What Keeps Me Together.

I am a woman of routine, as much as that drives me crazy its the truth. I hold myself together by doing things a certain way. As silly as that sounds, when you are juggling 50 million things, being a mum to two kids that are developing into their own personalities, being a loving fiance, planning a wedding for 60+ people, changing my lifestyle and losing weight, whilst fighting depression and trying to make a name for myself Art wise...something has to be there in place so that I don't lose the plot.

Now I've posted about my beautiful Malden in one of my latest posts, This is my new love, one that my darling fiance purchased for me, and it is just delightful to live in. It is handmade in Italy by many many talented craftsman and its second to none. A Gillio Medium dark Brown Compagna. She is holding my life together, keeping me 90% sane!

I never thought such a simple thing, could help me get so many aspect of my life in check. It's like My one woman show book.

I use a week on two pages, and have toyed with the idea of a week on one page with a notes page opposite, maybe next year I will trial that. I get our lives down in this book, from bills, to school things to remember, daycare days, letters I need to write to penpals, our weekend plans and so on. Using  highlighting stickers to make important things jump out at me.

I make my planner my own, with little drawings, stickers, bright tape and coloured pens, it helps me feel like I am in charge of my life, not the other way around.

My daily routine was an idea from a fantastic video by Joy over at enjoyette @youtube if you haven't seen her, do watch her filofax vids. they are some of the best I've seen.

I can move my tags around if my day is different, and I should have taken a new shot of this page, because now my work outs are at the crack of dawn lol and my blogging is later on in the day...I've got these post it flags on a hambly screen print dashboard - all my dividers are dashboards now.
Another idea from joy was context boards...which I quickly adopted into my own planner

they get checked off once they are done...the errands one has been replaced a few times already once all the jobs are done, a new board is put on. It's awesome, I love this idea.
Major daily things that MUST get done go into the weekily board.

my planner is where I go to remind myself of little important things...

it is where I store things that I know will make me smile when I flick to them

I don't just use mine as a planning tool, I also use my Gillio as a wallet...it is working so far, but I see another pocket sized Gillio in my horizon.
Some people may think its silly, or archaic, but for me...pen to paper is how I get through life be it art or writing...so paper planning is the only thing that makes sense to me...even if I am a digital girl in so many other areas of life, it will never be part of my planning life.

 I will do a more updated set up video soon, so keep an eye on that if that is something you would enjoy.
maybe paper planing is something that youre missing in  your life...
It keeps me together, it makes me happy...and I collect things that make me happy.

I will be more present within the walls of my little blog nook...enjoy your evening, and thankyou for reading.

xx Courtney

the Artful Journey - day 11- let him eat cake.

I have decided weekends are not art friendly!! I'm so late and behind but tomorrow I shall catch up tomorrow when the boy's at work...this is all I got done on my background today three more layers.

check out my cool new paint stamps I bought today, very kid friendly and very awesome for backgrounds!
I used some paint washes, and some stamps and some matte varnish so far.


thats me for the night...way tired again...
just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my darling man, may we spend many more together!!!

goodnight my darlins
I'm off to play crash bandicoot with my lover.
xoxo Courtney

Artful Journey Day Two + Week in my life

A Friday, is always a cherished day in my house, one because its one of my quiet days, little ones went off to kindy..but the best part...is when the boy arrives late at night for the weekend... so already its a good day!

But lets get to why you came here..
Day one Of the GulfSprite 30 Day Art journalling course started today, and the prompt was about the Harvest, as they are coming up to that time of year, it was a little strange as we have already passed such a time here in oz..I did a little google search, and one of the first images I saw..was a Harvest Moon...and so I began creating just that.

sketching away while I spoke to the boy, colouring her in adding layer and layer of prisma pencil, a little ink from a sharpie, some watercolour for depth finishing the page off with some dripping watered down watercolour...and some Spray ink in a coral.



it was a great experience, as these are the types of things I don't draw..or even think to draw. I must admit I did do an image search to see what wheat looked like so I could get a similarity.

I do adore her..something so sad about her and yet peaceful aswell..it's probably a very good portrayal of how I am right now..
My Boyfriend said ' but the moon looks so sad!'
'dont worry my love, she wont be sad forever, I promise' and I won't
another little work in progress is a wood block I've been tinkering with from my dad, she isnt finished yet, I know that much. But I am liking her.

