outside adventures at the retreat

By Sunday evening I really felt that I need some outside time...it felt like it had been so long since I touched Mother Earth. Going from my room to class and eat and sleep. I went for a wonder outside and was not dissapointed. Lovely bush land, which was such a treat. And yes I had a great playful swing on the tyres !!

I have one more day of reteat photo's to post, it already seems like such a long time ago.

more retreat fun

Day 2 at the retreat I found myself in a Chain Gang! A wonderful class of Stephanie Lee's...where I learnt the foundation skills of soldering and making links. Awesome.

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive trying to find the courage to hold a lit butane torch in one hand and managing to move the solder in the other. I have never worked with an open flame before. It didn't take long for me to realise that it was an amazing skill to master.

This was the first piece I put together. I brought along some buttons and beads for DJ's class, but I could see straight away where this could fit into my chain making.(sorry about the quality of the image!)

This was another technique using a flat strip of copper or brass. Stephanie showed us how to make a rectangle and then it could be filled with an image and resin. The shape didn't resonate with me and I found a heart shape appearing from my metal. And I liked the idea of it being simple. Stephanie said it showed my open heart. I had also brought along some ribbon for DJ's class....it came in very handy as I was able to wear my jewellery pieces with it. Would you believe it is ribbon from some Aldi tea towels. Love repurposing!

And this was my third piece. I was on fire! Cooking with gas you could say....the pieces came together with ease. And I found more goodies to embellish my chains. I am so grateful to Stephanie, she taught me to love my fire. I am making plans to set up materials at home to continue making fire inspired pieces. I just really clicked with the chain making techniques and got a big picture of how I can create ......Big thanks Stephanie.

This is the lovely Jo Wholohan...a fellow Queenslander and a beautiful soul. Jo and I kind of found each other on line just before I moved...bummer as we were only half an hour away from each other. Great to meet you in person.

Jo won a journal that I created and some of my cards. Couldn't have gone to a more deserving person. Please enjoy!

Here is another special lady that I connected with on many levels, Ro Bruhn. An amazing artist...look at that gorgeous piece of jewellery around her neck! I didn't have the pleasure to be in class with Ro, but the Universe put us together a number of times for some to help our colleagues heal.

And last, but no means least Dot (heaven forbid!). A found a special connection with this lady also...and we talked, and talked, laughed and cried.

ON another note, I think I have the travel bug. Now that I have been to Melbourne, nothing seems like a long way anymore. I am heading back to Toowoomba today to go to the Grammar Art show opening. Then coming back in the morning.. 4 hours isn't that far really.

some magical spots of beauty...

breakfast on the balcony at the Retreat

Let there be light

the meeting of the red, white & blue



outdoors

home

I'm back in Hervey Bay. Have caught up on all the mounds of washing from the weekend away in Toowoomba and taking a small breather....it was a bit of a whirlwind weekend, sometimes I felt like I was literally running from one appointment/gathering to the next. I stopped on the side of the road to take this glorious photo, love the purple and green contrast all down the hill. A worthwhile moment.

I am itching to have some time to intergrate what I learnt at the retreat. playtime to see how it all fits into how I create, give it my own spin. And shall post some more photos of the retreat...still enjoying the memories of being there. What a creatively expanding experience, on many levels.

packed ready to go again

i am (30cm x30cm)

My last bag has been unpacked today, the most challenging was unpacking all my art supplies.. it was great to have them all together in a suitcase by the dining table....it reminded me of being in Melbourne. As they say all good things have to come to an end.....but do they really?

The bags are empty ready to be filled again. Home for 2 days, then we are off to Toowoomba. A family gathering, some paintings to deliver for an exhibition next weekend and some appointments. It was great coming home to some artwork that 'had' to be finished.....it kept my creative juju following. I felt really free creating this piece, "I Am" , like it was a journal page, this one is my favourite out of the four paintings.

we are all important 30 x30 cm

moon daisy, grow with me 50 x 60cm and below

be who you are 80cm x 45cm

wow, what a wonderful world!

all my fears have dissolved and I am embracing the wonderful world of travel and beyond! I had the best time in Melbourne. So many wonderful, amazing, talented women. I feel truly humbled by being part of the Creative Soul Retreat. I arrived in Melbourne all in one piece, and found darling Jan. We waited for our airport angel, and although my flight was delayed it was no drama. Fiona (Bevlea's daughter) was so relaxed it put me at ease straight away. Thank you Angel!

Here's Jan and I, a little more relaxed!

On to the retreat, what a beautiful place, surrounded by trees and garden. I have some great shots of the garden and beyond to share in the next post. As we were a little time challenged and the retreat had already opened, I quickly grabbed my creative goodies and set up for the Twilight Market. So many women, so many great things to buy! Big Thanks to everyone who bought some of my goodies.Hope you are enjoying them.

My Market table

I have to admit I was a little star stuck being in the presence of such great talent, and couldn't take my eyes off the 3 incredible tutors. It felt awesome to be in Melbourne, drinking in all this creative energy.

me, Brenda and Diana

These lovely ladies were my roomies for the weekend..Brenda (the creative night owl) and Diana (lover of life). Thanks for tolerating my early rising! I had great early hour conversations with these two special ladies.

View from our bedroom window.

The next morning I felt like I was like a child waking on Christmas morning! And after breakfast I found myself so totally absorbed in Bernie Berlin's techniques. ahhh it felt so good!

