My Holiday Treat for Myself - An Online Whimsical Creatures Drawing Course!

Layout and Composition section


Face shape and eyes

First full drawing of a whimsy girl.

So as a little gift to myself and thanks to my good friend Jess for the suggestion, I am doing an online drawing course. It is called World of Whimsy and is a course for drawing all sorts of whimsy creatures. I have just completed my first section and wanted to share the drawings I have done. I have not sketched since I completed year 12 which was a long long time ago, so please forgive my lack of technique. Hopefully by the end of the course my little girls and creatures will not look like Aliens!! LOL!! Enjoy even if just for a little giggle.

The work Christmas Party Thing

I don't know about you guys but any opportunity to go out is a bonus for me. Since we are never around family (thanks Mr Defence Force) the opportunities for going out without the kids are few and far between. I think this time of the year I look forward to as I get an invite to my husband's christmas function. Yes most of the time it is pretty unordinary, usually doesn't go for long and all the young ones get so drunk the conversation is not much better than I get a home with the kids, but all this aside I get to go out.

So this year it was to be a lunch. Okay it's not a flashy dinner but it is out and it is at a restaurant which doesn't have a red-headed clown with large red shoes!! Okay I'm in. I have a friend on the other side of town who lucky for me was available, so I called in the favour about 3 months ago (as she is very busy) and she thankfully agreed to help out and was available to be home for the kids when they got home from school, so all set.

Mmmmmm then it all went pear shaped from there. Apparently of all the 20 or so people going only 1 invited their partner/spouse/loved one/poor lonely child carer at home. Guess who that was.....yep it was me!! I was the only one who got invited by their partner....God love him....sometimes!! Anyway on that note a decision was made by me not to go. Did I want to sit there with all these people discussing their work and not even have one other Civillian (as we are so nicely called) there for support. I don't think so.

Soooooo he got to have his Christmas Party and I did not. This got me to thinking.... I own a business, I am a hard worker maybe I should have my own Christmas Party with alllllll my employees and not invite partners and there definitely should be gifts. I'm thinking one for the "Best Boss", the "Hardest Worker" and the "Most Talented".

So here we are now, all I now have to do is come up with a day that all my workers are free (pretty sure that won't be hard to agree on) and a very la di dah place that they would all enjoy. Then there will be speech preparation and the purchasing of gifts for my fabulous staff (which of course will be the secretaries job to do, I am certainly way too busy)

Okay I am open for suggestions, any ideas would be greatly appreciated by me, my boss, my workers, my cleaners, my parcel packers and all other members of my highly important staff that bring A Little Birdie Told Me to life!

Oh and no expense shall be spared, as my staff are truely worth every cent!!!

Kim :)

Fairy Wings and Butterflies

I am totally enjoying all the new creations I have been coming up with. I am having so much fun I hate that there are not more hours in the day.

This one I have just completed was very time consuming but I am just loving the result. I used a 12"x12" chipboard printers tray this time. This one was alot more solid than the last one and I used The Girls Paperie - Paper Girl papers. Such great whimsy papers with yellows and pinks and a hint of blue and green. This one took me 2 days to complete as it was quite fiddly but it was a labour of love. I am thinking a christmas one would be great to keep and bring out each year to decorate the house.

Kim :)

A Gift for Chrissie's New Baby!!

I am a big fan of The Circle and adore Chrissie Swan. When I found out she was pregnant I really wanted to make something for her new baby. Five weeks ago she had a baby boy and I have finally got around to making this canvas and owl hanger for her. I was lucky enough to see a picture of her (above) in her house so I tried to match the colours with the wall stickers that she has. I was going to do an owl canvas anyway so I couldn't believe my luck when I saw the wall stickers were owls also.

I often watch The Circle while I am working in my office and she constantly cracks me up. What better gift to give than what I am doing when I am watching her.

I hope she likes it.

Once Upon A Springtime!

Oh my gosh!! How much fun am I having!! This is Project No 3. A Printers Tray from Twiddleybitz and I used paper from Graphic 45. Love this paper. Have had it a while and finally decided to use it. Sometimes I hold onto the paper for ages because I don't want to cut it up haha. Yep crazy paper addiction!!

Fabulous Friday!

I went into the city yesterday to meet my good friend Andrew for a catch up and lunch. We caught a tram to Fitzroy and checked out some great paper shops and cute little gift shops then had a yummy lunch. It was a beautiful sunny day, a great relaxing catch up and awesome conversation. I had such a good time. Andrew also surprised me with a belated birthday present and I wanted to share this with you all. He knows I have a massive love of owls.







