Focus on Life - Week 20

Week 20: Looking Up

"This week let’s change our perspective and look up!"

Less than two weeks ago I was worried about a rather large bushfire about 20km (give or take) away from our home. In typical Autumn weather it rained for almost a full week and put it completely out! Since then it's been wet, cold and very frosty in the mornings.

I took this photo of my mum's Claret Ash tree, planted when we moved here over 40 years ago. It's currently a sunny but cold 8C (46F) and all the Autumn leaves have turned from green to red and gold and have promptly dropped to the ground, all in less than a week.

The only tree that has been able to hold on to its leaves is the red Japanese Maple, it's the same age as the Claret Ash but only a quarter of its size (maybe 10 foot or so). Some of the leaves are still green too. Just after I took this photo the sky turned black and the temperature dropped yet again, it's going to be a cold night! I hope my readers in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying the warmer Spring weather...I'm envious!

Please visit Sally at Studio Sublime for more Focus on Life posts by the other participants.

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Focus on Life - Week 19

Hope - Week 19

“If you feel you know how to get what you want out of life, and you have that desire to make that happen, then you have hope,”

~Jennifer Cheavens


Wow, this weeks prompt is an interesting one.

When I think of hope I naturally think about the future, and that always leads me to think about my kids. I've always felt that as a parent it's my job to ensure that my children's hopes for their future have the greatest possibility of being fulfilled.

My daughters - my hope for the future

These are my daughters, April (the eldest on the left) and Sara (youngest, on the right). I took this photo at their joint birthdays (born 5 years and one week apart), there is a pair of yummy chocolate cakes just out of shot, one a dragon and the other an owl.


April is a first year at university studying music (piano and musicology) and is hoping to add a second degree to that next year. Sara is in her second year of high school (year nine here in Australia), plays guitar and loves drawing and design. Although both are creative, April is organised, responsible and introverted where Sara is extroverted, impulsive and has a wicked sense of humor. I think they balance each other out.


These two girls are my hopes and dreams for the future.

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Focus on Life - Week 17 and 18

I’ve been running so far behind the Focus on Life series I’d thought I’d take some time during the week to play catch up.

Week 17 - Color/Colour

“Did you ever notice the way colour can effect our mood and perception of the environment around us?”

Just after I read this post for Week 17 the weather turned from very pleasant Autumn to a chilly taste of Winter to come. I was in need of hot Summer colours and they came to me in the form of beads.

When my Bead Soup partner, Penny, sent me some dragon-veined Agate I know I needed to find some more and these were my solution.

The centre portion of these strands are a brighter colour than the ends, which I presume means they're dyed. I really don’t mind all that much because the end beads are a lovely mottled brown with the brighter colours running through. I’m not sure what these are destined for, I’m sure I’ll find out sooner or later :)

Week 18 - Abstract

“The use of visual language of form colour and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the real world”

This one was fun! I played with one of the photos I took of the beads from Week 17 and ran it through some filters in Photoforge2 on my iPad and finished it off in PSE7.

I made a bead from a pile of beads! I used the Tiny Planet filter in Photoforge2 to create the circular blurred effect and loaded it onto my computer to add the rippled glass background filter in Photoshop Elements.

Don’t forget to come back on Saturday for the next Focus on Life post, and check out the others joining in.

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Focus on Life - Week 15

Week 15 - Aged Beauty

"Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of the natural."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson


I think this weeks prompt is one of my favourites so far. I was spoiled for choice in subject selection - which means of course plenty of old weathered items hanging around here!

I eventually settled my eye (and the iPhone macro lens) on these buttons. They were originally from hubby's grandmother's stash. When she moved house, about a decade ago, she handed out some of her prized collections, one of which was her button stash. I think I have at least four very, very large jars filled with buttons dating from the early 1900's through to the Second World War and on to the late 1980's.

Jessie worked in the Button Bar in Adelaide through her teen years and later, when her children had grown. Her collection included military buttons from many of the servicemen stationed in and around Adelaide, and sample cards like those pictured here, given out by the salesmen to entice stock orders. The buttons pictured here are carved Mother of Pearl and are no larger than a pea.

Check out Sally's website to see the links to the rest of the participants.

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Focus on Life - Week 14

This year I'm taking part in a photo challenge set up by Sally of Studio Sublime. Each week Sally will be sending the participants a word prompt and the following Saturday we will post our photo interpretations on our blogs, Flickr or Instagram. Follow me (MixedMediaJewel) on Instagram or follow the hash tag #focus1photoaweek.

Week 14~ Up Close!

"The macro shot!
Start exploring the details of the ordinary up close and glimpse a world that you may never have noticed until you observed it magnified!"


 This week has been interesting, at the start of the week I was not sure if I could continue with all my creative projects such as this weekly photo challenge (I've been absent for the last few weeks) or even my Bead Soup Challenge. Thankfully the First Reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party was last weekend and my Muse is back in action. I'm only part way through blog hopping and have two more bead soup pieces to finish. So, without further waffling on my part, here's my macro shot of one of my bead soup pieces!

