Update

Well, I am alive and well and am in NY :)
I was hoping to be able to keep up with my 30 days of creativity but we have been doing soooooo much every day and have had absolutely no time at all! The spare moments have been spent trying to get sleep and adjust to USA time.

We started off in Chicago and were there for 3 days. We did a walking tour of the amazing architecture around the city and visited the Art Institute of Chicago all in one day while still jet lagged and super tired... Was a very hectic day but enjoyable.

Day 2 we had a free morning so Mr Peck and i went for a walk along the lakefront to Navy Pier and went for a feriswheel ride. Then went to visit some Andrew Lloyd wright Houses including the Robie house. Was very interesting! That night we went to the Signature room in the Hancock building which had an Amazing veiw!!!

Then today we went and saw a few more Wright houses and then hopped on the plane for the short trip to NY.

We just went to eat at Dos Caminos and once again came back Stuffffed!! Servings are so big here!

Sorry for not having photos, I haven't downloaded them yet and I am writing from my iPod! Will try and get some up for you soon.

Tomorrow we are doing a general tour on NY... Can't wait!

Day 22: Bookmark

My mum bought me some giant sized paperclips and they are perfect as bookmarks. I thought I would pretty one up with a little bow. Very cute & easy!

Day 21: Scratch (but don't sniff)

Yes, I'm still in Australia... boooo! We were meant to fly out this morning but due to ash clouds and the like our plane ride got delayed.... tomorrow we fly! For sure hopefully!! First stop Chicago (technically San Francisco.. but that doesn't count!)

Day 20: Shirt Skirt

Yeow. Today our car caught on fire. Everyone is ok. The car is ok. The battery melted and now we have a new one (battery that is). It was kind of scary....!

So for my creative task today I made a skirt from one of Mr Peck's old shirts. Pretty happy with it, the waistband just doesn't sit flat... grrr, always something!!!

But now I have a new skirt and it didn't cost me a cent.. .so that's pretty cool!

Apology for the photos.. it's dark and cold and  yeh.. .hehe I'll try and get some better ones later.


EDIT: Somehow, I got my numbering all out! hehehe this used to be day 18 - it's now day 20, the correct day :)

Day 19: Fingerprints!

Hmmm... Feeling very uninspired and didn't do anything yesterday, so bad! I feel like I've cheated, or lost or something! 

And today I'm not really feeling it either.... Although these fingerprint characters were actually pretty fun to do and came out kinda cute. Would be a great activity to do with kids. I pretty much looked at the shape each fingerprint made and drew what I saw in the irregularities. Also a great exercise to develop your creative thinking skills.

Day 17: Sketch

Today I started making my maxi skirt. So far it's oook, I cut the material on the cross so it's a little odd sewing it up but hopefully it turns out. I just have to sew the elastic into the waste band and hem it... I'll try and finish it on Sunday.

In other news... I just squirted a whole heap of moisturizer over my mouse and mouse pad so I have a moisturizer mouse now. That could be a new trend?! Maybe not....

I just did a sketch to show you, it's for my new website that I showed you the other day to go behind the logo. Enjoy :)

Fill in the Blanks

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1. The last movie I saw was True Grit.  I enjoyed it all except for the end part, from where she gets bit by a snake (she doesn't really, in case you haven't seen it... *shifty eyes*)  It seemed like the ending was rushed, and the woman is no where near as amazing as the girl.. and he (if you haven't seen it close your eyes) shot the horse :(

2. I want to go to America already!

3. Surprises are super fun and enjoyable! Especially the ones you give others :)

4. The best accessory is a scarf or a belt

5. My favorite warm drink is  hot chocolate or chai tea.

6. My favorite cold drink is depends on what mood I'm in. I love juice. If I feel car sick or sick from not eating breakfast, orange juice for shizz, always makes me feel better (especially Daily Juice, that's pretty much the only good one apart from fresh of course), Fresh apple juice is mmmm, and Almdudler, I haven't had that for aaages :(

7. Currently loving stripes and thick socks.

Day 16: Pompom Owl & Shopping overload

Today was a day of shopping and shopping and lots of spending of money which was fun, but not really.

We were getting all the little things that we need for our trip to USA! (yipee, leaving next week) 

I got some material which I'm excited about because it cost me $4 a meter and is so cute! I am planning to make some t-shirts and a maxi-skirt... possibly not before we leave though :( but I will try and at least get the skirt done. The coral will be the skirt and the other two t-shirts... or possibly skirts too. I love stripes at the moment!

I also got some cute shorts from Jeans West that I have been looking at for a while and seeing as it will hopefully be short weather in USA these should be perfect :) The green things are undies hehe. Got them from  Best & Less which I usually don't go into but they were cheap and look like good quality and comfy material. I'm pretty particular about my undies.. Always go for comfort over lace and usually buy Bonds, but lately I find Bonds are really thin and don't wear great,  plus they are ridiculously priced ($15 + a pair). So we'll see how I got with these! At $5, they were a bargain anyway...  

