Mina's Journal

I told myself I was going to slow down - and then didn't listen to myself. I can't believe how the time has got away from me. Was kind of burnt out at the end of last year -so thought I should take it easy a bit. Hmmmmffff! Since I last posted - Took on another year of study. Took on Editing tasks. Became a Nan to two more boys. Recently did a website for a Motivational speaker. Business cards for people in Oz, and a doctor in the city. Worked on graphics galore to try and stay ahead with posting on Craft Found. Had a birthday and made myself worse for wear. Went into hospital twice.  Got crazy mad about getting broken vintage and retro sewing machines and making them work. I have a journal (of sorts) to try and keep on top of things - often I'll make graphics and 'lose' them in a myriad of file folders. With that I made a half-hearted attempt at computer organisation, which ended up just plonking 95GB of files from the laptop onto an external ha...

Sometimes you just need a good laugh! This SOOOO made my day... a wee bit rude in places, but so damn hilarious! If you have seven spare minutes - do yourself a favour and watch it. So after telling myself to slow down a bit, I went and got myself three new projects to do (What's with that?) One of my other blogs is Maori Printables . I started it because I wanted to contribute something positive to offset the (sadness?) I felt at the Maori statistics situation. At that time, Maori sites were of a really serious nature (and still are as far as I can tell). I wanted to make something uplifting, in a fun way.That was not 'too deep' or unapproachable. So while I couldn't fix (statistics) things I could still do SOMETHING to help shed a different light on the culture. It's found a little following with kindergartens, Kohanga Reo, and primary schools. I am not a teacher or fluent in the language - my 'work' has been at home, so most of the posts are j...

I find I cannot bear bad news stories. Have just spent the last ten minutes or so weeping about a horrid incident in the South Island. There are phases where I won't watch the news for weeks on end, or buy newspapers. I can't stand cruel stories. Reinforces a notion - that people are just animals - through the ages and generations they dress and talk differently and have different technologies to play with, but basic behaviour doesn't change. You'll always get those ones that will do something extraordinary. Brings up other thoughts like - how society/environment conditions a person, how some people think they can control others, how some people can't control themselves, how some people are just dumb and others are just plain nuts. (I have to go on about this) - how some people are strong, and how the will to live is amazingly inherent. These themes have resurfaced time and again across different cultural histories - so an old saying is true in my head - we ar...

My visits to the city are cursory at best. If I have to go - its quick. In and out of stores. Takeouts - drive throughs. Yesterday was different. I found a cabinet. $20. Went to go get it. Great nick, Queen Anne legs - mate said it was mahogany - but I don't know. I just love it. Was also Darcy's birthday. Piled him and his brother into the truck -  loves McD's, those kids. Been years since I went into one of those joints. They've really spruced things up.   I figure they must pretty much look all the same... but I was a bit wide-eyed...   All in all - a fun day. Happy Birthday Darcy!  :)

Apparently, I nearly died as a child from chicken pox. Just started school was bedridden for six weeks. I don't remember much of that. But I DO remember I was in Mum & Dads bed (don't know where they slept) and I DO remember Dad coming in with a small newsprint jotter, a roll of sellotape, scissors and a pen. He thought I needed something to do and I wasn't very impressed. Should he show me how to make something? How about a bag? Yeah right. (1) Fold the bottom bit up. Put tape on the sides to hold it together. (2) Chop off the top corners. (3) Now fold that top bit down. (4) Chop off a long bit of paper. I was pretty interested by now. (5) Tape the ends to the bag. (6) He drew a flower on it. I was amazed. Now you've got a purse like Mum's. No you haven't. He put five cents in it. NOW you've got a purse like Mum's, hers has money in it. Gave me a kiss and went to work. Therein began my love affair with paper. This simple thing....

