little_louisee

AaaAachoo!

2008-05-07T20:04:00.003+10:00

It is that time of year again… when the days start to get shorter, the temperature starts to cool down and before you know it the office turns into a snivelling cess pool of disease.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the cooler months – I love wearing comfy jeans, sleeping under cosy doonas and watching the crackling fire. But, as for a stuffed head, leaky nose, chapped lips, croaky throat and the other aches and pains of flu, I really would prefer to avoid the trouble.
The dilemma is not just about feeling crappy and sick, but also the awkwardness of deciding whether said sickness is enough to warrant a day off work.
There are a number of issues to weigh up:
a) If I stay home, will my co-workers think I am bludging?
b) If I go to work, will my coughing, snivelling and groaning make co-workers sick to their stomachs?
c) Will the work I was supposed to do today get loaded onto another busy colleague who will forevermore hold a grudge?
d) Will I (with help of the air-conditioning) manage to infect the entire office and spend the rest of winter being blamed for every single cough or sneeze?
e) Will my pounding head explode all over the office?
I hate feeling like a diseased-pariah but I promise it is not my fault… my immune system is the one who failed me, damn you cursed immune system, why dost thou betray me???
Clearly I should lay off the cold and flu medication, fill up the hot-water bottle, pull up the doona, rest my fevered body and try not to feel too guilty about chucking a sickie.

Alive and well

2008-04-18T20:53:00.003+10:00

Two weeks down the track and I am really enjoying my job!
I've done so much more writing than I've done at 2 years of studying journalism and I have spoken to many an interesting person.
I've been busy this week. On Wednesday night I went to the Rotary Dinner in Murgon and stayed overnight with Nanna. On Thursday I had work to do in Murgon before going back to the office in K. to type everything up. Today I went to a cattle field day about 20 minutes from town, tomorrow I am going to a local garden expo and on Sunday to a school centenary. On Monday I will have to busily type everything up and put all the photos through for deadline.
Because I'm working this weekend I get Friday off next week (woot) and will be able to go home! Peter will be there too, so it's worked out well.
I've not had a chance to do much other than work, so no crafty adventures to report on sadly.
Alas.
Anyway, bed calls my name... I am exhausted!

XOX Lou

Ah, sweet life.

2008-04-03T21:52:00.004+10:00

It is so lovely to feel validated. Many mothers, fathers and loved ones don't hesitate in telling their children, friends and relatives how special they are, how unique how they are - and it is important to hear. Outside of this close circle of family and friends however, it can sometimes feel like the no one else thinks the same, no one else sees the same valuable qualities you think they should find... often no one has takes the time to look hard enough. It's easy to doubt yourself, to question your talents, qualities, beliefs and dreams, especially when it seems the world is just out of reach, and you can't break through the glass bubble that you're stuck in. Eventually though, things will start to fall into place and it will feel wonderful.

I got a journalist job at Charters towers two Fridays ago. On Tuesday I got offered a casual retail job, today I got offered a casual journalist job and this evening I got the job I've been hoping for - a cadet journalist position with the South Burnett Times and I start on Monday. I am happy, I am excited, I am really nervous but I really do feel like I can do this. I know I can do this, and looking back over the last few months, maybe the last six months, I really can see how much stronger, confident and happier I have become. I really am happy!

So, here's to life and what it throws at you, the power of prayer, new beginnings and happiness!

xox

news, ocean, time and kodak moments

2008-03-24T21:40:00.006+10:00

Oh how busy life is, even if you do happen to be unemployed and on the dole!

It seems that I haven't really had time to think the last few days and last week I was kept busy going in to help at one of the local primary schools.

Nanna has been staying with us which has been good and Easter has passed with a barrage of colourfully-crinkly foil wrap and soooo many chocolate endorphins it isn't funny.

My news however does not involve the number of chocolate-induced pimples on my face, but rather that old issue of employment. Last week I had a phone interview with the editor of the Northern Miner and, when he called me back he offered me the job! I'm really not sure what to think yet, especially because... on Wednesday and Thursday this week I have a work trial at the South Burnett Times! So it seems everything happens at once!

A couple of hours ago I sealed the envelope of my assignment submission and with that, my first assessment of the year is over - woot!

