This month's GPP Street Team Crusade is Where in the World? Share where you come from or where you live.

This is where I live - Esperance, Western Australia

My family and I now call Esperance home. My husband grew up here after his family emigrated to Australia from England. He left for Perth in 1980. I was born Perth and have never lived anywhere but the city. All of Ken's family still live in Esperance. We were planning on selling our house in Perth and deciding where to move to. With the house prices the way they were moving up, we were going to be moving further out to the outskirts of Perth. So we decided to move to Esperance.

It was a big decision, to sell up and move 730 kilometres, but it's the right one for us. We have a bigger house, a great yard and a wonderful lifestyle. We live a 5 minute walk from the beach.

So many people have said to us that they would love to do what we have done and move to the country, but don't think that they could do it. You have to take a chance, we are living our dream.

Merry Christmas

I meant to upload this before Christmas - I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

I found this great tutorial at Moonstitches and had to give them a go, it's been a while since I've done any sewing, but I think they turned out great.

In the picture below you can see more detail.

Creativity Coaching

I am on Eric Maisel's Creativity Newsletter email list - it has had some great stuff on it recently, including his podcasts - The Joy of Living Creatively & Your Purpose Centred Life. In a recent email that I received he was asking for clients to participate in his Creativity Coaching Training. He is training a new group of coaches and by signing up, if you are selected you get 16 weeks of free creativity coaching.

I sent off my email to be included on the list and I was selected! I've started working with my creativity coach this week - I'll let you know how it goes.

Zentangles

I was surfing and came across Becky New's blog - Bexarts Blog she's hooked on zentangles - have you heard of them? - I hadn't. I checked out their website Zentangle and I can see how she got hooked. Here are some that I have created.

Not content with what I had achieved, I thought I would put my own spin on the idea and tried my hand at a mandala - using the same techniques.

ATC Trio

This month's crusade is - Imaginary Friends - Who or What is your Muse?

I could probably blog about this all day - there are numerous things and people that I would regard as my muse - but here are just a few.

My husband and my son - they provide inspiration for all that I do.

My angel's - Brendan, Cianan, Kavyn & Alex - they are always around me watching over me in all that I do and are a constant source of inspiration.

Nick Bantock - His Art and Books are just amazing and he is a lovely man in person - yes I have met him!

Books - I love books and reading, I can have several on the go at once and know exactly where I am at in each book. Having just moved into our new house we don't have enough shelving and all my books are in boxes. You can escape into another world and immerse yourself in other cultures.

Ravens - I love ravens - Brendan's name in Gaelic means "Little Raven" - since his death I have been more attuned to them and see them wherever I go. Whenever I see them I know that all will be well. I use them in my art and in my writing. Michelle's raven stamps have provided me with a new creative outlet.

Heather Blakey and Soul Food Cafe - a wonderful resource and inspiration for all creatives. Heather nourished my muse when all else seemed lost.

Mandala's - I have long held a fascination for mandala's and labyrinths. I have been lucky enough to see the creation of a Tibetan Sand Mandala - see the post below. I have created hand drawn mandalas and digital mandala's.

The Healing Buddha Mandala

After only being in Esperance for two weeks and in our new home for only 4 days I had to fly back to work for two weeks work. While I was in a new age store I picked up a mandala postcard to find that a Tibetan Lama and his monks were in Perth creating a sand mandala. One of my appointments was cancelled so I used the oppurtunity to go and view the creation of the mandala.

I spent about an hour just watching the monks at work. They had laid scarves down on the floor and we were not allowed to cross these, one of the monks gave me permission to cross and take closer photo's, as long as I took a photo of him at his work.

Tashi Namgyal

on the left: Jampa Sangpo, on the right: Tashi Namgyal, at the back: Tenzin Palden

The mandala was some way off being completed when I viewed it, but the Stillpoint Centre was taking many photos of it and upon its completion. When I get the newsletter I will post a photo of the completed mandala.

Or you can go to: http://www.subiacostillpoint.com.au/

You Are 6: The Loyalist

You have strong relationships and are intensely loyal. People find you easy to love and care for. You like your world to be stable and secure, no surprises. You're cautious. You prefer your inner circle to the outside world. At Your Best: You are courageous, a positive thinker, and expressive. You can take on the world. At Your Worst: You are secretly insecure - which makes you sarcastic, cold, and argumentative. Your Fixation: Doubt Your Primary Fear: Abandonment Your Primary Desire: Security and support Other Number 6's: Mel Gibson, Woody Allen, Jay Leno, Marilyn Monroe, and Julia Roberts.

What Number Are You?

More ATC's

I'm really enjoying playing with these new stamps. Here are a couple more ATC's.

I got the coffin stamp years ago in an unmounted grab bag.

I never thought I'd find a use for it!

I recently bought some of Michelle Ward's stamps from Green Pepper Press. She also has a blog called the GPP Street Team. Each month she posts a crusade - a creativity prompt and invites people to join in. I thought I would join in.
This month's crusade is Crush on You. What do you have a crush on, what are you obsessed by or infatuated with? Here are my crushes:

My husband and soulmate, Ken. He's my best friend and a great guitarist. I don't think I could live without him. We celebrate our 10th anniversary on the 29th of November 2007.

Our son Troy. He's nearly 14 and he's growing up so fast. He frustrates me at times but he also makes me proud.

Bella - our baby - she's just 9 months old and we all love her. She's a Papillon Jack Russell cross. Who could help but fall in love with her.

Ravens! Yes that's right ravens. I love ravens, they are the most beautiful and intelligent bird. I never paid them much attention until our son Brendan died (his name in gaelic means raven) then I started to notice them all the time. I feel comforted whenever they are near. Which is why Michelle's stamps are so great I can now include them in my art. So many people think of ravens/crows as bad omens, but to me they are beautiful majestic creatures. These ATC's were created using Michelle's stamps.

Check This Out:

Ten Zen Seconds by Eric Maisel

http://www.tenzenseconds.com

I was recommended this book sometime ago, but haven't been blogging for a while so I thought I would share it. It is a combination of Eastern and Western techniques. Utilising deep breathing and postive thought it creates mindfulness and helps you to centre. I've used the techniques and it is working for me, it is a useful stress reduction tool.

Sculpture by the Sea - Cottesloe Beach

Yesterday, Ken & I went down to Cottesloe Beach to see the third annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. These are just a few of the sculptures, by local, national and international artists. It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, if only it wasn't so popular and crowded!

At the end of November I started some Art units online through Curtin Uni. I am doing Printmaking and an Art History unit. I have submitted my first assessments and thought I would upload some of the work I have done.

The theme for the printmaking unit is - Transformation.

Phoenix rising from the flames - Lino print

Mask 1 - Subtractive Monoprint

Mask 2 - Transfer Drawing

Feeling the Presence of Light - Digitally altered image.

Presence - the original image
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