Day 31 :: Gratitude

When I stop and think a bit there is so much in life to be Grateful for... Some big things ...
Life and breath,
a place to live, 
family and friends,
a great job,
and so much more....

sometimes in day to day life, when things are a bit hard it's easy to FORGET just how blessed I am! 
Praying God would instill in me a heart of gratitude!!

I'm grateful to Sunday for running the blog every day in May challenge which has helped me get back into blogging! I'm thankful also to Kellie who I found Sunday's challenge through.

I'm thankful for great weather and being able to hang sheets out on the line to dry... I'm popping out now to see if they are dry :) See you tomorrow as I attempt to keep blogging every day!! :D 

Day 30 :: Advice and my June schedule

Wow... the blogeverydayinMay challenge with Sunday is almost complete... May is almost gone! How did that happen? Well I'm happy that I managed to keep the blog posts coming each day.. even if some were no doubt better than others. Today's prompt is "Best advice you’ve received lately", ok I've got two to share ...

ADVICE for life is to keep Trusting God and his good plans. I don't know why I need this reminder but it seems that again and again in the midst of living I need to hear this!!

ADVICE for blogging regularly  is to have a schedule... which is why I've found this month and Sunday's challenge so helpful. Even though I had not pre-written my posts I had scheduled them with just the prompt for the month... so that I knew what was coming up... This was great... but the last few days I've been looking and worrying about what I will be once the challenge ends... I'd like to keep blogging regularly...and so I need to follow that "schedule advice" To that end I've created myself a list for blogging prompts in June.

If you want to use these prompts.. feel free to use any or all of them alongside me - if you do I'd love to read what you write so make sure you share :D 

My question for you today is ...Do you blog every day?? Why, Why not??

Day 29

Day 28 :: Family

I love my family!!! I thought it would be fun to show you (IN LEGO character form)  all my closest family.... 

so there's Guy and I ...

then there are my wonderful parents and three lovely sisters...

and my in-laws... Br-i-l and his beautiful wife and their sons.. our two awesome nephews...

Here's the whole picture....Guy and I had a lot of fun trying to find all his mini-figs and put ones together that worked/ looked like us all! This is as close as we could get with what we had :) 

We've seen a guy who takes photos of a lego minifig and Instagrams them in different locations.. it's such a great idea .. have seen a few other take offs too... would be fun to do something like that :)

DAY 27 : A Project ...

I thought I would share a couple of things I've been working on lately...

#1 - I've been working on some drawings .. inspired by the characters in Mortal Instruments... here's the Instagram I took of them QUITE some time ago now... the very rough sketches...

I have now turned the main girl one into a digi - Here's what she looks like ...

I had a coloured version BUT I CAN'T FIND IT!! :o so I will look for it and post it later once I've made it into a card .. or whatever I decide to do with it... MEANWHILE. It's been a while since I've shared a finished creation / card here, in fact it's been a while since I have created a card.. so I thought I would do so.

#2 I've made this fun little card using my Elva Dolphinsinger mermaid image

coloured with Copics of course :D Thought I'd try something different for the background.. what do you think??

Are you currently working on any projects? BIG or small?

Day 26 : Would YOU like to guest post here??

I love the idea of having a guest to do a post on my blog.. I do enjoy reading guest posts on other people's blogs. 

When I first signed up to do the blogeverydayinmay challenge with Sunday I had good intentions of asking someone to be my guest poster FOR TODAY and then the days went along and I had not asked anyone and it was too close to the date to ask and I suddenly realised that I could use this post to see if anyone would like to be a guest poster on my blog... Would you??

If you are interested please send me an email!!!
If more than one person is interested we can spread out a few guest posts :D

Day 25 :: A list for the week ahead.

