Pleasant Views

"I believe that one of the great problems for individuals is the depression and the tension resulting from existence in a world which is increasingly less pleasing to the eye." Lady Bird Johnson

Thank goodness we have Sky Watch Friday to celebrate all the beautiful skies that bloggers find from all parts of the globe. Sky Watch reminds me that this can either be a smelly mangrove swamp at low tide on a chilly morning or a nature's beautiful paintbrush in action, all a matter of choice.

ART CALL:
After chasing pretty skies, altered art or mixed media is my favourite creative passion. Altered art can be considered recycling as we find old loved bits & pieces and give them a new life in a different form. Later this month Evelyn in Montreal is hosting a Festival of Postcards with the theme of ‘signs’.

She and her blogging buddies who collect vintage and interesting postcards are allowing us a peek at their treasured finds. Altered Artists, Mixed Media and Mail Art devotes are welcome to participate in our own little altered kind of way. I am working on something special to share on the 24th of July looking forward to seeing how other people use their postcards as a little canvas.

The Great Outdoors

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.” Anne Frank
Happy Birthday Anne and thank you for writing and sharing all that you did.

Sky Watch Friday bloggers share their own view of the heavens from all kinds of different angles.

Making cards for special friends feels pretty good too!

Enjoying nature

“It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can, while it is still here. Get out there and ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely mysterious, and awesome space.”
Edward Abbey

One of the beaches in northern NSW that draws you in, walking down shaded forest paths to the sparkling shore. I like to keep a few of these photos on my desk to remind me there is a whole world outside of the office just waiting for play time.

Sky Watch Friday is a like a mini holiday with bloggers from all over the world sharing their view of the sky.

A few cards we have been working on with the newest Collection Elements range of papers and trims.

A big thank you to Chenon of Meandering Pearl for this delightfully decorated journal, a girl always needs a place to store all those creative ideas that go flitting by. Thank you it is beautiful.

Seasons

“For everything there is a season,

And a time for every matter under heaven”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Some days I pull out of the drive, look left and right, thinking I really should turn west to rush down the highway and some mornings the east asks do you have time to stop and appreciate all this? Great way to start the day!

Sky Watch Friday has lots of bloggers who appreciate the skies many moods and take the time to share the treasures.

A cute chipboard teddy from the Rapt In Paper range.

And a page from a travel themed altered book I am working on.

Red Sky in the Morning

‘If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.’ Mother Teresa

The weather has been a bit stormy the last few days, and a morning like this reminds me of the wives tale ‘red sky in morning sailors take warning.’

Sky Watch Friday is a huge party of bloggers showing off their view of the horizon in every colour of the rainbow.




One of the cards I have been working on using the Collections Elements range from beautiful sunny West Australia, too many fun images, printed papers and trims to choose from.

Sailing on the wind

‘Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -- but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor.’ Oliver Wendell Holmes

A fun piece of public art in one of the local rivers and a big patch of blue sky on a very breezy day. The fish are windmills and were spinning like tops. Sky Watch Friday fans celebrate the sky in all its many moods from all kinds of angles.












Evelyn in Montreal is hosting a regular Festival of Postcards. She and her blogging buddies who collect vintage and interesting postcards are allowing us a peek at their treasured finds. Altered Artists, Mixed Media and Mail Art devotes are welcome to participate in our own little altered kind of way.


Fairy of Worcester is my contribution to the Festival of Postcards using flowers cut from a paper napkin and a vintage postage stamp to match.

Carving up clouds

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Michelangelo


Check the Sky Watch Friday site for 100s of bloggers who took the time to notice the beauty of the sky and share their views from around the world.
















Artists uncover creations and Sky Watch fans seek out the most interesting skies to share with friends.

One of the nicest things I have discovered in the world of blogs are lots of nice folks sharing their interests, making the world a smaller a much nicer place.

A couple that deserve special mention this week include Sarah with her Beach Cottage Giveaway, over at Chenoa's Meandering Pearl there are the most darling little mini journals on show and Jill at Bittersweet is busy preparing a fresh batch of home made goodies for a farm show. Thank you ladies for making my day a little brighter.

Little yellow sewing box is one of the Rapt In Paper kits with my own addition of velvet strawberries and a mini album wrapped around a spool.

Spreading Light

‘There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.’ Edith Wharton

Some mornings on those rushed commutes, you really need to slow down and appreciate the views passing by.

Hundreds of Sky Watch Friday Bloggers share their own views from all around the world.

Itty Bitty books are a collection of ATCs bound up with a theme. This is part of a count down to Christmas project because after all we are almost half way to the next one!

Sneak peeks, what do you think is popping out of this box? Am attending the next Kit & Caboodle event in Cleveland QLD, a full day with Tina McGonegal from Australian Simply Cards and Angella Peardon of 10 Second Studio, it is sure to be over the top kind of creative day.

Sarah, of the Beach Cottage is hosting a Recession Misery Buster (RAK giveaway), check the link and see what she is posting this week. Always something fun going on there with tales of raising kids on the beach, settling into a new town or artfully reclaiming characters with good bones that make the beach cottage unique. Guaranteed to inspire with her recent addition of an on line mood board.

Heaven and Earth

‘Aim at heaven and you will get the earth thrown in. Aim at the earth and you could get neither.’ C. S. Lewis

Aiming to find pretty scenes and interesting skies each week for Sky Watch Friday sure is good fun, you never know what you might find. Check the link to see 100s of other views of the sky from all over the world.

Murasaki is part of a travel themed altered book I am working on.

And exciting news about the All About Paper event on May 17 a day full of fun with pretty printed papers on cards, invitations, and altered items. Can’t wait now to share the fun.

Thank you for everyone who wrote to ask about the paper placemats. On this occasion I went a little tone on tone, but you can find these pretty printed papers in all kinds of colour schemes and every theme you can imagine for as little as 50 cents each at a local scrapbook store.

Sailing

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” Confucius

Easter has been a bit overcast in this region (click to enlarge if you like) you are sure to see all kinds of amazing skies from all over with Sky Watch Friday.

One of my altered books as seen in the Idiots Guide to Altered Art.

Afternoon ‘tea’ with the girls will have to be indoors due to weather conditions. What could be nicer than celebrating light with friends in all shades of shabby white.

Through the blogs of Melissa at the Inspired Room, Sarah at the Beach Cottage, Susan with her Tablescape Thursdays and all their friends, I have learnt so much about the little details that can make your space special and appreciating what you already have.

Since they have gotten a hold of me all kinds of odd repurposing has started to happen, cake stands have become candle holders and shells have come out of treasure boxes to shine again.

Sharing a couple of before and after photos from the tea party decorating. Part way through building the tablescape decided it needed that little bit more at the place settings and grabbed some scrapbook paper for place mats.

Considering you can find pretty 12x12 inch paper on sale for as little as 50 cents it is a great option for themes and colour schemes.

First found scrapbooking paper when searching for ephemera for my altered projects and pleasantly surprised with it being such an affordable option for all kinds of craft projects. Recently I styled up a discount CD shelf unit with scrapbook paper and really pleased with results, will save that post for another day.

So thank you Melissa, Sarah, Susan and all the fun bloggers who play these games, and mum – my own personal scout always on the search for the quirky little things that make all the difference.