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 I've recently made a big decision. I've decided to take a rest from wedding photography for now. I've had a little business on the side (completely separate from my full-time day job) doing wedding photography for about 6 years. It's never been massive, I started because I LOVED doing it, and it was a creative outlet for me at the time. (Don't worry, I'm trained). However these days I have this space for a creative outlet, and it's much less stressfull and less exhausting. Whenever I do a wedding shoot now it seems to be a lot of work; I guess it always was, but I used to love it so much I never noticed. I never wanted to feel like it was a job, it was always suppose to be a passion. So I think it's time to "shelve it" for a while. I still have to shut down my photography site to make it official, or at least re-do it to be more of a gallery and less of a portfolio. That will be the last step I suppose... gulp. Since I made this decision I've been riding a little wave of emotion. Guilt, feeling like I've just given up, a little bit of shame that I'm not pushing it further... but now that's subsiding and I'm starting to feel a sense of freedom, space to do something new, excitement! I need to remind myself that I don't need to do everything all at once, change is good, and now it's time to make way for a new phase to begin. Change is good, change is good, change is good. Do it now, do it now, do it now.
 Feeling happy after spending much of the weekend making little things and sewing. I made this little spotty flower button for my jacket, and some other things, (which I'll save up as a surprise once I've made a few more). I've been brimming with ideas lately and wishing and hoping that I could forget all about going to work, just so I could stay home and keep on at it. Ahhh what I lovely thought. Monday mornings are never fun, but I'm thinking this one is going to be particularly difficult.
“Sucked-In!” Mr You exclaimed pointing at me from across the room, “I told you it was good”. “What?” I replied, bewildered and stunned, scratching my still bed-haired head. Unaware of what was going on. I’d been sitting there for about 5 mins looking at the swollen comment count on my ‘opposites’ illo post (before reading them), through my bleary morning eyes, trying to work out what went wrong, mumbling to myself… “Oh, jeez I must have stuffed something up when I published that post last night, my comments have duplicated themselves… Oh hang on, maybe Blogger is having a freak out…” Then I caught a glimpse of a few words in the comments; “pick of the week” “congratulations”, just as Mr You’s “Sucked-In!” came at me from across the room. He had already worked out that my illustration had made this week's Illustration Friday's Pick of the Week! (Note: Sucked-in is what high school kids yell out instead of saying “Oh, that’s too bad”)He’d been telling me all week that he thought my fishy-illo was a good one, and I’d spent all week telling him reasons why I thought it wasn’t. So the pick-of-the-week thing was a complete victory for him. We laughed as the reality and irony of it sunk in; the week I do an illo that is even too weird for me to appreciate is the one and only week the spotlight shines in my direction. HA! Luckily having a good laugh at myself is not unusual, and I am really thrilled! Thank-you for your congratulations, and your visits and all those excellent comments, I really really thrive on them. For newcomers, it’s nice to meet you. I haven't really achieved a consistent style yet, but don’t normally do illos like this, so feel free to check out a few old ones that I have liked much better:  Sacrifice, from July 06
 Self Portrait, from June 06
 Fat, from May 06
 Spotted, from April 06
 Tattoo, from March 06
Also, to spread the love, here are a few (of the many many many) i-Fri people who’s illustrations I really enjoy: Some Time SoonTheo DesignThree Ravens PressTroglodyte MignonMutt InkRoz FosterSweet PeaLoontown TiniesShooflyBunshineBecause It's FunMumspottingToo Many ThoughtsReimaoLil KimJoy ElizAmy ZaleskiIrisz at Artista blogDudadazeAngelatoSmoenand of course our almighty queen, Penelope
 So I saw this purse today, I know I'm probably not going to actually use it, and I don't know anyone who would even like it (so it can't go to the future-present box), but I simply had to buy it. You know that feeling when you see something in a shop and you just feel too mean to let it go one more night alone and cold in a dark empty shop, and you just have to adopt it? Well, that's kinda what happened here today. But little pink birdy purse was a total bargain, got it on sale for $4. Well worth the adoption I think. Now, I just have to think of something nifty to do with her.
