coming up for air

Last week was a huge one....the 6 week painting workshop finished, we celebrated our sons 12 birthday and my hubby had 3 wisdom teeth removed. Today feels like the first day in a long time that I have come up for air....

The girls really poured their heart and soul into the paintings they created. This technique is about using canvas, beads and paint to create dimensional flowers.

We finished up our time with some practical knowledge of how to string the canvas's, how to seal them and care for them once they are on the wall to help them have longevity.

Here are some of the finished products. Sorry Kate and Kaye, didn't get photos of yours....believe me they are just as amazing as these!

I have some snap shots of the Christmas Cheer workshop held on the weekend. Shall share tomorrow, in between packing boxes! 6 sleeps to go.....

2 bits of exciting news to share

a demo painting for my recent painting workshop

and an almost packed box

Sorry...didn't mean to leave you hanging for my news. its just been...well you know kind of crazy here. Newsflash....we have bought a house and are moving! we are staying in the Bay area but a bit closer to everything. What is exciting about our new house, is (drum roll) I get my very own studio (fan fare and streamers are raining down) and there is a separate office and pool.....ah what bliss. what else do you need? the rest of the house is pretty great too. my head has been thinking of all the decorating possibilities. we are counting down the days now (less than 2 weeks) and there are boxes everywhere in the house. is there such a thing as organized chaos?

And my other exciting news is that the Darling Brenda Grace has asked me to come over to WA in February to do a workshop stint....journaling and painting workshops are on the list. yippee!! Shall keep you up to date with more details on that one.

I am loving my new camera. I took this shot of the jet stream from the car. my old camera would have had a heart attach if I'd even mentioned that idea. but the new girl is magnificent. don't know why it took me so long to get a new camera..too many choices. but I am very happy now.
looking forward to a long and fulfilling relationship with my new love.

designing my life

Things have been a little crazy around here the last week....but I'm learning how to super organize my time to get things done. My kids have picked up new activities into the mix, before school and extra 'I need your help Mum' stuff. I'm also learning how important it is to take some time out for me.Its all good

I have a beautiful new camera that takes amazing macro shots. The last camera went for a bit of a swim whilst my hubby was fishing on the rocks....never quite the same after that little adventure. I just need to upload the new software and I can share with you.....but that won't be for a few days as I'm heading to Toowoomba for a flying 2 day visit, for a couple of appointments.

I am remembering to breathe and that I can create/design my life....for me its just a matter of foresight and organization (which I have never had as a natural gift, now I consciously choose it!)

so see you in a few days with some new pics and some exciting news to share.

journaling workshop

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I was asked at my last journaling workshop if I'd be teaching another before Christmas....my enthusiastic creative spirit spoke up and said "Sure! Lets do something with Christmas!" so here it is with all the bells and whistles to go with it.....why not, its only Christmas once a year!


"With Christmas fast approaching its time to celebrate this festive season. I thought it would be great fun to do a journaling workshop around this spirited theme. We shall play with Xmas paper, ribbon, glitter and other jolly hoho things to create journal pages about what you REALLY want for Christmas.Learn some fun new techniques, revisit some requested techinques and embrace this time of year with open arms.

A great way to celebrate the end of year and each other......So glam up in your most festive outfit ,'tis the season to be jolly.......come dance with the Spirit of Christmas and create with whole hearted joy."

for more dates + details on this workshop see here

journaling~ look what I found

Well I was scootering around looking for some new journaling ideas when I found this gem.Have a look at this, great stuff...thanks for sharing your wisdom Judy Wise!

journal pages

Doing some inner work in a Creative way.....

Your Invited~Banquet of Colour Exhibition

Lately I've been revisiting some of my early paintings..maybe its because I'm teaching workshops on painting with some of the techniques, maybe its because I'm starting to acknowledge where I've been creatively in the past....(rather than trying to sweep it under the carpet thinking that I need to move on). And be in it, of it, accepting that's all part of who I am and where I am today.

Well here it is in all its glory, my first solo exhibition, 2004. Not long after I started painting I threw myself into a solo exhibition. Naivety goes a long way and I was motivated, full steam ahead.

Promo photo for local paper

I created paintings, furniture (with the help of my cabinet maker hubby) a 8 seater table, a buffet table, shelving unit and ceramics...this is where my painted fridge made its debut.

So you're warmly invited to have a look through my "Banquet of Colour" exhibition. I've up loaded all the photos from the exhibition here ( previously I only had a few on my website)...grab a glass of wine or cup of tea and come for a wander through.

And I shall happy acknowledge all that I am and all that I have been.

Boutique Beauties

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Stardust Girl

I have just uploaded some mixed media collage artworks to my etsy shop. Enjoy your browsing....

