Under the House

Newspaper clipping:
Claire Robertson - Loobylu

    Yesterday I was under the house storing stuff. While I was down there I opened a box of archived sketchbooks and journals. Flipping through them I found this saved newspaper clipping. 

    What was so special about this clipping that I had to save it? This article, which is about illustrator Claire Robertson, inspired me to do what I'm doing right now - blogging and crafting. Before reading this article I had absolutely no idea there was a craft renaissance happening. I also knew nothing of blogging back then. So much can happen in ten years.

    To see what Claire Robertson is up to these days, you can check out her blog - Loobylu.

What's Hot + What's Not

It is HOT:

1. Veronica Mars DVD box sets
2. Chocolate and a cup of tea after dinner.
3. I have lots to read at the moment. Mags. — IDN, Frankie. Books — Twilight saga, biography of my Grandma's childhood, 100 Classic stories stored on a Nintendo DS cartridge. So many publications and not enough hours in the day.
4. Going for a walk each day, doing some gym and seeing my transformation into a super hero.
5. My baby Gwen blowing raspberries — new form of communication for her.

So NOT:

1. Claire's family coming down with gastro.
2. Setting back calorie count from above mentioned chocolate.
3. Air-Con remote control needs a new battery.
4. Reading about the injustices toward females in other parts of the globe; ie. the so called ‘honour killings’.
5. Interest rate rise, particularly it being so soon after it being dropped in the first place.

To see other Hot/Not lists simply visit the Loobylu blog.

What's Hot + What's Not

This is a response to Claire's Hot + Not list.

When it is hot:

1. We have been having lovely weather in Victoria the past few days. A combination of rain and sunshine. Perfect.
2. Pip organising a doll collection for Mirabel. And yes, I have already made a donation.
3. Meeting Gemma Jones at her photo exhibition last week. She is a darling lady.
4. Thinking about future craft projects... I want to make Dad a panda doll. Also a friend is about to do her final year 12 exams, so am going to prepare for her a treat — chocolate and a homemade 'something'.
5. Seeing my garlic beginning to sprout after planting.

When it is not:

1. The hurricane that has affected the Philipines. Never good news when natural disasters hit town.
2. Poor baby Gwen having trouble sleeping during the day, possibly from teething.
3. Getting a roast chicken for dinner and discovering that it is so small it'll only last one night.
4. Sitting down on the toilet and then discovering someone hasn't replaced the toilet paper.
5. Still waiting for all the other seeds that I have planted to sprout. It is a long wait.

My Creative Space...

Reality sets in as the candle burns from both ends. Last week I had hoped to have completed pattern making and sewing Gwen's new Autumn clothes. But with so many other things that also needed doing, this particular project has been on the back burner. However today is my day for making some corrections to the shirt and pant patterns. Then hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get a couple of outfits all done for Gwen to wear by the weekend.

Last week I showed some drafts of a new illustration series. I worked a bit on that over the week, and if you follow this link, you will see the first completed illustration. If you follow this second link you will see my latest draft for the second illustration in that series.

Also tonight I plan to prepare a shepherd's pie loosely based on Claire Robertson's blogged recipe. I bought myself a casserole baking dish the other day so I can pull this off. This in itself I consider to be creative because heaven only knows how my cooking turns out.

I am now reading "Sense & Sensibility" by Jane Austen. Where would my sanity be without my reading books?

It Is On My List

The latest thing to be added to my list of wants for 2009 is this book... "Meet Me At Mike's: 26 crafty projects and things to make".


This book will soon be (hopefully) available and I look forward to snapping it up... and so should you. The book is written by Pip Lincolne of Meet Me At Mike's fame and covers projects by other well known and liked crafters. One of the crafting projects in the book will even be by one of my long time favorites - Claire Robertson.

My First Wacom Tablet

I am so, so excited. For Christmas this year, from Dad and Jenny (thank you), I received a Bamboo Wacom tablet. I have wanted one for a couple of years. Ever since I found out that is what Claire Robertson uses with her illustrations, as well as hundreds of other professional artists.

I have big plans for my Wacom Tablet and will make good use of it.

Get Well Soon Loobylu

This is a get well response for Claire Robertson (aka Loobylu). I hope you feel well soon and that this illustration helps you to feel better.

Do take care of yourself Claire!

I heart Loobylu and her rabbits

Claire Robertson, my most favorite blogger is producing a bundle of these delightful rabbit dolls. They are such cute dolls, that I simply must buy one when they go on the market. I have admired Claire's work for so long, that the time has come to finally buy a Loobylu masterpiece. I hope I do not miss out, because I know how popular Claire is, which means her work always sells like hot cakes.

Mmmm! Hot cakes...