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| ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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Saturday, December 31, 2011
☆ FAREWELL 2011
Farewell to a year of love and laughter. Farewell to a year of huge amounts of creating. Farewell to a year of illness and death. Farewell to a year of stress and worry. Farewell to a year of huge success, and incredible highs, and some pretty shitty lows. Farewell to new connections and to new family members.
But most of all farewell to the past, not to be remembered in sorrow, in despair or in shame, but to be remembered as a journey to a brighter future
I can't wait to take all I have learnt from 2011 and move forward, to make the next step in my journey and to remember to always immerse myself, in whatever I choose.
See you in the new year - have a great night.
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Saturday, December 24, 2011
☆ Messenger [Illustration Friday] + Season Tidings
I had just finished this painting for my niece when the email alert come in for this weeks illustration friday.
It felt very synchronistic!
I can't believe that it is Christmas Eve already, where has the month gone? And after furiously sewing and creating, at the last minute I hot glued the last felt circle onto the last hair clip. The presents have all been wrapped and ready to transport, and salads for our BBQ tonight are prepared.
I am ready to relax and indulge.
I hope that you all have great festive season, no matter what holidays you celebrate, and that 2012 is a year of growth, happiness and love.
I am taking a week off to enjoy my family, in this time of sharing and giving.
Much love.
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
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| Messenger ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
I can't believe that it is Christmas Eve already, where has the month gone? And after furiously sewing and creating, at the last minute I hot glued the last felt circle onto the last hair clip. The presents have all been wrapped and ready to transport, and salads for our BBQ tonight are prepared.
I am ready to relax and indulge.
I hope that you all have great festive season, no matter what holidays you celebrate, and that 2012 is a year of growth, happiness and love.
I am taking a week off to enjoy my family, in this time of sharing and giving.
Much love.
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
☆Sink [Illustration Friday]
Sink or swim?
Under pressure which do you do?
It used to be that I sank, I gave up and I gave in.
But I think since the birth of Bug, things have been changing. I have been changing. I am less likely to give up, I feel that I am no longer sinking, sinking in self doubt, and self worth, sinking in helplessness and hopelessness, and sinking in an abundance of ideas and dreams with no direction and no clue where to begin.
I am not going to sink anymore.
And a big 'Thank You' needs to go to you guys. Thank you for your inspiring comments, your helpful suggestions and your support. You guys have helped me so much on this journey. Thank you for encouraging me to listen to my squeak.
So how do you keep your head above water, and not sink. What is the inspiration behind your motivation to keep going? I would love to know.
Have a great day!
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
Under pressure which do you do?
It used to be that I sank, I gave up and I gave in.
But I think since the birth of Bug, things have been changing. I have been changing. I am less likely to give up, I feel that I am no longer sinking, sinking in self doubt, and self worth, sinking in helplessness and hopelessness, and sinking in an abundance of ideas and dreams with no direction and no clue where to begin.
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©2011 Kirstin McCulloch
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And a big 'Thank You' needs to go to you guys. Thank you for your inspiring comments, your helpful suggestions and your support. You guys have helped me so much on this journey. Thank you for encouraging me to listen to my squeak.
So how do you keep your head above water, and not sink. What is the inspiration behind your motivation to keep going? I would love to know.
Have a great day!
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
Monday, December 19, 2011
☆ Hand Made Christmas [Part Three]
Continuing the hand made christmas theme, along with a sign for my brother-in-laws 'man land' room (aka the xbox room, aka don't enter if you hear guns blazing cause im in the middle of a 'gears' session) - incidentally how many of you out there are xbox widows like me?
Anyway, I made a 'manland' sign and we made them a cool wire photo holder from an old frame similar to this, but in the rush to wrap everything before the secret spiller [aka Bean] woke from her sleep, I forgot to take a photo of them.
But I did remember to take a photo of the iphone holders I made them.
Anyway, I made a 'manland' sign and we made them a cool wire photo holder from an old frame similar to this, but in the rush to wrap everything before the secret spiller [aka Bean] woke from her sleep, I forgot to take a photo of them.
But I did remember to take a photo of the iphone holders I made them.
I found a great tutorial here for these, and they were so easy to sew, but such a practical gift - I don't know about you, but I've lost my phone in my purse so many times!
I think they will come in very handy - I may have to make one for myself.
Have a great day!
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
Sunday, December 18, 2011
☆ Home Made Christmas [part two]
I have some more home made gifts to share with you.