The other Hippy thing you see there is the bag I bought! I don't have me a suitcase and didn't want a boring, grey number so I went completely opposite and got this super bright Roxy bag. It's really light and pretty much like a duffle bag on wheels, so here's hoping it wears well.

And now, today's creation -  

I was pintersting on pinterest. Which is a bad bad daily habit and I didn't take my own advice and I signed up for a pinterest account.  You should go follow me on there too if you want! Aaanyway, moral of the story - I found a cuuute little pompom owl and decided to make one too. The original tutorial is from here.

1. Wrap yarn around two pompom maker thingy bobs - I just cut these out of cardboard myself.

2. Cut yarn - slide scissors between circles and cut (I'd just like to point out that I took this photo with my knee... yup, amazing!)

3. Take length of yarn and tie tightly around the cut yarn - in between circles

4. Taadaa - Pompom! You may need to fluff it up a little by rolling it around between your palms

5. (I forgot to number it - it's the last one for those that didn't get that...) Glue on some felt beaks (well, one), eyes and footsies. And then go awww coz it's too darn cute!

Day 15: Covered Tin

So, Mr Peck & I collected all the tins from eclipse mints (I can't shouldn't chew gum coz I have this clicky jaw thing) we have gone through over the last couple months which added up to about 4 or so... and tonight when I wanted to use them, I couldn't find them! Typical... It seems like everything goes missing in this house, from my belt to my camera cards (don't even want to go there.. today was a day of loosing things) It makes me so frustrated!! But I know why I loose things (and I say I because it is usually me that looses things, not Mr Peck) and that's because I don't put things away after I use them.... yup, guilty as charged!

Anyway, I managed to find one at least and here's what I did to it:

Take 1 tin + 1 piece of pretty paper, glue and wrap & taadaa... pretty tin!

EDIT: I totally just realised that day 15 marks half way!! I didn't think I'd make it all this way but I have :) Looking for ward to the next 15 which hopefully I can keep up with while in in USA!

Lilly Pilly

Did I mention how cute Lilly Pilly clips are? I was wearing one in my hair today, you can't really see it in the outfit post I did so I thought I'd share a few more with you :) I really think you should go over to the Facebook page and have a look!

Also, they are having a giveaway once they reach 300 likers and are only 9 off, so go and like, like, like!!

Day 14: Paper Cranes

The cute idea that I talked about before didn't work. Dang it! So I resorted to some paper cranes. I really like origami, such a simple way of making something cute!

 You know what I reallllly want to try? Plasti Dip! That would be so so so so cool! Maybe I'll see if I can get some and try it! The possibilities are endless!

Look at Me... deer!

Hello. Today was one of those days where I actually got out of bed, put on something that looked nice (rather than grey tracksuit pants and a grey oversized jumper from my dad and unmatching green and blue explorer socks - yes, really) and I did my hair too. Which is unusual at the moment because who feels like going out when its raining and cold? Not me!!

So here's what I wore today (it's the top I bought on Sunday), I didn't quite make it to getting makeup on because I was only going to the grocery store (do people put on makeup just for that? Maybe I'm not really a girl?!) and to college for a few minutes. Please excuse the milk crate furniture, it's all we can afford (no, really  - the rest of our furniture is like hand me downs from various family members... one day we will be able to afford some cool stuff,.. one day!)

Top - Jeans West $30, Tights - Voodoo, Boots - Windsor and Smith $80, Hair Clip - Lilly Pilly, Bag - Fossil

I also got the latest Realliving magazine in the mail, yipeee! Can't wait to look through that one. And I found a cute idea for my 30 Days of Creativity thingy bob for today, so look forward to that!

Day 13: Web Design

Well, today I started to redesign the graphic design section of Flashbox Creative. Our website has changed a few times and I'm still not happy with it. I guess that's the downside of being a graphic designer? Or maybe that's a good thing because you don't stop learning, developing and getting better. I read a quote on pinterest that said you have to stop competing with others, and compete with yourself.. I like that. For me that means you can never be satisfied with your level of skill, you got to keep getting better and better. 

That's what I'm trying to do with my design. Since I have started studying art at college, I stopped designing and challenging myself and I feel like I've gone backwards. So I really want to keep challenging myself with design and get better. Once we come back from USA and wherever else we end up going I would love to get a design job for the challenge of it and also for the experience and of course, money :)

This is just the basics of where I want to go with my website and the photography side has a similar layout but a bit more formal. It's not up yet but all coded and ready to go, just have to get the photos in there.  Whenever I do a web project I always remember how much I love coding and web design. I just wish I had more opportunities to do it and get creative with it. I should just design & code self initiated things, but I'm a little lazy I guess. Mr Peck always tells me that I should be more of a designer and actually act like I love it. Which is true. And I am ashamed of myself for not being more of a designer. So, here's hoping I can start living it again! 

Day 12: Knitted Headband

Today I went shopping with my brother & Mr Peck and got a really cute top that I can wear with tights. Been looking for something like this for a while and happy I found this one. Got it on special for $30! Sweeeet!  I'll have to do an outfit post later this week... Later we watched the latest Pirates which was actually pretty good I thought! Few odd bits in it, like the freaky mermaids... what the?! But yeah, I enjoyed it!