1. mail someone a handwritten letter. 
2. get cracking at achieving my unfinished May goals
3. do a new M4M order
4. draw some images
5. work out what to cook for Growth group and do so
6. go see the new x-men movie with Guy
7. do some more work in the garden
8. move cupboards around
9. Clean the bathroom
10. Vacuum
11. clean UP / reorganise? that craft area
12. make some MORE new dolls to send to Nic's shop
13. refill and clean markers
14. set up heart journal course
15. Be joyful

That's  just a start... I thought 15 was a good number :) the First thing I really should have on the list is to get up and go to work tomorrow. tee hee. What's on your to-do list this week??

If I could have 3 people to dinner tonight, I would invite...

My three sisters!!! We are so spread out these days and have been for years... it's rare that we are all in the one place at the one time... I  do miss them so I would definitely love for them to come to dinner tonight... PLEASE girls - Hurry up! Girls night :) lol! 

- I might get in trouble for sharing this photo here - hopefully it's old enough to be ok to post hehe! 

comments, comments, comments

Hello!!! I'm getting earlier with these posts... I'm hoping to schedule my posts to appear a bit more regularly.. and just trying to work out the best time for that.... Still got to organise myself a bit more though hehe!! anyway....

Today's BlogeverydayinMay prompt is to Write a post about a particularly good or controversial comment someone left you. I don't have a particular comment in mind either way but I wanted to write about how leaving one comment on one blog post can lead on to some great chats back and forward and some great friendships built online. I have a number of wonderful friendships that have started off that way :)

I don't think recently my comments settings have been set up particularly well... I just worked out that I had to change some settings to allow reply comments... so I "should" be able to do this now... I am not great at replying to comments left... I've never really worked out the best way to do this...
1. Go visit the commenters blog and leave a reply there...
2. Send off an email reply... although sometimes thats not possible as you don't have an address.
3. reply in your own blog comments - I can try this now :)

So my question is ... what do you think the best way to reply to blog comments is????

Before I go I thought I'd share my latest Instagram pic.... pics taken of the "sockyragdoll" I made last night for our Friends' new baby girl!! I'm quite liking the sewn eyes as opposed to buttons and bought eyes at the moment! 

I do love this youtube ...

Day 22, Thursday: Share a video clip that you are loving at the moment.  It could be as simple as a song on YouTube or an inspirational speaker on TED Talks.

I don't have an absolute favourite video... but I do LOVE watching Mark Crilley's "How to Draw" youtube videos .. I have certainly learnt a lot from them and I really enjoyed watching this video today on "Comparing yourself to other artists" It is pretty long but great content and I love seeing those sketches as he talks :D






I find I sometimes do compare myself to other artists and think why do I bother? but then other times I am inspired to practise more and get better. I like the idea of comparing myself to myself... ie looking at older drawings compared to newer drawings.. which shows that I have actually improved :)

Loved this quote - "Comparison is the thief of Joy" - Theodore Roosevelt

Oh... and yes this is still part of Sunday's blog every day in May challenge... so glad I'm managing to get them done.. it's lots of fun! By the way... LOVE Sunday's video today... go check it out... It's about LOVE LETTERS I think I need to send out some Love Letters myself actually... if you want a handwritten letter send me an email and I'll see what I can do!!

Day 21: On my plate tonight...

Tonight for dinner we had sausages (mostly because we didn't cook them all for GG last night) and I had rice and salad (Guy had some pasta instead of rice).

I thought about writing an extra post about what's "figuratively" on my plate but thought I'd just stick to the literal today :)

Day Twenty :: Who Inspires You?

Mmm... let me think about that....  It's another hard prompt from Sunday today!
OK, well I actually think that there are lots of people who inspire me ... but firstly let's look at what "inspire" means? I've gone to dictionary.com to help me out ...

... in thinking about this topic and in looking at the different meanings of inspire I guess there are a few different levels to this question. Who inspires me??

Firstly I am inspired by God. 

His love inspires me.

I am inspired by people who trust in God and share their struggles and how they overcome their struggles. 

I am inspired when I hear people sharing their joys.

I am inspired by friends and family.

I am inspired by many people who blog, when I read their posts and hear about their lives.

