Dear Chester.

Today we said goodbye to our dear cat.

He succumbed to his heart failure, which became apparent 4 weeks ago.

We will so miss him, he has brought a lot of joy into our home, especially at some tough times in recent years. 

James loved him the most and he loved James. Rest in peace little man.

Too late now!

Well we've done it now! 2 tickets booked to Paris on the 17th May  2014, returning 6th June from Prague. Lord willing we will get there and back in one piece.

I hate that we have to book so far out, it makes me nervous for all the things that can intervene.

We are planning on staying with friends in Paris and Germany, and are looking forward to that.

I have been busy exploring mixed media techniques on you tube. So many wonderful tutorials out there. I am really enjoying trying these out in my journal.

Here is my first attempt at painting a person! I have a long way to go but at least I am game enough to try it now.

Isn't this a beauty.

Red Alert. What a difference a day makes!

It seems like the whole state of NSW is on fire. Thankfully we had our trip to the Southern Highlands sooner rather than later, as it too,has been affected. So much devastation, and properties lost! 

From Mums we could look across the lake to see the amazing cloud of smoke coming from the Ruttleys Rd fire. Houses were going up in flames at Catherine Hill Bay. What a day!

On a more selfish note I am hoping the train line isn't affected so I can get back to Sydney tomorrow and catch my plane home to Brisbane.

It has been a good visit, and lovely to get away with Mum.

I will miss my noisy, chaotic little nephews. They are so still so innocent and sweet.

Beautiful Mittagong.

Waking up in the  Southern Highlands on a sunshiny October day.

Staying at the historic Fitzroy Inn, rambling, and very relaxing. Lovely gardens!

Could play ladies here all day!

Blooming marvellous.

This is my orchid flowering for the first time since I got it. It was a lovely present from my Mum, sent to me via the post. Love that sort of mail!! Brisbane is an ideal climate for orchids, they virtually look after themselves.

Day 3 – Distress Differently!

Well this is where my lack of materials shows. I'm a bit tired of my muted stamp pads and am longing for something brighter. May go out and buy some today, time permitting.Also, love Tim's smudged tag using his London stamps. So cool! Will have to put my thinking cap on to create this effect with my stash.

Here is my attempt at smudge stamping. I must say I couldn't get it to smudge very well. I do like the faded effect though. 

Day 2 of Creative chemistry 102.

Awoke early to do my next class in cc102. The cult of Holtz has bitten hard!

Again my materials are very limited. As I am a fairly basic card maker, I've held off buying a lot of the supplies, for fear of becoming one of those extreme hoarders they make TV shows about! Having said that, I MUST get me some of those stencils.

I made this card with a stencil circa 1985, which I bought to do a rose border around my bedroom. It never happened! Anyway glad I never threw it out.....oops! See above.

Here they are. 

Here goes Creative Chemistry 102!

Just watched Tim Holtz and his new online class Creative Chemistry 102. Lots of new stamping techniques to try. Unfortunately I haven't got all the products but I'm using what I have. One bottle of white Picket fence paint ;(

Here is my attempt at the resist technique using my new distress paint,and my distress inks with some lovely cut outs.