For my creation today I decided to knit me a head band out of this lovely orange wool that I bought for my yarnbombing. I got a few bags of wool from the op shop for like $2 and this one was in there. Pretty cool, it's chunky and an awesome colour. 

I knitted this up on size 8 needles in simple garter stitch and it was so so quick! And would be a great first project if you are just learning knitting. Let me know if you want me to tell you more! 

I am sorry for the slightly scary picture. Sleep has been avoiding me, or maybe I it and my eyes are pretty crazy.... like red & baggy and stuff... plus I don't have makeup on so yeah. Photoshop Alert!! But just ignore me and look at the headband ok? Thanks.

Day 11: Coin purse...

Well, I have decided my sewing skills are very lacking! Which means I gots to practice!!!

Here is my creation for today... It's pretty n00bish but kind of cute.... I guess.. I want to try a few more of these to try and perfect the design.. Plus would be nice to have a zip or a purse frame thingo.

The next thing I want to try sewing is a maxi skirt. I'm thinking it should be pretty simple, just a whole lot of material :) 

Days 9 & 10: Peg Magnets & Zucchini Ricotta Cheesecake

So happy it's Friday today. Has been a looooong week. Too much work, assignments, happening! I need to write lists inside of lists and every day something new comes up. But it's Sabbath now... and no need to think about any of it! Yes!

Ok, Here is yesterday & today's creations.  I kind of did them both today but shhh, no one needs to know!

Today I made some magnetic pegs - I needed more magnets, especially useful ones that can hold stuff! So I decided to make these. I planned on spray painting them but of course, my spray paint was all used up. So I hand painted them. Didn't come up as nice as I hoped but still, they look cute. I kind of forgot my fridge was yellow so they blend in but if you've got a white fridge they would look cute :) 

If you want to make them, here are the easy peasy steps:

1. Take some wooden pegs (I stole these straight out of my peg basket!)

2. Paint any colour your heart desires

3. Take an old magnet and cut into strips

4. Glue to back of peg

5. Add any decorations you want to the front - I used embroidery thread which I had out from my friendship bracelets.

On the fridge

Today I discovered a few great blogs/websites that have stacks of vegetarian recipes! Perfect seeing I'm a vego. So I decided to try some out. Not completely creative but good enough I say! I tried the Zucchini Ricotta Cheesecake from 101 Cookbooks and Rhubarb and Raspberry Costata from Lottie + Doof.  Both turned out really well and tasted delicious! 

This recipe used dill, which I am quite excited to say that I have growing in my little pot garden. It came up and I almost pulled it thinking it was a weed but then I crushed some and realised it was dill. Then I remembered planting some seeds that I had from left over dill. It tasted so so good. If you don't use dill regularly, I suggest you try it because it is one of the yummiest herbs I think! Maybe that's because I'm part Polish.... but... doesn't everyone like dill?  Do you like dill?

Fill in the Blanks

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1. This weekend I'm catching up on sleep, going shopping with my bro, editing photos  and sleeping

2. My last vacation was ... this is hard because we often go on little trips all over the place. Our last official, overseas holiday was our honeymoon to NZ in 09. Since then we have been to QLD, TAS, VIC and multiple places around NSW.

3. My next vacation will be on the 22nd to the US of A! Excitement!!

4. My favorite way to relax is read a book, knit, watch a movie, do nothing! Like literally stare into space nothing hehe

5. When vacationing one should always take a book and have days where nothing is planned and have money to waste.

6. When vacationing one should never complain, take work, worry about money.

7. The best part about a vacation is escaping and not worrying about anything. Also, exploring and spending special time with Mr Peck and doing things we wouldn't normally.

Stay tuned for yesterday & today's creation!

Day 8: Yarnbombing

Well, I hope you came back to see what yesterday's creation is!

It wasn't really all yesterday's work but we'll pretend it was ok?! 

So for the last semester I have been furiously knitting (in the spare moments I got) and working toward something big. ... .... . 

Problem #1: I didn't actually have that much time because I did 4 subjects plus work for another which is happening in the holidays (an art tour to USA)

Problem #2: This work was for a subject that was only half practical and the other half was theory (I wrote a 3500 word paper) so I didn't realise I wouldn't have heaps of time.

Problem #3: I started a Master of Arts this semester and that took more time.

Conclusion: Don't try and knit something huge when you have less time than you think!

So, I ended up with a whole heaps less knitting that I would have liked... But here are the results. I am generally happy with how it turned out, just would have loved to have done more!

{Photos by Mr Peck - Flashbox Creative! }

PS: I'm pretty sure my Superdry beanie is the bomb :)

day 8: come back tomorrow!

Oh. No. 

Tonight I just can't ... I have my biggest assignment due tomorrow and I need to get up extra extra early (like 4:30am) to set it up for assessment so I will put up details of my 30 days of Creativity tomorrow -  it will be the assignment which I have been working on all semester. I have kept it a big secret from everyone including my lecturers.. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get more of it done but ... you will see tomorrow what I have been doing!

Here's a little hint: