WAMED Festival

Ok, it's been a while.  Don't ask me what happens when I get too busy to blog.  I don't even work full time any more.  Work that one out.

So....on to the subject at hand.  WAMED!

I've searched back through my Blog and am absolutely astounded that I can't find anything that mentions the WAMED Festival.  Imagine that.  Something that has had such an impact on my life and is the most amazing and fun long weekend.  Not a mention.  Shame on me.

Well.......

The WAMED is the West Australian Middle Eastern Dance Festival.  A week long celebration of all things belly dance. Workshops, international bellydance superstars, unbelievable evening shows, ethnic food to die for (well anything in the city is to die for really.....being a Melbourne girl and all) fabulous costumes, dancing like there's no tomorrow, colour and sparkle, meeting like minded souls, sharing a motel room with LOTS of fun girls, laughing till your face hurts................

Oh and wait....

There's more.

What about the Bazaar.  THE Bazaar.  A shopping experience that can dwarf all other shopping experiences.  Yes even Melbourne ones.  This is where we equip ourselves for the coming year and beyond, with amazing custom designed dancing attire, comfy stretch street wear, funky pre-loved tit-bits and everything in between.  Have I made it sound like fun yet?  Believe me, it's fun with a capital 'F'!  This year I bought some floral stretch burnout velvet dance pants that almost defy description.  Paisley.  OMG.

The WAMED is also where we gain the courage to become 'who we are'.  Workshops are not only about the dance and learning another choreography.  They  also focus on subjects like health and diet, personal growth, chakras, spiritual development, and what it means to belong to a sisterhood.

I also learnt how to make a 'bum ruffle'!!  Here's a couple of shots of one I made for a friend.  She's a 'Bollywood girl' at heart so even though I made the ruffle in a tribal print (because I was shown how to make it from a tribal dancer, and I love tribal style dance)......I made a really bright Bolly coloured one!
I love it, and so does my friend......(just as well).  

  

taking photos of myself as usual........

(Nigel no friends).

I made the flower on a clip that can be worn either on the outfit or in the hair.  I like it on the outfit......because I've hardly got any hair!  When did that happen I wonder?

Jackson's Journal

I'm getting ready to start my next journal but this time it's not going to be a handmade journal.  I've decided that I'm only going to use products that are available from Jackson's Drawing Supplies.  A nice little challenge.

Even though I'm sure I have every conceivable product that is available at Jackson's, and there's literally thousands of them, I know I also have a huge collection of art supplies that are available elsewhere too.....much to my glee (and embarrassment).
While I was working in the shop full time recently, I found myself discussing various products with customers that Jackson's didn't actually stock.  Oh good one Fran.  So anyway......long story short......I've decided to only use Jackson's gear in my next journal, including the actual journal.  This little challenge will hopefully give me some experience and knowledge on how the various products available at Jackson's behave.  (No good recommending a natty little no-bleed Sharpie marker if we don't actually sell natty little no-bleed Sharpie markers is there?  And don't get me started on those cute as a button folding rulers.....in turquoise of all colours!)

It was a pretty hard task to choose my products, but I suffered through it.

See what I mean?  This 'happy place' just goes on and on........to infinity.

So anyway, here's my kit to start with.

I've pared down to the basic essentials.

I've never used this Arches paper before.  Well not knowingly anyway.  I usually buy something a bit cheaper, my reasoning being that I won't be so precious with it.  But as I'm testing products (do I sound like a pro?) I thought I'd go for broke.  I don't know what the big deal was anyway, it's not even that expensive.

The jury is still out on these Schaeffer fountain pens.  I'm afraid I was sorely disappointed when they decided to put a 'viewing hole' (?) in the barrel so you could see how much ink was left in the cartridge.  For some reason the whole weight of the pen has changed....and a considerable amount of class along with it.  Anyway, I just decided to 'suck it up Princess' and move with the times.  Lets just hope that the ink and nibs still perform as they did in their former glory.............that would be when I used to be a draftsman...................when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

Ok, so here's another shot that might be a little clearer.

There you have it.  My Jackson's stuff.

Oh woops.....here's my brand spanking new (ok I did have a little weeny play) Schmincke watercolour half pan set. I knew I'd forget something.

I wonder what I'll be doing with all these yummy things?

Watch this space ...........

Another journal completed.

Another journal has been filled to overflowing.

  

This is the journal that I've been using to document the 'Summer of 2012'  The poor thing is bit worse for wear because it's travelled along with us to Lucky Bay over Christmas and then to Coral Bay for our camping trip in April....and everywhere else in between.  Lots of sand in the cracks!  The coptic binding handled really well though and allowed me to have the journal lying flat to work in.  I waxed my own thread for this one.  That was the day I knocked my glass of wine over and ended up having to replace my laptop..........a lesson learned the hard way.  (So does that mean if I buy my waxed thread I can still enjoy a glass of wine.....no?!)

Here's a couple of pages........

Just a couple of quick watercolour sketches while we were up the beach. I really don't know why I even try to capture the colours of the ocean.  I never can.  Maybe I need to buy more paints?  Any excuse!

I love this seaweed.  It has little bobbly things that are such fun to pop.  Keeps me entertained in my own little world for ages.  Yes I know......small things.