[.a.little.note.]

Hello hello! It's been pretty busy around here with a lot of things...it still is. Sorry for the lousy updates *blush* But I'm so glad finally I managed to upload some updates and newbies. See the new layout (again)? *wink-wink* - the frames are removed so I really hope that the pages are easier to view now.

I'm leaving for the airport in a few hours from now, flying to Bali for some works (doesn't "Bali" rather sound like vacation? ;-)) - and I don't know whether I'll be able to post anything from there...well, at least you know what actually happens if Amreta's Graphics is quiet again for a week or two. We'll see.

When I'm back in early November we'll catch up with the contest plan :o) The blank boards and frames are now up in the member area, you can 'play' and have some trial-and-error with them (oh yes, it's highly recommended! ;-))

In the meantime have a good time and take care!

[.new.school.graphics.part.1.]

Dear friends,






Thank you for being so patient with my lousy updates lately! I think I should have been able to manage my time more efficiently :-)

The fact is, I haven't been able to finish the whole new school graphics yet, but since you've been waiting so long for this, I thought of publishing the first part of the set with letterblocks, signboards, some tiles, dividers, etc.

There will be three or four parts in all (I haven't yet divided them) - they are almost ready but there are some things that I need to give some 'retouch' here and there. You will find the bears, boys and girls, and more cliparts and more tiles and more letterblocks (I started to really like letterblocks... that's why I just keep creating some now :-)). They will be up as soon as they are ready. Check it out in the member area.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the first part :-)

Have a great day!
Amreta

[.on.Zinio.and.the.most.beautiful.flower.]

Guess what, I'm featured on Zinio's latest email newsletter :-) As you might know I'm an avid magazine reader and I'm so glad I found Zinio - from whom I can subscribe various magazines in digital format (view my entry about it here). They also have a great collection of literary classics, digitized and you can read them online. For me it's really convenient!

Anyway I've been sick these past few days. I don't know why it's always like that when I finally take a rest after done with a big project at work. The newbies are on the way, I still need to check this and that (for example, I just found out that the font "Tropicana" I used to decorate the book of quotes is not 'acceptable' when I transfered the InDesign file into .pdf). But I thought of giving a small preview on the weekly planner, the cover and the first two pages. If you see only days and weeks, no dates, it is intentional. The other book will have only dates, no days or week. Let me know what you think when they are uploaded this coming week.







And euh, talking about my favorite quote (notice that on the weekly planner preview... and some other pages in this blog :-)) - "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all" - it is from this inspiring movie "Mulan", the words by the Emperor of China toward the end of the film - and somehow, while leafing one of my favorite magazines, Asian Geographic issue 3/2007, I saw this photography by Masako Imaoka "Portrait of Courage". And I was moved by this particular picture taken in Nahrin, Afghanistan in 2002. Don't you think, this perfectly illustrates the Emperor's words above? I cut and clipped the picture onto my inspiration board on my desk - along with the quote. They give me extra strength and courage :-)

[.HAPPY.2008!!!!.]

Happy New Year everyone!!!! I would like to wish you all a very happy, beautiful, exciting, creative, inspiring, lucky, full of love and nice surprises 2008!!!!



And here’s the news: though delayed, the new site is almost ready! You will see that it’s organized quite differently. I can tell you, it’s been a constant trial-and-errors in the process! But I do think that’s the exciting thing. Now I know more, and I really enjoy each moment of it.

From now on in this blog, I will also write about the new projects at Amreta’s Graphic Corner. It’s baby steps toward running my own ‘graphic shop’ :o) so here I start with two of my scrapbook-blogging pictures – 6 month old me with mom, dad and great grandma :o) such a precious memory!

[.three-column.blog.]