 My Illustration Friday attempt for " opposites". Oh Lordy, what is this? What was I thinking?!!! 'Opposites' should have been easy right? I don't know what happened, I just resorted to thinking... well ballons and fish? They're opposite right? How about a fish and a brick? No, bricks aren't very exciting to draw... a fish and a typewriter? And that was it. It's kinda dumb, I know. Sorry. I logged my illo under "medium: watercolour", "illustration style: other" because, well, what the hell is this?
What’s a girl to do when her boy is out of town? Party hard? No no no… 1) Wait around all weekend to see Shakira in the new video clip, because that always cheers a girl up… (I waited, but it never came on – Strike one) 2) Stay up late watching crap chic-flicks on TV, and end up becoming compelled that they are so true and such an important pastiche about life (but seriously, John Cusack is really good in those roles isn’t he? Isn't he?) 3) Usually you keep yourself so occupied (to avoid realising you’re lonely) that you forget to go to bed , this time you remember to go to bed, but forget to go to sleep (yaaawn, Strike two) 4) To help this matter you create a boy-like effigy in the bed next you using his unused pillows and some hot water bottles, filled to a warm temperature, just so you can feel like he’s there sleeping next to you as you lie in bed and try to fall asleep. 5) Accidentally swallow at least 3 ants in a cup of tea! (I told you! Strike three)
 Mr You is away visiting his family. It only took one day of him being gone before things started to come undone. I got home last night to find ants on a mass migration through the kitchen. Taking over! The strangest part is that their trail runs through the cupboards, past the normal flour, the self raising flour, corn flour, brown sugar, white sugar, raw sugar, castor sugar, cocoa powder, desiccated coconut, herbal teas, an aray of vitamins, cereal... Then, get this, they end at the kettle. They can't need water, it hasn't stopped bucketing down rain here for days. If they were thirsty they could just stay outside, look up and open their itty bitty mouths. What do they want? I wiped their trail away, swilled out the kettle, and left stacks of little lost disoriented ants raoming around in circles. Then when I came back there were even more coming out of the kettle. They're not in the main part where the water is, they're coming out from under the handle at the top. What doooo theeeey want? Mr You.....? This morning they're back, they've created a new trail. What should I do? They are too cute to kill, especially now they're my only household company. But if they're not careful I'm going to end up accidentally swallowing a whole tribe.
 WWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I’ve never seen them before, and I was BA-Lowen away. She was dressed in a circus leotard with ribbons hanging off, a pair of black stockings with the inner thighs cut out, one sparkly fingerless glove and a strange little brimless cap. Even her mic cord was tizzed up. She strutted and bounded around the stage with insurmountable energy, stopping in rock-poses that only she and Iggy Pop can pull off. Kicking off in a BIG way with Gold Lion and then Honeybear, she almost had trouble calming back down from Phenomena into Cheated Hearts, bursting into a giggle at one point when she almost raced ahead of the beat. Once she got into the slower songs she was poised and solitary. I’d heard reports of her in previous times being surly, hiding behind her long fringe and clasping a bottle of champagne on stage - overdoing the cliché’d rock chick thing. But last night she was unique; giggling and smiling throughout the whole gig. She looked like she was having an absolute ball and was so much fun to watch, plus there’s nothing sexier than someone who clearly loves what they do (and don’t have too much of an ego to show it). Her voice and band’s playing also surpassed expectations, but the band, in a still, humble manner left the showmanship to Karen. After all, if you were in a band and she showed up to join, you’d know life was about to change in a big way. The whole thing was so great and so much better than I expected. I’m beaming! (I forgot to take a camera, but as soon as I locate some shots, I'll be sure to let you know)
(Oh, and you'll be glad to hear Elton John has officially and thankfully been blown right out of my head)
I can NOT get that annoying Elton John song out of my head. It's driving me mad! For days I've been singing "It's no saac-a-ree-fi-i-i-ice a-a-at all" but wait, then I launch into "doo do doo doo..." Driving me c-ra-a-a-a-zy! My singing or humming it is also starting to drive Mr You crazy. This morning he counter attacked me with an equally sticky song, one that was bound to shock me enough to stop. (I think he was following the tip of frightening someone with hiccups). So as I ramped up to the chorus "Well it's no saac-a-ree-" He interrupted with "Don't want no short dick man"!!!! 'Nuf said.