Mothers Cradle

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"Mothers Cradle"

This is the piece that came together from a family's Christening outfits. A commission piece that scared me just a little, cutting up preciousness. But I am so thrilled at how it evolved. My original idea was a type of nest...then it grew more into a cradle nestled into a blossom branch. The colours, fabrics, raw silks, buttons and hanging threads were divine to work with. There was even a little label with 'Pretty Originals' as the brand and I felt that fitted perfectly.

Em is thrilled with it. As perfect timing would have it, 'Mothers Cradle' arrived at their home a day before their last born childs (is there a better word for that?) birthday. Almost like a celebration piece for this beautiful family.

I am so thankful I had this opportunity to create such a meaningful artwork. Thank you Em for having faith in me.....

Positive Space

My painting workshops ladies had brushes in hand and gel medium up to their elbows...well almost. We explored a great painting technique where we looked at positive and negative space with collaged as the base.

Some great paintings in progress....

This is one of those techniques that doesn't come together until the very end. A great exercise in trust, but the results are definitely worth it. The layering of collage materials adds so much depth to the painting and draws the viewer in to discover more about what is going on in the painting.

Amazing artworks by the end of our day...well done girls!

fun arcade workshop

Have a look at the fun we got up to in Sundays workshop! One of the journal pages we created was about our creative footprint (rather than our eco footprint) and the impact our creativity has....the girls really got alot of laughs painting their own foot!

I'm so happy they all jumped on board for this creative page....

Diana came up from the Gold Coast for the weekend and I feel very humbled that she travelled quite a few hours to include this workshop into her weekend.

Here is the table just before lunch. The creative materials kept spreading until the table was almost overflowing....I feel that's a good sign that everyone is in the moment of their journal page. Here's some more photos of the workshop.

And a very happy group at the end of the day. Everyone completed 4 journal pages...awesome creating! Especially to those newbies who had never journaled before. Thank you for being such willing creative adventurers!!

Last weeks celebrations!

Last week there was a few occassions to celebrate...my birthday (thank you to all the wellwishers). Had a beautiful day, got to eat Thai with my girlfriends and shared much creative talk and laughter..and some lovely gifts.And big thanks for this special wrapping paper Anna, loved the gift too!

My hubby and I also celebrated our (dare I say it, it makes me feel like we have been together for ever) 18 years of marriage. Wow where has that time gone? and every minute has been very real in a great way. Thank you Darling...

Hearts everywhere...

Ashana's Heartspace

Messy hands for everyone on Tuesday! What fun.... paint was being splattered all over the place



Kaye really got into throwing paint around...and it totally agreed with her creation.

Kayes Heartburst

We used paint straight from the tubes, tea and dipped our hands into oozy, flowing paint....deliscious

Linda enjoyed playing with bright contrasting colours. Allowing the painting to do its own thing and knowing when to stop can be the most challenging part of painting this way.

Heart time

My demo painting was on a canvas that needed a make over so I left parts of it to peep through.

Nothing better than hands covered in paint....

Messy hands

Today I'm teaching at the Flora Crt Studio. It is such a beautiful spot.....filled with palms and luscious green grass and the studio looks out onto the garden, with wide glass sliding doors that allow the light in. It is truly a magical spot and I feel blessed to be teaching there.

Painting workshops are on today's menu. My ladies shall be creating paintings in this style.This process is very hands on, so we shall have hands full of paint. good messy fun!

stepping outside the zone

Anne-Maree

Some time ago I met Anne-Maree. She's a dynamic energetic woman who loves a bit of action.One of her 'things' is to dare others to step outside the comfort zone and runs regular women's retreats, both pampering and adventure .

Last weekend I had the privilege to meet some of her ladies and do a 4 hour journaling workshop with them.The essence of the workshop was about finding out a little more about "Who I am". Had a lovely morning. These ladies stepped out of their zone in a creative way....why to go girls!

Caution to the wind

one of the things I love to do is to create commissions for others...i know sometimes this can be a tricky field to create in, but it gives me so much joy to create artwork with meaning. What you are looking at here is the beginning of a third commission for a beautiful English family that bravely moved to Australia for a change... These little garments are the children's christening gowns. Em has courageously entrusted these special pieces to me, to be transformed into an artwork.

The essence of the piece is to be about Mothers Love.


I have to admit I have been putting this piece aside for sometime, feeling very precious about what I have been asked to cut up. But I can escape this no longer....it is time to begin. So bravely with scissors I shall begin the transformation. Do I need to have another cup of tea before I start snipping? Ok, now I need to throw caution to the wind and just make a start. Do I sound like I am talking myself through this one? Oh Damn it Nic, Just Do It!

some crazy things I've painted

With some 'things' coming out of storage this bar fridge resurfaced. I painted with much enthusiasm a few years ago...it started out completely pink and my hubby kind of freaked out, so the design evolved.The fridge is fully functional and was part of my first solo exhibition. Love that unexpected element....my exhibition was far from just paintings on the walls. My thoughts began to spiral and recall many other crazy inspired things I've got my brush to.....

