I Shall

a bouquet of shouts

a bunch of sharing for today. these beautiful frangipanis are from across the road....

2 most amazing and creative women, who I had the pleasure to have in my journal workshops have taken the plunge and started their own blogs! Horray!

Alison has just moved to the UK for 12 months with her hubby and has incredible photos and beautiful words to describe her adventures and journeys on the other side of the world. Please take a look at Alisons Adventures. Truly a loving soul, it is inspiring to be in her company.

Kate is also blogging. You go girl. I loved reading about Kate doing a photo shoot in her wedding dress on the beach ..a shoot about trashing her wedding dress. I read on to discover the most beautiful transformed wedding dress that is now purple! Definitely letting go of the preciousness. ..something I talk about alot in my workshops.

Some good news on the arts upplies front. Anna is selling Golden products and offering free postage within Australia. Good time to buy up everyone!

and a finallly shout about me. One of my collage works has been featured on The Creative Jar

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no longer my responsibilty

a space of acceptance

I’m feeling very grateful for having a studio. I have always said that you don’t need a special place to create. Over the years I have painted and created in a 3 bay shed I have shared with my hubby. That was always a bit of a logistical challenge. He is a joiner by trade and was often making things, big cabinets, lots of saw dust. So it wasn’t always viable to be in the shed. And during summer it was definitely a sweat box. We managed to work around it. I always did as creating was important for me.

If the shed wasn’t available I would work inside on the kitchen bench or table. And if I was getting messy it would be out to the lawn. The challenge there was packing up before the kids came home from school.

When we moved to Hervey Bay our first place was a brand new house, we were the first etenants. It had white walls and floors and definitely did not lend itself to me painting large splashy canvases. This was the beginning of Photoshop learning. I could create and no accidental splashes of colour to clean off the walls.

Now we have bought our own home, I have, for the first time my own creating space. A room I can call my studio. It is the place were I can be totally me. I can hang whatever I want on the wall, or set up my beloved trinkets, and leave my projects out to come back to. Its like a room of total acceptance.

The concept of having a creative space that looks beautiful is a bit of foreign one to me. It was always about being functional and practical. Now I can have a balance, its a bit of a work in progress…I'm aiming for a room that is organized, feels great and has wondrous beauty. I couldn’t ask for more.

heart strings...

trees near by

my heart strings were pulled with much motherly love and tears this morning. Heading home from my early morning walk this morning I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye, near the bushes. Looking over I saw a large possum laying on the ground and a baby possum suckling from its mum. Mumma possum was no longer in the living (perhaps hit my a car, I couldn't really tell) and her baby was doing what it could to look after itself.

A wave of unknown swept over me as I stood and watched. I walked back home, knowing that if I didn't do something to help this baby who would? I phoned around and contacted a wildlife carer...being aware that it was also the first day at school and I had my own 'babies' to look after.

And at what decent hour can you call a wildlife carer? Are they on 24/7 ? Thankfully Sue was up and talking to her birds when I rang. After some teary conversation (on my behalf) she said she'd meet me at the possum siting.

When I got back to the possum, the baby had gone. An elderly passerby helped me look in the bushes, but to no avail. Sue turned up and we all looked together.....she looked in the mummas pouch for other babies and found none. After describing the size of the baby she told me that it was big enough to climb trees and was probably nearby, hiding in the cool, perhaps getting ready for a sleep.And maybe, just maybe it might be big enough to look after itself.It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.....

Tears of helplessness ran down my cheek and my motherly instincts wanted everything to be taken care of.

Nature has its own ways of looking afterself, and the circle of life continues to turn. This morning confirmed that my nurturing ways are strong.....in this moment I'm ok with that.All is as its meant to be.

happy Australia Day!

a heartfelt talk with my hubby that shall make a difference for both of us
an early walk on the beach with family and dog.
swim in the pool when we got home.
fruit for breakfast.
spending time together as a family.
keeping cool on such a hot day.
boys watching cricket with lots of commentary.
getting organized for first day back at school tomorrow.
touched by my daughters excitment about her first day in Yr 5.
quiet time.
regrouping.
preparing dinner in my swimmers and towel.
cooking rissoles on the barbe.
ice in my glass of shiraz.
realizing this is the last day of holidays.
taking it slowly.
breathing it in.

and wishing all a happy Australia Day whatever you may be doing...

501 Celebration!! ~ original giveaway

This is my 501st post. I've been blogging since 2006 , not really thinking how far into the future I'd be posting.Yesterday 500 post popped up and I decided it was time to celebrate.Champagne for everyone!

Blogging has been such an important way for me to connect with other creative souls. At first it was like a visual window into another world of creativity that opened up so many possibilities.I was in awe...totally. I plucked up the courage to start my own, not really knowing if I had anything to share, but feeling drawn and inspired to create this space of art and words.Learning many lessons along the way.....some soul sharing and bearing.