Thanks for a great day Andrew!!

Our New Bed!!

So our new bed arrived last month. I love this bed. How cool is the bookcase. I am having fun filling it up with lots of goodies. This is where my Birdcage and Filigree Stand will now live. I have also made a little canvas set a few months back that also now lives on here. A big special thank you also to my awesome friend Jessie of Art Candy who painted the canvas above the bed to match my Doona cover and also the print in the white frame that has also snuck it's way onto here also.

I am also loving this Doona cover by Pip Studio. All of her stuff is amazing and I think it is my all time favourite Doona cover ever. Would love to find some more things by this designer. Very hard to get hold of though.

Project No: 2

This was a tricky one but came up really well I think. This is the twiddleybitz Birdcage with Filigree Stand. I have done this one in colours to match our new Doona Cover and to go on out new bedhead. Pictures to follow in my next post.

Project No: 1

Finished Project No.1 on the weekend. Scrapware Birdhouse Trio. Love Love Love these!!!

Fun at the Paperific Expo in Melbourne

Look at all the goodies I bought:

My McKnight is Shining Armour!!

So I haven't blogged for a little while and had a really nice experience and wanted to share what a fabulous husband I have with you all. I will have to start with a little brief history so that you understand.

I am a lover of coffee and I'm sure there are a few of you out there that also share my love. I have always liked it but my love of it all started when we lived in Canberra and my fabulous neighbour and great friend Marie, who worked at the Michel's Patisserie down the road, started bringing me coffee on her way home from work. I was working from home then on A Little Birdie Told Me and she was one of my biggest supporters. She would come in every morning about 10am and drop of a freshly made (and very tasty) cappuccino! Sometime two!! I know right!! One for me to drink then and one for me to heat up in the afternoon.....I know I know you're thinking spoilt right?....yep I was and I loved it! We had a little deal though and in return I would help her book her flights to Melbourne where she went regularly on holiday. She wasn't much of a computer user and found it easier just to get me to do it.

You can imagine my horror when I found out we were being posted out of Canberra (thanks to the Airforce life) and on to who knows where!! I must say Marie was hoping for Melbourne as she would have somewhere to visit and my parents were hoping for Newcastle which was closer to them and would mean more visits with the Grandkids and more camping trips as a family (also a bit of a love of mine). Anyway we ended up getting Newcastle, which was a joy for my parents....for a brief 2 weeks period anyway...that was before they (Airforce) changed their minds and decided to send us to Melbourne!! Much to the dissappointment of my Mum and Dad but to the joy of Marie! Me on the other hand was just devastated as usual to leave what had become my home for the last 4 years, leave behind my good friend oh and OMG leave behind my Free.....did I mention Free....daily coffee!!!!! What was I to do I hear you ask??????

Well since you all want to know hehe....My husband....my McKnight in Shining Armour....got me a little home coffee machine for Christmas, which I finally unboxed and got it working when we arrived and settle in Melbourne in February. It was a great gift and a really kind though....but....yeah there is always a but.....I wasn't so good at the making at first. It took almost 2 months to get the hang of it, so while I was getting the hang of it I would make regular morning trips to our local McDonalds McCafe that was only a hop skip and a jump down the road...unfortunately also for my expanding bottom that kinda likes.....okay really likes Big Mac's and Coke....Yikes!!! Shhhhh we had better keep this one to ourselves. Anyway back on track. So I had become a little addicted to their coffee now.....I'm positive they put something in it to get you addicted....just like with their coke....you're all with me on this one Yes....Yes!!
So I had mastered the best version of my coffee I could and got the cleaning up down to about 15mins...yep 15mins....it was 30mins before I realised that all the spluttering and spurting of coffee all over the machine and bench was not correct......I know....who knew right!!

The lure of the Macca's (McCafe - not that other #%@* they call coffee in there food section) was more than I could resist as I had to weight up okay tasting coffee and 15mins cleanup or McCafe Coffee all hot and nice and done for me and all I had to do was drink it.....mmmmmm.....big decision....NOT!!! Yep you guessed it every morning I venture down to get my morning coffee. I would like to say though that my coffee machine does get used in the afternoons. I generally make one just before the kids get home from school and sit and drink it with them while they have afternoon tea and we discuss their day, so it not a complete waste and it is definitely better than instant stuff let me tell you!

Okay I have still not come to the point of this story yet but bare with me I am getting there!!