Yesterday I went for a frolic along the beach. What followed was the flutter of the camera shutter and embarrassingly I got too close to the water and got wet knickers :) Too much information? Probably but hey - who knows it may be important!

Ok so this is rambly and pointless so I bid you goodnight.

Goodnight!

Guess who's back

2008-03-16T20:37:00.008+10:00

I have returned! I got back yesterday afternoon after spending Friday night at my baby brother's bach pad of filth and having a couple of days in Toowoomba with my beautiful friend Sun.

It was good to spend a bit of time in Toowoombie again. I really spent most of the last three years of my life living there and had got to know the place pretty well. I also knew where to shop! I have returned home with a few purchases to stock me up for a while.

Tomorrow I have a telephone interview with the editor of 'The Northern Miner' newspaper for Charters Towers. Fingers crossed it goes well - I was thinking that I could talk to him while sitting in the nude dancing or something, but I'm pretty sure that could be odd :) but fun. Charters Towers is about 11 hours drive away from here which would be a bit of a downfall, but hey I've got to be willing to go wherever really.

The threaded easter eggs a couple of posts back are too hard for grade 3's to do so, I present you with School Easter Craft Take 2!This is little chicken sitting on top of an egg carton of eggs pinned, started and ready for the childrens to create (and hopefully love). I think they are quite cute! It's the same concept as the embroidery thread only we used chenille wool and a couple of googly eyes and pipe-cleaners for the beak and feet. * Voila!

I just found this amazing site: Hockeynizer where you can turn photos into a collage of polaroids to make up the image. It is super nifty. I haven't had much time to play with it but got it to quickly whip up this from a photo I took at Seaworld over the summer:

Follow the link if you want to have a play yourself!

Goodnight.

Hey baby, do you bleed like me?

2008-03-11T20:44:00.006+10:00

Howdie!

I am feeling particularly impressed with myself this evening after donating blood this afternoon. It was the fourth time I've had my veins drained for the Red Cross but I think it's a small positive contribution I can have in the community. The last few donations I had ran smoothly but unfortunately today didn't quite, but hey it was bound to happen sooner or later.

After having a high pulse and having to wait for my heart rate to settle down, the nurse couldn't find a vein and when she did it was nice and deep so she marked where it was with a biro and half-guessed with the needle. All was fine, blood was flowing through at a ridiculous pace and soon enough I'd donated my fill. The problem was when I got up, my head and stomach didn't like idea and I burned like hot coals - nearly fainted. Apparently it was because I had bled so quickly. All was good in the end, and I have a nice bruise forming reminding me that someone will need my blood, and it will pump through their veins soon.

Rambly-ramble-ramble!

I will not update for the rest of the week, until Sunday at the earliest. Tomorrow I am off to Toowoomba to attend a Graduate Career Fair at uni. Fingers crossed I mingle with some employers and pick up a job!

No more arts or crafts, no time these last few days.

Love and cake to all

xox

little words and plastic charms

2008-03-09T20:08:00.008+10:00

I don't really know what to type here tonight, words are escaping me and I feel distracted.

These are the cute little Easter eggs I wound up after seeing them on Martha Stewart's website. They are quite cute, especially the variagated thread, and there is something comforting following the texture of the thread around and around and around. They were a bit of a pain to make though, the glue I was using was losing its stick, and I would have the egg nicely wrapped up in its snazzy outfit, only to find the beginning had fallen off - very frustrating. They'll be too hard for the grade 3's to make, but were fun to try anyway.

Last week I got five sheets of shrink plastic in the mail (I love getting packages in the mail) and today mum and I had a little bit of a play with it for the first time. It is pretty amazing, especially watching in the oven as the plastic scrunches and wriggles about.

They're a tad smudgy and the holes aren't aligned very well, but gee shrinky dinks are nifty!

Nothing much else to report. Tomorrow I will go to school, read with some childrens and play maths games - yay!

And because I love you so much Mr Blogface, here is a sneak preview of my latest necklace...

Grand Opening

2008-03-06T21:05:00.005+10:00

How the weeks pass by - I can't help feeling like I am wasting time doing nothing... and yet I have done something exciting (albiet in a teensy-weensy kind of way).

Look at my sparkling new store here.