I am inspired by a people who create artworks/ craft/ take great photos. 

There is a great big long list of individuals who inspire me and I am thankful for them all!

Day Nineteen :: Dream job?

mmm, tough one today... the prompt is what is your dream job??

I've had a little trouble with this one... as I really don't know what my dream job is.... When I think of job I think YUK.. I don't want to have to work!! Who wants to work??

But then there was a time that I was not working and I became bored and needed something to do :)
 ... and it came about that I started working for myself, running my online store Mad for Markers
selling Copic markers and teaching people how to colour with them, which ticked some of these boxes...

• Creative,
• working for myself but able to work with others too, 
• teaching/ helping others, 
• enabling others to create / relax, 
• meeting like-minded people,  
• having fun!!

 

I could say that running Mad for Markers is as close to a dream job as I've got so far, so I'm pretty excited that I am trying to get it going again. (I had stopped as I was caring for my MIL full time, she is now in a nursing home).

 I needed a steady job that would pay our bills, mortgage in the meantime and had a yukky time looking for jobs recently but once again I learn that god is in control and provides good things....  I am so thankful to God for the job that he provided me with ... For the next 9 months or so,  I am working 3 days a week as an Admin assistant in an office that provides administration for Evangelical campus groups at various universities around Australia ... it's a great privilege to be a part of this team.

So for now, I am quite content juggling these jobs :) Oh, and there's a third job too - along with my good friend Bec I am running The Spire Market which has been a lot of fun so far!!

When thinking about work my mind goes to this bible passage....
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

Thanks for stopping by... Do you have a  Dream job???

Day Eighteen

TEN things that make me HAPPY:

1. Knowing God and his love for me.
2. My wonderful husband.
3. Family.
4. Good Friends.
5. Nice Coffee.
6. Escaping into a good book.
7. Looking at pretty things.
8. Colouring in.
9. Making Stuff.
10. Flowers in our garden.

Photo journal of today

Here's a look at my day today in photo form ....

 

created on my iphone with two of my favourite apps.... Instagram of course AND Frametastic :)

A little explanation... I'm sick... silly old cold or flu or something that I just can't seem to shake... hence the box of tissues following me around all day. I sat out in the sun this morning to soak up some Vitamin D, and was reading on my ipad, whilst my lovely hubby did the washing up. We cleaned up our computer desk today.. although I piked halfway through and went back to the lounge as the dust got too much for me! I ate eggs and avocado on cruskits for lunch.... and then I digitised a picture I sketched the other day (using my WACOM)... I've started re-reading The Mortal Instruments... just finished book 1 today and that top image is what I picture Clary to look like, from my re-reading book 1 anyway. Of course the day has also involved a bit of computer play... and there's Guy playing LOTRO. And an afternoon coffee :D Not a hugely exciting day but a necessary restful day I guess. 

What has your day looked like??

Some favourite blogs

Today is about sharing the blog love... to tell about 5 blogs I love reading regularly...

Well... I've not been GREAT at regular blog reading lately... just like I hadn't been blogging much I also hadn't been reading much.. except for when I pop over from Facebook... I miss Google reader and  I wish I had more time to sit and read blogs :) Having said that I do spend time reading facebook posts and Instagram too... so I guess it's more about about making the time??

I've really been enjoying participating in Sunday's blogeveryday in May challenge and have loved finding new blogs through this. A reminder that one of my "goals" was to update my blog sidebar with a reading list... I will DO THAT THIS WEEKEND... but for now here's some of my old favourites....

I always love checking out what creations Jac has been making... she always has fun cards!

I love Amy's style of cardmaking!!

Alyce makes the most amazing cards.. 

Her colouring is so lovely and every card is an exceptional work of art.

Bec writes great stories & shares her life honestly, I love seeing her amazing bags, 

lately I've been loving reading her Gratitude posts!!

Yum! This blog/ website shows that Gluten free is not necessarily taste free :D

Leave me a comment and let me know what your blog address is??

 I'd love to come read your blog!! 