Notice what's new with this blog? *winkwink* Yes, the layout! :-)

I had, for quite sometime, been eyeing those three-column blogs, wondering how they're created, googling and trying out some templates...but much to my dissappointment, it just never worked. Should I say, I never gave up? Somehow after more googlings and checkings, I found this little tutorial that seemed clear and easy to understand. I followed the step-by-step instruction provided on the page, and youhouuu! It really worked!

You may want to check it yourself. Here's the link:

The 'original' page of the tutorial:
http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2007/07/create-three-column-blogger-template.html

The same tutorial by the same author on Zimbio:
http://www.zimbio.com/Free+Blogger+Beta+Template/articles/40/Create+three+column+Blogger+template

Thanks Amanda for your awesome tutorial!

[.flower.field.webset.]

'tis the season of beautiful things...and finally the flower field set is now ready to download....my huge apology for those who have been waiting for it since end of september when i first announced it *blush* - or those who have been so far wondering "where's the update?"

i realise "flower field" doesn't sound christmasy nor wintery, but hey, our friends in the southern hemisphere is enjoying summer now :-) and in any case, i love drawing flowers...in or out of seasons ;-)

you can download the webset from here. it is in zipped file to protect the graphics from direct linking. this webset will also be available to download from its original home www.amretasgraphics.com in a few days.

the sad news is, this is probably the last webset that is available for free. i may start charging for my future graphics in 2008. besides the fact that i've been very dissapointed by the misuses and direct linking, running my graphic site has grown too pricey for me lately. i understand this could be unfair to those who cannot afford, and i will still have free graphics for everyone, but well, to be very honest, earning something no matter how little it is from drawing graphics will keep myself motivated :-))

well, more about it later, but in the meantime, i hope you enjoy the flower field set! :-)

download the flower field webset

screenshot of what you can find in the set below:

[.feel.good.cards.]

Let’s see if you like cards with ’feel good’ sayings on them.

[feel free to save and use them - just please provide a link back to www.amretasgraphics.com]






Some of you might also remember I made the Irish Blessings graphics below for my Saint Patrick’s Day sets.





I found it very nice to print the cards (in colors, of course), then edge-cut and stick or clip them to my journal. Choose positive affirmation to brighten your day :-) I include further below the ‘blank’ cards. You can put your own text or saying on them, digitally, or simply print them and write the text using markers.

Somehow, given very limited time, making cards is easier for me than creating new graphics from scratch :-) If you like it probably I will make a special card page later, with instruction on how to put together the graphics and to add the text, the simple way.

[.free.graphics.070704.]

Laughter is the best therapy! I was sick and had to stay in bed for a few days last week, and besides undergoing several therapeutic sessions, I noticed that my condition improved after having lots of big laughters as my cousins and I marathonly watched Monty Python’s Life of Brian, the Quest for the Holy Grail, and The Meaning of Life. Whoever gave that statement, I couldn’t agree more, laugther is a great therapy! My good health’s back and I feel terrific! :-)

Anyway, here come more free graphics as promised – earlier in January I planned to draw the second set of rose bears, now with red roses, but then many things happened, including the big flood – and as you might see, these seven graphics stayed in the folder. I can’t promise when the set will be ready, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy parts of it below :-)

ps: If you decide to use one of these graphics, please do not forget to provide a link back to www.amretasgraphics.com

Thank you! :-)

[.free.graphics.070626.]

Ow, blogging is so practical that as you see now I also use this blog for posting new free graphics. they will come more regularly i hope, just a few graphics per entry, and well, probably without theme! with my schedule right now I still find it difficult to concentrate and draw a set or collection. anyhow, I guess random graphics will be better than no new graphic at all ;-)

I start with these two graphics, I got a question whether the girl-with-violin graphic is available for download, since it doesn’t belong to any set or collection. well, actually I planned to add it to my updated spring collection, but here you get two of them for free, since the update is still on its way, and there will be a lot more of these in the collection.

Hope you enjoy the graphics :-)

[to dowload: right-click and choose 'save picture as' - and save it to your own harddisk]