Yes, yes, it is true. I have delved into the world of online seller-dom. I only have the two necklaces you can see up for sale at the moment but hope to add some more pieces soon. I'm a bit scared that no one will want to buy these lovelies, but fingers crossed someone lucky will love them.

You can find my store here

I will have to change the banner to something more professional but I am not good at that sort of stuff so for now it will have to do.

Ready for a strange phenomenon?... Every night when we are watching the news, at about 6:30pm, our tv reception goes really dodgy and has fits and starts where the image pauses etc and we can't watch the tv. It lasts for about 5 minutes, and after a week's observation we've worked out coincides with the time the bats fly over for their night of feasting. A large bat colony lives in the bay in trees by the ocean and at sunset head inland to look for food and we live near a block of bushland. Watching them is amazing as hundreds fly overhead wisping in thick black trails of wings.

So the question is, is it the physical obstruction of the aerial by the bats, or their sonar that disrupts the television reception? I wanted to ring Triple J today for their science program and ask but I forgot (and don't get reception apart from on my car radio).

I will leave you with tales of bats and the strange wonders of television reception.

Bonne nuit!

Slow starts...

2008-03-04T22:23:00.004+10:00

I don't know that anybody is reading this blogtastic blog, but hey the internet is a massive expanse of pixels and typed drabble that hardly gets sighted. How amazing really.

So I've been feeling a little bit down about the frequent knock-backs on the job front. Yesterday I got an email from both the editor of Dalby's daily, and the local paper saying that I hadn't succeeded in getting work... The email from Dalby had been forwarded to a huge list of names, so I guess I should take heart in the fact that I am not the only one searching for work and feeling like I'm not getting anywhere... I guess I just have to believe that the right job is just around the corner.
A positive thing is I will be studying a subject this semester I found out yesterday to my suprise. The uni changed it's timetable I think, anyway, I am enrolled and my external study books are being sent to me. It will be good to have something to do, and also keep my mind on work and journalism. Three subjects to go and I'll have my degree yay!

Here is my latest necklace. I finished it today after starting it last night. I quite like the brown with the black for a change. I'm thinking of trying to sell some of the jewellery I have made - it would justify me making more, and I think it would be lovely to package up little parcels for others to find in their mail. If I manage to sell some pieces, I would be interested in trying my hand at resin for making pendants. I am very impulsive, so I am very proud of myself - yesterday when I was at the craft store I saw the resin and managed to hold myself back, reason with myself and agree that if I make the money from selling craft to buy the resin, then I will do so... (so I will have to hope against hope that my jewellery will find some admirers, and buyers).

Does anybody have problems with the Martha Stewart website? Maybe it's just my computer's slowness, but it's so annoying. Mum bought some styrophome eggs today at Flash Harry's (greatest discount store ever for beads) and is going to try making the thread-wrapped eggs on Martha's website with her class. I may try one tomorrow and see how it goes and hopefully my blue card will come in time for me to go in and help with mum's craft lessons at school.

It is coming around for 11:00pm and I should get ready to tuck myself into bed... I love bed!

Goodnight sweet blog.

Love Lou xox

Afternoon drives and happy snaps

2008-03-02T18:42:00.009+10:00

Lately I haven't been taking many photographs, I don't exactly know why. Those I have taken I haven't really felt a connection to either... I like pictures to communicate an emotion, or something indescribable that sits on the tip of your tongue but can't be described. I suppose that is why I love photography so much, it's a way I can express myself freely whereas in other areas of my life I am quite private, but also desperate to be known, heard, counted.

Yesterday afternoon I went for a drive over the hill away from the ocean and through the farming land behind Hervey Bay. It was a beautiful afternoon with the sun starting to set, the heat of the day fizzling away and the surrounds still green and fresh from the rain.

It was the first day of Autumn yesterday. Normally I don't really look forward to the colder months of the year, but prefer the sharpness of Queensland's summer - the way the heat seems to magnify every little thing and the country shimmers with the glow of the sun.

This year though I look forward to jumpers and jeans, blankets, socks and warm porridge in the mornings. It will not be the same as last year, it will be warmer and oddly enough I think I'll miss the biting cold in Toowoomba a little (not too much though).

Hopefully a job will find me not to far along the track and I will be able to enjoy the cooler months with a sense of satisfaction and purpose (as well as with a steady income).

