Dotty Jean's Slice of Life

Art Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:24:00 +0000

I have just stumbled across a wonderful site called Wild Precious . I have spent many hours looking over this great site and have come tot he conclusion that I want to try my hand at Art Journalling. I have avoided journalling all my life because I didn't think that i had anything worth writing down. I still don't think I have much to say that is worthy of putting in a journal but Art Journalling is not about prolific writing, instead it is about feelings, art, creativity and having fun. So, I searched my bookshelf looking for a suitable book that I could use, all the while feeling guilty because I was about to deface a book. Then I thought about it for a moment and realised that if there wa a book sitting on my shlef that was fit to be transformed then it was never gong to be read. So, I chose a gardening book with a hard cover that the silver fish had started to devour and that was the begining of my 'next creative passion'.

Art pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:56:00 +0000

I created this piece of art a few months ago after a wonderfully uplifting meditation session. I used chalk pastels on this picture, I LOVE using pastels, the way they blend together is a magical process. I have called this picture Eyes of Buddha.

This second piece is a Zentangle I did this evening. Zentangles have a way of making me feel relaxed, the active meditation felt through creating Zentangles can be a bit addictive.

Creative Meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:20:00 +0000

Two days ago I listened to Goddess Leonie's week three meditation from her Creative Goddess e-course. I still feel relaxed and uplifted from sitting and working through the meditation. I haven't meditated for a couple of months but as soon as the meditation started I was taken into a beautiful visulization to meet my creative Guide. I do love to meditate, I must continue to make an effort to keep meditation as a big part of my life. I am half way through this e-course and can't wait to make my piece of art for this week.

Just popping in for a minute

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:16:00 +0000

I have just finished tiling my laundry. I have always wanted a light airy laundry room and now I have one complete with white walls and white tiles. I have waited 23 years to get the room I wanted and if anyone messes it up they have me to contend with.

This is what I have just finished making a Snow Queen Dotee for Martha in a Winter Dotee swap. She was so easy and quick to make and I have to say I am very pleased with the end result. I sure hope Martha likes her.

I found these photos f an Arum lilly on my camera when I was uploading the Dotee. I an so please with my lily, it is in the perfect spot and grows like a weed. It is amazing how different it looks using different settings on the camera.

New family member

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:30:00 +0000

I hope to post to this blog more ofter this year. I'm sure i said that last year and the year before but this year I really will try to make an effort.

We have a new baby in the family. Aidann summer Rose arrives on 7th January 2011 weighing in at 9lb 8 1/2 the biggest baby this family has seen for a couple of generations. The second child for my eldest son Sam and his beautiful partner Tab and a little sister for Corbin. We have had lots of photos and will be having lots of cuddles on 22nd January when Iain and I meet her for the first time. At times like this I realise jus how much I miss my Sons and thier families, being a long distance Grandmother isn't an easy task to perform. But I make up for it when we do visit.

Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:01:00 +0000

I recently arranged a Women's Retreat with a group of women who were mostly strangers to each other. I have wanted to participate in a retreat for a long time but haven't been able to find one close to home and with the principles I hold dear to; Spirit, Nature,Mother Earth & Drumming. I found a lovely lady on the net who just happened to live in the same sate as me which in it's self is amazing. I contacted Jane and asked her to run a weekend in the North of the state and so our retreat started to take place. We arrived on Saturday morning with an open Heart, good cheer, friendship and food!! The day started with an individual of each participant, which for me was a whole new experience. An experience which I might say was very pleasurable and grounding. We sat in a circle and passed the talking stick and that was another first for me but again very pleasurable and grounding. When the last participant had finished two hours had gone by. My, how a bunch of strangers can talk. the afternoon session was spent singing and drumming on medicine drums, what a connecting time. The second day started with the talking stick and then straight into drumming and singing. The morning was drawn to a close with a long visualization and meditation and then silence for the next 2 hours until the afternoon session was ready to commence. The silence was deafening, I was so amazed at the amount of sounds that a person can hear when there is no conversation to enter into. At the end of the weekend we, who started the previous day as strangerswho shared some intimate stories, singing, drumming and dancing were bonded into a friendship of kindred likeness.