My sister in law is a beautiful sewer, and she too has aspirations of starting a home made business, sewing purses, bags, glasses cases in beautiful retro patterns.
I wanted to make her a book that she could write her ideas in - she has so many ideas, such great ideas, so with a bit of a Kaiser Craft album, some ring binders and some beautiful scrapbook paper, I decided to create a note book for her - a 'Little Book for Big Ideas.'
My sister in law is a beautiful sewer, and she too has aspirations of starting a home made business, sewing purses, bags, glasses cases in beautiful retro patterns.
I wanted to make her a book that she could write her ideas in - she has so many ideas, such great ideas, so with a bit of a Kaiser Craft album, some ring binders and some beautiful scrapbook paper, I decided to create a note book for her - a 'Little Book for Big Ideas.'
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| ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
The best thing is she can rip out pages and add more, as her ideas change and grow and come to fruition.
I hope she likes it.
Have a great week. Only seven more sleeps til the big man comes!
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Thursday, December 15, 2011
☆ Christmas Goodies + the Joy of Giving
Well since I have been going on and on about these hand made gifts I have decided to make for family this year, and how like usual I have procrastinated so much, that now I have only two weeks left 'til christmas, and crap wasn't it a great idea in July!
I thought it only fair that I share some of the finished pieces with you all. Perhaps you might see it as a small reward + a thank you for listening to me whine about my own stupidity, and my terrible habit of leaving things to the very last minute!
These were super easy to make - I just collected rocks on my walk (sometimes my pockets has so many rocks my pants would fall down as I walked!) They need a final coat of lacquer and a pretty bag and they are finished.
These mermies were made from a pattern in Hillary Lang's book Wee Wonderfuls with a few personalised differences for the girls...
Aren't they just divine?
I thought it only fair that I share some of the finished pieces with you all. Perhaps you might see it as a small reward + a thank you for listening to me whine about my own stupidity, and my terrible habit of leaving things to the very last minute!
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| Stone markers for my sister in law - she is a mad keen gardener. |
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Aren't they just divine?
I am pretty sure the girls will love these - well I do! They are wrapped and under the tree, and every time one of the girls looks trying to figure out what that present is, I smile, thinking of what they will say, their expression, their joy when they finally open them.
So really that is what a hand made christmas is all about isn't it? - that feeling that you get, the pleasure, the joy of some one just enjoying, appreciating and loving a gift that you made just for them.
That feeling really is worth the stress, worry and slight anxiety that surrounds the whole thing of giving something I created.
Well there are more presents to finish - back to the desk!
Have a great day.
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
☆ Separated [Illustration Friday]
We have just made it through one of the biggest weekends. Our baby, Bean, danced in her first dance recital. And she was amazing. At three and a half she just went out and danced. The crowd, the lights, the other stage shy girls just didn't phase her. She amazes me, and inspires me!
During this weekend, I found myself sitting on the couch surrounded by family, but feeling separated from the group. This is not unusual as I am sure everyone has these moments. I have had them in the past too, but while my 90 year old nan was talking to my brother in law about the latest gossip in the magazines, (is so and so's son really his??) I felt a huge disconnect to everything around me.
I know its probably due to my brain processing a huge amount of stuff, things to do, presents to buy, shopping to do for the next two weekends, all the freaking present making I have yet to do.
But it was an odd feeling. We were together but separate. (And I wouldn't mind betting I wasn't the only one in the room, feeling the same way!!)
This is my first serious attempt at a male character, I find the much harder, but I think he turned out ok. But I would love to hear of any tips you might have about drawing and painting 'boys'. I have another planned as a christmas present for my nephew.
I was feeling pretty good about my first attempt until Bean asked where her long princess hair was!
Have a great week
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
During this weekend, I found myself sitting on the couch surrounded by family, but feeling separated from the group. This is not unusual as I am sure everyone has these moments. I have had them in the past too, but while my 90 year old nan was talking to my brother in law about the latest gossip in the magazines, (is so and so's son really his??) I felt a huge disconnect to everything around me.
I know its probably due to my brain processing a huge amount of stuff, things to do, presents to buy, shopping to do for the next two weekends, all the freaking present making I have yet to do.
But it was an odd feeling. We were together but separate. (And I wouldn't mind betting I wasn't the only one in the room, feeling the same way!!)
