{ kass } an artistic journey

being a good girl

anyone who was in the Glimpses meet'n'greet at KiwiScraps with Stacy last year might remember me talking about the fact that I was having difficulty with eating. In fact, eating good, nutritional food has always been a battle with me.

The factors were that, on top of being fussy, my gut doesn't tolerate heavy food or anything too spicy. I am someone who has to water down a tin of tomato soup. My staple diet has always been cheese sandwiches, potato and basic veggies. This is a result of the cancer I had when I was 12. My diet is bland and I know it.

In fairness, I am not a huge sweet eater - I don't eat alot of lollies or biscuits or cakes or chocolate etc (that's not to say never, they just don't play a daily role in my life!). So while my diet isn't great, it's not the worst either. You wont see me on 'Supersize Me' or anything like that!

So one of the pages in my Glimpses book talked about food and how I KNOW I have to make some changes. It has been a hard road. But the fact is that I need to force myself to expand my diet to include other, healthier foods. Now that I am 30, I am sure it is not going to get easier as I get older, so now is the time to start. I talked about that with the other ladies in the Glimpses reception and was given some really positive encouragement - thankyou to those of you who did take the time to wish me luck.

So, a few weeks ago I started making small changes I know I can live with, such as eating wholemeal bread instead of white (although I have had to mix it up a bit...there is such a thing as TOO much fibre!). I started having Special K for breakfast every day. We've been trying to have veggies for dinner most nights of the week. Trying to eat some fruit every day. All those things I could do without too much fuss and it has gone well.

Then, last Friday night at the races, in front of Mum and Dad and Michael, I ate two small mouthfuls of grilled fish. Mum was rapt - I have never eaten fish or chicken or red meat. (I don't tolerate red meat so that won't be introduced - my gut doesn't digest it at all well). So tonight, when Michael suggested fish and chips for dinner, I decided it was time to take the next small step.

I cut off a piece of the grilled fish he bought, cut it big enough to fit my bread roll, added some cheese and chips to help with the taste....and I ate it. I ate the whole thing. This is a BIG deal for me. Michael didn't think I would get through it and actually suggested I take a smaller piece, but I was determined. And I did it. I am so proud. And just after dinner when my Mum called, I told her and she was absolutely thrilled.

So I think so far, after month 1, I am doing well. My aim is to reach the end of the year and be able to see some real, tangible changes to my eating habits and, hopefully, feel the benefits health-wise. It's really now or never and I am keen to give this a serious go - I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Here's to month 2!!

drawing and thinking

so it's no secret that I have a healthy obsession with colour, as demonstrated (though not as much as I'd like) by my colour blog. I just bought another new colour book (when I buy new relevant books I upload the information on the blog) and I am getting quite a little collection happening. This one is heavy on theory rather than colour mixing etc but it's a really interesting book (if not heavy reading). Anyway yeah, the colour blog is still happening and will grow when I go back to Uni as I start working on my self-directed work this year.

I'm planning on doing colour studies in some way for uni this year. I have started drawing some patterns - jut basic greylead patterns that I hope to copy on to transparencies so I can further copy them onto different media. Then I want to experiment with colour combinations. What's to achieve? Well, I don't exactly know, but I know it will help me learn more practical skills in colour combinations and also the effect of different mediums. The artistic outcome will hopefully take care of itself but I guess we'll see where it all leads.

I'm thinking alot about what I want to achieve this year, as it's my final year if Uni. I kind of wish it wasn't, as I have enjoyed the course so much. I wish it was a 4 year course :) My job is going really well at Dean's Art and I know there can be opportunities there for me if I work hard and show and interest. I love being surrounded by like-minded arty types and all the awesome supplies. We stock some great stuff. The only thing we don't have is Golden products but given that St Luke's Art, just around the corner, do...well it's not like I have to go far.

Yesterday I bought more Faber-Castell watercolour pencils - which other than the varying shades of grey they offer, means I have every colour they sell. I think it's around 150 pencils. They are beautiful. I plan to utilise them a lot this year.

I know my blog is looking more simplistic than it did. I want to create a blog header but I don't have the right software right now and Adobe CS Suite is still over a month away. So it's plain-jane until then. I cant even get my scanner working right now which is rather frustrating!

Michael and I went to see Charlie Wilson's War on Sunday. It's a film starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was very interesting and very funny. The preview on TV actually had my favourite line:

Secretary: The New York Times wants to know if you've ever been to rehab?
Wilson: What did you tell them?
Secretary: I told them you wont go to rehab because they don't serve whiskey there.

Now, if that isn't the best reason not to go to rehab ever, I don't know what is. Hilarious.