Check out Sally's website to see the links to the rest of the participants.

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Focus on Life - Week 10

This year I'm taking part in a photo challenge set up by Sally of Studio Sublime. Each week Sally will be sending the participants a word prompt and the following Saturday we will post our photo interpretations on our blogs, Flickr or Instagram. Follow me (MixedMediaJewel) on Instagram or follow the hash tag #focus1photoaweek.

Week 10 ~ All Wrapped Up!

For the last month or two, instead of playing with my beads, I've been engrossed in crochet. Currently I have four projects on the go at one time - two blankets (one ripple and another linen stitch), a scarf for my sister and a winter wrap for myself.

Considering the weather here, last ten days have been over 30C (86F) and we're expecting back to back 40C on Monday and Tuesday, I think I've been doing well. The scarf, which is for my sister who moved to Canberra last month, is made from fine cashmere crochet double stranded in UK treble stitch. I can't describe how soft it is!

One of the blankets I've been hooking is a treble crochet ripple in five colours. I'm using the pattern from Lucy of Attic24 and crocheting in Bendigo Woolen Mills Pure Classic 8ply (DK weight). The other is a simple linen stitch blanket in a bulky acrylic, a completely mindless pattern that I can do while watching TV.

So, that's it really. I've been wrapped up in making thing that I can wrap myself and my loved ones in, that is when Winter hits!

Please visit Sally and see what the other participants have to show us this week.

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Focus on Life - Week 8

This year I am taking part in a photo challenge set up by Sally of Studio Sublime. Each week Sally will be sending the participants a word prompt and the following Saturday we will post our photo interpretations on our blogs, Flickr or Instagram. Follow me (MixedMediaJewel) on Instagram or follow the hash tag #focus1photoaweek.

Week 8~ Monochromatic

This week look deeper through the lens to the story your photo captures and then process it to one color!

Recently my sister and I spent some time in Port Pirie doing a little family history research. We spent a long weekend visiting various locations including a Methodist church that had been converted to a Barnacle Bill's seafood restaurant. We found a possible ancestor at the local cemetery (awaiting confirmation and paperwork).

Please take some time to visit the other participants at Studio Sublime.

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Focus on Life - Week 6 and a late Week 5

This year I am taking part in a photo challenge set up by Sally of Studio Sublime. Each week Sally will be sending the participants a word prompt and the following Saturday we will post our photo interpretations on our blogs, Flickr or Instagram. Follow me (MixedMediaJewel) on Instagram or just follow the hash tag #focus1photoaweek.

Week 6 - Feel the Love

"Since love is in the air in February, this week keep your heart open, breathe in the air and feel the love, then capture it in a photo. Feel the love that the universe is trying to show us everyday! Whatever it may be..."

I've been a little concerned about an elderly member of our family, not not the older generation, but our 13 year old cat, Tiggr (just like in Winnie the Pooh). You see, from kittyhood Tiggr has had a delicate tummy, if she was a baby I'd say she suffered from severe reflux. As a regular domestic moggie her weight fluctuates greatly and lately she has been looking very skinny, and a tad bit worn out. Thank goodness though, we've just had a new pet store open up and they stock a cat biscuit made for "delicate tummys". Tiggr is looking healthier and "talking" to me all the time, great conversationalist, although I'm sure some of what she says are complaints :)

So here's a photo of her sitting on the back of the lounge chair, purring in my ear and smooching the back of my neck occasionally. Unconditional love from my favourite four-legger.

Week 5 - Capture our Hearts

Ok I'm a little late for this one, I was intending to go to the bead shop Friday week ago but ended up going on Monday instead. I still would have bought these home either way.

"Have you ever taken a moment to notice all the hearts that come into your life everyday? From candy hearts, patterns on clothes, a paper heart you hang up for Valentine’s day or heart shaped spirals made from the ornate rod iron fencing that you may or may not have ever noticed on your walk around the neighborhood, hearts are hidding everywhere. This week pay attention to your surroundings, think outside the box and capture a heart!"

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Focus on Life - Week 7

This year I am taking part in a photo challenge set up by Sally of Studio Sublime. Each week Sally sends the participants a word prompt and the following Saturday we will post our photo interpretations on our blogs, Flickr or Instagram. Follow me (MixedMediaJewel) on Instagram or follow the hash tag #focus1photoaweek.

Week 7 - Beauty of Flowers

"A single flower with it’s beauty has the ability to lift our spirits and bring a sense of happiness to our souls. The sheer sight of flowers can evoke feelings of excitement, positivity and enhance our well being. This week take a moment to bring a little happiness to your soul and enhance your well being."

I thought I'd share some of the last remaining flowers in our yard this Summer. Although the temperatures have been mild, it's been very dry here in the Hills, so everything is dead or near enough. Australia is the driest continent on the map and South Australia is the driest state in Australia. So, after that lesson in geographical meteorology...

