News & Updates from Vicki Avcin ~ AusCrafts · Page 47

Recently I decided to try something different for some projects I was doing and decided to investigate what a sugar skull was.

Was very interesting to read the origins and how and why they were made.

The more I read I decided to try my hand at digitally painting my own designs. I must say it was really quite relaxing drawing them. Fair bit of work but I was really happy with my first couple. The first one I did I kept to just black artwork with pink toned roses.

Someone saw those and asked if I could do some colourful ones, so a little more challenging but I completed my first one and to add even more colour added some orange/red roses to it.

While researching I saw real people with the artwork on their faces, some pretty basic but some had sequins and jewels added, so using one of my own poser ladies I set out to paint her up.

I did add a few jewels but painting the face was a bit of a challenge. But Im really pleased with how she turned out. One thing I learnt was a web means death and roses mean birth so incorporating both into the design was a must.

I always did like seeing the Day of the Dead ladies with all the fantastic artwork on their faces but purely as an aesthetic thing……..

I just thought how long it must take and never knew the full reasoning behind it all. Now I know. I think I will paint a lot more of these as they were fun!

Recently while I was down in Brisbane, I got to meet the newest member of the family, my grandfurbaby Nakia.

She is just a puppy at 7 months of age and already a big girl. Nakia is a Cane Corso and will grow even more before being a grown up.

They are an Italian breed from Roman origins and are protective of their family but social at heart. They are a fairly new breed to Australia, only being recognised by the Australian National Kennel Club since 2003.

Males usually are around 50 kg while females weigh in around 45kg when fully grown.Nakia took immediately to us and just as well the family had a big lounge because when she wants to be a lap dog there isnt much room left but she smothered us in doggy kisses (licks around the head) and certainly loves her cuddles.

The family will eventually show her and after that will breed from her. Given there are not a lot of the breed around yet in Australia, her puppies will be very much sort after.

She has a beautiful temperament and definitely a family orientated puppy. Im in love!!!

Wow thank heavens thats over! But in all the doom and gloom there have been lots of memories and weve been very lucky that Covid hasnt touched us personally like it has for many.

The first big difference was not being able to attend our ANZAC ceremony in April, like Ive done for 30 odd years.

Instead people stood at their gates with wreaths and candles and had a minutes silence to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country although we werent in lockdown the gathering of people was discouraged.

We said good bye to the Queen of the Skies, when the pilots drew the Flying Kangaroo in the sky as our last QANTAS 747 left for the boneyard in the US.

I took up study again and achieved my CHCDFV001, a course to recognise and respond to Domestic and Family Violence.

As people holidayed within our state (as borders were locked) we saw visits from people we havent seen for years.

We saw our eldest granddaughter graduate, turn 18 and attend her formal. We had visits from family through the year, and beautiful bouquet of flowers for Mothers Day sent. We ended the year with devastating fires on our beautiful Fraser Island and the last couple of days of the year saw some much welcomed and needed rain.

We also lost some family members during the year sadly. To all my customers at CUP this year, THANK YOU for purchasing my designs. Was a lovely surprise when one rang during the week to meet me and say thank you. Thanks June!

I wish everyone a safe, healthy and prosperous 2021 and if you ccouldnt be with family in the last year I hope you can all meet up again soon.

A huge Thanks also goes to all the emergency service workers who have worked tirelessly over the past year, I hope things will be better this year.

Happy New Year to you all.

My son and his family came to visit last weekend….. an early Christmas present. They couldnt leave till Chloe finished work at 11am so didnt get up here till around 3.30pm.

After many hugs, exchanging Christmas gifts and catching up on everything we headed down to the foreshore to a place called Enzos for dinner.

Lovely night with great food and a cool sea breeze which was very welcome after a very hot day. After dinner a walk along the beach (esplanade is lit which shines onto the beach) and a swing in the playground then we drove round looking at Christmas Lights.

The property next to us had them enthralled as they have nearly 2 acres all lit up and handmade emus and reindeer as part of the display.

The Santa up a tree with a dog chasing him really gave them a giggle. The neighbours were the winners Overall and the Peoples Choice award in our local Community Assoc Christmas Lights Competition.

Then home to bed as sadly the family had to leave around 8am so they could be back home for Chloe to start work at 2pm on the Sunday.

Last weekend saw us travelling to Brisbane to attend our gorgeous grand daughter Zoes 18th party. Due to Covid only a limited number of people could attend. Although restrictions have been listed, when it was booked it was under stricter restrictions.

So only parents, grandparents and a few close friends were able to attend. It was a very hot windy day, and we had challenges keeping tablecloths on tables, the table scatters were scattered all over the ground and we had to tie the balloons to chairs to stop them being blown away.

It was held at a boutique brewery local to where they live and the food was excellent. Zoes cake was an icecream cake and serving had to be done quickly as by the time we sang happy birthday and she cut it, it was melting!!

But it was a wonderful day and awesome to catch up with family.

Zoe has 3 sets of grandparents, her dads dad and myself, her stepmums parents and her dads Mum and her partner.

We all get on so well and had so much fun. Zoe topped the night off by going into the city with a few friends and partying the night away.