Announcing...

So busy at work!

It feels like AGES since I posted, but it has been really busy back at work after the school hols.

Also, we have a new computer *Yay!!* and I have been trying to work that out (which is tricky since the other one was NINE YEARS OLD and had archaic programmes. )

Also, I am busily trying to organise myself for the launch of my Whimsical Works etsy shop on Saturday. My next post will be the official ad for the launch. You can use the ad on your own blogs and websites to help me promote the shop. But, keep in mind, it actually takes awhile to make the card sets, so I can only sell what I have, and right now there are only 4 complete sets of cards. As I want to create card sets for other classic stories there will ONLY be 4 sets of cards for Alice in Wonderland, so, grab one quick if you want one!

If all goes well, I might be able to introduce new items to the shop every Saturday.
Ha! We'll see how that pans out!

The Launch of Whimsical Works, and The Lion

You might be wondering when and where I'm going to sell my cards. On Saturday, the 1st August, I am going to launch my etsy shop called Whimsical Works!!!!!! I will definitely be selling 4 Limited Edition Alice in Wonderland greeting card sets, and possibly the Alice in Wonderland character prints will be available too (remember those, from ages ago?) The Wizard of Oz card sets will be released soon after, along with the Wizard of Oz character prints (that I am currently working on). Hopefully, each month after that I will be able to release a new card set and character prints, but it just depends on finding the time to do it! Now that I'm on a roll, and have found my suppliers, it should be easier to get things together.

If you could help me out a little, I would love for my followers, regular readers and occasional readers, to promote the launch of Whimsical Works on their blog closer to the date. I'll post a photo that you can use on your blog, and if you could just do a little blurb for me that would be great! And leave a comment on my blog when you can - I get so excited when people leave comments and I always look at people's blogs when they leave a comment. Also, adding me to your blog roll would be awesome! I always look at other people's blog rolls to find new blogs.

Anyway, enough of the shameless plugs... the next character in my Wizard of Oz series is the Lion,

and here are the cards that reflect his colours, texture, fur and mane.

Coincidentally, my Dad is showing The Wizard of Oz at the Cygnet Cinema in a few weeks. If you are in Perth and live near Como you could always pop in to see the movie. You might even meet my Dad!

The Scarecrow

The next group of Wizard of Oz cards are for the scarecrow.




Think farms and fields, green and brown clothes, plants, fruits, country, checks, spots. They were my inspiration!

Glinda the Good Witch

It is a magical moment in the Wizard of Oz when Glinda, the Good Witch, arrives in a bubble to welcome Dorothy to Munchkinland.

These Wizard of Oz cards represent Glinda as they are pink, pretty and sparkly!

By the way, if you get the chance, read the book Wicked. It is about the lives of the witches of Oz before Dorothy came onto the scene. I haven't seen it myself, but I hear that the stage production is amazing too.

Wizard of Oz Cards

Over the last few days I've been pottering away making cards for my Wizard of Oz set. I posted the Kansas ones AGES ago, and, knowing that we're back to school next week, I thought I had better knuckle down and churn out the rest of the cards!




These ones represent Dorothy.








Jack and I watched the Wizard of Oz DVD the other day and it was so wonderful! It had been YEARS since I had seen it, and I had forgotten so much of it. Judy Garland is just the perfect Dorothy, and that witch...iconic!
Stay tuned for more...

You don't see something like that every day!

I just have to share these photos, because, like me, some of you out there in the world of blog will find them amusing! To explain, we planted a bouganvillea bush years ago (like 10) and it grew like the vines outside Sleeping Beauty's castle! About once a month Jonathon has to get up on the roof and trim the thing because it flails around like some wild tree come to life.

Anyway...we have a bulk rubbish collection in a couple of weeks, and Jonathon decided enough was enough. He wanted that tree gone! Easier said than done, though, because it was behind another tree in our yard. So the whole boug tree had to be pulled out by the car with ropes, then dragged over the roof, kicked over the edge onto the driveway, and then hauled to the curb. Jack got these photos.

Hilarious!

Pictures from Georgia

I got my pictures from Georgia in the mail! Only took about a week to get here. I love, love, LOVE them! Now to get some frames to put them in, and when we FINALLY paint the family room and put up shelves, that's where they'll go. Now I have an incentive to get painting...

Bit of excitement

There's a bit of excitement in the Sice Family house at the moment, as goodies are arriving from all over to help with my card making venture! Beautiful coloured boxes from Spotlight,




card blanks and envelopes from Castle Cards...




and more things still to come. I've been making little labels for the card sets, and soon there will be finished boxes of cards!






Makes me smile (and make silly little shrill sounds of excitement!)

Australia's Next Top Model

Okay, this is a bit overdue, but for those who don't already know, Tahnee won Australia's Next Top Model!!!! Love her, she's sweet.

Cassi was runner up!

She had great photos, and got more votes from the judges, but Tahnee won the public vote!

Now I'll have to tune into America's Next Top Model. Back to normal TV!

Home decor choices

I borrowed this idea from another blog, Little Byrd Vintage, who was tagged to talk about it from another blog. The challenge is to name 5 things you love to do when decorating your home, and 5 things you would never do (or never do again, is my interpretation) when decorating your home.

NEVER AGAIN

1. Blue/Grey - When we first built this house I had an obsession with blue/grey; doors, benches, cupboards, blinds, paint. Pretty soon it was ugly, ugly ugly, and we are only just now finding the time to paint all the doors white. We'll get to the kitchen and bathroom renos one day...

2. Ocean theme - Another silly mistake, ocean theme feature tiles in the bathroom, that need to be replaced very soon. So old hat.

3. White laminated furniture - We've got white bedside cabinets that were meant to be temporary and have been there about six years! Baby stuff. Need to buy black/brown ones from Ikea. Soon.

4. Coloured walls - We have painted our walls a myriad of colours over the years, purple, blue, bright yellow, red, brown. We are in the process of painting them white (although I still love the caramel in the loungeroom and the red in Jack's playroom.) Here is a glimpse of the pink wall we still have lurking in the house. What was I thinking???

5. Stripes and the nautical look - As you have gathered, are so not me.

ALWAYS

1. Asian influenced decor - I adore cherry blossoms, any sort of blossom really, and the theme just branched out (excuse the pun) from there.

2. Dark frames with beautiful art - Just waiting to put up these frames with pictures from The Black Apple. About to get some new pictures from Georgia Parsons too. Can't wait!

This paper tole picture, that I LOVE, was made many years ago, by my Mum.

3. Antiques - Love these classic pieces - my Nanna's clock, my Mum's piano, my Dad's gramophone, and my scrapbooking desk.

4. White walls and doors - slowly but surely...aaahhh.

5. White French doors - Always wanted a set of these in my house. Love.

I wonder if anyone else out there DARES to show their Nevers and Always of home decorating.

Hmmm?

While everyone celebrates the 4th July...

...I'm going to celebrate being an Aussie! Pictures on blogs of the red, white and blue, and beautiful prairies in America, have inspired me to share some great Australian landmarks. These photos show some of the most famous rock formations throughout Australia.

Uluru, Alice Springs, Northern Territory

The Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria

Bald Rock, Stanthorpe, Queensland

Elephant Rocks, Denmark, Western Australia

Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia

The Pinnacles, Cervantes, Western Australia

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Karlukarlu (The Devil's Marbles), Tennent Creek, Northern Territory

Glowing skies, golden sands, sparkling seas.

"Our land abounds with nature's gifts of beauty, rich and rare."

Stunning, don't you think?