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It’s about time! Okay, I am going to get my act together a little bit and start posting here more regularly.

tReally I will.  In blog droughts of the past, I have set goals like “I will post every day for 21 days in a row” and it is a great way to get going again, but I’m not going to do that this time.  With my job taking up a lot of my time, and watching TV on the couch taking up a lot of my other time (let’s be honest here) I don’t want to set a goal if I don’t think I can stick to it.  Anyway, what I will be doing is making much more of an effort and you can’t ask for more than that.

So tonight, while watching some quality entertainment on the couch, I drew in my Analog Artlog!  10 points if you know what that is.  You must be a long-time reader (and thank you for that!) because I checked and I haven’t drawn in my art journal in almost two whole years!!!  Way too long.

No matter, for tonight I drew.

Tonight I also took a photo of the art journal spread, sorted it out in Photoshop, uploaded it to Flickr, uploaded it to DeviantArt and even wrote a quick journal entry over at DA.  And I am writing this blog entry.  I am on fire.

While I was on a roll, I even updated the photo of me over on the right column there.  And I updated my profile pic on Facebook too.  Phew!  I think I have to go and have a little lie down now after all that effort.

No really, did you like the drawing?  Remember, I am at the beginning of my drawing journey.  It will be a milestone when I no longer feel compelled to add that caveat when showing you my drawings.

I am quite happy with how it turned out anyhow.  Constructive criticism (or whatever) always welcome.

Here is the latest from my analog artlog (artist journal) in which I doodled some lovely shapes and things.

I really love the black and white spread above. I went colourful for the next set:

More of my analog artlog at Flickr.  I love Flickr.

I really like the background colours in today’s analog artlog piece. Orange and yellow and red on one page and greens and yellow and blue on the other page.  Black ink and red swirls.

 

I used a combination of acrylic paint, crayon on masking tape, pen and ink, tombow pens, doodled swirls on tracing paper, and white pen.  I used to get so overwhelmed by all my many ideas and creative hobbies (which to do first etc) that more often than not I would just be paralysed into doing nothing.  I still dreamed of doing it all but it was hard to just start when there was so much I wanted to do.  I feel a lot calmer about it now and I hope that translates to more productivity and less stress! 

Speaking of stress busters - today we went out and hired a cross-trainer to use at home!  It is just so hard to get to a gym or get out for a run or bike ride (I used to do both years ago) and this is a way for Paul and I to cut the excuses and just do it.  We have put it near the TV so that we can distract ourselves while we whittle our tummies down to their former flatness. 

 

Here’s to October Resolutions!

I am very happy to say that my broken arm is healing well and that my cast is off at last!  YAY!  I tell you, there’s nothing like losing the use of your dominant hand (and arm) for a month to make you appreciate what you have. 

 

I did become quite good with my left hand and even managed to do some scrapbooking - there was a competition about to close that I really wanted to enter so I thought I would give it a go and I managed pretty well.  Unfortunately I can’t show you the layouts as I don’t want to jinx anything (some magazines can get funny about you showing your entries online) so nothing to show just yet.  It would be amazing to win - especially having done the entry with a broken arm!  It is the For Keeps Awards for Excellence 2007 - the main prize is to get onto the magazine’s design team for next year.

Having the cast removed the other day was actually horrendous. After cutting it off with a scary sounding mini electric saw, they then yanked my arm around to see how well it could move.  I ended up in tears and nearly vomiting and fainting from the pain.  At one point I looked up from the exam bed I was sitting on to see five doctors/nurses all standing around looking very concerned, and muttering things like “it shouldn’t be hurting that much”. 

I have to say that not one of them handed me a tissue or gave me much sympathy as I lay there gasping and crying from the pain.  Anyway by the next day it was a lot better and today better again so I am very happy to nearly be back to normal again.

Of course I am on a high now - being able to drive and brush my teeth and do so many other ordinary things much more easily again.  So I am full of resolve to not waste any time - for example I am thinking of making it a “rule” to get one of my craft books out and pick a project and complete one every week.  I love buying idea books and looking through them but I have sewn precious little from most of them. 

I am also going to do my art journal entries more reguarly again and keep my workspace tidy so that I don’t always have to tidy up a big mess to get started on something.

 

How gorgeous is this?  My auntie sent this little set for Emma (and one for my baby niece Grace) because she just fell in love with them and I can see why!  I just LOVE the name Bunny’s Bistro.  Emma loves them too.  Thanks Mickey. 

 

More regular blogging from now on I promise!