A mid week holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:16:00 +0000

I have reached an age where I no longer feel I need to do things with other people. I have learnt that I can have ME time and not have to share my space with another human being if I don't want to. Today I did something I have been promising myself for a long time; I spent a day mid week at the beach all by myself and feel inspired to do it again. The weather was perfect, the water was perfect, the shells were perfect, the sand was perfect and the seagulls were perfect. I walked the beach and quickly found myself in the familiar pose of a frustrated beach comber; head down, hands behind my back looking for treasures in the sand. I found things that no-one else would treasure but me. A piece of brown sea glass to add to my ever growing collection; a beautifully worn shell with a perfect spiral inside to remind me that sometimes life can spiral out of control and I need to take myself off somewhere quiet and reflect on life and gently bring myself back to the centre and move on. Two shells that were so fragile that they broke into pieces before I finished my collecting, then I found a couple of stronger shells. The shells reminded me that life can sometimes fall to pieces unexpectedly but if you look around you can find something strong to replace your broken pieces.
While sitting on the sand the seagulls came to visit looking for food. I noticed one of them only had one leg and he was just ah happy and capable as the others with two legs. He reminded me that life continues no matter what. Just suck it up and move on!!

Collage Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:35:00 +0000

This collage was created out of Love, Frustraion & Fun!!
The Love is a Mothers Love for a Son who was in a long time unfulfilling relationship. The Frustration was that as a Mother I was not able to make my Son happy. The Fun was listening to Nickle Back and creating something that I didn't plan, think about, ponder over, worry about or procrastinate over. I just went with the flow and created whatever came from my Spirit. I incorporated paint, collage, stamping and journaling and when I had finished I was amazed at what had transpired!!

NYE 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:18:00 +0000

The NYE fireworks were spectacular as usual. Dissapointment was not an option. Although every year I experience them through the lens of my camera I am still excited to see the flashes and hear the bang of the show.

This was the full moon on NYE. One side the fireworks sparkled while on the otherside the moon glowed an eerly glow through a hazey sky. Look closely and you will see orbs around the moon, strangely enough there were no unseen beings anywhere to be seen around the fireworks. Draw your own conclusions!!

My visions for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:13:00 +0000

I don't usually do New Years Resolutions but this year I have decided to crete a Vision Board and a Vision List. I am starting with my Vision List first because I can easily create that where the Vision Board will need more work and thought.

My Vision List for 2010:

continue to be more creative
be more positive
do a retreat
create a workshop/retreat
read more
meditate more
anything else I feel I need to do to nurture my Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:17:00 +0000

One of my passions in life is photography. I mostly photograph natural objects and I don't think you could find anything more natural than a glorious rainbow. I was driving home from work one afternoon when I saw this beautiful rainbow in a paddock, the closer I got to home the more I realised that the rainbow seemed to be following me. I'm not sure if rainbows choose someone to follow but it certainly seemed that this vibrant rainbow was following me.
This wasn't an ordinary rainbow it was a double rainbow which made the experience even more special. I felt that I could reach out and actually touch this beautiful creation of nature. The experience was something I will always remember.

I'm excited...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:23:00 +0000

...because I will have a strawberry to pick in the next couple of days. I have never grown strawberries before and am so pleased that this plant has so many strawberries on it. The first crop of fruit was eaten my some mystical creature/animal in the night!! I don't know what the creature was but it only ate the strawberries and not the stalks or any other part of the plant. I have moved the plant closer to the back door behind a fence in order to keep it protected from harm. I know it sounds like I'm a bit pathetic being so excited about a strawberry plant but we have had such a bad summer with none of our vegetables producing fruit for us. The only ones to benefit from the plants will be the chooks when they are let lose in the garden this coming weekend. I will keep you posted on the strawberry plants progress.

How time flies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:31:00 +0000

I just looked at the date of my last blog entry and forgot how time flies.
Last time I blogged I had intended to have some of my creations made and ready to post here but I have to say that I haven't made a single thing in this time. However, I plan to do some sewing this afternoon so I may have something to show for my effort.
So, in the mean time I thought I would share with you my passion of photography and some of my favourite photos of my garden. Some may look overexposed but they were taken on a dewy morning.

Just a small selection......

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:10:00 +0000

....... of the beautiful collection of cloth dolls I have from my many friends I have met on the net over the past 9 years.

While re-arranging my studio yesterday I came to realize what a wonderful collection of cloth dolls I have been fortunate to have received in swaps from Internet groups. I decided to keep these wonderful dolls all together on a set of shelves so I could gaze at them and remember all the wonderful friends I have met on the net since I started cloth doll making about 9 years ago.