A new week is here, tomorrow is Monday and I should be joining the rest in the 9-5 timetable and continue to for the next 50 years of my life. I'm feeling a bit frustrated at the limbo that is my life at the moment - of being in between and feeling like I'm back at the beginning.

For now, I will just appreciate what I have, what I know, what I've learnt, what I'm learning, what I am yet to learn, where I've been, where I am, where I'm going, where I'll end up, what I am, what I'll be, what I'll become, what I'm becoming... It will work out.

Return

2008-02-28T13:48:00.009+10:00

I got back from Warwick yesterday afternoon after what had been a big two days. I started at 8.30am at the newspaper and on Monday didn't finish until 7.30 pm, on Tuesday 7.00pm. It was good and I'm glad I had the experience. I am not holding my breath expecting a job from it, but either way I'm glad I went.

Here is the pendant I bought from the local markets here a few weeks back. The necklace part I just added the black beads to wheras it was strung on some leather thonging of some sort.

Don't you just love the colour of the green?

I would love to find out how these pendants are made - they are very unique and with all the different colours and shapes you could use, the possibilities would be endless indeed!

In other necklace news:

And a variation of the first:

I made these on the weekend. The second with the woven black and white/frosted glass beads is mum's based on a picture we saw in the Stringing book listed to the left under the heading "Recently read books".

Finally, my latest sewing project: a fabric notebook cover

I really like this cover, unfortuately I made the seam allowance too big on the longest sides when putting it together so had to whip out the quick-unstitch but in the end it worked out. Oooh and again, yay for cheap fat-quarters from Dimmeys.

So I think that is everything up to date at last.

* Fingers Crossed

2008-02-24T09:21:00.002+10:00

I haven't been around in a few days, but I will return with some tasty craft adventures.

Meanwhile, I am going to Warwick today ready for my work trial with the local paper on Monday and Tuesday. Fingers crossed it goes well and I be triumphant in getting a job!

Must go,

xox Lou

Procrastination

2008-02-20T12:00:00.003+10:00

I really should be getting my hours up for a job seeker course I'm doing, (have to have 60 hours external work by the end of the week and I've done 53) and of course there are millions of other productive things I could be doing... but where's the fun in that?

I must say - yay for cheap fabric fat-quarters at Dimmeys! It makes it very affordable to buy a couple of different pretty prints to learn with which is great.

Speaking of which - I made this headband:

I found the tutorial on foofangle's lovely blog: http://foofanagle.wordpress.com. I think I will definately need to make some more, they are so quick and easy and turn out great!

In other news: my ovaries hurt... damn ovaries.

Anyway I best be off, get my self a nice healthy lunch prepared so I will be ready to heaps of work this afternoon (or play, whichever).

xox Lou

Prospecting

2008-02-18T15:53:00.004+10:00

Sweet afternoon, how I love thee especially after 3pm.

I am excited - only this morning I sent off an online application for a cadet journalist position at "The Warwick Daily News" and by 2pm I had a reply from the Managing Editor inviting me to the paper to have a few days trial, a one in ten opportunity. So, a phonecall later and I've organised for my trial to be next Monday and Tuesday - woah, things don't move slowly in the job market! Hopefully I will be able to squash any anxieties and nerves and he'll be chuffed with my work. The more I think about a job in Warwick, the more positive I am about it. After being away for the majority of three years, coming back and living with mum and dad is great, but I also feel like I want to get out there and start my career and really feel like I am doing things with my life. I know that I am here too, and that things can take time, but Warwick would be a great opportunity and being a rural publication would give me a broad range of experiences!

Anyway, enough hopeful rambling - fingers and toes will be crossed!

And without further ado, here is my fabulous apron:

Voila and hooray for sewing!

Anyway I must go and pick up mum from work but I will leave you with a picture of a cute little plate I picked up at the markets yesterday.

Fare thee well

xox Lou

Sewing Sunday

2008-02-17T20:42:00.005+10:00

I can't believe the weekend is over already, as they say, time flies when you're having fun...

