Well, it's strange in which directions life takes us sometimes!

Eight months ago my life was totally consumed with painting!! The ACEO's were still selling reasonably well and even the larger paintings were worth spending my time on them. Then came the house move that changed it all!!


Because of the time it took to get my computer and internet up and running, I thought this would be a good time to take a break for painting. Of course I'd start again the moment the internet was connected. Famous last words!!


It's now been six months and I still do not have any interest in painting!

It'll urge will come back, but at the moment I've found a new way of expressing my love of art/craft.

I seemed to be drawn towards doing embroidery from a few directions. Firstly, I LOVE going through second hand stores/ Opportunity Shops. While going through a box of oldish magazines in my favorite OP Shop, I came across a dozen or so Patchwork & Embroidery books. all 20c - 50c each. I started flipping through a couple of them in the shop and from that moment on I was HOOKED!!!

Then came a conversation with a friend who is always sewing something or other, she's an incredible seamstress!! She was showing me the handbags & pincushions she was making. I loved her design for the cushions and thought I'd make one for myself. So I headed off to buy some wool felt and went about making myself my very first pincushion. It turned out ok, but with all of those embroidery books staring back at me it just seemed to snowball into what I spend most of my nights doing.



I'm making and selling hand sewn and hand embroidered pincushions on ebay. I'm getting wonderful feedback for them and I'm enjoying myself immensely!!!



I can not see myself doing anything but these little creations and other sewing projects for some time!! :)


Samples below.

I've been taking a break from painting for a little while now and am not sure when I will return. I know my love/passion for painting hasn't diminished, I just can't seem to find the drive to commit myself to painting up to 10 hours a day; which is what I was doing not so long ago.

I know the old drive will return!

One day soon!!

Until then, cheers!
Joa

I've just listed another couple of paintings on eBay. Totally different but both challenging in their own right. I want to challenge myself by painting a portrait, however, I'm not in right frame of mind to tackle a portrait. I know it'll come back to me.......just not today!

Seascape Painting # 17

SOLD

Still Life Painting # 21

I'm still a bit slow at getting more paintings finished, but getting there. One of my latest remindes me so much of when my son, (who now has 4 children of his own), the same curly blonde hair, the cute same chubby little cheeks. He always loved splashing in puddles! I think I smiled all the time while painting that particular one. :).............The other painting is of a fishing boat battling the all mighty ocean.

Portrait Painting # 118

SOLD

Seascape Painting # 16


SOLD

I've finally moved into my new little home and absolutely love it! I really don't like to live with boxes and bags unpacked so it's taken me all this time to put everything in it's place. I think the one thing I remember my mother saying often was, "a place for everything and everything in it's place!" I try to keep to this way of living......it doesn't always work...lol....but I try!

Which means I've not had a lot of time to paint.......well, to be honest, that's not exactly the truth as there's definately been times when I could have been at my desk working but I think I really needed a break! Seeing I've been painting on a daily basis almost every single day for the past couple of years, yes, I most certainly needed a break!!

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the customers who have emailed me asking when I'd be back on ebay and if everything was ok. Thanks guys!! :)

So, here are the first of many, many paintings I want to complete by the end of this year.

Landscape Painting # 19

Landscape Painting # 20

Still Life Painting # 15


SOLD

Still Life Painting # 16

Still Life Painting # 17


SOLD

Still Life Painting # 18

SOLD

Still Life Painting # 19

SOLD

Portrait Painting # 116

Portrait Painting # 117

SOLD

Bird Painting # 74

SOLD

Well, I'm almost there! Tomorrow is the big move. I just found out it may take up to 7 working days for my Internet to be reconnected.

....ohhhh my goodness, I could be WITHOUT the Internet for A WEEK!!! How on earth am I going to survive!? ;)

I hope Everyone has a Safe and Happy Easter!

Cheers for now, Joá

I think these would have to have been the longest three weeks of my life, and I know next week will go just as slow!!! My new unit is coming along, slowly! The painting is almost finished. The new bathroom is almost finished. The new kitchen is almost finished. I've booked a moving van for next Thursday, so please keep your fingers crossed that all is finshed by then!

I don't think I've ever been so keen to move house in my entire life! I just want the whole thing to be over and I'm able to get back into my usual routine of painting...painting...painting....lol

Latest update on my move. I've just about finished packing my house and have even taken three car loads of smaller things to my new unit, with the help of two super, super ladies!!

So, yesterday I sat here and thought I'd just take a quick look at the ACEO paintings I'd started but couldn't seem to finish a few weeks ago. Before I knew it, I'd finished three of them!!!....lol

This break has given me 'fresh eyes'! It all looks fresher to me even after this short amount of time; and seeing it'll probably be another few days before I have time to paint again, hopefully my eyes will be able to see even more than ever before! By the time the move is complete, I'll definately be ready to start anew and hopefully my art will only get better and better!!