I am grateful that you come and visit, read and perhaps leave a comment on the days you feel inspired to write pearls of wisdom or joy.In full celebration mode I am gifting this original painting, 'Daisy Days' (32cm x 42 cm), reflecting that joyful time of picking daisies as a child.

If you would love to have the opportunity of having this hanging on your wall in your home, please leave some inspired or positive messages....it shall be open for a week with a name chosen next Monday.

You would have thought, Happy 501 Blogging Posts xoxo

my bottle top fairy

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In my studio there lives a bottle top fairy...she comes in sometime when I'm not there and hides bottle tops around the place, like hidden treasure. Then I have the joy of finding them in very unusual places. She comes often, prehaps every few days......and just when I think I've put the last one back in the jar, I find one more.....


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My daughter swears its not her. Its such a lovely game we are both playing...so I'm going to continue to believe in the Bottle Top Fairy.

part of who i am

summer fun

my daughters crazy colour icecream with choc on top

As the summer holidays quickly draw to a close, I'm noticing the wonderful delights that summer brings with it.....all to soon the kids will be back at school and life shall be very much about routines, being organized and being on time.


Some summer delights I'd love to share....
Loved watching this movie with my daughter, really struck a chord with me.

my girlfriend Kym Breeze is back blogging about her art. Kym has an article being published in Artist Palette Magazine available at the end of this month.

Was truly touched by this blog entry by Grrl. about a beautiful knitted bridge.

Still in love with this summer recipe from Nigella.

And I can't seem to get out of these thongs. My feet wouldn't know what to do in a real pair of shoes.

I'll make the most of these balmy nights and heat filled days as I know they won't last.....

Raphys beach games...

This is us on the beach at 7 this morning. It was peaceful and calm with Fraser Island in view.Our 5 year old border collie Raphy... (short for Raphael) loves playing his game of ball.

This game entails us throwing his ball, he runs after it and with ball in mouth promptly heads to the water. ..where he sits, until one of us collects the ball.

All well and good unless the tide is out. Fun and games....isn't life is just a big game anyway? certainly is for our dear Raphael!

XOXO 4 U

an inspired gift for my sweet soul sister.....

Do you remember this lace top you gave me, not sure whether I was supposed to wear it or make art from it, but it is coming back to you. It has changed a little, but I believe as beautiful as ever.

My darling little girl took it to bed with her, to cuddle and smell because she missed you and it comforted her, for a number of nights.

Yes it is coming back to you, stretched on to a canvas frame, stitched with soft and lovingly uneven pink stitches and covered in hugs and kisses.

Thank you for being my sister, although we do not share the same blood we are sisters united by family connections and I am blessed we share the same name....my sister in love.

charlottes egg

For the longest time I have been admiring and visiting this lamp. It was love at first site, truly it made my heart skip a beat. White feathers.....delightful in the breeze. tactile. feminine and simply Mwah! The boys ( hubby and son) saw my new beloved treasure as a source of entertainment....and promptly called it "Chook". Lately I have noticed my sons sense of humour developing at a rapid rate. As my hubby made jokes about Chook laying an egg, my son made convincing chook sounds. Luckily I to could see the funny side of it too...

Later that afternoon I went to turn my lamp on and found that she indeed had laid an egg. Funny one boys!

I discovered on the lamp box, her name is actually Charlotte...which I shall loving call her.

ps. Have had some interruptions with my internet and unfortunately wasn't able to post the last 2 days. There went my plan to post everyday in January. Somethings I just can't control, damn it...seems like I'm still learning that one.Let it go and go with the Flow.

from my garden...

2010 zest!

my zest for life has returned in full and fine form today. i could feel it slowly creeping in a few days ago, when sleeping in didn't feel right anymore and lazy days with the kids felt indulgent. the need for being active was winding itself up inside me like a spring coil slowly but surely....with school going back in 2 weeks time it was well timed.

walking in the mornings, swimming at the beach and getting organized for school, thinking, dreaming,planning the year ahead......

today is the beginning of a New Moon cycle. it is the time when i love to journal and plant new seeds about whats going on in my life and what I would love to embrace. this New Moon is quite auspicious as there is also a solar eclipse....that simply means the energy is strong. Capricorn energy. Ashtara explains it in depth here. Ashtara suggests meditating at these times ... i feel i do it in my own way when i journal.i love that quiet time in my studio. my paints, glue and magazines....

so here is my years resolution. i haven't really journalled my resolution before, but it feels right and good.and visual.clear. a beautiful lady who has the most exquisite local shop asked me about my new years resolution the other day. all i could get out of my mouth was that 'i journal mine', or at least i intended to. she told me she was getting a life! next time i see her i can say 'i'm claiming my potential'.

stepping out

who am i kidding?

myself. i am a spiritual artist or rather i am artist that creates with spiritual energy. i have come to terms with that. there is spirit not only my art, but in all areas of my life. and i wouldn't have it any other way.... and so now that i have embraced that disowned part of myself ( what you resist persists!) i can happily create my Astro ideas. without fear of being labelled.

here is Miss Capricorn. the sun is in Capricorn at the moment with a New Moon in the next few days. happy birthday to all you Capricorns. above is my interpretation of Capricorn energy.

some words that describe the positive energy of Capricorn...