Until I started making cloth dolls I didn't know anything about the net let alone how to chat on line with anyone and become firm friends with them. Some of my bestest friends are cyber buddies that I have never met and probably will never meet but that doesn't deter me from meeting new net friends almost on a daily basis. The generosity of my cyber friends is just so amazing, when I tell my 'real' friends about my cyber friends they look at me with a strange look and think 'what a loser" but if only they knew!!

Anyway, what I really want to tell you about is the wonderful mountain bike I was lucky to get from Free Cycle today. I have wanted a bike for a long time so I could try to get fit and now I have one I am over the moon. It needs a little bit of work and 2 new tyres but that is minor work that I am going to enjoy fixing. And yes, it was a 'cyber friend' that was there at the right time to help out when needed.

Do the frogs know something?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:40:00 +0000

I am sitting here writing this while family of little brown frogs that live in a garden just under my lounge room window are calling to me. I wonder if they know it is going to rain even though the sun is shining. These little creatures live in a large leafy plant and love nothing more than getting a little shower from my hose when I water my garden, they come out and croak away to their hearts content. Unfortunately they have to be content with the hose and not rain because we haven't had a lot of rain for a few weeks now.
I do wish you could be here with me, the frogs are croaking, the wind is blowing and rustling the trees and the wind chime I bought for my husband is playing a little magical tune for me. So all in all I can say I am reveling in the wonderful nature that abounds my beautiful bush sanctuary.

New doll

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:26:00 +0000

I have just finished this Healing Doll. I got a bit carried away with the beading as I always do. Once I start I find is hard to stop, In was just going to add beads to the front but continued on the back as well. I love the feel of the beads when I run my fingers over them so I just continued beading until I had covered all the red and blue pattern on the fabric.
She is approx 4 inches long not including the hanger or tassels. Her face is a clay mask I made and painted with bronze paint, another thing I love doing with my dolls. I love the texture of paint on fabric so most of my dolls lately have had their bodies painted.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:32:00 +0000

It has been a little while since I last blogged. I have been playing Grand Mother and coping with the extreme heat for a couple of weeks. Playing Grand Mother has finished but not the extreme heat we are experiencing. We have had several days of 40+ and I can tell you that is is very ard to get through the day whith no air con. I told my husband 3 summers ago that if the heat continued (then is was around 30!!)that I wasn't going through another summer without a proper cooling system. Well guess what? Three years later and we still haven't got one. It is very rare that we experience such conditions in my little part of the world and I cna only think that is is going to stay this way each summer. So, I think next year will the the year to do something about it.
I have posted 2 photos of the same subject. One was taken by my 10 year old Grand daughter Ivy and the ther one was taken by her ? year old Grand Mother. We took lots of photos while Ivy was visiting, it is a hobby that we both enjoy as does her Father. She seems to have inherited her Father's talent for photography because on several occassions she took some fantastic shots. Here are some more of her work.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:33:00 +0000

I have been makink Dotees for about a week now. They are so easy and quick to make that I have made about 8 of them so far. I have seen them on the web on various sites and didn't take too much notice of them until a friend in a Yahoo group showed us some of the ones she made. I decided to try my hand at one and have been making them all week. I accidently found the blog of the creator of the original Dotee it is such an inspiring blog that I have visited it several times this week.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:36:00 +0000

GEMINI - The Twin Nice.

Love is one of a kind. Great listeners Very Good at confusing people.... Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out. Gemini's will not take any crap from anyone. Gemini's like to tell people what they should do and get offended easily. They are great at losing things and are forgetful. Gemini's can be very sarcastic and childish at times, and are very nosey. Trustworthy. Always happy. VERY Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE.

If the above is true I have a lot to live up too!!

Luck of the Fae

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:21:00 +0000

I have just signed up for a Faerie swap at Fairy Child Heirlooms blog I haven't been involved in a swap for a few months now and am looking forward to this one. Here are the details if you are interested in joining.

~0~0~0~

Now, here’s a few rules I’d like my swappers to follow:
You need to have an active blog…….posting a couple of times a month
NO SWAPPING FLAKES ALLOWED! I know that life happens so if you sign up and then realize you can not follow through for any reason then let me know ASAP so I can find your partner a new sender.
Email your partners. Get to know them so you can send something that they’ll really like!
$20 limit before shipping. (No junk allowed!)
Have fun & use your imagination to make this into a magical swap for your partner
Make sure you “thank” your partner – very important

Back to the real world

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:56:00 +0000

I don't usually study the sky too much during daylight but I just happened to look up when taking the washing off the line. The moon looked so clear and close over the tree tops that I just couldn't resist taking a photo of it.