I also need help with Skype too. In that, I don't have a flipping clue how to use it! Also does anyone know much about iChat? Any help is appreciated!! I'm still a Mac L-plater!!

photos from yesterday

some photos of the lovely gifts and people from my birthday yesterday:

These are the flowers from Marita (sorry the photo is sideways)

the flowers from Elvis and Sunny

My anklet from Michael (and no you wont see a photo of my fat ankles!)

my cards

the beauty pack from Mum

the silver frame from Adama and Elias

my yummy cake with the revolting candles Mum recycled!!

when we took the revolting candles out, my sister saw "eyes" and this is what she did LOL

my adorable little man, Elias...seeing him after being away so long was one of the best birthday gifts ever

me with the lovely Amy at lunch

the only downer on my birthday was the announcement of Adam Gilchrist's retirement from cricket - he is my favourite cricketer ever and I am so sad!! Thanks Gilly for the brilliant memories - you're the best!

a new decade

yes indeed, a new decade has begun.

Today I turned 30.

30. It's a big deal. Not something I have wanted to happen but was unable to prevent, short of dying. And I didn't feel much like dying so I went with the easier option.

I don't feel old enough to be 30. In my heart and mind I am around 24.

I sure hope I don't LOOK 30 but then I am not sure what 30 is meant to look like.

I have had a really lovely day. I woke around 9am to some flowers being delivered from my friend Marita. That was followed by some more flowers from Elvis and Sunny (apparently Elvis had been saving his pocket money) and a beautiful gold anklet from Michael.

We went to Williamstown and had lunch at a restaurant on the beach called SIRENS with Amy and Justin which was rather lovely and civilised!! I felt like one of the beautiful people!

Tonight, Mum cooked a roast and Lyndy and her boyfriend came, as well as Adama and Elias, who are just back from several months in Cambodia. I missed them terribly. Elias has grown so much (he is 18 months old) and he was sure happy to see his Aunty Kass. I have missed Adama too - she is my friend from Sierra Leone and she is probably the most amazing, courageous person I've ever met. I'm glad she is back in Melbourne. She gave me a lovely silver photo frame and Lyndy gave me some money. Mum gave me a $100 voucher from a beauty place in Essendon to choose what I'd like. Maybe a massage but then I have never had a manicure/pedicure so maybe I could treat myself to that - it's not something I would ever buy for myself.

So it has been a relaxed day - lots of text messages, phone calls, emails and facebook messages. It's been nice to be remembered.

I hope everyone had a wonderful AUSTRALIA DAY too :)

the weekend

who else stayed up til the crack of dawn - LITERALLY - to watch the Lleyton Hewitt v Marcos Bagdahtis tennis match? It was incredible and I cannot believe I watched it almost all the way through! I started to doze in the fifth set, but saw the finish. Incredible.

I think the whole blow up from the start time - 11:45pm - is fair enough but I can also se the difficulty the organisers were placed in. Had they postponed the men's match, they would have had to refund 15,000 tickets (at probably about $80 each) and it would also have put the Sunday schedule ay behind. It would also be difficult for the players to sleep regardless because they have prepared themselves and got pumped for the night mat - it's hard to slow adrenaline down then restart it. I don't think there was a win-win situation for anyone - either way there would have been problems. And well. it's got everyone talking about the tennis now, hasn't it? You can't buy that kind of publicity!

I tried to get into the match actually after leaving the Bon Jovi concert - the photo album link is ---> BON JOVI CONCERT. The show was fantastic - my goodness Jon still makes me swoon something shocking. The only downside was the venue - I don't know what they were thinking having it at the Music Bowl as the music didn't carry and if anything, it wasn't LOUD enough - and after all, the only way to play Bon Jovi is loud, right? I just loved it - loved that they played the best songs off the Lost Highway album (which is, in my humble opinion, their best album in 15 years hand down) and all the hits. And didn't the place jump during Livin' On a Prayer, It's My Life and Have a Nice Day. I love the little black and red smilie-face icon for Have a Nice Day - want it tattooed. I love that the song is saying Have a Nice Day and meaning get F*cked! Love the irony....my kind of irony!

The job at Dean's Art is going really well, I love it. The people are so nice and I am getting so many different jobs to do which is great - I am really learning how big the business is. And it's getting me inspired - I am getting ideas!

I got to meet Miss Hannah yesterday when I went to Nat's to visit - she is adorable and soooo tiny!! I love all these adorable babies!

alive YES

Busy yes!

I'm coming to you from my new, fabulous 20" iMac which I am completely in love with. It's shiny and new, it's FAST and it looks so good. How have I lived without this? And I can now use Skype!

I started the new job yesterday and it is fantastic - I love it. Love being back in an arty environment and where my contribution is valued!

Tomorrow is BON JOVI and I simply cannot wait. I am really excited.

