Have a great day.
Sandy :) 

WOYWW #252

So whats on my workdesk a big mess of all sorts of things as I do one thing and push it to the side to do another.. Than go back and forth.. So bead rolling probably taking center stage right now as I go through the little pile of cut out strips that are left.. Then they are left to dry overnight on my mat. They then make it into the green tub there on the left ready for glazing.. Some little Gelli plate deli paper bags that I am going to do a little bit of stamping on with some of my hand carved stamps on the left.  Finished card for the art aMUSEment group, with a stencil that I have not cleaned off yet.. So the prompt was 'Clue' So I put a riddle on it.. Can you guess the riddle? The answer is Here if you need to know.. 

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.



Have a great day.
Sandy :) 

WOYWW #251

Well just a quick post just getting set up for some serious Gelli plate flower making.. Cut papers to size, check.. Gelli plate, check.. Paint selection, some new colours for me to try out, check... Brayer, check... Bon Jovi on the Ipod , check. Ok off I go..  Oh there is my little Jennibellie journal for you there, it was just peeking at you last week and its all posted now if you want to see more pictures. There is 5 pages to it and you can find the link here Jennibellie inspiration Journal. It was a lot of fun to make, my paper beads are all dry and on now, at the side.. 

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.
Have a great day.
Sandy :) 
Ok just a quick update the aftermath 

WOYWW # 250

Different angle of my desk today as thought you would like to see Misty on my desk, bit blurry but she was wriggly.. There was very little free room on it but she did find one little spot to stand before jumping off to go elsewhere to explore..  So what else in on my desk? Some watercolours and the little owl there on my journal that I made, will link it up on my blog when the beads that are there drying are done. They only have the first coat of glaze, as they are going on the side of it.  Some art books I borrowed from the library.  One of my doodled ladies waiting for her wording to go on there.. Journal shelf and ribbons and my cart under the desk.. So lots going on, think I am up to no 8 of the doodled ladies I am enjoying doing the faces and doodled hair.. 

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.


Have a great day.
Sandy :) 

WOYWW #248

Well I have been busy at my desk I have been practicing my drawing faces as I was a lucky winner of a online class to draw mixed media girl faces with Claudia Rossi.. Then I saw a great Tutorial on the Doodle face lady with Becca on Creative Sunday and have been hooked with these doodled girls..  All my favourite things to do drawing faces, doodling and watercolours. I made a journal for them to go in too so its been just practice, practice and so much fun.. Well short and sweet for me just like Julia likes us to be. 
Here is one of them all big for you to see so you don't have to squint.

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.


Have a great day.
Sandy :) 

WOYWW #245

I followed along with Tracy from Tracy Weinzapfel Studios  Mixed Media Monday. This week she did watercolours so picked up a few more little tips to play with so after watching her live, I went off and did this in my watercolour book. Only 2 pages left now to do in this book.. I've just finished popping some words on it.  My word for the year making another appearance on there 'Explore'.  My well used watercolours are there too, they are too close together and they get so mucky have to wipe them with a paper towel to keep the colours out from each other.. I will invest in some better ones, as I am finding I love the bright watercolours, they are fun to use.. The cards on the left in the toast holder are for a card challenge on the Art aMUSEment facebook page a card every week for 52 weeks. That's what the times table card is sitting there for with its coat of Gesso.. So far I am kind of keeping up.. Many people commented on my mug tree last week with the scissors and tape, so showing the other one with the washi and twine that sits over on the left of me.. They are great to keep things up off your desk and in reach.. 

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.


Have a great day.
Sandy :)

WOYWW #244

I have missed the last 2 WOYWW but I have been busy in my new room sorting things and working in my art journal..  I moved my desk away from facing the window so the window is at the side of me, I can see things I am working on so much better now.. I just have to move everything else now. So what have I on my desk today?  My art journal is there and another page that is just a background at the moment on the right there.  Some little glass bottles that I found today they will be fun to use on some altered projects.  More little brads and clips, on sale still so could not pass them up..  

Look what I found at the second hand shop today ideal for my sprays might encourage me to use them more being out like this. Its sturdy enough to have on the ground like this or I could hang it when I finally figure out how I want my room to be..   


My husband made me 4 ribbon holders they are on the top of this shelf here.. I painted them my favourite colour turquoise. They are so much better here than in the draw I had them in they kept coming undone and getting tangled. 
Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.


Have a great day.
Sandy :)

WOYWW #241

Well its too darn hot here today its 42 Celsius or 107 Fahrenheit and I am working where it is cooler in the dining room with the Air conditioning. Well you can see my cute owl coasters and my pens and of course my watercolour journal.  I am doing some dangles across the top of that watercolour that I started a few days ago..  I drew some birds think they look quite cute in blue sitting there and just some simple flowers.. I am loving relaxing and doing the dangles across the top think they have appeared on quite a few things that I have done lately.. Still have to colour them all in and outline the flowers but it is coming along and have nearly filled this book with all of my watercolours. Its been a fun book to do with just sunny flowers and doodling the bright colours make me happy. 

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.


Have a great day.
Sandy :)

WOYWW #240

Hi to all and hope you are all recovered from the holiday break and not stuck in the awful blizzards that I see on the news that is hitting America and floods in England.. 

Wacky weather conditions at the moment for you all. 

This week on my desk hmm let me see well there is my new google mug with some green tea in it.. I brought another of those stickles holders as I had enough to fill 2 of them..  My journal is there getting rather full now, this page was a fun one.. I was moving something on a shelf and a container I keep with bits fell down all over the table and I thought gee that looks pretty there.. So I scooped them all up and stuck them all down on my pages.. I then gesso'd over it all and painted with turquoise paint. It was lots of fun to do.. More info on the pages Here The owl from Eliza has popped on my desk to say hi, he's next to the modpodge. I received him in the mail over Christmas it was a lovely surprise.. 

 As you know we live in the country well we lock up our chickens at night as there are foxes around we call this cage Fort Knox.. Well if you look at the bottom of the door here hubby was astonished to find a turtle stuck under the door when he was going to let the chickens out.. It was wedged in there tight too.. He took photos as he didn't think anyone would believe him.  He popped him in the vegetable garden to recover. Now this is the second one that has made it into our garden. We don't live near any rivers well not close that you would think you would have turtles popping by anyway. 

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.


Have a great day.
Sandy :)

WOYWW #239

Happy New Year 2014 wow where did last year go so much happened in my crafty life last year.. Discovered mixed media and art journaling.. Learnt a whole new art language in 2013.. Looking forward to what I am going to learn this year..

So WOYWW today finds some dangles.. I have been practising these little dangles and they are so addictive. I did a few on an owl mixed media page a couple of weeks ago and had trouble stopping. So I just started doing this every time I have a spare few minutes and feel like doing something.. Its not finished still colouring in the page on the left side.  Its funny how many coloured pens I have collected and not used. So I am finally getting some use out of them. Got some new storage for my stickles so much better to have them in here, just did not realise how many I had till I started popping them in here though, need another one now.  Just on the right of the screen just popping out of view is my new design cube. I was a lucky winner of a competition over at France Papillon blog and I got to pick one of her lovely stamps and chose her wonderful design cube. I have already popped it on an art journal page, can see this is going to live on my desk and pop up on backgrounds.

Perfect way to start off a new year was a walk along the beach this morning and could not resist popping some writing in the sand..

Julia from  WOYWW gets us all together every Wednesday to have a look at desks from all over the world.. Grab a cuppa, I have mine here, and take a browse.. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy the blog hopping around all the desks.


Happy New Year
Sandy :)