Thursday 6 May 2010

Back to the real world!

Hi everyone! 

I may have thought that my blogging break would only be until I moved into my new house and had the internet reconnected but I completely under-estimated just what was involved in the move.  So a quick update - Zach and I "camped" in the house for the first month until Joseph and the furniture arrived.  I started work straight away as my employer was incredibly helpful and gave me an immediate transfer. (I have since started another job but again with the same department - I have been incredibly lucky and I am so happy!)

I think the reason I didn't blog once we got the internet organised was that I wasn't doing any arting or crafting and that really is the focus of this blog.  Anyway once the 120 cartons of "stuff" and the furniture arrived, unpacking was the priority!  I had forgotten just how exhausting that process can be and of course I want everything to look lovely straight away (which is an impossibility when you have way too much "stuff"). 

When I still had the 40+ cartons of art and craft stuff to unpack it was time to go to the Creative Soul Retreat over in Melbourne - something that was planned a year ago when a move to Perth wasn't even on the radar.  While the actual retreat was four days I had booked for a fortnight away so that I could have some time with one of my sisters who lives there and then with Joseph who arrived midway.

The Retreat was wonderful and just the rejuvenation I needed - I am really looking forward to get back into some creative stuff now.  I did a couple of workshops with Jan Harris (who stood in for Judy Wise as she has health issues that forced her to withdraw) and a couple with Laurie Mika.  They were all terrific but I absolutely adored working with the polymer clay and can't wait to do more mosaic style pieces a la Laurie.  Melbourne was fantastic fun- Joseph and I had our first holiday alone for about a decade and we are already planning the next one!  Shopping, eating, looking and walking - did we cover some territory!

After getting back from Melbourne I had a final week of my holidays to finish the unpacking and to get the house looking reasonable and it was fun (although at times I wondered whether I was just walking around in circles moving stuff!).  I have set up a craft room this time from scratch - in the past I have used all the bits and pieces of furniture that were excess to other rooms/needs.  I am now a walking talking IKEA advertisement in fact - I love their white bookcases, tables and drawers and I have used them exclusively (it is a very small room so it didn't need a lot).  Big thanks to my son Zach for having the patience to put all the units together (my role was limited pretty much to the "needs two persons" pieces).  I recovered the window pelmet one night and had to compromise when I found that I had misplaced (lost) my sewing machine power cord somehow in the move - thank goodness for fusible webbing! So glad that there is a Janome shop  close-by now - nice not to have to think about long distance purchases, postage etc. I'll take some pictures soon to share but in the meantime I just keep having a peek in there to make sure it is real!  Can't wait to actually get creative in there...this is a photo of my new desk area a few weeks ago (I have already made some changes of course!).


My sewing room, on the other hand, is a bit of a disaster and I am planning to really change my layout and storage there as soon as higher priority items are attended to (like a range hood and new oven, a new dining table, new blinds ... etc etc). 

So this post is not without some arty content here is the mosaic personal shrine (still without the middle "shrine" bit) that I made in one of Laurie Mika's Creative Soul Retreat workshops and a very blurry picture of one of the personal reliquaries that I made in the other workshop I took with Laurie.  This one was for my sister Marrijane in Melbourne.  So much fun!  I've bought a toaster oven (I didn't even look for a secondhand one when I found out how reasonable new ones are these days!) so expect to see more clay/mosaic work soon.



I'll be back soon (promise)!

17 comments:

carole brungar said...

Welcome back!! Pleased to hear that everything is turning up roses for you! Sounds like you have been one busy gal!
carole x

Doreen G said...

Welcome back Debbi-so glad all is working out for you.
Life sounds as though you are enjoying the move.

Susie Campbell (Sue Smith) said...

Yay!!! You're back! It's so good to hear what you've been up to, but even better to know that you're settled and unpacked and HAPPY :) xo

Jen Crossley said...

Hoorah so glad your back,youhave had a bust time thats for sure.SO glad to see you at CSR retreat is only for a short while.
jen

Gaye Todd said...

Welcome back Debbi - I have missed you! Don't you just love Ikea..... I am proud to say that even I can put that stuff together now!! Looking forward to seeing future creations from your great new space.
xx

Kasha Rolley said...

Hi Debbi, welcome back, I missed your posts.

sharon young said...

Soooooo.......... great to see you back!!!
Love the personal shrine and the glimpse of your workroom looks wonderful.
Looking forward to seeing more of your inspiring creative work.

Jen xo said...

woohooo youre back!!!
lovely artwork and your space looks wonderful, looking forward to some more posts ;) jenxo

Anna Matthews said...

Welcome back, I've missed your posts. Your vacation sounds so wonderful. Your crafting space looks great!

Sue McGettigan said...

So good to see you posting and hear your news - all sounds great! Good luck with the final settling in and getting your rooms the way you want them, it must feel great to see them coming together and get your 'stuff' out of boxes :)

Samantha Marshall said...

Love your creations from CSR.

Robin Mac said...

Wonderful to have you back Debbi, Your holiday sounds wonderful, I will look forward to seeing more of your workroom when you have finally got it to the way you want it. Cheers, Robin

Jodene said...

So nice to see you back Deb! I have been checking in to see if you have updated and was so happy to see you had. I am in Perth too (Woodvale) but don't know how close or far away you are from me.
Anyway, when things settle down if you want to catch up for a coffee, give me a call (0412 406 485)
Jodene

Svetlana said...

Debbie, you made such a great shrine. Laurie is such an inspiration. Time at the CSR was like adream and I wish we could have soon again. Since you're in Perth we should catch up and have some kind of reunion. Few of us are doing class with Christine Atkins and it will be good to have some relaxing time agin.

Val said...

Great to see you back Debbi - I've missed all the inspiration you so willingly share. Look forward to seeing more postings in the not too distant future!

Elizabeth said...

Hi Debbie!!! I am sure that you will ahve your new homw up and running very soon! You certainly have had alot going on !! Congrats ont he move and the new job -you sound very ahppy about it all! Your Shrine is glorious!!! I think of you every time I see your beautiful pieces in Somerset Studios!!! So glad to ahve found you again!!!
Best ,
Elizabeth

Sue McGettigan said...

Happy Christmas Debbi - I lost my computer and all my emails - here's my email address -
ozzigirl @ cox dot net
Cheers,
Sue