This is going to my year!!!

Cheers Joá

Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the amazing people who have been supporting my art over the past few years!!!! Your incredible words of encouragement have given me the inspiration to keep painting and strive to better myself every time I pick up a paint brush!

Over the next few weeks I'm not sure how many paintings I'll be able to squeeze in, if any, as I am moving house and with the packing and cleaning there won't be a lot of time to spare. Hopefully, not long after Easter I will be back on eBay with a whole new batch of paintings and a new enthusiasm for my art!

Where I'm moving to has a beautiful gardened courtyard that I'm sure will give me loads of inspiration. Actually the whole move has a good vibe as I've spoken a lady who once owned the property many years ago, and who said a huge amount of love once filled that house and that I should be very happy there!

I'm certainly hoping so!!!

So, please check back now and then, I'll be back as soon as I possibly can!

Cheers Joá

I don't know why I struggle so much when it comes to painting flowers? I certainly don't know why I keep going back to painting flowers either....lol....I suppose it's because I love flowers (all flowers) so much that I simply have to keep trying to master the art of painting them! My favorites would have to be the 'old fashion' flowers, Hydrangea, Frangipani, Tiger Lilies, Nasturtiums. It always makes me laugh when every now and then, they'll become 'In Fashion' flowers....lolol

The haystacks I found quite fascinating subject to paint. The scene seems calming in a strange sort of way.

Landscape Painting # 18

SOLD

Still Life Painting # 14

SOLD

Seascape Painting # 15

SOLD

Landscape Painting # 17

SOLD

Seascape Painting # 14

Landscape Painting # 16

SOLD

I'm really going through an exciting stage when it comes to my painting. Adding people to land and seascapes is a challenge that I'm really enjoying!

Landscape Painting # 15

SOLD

Seascape Painting # 13

SOLD

I can't believe I missed posting this portrait. I really am slipping! I just love the beautiful trusting look on the baby's face while safely in her/his mother's arms. I just love it!!

Portrait Painting # 114

SOLD

I have to smile every time I look at the little fellow below as I'm not really sure what he is looking at behind that curtain? I've also thought about painting Ularu for ages, "better late than never", as they say!

Portrait Painting # 115

SOLD

Landscape Painting # 14

SOLD

I really like the way the sky turned out in this painting. I'd never really thought of painting boats before and now I'm really loving the challenge.

Cheers Joá

Seascape Painting # 12

SOLD

All I can say is......"I'm on a roll and Loving it!!!!!" :)

Landscape Painting # 13

SOLD

Seascape Painting # 11

SOLD

I know I've said this before, but with every new painting that I'm listing lately I find I'm learning something new! I really am enjoying painting the skies. The clouds are getting better and better!

Cheers Joá

Landscape Painting # 11

SOLD


Landscape Painting # 12


SOLD

Bird Painting # 73


SOLD

This portrait painting is probably the best I've done in some time.....again, I'm very happy with the finished painting!!

Portraint Painting # 113

SOLD

These last few days have been fabulous when it comes to my painting as I feel I'm teaching myself something new every day! I'm quite happy with the work I'm producing at the moment....:)

Portrait Painting # 111

SOLD


Portrait Painting # 112

SOLD

It's been a bit of a struggle over the past few days to get these three paintings finished. I've had some visitors but that wasn't the reason. At the moment for some reason, I can't seem to concentrate on the one painting enough to finish it before starting another. So I've actually had six on the go at once!

Yesterday I looked at them all and said to myself, "concentrate woman! concentrate!!"

Before I knew it, I had two finished and another almost done!

I do worry myself sometimes!! :)

Portrait Painting # 110

SOLD

Landscape Painting # 10

SOLD

Still Life Painting # 13

SOLD

These three latest paintings came together reasonably quickly even with all of the interuptions I've had this week. There's one in particular I'm very proud of, but I won't say which one...:)

Seascape Painting # 10

SOLD


Still Life Painting # 12

SOLD


Portrait Painting # 109

SOLD

It's amazing how much you can learn from the internet! I'm referring to tutorials on YouTube regarding art. I've STRUGGLED for so long to paint clouds, landscapes and seascapes that I simply gave up and seriously haven't attempted any, for a couple of years. It was after I started this blog and added a YouTube link to various art tutorials, that I came across a gentleman who was showing how to paint clouds using acrylics. "OK that's how it's done!!" "Oh my goodness, it can't possibly be that simple!!!!"

The seascape I listed this morning has the BEST clouds and sea perspective I've ever done!

I'm A Happy Little Vegemite Now!

Cheers Joá

Seascape Painting # 9

SOLD

Portrait Painting # 108

SOLD