over there, on the bright side

So we survived another inspection last night (much less busy, thank-god), and are bracing ourselves for another one again on Saturday. Last night was much better managed, after we sent a "debrief" email with some "firm suggestions" to the agent on Monday. They were very apologetic for what happened at the last inspection, and brought big rugs and signs telling people not to sit on our stuff. In the meantime we're getting on with it. We're both so busy with work and various projects, so we've got plenty to get on with.

Thought I'd share some happy thoughts, and boy do I need them right now...

This amazing necklace I saw in a store:


Finding beautiful houses for rent on various websites that look like this:


With amazing rooms that look like this:


In locations like this!


Oh, and the happiest of all the thoughts is our helpful little companion:

And see that flat patch across the top of her head inbetween her ears; yes, well that'd be the helipad for the kissicopters, of course. And let me tell you, it's a busy flight path. :D

craziness

120 people within the first 10 minutes, all crammed into our tiny house at the one time. Complete strangers pushing themselves into our bedroom, our bathroom, and sitting on our dining table, as there wasn't enough room for that many people to stand in the same room simultaneously. After the first half it petered out a bit, so by the end there had probably been 200 people through.

That was our Saturday morning. The first of many open house inspections for the sale of the house we live in. It only lasted half an hour, but it was awful enough to make us pretty miserable for the rest of the day. I had spent half the day before and all morning cleaning every nook and cranny of the place to make the house look good. I even polished the floors, only to have 200 people (none of who even attempted to wipe their feet) trample through it, so that I ended up having to clean the floors all over again afterwards.

I sat out the front for most of it, watching as people streamed continually down the street and straight through our front door. It was like there had been a train pull up around the corner, and everyone getting off was coming to our house. Mr You stayed inside for most of it (mainly because he couldn't actually get back out again). Both of us overhearing comments, some good, some bad: "Well how could you live in this, it's tiny, you couldn't. You'd have to knock a wall down"... etc.

Next time Mr You wants to stick up a sign that says “We are only the tenants, not the owners, we have nothing to gain from this, please respect our furniture”.
And I want to hang my art on the walls with price stickers and business cards. ;)

Up to this point we were half-way to making the decision that we may try and move out of the city, not to the suburbs, but to a whole new town, a much smaller one way up north. After Saturday morning we were 95% decided. The final 5% being us managing to travel up there, and find a new house, come back and move in the time before we have to be out of here.

So it looks like we'll be moving away from the city altogether. We've been talking about it for about 2 years, but we kept chickening out, thinking we were too attached to work in the city, city lifestyle and friends. This time, it seems as though many things are falling into place (or out of it) enough to convince us that this time, the timing is right. I'm frightened (I've been in Sydney my whole adult life), but I'm also excited. I’ve got many many thoughts running through my mind, and a huge pile of work to get through, so life seems cramped and scattered.

On the up side, while packing more boxes, I went through all my old art folders and cleared a whole heap of stuff out (don’t worry it was crappy stuff), I managed to fill the whole recycling bin with old drawings and sketches. And there are a couple of sculptures in the rubbish bin. It’s so cleansing getting rid of old stuff. The nicest part was finding work I’d forgotten about, that reaches all the way back to school in some cases, stuff that I really like. It’s reassuring. (E.G. The drawing above is a small section from a school dance poster I did back in high school. I’d forgotten that somehow I became the school poster illustrator. That was a nice reminder for me that despite being lost in the business world for so long, I’m finally back on the right track).

Anyway, times are a-changin’. I know there are quite a few of you guys that have moved away to new towns. What’s it like? Do you fear not finding new friends, and losing the old ones? Trouble finding work? Have you ever regretted it, or do you just move on? I’d love to hear your stories…

(p.s. one of the reassuring things about moving away, is that it won’t effect our friendships in the slightest.)

atc from the mighty sally

:D look! My ATC arrived yesterday from Sandra (from The Mighty Sally). There's a handmade notecard with my name on it and dots! And there's a button with her artwork on it! And her ATC is so wonderful I love it. It's a real, live, tiny piece of artwork, handpainted and intricately drawn, and it's so authentic. It's a flying bicycle see? And did I mention I love it? I'm really liking this ATC business.

I want to keep saying more about it, but I'm really babbling. Everytime I think about Sandra lately I burst with excitement for her... Her itty bitty baby was due to arrive two days ago, eeeeeee. I don't know if she's had it yet, I can't wait to find out. CAN'T WAIT.

