I've scored a hat trick...whoohoo...

I've always thought that I'm quite lucky...but today it has been confirmed!

Nope, still no lotto win...(well I can't expect to win really can I, especially if I don't buy a ticket!)

Why am I grinning like a Cheshire cat? 

Well, I have received three separate gifts from friends...how special is that?  

And it isn't even my birthday!

Two actually winged their way into my post box today. 

So of course I had to maximize the pleasure...I sat armed with a cuppa and a large white chocolate freckle that I bought at a Chocolatiere over the weekend. 

(More about that on my next post...once I get the photos to co-operate and transfer over...it's a work in progress and it's protesting at the moment...maybe I need to eat more chocolate instead of looking at it?) 

I'm not going to show you the pressies because some things I like to keep to myself...they are special and personal to me. 

Oh okay...you've twisted my arm...

I'll show you just one...

How fantastic are these babies?!?!

 I'm thrilled and excited but terrified all at the same time because I'm now going to have to use them...eek!

I don't want to rush it, so I'll wait until I get back from our next trip.

Oh yes our trips...

Last weekend, we went to the Yarra Valley for wine tasting and the weather was just perfect. 

Quite fantastic for autumn...beautiful warm sunny days and crisp nights.

The wine was incredible and we had a brilliant weekend staying right in the middle of a vineyard. 

I'll share a little of the trip with you soon.

In the meantime, I've got to repack only this time for chilly climes because we're off again tomorrow.
I know...there's no stopping us...and it's a wonder I find my way home. 

I can't believe that even though I've been busy and I missed the APR entry time... I did manage and enjoyed a little doodle in my journal. I don't normally like to show unfinished work but I thought today I'd be brave.

 I couldn't decide if I should zentangle him or not...and then I thought I'd like to try and add those fantastic peacock plumage colours...because let's face it that is what peacocks are renowned for. 

What do you think?

I took a whoosie approach and thought I'd photograph him at this stage, just in case he doesn't make the grade on the next stage...or it all goes pear shaped!

I'm going to add colour because I feel that a peacock's main feature are those amazing colours...plus I love them. I'm just hoping I can reproduce them. Wish me luck!

Why a peacock? Well...peacocks were the topic for last week's APR challenge...so if you'd like to see some more artists work then click here to visit Jenn's Artist Playroom.

I hope to visit the gang myself soon although times flying by and I actually fly out myself tomorrow! 

I hope you have a lucky day too...with lots of surprises....

keep smiling or better still pass it on

Let the Painting begin... (Part 2)

This is going to probably be the quickest post on record...well for me anyway.
I've just been trying to basically be wonder woman this week and why, oh why, did I say I'd paint?
There's one thing because I said it, I'm trying desperately to fit it in....which I know isn't the best way, but it might actually get me started.
I want to paint but there always seems to be other things to do first. I really need to be tough and to set it as a priority for a little while, until I get going anyway.
But hey.....the silk is stretched and looking very virginal which is a little scary - just waiting for me....

I was just about to get started and I realised I didn't have any masking tape in my art supplies. So I had to dash out to a local store to get some, which was an added extra job to hold me up, which I could have done without.

I've got a few ideas of designs but I think I'll just have a go first and get the mindset that this is a practice piece to get back into it. It doesn't matter what the first outcome is...just get something on that silk!

I'm hoping that way it won't be too scary or daunting. Wish me luck and if all goes well I'll let you see the outcome.

Gotta get on..... Have fun everyone : D

Let the Painting begin.......

It was rather a chilly wintry weekend, but there was such a lot going on here the weather didn't deter anyone, we just had to get on with it. For one thing it was the AFL Grand Final weekend, which here in Melbourne is BIG! For those of you who may not know and don't worry I won't point any fingers (in a hushed whisper....I'm not that into it myself...shock...horror!) the Australian Football or Aussie Rules game came to a climax with two teams - 'The Pies', Magpies or Collingwood (which ever name you prefer) as they are called played 'The Cats, or Geelong. Apparently it was a great game and there are still lots of discussions ongoing about it, even today. Its Mad Monday today and I think there's still celebrations and dressing up in costumes going on....Whoops I nearly forgot to say....Geelong won.
If anyone outside of Australia watched the final then they might be forgiven for not realising that it was being played in Australia. The heavens opened and people wore ponchos to help protect themselves from the elements. It was COLD!

Look what I found on our patio table yesterday....its a different sort of water feature, and shows just how much rain we had.

Talk about a floating candle!

That's rain water.....over half way up

But today I'm as excited as some of those footy fans because this week is the week I'm determined to get sorted in the studio. I've started to round up the brushes and paints etc so its a start. My stomach does a little flip when I think I might actually get something done, but I haven't a clue what that might be yet.

I'll prepare everything and stretch the silk and see what happens.... 

I have a box of brushes that I haven't found yet...but I'm hoping they're here somewhere and not vamooshed like a few other things during the house move. The brushes I'm particularly interested in are my Chinese brushes....three in a box.

Here's some of my old faithfuls.... The large brush on the right is my favourite, so at least I've got that one.
Below are two other works I did a few years ago. The Chinese symbols represent the four seasons and also health, prosperity and love - I hope, if I remember rightly. It was a few years back, so please forgive me if I'm wrong.

If you click on the photo above to enlarge it, then you will see that I even wrote my name using the Chinese symbols. A Chinese friend later told me as she looked stunned when she saw it, that part of my name actually has the symbol for silk in it. Does that meant its meant to be?

Now for inspiration....any ideas anyone??? Shout up???? I need all the help I can get....