I also managed to get my hubby addicted to their coffee also and it has become quite a hang out for both of us. So much in fact that he and his boss drive from Laverton over to Point Cook Macca's to get one. Every now and again the doorbell will ring before 9am and there is my camo dressed man (sometimes I can't see him because he blends in so well lol) holding up a extra tall steaming cappuccino. He gives me a kiss and hands over the cup and is on his way.....ahhhhh god love him!!!

Some days I will drive down to Macca's only to find the 2 of them sitting there waiting for their orders with mine also. They aren't able to do it everyday so it is quite funny when I spring them down there.

So here it is the thing that put a large smile on my face this morning.....

I was meant to be doing a workout (thank you Big Mac and Coke and cake and chocolate...and sitting on my bum doing craft all day....) after I sent the kids to school and then I was going to the post office to send of some parcels and visit Coles for a few bits and pieces. I ended up with two kids fighting and getting off to school late, I then didnt feel like a workout and decided to go to Coles and then to the Post Office and then to Maccas for the coffee I so desperately needed then home to do my custom order...So I was up to the Post Office bit when I heard a man's voice behind me say "Excuse Me Miss, Did you Order this?" I turned around to see my husband's boss holding my cup of coffee!!! I was standing in a very long line of people in the Post Office and had to laugh. It was the funniest thing! Everyone was looking at me thinking it was odd that a guy dressed in a Airforce Camouflage uniform was offering me an order of a tall Cappuccino from McDonalds which was a good 8min drive away!!! I said where you guys driving around looking for me which he replied yes and left as quick as he had arrived. I was standing there smirking to myself balancing three parcels and a hot cup of coffee thinking to myself that my sweet Hubby who was probably driving the work car, had drove around to the house with my coffee had discovered I was not there and then drove around Point Cook looking for me. Upon finding me, sent his boss who was in the passenger seat in to the post office through the line of people to present me with my order!! Too Funny!!! Luckily for my Husband I am extremely predictable and he knew exactly where to go.

So this is the story I had to share. I know it took a while to get to the point but I got there eventually.

To finish I would like to say my husband is the sweetest man and even though he ticks me off at times....and I never ever tick him off...I make sure I tell him that all the time....he is always there for me and loves me no matter what and would do anything for me. Big smooshy kisses to you Mr McKnight in Shining Armour!!!!! Too bad he never reads my blog though!!! Oh well this way he won't get a big head and I can still get cranky at him and he can't come back with....remember that time I got you coffee and drove around town......blah blah.

LMAO

Kim McKnight xx

Boo Hiss Fox FM - Melbourne

I was driving to the shops this morning with my 2 children in the car (Bailey is almost 11 and Lily is 9). We were listening to Fox Fm as usual. They put out an invitation for listeners to call in and admit that they "hated" yes Hated fat people!!!!! Are they kidding!!! I was shocked that they would ask people to do that in the first place then shocked when they had 3 callers come on the line.

The first lady was happy to admit she hated fat people and she hated the fact they went to the gym and didn't put any effort in, then whinged. She couldn't understand why they let themselves get that way in the first place did they have no self respect. Apparently she thought medical reasons were just an excuse and they should get up off their fat lazy asses!!

I kid you not!!!

The second lady said fat people made her sick!!! Nice one!! They were all just lazy and gross. She did not care if a man was fat though??? What the!!!!!

The third was a young man who was one a fat person and got himself in shape, which took lots of effort apparently. He was from a family of Fatties (his words not mine) and thinks everyone who is fat should be ashamed of themselves!!

Now really my question is "Why are they putting this dicriminative rubbish on the radio in the first place!! Surely it can't be for ratings. I don't want my kids hearing that kind of blantant hurtfulness. It's bad enough they have to listen to some of the lyrics in the songs these days. I was really upset after hearing that as I think it was incredibly hurtful to alot of people out there and was soooooo unnecessary.

Isn't a radio station a place to here music and news not a place to listen to garbage like that coming out of stupid people's mouths.

I felt so strongly about it that I "liked" their facebook page to tell them what I thought. I urge anyone who agrees with me to do the same. I believe that that kind of question and many other hurtful and down right stupid questions have no place on a public radio! To me they all just came off looking like a bunch of discriminating morons who have no idea about anything!!

There I've said it. I wish I felt better but I don't.

People need to be accepted for who they are inside not what they look like!! Alot more people need to realise this I think!!


Kim

Love at First Sight....

Ahhhh we all remember it don't we...? The pure joy and exhilaration of seeing it for the first time....that little tingle up the spine and the little shiver of delight....come on you all know what I am talking about....Yep that's right the beloved PARCEL....ooooooh just saying it out loud makes me gush!!!!

