Friday 8 May 2015

Fighting Mad!

Hello scrappy friends. I'm here today with some awesome Dusty Attic goodies to share with you.

I believe I'm a fairly calm person and I rarely get angry, but I was VERY angry when I made this layout! I don't think I've ever scrapped before while I've been angry so it was an interesting experience. I must say that I found it very therapeutic.

Soapbox warning here! If you just want to look at the layout, skip this section! In a nutshell, I work part-time on a voluntary basis, trying to get better regulations in place for people living near wind turbines. Most people would be very shocked if they knew how little protection there was for those people. Many wind projects are not compliant with the regulations but nobody polices this which is really bizarre. If a night club was making noise at 2am you could call the police and/or the EPA and they would do something about it straight away. If  a wind turbine is making noise at 2am you can only call the wind company the next day, who may or may not respond at some time in the future. We know of people who lived with a faulty, screeching turbine for over a year before the company did anything about it.

I think wind turbines have their place, but that place is not near people's homes. The reason I was so mad yesterday is that we found out that the approved, but unbuilt, project near us just got another 5 year extension to its permit to build. Plus the company have applied to increase the height of the turbines to over 160 metres. That's higher than a 50-story building. And there are 62 of them. This is a rural landscape, not an industrial one. I hate that someone in Melbourne just ticks a box and decides our future and we get no say in it.

Anyway, that's enough ranting for now! Here's my layout:


As you can see I got very verbal on this one! I just let it all out. I didn't even think about what I was writing - except I did have to stop once to check how to spell 'bureaucrat'!

I love how the gate came up on this one. To decorate the shrubs on the ends, I first applied impasto with my finger in a dabbing motion to create rough texture. You could use texture paste or any similar product. When the impasto was dry, I dipped an old, stiff paintbrush into Forrest paint and dabbed it in an up and down motion onto the rough surface to add even more texture. I then did the same thing with Pesto paint. Dusty paints dry so quickly - I love them!


I inked the gate with a rust-coloured ink then applied three different colours of Beck BT's Tinby Designs Metallic Melts to get that rusty, weathered look. I used the same treatment on the title, only this time I used two colours.

It is possible to stitch chipboard down like I did here. You need to glue alphas and other small pieces in place first though as the foot of the machine tries to push them away. Just take it slow and steady.


The gorgeous house is from the Main Street set. I adore this set. I've finished the page off with some Dusty in Bloom flowers and a beautiful branch.



Thanks for looking today and putting up with my frustrations. Next time life gives you a bum steer, think about venting on paper - it's a great release!

Dusty Attic products used:
Typewriter ABC Set DA0143

Main Street DA0408

Branch #3 DA1094

Farm Fence #2 DA1097

Dusty in Bloom 'Champagne Kisses' and 'Wild Moss'

Dusty in Colour  - Forrest, Pesto, Jungle Green,
Cashmere and Alabaster.





Happy scrappin'!

Heather McMahon

25 comments:

  1. Your layout looks stunning Heather. I love the rusty gates leading to the home and the view of the paddocks in the distance. The journalling is raw and powerful and I agree with everything you said so eloquently. It seems that pollies are always looking to do the populist thing and bother anyone beyond the city lights. Don't they realize that without the our precious farmers we are reliant on polluted food from overseas countries. I can't imagine living next to that noise. Congrats on taking up the fight. I wish you success.

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    1. Thank you so much Helen. Your words mean a lot to me.

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  2. GOOD ON YOU! It is awful that there is no 'governance' of the wind turbines. And I am all for 'green' energy...but something doesn't sit right if it is not monitored like most EVERYTHING else in our society! And MAN! What a fabulous page..... the gates did it for me. Locked down! Clever....love the way you've textured and painted the bushes, too......oh dear......so, 5 more years of either uncertainty or even worse, those darn things getting built:(

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  3. This reminds me of the farmers fighting to lock the gates to keep out the gas company's from just coming on their land and making oil wells... Good on you for recording this time and event and fight for your land.. At the moment for us we were trying to stop a work camp for 300 workers just across the road from us for the Toowoomba bypass.. We are not happy for this camp as the paddock is lovely bush and our road has not even been fixed from the 2011 floods. So the matter is going to court, and of course we do not have the finances to fight this.. So we are just waiting to see what is going to happen, so I know how you feel.. Fabulous layout...

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    1. It's funny how many of us seem to be fighting battles Lizzy. I actually chuckled to myself when I put the gates on this page cos it reminded me of the Lock the Gate campaign.

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  4. Heather, the layout you made is absolutely gorgeous. I love how you made it at the time you felt anger. And rightfully so! May God bless you as you continue to fight for your land. HUGS!!!!!

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  5. I had no idea they caused so much trouble for people that live near them :( I love wind turbines (they are all over Palm Springs, California) and love that they produce green energy ... but wow ... I never realized the problems they caused for residents ... that makes me sad that they don't regulate it!! I love love love your lo! LOVING the colors, the photo, the title, the fencing and the way you journaled!! I hope you win your fight!!!!!

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    1. Thanks so much Julie. I think the Californian turbines are much smaller than the newer ones here and therefore are a lot less problematic.

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  6. Wow-what a layout and statement!

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  7. Heather,
    Your layout is absolutely gorgeous - art is suppose to be an outlet right - so I'd say you let it out wonderfully! I love it! I live in a small town in Illinois in the US - Mt. Pulaski, a farm community. We have been fighting the same fight as you. There are signs all over our town with the name Re-Light in a circle with a line through it. The company comes from Italy - and is pushing hard to set up wind turbines all over our area and in the town north of us as well. The fight isn't over yet - so, as they say, we will keep fighting the good fight! And, you too - good luck in "fighting the good fight."

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    1. It's amazing how many people,around the world are fighting Kathy! Good luck with yours too!

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  8. This is what Scrapbooking is all about - documenting your LIFE!! In a few years time, you'll hopefully, look back on this page and feel satisfied that you didn't give up! I'm for Green Energy, we had solar panels on our motorhome almost 20 years ago - but not at the cost of those living next door to something that in different circumstances would be deemed noise pollution! I'd focus on those 'bureaucrats" and their policies & procedures!! The layout is fabulous, as always - love the journalling!! A x

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    1. Yes, we are greenies too Alison. We have solar panels on our house and we spent a lot of extra money on it to get the most solar gain etc. Thanks for your supportive words.xx

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  9. hi Heather, wow what a glorious piece of art you have created here ... and wow I have heard about this before, when watching docos on TV .thankfully there are people like you who stand up and fight ... well done you Heather .... there are always other alternatives and the laws need to be more aware and compassionate to people and the environment ... I do hope your voice is heard Heather .. the power of the people is so amazing , keep going .... we volunteer our time to childhood cancer research as not many people are aware they have no gov funding at all ... love and hugz to you always xoxoxo
    love your work x

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    1. Thank you so much Heather. And we are involved with our local Cancer Research Centre! Small world!

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  10. I think that Beautiful landscape is worth fighting for too! Well written Heather.......your layout is fabulous, love that gate!

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  11. WTG girl!! I think it's awesome that you stand up for what you think is right. I agree that these decicions should not be made centrally, nor by just ticking a box, They are not decisions to be made lightly! And a lovely scrapbook page came from this as well! :-)

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  12. What a powerful layout! This is brilliant! WTG.

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