Lush green Potato Creeper

The only thing flowering at our place at the moment is the Potato Creeper.It's doing its best to take over the back yard, even the shade from the Bay tree and the Walnut tree can't slow it down! Looks very tropical doesn't it? It's our very own oasis in the desert, all I need now is a pineapple cocktail with a little umbrella!

I must take you on a photographic tour of my Mum's garden, half an acre of cottage garden, fruit trees and a vegetable patch that fills two freezers with produce. The cutting from the creeper came from Mum's garden, she prunes hers into a hedge, I just let mine go wild!

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Focus on Life - Week Four

This year I am taking part in a photo challenge set up by Sally of Studio Sublime. Each week Sally will be sending the participants a word prompt and the following Saturday we will post our photo interpretations on our blogs, Flickr or Instagram. Follow me (MixedMediaJewel) on Instagram or follow the hash tag #focus1photoaweek.

 

Week 4 ~ Create Art!

 

"Last week was all about recharging your spirit by trying to carve out a little “me” time! This week let’s CREATE ART! There is no wrong way to be creative! Immerse your self in what you already love to make or take this prompt as the little push to try something completely new!"

 

 

These little drawings are called Zentangles and are done on 3.5 inch square paper. It's quite a meditative process to create these drawings so I like to do them at the end of a busy day. We had a house full of tension this week whilst our eldest daughter was waiting on a letter from her university about a course transfer. If she didn't get her transfer she would have has to wait until next year, luckily everything worked out OK and will be starting her Bachelor of Music in March.

 

Take a look at the artwork of the other participants, we're linking up on Sally's blog

 

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Focusing on Life - Week Three

Week Three - Take Time

This weeks challenge we were asked to "Take Time".

"This week take time for YOU and show us what you did for those few precious moments! Dust off that journal. Have a cup of tea and browse through a magazine. What ever it may be, YOU DESERVE IT!"

This week the weather has been awful. A number of days over 40C (105F) in a house with no air conditioning, except two portable evaporative units that did almost nothing, and two bored teenage daughters on summer holidays. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. It was even too hot to jump in the car and go to the movies. We all decided to turn up the evaporative coolers and watch DVD's (Smallville, Stargate and Doctor Who).

While the kids were glued to the TV I started to crochet a basket. I'd bought 160 meters of cotton jersey rope, used by gardeners to tie tree seedlings to wood stakes, and an 9mm crochet hook to make the beginnings of a snake-charmer style basket. I wanted to experiment with the idea of a basket with a flat bottom and defined sides. Completed it stands 25cm high and 35cm wide, and is large enought to hold the wool I've purchased for my first big crochet project of the year, a ripple blanket.

I'll share more pictures of the basket here and on Instagram when I've blocked it. As soon and I work out how to block a 3D object??
So, that is what I did with my time this week. How about you? What did you do just for yourself?

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Focusing on Life - Week Two

If your looking for the Memories and Thanks Blog Hop please click here.

Week Two - Word or Resolution for 2013

Well this is an interesting one. Your might remember here I was not going to chose a word for this year or even make New Year's resolutions. Instead I made a list of goals for the year, no pressure just things to keep in mind throughout the year.

As I looked at my list, trying to find a word that felt right, I realised that the one thing I needed was FOCUS.

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Welcome 2013 - Focusing on Life

Welcome to my first post of 2013 and a very happy new year to everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and are ready to get back to a normal routine.

I've decided to forgo selecting a single word for the year or making New Year's resolutions. Instead I've made a list of goals to complete before years end.

Goals for the new year

1. Organize all my beads. Clean up and create a studio area that can fit in with the family.. (I'm planning a takeover. Dining room to Craft Studio!)
2. Add more products to Madeit - one new item a week! (This means committing to a regular crafting schedule.)
3. Blog more often and create a tutorial! (Again its all about time!)
4. Take at least one jewelry class or learn a new technique. (Fun stuff!)
5. Focus more on my health. (Means regular doctor's visits and blood tests eeck!)
6. Commit to a money saving program. (The budget is under control, touch wood, just need to save)
7. Keep a regular house cleaning schedule. (Ok, I need to manage my time better, obviously) AND FINALLY
8. Stop procrastinating, just act!

Focusing on Life~ 52 photos, 1 photo a week

On the blog front I've decided to join Sally Russick of Studio Sublime in a photo challenge. You might remember last year when I started a personal 52 week photo challenge. It didn't work out, mainly because I needed some prompts and that's what Sally has offered. Weekly prompts with photos posted to Instagram, Flickr or on your blog.

This week the prompt was - self portrait. I should have guessed this would have been the first one.

Self portrait
I took this photo just after a haircut just after Christmas. In the last year I discovered that my thick, barely wavy hair had developed loose curls, so I've been adapting a new haircut to suit. For a bit of fun, Melanie my hairdresser, chalked my hair. Just two small sections, chalked while wet and "set" with a curling iron and hairspray.

I took this photo with my iPhone, edited the photo in the Perfect Photo app and finished it in the Pixlromatic app (pro version). You can find this photo and others by searching for the hash tag #focus1photoaweek on Instagram.

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