A commissioned piece that was very special. A pregnant belly cast...it is now hanging in Mia Graces room.

A chair that now hangs out with many other arty chairs at the Chocolate Cottage Cafe.

A mail box for an ex Texan, now Australian. I'm suer the mailman wouldn't have missed delivering mail to this one!

I had a burning desire to paint doors, so our children's preschool was only too happy to offer their doors for painting.

Ohhhh I've just thought of some more.....Some murals and .....I was commissed to paint and mosiac a toilet room, I'll see if I can find those pics for the next post.

Inspiration on the Palette

My painting skills are getting dusted off with a new series of workshops kicking off on the 13th October in the Hervey Bay area.I like fast results when I'm painting so the aim is to create and complete a canvas each day in the 6 week series of workshops.It is totally possible to do this with ease and grace and have a great painting at the end of the day. Here are the details for you to have a look at Inspiration on the Palette Workshop.

About 5 years ago when I started painting, I was creating/painting on canvas daily...it was an unquenching passion, with many paintings flying out of my studio. I was eating, sleeping, dreaming of painting and was dedicated to showing new artwork everytime I exhibited in an artshow. Along the way I discovered many techniques, developed my own and created a huge amount of art. Most of these I have sold, some I wasn't ready to part with....now I am ready to let them go to new homes.

There are collections of my paintings for your viewing online here. Click on each individual image for more details. if you feel a special connection with one of my paintings..... if it feels right please email me and we can go from there. It is time for these paintings to go to people who truly appreciate them.

mandies today

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Last weekend my hubby travelled back to our old place to collect the last of our 'stuff'. After a 4 hr drive and a mountain of odd things to pack on the ute he said his last goodbyes to the house that been our home for the last 8 years.

This is the place that saw many happy birthday parties, our kids screaming down the front driveway hill on bikes, family times in the garden, planting sunflower seeds on Fathers Day, watching storms rolling in from the veranda and playing in the rain. many treasured family moments.

We had planted an orange and Mandarin tree a few years ago, on the most part the fruit wasn't so good because of lack of water. a couple of years ago I had been watering the mandy tree from the rain water tank before I went away for the weekend. the next night whilst phoning home I was 'informed' that I'd left the tap on and the tank was empty....oops

That season was the best mandarins we ever had. plenty of juicy, yummy mandies.

My hubby returned from the pack up trip with 4 mandies from the tree.....there was only 4 left on the tree. thank you, thank you Universe. this morning felt like the right time to enjoy them. we all sat down together and celebrated our togetherness, our letting go and our new beginnings and enjoyed our juicy offerings

being real

i am at a loss for words...not sure what to say or what not to say. but this is the place where I am real and true, not just about arty pictures, but about the realness of life and the role creativity plays in it.

my darling friend who was also my neighbour for the last 18 months, passed away earlier this week. She has began the next part of her journey.....

I felt the impact of loss when she recently moved back to Melbourne, knowing our friendship as we knew it was changing.I am deeply grateful for the many wonderful lessons I have learnt through our friendship and they will stay with me for a long time.....some small things and some HUGE. some that have become part of our daily life; cutting cucumber the 'Greek way', cooking turkey meatballs with tomato and garlic sauce and BIG things like learning to set boundaries, being true and looking fear in the eye. not forgetting to mention inspiring me to use the word BuBu for my card business.

the list could go on, but i know in my heart that in many ways her spirit lives on.
all is as its meant to be.

Rose Coloured Glasses No More!

No More Rose Coloured Glasses by Nic Hohn on Polyvore.com.

I felt inspired to create a journal page on Roses Coloured Glasses and before I knew it I was creating this on line.....Have you tried this yet?

purple iris be with me

a little sadness came up for me this week. I was buying myself some flowers and I was thinking lilies ? gerbra's? then out popped some purple iris....they went straight to my heart. my eyes became teary.

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October is a special time, it is the time when our daughter came into the world. I remember my husband coming to the hospital and bringing in some purple iris from our garden. it meant so much to me.I had been waiting for them to bloom, I'd planted a huge area of them and was waiting patiently as they didn't flower the season before....Darryl brought in the first few flowers.



these beautiful purple blooms connect to my memory.... of walking up and down our hall way for 8+ in labour , waiting for the right time for me to say "ok honey, I think its time we went to the hospital" and 12 hours later having a beautiful little girl. this memory has been with me the last few days....

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we are in the process of selling this home, where these memories began. it was the first memory that came up whilst thinking about letting go of our sacred space. We haven't been living there for a while now (we have been beach dwellers for the last 18months) but its still a process of letting go.



so it is with sadness and joy that purple iris are in our kitchen today. I have no doubt the love and the reason shall always be with me. and that it is time to let go, so we can move on to the next chapter. just for this moment, purple iris be with me.