Gorgeous wee tin villa by Dana Kubick. ...the wee cat looking out of the window... ...birdhouse... ...washing on the line... ...topiary... ...detailed interior... love her work. :)

Gorgeous tin Tudor house details... illustrated by Dana Kubick ...the wee cat by the right hand tree... ...a bird flying off... ...cat asleep on the bench seat and the garden fork parked next to it... ...shrubbery growing around the side door... ...lots of great detail here...coat and hat hanging on the inside of the door...pram in the attic...teapot on the table...my kinda house. :)

The winner for this book is (drumroll....)                                                           *****  lekki  ***** Please email me with your postal address. Seeing there was such a huge amount of entries, I have decided that all entrants should get something - so      ***  flashdaz       *** Anita E       ***  JoCee please email me with your postal addresses so I can get a pack of buttons, beads and charms to you - to aid you in your crafting endeavours. Thank you guys for entering :)

Ooooh! My parcel arrived (yes, another one). Yay!!! It's my wee tin village. There are six wee tins (gift boxes) in a set, I got two sets. One set I have to give to Shona, though I don't want to because I want them ALL TO MYSELF...AH HA HA HAAA. She loves this kind of stuff and it is her birthday coming up. The tins are 2-1/8 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches tall. Illustrated by Dana Kubick. (I am still on the doll house kick). I love the whimsy style. Lots of detail on these collectible miniature tin houses.  I'll be showing some close ups in future posts. Shona's present, wrapped with newspaper and ribbon held together with rubber bands with homemade tag and gold ribbon. :)

I have an 'old' dress, wot I just so love - it's all orange and plain brass buttons - 14 of them and of which two are missing. These arrived yesterday... gloriously gold in all their plastic-ness... ...and now I have 298 spare buttons.... No, they're always useful for craft and swap gifts :)

This is a gorgeous book by renowned designer and author Nicky Epstein for knitters who have wee girls (or not so wee girls) in their midsts. Geared for the experienced knitter. Lots of accessories. Well photographed, sumptuous book. Publisher: Sixth and Spring Books Published: 07 July 2013 Format: Paperback 128 pages ISBN 13: 9781936096541 ISBN 10: 1936096544 Winner will be randomly drawn on 17 July 2013 To enter say hello in the comments... If you can't wait for the giveaway you can grab yourself one from here Find out about author Nicky Epstein here :)

A while ago I got a request from David Ker to use one of my images as a logo. I looked at the link provided, thought 'What a wonderful thing that is' and said 'Sure'. Some time later he got back to me thanking me...like this... ...oh wow!...all the way from the USA... ...the graphic on the card belongs to Lamb Chamberlin... ...close up of my graphic...embroidered...turned out very nicely indeed... ...back of card... Check out the Red Zebra Project - a very noble cause, fantastic works going on... am proud to be involved even though in a small way. Thanks David & crew... If you want to help you can donate some pingas or talents (come on you artists!)

Last night we watched 'Kung Fu Panda 2'. Yes, I love kids' movies. So well done, the story well figured, amazing graphics - and detail: architectural detail in the buldings and the gorgeous colours in the dream sequences. I also particularly liked the cartoony style of the Panda stories that covered the closing credits. A huge surprise at the end for us and anticipation of a third Kung Fu Panda movie. I am quite enamoured by Master Shifu - voice played by Dustin Hoffman. Maybe its the mix of sage and humour of the character or that I just like a good, strong man. I thought Shifu was a mouse/racoony type hybrid - but he's actually a Red Panda! Get that! ...SKEDOOSH!... I'm working on some simple drawings for a Wild Animal series. Here's the Panda one. :)

Just had to show you these. Darcy's first day at kindy. The 'Lucky Shot' title of this post has more to do with capturing the pictures, I think, than Darcy's ability.  ....careful aim..... tongue in the right place...take no notice of Naaz (pronounced 'Narz')....she's got that camera out again... ...BOOMFAH!....I did it!!!... I don't know who was more elated, getting the photo was pure luck! Very thankful, I am, for lots of things in my life. Every now and then I have to stop and say 'How did I deserve this?' I'm not going to ponder on the answer - just going to go around enjoying the good. These downloads for Thank You Cards are at the post in the link: Easy Printables: Thank You Card Templates :)