I'm sure I have a million more exciting things to say but I am uploading to iTunes so I'll go - but I am here!

RIP to an incredible broadcaster

International readers won't know who I am talking about, and non-sporting locals will probably want to skip past this.... but don't.

Last Saturday, Clinton Grybas, the best sports broadcaster in Australia, died suddenly in what was thought to be an accident while sleepwalking. He was 32.

While I didn't know Clinton personally, we have a few mutual friends and I absolutely loved listening to him on 3AW and watching him on Foxtel. He was simply the best we had, and had achieved so much so early in life. I have cried a few times this week, thinking about his family and friends and the absolute torture they must be enduring. I know when the footy season starts back, I will miss his presence all the more.

What I liked best about Clinton though was he was the standard bearer for future sports journalists and callers. His standard was so far above any set before, and all of us who aspire to or have trained for a media career, could only wish to be as good, and be as well liked and respected by peers and listeners/viewers alike. His impact is significant and he will be missed so much.

Thankyou Clinton for showing the rest of us what hard work and dreams can achieve.

When I listened to this song this week, I thought of Clinton - and I want to dedicate it to him.

today has been a great day

and here is why....

the cool change came through.....after 2 days of 40+ degrees, I am over summer already.....

....and I got the job at Dean's Art.....I start next Thursday.....and I am very happy about that.....

and then my new iPod arrived which looks like this: and Michael got a black one too!

but most importantly......

today *~*HANNAH PLAYFAIR*~* arrived, one of my dearest friend's Nat and Scott welcomed their first child at 1:23pm. I am so thrilled for them!! She is the last in the run of 9 babies who I have known arrive to friends and family in the past 10 weeks.....yep that's 9 babies!!

So that's: Addie, Charlotte, Hannah, Thomas, Jett, Amelia, Chelsea, Shelley and Ryan. There's been something in the water I am sure!

no longer a scrapper

yes, it's true....I am no longer a scrapper.

I am realising this the more I read scrap magazines, look at online stores....this just isn't what I do anymore. I see products which I like but I don't buy them unless they are more an artistic product - because patterned paper really doesn't get used anymore. All those Prima flowers - they're gathering dust.

Unless its paint, ink or something that can be categorised as mixed-media....well.

This is hard going for me. I have loved scrapbooking these last 3.5 years and I even bought myself a new album to motivate myself. But it hasn't worked. And when I read magazines (like right now I am reading the latest For Keeps), while I appreciate the layouts, they are not making me excited or giving me the passion to make my own pages. So that's where I have to admit it: I am no longer a scrapper.

What am I then? Eeek, I don't know. Is artist too pretentious? I don't think so, given I am in art school and my creative activities revolve more around the more traditional art practices. But I know that others will say I am not an artist because I am not selling or exhibiting my work. There's merit in that too. So I don't exactly know what to call myself.

I do, however, want to mention two layouts in this issue of For Keeps which I absolutely love:

"Sweet Dreams" by Nikala O'Brien - oh the brown, the BROWN! I love the colour use!! Just gorgeous - muted yet vibrant. There is so much warmth there.

"I Confess That" by Kim Ogden - I have those Basic Grey papers and I love them but I have not used them because I couldn't get the mix right. Kim has. This has such an industrial yet playful feel.

*****

In other news - one of my best friends, Nat, is having her baby tomorrow. We don't know what she is having but my bet is she's having a boy - I somehow can feel it in my bones. Good luck Nat!

I have a job interview in the morning with Dean's Art - wish me luck, I need to get out of this job I am in. Yesterday (and the day before) I got yelled and sworn at and abused by my boss. Why? Because of the incompetencies of his staff - except that the problems that arose were nothing to do with me, I was just trying to fix them. This is the most disorganised business in the history of the world - the office is dirty, the communication lines are blurred and, well...I just don't like being yelled at! So hopefully the interview will go well.

the beginning of a long hot week

it seems my 3 days off flew past all too quickly and tomorrow I am back at work. Bummer. Today was a nice day out, and included some serious cuddle time with Charlotte, who is growing like a weed but who I am still totally smitten with. I don't think I have shared this picture of us just before Christmas...

this is one of my favourite photos - having that baby girl snuggled like that is just the BEST feeling.

Today at Ikea I bought myself some drawers as we have no clothes storage/wardrobes here and I have been living out of suitcases since October. I picked these up today for $89.00 which I was happy about:

But, more importantly, I paid for this:

Yup, 20" of iMac goodness will be delivered next week with more hard drive and RAM than I can poke a stick at, plus the full Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office (I will be using this for Uni too!). I am so excited to be making the switch and to have such a brilliant machine to work with. Next week cannot come quickly enough!!

So it has been a pretty productive day, and I am about to go and unpack my clothes then hit the hay!