Me, me, me and some whacky tags too!

The introductions continue on the Graphic 45 blog and today it's little ole' me!

Some of my very favourite pieces are featured over there, as well as this new project:

I admit this is project is a little bit whacky… but it’s whacky in a good way (like a kooky auntie). It’s cheerful and fun and although it’s been raining for 2 days, this project made my grey afternoon a little brighter. ATC’s are one of my favourite types of project. They are fast, fun, and a great way to use snippets, tiny bits and scraps. I’ve used the Artist Trading Tags-Ivory as my base and went nuts on my Graphic 45 stash using snips from Place in Time, Secret Garden, A Ladies' Diary, and Botanical Tea. It’s ok to mix and match! Go ahead… give it a try :)

Supply list:

Artist Trading Tags-Ivory
Place in Time > foundation paper
Secret Garden > May Flowers, Posy Patch
A Ladies' Diary > Garden Stroll, Lasting Impression, La Gazette
Botanical Tea > Botanical Tea, Flora, Fauna, Spring Duet, Herbal Infusion, Sweet Chamomile
Various fibers, yarns and ribbons
White Foam Stamen
White Pearl StamenPetaloo Flowers and Trims
Be sure to continue to check out the blog as Graphic 45 introduces then entire (and utterly fab!) 2014 design team.

To soothe a broken heart

Last week Rik Mayall passed away.

I loved Rik Mayall. He made me laugh... a lot... even when life wasn't very funny.

If you aren't familiar with his work look him up and check out his stuff. It's funny, silly, surreal, nonsensical, over the top...

The news of Rik's passing has hit me particularly hard. Really hard. Tears hard. I rarely cry over death, not even of those I know in real life. I'm saddened, sure. Melancholy, yep. But tears are a rarity. Over a celebrity? Never! For some reason this death, HIS death, feels like an immense loss. A real loss that leaves a hollow spot in my heart where he should be comfortably situated forever and ever. Perhaps it's because the world is a little less silly. I really don't know why I've been so affected, but I'm heartbroken knowing he's no longer here.

A long while ago I made a doll that was going to be a wrestler but wasn't really working out. Then he was going to be a swashbuckler, but that didn't happen. Instead he's been sitting in my studio for two years, staring at me, waiting. After Rik's passing I knew what he was. He was Flashheart.

So I've spent the past couple of day dressing this fellow in all of his finery to soothe my broken heart and to have something to cuddle with when I watch Young Ones, Bottom or Blackadder. I'm hoping he'll whisper naughty, silly things that will make me feel just a little bit better.

"Cancel the state funeral, tell the king to stop blubbing, Flash is not dead! I simply ran out of juice! And before five hundred girls all go 'oh, what's the point in living any more?' I'm talking about petrol! Woof!"

RIP Rik.

Fathers Day Layout for Petaloo

Psst! Be sure to go over to the Petaloo blog for your chance to win a fab prize pack and take a gander at the other goodies during the blog hop with Quick Quotes!

On to my handsome fellas.

These are my two boys...my "cute as a button" son and my hubby.

The sentiment on that Calypso Chipboard Die Cut is a very accurate motto for our family. "Be silly. Be honest. Be kind." As long as those rules are strictly adhered to, I will pretend that the winks and smiles work.

I'm really happy with this 8" layout using Calypso papers, and Petaloo's Textured Ivory Elements. It's vibrant and full of fun and a bit rough around the edges... just like us :) And it's not too feminine to send to the Sr. troublemaker (Grampa, aka Nono) for Father's Day.

Petaloo's Textured Ivory Elements Calypso Papers
Calypso Chipboard Die CutCalypso Die Cut Stickers
Buttons
Jute twine

Tea and coffee

This year's fairy tour kick off/studio open house will be held on July 5th, 2014 here at Pixie Hill. Guests will be invited to snoop the grounds, peek at some of my arty farty things and maybe even play a game of croquet. Later in the afternoon tea will be served.

Once again fairy letters will be available for pickup at the little mail box on the old maple tree. Fairy mail is free when you visit Pixie Hill (with advance notice) but I am kindly requesting a $5 donation for any mail picked up at this event. All money collected for fairy postage on this date will go to our favourite 10 year old to help by needed diabetes equipment.

For more information and other events I'll be taking part in, please visit THIS PAGE.

And lastly, a miracle this morning.. my floor got washed.

I also left my coffee mug on the other side of the room, across a vast expanse of dripping wet floor.

And such has been the start of my week. Fingers crossed that things start to look up for all of us and no more coffee gets taken hostage.

Owl Post

I think this just might be the greatest 5 minute craft in the history of the world.

I saw this plastic owl at the $store today and immediately knew what to do.

A very quick coat of white paint (and some brown for the base), a printout of the iconic Harry Potter letter and voila! My very own mail owl in about 5 minutes. I know he's not EXACTLY like Hedwig but for $2 and 5 minutes I think he's practically perfect.

Mudder's Day

That's me and my mum :) I've made her this sweet little altered canvas as a gift for Mother's Day. I know it's late... she's three hours away... don't judge!

It's covered in gorgeous Botanica blooms and is trimmed with Petaloo's Fancy Trim in Ivory.



I've added a couple of dresden scrap butterflies, an ornate keyhole from Graphic 45 and some scraps of sheer fabric too. The soft white Botanica blooms, understated soft yellow mini blooms and purple blossoms go so beautifully together.

Some jute string around the edges, and a bit of a bow to finish it off.

I think she'll like it :)

Hop over to the Petaloo blog for additional pics and more projects with their gorgeous products.

SUPPLIES:
Petaloo Hydrangeas > Cream
Petaloo Fancy Trims > BeigePetaloo Botanica Blooms > Ivory, Blue/Purple/Green
Petaloo Botanica Mini Blooms > Soft Yellow > Lavender/PurplePetaloo Botanica Floral Ephemera > Lav/Purple
Petaloo Botanica Spring Berry clusters > Lav/Purple
Small canvas
Photograph
Paper
Jute twine
Sheer fabric
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Key Holes
Mixed Size Butterflies Dresden Scraps
Foliage Bees Epoxy Stickers

Lordy, lordy...

It's my birthday in a couple of weeks.

I will be turning 40.

My mum asked me how I felt about that. About the 4-0. I'm absolutely a-ok with it. As I said to her, there is nothing in my youth that makes me regret that it has passed, or makes me feel that getting older is such a bad thing. My life has improved with age. In fact, I'm rather glad of the distancing of youth and all if its woes, insecurities, uncertainties and general shittiness.

I shake my head when people say that being young is the best time of your life. It's not. Not for all of us. Not by a long shot. For some of us, growing older is salvation. For some of us it's not until we are well into adulthood that life really begins and actually becomes enjoyable.

So I'll be glad to be 40. I don't mind the wrinkles. I'm glad to be a grown lady, wearing tiaras on a Sunday, building fairy things in my garden, finding magic and shaping my world into something worthwhile and good.


ANYWAY, I've decided my gift to myself is a challenge for the coming year. I used to read daily and I miss it. I thought that I'd set myself a list of books that every person probably aught to read that I have not. I'm a pretty slow reader (I like to savour every word) so I think a goal of 20 books over the next year would be reasonable. I also thought while I was as it, I might make a list of 20 films that I've shamefully never seen that are considered essential viewing (I've never seen any of the Godfather movies!).

I'll check in once a week or so to let you how it's going, what I'm reading, what I watched.

I'm open to suggestions so please don't be shy about suggesting something that you feel I absolutely MUST read or see. What are some of your favourite books and films of all time that I should be certain to include?