Your Travel Manager

A friend of mine, Katy Hurd, is a Personal TravelManager working out of the Mt Eliza area. She has over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, with the knowledge and expertise to help you plan your dream holiday or business travel needs.

Here is what Katy has to say about her services:

I can offer you a personal and professional service that will suit YOUR individual needs as well as the benefit of…

• No waiting in a busy retail office 

• Always the same experienced consultant 

• Home or office visits at a time that suits you   

If a personal meeting is not possible, your travel needs can easily be arranged over the phone or by email - location is no issue.   

TravelManagers Australia is a fully accredited licensed Travel Agent and is a member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA). As a member of TravelManagers Australia I can offer you the most competitive prices and best value holidays in Australia and overseas.

When you’re planning your next holiday or business trip contact me for expert advice — I look forward to hearing from you soon.

To find out more about Katy and her travel industry experience, or to contact her for a consultation, simply follow this link which will take you to her online profile. 

I'm Excited & You Should Be Too

I have just updated my Red Bubble portfolio to include a few new cards. My new illustration has been entirely inspired by the possums who live in my neighborhood, as well as my little baby, whom I consider to be a little possum.

So if you are looking for something a little different to send as a holiday card, then check out these little babies over at www.redbubble.com/people/Emjie

All Hallow Eve

According to one craft book All Hallow Eve is a celebration that dates all the way back to pre-Christianity, to the ancient Celts and the Druids. Originally on the eve of November harvest time was celebrated, whereas 1st May sowing was the theme. Then there was the solstice in June and the ripening was the new party theme.

Once Christianity overtook this earlier religion, elements of these old traditions remained, but took on new forms. In other words the party continued it was just called something else — All Hallow Eve or All Saints Day.

All Hallow Eve is now associated with carved pumpkin faces, dressing up as scary monsters and Star Wars characters (LOL), and deliciously terrifying ghost stories. My, the more things change, the more they really stay the same.

Meme: My Place & Yours

Blog Headquarters: This is where all my blogging takes place, as well as all my computer art (duh). You will see my Wacom Bamboo tablet for all my artwork, massive speakers for listening to music and watching movies, a large cannister of water to keep hydrated, a Xmas mug filled with pens (to keep from losing those pens), one of my old paintings in the background, and yes there is a craft book on the desk.

To see other blog headquarters head on over to Meet Me At Mike's.

Best Laid Plans of Mice & Me

Earlier this week I had every intention of taking part in the NaNoWriMo. However after much thought this morning, there are so many other things I want to be working on in the coming weeks. So I decided to not go ahead with this particular activity.

Though I do come up with great ideas for creative writing. I am definitely more at ease with illustrating my ideas.

I recently picked some lovely wool — Dazzle 8 ply Heirloom (as pictured above). I am not entirely sure what I'll do with it. Though I was thinking of making some doll clothes with it, or even leg warmers for Gwen for when it is cold again next year.

Tallulah & Olive

I created this little bit of music about two years ago. It was partly inspired by children's skipping songs and nursery rhymes, but with a young adult twist.

New Contact Details

It would seem that my Yahoo email address has been compromised. I have therefore organised a new email address…  emjieart@y7mail.com

I Highly Recommend…

Illustration Agency

The Illustration Room — Katie Perrot (my Creative Director)

Book

The Essential Principles of Graphic Design — Debbie Millman

Meet Me At Mike's: 25 Fun & Crafty Projects — Pip Lincolne (my heroine)

Fashion

Nicacelly — Nicole Markoff (also my heroine)

Blog

• Meet Me At Mikes
  
• Loobylu
  
• Her Name Was Lola
  

Artist (Okay! So they are all my heroes…)

• Catalina Estrada
  
• Tom Bagshaw
  
• Josh Agle
  
• Green Bean Baby
  
• Loobylu
  

Travel Agent (Everyone can do with a holiday)

TravelManager — Katy Hurd

What's Hot + What's Not

I am now responding to Loobylu's weekly meme: what's Hot + What's Not

It's getting HOT in here…

1. I recently discovered that 5 volumes of Lucy Maud Montgomery's journals have been published, with kind permission from her heirs. This is a definite for my Xmas wish list.
2. My baby Gwen's delightful expression (see pictured).
3. I baked scones this week. Hubby and I ate the scones with jam and whipped cream. Yum.
4. Old fashioned cursive writing. I want to learn to write words with a ornamental flourish.
5. A worthwhile read — A Wild Herb Soup: The Life of a French Countrywoman by Emilie Carles.

And now for the so NOTs…

1. Reading Charlotte Brontë's novel The Professor. I was dissatisfied with the uncomfortable ending. I felt that it needed refining — to tie up some loose ends.
2. Losing a sock. Is there, like, some sort of roving sock black hole in the house? I am beginning to suspect the cat is a clepto.
3. Vacuuming the house (chore).

A Letter to Lucy

Are you a kindred spirit? Do you dream of living on Prince Edward Island, and strolling down The Avenue in Spring? Do you devour books written by Lucy Maud Montgomery like cupcakes? Then look no further then this — following are fantastic links relating to the creator of Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon.

1. Anne Society
2. LM Montgomery Institute
3. Wikipedia - Lucy Maud Montgomery
4. LM Montgomery Research Centre

I have also happily discovered that there are a handful of her personal journals which have been made available for the public. I know now what I am putting foremost on my Xmas wish list.