I love getting a parcel so much I just have to share with you all my complete and utter fulfilment and joy......ahhhhhh

Even down to the ordering it gives me a little thrill as I know very soon it will be mine all mine!!! ahahahahah.....um....anyway you know that it will only be a matter of days until you are together. You wait in anticipation every day, mine is a little expection of afternoon delight yours may be a morning surprise. My ears prick up around that time of day just incase the doorbell rings and you can have that little trist that you have been longing for. Some days its a disappointment and you have to go on, trying not to let it get you down knowing that maybe tomorrow will bring the pleasure that you so hoped for.

Then it happens.....gasp.....the doorbell rings, you walk towards the door trying to be calm and not let them see the excitment they bring, you fall over the cat.....um no?.... okay that's just me then....can you see that fluorescent shirt sparkling in all its glory through the little obscure window beside the door, is it yellow and reminisant of your 80's days.... Your heart beats faster, you know this is it.....you open the door trying to look demure and not the dishevelled mess of a wanton women that you have become since hearing that doorbell....then.........shit!!! It's one of those horrid saleschildren on a working visa from god knows where selling the promise of fabulous telephone calls, but you are definitely still with your normal provider you just have to sign blah blah blah.......

Oh the disappointment......the saddness......the woe........you go back to what you were doing and try to focus and not become an absolute disappointed mess.....then...oh what was that.... the doorbell again....could it be.....could it be......shit the stupid cat!!!........YES YES YES!!!!! It's him the man who delivers the promise of that special moment that pure exhilaration you are going to feel very soon........

and you know what.....it doesn't matter that he smells like a homeless man that has been living on the local park bench for a decade....he is your knight in shining armour (or fluro yellow, whatever the case may be), this moment is what you have been longing for.....all you have to do is sign that stupid screen thing that never works and never looks like your signature what the hell is with those anyway, who........um...um....never mind...........

Annnyway.....you have what you desire in your hot, sweaty hands....ahhhhhh the smell of the cardboard package brings a little shiver up the base of your spine. You get the scissors and cut the tape to free that much longed for item inside....you open it up and there it is. You breathe in the exquisite scent until you almost pass out, you stroke it every so gently letting it know that it now belongs to you. Ahhhhh it is everything you had hoped for an more you spread it out on the bed to get a look at it in all it's glory then you.......

Dive on it like a woman possessed rolling in that paper like a physico, rubbing yourself all over it, sniffing it and ......oh.....what......You all do come on......what......no way....admit it......don't leave me hanging here......oh.....really?.....you don't......its just me?.................................. {extremely long silence}

Hahaha ha ha...hah...well I was just kidding....of course I don't do that.....who does that!!.....weirdo's......haha I was just saying....some other people....do....that...um...um....

.....Well this is usually where my husband will step in and say he wished he got that response at the front door and that I would do that to him on the bed......Ha I then say, well if I dressed up like a tank with turrets and.... stuff and walked around house going boom boom, then I would also get that response from him....TOUCHE!!! He quickly shuts up and lets me get back to my {cough cough} work!!! And yes I am a gaming widow, oh but thats a whole other story don't get me started.........

Him!!

I have been a friend of Mr Facebook now for about a year as a professional business women...yeah yeah laugh it up everyone, well I have to put something for my occupation when I visit the Doctor. I was never really much good at communicating with Him from a personal view as I had minimal friends, which he frowned upon, and planted gardens and owned pets that died from malnourishment....awwww I hear you say...no no I am fine I survived the loss of my dear hamster and came to terms with the 5 friends I had, one of which was my husband (Yes he does count!!!)

We were far more compatible from a business perspective after we ironed out some of our problems at the start. All I can say is thank goodness my friend Jessie was there to help guide me in the first few temultuous months of our relationship (me and Him), even though she was probably cursing under her breathe at my complete stupidity when it came to the simplest things that he would require and I could just not grasp. I must admit I felt like I was still quite young before he and I became business associates! He aged me quite a bit and I felt like I was like my father who could never quite figure out the VCR machine and I would always insert the tape and press play for him. Jess was now my button pusher! God love her!!!

Nevertheless I have survived and have been a friend of His for quite some time now. I do find Him to be a very frustrating character as he has been quite difficult to work out. I find him quite a pain in the neck at times, very time draining as he is very needy and just when I think I have figured him out he changes like a chameleon, only to mess me up again for the next few months.

He arouses emotions in me that are both good and bad. He makes me feel good because he likes me alot and then makes me feel sad because some of his like disappears. He makes me feel special, but also gets angry at me and at times can be very judgemental! He also thinks that he is alway right, but I tend to disagree!