 My Illustration Friday attempt for " sacrifice". Has anyone else had that Elton John song stuck in your head this week? 
 There are quite a few people out there making headbands at the moment, so this weekend I jumped on the bandwagon; the headband wagon that is. (As you can see it's still all about dots as far as I'm concerned, but stripes are good too!) In my incarnations of the humble headband, I've done away with the tie at the back because I always end up tying my hair up with it, causing myself pain and frustration. The ties have been replaced with a little elastic, mmmm custom built. Can't wait to wear them! I know you're all wondering, yes my sewing machine is working superbly now after it had a service. So far I'm not regretting spending the shocking $85 at all. It's running so perfectly, smoothly and quietly, so quietly in fact that I'm convinced I could combine sewing and simultaneous cat burglary crimes without raising suspicion. It's been a joy sewing today, relaxing, productive and very satisfying. So much so that I unpicked the parts of the Pink Trees Bag I made earlier and made some adjustments.  I adjused the size of the lining as it was a bit too baggy, then attached a button and elastic loop, and sewed it all back together. I also fixed the colour of the stitching along the top of the burgundy side. It was pink before and I didn't like it, but now it's burgundy too, and looks much better.  I made the button using one of those self cover button kits, it was easy and I love it! The button matches the lining, adds visual interest and serves as a functional closing device. Ahh buttons, so clever. Now, the exciting news is that I finally got started on Shoofly's bag. We postponed our swap as she was on holiday and I had lost custody of my sewing machine for a while. But we've set a posting date now, so things are up and rolling once again. I had been stuck for ideas, I wanted to do a sewn illustration for her and sew it into the bag, I wanted it to be something to do with Lebanon (where she's just been holidaying. Luckily she's safely home again now, hope her friends and family are too). Then I was thinking botanical, and windows and all sorts of stuff. The more I thought the less close I got to starting. I was trying too hard and putting myself off in the process. But now, it's all happening. I've steered away from all that stuff now, I have another idea, I'm keeping it simpler and have made a good start. I can't say too much about it because it's a surprise, but let me tell you, in my opinion, I think it's going to turn out to be the prettiest bag I've made so far. It's got me grinning.
ooooo, scandal over at Illustration Friday! (not really I'm just being a tad dramatic). The new theme went up; "aging" but we'd done that one in August last year. It's usually against my self-imposed rules to submit old works, but this week I was going to break out and post my illo from last year in a desperate attempt to get a link up earlier in the week (and as a bit of a protest of being reminded that I'm getting wrinkley all over again). BUT, luckily I checked again right before I was about to post, otherwise I would have looked a damn fool, egg on my face and all... Someone twigged on, and the topic has been gazumped, it's now "sacrifice". (I tell you what, they run a tight ship over at i-Fri don't they? They're amazing!) Too bad for those early birds who now have links to an unrelated topic. Call me cruel, but I'm kinda looking forward to sitting back and watching the comments roll in from onlookers unaware of the topic mishap: "Sick man, you think aging is a sacrifice do you? Well let me tell you something sonny boy, it's not by choice you insensitive little *&%*#@!" hehehehehe. No, don't panic, I'm sure it'll all be fine, just fine.
 My Illustration Friday attempt for " skyline". The suburb I live in is not in the city centre full of apartment blocks, and long before the sprawling suburbs. It's inbetween I guess; where the streets become a little quieter and the scenery more green than concrete, but where you can still spend the afternoon in a cafe and get to the city centre in a jiffy. You'd never guess that the skyline of tree silhouettes and red tile roofs would be interrupted by a flour mill. It's completely unexpected and quite beautiful really. It's still operational, and I guess it must have been there a long before land and house prices in the area soared. Not sure how long it will last in the ever expanding sprawl, but for the time being it adds an impressive shape to our skyline.