I was using up excess paint from a journal page, which is why the background looks so random lol but I like what came out over the background..home right now..is two places so it's very much on my mind.
I have gotten together with a few of my dear friends to do a little project, A Week In The Life, basically documenting each day for a week. I want to create some digtal collages and print them out to make a book actually, to go into a yearly book if I am on the ball! so without further ado..here is my Friday - Mainly my morning, as I cleaned for most of my day before Lily's Party Tomorrow.

'Friday Sunlight'

The first morning rays on Friday morning. A little cold..but rather a lovely sight.

6:20am from my bed.


'Morning's Lament'
I know I have to get up...but I just don't want to
Friday Morning
7am

'Stop for a Moment'
Just after dropping little ones to Kindy
My front yard - 8:53am

'Come in, Stay a while'
One of the most fave parts of my house..is the door handle
8:57am


so that's me for today, tomorrow there will be more art..and more week in my life photos!
oh there will be party photos!
take care..pop over to Traci's Blog for her day two (it wont be up yet, I'm a day ahead of her hehe)

leave a comment, I love hearing from you! and post your blog address if you want, I love a good blog hop at night with my tea.

take care! xx Courtney

Thursday Night in the Brook-Diaz House

Thursday night in the Raven house, was bbq movie night, a little treat for the bumbles, and also a reason to test drive the boy's new bbq! was a nice night, kids played outside while we cooked the meat, sorted a movie out and made popcorn on the stove.

lily being a little dork hehe but shes adorable.

eli playing with me on the bed, first time I've gotten him to just be silly and let me take photos! this was a happy accident snap...and its one of my faves of him.
we had snags, chicken kebabs, and a mexican marinated beef for dinner, served with wedges and fresh crusty bread! was soooo good! the boy has taken left overs to work for lunch hehe.

and after they watched the lion king, ate their mumma cooked popcorn they were off to bed...and I finally got to slink into bed, and do a little art, before the boy and I watched Water for elephants...adored that movie was so beautiful.

so that was Thursday night in our house! tonight a whole different story..packing today and driving through the night to get home to Inverell for a mere week before we are back in Sydney for two weeks! crazy time in my life I must say!

take care my dears
xx Courtney

I am alive!

Image from Lobster and Swan

Yes yes, I am alive..barely lol, I am in the throws of packing and moving, with just over a month to go..but really only 3 weeks in this house physically (because of our sydney trips) I am frantically trying to get things done.
I have hardly arted, and my soul feels it! I did try sit down last night but because I was so tired and so not feeling it, my art was just a hot mess. I shall gesso over both the shocker pages and start again.
I shall photograph two of the things I have worked on in the last week, tomorrow before I leave for a week in Sydney, of course I'll take the mac and blog from boys house.

xx Courtney

Get Your Art On Day 16 - Car Art

8 Hours, what a drive, what a drive, teacup humans were very well behaved, I was very impressed by them, they watched dvd's and they drew pictures with their etcha sketch (arty mumma go go) so car art wasnt that fab, I spent most of my time keeping the boy entertained while the kids watched Dvd's so I played with my watercolours for a little bit and did some sketching in my little sketch book

I would love to stay and chat a while, but the drive took it out of me, tomorrow will be a little of my art for the day and a little of the kids art, as I have craft things waiting for them to play with in the next few days.



pop over to to Traci's blog for her post today!
and I shall see you tomorrow with some proper art and proper photos
xoxo Courtney

Get Your Art On - Day 8..backgrounds

Its almost midnight!!! but Im still in on time, with the boy here, my art time is replaced with with snuggles and laughter, but I told him 'I'm not failing art month! get comfy while I work on something' so he happily sat in bed with me as I worked on some of my background pages that will become digital downloads for my etsy store.

yes I know, not as awesome as yesterdays art! but its the process that counts right. I did draw another girl, but when I looked her over, she was part man I swear, so she didn't make it to the blog..and will be gessoed over tomorrow. unless I can save her..but man that's alot of saving!
ok I have a hot tea waiting for me, and a columbian boy in my bed..oh la la.
have a lovely evening whats left of it, and I'll see you tomorrow with something not so lame.

pop over to Traci's blog for her lovely art day post and please do stop by here tomorrow I wont be so boring with my art!
and a big hello to all my new followers! It was such a beautiful surprise to see all the lovely comments and new followers! I am humbled.
xx Courtney

a journal, markers and beautiful books

After a huge week, I fell in a heap and tried to recover from the madness! I did a little shopping while I was away, few art supplies few books, and a little odds and ends to keep the days a little bit brighter.

