Can you guess what this is done on?

I've been getting some new works together for an exhibition in July. My latest group of collages have been created using the coolest material yet. Below is the first of a series I've been working on. Can you guess what it's painted on? Here's a hint: N for "Nellie"

Yeppers, I've used some game cards from this "Wheel of Fortune" board game that I picked up from Vinnies last week. I'm loving them!

 It's wet here today, and I stupidly hung out laundry yesterday afternoon and left it on the line. So, for another weekend, my house is littered with clothes hanging from everywhere and fireplaces roaring. Another lazy weekend at home :)

Enjoy your weekend folks.

Alisa x

"Emptiness"

This was painted last weekend when it was miserably wet and soddy outside. I was drawn to the view out my back windows and how barren everything looked outside. I started to reflect on my own feelings of emptiness that I'm currently grappling with. It's quite busy I know but that's where my head space is at the moment. It's created from vintage book pages, tea bags, acrylic paint, pencil and is looking lovely over my bedside table :)

Alisa x 

The follicle painting (as so named by my father)

This was one of those paintings that took forever for me to be happy with. Originally it was started as an experimental canvas but over time became something to conquer. There is loads of layering in this piece and ALOT of pencil work that doesn't translate well in the photograph. I was well pleased with myself after it was completed. Just a few weeks ago,  I proudly showed my parents the end result only to have my father point out that it looked like a hair follicle under a layer of epidermas LOL (gawd I love that man). So from then on it has been known as "The Follicle Painting". And I likes it alot :)

Alisa x

I'm selling my vintage finds!

Yes thats right, the time has come for me to part with some of my vintage goodies. I'm de cluttering my space and have found it to be quite carthatic. I still have a long way to go but so far so good. I'm dreadful when it comes to organizing and before I know it, I'm surrounded by stuff. I have fears of becoming one of those people who hoard (imagining myself with dozens of cats and a lavender rinse, alone with my "things") so I keep myself in check regularly.
Some of these things I have held on to for years, particularly the books. I've loved scouring my local sources for little gems and have decided that the time has come to start selling my finds. Here's a few that have already been listed in the shop.

There is still so much more to add. Watch this space!

Hoping that you all have a lovely evening. We're all battling the sniffles here. It ain't pretty but we're keeping warm with both fires going and rugging up on the lounge, watching videos picked up at the tip for 50c each. Today I got to see "Erik the Viking". I haven't seen it for yonks!

Take care,

Alisa x

A country life with no technology

The last photo loaded on my computer before it crashed. Geppetto snuggling  on the spare bed.

Well, I'm back after 3 weeks with no computer and I must say, it wasn't that bad. 

When we lived in Sydney I found myself relying so much on my computer and mobile phone to feel connected to friends and family. I had been diagnosed with Post Natal Depression after Haidee was born  and was promptly put on medication and sent on my way. I became a bit of a shlump-a-dink, walking around comatose as I averaged 2 hours sleep a night for an entire year. I used facebook to boost my self esteem, gaining "friends" and waiting for responses to things that I would post.  I would use my phone to call or text friends and family for no real reason at all. In hindsight i believe I did it because I hated being alone. I remember that aching feeling of loss if i accidently left my phone at home, and the frustration at not being able to hop on facebook because my husband was checking his emails. I was becoming an addict to technology whilst little by little losing my own sense of self.

Then we moved to the country.

It's been 3 years since our big move. 3 years since I ditched the mobile (there was no coverage out here at the time) and 2 years since deleting my personal profile on facebook (I've only just started my own page). It took a while adjusting to it all and forced me to search for new ways of feeling connected. I found a new appreciation for the little things and for the beautiful landscape that now surrounds me. I started painting again, using colours that I haven't used on my work for years. I got happy and rather rashly, took myself off my medication (something I DO NOT recommend without a proper doctors advice, I didn't have that luxury at the time). I started dolly-ing up again, searching local op-shops for cool threads - something I always used to do but somehow lost along the way. I found Alisa again.

So when our computer died 3 weeks ago, I wasn't too fussed. The whole thing has made me look back on how far I have come and I'm pretty damn proud of myself. The only time I had access to a computer was at my sisters house last week and even then I was only on for a wee bit, checking emails and looking at a couple of blogs.

Anywhoo, I'm back now and I'm keen to catch up on all of your latest news.  I've been making lots of new things however I can't show you them just yet as now my camera has died! LOL Oh dear, one has to laugh hey? ( I say this because before our computer carked it, our phone was out of commission too).

Nothing like a quiet country life :)

Have a lovely week ahead dear followers, thankyou for sticking around.

Alisa x

April first.

Well, tonight is the first evening of April. I'm sitting in my kitchen with a glass of red listening to the various sounds of my household.....The Tigers vs Rabbitohs game on the T.V, my girls squealing with delight as they play with a huge box and dinner bubbling away on the stove. We've been super busy so it's nice to have a sunday evening just relaxing.

Today I want to show you a recent purchase of mine. It's a vintage school map and it is HUGE. My beautiful mother-in-law saw it at our local child flight store and was looking at keeping it herself, however she had nowhere to hang it as their house is dome shaped. So it was shown to me and i just love it. I know how much these are worth now and even after telling them how much they can sell for, they gave it to me at an extraordinarily low price. It is slightly damaged but I kind of like that. Here it is hanging in our hallway. I couldn't get all of it in frame as it is so long (over 2 metres). I'm keeping it here until we renovate our back room where it will take pride of place.

I've been sourcing quite a few tidbits for our impending renovations. I forgot how exciting it was to sift through junkyards and garage sales for bargains. Why just a few weeks ago i got 2 industrial lampshades for $5 bucks each! Love it!!

Well, our dinner is cooked and I'm up for an early night. My fingers are sore after an incident with my hot glue gun (it's been all about Easter Hat making today) So I'm off to put another potato on my burn and eat my pasta. I hope you all had a lovely weekend too :)

Alisa x

Rainy days

Well, hasn't the weather been something? I've had to close the shop this weekend as our driveway resembles a creek. Rylstone hasn't been hit too hard however all the roads leading to and from our little town have been closed.  I must admit that I'm enjoying having a quiet weekend at home. The girls are running around in dress-ups playing mummies, ponies and dancing school, whilst I've been re-arranging things around the house and catching up on my laundry. The sun has decided to make a brief appearance which is most welcome :)

Last night we lit the fire in the lounge room and I sat with a glass of red and a book on Sidney Nolan that my mum lent to me. Haidee was in and out of the room to watch the fire burning as Amelia sat down with container of buttons that Aunty Mary sent up to us (oh how I love that woman). We had Geppetto thundering down the hallway with a pair of socks in his mouth, Obi being a big sooky-la-la wanting cuddles with Hayden, yummy curried stew for tea, hot showers and an early night for all. A very relaxed  evening at home, something we've been lacking of late.

Today will be spent doing much of the same, I have alot of sorting to do as things are piling up around the house. We're starting to put stuff aside to make room for our impending renovations. I'm absolutely dreading the whole thing however it must be done. Our bathroom is falling apart and our kitchen is hardly functional. I'm sure that once we get started things will fall into place. I just hate the preparation phase and finding room for everything. We'll get there though :)

Enjoy your Sunday folks,

Alisa x