money

Oh drat, here goes my credit for the month down the drain. Online holiday/overstock sales are killing my budget and it's so hard to resist knowing that these are items that I've been lemming for months! Mind you, I rarely buy in local stores except for shoes, pharmaceutical items and some clothings, everything else is by ebay, etsy or other craft sites *sight* Shipping is killing me but there is such gratification when I get my goodies-I'm so materialistic!

My aunt also came back from her trip in Lourdes-France and it's like she went idols shopping there:candles, chaplets, mini figurines of the virgin Mary and bottles of holy water. I wonder where the religious belief stops and the business starts. I bet there are even genuine water/figurines and fake ones..Oh her intentions are good but the whole Lourdes business is just weird..

Lately I've been trying to be less resistant to work issues and less controlled by time when I am not at work. easier said than done. I want to go back to those days where I could do things on a whim instead of having to go by the clock (ironically I plan and schedule in order to have more free time), go out when I want and create at night or day. I can't create or write "by order" .

Although I am apprehensive of my emigration to Montreal, i am really looking forward to it because it's my ticket to freedom:no more spying on my conversations by the mother/brother, criticism on the way I live and my art and at last I'll be free to go where i want and when I want. I am excited at the thought of walking again in the streets of Toronto, stroll on university grounds, window shopping and then off to explore Montreal.

I need a break from my current life. 4 years in Mauritius have used me thin and I won't ramble about who is to blame-it's worthless digression on self pity.

Art helps me breathe because i am choking down here.

To do list for the future:
-see a live orchestra (4 seasons by vivaldi would be nice)
-europe tour:paris and provence esp sites painted by my favourite painter van gogh, italy, ireland, spain, england
-learn professional calligraphy
-start doing volunteer work again

MIA

Been missing in action lately. With my stressful job, it seems that my muse has gone on vacation. My latest creations are the botanica chunkies for AFA which I need to upload on flickr. I am rather happy with the results although the above picture does not do them justice. I am so tired and unmotivated. It has never been that bad before and now all I do daily is to wait for the afternoon so that I can go home and on Mondays I wait for Fridays. At least the bright side is that time flies. JGZ says that I am dramatizing things which I should not since I am leaving and hell.. yet I worry and worry: about money, about what I am going to do in Montreal, about hurting people's feeling and of course the incoming holidays do not make me feel any better with my social anxiety. On Monday I had to replace my supervisor at a meeting and was worrying to hell what I had to say. I even pinched myself hard so as to keep control and it was not even my turn yet! jeez *roll eyes* I need therapy.

I just ordered Keri Smith "wreck this book" and hopefully I'll get some insights. I still need to answer a LOT of mail and try to find a rainbow.

wow

I've become really bad at blogging. What i am looking forward to: registering for suzyblu classes this week-end. oh pretty girls!

will update flickr later with traveling pictures and recent creations.

MIA

wow i've not updated in ages. I've been trying to discipline myself by avoiding my afternoon nap and using my time sensibly instead. I've gazillion of projects due in April and "created" a new techniques from gold marker, pearl-ex and inks. maybe someone already discovered it but I came across it while playing around with my supplies. I love the overall grunge effects. lately my style have changed: from a fan of vintage images, now I am more into getting my hands dirty with paint, textures and inks. the whole creative process is a get away from my unsatisfactory life and i wished i could do it more often and have money for more supplies ;p i'm always busting my credit card on craft supplies :O

anyway projects that are done: numbers inchies, under the sea inchies, house atcs, dogs dogs atcs, birds atcs, paris fat pages, tim holtz atcs. WIP to be finished by the end of the week: pretty girls fat page and dark wonderland. to be done: france atcs, sweet house, d fatbook, medical-esque ATCs, NYC atcs, gothic arches, creepy circus and let them eat cakes..

i need a life as you can see..

my fatbook collection is becoming very pretty as well. will need to post a picture soon! :)

paris fatbook

paris fatbook page

Spent the day working on a prototype of my fat page for the paris themed swap fatbook. I'm rather happy with it. The only requirement is to use any item from the collagestuff website (i love this website). I used vintage papers, fleur brown and angel wings german scrap, eiffel sequins, vintage brown lace, tim holtz "creative muse" stamps (love his products line: grungy and inspiring), and printed collage sheets from digitalcollagesheets.com (used as transfer for the ferry wheel and the girl). I'm getting the hang of using layers for my backgrounds. Used ton of acrylics and gesso/gel medium as well and stamps from paperartsy.

I believe the best thing that has happened to me so far "artistically" is:
1. buying bernie berlin's "artisttrading card workshop" book off ebay *highly recommended"
2. joining atcsforall.com

I'm not that prolific in creating but when I do, it goes like boom and I enjoy getting my hands dirty to make my own bgrounds lately. It's a nice addition to simply cut and paste.

I started reading the chronicles of narnia again. yes i'm rather bored lately so thanks god for books