We have a very tricky relationship him and I. Often my mood is guided by his mood. Sometimes I just have to walk away from him for a while as I rely on his reaction a little to much but then his allure and charm makes me want to come back for more......

His friendship is important to me, but I struggle to do the right thing by him at times. I try my best but sometimes we just do not get along.

I guess what I have figured out from our friendship is that although we have a love hate relationship I cannot let him go as he is very important to me, but I have to put into perspective what he has to say, or not say, and not be guided by his thoughts all the time.

He may be important, but I am more important and I need to be confident within myself and be okay with me and let him be Him and know that his opinion is not always the right one, whereas mine always is!!!! Yes it is!!! Just ask me and I will tell you....

3000 Likers Sale WINNERS

Winner of the "Blue Rose" Canvas is SHELLY DOWNS!!!!!!


Winner of Card Prize Giveaway 1 is SUMMAH LAGETTIE


Winner of Card Prize Giveaway 2 is PAULA PURCELL



CONGRATULATIONS!!!
If you are a winner please email me at alittlebirdiebykim@hotmail.com so that I can get your postal details and send out your special parcels.

Thanks so much everyone. Your support for my page is overwhelming!! You are all fabulous!!

Kim

The Humble Blog

So I'm trying to figure out how to blog. Do you talk about yourself, what you are doing, what frustrates you....?

I really should read some other blogs I guess and get some ideas, but I barely have time to write in my own blog!! This should not be an excuse should it, there are some amazing people out there who I really should learn more about,...this will go on my to do list...I promise.

So with this blog I am going to ask a question....Do other crafty people out there get asked the secrets to their beautiful creations????

I have had quite a few emails recently wanting to know this exact question. I am having a delimma about it though.

Do I tell them and risk that I am no longer able to create and onsell my creations and have to go out in the big wide world and get an average job without as much satisfaction? Or do I keep my dirty little secrets to myself because it has in fact taken some time for me to figure it all out myself without help from anyone as I think half the fun of creating is discovering the joy of how it all goes together.

I had this same dilemma while working full time in an Art Store. The frantic Mum would come in with an assignment that their child had to do, or better yet the Easter Bonnet (one of my favourites). I would go through all of the things they could do, offer a pattern that would have been drawn by myself or another staff member and told them all they needed to do only to be confronted with "Can't you do it for me"????? I would then have to reply that I did indeed work in an Art Store but unfortunately I just sold the ingredients, so to speak, to put together the item, I could not make it for them. Thoughts would go through my head like...would you go into a dress store like Sussan and when they didn't have your size you would then ask the sales assistant to make it for you?? I don't think so......

Mmmmmm, so after much deliberating I have decided to compare my situation with good old Colonel Sanders....what are you talking about woman I hear you say.....well....if you were a chef and decided you would like to make good old KFC at home there is no way that you could walk in and ask for his secret herbs and spices!!! Colonial Sanders would be destroyed and then there would be no more KFC as everyone would know how to cook his awesomely oily and truely sickening chicken....True????

So to cut a long story short I have decided to keep my "secret herbs and spices" to myself, so that I can continue to do what I love as a wonderful career. A career which keeps me at home to be with my children when they come home from school everyday and also to keep me out of Retail Sales where I used to get asked if we sold toothbrushes in an Art Store and a favourite from a good friend of mine who also worked in the same Art Store..."do you sell dirt"........

Believe me I am a much better person not being asked those kinds of questions everyday, ask my husband he will swear to that fact!!! God love him LOL!!!

PS: If I was not here doing what I do, who would infact clog up your facebook posts with numerous bird creations....think about it!

Recent Canvases in Shabby Chic Style

My lasted canvas creations!!

Shabby Chic, Shabby Chic and more Shabby Chic...

I must admit that I am not only a paper addict but I also get addicted to styles and at the moment it's shabby chic/vintage. I just can't get enough. For Mothers Day my fabulous family took me to Paper2 a massive scrapbooking store about an hour and a half from where we live. It was amazing and I could have spent alot of hours there much to the disgust of my two children and alot of money much to the disgust of my hubby!! lol I can't wait to go again, this time with alot of saved up money.

Surprise!!

So I haven't looked at my blog for so long and decided maybe I should have a look and update it. To my surprise I have 32 followers which I have neglected. Life gets so busy sometimes that you forget.

I originally set up my blog because I didn't know about facebook's opportunities for selling my work. I guess now I will have to blog about other things and share with you some things about me.

Thank you all so much for stopping by to look. I will endeavour to bring you an interesting (hopefully) blog post every so often.

I guess I had better figure out how to link it to my facebook page as well.

Kim