Best wishes Sandra, and thank-you.

back again

It was the furthest I've ever driven on my own, 5hrs along the highway, and I really enjoyed it. Mr You stayed at home over the weekend to get through his ever mounting pile of work, while I went to a small town up north to help my mum and step-dad unpack their stuff after moving house. So I drove up on my own, car stereo stacked with CD's, I took it easy, a road trip of my own. Pulling over to get out and stretch every so often when I came across a pretty little town or river clearing, stretching my arms wide through the endless sky and sucking in some of the ample fresh air.

Mum has moved to a new town, a seachange, and I think they'll love it. It's the nicest house they've ever lived in (in my opinion), on a little hill in a quiet tree-filled suburb, a few minutes walk over the ridge to the beach. It'll be quite a big lifestyle change for them both. It was interesting being there with them as they reassured themselves that they'd made the right decision, talking through the pros and cons, airing their concerns, and once again reassuring themselves.

It was also helpful to me at this time, considering that we too are in the process of packing up all our stuff and getting ready to move house. Thinking through options. I feel like I had a bit of emotional preparation, but also picked up some practical tips: good ways to pack things, reinforce boxes, and that my mum certainly doesn't need any more towels, wine glasses or decorative candles. (I think I managed to convice her to start actually using some of the candles she has).

Anyway, it was good. Good to get away, good to step out of my own house mess, good to look at things from an outsiders perspective. So now I'm back agian, but this time feeling slightly refreshed.

nothing really

I don't have anything to say really, other than I'm going away for a few days for a break, and to help my mum unpack boxes after she moved house this week.

Also, it was weird and kinda cool tonight while driving (well sitting stopped at traffic lights actually), that the indicator light on the car in front of me was flashing in exact time to the beat of the song I was listening to. Like my own travelling night club... but without the sweat... and with much better music.

that's all...

nothing really...

flip off

Yay! Another ATC swap package arrived this week. This one is from Regina over at Creative Kismet, who somehow managed to get this adorable package out in the midst of moving house. Regina wrote to me after a few attempts at ATCs (none of which she liked) and cleverly distracted me with the offer to swap some other type of her craft instead. I've always admired these "flip off" earrings in her store, and without me knowing she included one of her awsome neck-tie purses as well. And I think the card the earrings came on passes as an ATC anyway, so this package was super generous!

Regina is a nurse (I think), and gets these colourful "flip-off" discs off the tops of medicine vials. They are hillarious! Kind of offensive, but in a sweet, pink, pretty and unsuspecting fashion, hehehehehe. They crack me up! I love them, Thanks Regina!!!

Receiving this definitely helped to lift my spirits this week. I spent the most part of the week cooped up in the front room, trapping the cat, her litter, food, and half the furniture from the rest of the house in there with us (not to mention trying to get through piles of work). Our house is now in full swing of being sold, and last week a painter came through to paint the internal walls. Next week we've got photographers coming through, and then the open house inspections begin twice a week for the next month. It's all what it is, and needs to be done, but the fact is that it's not our house. We have to do all of this stuff and we're only the tennants. The owners of the house can remain in their nice untouched house, while we have to turn our house up-side-down to comply with their needs. But that's what you get for renting I suppose. It's just sad because the house we are in now is SO charming.

Mr You and I went searching for another house yesterday, and in the past 2 years the rents in Sydney have gone through the roof. To get a similar place to what we are in now, we will need to pay over $400 a week! And the done thing now is to make a bid to pay more rent that what's advertised, just so that you can get a place. We looked at some places yesterday which cost about the same as what we are paying now, and I'm surprised we didn't drop through the floor. They were, how shall I put it?... rotting! Quite literally. Back steps cracked off the house entirely, giant cracks in the supporting walls, mouldy walls, dropped floorboards. It's rediculous.

Next weekend when we go looking at these hovels I'll be wearing a sweet grin, and swinging cute pink "flip-offs" about those decaying rooms. Then they'll know what I'm really thinking! :D

(I feel like I've got a secret weapon, hehehe)

bag o birds

I am still mind numbingly busy, but I did set aside all day Saturday to make this bag for my friend for her birthday. Her party was that night, so I was cutting it just a little fine, but all went swimmingly and the bag turned out great. So great, I wished I'd made one for myself. I never do that. I never make anything for myself. One day...

You know, I'm not sure if she liked it. She didn't open any gifts at the party, so I got a phone call the next day to thank me. It was kind of hard to tell if she actually liked it. I hope she did, or at least I hope it grows on her. I wonder if she knows I made it?
(I didn't get a good photo of it, but the lining was brown satin with white polka-dots, and 2 pockets).

Anyway, during the day of sewing I realised that it must be about 6 months since the last day I sat and sewed all day. I can't believe it. Time really does vanish you know. Anyway, I had a really great day, I loved sewing all day long, and wish I could find a chance to do it more often. Maybe next time it will be a bag for myself.