Jessica Sprague Online Workshop - Week 1 Layout

This is my finished week 1 layout for the online workshop I'm doing with Jessica Sprague called "Now We're Rockin' with Photoshop.

Camping at South West Rocks

We went camping for 4 days over the Australia Day Long Weekend down to South West Rocks. Its a lovely beachside town.

Look what was outside our tent every morning and afternoon - Kangaroos.


Here's a mum with her little joey poking its head out of its pouch.

Our campsite.

This is Trial Bay Goal which was built up on this lovely headland. Bad photo but I forgot to take one out the front and this is the only one that shows the whole Goal. It was built in the late 1800's and used as a jail. Then during World War 1 it was used as an internment camp. There is still alot of the main structure still remaining.

I loved how the trees and hills where framed by this arched window.

There were lots of arches.

It had an earie feeling walking down here and also going into the cells. You can see 2 stories of cells on each side.

This is Smokey Cape Lighthouse. It is a steep walk up to here. About half way up they have made the old Lighthouse Keepers House into a Bed & Breakfast. Its a spectacular spot.

This is the view out in one direction, out the front of the Bed & Breakfast. In the other direction there is a long stretch of secluded beach. Beautiful.

We will have to go camping back there again.

A Quick Post

I'm doing a great online class at the moment on Digital Scrapbooking on www.jessicasprague.com called Now We're Rockin with Photoshop. I'm not really doing it for the scrapbooking, although I don't mind scrapbooking, but more so I can learn all about my new program Photoshop Elements 7 and also how to make my blog header more interesting. I've been wanting to be able to do all those swirly brushes for quite awhile now. This is only the first week and I've learnt alot already. Jessica also sends daily emails with extra info and challenges. Also there has been lots of digital freebies. Going to be busy over the long weekend so will post again early next week.

Have a good weekend!

Yay! Stitch Explorer Challenge has started

I was excited this morning waiting for Sharon's Stitch Explorer Challenge to be posted on her website. The first months embroidery style is Chicken Scratch.

When I was reading the post I realised that when I was in my early 20's I made my mother a blue and white checked tablecloth with Chicken Scratch embroidery on it (I didn't know the name for it then).

I'm not sure at how adventuous my exploring will be. My first thoughts were that I didn't really like the continuous pattern of this style but when looking at continuous patterns in the natural world (such as the photo above) there can be great beauty and style in this. So I'll give it a go and see what eventuates.

As I'm not that experienced with alot of embroidery stitches I'm using this challenge just to become familiar with the stitches and styles themselves, so if I don't come up with anything too wonderful, it will still be a great learning experience for me.

I'm thinking that I will be doing swatches that I will make up into Mini Quilts. Then I'll put them together to make a cloth book.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else who has done embroidery samplers before to find out the size they did them and how they organised them? Also what material do you prefer to use?

Colours to Dye for.....Not quite

I thought it would be a good school holiday activity to do some dyeing with my son and also do some fabric for myself at the same time. As you can see from the photo above the fabric wasn't the only things that got dyed. After a half hour stint on his slip and slide all the dye had come off.



I used dylon cold dye which I got from Spotlight. The funny thing is that they were selling the dyes but not the cold fix satchels to go with it. When I asked they said that they haven't been able to get any but that salt works just as well. Anyway I haven't done any dyeing before so thought I would try it anyway and used the plastic bags to put the material in. The results weren't that great. The colours are abit faded out and pastel on some of the material. One of the material types was quite good - it looked great when wet but faded out when I washed it. I'm thinking it is because I didn't have the cold fix satchels. Anyway I know for next time and we had fun which was the main thing. I don't know how well the colour in the t-shirt will last. I might use some of the fabric for stitching backgrounds or maybe for Monoprinting.

My aspirations for the year.

This is a picture of the Hindu deity, Ganesh. The photo was taken at the Crystal Castle near Byron Bay, in Australia. He is believed to be the "remover of obstacles" and the "Lord of Beginnings". He is also known as the "Patron of Arts and Sciences". So it seemed appropriate to use his photo as a good omen for the year ahead.

I wrote out all my goals for the year in this new Diary/Planner that I bought.



The list includes things I want to do, Some places I want to go to and things I want to get done around the house. Some of my creative goals are to make a beaded art doll, dye material, finish my UFO's and develop my embroidery skills. Also I'm wanting to go to the Textile Art Festival in Brisbane in May where Dale from the Thread Studio will be.

I am also going to be participating in Sharon Boggons Stitch Exploration Challenge that starts on the 15 January. It is open to anyone and just requires you to go here to read about it and leave a comment on this post introducing yourself and supplying your blog or flickr address. Go here for Sharon's blog.

There is also a Bead Journal Project challenge that has been going for a few years. I'm thinking of maybe doing it this year if they run it again. Will have to see.

Also the Joggles classes have been announced for the first part of the year. I'm going to try not to do as many classes this year. But I have been wanting to do Sharon's Personal Library of Stitches class for along time so I think I will do that. Also it will go well with the Stitch Challenge.

A New Year Begins

Happy New Year!!

We had a great night. We went out to our local hotel where there was a band playing. I haven't been out for New Years Eve for a few years. We had a great time - although I did have a few too many drinks. My legs were abit sore today too from the dancing and also we walked home (20 minute walk) as there was a long wait for taxis. So we had a easy going day today.

I usually write a list on the 1 January of the things I want to do in the year - this will have to wait till tomorrow. It's always exciting contemplating the possibilities your life could bring in the coming year.

Santa came to our house.

and these are his dirty footprints from his boots to prove it.

Santa was also abit hungry and he managed to eat and drink all the things Dylan left out for him.



We had a lovely Christmas day - hope you all enjoyed yourselves over Christmas.