Be careful what you ask for.

Good things happen when you least expect it.

A few months ago during  particularly stressful time, I blogged here about wanting to dive head first into art oblivion. Well my wish just came true.

About a week ago the girls from Jackson's Drawing Supplies asked me if I would be interested in doing a little bit of relief work.  "Sure!  I'd be happy to help" thinking to myself  'Geez they must be desperate'.  Even though I had no intention of going back to work just yet, the more I thought about Jackson's, the more I liked the idea.  Fiddling about with art stuff all day and being paid?  Are you serious?

Jackson's and I have a long history which began when I was working as a draftsman in Darwin for a mining company way back in 1977.  My boss must have loved me because he let me order anything I wanted for the drafting office, (and I did too).  I had a very friendly relationship with the staff at the Subiaco store in WA and they often used to put little samples and bits and pieces in the parcel for me to try out.  Most things travelled to the Northern Territory by road in those days and we waited weeks and weeks for our parcels to arrive.  It was so exciting when a package arrived from Jackson's.............I can still smell those new Derwents.

Well roll on to 2013 and I have just completed my first few shifts in the Geraldton store.  I love the beautiful old stone building and all the brand spanking new art supplies that I get to fiddle about with and sniff!  I've been having such fun and thankfully both my new boss and the customers have been very forgiving while I blunder my way through.

Luscious huh?

Art on the wall by my friend and now colleague, Sue.

(I love it Sue!)

Jackson's is a happy place, full of laughter and fun, no matter which side of the counter you happen to be on......
I never thought I'd be on the side of the counter that pays me for playing though!

Making things from scratch.

I've been making lots of things from scratch lately.  You know, home cooked meals, cakes, bread, chutney & jam, along with my new adventure into soap making.  I'm really enjoying it all too.  Our meals are a lot tastier, more nutritious and I'm saving heaps of money.

I am however, about to take this theory to a whole new level.

Just feast your eyes on this little number............

.........and my interesting collection of glassware.

Distil my own alcohol?  Who me?

Still clutter busting.

We're having another garage sale on Sunday.  

The amount of 'stuff' one family can accumulate while we are all busy working, schooling and living our busy and frantic lives, just blows me away.  I've been de-cluttering for a year now and I'm only just beginning to see the light of day.  You should see the walk-in-wardrobe.  Well, you can't walk in at all at the moment, that's for sure. I really don't know how this has happened.........surrounded and enveloped by insidious multiplying creeping cr@p!

This is yesterday and today's haul.  I still have three more days before Sunday.  

And the shoes.....what a dilemma.  I think I've managed to make a reasonably sensible rule after much deliberation however.  Only twelve pairs....hence the plastic shoe boxes, plus of course I have to have boots (both short and long and in brown and black), plus I need all my belly dancing slippers (naturally).  Then there's the high heels.......and the shoes I need when I visit Melbourne.  Plus the exercise sandals for a killer butt................