Day 15

Today's prompt from Sunday is to Create or share a poster, card or artwork that shares a message that inspires you.

So funny you snort

Today is Day 14 and Sunday says Make us laugh.  Share a funny story or picture.

Don't you just love Photobooth - so many funny pictures can be taken with your face gets warped into alien shapes.... I've had many fun times with adults & kids alike, sitting & laughing at the results... 

This photo is of me and 3 great friends for life... kinda "thescream"ed* into one!

We don't see each other often.. but when we do.. we are able to have fun together... we can be serious too.. but we always laugh together ... and someone usually ends up laughing so much they "accidentally" snort. I do recall that was the case in this picture.. way back in about 2008!

*this photobooth effect really reminds me of that famous artwork "The Scream"

Day 13: Write a poem or piece of creative prose.

mmmm.... I cannot write a poem.. that's been my thought about this topic of Sunday's blogeveryday in May prompt for today.. but so far I've managed to keep up to the challenge OK so here goes...

I nearly chickened out now and thought I'd just link up Psalm 96 which we read in our staff meeting today - It's AWESOME! .. but I decided to give poem writing another go.. here's my poem .... Needs a bit of work but it's a start :)


O Lord, you are amazing!
You made the heavens, you made the earth
Of your power and greatness I sing
how of all creation, you did birth.

Oh Lord you are most awesome,
Father, Son and Spirit, three
compared to you I'm just a crumb
Thankyou Lord for saving me!

Day 12 :: How my blog got it's name

Good evening everyone, Today in Blogging every day in May with Sunday the topic is to talk about how your blog got it's name (and tagline).

I started this blog back in 2008... at that time I wanted to share my cardmaking creations... and so I thought that "Stuff by Sammi"  would make a good name... "stuff" being all the "cards" I made. It has evolved a little and now "Stuff" includes other creations I make, things I do and write" It's actually quite appropriate for my latest hobby of making socky rag dolls... which I fill with "stuffing" tee hee, they are "stuffed by Sammi" Oh... In case you were unsure... my name is "Sammi" ;)

As for a tagline ... It's changed a little from time to time.. at the moment I have
 Sammi's little Bit of blogland  and I have added my description... in which I share my creations, thoughts and life!!  which I guess is pretty self explanatory :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sammi

xoxo

a weekend in Orange ...

with a photo walk drive 

Good evening!! Yay . we are home again... finally - it was a long trip home, but we had a great weekend .. we went to see my parents in Orange, and check out my sister's bookshop/ cafe - The Dragonfly lounge ... that is opening TOMORROW!!! It looks pretty good. She's been spending the day cooking up yummy smelling things.. so I'm sure it will be a great opening day! Here's some sneaky pics...

We stayed at a lovely Motel just outside Orange... This was the view outside our window...

green grass, lovely rolling hills and grape vines!! 

I finished off three little Sockyrag dollies whilst in Orange to sell in Nic's shop ... Matilda, Jessie and Lola (I almost kept one for me ;) Might have to make one to keep!!

I had planned to do the photo walk today... which is Sunday's blog prompt/ challenge today ... but it was cold and we were running a little later than originally planned (slept in) and I have a cold/ feel a bit rotton... so I  took photos as we DROVE down the road... Guy drove slowly and stopped a few times so that I could take the pics out the window ;) Here's a couple of those pictures... 

I do love the countryside around Orange :)

Oh and .... a pumpkin plant has taken over my parent's backyard.....

Day 10

Sooo.... The problem with promising to blog every day and not being completely organised means that your scheduled post goes live before you have finished typing it up ... Oopsie daisy!! So I've deleted my  empty post today and am now typing a new one from my iPad :)

The theme for Sundays blogeverydayinmay challenge (link in the sidebar) today is a fashion, beauty or life tip. So How about this for a tip?? .. If you want your blog post to go live at a scheduled time make sure it's finished before you hit publish.

