Previews..........

Just arrived yesterday are Ozzie Owl (code 0431) and he/she is proving to be a hit with owl lovers all over Perth. Here are a couple of samples of the owl in "boy" & "girl"... Notice I used fancy buttons for the eyes on the boy and for the girl I used flowers to depict feathers on the tummy. For the eyebrows I have used a small piece of gauze (bandage). If you notice the beak is a thin one you can substitute the the larger shape from the tail feathers (center piece) for a larger beak if you want to. With the wings they can be trimmed down under the eyes (not in this sample) for an additional different look to the owl... The boy owl (top) is made with antique journal card (thanks Jen C) and I put it through the cuttlebug, it looks like it painted but it is the colour of the cardstock. I think Ozzie would look fab with a graduation hat on for those wanting to do teacher related projects.

Also a decoration for the tree using the photo fobs and little birds. I have made one of Lauren here and yet to make one of Danielle.

All the winners of the Owl, I will be sending them out today! If by chance I don't have your email address (because I would have emailed you directly last week) please post a comment on the list. (now only the winners need apply here!)

If you find yourself with a bit of time on your hands you may like to make something Christmassy! I found that I had the urge to find a twig, this one I picked up at the beach last week and decided to paint it white. It probably would have been quicker to spray it but I didn't have any white spray cans so I just used white acrylic on a brush. then I glued foiled stars and then added some pearl beads (you need to ream them out a but to fit the tiny branches) and then put some words on it. This xmas tree is very tiny. I put it in a small vase and added some xmas trim and some paper around the base. I am still adding things and looking for more bits to hang, hence a "work in progress". I would love tiny miniature lights, like ones from a dolls house I think would look pretty cute!

Well off to a christmas lunch with the Aunties, take care, Merry Christmas to all. Julie xxxooo

Some Inspiration - Tiny Houses & Paris Keys

Finally finished this little "strip" of tiny houses to send to a store in CA, USA. I hope you like this piece Lesley. I have teamed it with some of the new Paris Keys. I would like to thank Char for making the original one on a length of wood to display them in a funky way.

The paper mache bust was a gift from Ruth, thanks it makes a great prop! The wire form was from Items and the tiny solid metal dress form was from a secret swap about 5 years ago! I found it in some things I was sorting out in the garage and was thrilled to see it.

Check this guy out!

Holy spider! was cleaning out under the outdoor setting today and check out this big "Red Back Spider". Thankfully she was not under the toilet seat. This is the biggest RB I have ever seen. The yard and house (outside) are crawling with spiders at the moment. A lot of red backs and black house spiders.....The inset shows the male red back (please quote me if I am wrong) and the big girly looks like she is going to hatch out some eggs. Okay - the 5c piece is 20mm or for the imperial folks that is 3/4 of an inch! Apparently no one has died from a red back spider bite since 1956 (I think). Check under the bed clothes tonight and don't let the bed bugs bite....

"gigit lubba lubba (indonesian for spider bite! LOL)

Preview New Chipboard Owl

Coming soon is this new little owl made from chipboard will be available shortly from Collections. It's about 11cm high and comes with 14 parts to construct the owl in your favourite style (chain, jump rings and brads are not included). He's got cute eyebrows, and tummy and tail feathers!Keep an eye on the blog and I will tell you when the owl will be ready.

The first ten people to post in the comments will get a free set of owls sent to them when they are ready! Copy in your email address and I will contact you for your addresses! Good luck!

Julie

New Camera

A few weeks ago I dropped my camera as I was getting a coat out of my bag and it hit the footpath and did a bit of damage. The camera still sort of worked but some features didn't. It was such a shame because I really loved it and I have had that camera for at least 4 years. Well I really need a camera all the time (who doesn't?) so I popped off to the Good Guys and got a new one. It's a Cannon SX100IS, similar to my last camera but it has a lot of newer features and it's not top of the range (I've seen those and they are hard to operate if you're not a pro) it was so easy to use. I need some manual features but generally I like to point and click.

I have had a small break recently in Bali and took some lovely photos with the camera.

This is a photo of a friends son, he wouldn't stand still for a second so this is the best shot that I got of him.


This has got to be one of the most amazing postcard shots of Jimbaran Bay. You can eat seafood cooked on coconut husks which impart a distinctive flavour to your barbecued dinner, absolutely to die for and you get the picture postcard to go with it.


This photo was one of my favourite of the trip. Taken from a car passing through a tiny village. The group was so colourful and so spectacular how could you not take a quick photo.


I LOVE the colours of all the flowers and for some reason in the tropics they are so vibrant, especially taken against the dark background of this swimming pool. This shot was taken by a friend while I was getting a manicure and pedicure...

This was the first close up shot I took with the camera. I need to play around a bit more to tweak and get the best out of the macro lens.

Another shot taken in the garden of the hotel. The gardens are always immaculate and have the most beautiful ambiance at night time with the soft lighting.


This is an amazing place called Garuda Wisnu Kencana, out towards Ulluwatu and the statue is made of brass or bronze, all soldered together in tiny pieces. I can't believe the size of it! This is Garuda shown here but Visnu is 23 metres high.


You can now see the size of Garuda (means eagle in Indonesian) and it's located in an old limestone quarry which happens to be huge. I think it is a must see and if you go to Bali it is worth going to see this cultural park.

At the other end of the island is Mt Batur located in Kintamani (a 2 1/2 drive from Kuta and it is a volcano that is NOT extinct. Pictured from a restaurant on the rim of lake Batur it is dizzy height is not for the faint hearted. Next trip to Bali I hope to get photos from the top. It takes about 2 hours to climb and it is best viewed at sunrise. I think that means starting your climb at 4am in the morning (yikes!)


The rice paddies in Bali are so beautiful. At the moment they are all ready to be harvested so they are not as green as they would be as it's coming up to the monsoon time of the year. There are two seasons, the wet and the dry.


This is a typical sight you might see driving around the island villages. Women taking the offerings to the temple. After they have been offered they eat all of the lovely fruit, paw paw, mango, mangosteens, jack fruit, durian, monkey bananas, snake fruit, pineapples and the hugest passion fruit you have ever seen!


Here's a photo of the gardens of the hotel, just so beautiful and serene, mind you it was really hot and all you always want to get inside your room to cool yourself down in the air conditioning!



Another picturesque sight, Murnies in Ubud, happens to be the most beautiful restaurant in the world, set alongside a riverbed. There are three levels to walk down and this is the lower level, kind of like a private dining room...can't get better than this.


Inside the restaurant there are many works of art to buy and there is a pots the girls decorate daily, just for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks for looking, Julie

Updates

Danielle, my daughter drew this picture of images where by there are small creatures and amimals incorporated into the background making more small fantasy creatures, I thought it was very clever. (I wish I could draw like that!)If you click on the image you can see the detail of the little creatures.


Here is a close up of the drawing, done on scrap paper during her breaks at work!
She is also painting these on canvases, and I have one above my bed.