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| BFF's The boy and his horse will not be separated |
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch
This is my first serious attempt at a male character, I find the much harder, but I think he turned out ok. But I would love to hear of any tips you might have about drawing and painting 'boys'. I have another planned as a christmas present for my nephew.
I was feeling pretty good about my first attempt until Bean asked where her long princess hair was!
Have a great week
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
Saturday, December 10, 2011
☆ Bauble [Inspiration Avenue]
I have been so busy lately. Hand made Christmas presents (oh what WAS i thinking!!) But the mermaid plushies are done (tick) and the princess fiona's on their way and I will post some pics of soon. My presents for my sis & bro in law are still to be completed - but I have seven more days (.... eeek!)
So I just haven't had a chance lately to do a piece for Illustration Avenue, despite the tempting prompts, so this weeks prompt 'Bauble' was a relief.
Painting or illustrating things in baubles is a favourite of mine. I love imagining what is in the bauble, underneath the paint. The other week, Illustration Friday's prompt round inspired me to do a christmas faerie in a bauble. But this week, I decided a mermaid was in order.
I struggled to get involved with this painting and finish it. I started it at least three times before I was happy with the beginning sketch ;) (I am sure you understand those moments - I think it was because I hadn't invested myself.) But in the end, I finished it.
We have a full on weekend at the moment, a house full of family, christmas carols in the gardens and we are off to my Bean's first dance recital tomorrow - which I am alternating between being very proud and slightly sad! (my baby - she is growing up!!!) I am sure she will be awesome!
And not to stress you out, but some one mentioned to me that it is only two weeks. fourteen days, until christmas. Holy crap I think I am about to freak out!!!
ummmmm. have a good one?!?
x
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
So I just haven't had a chance lately to do a piece for Illustration Avenue, despite the tempting prompts, so this weeks prompt 'Bauble' was a relief.
Painting or illustrating things in baubles is a favourite of mine. I love imagining what is in the bauble, underneath the paint. The other week, Illustration Friday's prompt round inspired me to do a christmas faerie in a bauble. But this week, I decided a mermaid was in order.
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©2011 Kirstin McCulloch
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We have a full on weekend at the moment, a house full of family, christmas carols in the gardens and we are off to my Bean's first dance recital tomorrow - which I am alternating between being very proud and slightly sad! (my baby - she is growing up!!!) I am sure she will be awesome!
And not to stress you out, but some one mentioned to me that it is only two weeks. fourteen days, until christmas. Holy crap I think I am about to freak out!!!
ummmmm. have a good one?!?
x
☆•*¨*•.¸¸
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
☆ Brigade [Illustration Friday]
The festy season is well and truly upon us. Every where I look there are decorations going up, lights turned on at dusk, and this seasons best sellers - solar candy cane lights, mixed in with last years - inflatable rein deer.
We put our tree up over the weekend, which seemed to take all day with our two little elves helping us. Our own christmas tress decorating brigade.
We put our tree up over the weekend, which seemed to take all day with our two little elves helping us. Our own christmas tress decorating brigade.
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| Brigade Mixed Media ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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Detail ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| Detail ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| Detail ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| Detail ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
How are your festy season plans coming? Are you slightly panicked like me or are you disgustingly organised and had everything sorted in July?
Have a great day
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Monday, December 5, 2011
☆ Angel's Sigh
The beginning of the festy season brings lots of new challenges for me.
Not so much related to art or painting, more crafty stuff for gifts. In July my sister in law and I decided to make hand made gifts for christmas for each other, and not just each other, but for our significant others too.
It seemed such a great idea at the time. Of course in July there was six months until xmas. Now there is three weeks, and huge amounts to do.
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Angel's Sigh ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
It's too wet to scan and post today - you'll have to check in tomorrow to see it!
Have a great week.
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Friday, December 2, 2011
☆ AEDM - The end of a Journey.
I can't believe its the end of AEDM. November seems to have speed past on wings.
Were did the month go?
Anyway to finish the end of AEDM, I wanted to do a bigger piece, a happier piece, and use a colour that I don't particularly favour.
Were did the month go?
Anyway to finish the end of AEDM, I wanted to do a bigger piece, a happier piece, and use a colour that I don't particularly favour.
Let your Dreams Escape.
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| Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
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| Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas ©2011 Kirstin McCulloch |
I have had a blast on this journey. AEDM has definitely opened a few windows creatively. I am a little sad that the month had to end, but I have so much planned this month. If possible it will be busier than November!
Have a great weekend
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