I took this picture today .. I love Orange in Autumn time ... It's so pretty :) I love how the trees are all different colours :) I'll sign off now but will leave you with one of my favourite scripture verses .. Which could be considered a life tip I guess ;)

Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight - Proverbs 3:5,6

Day 9, Friday: 5 things I love on a Friday.

1. Sleeping in!!

2. Being able to spend time creating :)

3. Having two days of weekend ahead!

4. Doing Mad for Markers stuff.

5. chatting to friends on Facebook.

This Friday aka today I love that we are driving to Orange... to see my parents and youngest sis!!

We are there NOW... I will post some pics over the weekend!!

Books to Read

Day 8 of Sunday's blog every day in May challenge is to 
Share a book that you’d like to read, but haven’t yet.  What draws you to it?

© Netris | Dreamstime Stock Photos &; Stock Free Images

I do LOVE reading and sitting down with a good book... but I seem to read less and less these days. Therefore I could not think of a book that I would really like to read - so I went to my facebook friends and asked them:

1. What's your favourite book and why?
2. What book would you recommend someone to read and why?

a HUGE thanks to Paola, Bec, Rachel x 2, Jasper, Tamara, Willie, Peter, Anusha, Nicky and Mickey for answering my questions :D

Now on my TO READ list I have....

1. Jane Eyre - can't believe I've actually never read that :o Paola said:

"it's an empowering book to woman and young ladies...teaches you to keep going no matter what ..dot look back...look upward ...have hope"

2. The Great Divorce by CS Lewis -  Bec said:

"I would recommend people read it because it gives such a compelling vision of 'what comes next' and how foolish we are to try to cling to the here and now. Lewis's imagery helps me grasp the big ideas he's kicking around.

3. The Battle Axe series by Sara Douglas. Tamara said:

"I like them because they build an incredible world that is a great escape"

4. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wall. Willie said:

"Read it and you will be very thankful for what you have. It also shows that even starting with nothing you can change your life. Everyone will love this book".

5. Anna Karenina. Nicky said:

"it has a bit of everything in it, takes the reader on a true journey. I would recommend people to read Anna KArenina because its my favourite book 

I'll also add to my Reading list Anusha & Mickey's suggestions:

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

True Grit by Charles Portis.

What books are on your reading list?? Need some suggestions?? Here's a few more that came up in my facebook research ....

To Kill A Mockingbird for both.

CS Lewis one - Mere Christianity. 

Anne of Green Gables 

Animal farm - George Orwell

Obernewtyn chronicles by Isobelle Carmody

Winnie the Pooh

The Cat's Cradle

This is where I blog....

Today Sunday's blog every day in May prompt is "Where are you writing from today?"

Today it's COLD here... I'm snuggled up on the couch with my beautiful patchwork rug that was made for me by an old work friend. I love it still just as much as when she first gave it to me - about 8 years ago I think :o It's nice to use the Macbook when it's cold as it's a bit like a hot water bottle (it gets so warm)! I thought I'd also show you where I normally blog from... my Desktop, Imac...

Um, yes my computer desk is rather messy... It needs a good clean up!! 

I think that will have to be on the task list for tomorrow!

What does your desk look like right now??

A favourite photo of me

I've just spent quite a while going through my photos to work out what photo to post up as one of my favourite photos ... I've discovered a few things:
1. I don't really like photos of myself.
2. You might be surprised at that as I sure seem to take a lot... is it the selfie phenomenon? the iphone/smartphone sure makes it easy.
3. Photos really do bring back memories of times and events.
4. I prefer photos of me when I'm sharing the frame with a loved one.

Shortlisted photos included:
1. a photo of Guy and I on our wedding day.
2. a photo of me holding our godson (just before his sister was born).
3. a photo of me making funny faces with a goddaughter.
4. a photo of me and three best friends.

The winning photo as shown above is a photo taken out of our wedding album... one of the professional shots. This was taken before the wedding.