The clouds were out again today and there was some rain on and off but not too much. Despite the showers I went to the markets this morning at Nikenbah and had a wander around. I bought a kilogram of beautiful lychees but there wasn't really any other good-looking fruit and vegies, I guess it must have been an off week. I also got pressured into buying a necklace that was a bit out of my budget ($15 - not overly expensive but I feel guilty). The lady was very... encouraging and she tied it around my neck and then I felt I really couldn't leave it there. Anyway, it is lovely. She melts the glass herself and it's a lovely deep green colour with black spots in it on a black leather cord. I am thinking I might take it off the cord and put in on tigertail with some seed beeds and finish it off with a proper clasp.

Ooh, today I have been having fun with my mother's sewing machine! Yes, yes, I have actually been sewing and I made an apron with much help and guidance from mum. I used the pattern for the bib apron in the Easter issue of Handmade Magazine (http://www.handmade.com.au/), and I think it has turned out swimmingly.

I used this fabric and edged the bib with white lace. There were a few hiccups but in the end, I'm proud of it and it will certainly come in use because I am such a grot and manage to get filthy when I'm cooking - flour especially!

I don't have a photo of the apron because I didn't finish it until this evening and my camera didn't want to cooperate. I will see what I can do tomorrow and upload a picture because I have to show off my spectacular sewing skills.

Hmm I hope I don't come across as ditzy - I am just a bit of a dag is all, and like to have a laugh, especially at myself. If you can't laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at I say.

Bonne nuit

Pink sunsets and fabric flowers

2008-02-16T21:00:00.009+10:00

The sunsets yesterday-evening and this afternoon were so lovely - like a big hip-hooray for the past week of rain. I love Saturdays so much, ever since growing up and having Monday to Friday at school. Sunday's can be good too, but there is that forboding of the new week. Today was as good a Saturday as any, and while I didn't achieve very much, it was good not having to.

I haven't started with the sewing... I have the bunny template traced onto the material ready and waiting. Instead, I made some fabric flowers for something fun to do - and hey, hand-sewing is a start!

Forgive the poor quality photo, but my camera plays up at night for some reason, even under a lamp. I think the flowers are cute. The green one I have sewn onto twisted wire to stick into a potplant inside.

My *baby* brother called tonight - he has spent a week down in Brisbane in a house of 5 boys! Mum, Dad and I took him down last weekend and apparently things are going well. This coming week is O'week and then he'll officially be a university student - who'd have thought?! I sincerely hope the mob of boys are keeping the living quaters habitable.

Today I bought some black beads from 'him' (nickname for one of the craft store owners in town, the other one is 'her'). Awkward conversation ensued as usual, but the beads were well worth it. So this afternoon I whipped up a black and white lariat using some cute little porcelain Bubushka doll beads I purchased from ebay (yay). I'd not made a lariat before, so I was somewhat experimenting but I think it turned out well, and it sits nicely around my neck.

Aren't the mummy beads cute (despite the awful photography). I fell in love with them at first sight, and even better I got them for a bargain!

Anyway I can not think of much more to write about in this, my second post. Besides, my eyes are getting heavy and ready for bed.

To any eyes who may read this - take care, and adieu!

Sunshine's here.

2008-02-15T10:58:00.008+10:00

The sun has come out today and while I am glad, my ears miss hearing the tingling against the roof. I like constant background noise of the rain - soothing.

But the sun is out and there is a coolness in the breeze - a refreshed air about the place. I don't know how long it will last for, or even if the rain will come back at all, but for now I'll revel in this change.

I want to make something, I am hanging out for it! I have been thinking alot about sewing, though I do not know how, I would like to learn! Perhaps something like foofanagle's "Best Band Ever" (http://foofanagle.wordpress.com/2007/06/12/best-band-ever/) would be a lovely experiment, or Crafty Carnival's "Bunny Pillow" (http://missyballance.typepad.com/crafty_carnival/2007/01/bunny_pillow_tu.html) in time for Easter?

Oh, I have not said hello really... hello! I am Louise and am returning to the blogging world after my last experience which involved teen-angst blogging back in the early days - eww!

I am a journalism student in Australia trying to get a job in the industry. I love, love, love writing and photography and also dabbling with crafts, in particular beading (otherwise I jealously covet other people's crafty creations). So this blog is to be dedicated to the above as well as general rambles on life and living.

Here's to a healthy blogtastic future!

Love and kisses xox Lou