Dream a Little Dream

And only just making it into the end of year crafting frenzy... the December ATCs. Theme: What do I dream about?

Only three pics, because I was taking these photos as the packers were arriving and I was on my way out the door to trade these! Yes, I would have liked to have taken more care, and I probably should have at least cropped these pictures, but as it is I am late starting tea ;)  'Whack 'em up' has become the motto of the evening!

The idea was that the clouds are the 'dreams'. And I loved the babushka stamp, I had been dying for a chance to use it. I had inks, paints and a few stamps left not in boxes - I ran out of the string that is supposed to represent a kite's tail.....! And there isn't much more to say really. Better go turn on that oven!

It's the Most Busiest Time of the Year

Christmas. I am glad we homeschool, so that we don't have to do all of the end of school break up Christmas parties too! By the time you bring a plate here and there, you could spend the whole month (November too!) in the kitchen!

I try to make as little work for myself as possible. That is usually how I start. Then it always seems to get bigger....! This year (ok, 2012, I am behind!) we had the MOTH's 40th birthday, our eldest was 10, and our youngest two both have birthdays in the two weeks before Christmas. And our wedding anniversary - I think we had a night off on the sofa watching a movie with a bottle of champagne, celebrating a career achievement for Mr MOTH. It was very nice - and quiet!

So, here's a few pics of what I got up to in said kitchen :)

Home Group Break Up Christmas Wreaths - Gingerbread and Peppermint.

How does one craft a platypus?

Perry, for the boys!

 

And one makes time to see Michael Palin!!! Happy Birthday me!!!

Resisting the urge to tell him I was his biggest fan. (Esp seeing as there was one dodgy die hard in the wings who was a little scary!)

Michael laughing at something extremely witty I must have said.... ;)

Signed: 'To Bruce & Sheila Bruce, Love from the Python Called Bruce' :) :) :)

Our 'baby' hits double digits... 

Walls made from 'lego' lollies. MOTH and I spent the evening constructing them!

Over eager brother going for MY candles, I don't think so!

Making 'Oscars' for MOTH's Oscar themed 40th.... (out sourced the cake, too much to do! I have a picture on a flash drive here somewhere.... in a box....)

I was making a gingerbread house.... letting the 'mortar' dry; and a curly two year old hurricane got to it....!

Gingerbread Reindeer for Kindy. I don't usually go in for 'class' gifts, but it was his birthday and it was his last day of kindy.

Needless to say, I haven't baked much lately! And we move into our new house to discover the oven doesn't fit my trays.... Hello?? It is also a bit dodgy heat-even wise..... oh well, less baking isn't a bad thing!

Ladies Choice

With all this relocating I am a few months behind with posting pictures. I am a few months behind creating much at all! All of my art materials were in a box for about eight weeks as they made there way across the Tasman. In the rush to up-sticks I had forgotten that I would probably want to create SOMETHING) during that time, and neglected to leave anything out to play with. What a lack of foresight! Of course I HAD to buy a few bits and bobs, for sanity's sake... ;)  I started a journal, but I have had little time to do much there either. We still have a few boxes to unpack and my 'spare' time is being taken up starting up our new homeschool year and trying to find our place in this new city. And it is a BIG city! I must say that I find myself, when opportunity presents 'spare' time, usually falling asleep in a chair! Oh well. It will come right soon eh? Well, eventually!?

So I am posting ATCs for November, and surprisingly December. I managed to finish the December ATCs the day before the house removers arrived; I thought I would make it! Needless to say, I hadn't many materials to hand at this stage (would you believe I gave half of my art materials away? Neither can I!), and it is an interesting project to see what one can produce with limited time and materials.

The sad conclusion to the above, is that I am no longer in the same country as my Altered Art group :( Eventually I hope to be able to do some long distance swaps, but I haven't been that organised yet!

November's theme was 'Free for All', that is to say, we could choose for ourselves.

In a nutshell, I decided to use materials and techniques that I have enjoyed over the year, and to encourage my arty friends. I chose 'Love Your Work'.

And Zoe chose to do Gingerbread Men. They are on silver baking trays, and each is different :) She put a lot of work into them and they looked lovely.