Bernie

My book pages...love, loved this whole day.

These are Bernies hands....she is definitely a hands on artist.Over the weekend you could see who had taken her class...we all had hands of technicolour!

shall post some more pics tomorrow. Reality is calling and its time to pick my children up from school....

tomorrow

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My bags are packed and thankfully under weight.sigh of relief. I have my road maps, my creative goodies for the Twlight Market, tools and supplies, phone numbers, camera.....all packed. It's challanging to get my head around the fact that the Creative Sould Retreat starts tomorrow. It always seemed so far away and here I am with one day to go....I can hardly say in the one sentence "I'm going to Melbourne tomorrow".

The most challenging part for me is travelling there on my own, it has brought up so much fear. I don't think I can be anymore organized or prepared. Its just the fear of what if, and its time to be brave and move through it. I sat down this afternoon and wrote a list of intentions for the weekend. This is what came up:

• to face my fear of getting to the Maroochydore airport on my own, and do it with ease and grace
• to accept myself and my creativity in the midst of many other creative souls
• connect on a heart level with many amazing and talented women
• to have fun and laughfter and listen to my inner guidance
• enjoy being a student, learn and see how I can enhance this knowledge with my own style

Most of all to be ok with me... and have loads of fun.

h for hamish

Ironic isn't it? Last week I did this commission for a naming present....for Hamish.Thankfully Cyclone Hamish was gone out to sea at this stage and we are experiencing some bearable wind and rain. The piece for baby Hamish was calming and I found the colours soothing....


A stitched card to match, I had lots of fun with these.

Another green commissioned artwork, must be in a green phrase at the moment! This mixed media painting is hanging in the showroom of Hervey Bay Cabinet Craft.They have recently renovated and put in some beautiful, modern kitchen and vanity displays. This is where my husband works, he's a kitchen designer.

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Some other creative goodies I've put together in the last week...if ever I get stuck as what to get for my daughters friends for birthday presents I put together journal gift. This time around I bought a journal, pencil case, watercolour pencils (I love these for my own kids, because of the lack of paint to clean up) and some brushes.

And I revamped this bag. It had water damage around the top near the handle, so it got BuBued with fabric flowers and beads. Today I'm finalizing my packing, got to weigh my suitcase...to see if I can pack more or take some out.I'm guessing it will be the latter!

Cyclone Hamish

Today we have been closely watching the weather reports and Cyclone Hamish...It is heading our way, to Hervey Bay.My husband is a weather buff and loves storms and anything to do with weather changes...so I know his interpretation of the weather information is more than reliable. (He is quite excited about this experience)....on the other hand there is me. My concern is about the rain and flooding and if I'll be able to get to Maroochydore airport to go to Melbourne at the end of the week.I'm good with everything else!

We are prepared. Torches, tape for the windows, food in the pantry and have talked the kids through the possibilities. We are on track for what ever Mother Nature throws at us. We shall know more as the hours tick by. Some residents have been evacuated from the low laying areas in the Bay, but we are not in those areas...we're doing ok.

the unexpected....

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yesterday my world got rocked....earth shattering from the ground up. I had planned a trip to Noosa to pick up some paintings that were at a Gallery...this has been a long ongoing process, one I obviously have many lessons to learn from. The trip didn't leave the ground. After phoning to confirm I would be picking up the paintings I was told the gallery would not be open today. I had organized so much around this pick up and so had my husband.



It was partially my fault for not phoning early in the week.I had been told to phone on the day I was coming. I felt angry about my phone conversation and instead of dealing with it, I jumped in the car to another appointment. I was sitting at the lights in my own world,(they were red) when there was an unexpected bang and my car moved forward with a tremendous jolt..I had been rear ended. I hopped out of the car expecting to see the back end all mangled...but my tow ball had saved the car...the other car didn't fair so well.



I felt emotional and teary.When I got home I did some self healing and meditation. And I knew what I wanted to do....I wanted to make flowers..beautiful flowers, bright couture flowers, bubu flowers. I mean what else does a self respecting mixed media artist do after an experience like that?



So what did I learn from all of this? I'm spending some time doing some inner reflecting to find out....and in the mean time drinking in the flower creations that have emerged.

digging up discoveries

I have been digging around, pulling things, materials together to get ready for the Creative Soul Retreat next week (OMGosh, can't believe that its come around so quickly!) and I found my childhood jewellery box. I recently brought it back from Mum and Dads, a number of goodies in it, but the one that resonated with me the most was a swimming medal. It was my Bronze Star, for Life Saving (its the one with the ribbon). I remember at the time it was a huge test, swimming many, many laps, some fully clothed, rescuing people from the water, resuscitation and some question/answers. It was something I had been working towards for a number of swimming seasons.....and it felt like a big achievement.





I was sharing this with my children when I looked at the back and discovered a date....1977, I was 10. And I got a huge gush of 'OMGosh I was only 10 and I did all of that?'......and just took it all in, looking at my 11 year old, thinking I was a year younger.




I went in search of a photo to share, when I was around that age...they are also at Mum and Dads. I found this one on my computer. I was a Brownie.....and loved it. I had an arm filled with badges, mostly art/craft, swimming or home duties related.This was a happy, happy time.




These odd things from my past reminded me to really take in my journey, acknowledge the enormity of what I have achieved and am achieving, no matter how big or small they seem...instead of just skipping on to the next thing. And how happy I feel when working towards a goal.

Thank you memories....