Well, my Christmas break has come to an end, I return to work tomorrow not knowing when ,my next break will be. We are having a new state wide computer system taking over from the old system and all hands need to be on deck. It is lovely to be needed but not when it may impact on my much need break away from the drudge of work. I am totally convinced that I only work to feed my habit of eating and paying bills.

Revamp and Face Lift

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:34:00 +0000

I thought with the coming of the New Year I should overhaul my blog. I have spent several hours putting the new look blog together, I hope you all agree with me. I would love to hear your comments, so, leave comment if you like.
Last night we helped my Brother in Law to celebrate his 50th Birthday, usually we sit in the blazing heat but not this year. My Sister decided to have an evening celebratration this year because last year the temperature soared around lunch time. But, this year the temperature plummeted so low that we sat around fire pots to keep from turning blue with the cold. Guests big and small enjoyed the warmth from the fire, Clancy, my Nephew from Townsville, was the chief stoker for the evening.
Just a few days ago we were loving the heat but I can't say we are loving the return of winter.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:02:00 +0000

Happy New Year to all my readers, I hope 2009 brings you all the joy and happiness that you deserve. I hope you all had a safe and joyous night doing what ever you do on New Years Eve. I spent the evening with my brother and sister and their families at a public gathering at the local football oval. There was live music all through the night, food and drink stalls all around so no one went hungry or 'thirsty'. The weather was more like Autumn evening than a summer evening but we all rugged up to enjoy the festivities and the fire works display. This is my Great Niece Maya, who turns 2 in a few days time. I am not being biased but she was the prettiest child of the evening! Don't you agree? Last year she was mesmerised by the fireworks but this year she was more aware of the noise and didn't like them at all. We all left just before midnight, I have a 30 minute drive home so I arrive home a few minutes before midnight, just in case I turned back into Cinderella!! These are some of the photos I took, we weren't positioned well to get good shots but I am happy with what I got.

LETS START 2009 THE RIGHT WAY..By giving

I found this lovely giving idea on my friend Laura Ann's blog. I decided to play along because I think giving is something we all should do more of. I have just pasted the rules here from her blog Artisan Memories

The first 3 visitors to my blog who leave a comment saying that they would like to be involved will receive a handmade gift from me within 365 days.

You must email me to confirm your details. These 3 visitors must have their own blog, place the PIF logo on your blog and link it back to me. Then you must offer the same to the first 3 visitors to visit your blog and follow the above steps that I have done. Remember there is no stress...you have one year to PIF.

Big Day Out

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:00:00 +0000

It has been so long since I have been to the beach, a pass time I really love but rarely indulge in. My Brother is visiting from Northern Queensland so we spent the day touring around. We followed our noses and ended up on a beach that I haven't visited for about 20 years! I took these photos and am so pleased with the results, I used my digital camera and couldn't see a thing through it because of the glare from the sun, so I just went with my instincts and pointed and clicked and these are the results. I was so surprised when I downloaded them to the computer, perhaps I should use the blind persons technique of photography more often. The water was perfect for body surfing as long as you had a thermal wet suit!! The wind was amazingly strong but not as cold as you might think. We were sand blasted while descending the steep dunes to the beach but it was worth the experience to get to our destination. The wild life on the beach was extraordinary, a Fairy Penguin, Fur Seal and a Wallaby and the most extraordinary thing of all was that they were all dead!! The Fairy Penguin and the Fur Seal were washed ashore but the Wallaby was mumified!!
So, all in all it was a day out for us all to remember.

Mother Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:12:00 +0000

Isn't Mother Nature a magnificant creator?

I was adding roses to my dehydrator to create some pot pourri when I stopped for a moment to look at the blooms before I turned them into dried petals.

These beautiful creations leaped out at me just asking for one final photograph before I flicked the switch. Now I feel bad because I am turning something so beautiful into a dried up thing for my so called enjoyment. I really have difficulty making Pot Pourri with such magnificent flowers but I do enjoy them while they are in full bloom, only picking them when they are past their prime. That way I can continue to enjoy them for many months to come. I suppose in a way I am doing my bit for recycling.