A while ago, I ordered a custom journal from Kira Harding - Journal Girl.
and it arrived today in the mail! way cute! I can't wait to move into it!! Also my darling man took me to the newtown Art Supply store, where I bought some glazing medium to play with, and some new markers from Caran D'Ache which are watercolour ones, haven't put them through their paces yet but I shall in time. In the background are a cheap set of watercolour paints that I'd had my eye on for a few months and finally bought $10.50 well spent, because they work sooo beautifully!!

working in my journal late last night, using the paints, prisma pencils and a few of my new stencils from Spotlight. I am still a little crazy over the faces Im creating, they aren't popping like I want, not 3 dimensional as I want. Where did u learn to draw your faces/girls/whimsy characters? I have done two Willowing Courses and 3 Suzi Blu classes, you would think I'd be an expert!


with the sad news of bookstores closing, sales were happening. The boy and I, both being book lovers and collectors, we bought up! here are just two of my purchases in the book department

the material obsession book is lush, I could flick through it over and over again.
a great book for any quilter, or sewer.

that's all I have at the moment, its late afternoon and I think I might bake some cookies.
take care my dears, spend your afternoon creating beautiful things.
xx Courtney

how I feel...

this is how I'm feeling right now

artwork by the very talented Tara Ross Studios over at Speckled Whimsy, her journal is an array of stunning colour and wonderful little characters, I always await a new blog post from her, they make my soul sing.
enjoy your evening...
xx Courtney

My Creative Space

Another Thursday is upon us, and after my trip down 'I'm Sick Lane' I am back in the game, with my trip to Sydney coming up fast, I want to make sure my 10 hour train ride isn't one that is going to make me want to scratch my eyes out with bordem, so I'm reviving and old box that I've had for quite a few years now, needs a few things fixed which I'm hoping my dad will help with, but it fits all the things I need, that I use day in day out....





As I've been sick lately, there hasn't been that much artwork going on! but before I got sick, I was working on my art mail, I have a few art pen pals, so I've been getting all their letters done for the post box on Monday, here is just one of the several I've already got finished.
Now all I have to do, is get a big A4 envelope and decorate that, half the fun of art mail isnt it...the brightly coloured crazy envelope in the mail

for more creative spaces pop over to Our Creative Spaces

enjoy your thursday, and never stop the creative process...art saves.
ox Courtney

escaped into a dream.

as I mentioned in previous posts, I was set for a getaway with boyfriend. Here are just some of the snapshots I took while I was away.

We stayed at the Lindsay house in Armidale, shopped till we dropped, snuggled, laughed held hands kissed and just enjoyed 3 days purely in eachothers company.
The room number, for some reason made me smile.


The entrance into the dining room, where the dinner menu stood, adorable foyer, filled with just the most devine furniture.

every morning breakfast was served, a selection of pastries, cereals, muselie, tea coffee toast and juices...all included in the price and the room in which you dined in, was just so delightful.

we spent our dinners in the same room, but next to the roaring fire, this was a huge highlight for both of us, him with his book, me with my knitting even after dinner we spent a little time in this room just enjoying the warmth a little chatter and some tea.


some of the furniture just took my breath away, I wanted to steal this away for my own house hehe, It gave the boy and I much to think about when filling our own house one day with a style we both love.
and for some reason my favourite image of my trip....leaving me with a school girl feeling. Mornings in bed laughing under the sheets as we talked about our future, the kids and life in general...it was a fantastic trip away. I was spoilt the entire time. I hope my man knows that this was a huge highlight in my life.



two blogs in one day! and I'm done till I get some crafty work done... working on a journal which I'll post about soon enough.
xx Courtney

a day to look forward to!

The boyfriend is spoiling me this easter with a little getaway just after easter! to an adorable little Bed and Breakfast in Armidale. The Lindsay House is a little nook of beautiful hidden away, with old world charm and rose gardens. I cannot wait for our two night stay, we are booked into the Queen suit, feeling a little princessy at the moment just thinking about the the minibreak. I will be sure to take my cannon and video camera with me to capture the little road trip to see my dear friends, do a little winter clothes shopping and relax in vintage style.
Enjoy your Monday Morning!
x Courtney