Been a while

and it feels like I have been to there and back (you know where!) Where I am now is sooooo much better though. It is really good to have my art mojo back as well as my health. The kids have also started 'real' school at a local Christian school (Armadale Christian College) they are loving it and so am I. It is nice to be just a Mum again instead of a teacher as well. It was alot of work and although it was worth it I am glad that they are in a good school at last.


One benefit of the kids going to school is that I have volunteered myself in the art class one day a week. I am cleaning up/out the store room at the moment (which is right up my alley) and helping the kids where I can. I am doing and extra half day this term as the teacher wants some extra help with a year 10 project. I am also doing a day a fortnight in the canteen. the first day was an experience let me tell you. I don't think my feet have been that sore in ages and I was absolutely stuffed at 2pm! It was a great day non the less and I am looking forward to this term too.


Noah started Kindy last term too. here is a pic of him in his way to big uniform. It is a size 4 but still has quite a bit of room for growing.




We had to give greyhound fostering a rest for a while too as I couldn't drive but we are up and running again. So far we have had Tiger,

Sophie

and Destiny.

Someone said to me the other day that greyhound fostering is the recession busters answer to pet owning. It doesn't cost anything to foster a greyhound, GAP provides everything, food, muzzle, lead collar, bed, the lot. All you need is love and a couch - for the greyhound!

I have managed a few art projects over the last few months. bellow is the page I am doing for this years Collaborative book for the arty_oz yahoo group. Yeah, I know - pink, so not my usual colour.

The next is a page for Ness Henry for her House Book themed 'Fabric'. Quite a challenge for me as fabric gives me nightmares. I decided to get my needle felting tool out and try out a pattern from Betz White's wonderful 'Warm Fuzzies' book. I had a hard time sending it off actually as I was so pleased with the result.

The next pic is of a 12' x 12' canvas project that I did with a class in mind for Scrap It Flaunt It. It had a Vintage Valentine theme.

This is a 6' x 6' canvas project for SIFI though this time from their Design Team pack. I used the techniques I learnt from Audrey Underwood's She Canvas Class for inspiration.

This last one is also a canvas but 8' x 8' this time. The first piece of art I have done for my self in ages, too long in fact. I did it over the July school holidays. It was very satisfying and therapeutic. I find myself coming back to Asian themes when I get time to play.

It really is good to be able to create again. For a while I didn't have full function of my left hand and even now have slow days. This is a result of Multiple Sclerosis which I was diagnosed with in March this year. It took a quick trip to hospital for that to happen as I am told the specialists usually wait until your second episode before they make it official which can be years for some people. For me it happened within 4 months of my first episode. Thankfully I am almost back to 100% again. As I said I sometimes have trouble co-ordinating my left side and I don't know if that will get any better. I am on a treatment that means injections every two days which was quite daunting to think about at the beginning but you soon get used to it and it is very easy with the injection device, stings like the dickens though! Strange as it may sound, I feel very blessed to have gone through what I have so far. I can see God protecting my family and me all the way through and I know He has a reason why my life has taken this path. The timing of everything has been incredible. My DH lost his job the week before I went into hospital and was off work all the time I was recovering. He has had some off shore work along the way which has payed the bills but otherwise he has been home to look after the kids and me. Global recession? Maybe not!

I think I am caught up. Memory loss, especially the last few months worth, is a problem for me too, so it could be that I have forgotten something that I really should have mentioned but that is at least something to save for another post.

Take and keep creating,

Ky