 So desperate for new music at the moment, yesterday I went and bought 2 new CDs and tickets to a concert. One of the CD purchases was because I like the band ( Howling Bells), and the other was purely in aid of the cool illustrated tracklist and even better cut-out cover sleeve. To tell you the truth, I haven't even listened to this one yet, (Gravity Won't Get You High, by The Grates) and am not even sure I like their music, but the cover, seriously, I think it was worth it just for that! Both CDs have excellent illustrated cover art, a very nice shift from the stock-standard photography covers you're usually fed. The Howling Bells Illustrated by Mikko Rantanen.The Grates credit their artwork as being their own.
 Still at a bit of a loss as to what to chat about, so I thought I'd show you a photo of this cool old original side show contraption. A couple of weeks back we helped a friend celebrate her birthday at Luna Park. Luna Park has been around for ever as far as I'm concerned. I remember going as a child and it being like nowhere I'd ever been before (this was before all of the DreamWorlds and SeaWorlds and MovieWorlds that are around these days). I was so impressed to see that many of the original features of the park have been retained. All the hand-painted signage and wall decoration, along with a few old machines (no longer working) standing around the edges, still watching on from the sidelines. I was particularly taken with this kiss tester, the brass hand plate rubbed smooth from many contenders, many years ago. I liked to imagine all the sailors and soldiers trying their luck during World War II. I think our friends were a little perplexed as they dashed off to the next spew-inducing ride, Mr You and I stalled inbetween to look at all the old photographs and paintings on the walls and these great old machines.
 My Illustration Friday attempt for " sticky". Completely unrelated to my illustration, but sticky all the same... At a big wedding on the weekend I witnessed the aftermath of a chocolate fondue fountain exploding all over a bunch of children. They all came running outside, splattered from head to toe in big dollops of chocolate, squealing... with joy. It took us a moment to work out if they were squealing in pain from being burnt, but no, they were running around and around in circles, with the biggest of them yelling out "It's a very chocolatey chocolatey day!", as if to thank the gods for this fortunate event. The rabble punctuated occasionally with each of them stopping for a pit stop licking some chocolate off their knee or arm or anywhere else really. Seriously they were covered in it!
My little heart broke last night when we went to see Superman Returns. Mr You worked on the movie at Fox studios last year (he’s not in it, but his fine handy work is), so with much anticipation and a little trepidation we went along to see it. I’ll admit I’ve always had a soft spot for the man in tights even when I was young. He’s got so much dignity… apart from that dicky little curl and the undies on top of his tights business that is, which, well you know, not so dignified. Anyway it’s not surprising that I enjoyed it. But my heart broke during the credits as I craned my neck and put all my speed reading skills into action to see my Mr You’s name on the big screen… and missed it! (snap) Did you see it? he asked excitedly “What? No! Where?! Nooooooo” but it was too late, it scrolled up and off the screen before there was time. (crack) heartbreak… Even so, I’m still awfully proud.
 Nothing much to report really. Feeling much less fowl about the jacket incident thanks to your understanding comments. Haven't had a chance to make anything, although I did finally get my sewing machine out of protective custody. This week for some reason I bought 3 different bags of buttons. I have no idea what I'm planning on using them for. I think it's related to the severe case I have of 'Jack of all' that Creative Kismet described. Symptoms include stockpiling craft goods and fabrics, unfinished and even more unstarted projects clogging up space, and a mind fat with ideas accompanied by a lingering feeling of frustration. At these times, instead of getting stuck-in and doing stuff I spend hours lusting about other people's wonderfulness. A highly abbreviated list of those who's illustrations are bringing me joy at the moment (illo's only, don't get me started on sewing or craft):  Mutt Ink who's illo's are cleverly pumped with a yummy plumpness. Girl Vs World's elegant, patterned ladies. Great etsy store too. Troglodyte mignon with amazing watercolour skill and quirky interesting characters, who each seem endearingly flawed. Mareike Engelke, who, no matter which medium is chosen, manages to keep a consistent style. Allison Sommers with odd folk, floating hands and a vintage hue.
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