There is a lot less 'stuff' - not that it looks like it

But I no longer have to clear the dining room table each time visitors come....and pack up all the art /craft supplies.
I cannot believe how much I have collected but then I look at my fabric collection, my book or CD collection and any other collection and it is quite obvious who is the problem.

 Yes it is still messy ......but it may improve.  I purchased the inexpensive plastic shelves so that I could carry them, but alas they were not made for that purpose.....so I almost threw them out but apart from looking ugly they do give some shelving space.
The brown plaited box almost went back as I realized it did not do much.  But it sort of works here.

 The two boxes on top contain ink pads and distress ink pads and.....

 The box with the silver carrying handle is my wonderful Abrecht Durer pencils.

Now to start some work. I am able to see the TV from this vantage point so it may make it possible to do at least two things at once.

You must break eggs to make a cake............but oh why did I think I wanted cake?

I need permanent space for art stuff.........emphasis on stuff..........

I am trying to give away my selection of Handmade magazines...and I really need to do away with one cabinet.
But my back aches and it will have to wait for tomorrow.........

 One of these has to go....the small one is looking very disposable,...what would really happen if I threw all that paper out?
Magazines to give away.....Handmade.

 Also some Inspirations which I may list on eBay.

 Some
Gelatos to re arrange in their box after they were dropped...Not today.

 And in the midst of chaos...guess what I saw?

 An Oasis of calm in the midst of the storm.

 Surely those magazines can hit the bin or the op shop or someone's surgery waiting room?

 That mess actually covers a new table area which may be my art space.

 This bag once held all the 'stuff' but as you know....'stuff'' multiplies like rabbits in the night.

 Every surface is chaotic

 The sofa,,,,,,,,the floor......

 Oh dear...that stack of magazines should be filed.

What can I say..........it is the stage of the broken eggs...we may get to see the after pictures.

Coloured pencils have long been every little girls dream....I had a tin of 12 Swanno watercolour pencils which I still have.  This is a set of 120 Abrecht Durer watercolour pencils and they are better than the best thing since sliced bread.
I had been buying a few at a time at Officeworks....a little expensive so found these in an online art store http://www.theartshop.com.au/  and I can replace any that wear out or become lost.
While it seems extravagant I have been blessed with my toe in the area of Bible Art Journalling.  Google or check on Pinterest if you have not heard of it.
This has prompted me to journal in others areas as well and to write down more than I normally enter into a nightly diary.
I like doing the latter as it tends to seal off the day.
I had great fun when I first got these as the knobs were at the bottom and could not be seen and I could not work out how to open the silver bar...see middle of the picture, that was on top.
To my shame I had to ring the company.  Easy once you turn the box over.

I enjoy photography and printing my own photos and using them in cards but this new craft/art area has taken me much further into the art world than I have yet ventured.  I like to make something visual to give out to the people who attend devotions and I can see more than photos eventuating.

She looks mean but is a sweet puss cat to her Mother if no one else.  Spends a lot of her life on my lap and I would find it odd not to come home to her company.
She is an inside cat and can do impressive runs the length and breadth of the house.

The hyacinths seem to be the first of the bulbs to flower.

Then lots of lovely daffodils and bluebells and then the tulips.

T

My Dad died on the 9th September in 1974 and nectarine blossom always reminds me it is that time of the year.  We used it in as flowers in his funeral.

This is one of those roses that flower though the winter, Lorraine Lee I think.

And this year I actually have ranunculus.  The last two years they just did not appear.  So when a friend gave me half a day's gardening we planted them in a sunnier spot and they have rewarded us.

I have put snapdragons in front of my pond in full view of the kitchen window and they have given me a lot of joy this year.  I bought them as tiny plants and they did prove their value.

 The other flower that flowers freely in that area is the old fashioned wall flower.

And while the winter rose or Hellebores are lovely they are vastly difficult too take photos of when you can no longer lie down on the ground to look up under their petals.
I found a couple of good on line nurseries.  brenlissaonlinenursery.   .postofficefarmnursery
I have also found brenlissa very good for hydrangeas etc.
So that is a glimpse of my spring garden for now.

\

Moggie goes exploring.

 You are watching me...go away Mum.

 Darn ....she is still there!

 Now what can I find?  Bet she does not know what is up here!

 She really should dust this ceiling.

 Of course I can get down!

So glad there is a wee space on this table.......just look at all that rubbish hidden underneath!!

Bible Art Journaling.

As predicted I did have another play, for better or worse??
My play was on the page I showed yesterday.
I added some sponging with Distress Inks, some ruling with red pencils.  I would like to make the writing better but I doubt my expertise here.

And then there was the page that had a very definite heart imprint from an earlier effort.

That heart and those words did very definitely bleed through.
I am unsure just what I used to prep the page but I suspect it was just one coat of the Liquitex Matte Varnish.  I did not get good advice on buying that one.  The one with the orange label below.

I had been using the Faber Castell Gesso which works
quite well if at least two coats are applied.  I get a little out of patience with drying pages and prefer to prep them the night before, which means I need to know what I am doing!!

Impulse is not always a good thing.
I am now trying two coats of the Liquitex Matte Gel until the product which is out of stock becomes available.  It is on order.

So I definitely needed to cover the back of that page with the red heart and the black text bleeding through very clearly.  I do like to use both sides of the page and I am not very tolerant of bleed through.  I am not a true artist.
But as a creature of the creator I do have creativity...so I press on.
This was my solution.  I have written to the person who originally posted the ant picture which I have distorted lengthwise somewhat.  I trust I shall be able to use it.

There were three sections that I printed in Word and cut out and pasted.

Then a little Distress sponge...because I could.

Bible Art Journaling

I am so still learning.  There is so much to learn for this non artist person.
I should be ashamed to share, but I still hang onto the fact that a child has to learn to walk.
They are not born walking.

 

 I used two coats of Matte Liquid Medium
Then a stamp, A Pitt Pen and Prismacolor Pencils to color.  I am probably not finished with this page.  But I am letting it rest for a while.

This page is a mismatch of many different things.  the background is Distress Ink pad and I have used two stamps  Trying out throwing one everywhere....I would love to do that again.
I used Pitt Pens for color and Prismacolor pencils to color the flowers.
The red pen smudged.  I need to learn patience.  To do some...then go away and come back.

I am speaking at one of the nursing homes I visit each month for Devotions. Am speaking about Seasons.

So took camera outside today.

  Winter into Spring...a month to go.