This girl is me and yet not me... a younger, more innocent version... less wrinkles and grey hairs. This girl was about to embark on a wonderful adventure with the love of her life ... to be continued

(This is day 6 of Blogging every day in May with Sunday)

Teaching Something???

Good evening, today's blog prompt from Sunday is to write a how to post, teaching people
"How to do something". I thought I would give you a quick description on how to colour with Copic markers followed by a video I made a couple of years ago which my nephew edited and did the voice over for me... I Love listening to it!

Sammi's basic Copics 101
Copics are alcohol markers which means that you can colour over what you've already coloured and build layers of colour, blending and creating shadows which gives the image dimension and brings it to life!

I always start with my lightest colour and build the base, I then gradually add the shadows with darker colours and then blend back out again. It's like a I walk up a ladder and then back down again. But I don't jump between steps or I might fall off the ladder.

So in the case of the darker skin in the video before I have used E01 as my lightest colour,
I then add E11 and E13, blending the E13 back down with the E11 and then the E01. I then add the E15 and blend back with E13, then E11 then E01. I hope this makes sense.

and now for the VIDEO

 

I'm hoping to start posting some more videos in my youtube channel SOON. I also think it's time to update the older ones and make them better!!! ANOTHER goal perhaps.

Compliments :p

Hello there, today's prompt from Sunday's blog challenge is to write about a compliment that has stuck with you ... I've found this one quite hard... I get embarrassed when people compliment me .. I don't really like the spotlight or having attention drawn to myself.

I guess one that has come up here on my blog is about my colouring ... Of which I am actually quite out of practise but I have been doing a bit lately ... So instead of dwelling on the subject of compliments right now I think I'll share a creation instead :)

                         

I hope that you've had a great weekend!! See you again tomorrow :)

Sammi

xxx

Less is more

This takes me back to studying Art History at school/ uni and learning about Mies van der Rohe who made the "Less is more" slogan famous... I always remember him for his funky chair design.. even though I believe he was primarily an architect.

This is Mies van der Rohe in his apartment (sitting in that chair he designed) 

on East Pearson Street, Chicago, 1964 © Werner Blaser.

If you click the pic it takes you to the original website where the photo was borrowed from.

Ok... Less of my digression and More of the blogging task. Day 3 of Sunday's Blog every day in May challenge is to create a Less/ More list. So here goes my quick list :)

Less Procrastination	More Creating
Less Mess	More Cleaning
Less Guilt	More Visiting
Less Complaining or feeling sorry for self	More Gratitude
Less TV	More Bible Reading
Less Self Critique	More Boldness

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a great weekend!

What's in My cup??

RIGHT now actually!! I do love a good cup of coffee!! I love the taste but more importantly I love to drink a coffee with friends and family.. the comfort and companionship of having a cup of tea or coffee together. I drank more tea earlier in life but I guess it was at Uni/ college that I was really converted to coffee. We used to sit in the common room and drink coffee, we used to go to the coffee cart and get Caramel Latte's, I used to got to another coffee cart at COFA and get Caramel Latte's .. they knew my order :0  Then, years later I realised I could not have dairy anymore... it makes me sick.. so sad! So, I tried Soy Latte's - the yummiest ones I can remember were from the Coffee place next to my old work.. had some great chats with the coffee guys there...and they knew my order too :) but truthfully sometimes Soy coffees are too gross to drink, I've tried rice milk and almond milk, none of them cut it really! So I learnt to drink my Coffee BLACK!!

I've actually been thinking I should cut back on the number of Coffee's I drink a day.. so I need some substitutes .. It's easier at work as I just have tea .. but at home I am more tempted to pop a coffee pod in the machine. Also, Black tea is not quite as good without milk as Coffee is... I don't mind the Lipton's Chai black tea and I also quite like a cup of ginger tea.

What about you? What is your favourite thing to have in your cup??

Yay - a little self pat on the back... I made it through Day 2 of Sunday's blog every day in May ;)
Thanks for stopping by ..  Please leave me a comment so I know you were here and can come and day "Hi" back to you as well!! :D