• responsible
• practical
• industrious
• in their own authority
• sets their own boundaries
• serious
• has systems in place
• aware of time + respects time
• results
• success
• self disciplined
• grounded
• ambitious
• committed to their own mountain top.
  

we all have this energy within us, just at varying amounts......and so i am using this energy to forge forward and put together a series of Astro images, a collection of greeting cards.

under the pier

one of Hervey Bays icons. 1.4 clicks long, makes for a great morning walk.but i love the images i found underneath the pier....

i'm beginning to realise just how much water surrounds me...

more illumination

today the aha came. like a sand dollar that buries itself in the sand , so too have i buried part of who i am.an innate gift, buried deep. this disowned part that has a great idea... but i'm afraid that if i create artwork around these themes i shall be categorized, put into a box, never to return to the freedom and light of being just me. maybe it is my own fear that has kept me from moving ahead...so i am going to be brave and dip my toe in the water and see how it feels. i can no ignore it no longer.

some of you know that i have studied perceptive astrology.in the past i have done readings for others. it was a strong calling to learn all that i could. and i have many spiritual girlfriends whom i share a special bond. its all been about getting to know myself better.


i've had ideas to create around the 12 astrological signs, but pushed it aside many times in fear of being called a 'spiritual artist'. it is part of who i am.... but not all.



this is my year of courage and toe dipping into waters unknown....

couldn't find one, so made my own

that's pretty much how i feel every year when the calender clicks over. i would love to be organized and have a diary before the end of the year, but i can never find one that fits the bill of practical, economical annnnnnnnndddd looks/feels good. after reading annas post where she covered her own diary, i figured i could paint and collage mine.

kelly rae talked about using the energy of one word for the year...which i love, but found that i had a few more words to include. courage and luck. seems like an unlikely combination, but the proof is always in the pudding.

i shall enjoy using my inspired diary, certainly a huge improvement on my boring black one from last year. here's to good ideas and being resourceful!!

more water

My parent-in-laws and niece are staying for a few days and in between the rain and sun showers we headed off to the new water park, Hervey Bay. I love going there. people of all ages getting wet and having fun. there is never any shortage of smiles when playing in the water. the park is themed around whales and tonnes of water spraying into the air. makes me feel like I'm a kid again running under the sprinkler.

hearts and wings

a recent trip to Fraser Island. the kids jumped off the boat first and i followed. only i lost my footing and fell into the water, got wet up to my waist, and no i didn't have my swimmers on. i was fully clothed but i did manage to save the camera....this time.

there was a tonne of these shells all over the beach. open. some were still joined together. they reminder me of angel wings.

when they are closed they look like a heart. divine. they remind me to keep my heart open. when it is open, love has wings to freedom.

to illuminate

I've been asking some questions in a visual form, through my journal. the word that kept coming up and through the journal page was illuminate...i had many images of candles, Moroccan lanterns, chandeliers and venetian mirrors. all seemed to point to the same word.

so going with what works i created a journal page around the word. i was able to put my hands on a snowflake that i made a few months ago, cut it into a circle and went with some simple pen embellishment. to me it now looks like a sand dollar.

ok... so where from here...not so sure, but often the aha's can come later on. i have no doubt it is all unfolding as its meant to....

creatively awake

Darling Diana sent me this beautiful and insightful book as a gift.Creative Awakenings. huge thanks Diana. I have spent a lot of time with this book, drinking in the pictures, journal pages and how to's. What I love about this book, is that Sheri Gaynor and the other 12 artists talk about how they use journaling to problem solve, discover and work their way through 'stuff'. it is very real and honest.

my all time fav is Anahatas chapter. you probably guessed I'm a huge fan and just love her collage works and all the applications that she turns her hand to.

and Sheri seems to be a bit of a dynmo herself, a creative coach who talks about setting intentions through journaling and creating pages that have a higher purpose. thats my kind of book. thanks Diana, I love it!

enjoying the newness

here's a shot of our lounge....with a new piece i created last night. a canvas painting had an overnight transformation. i covered the white areas with pattern tissue, then cut it off the frame.flipping the canvas over i measured 10cm strips and cut. then i selected a few pieces and sewed them back together, a bit like strip piecing patchwork. i only used a quarter of the canvas so i'm sure there will be other creations that evolve. sometimes i just know when a painting has had its day and this was one of them. i took shots of progress below.

some pen work and a rosette to finish, hanging by a recycled coat hanger

and its been raining here. on and off for a number of days. we took our border collie for a walk this morning to the hockey grounds and the kids and i got soaked....it was a lot of fun though. mind you it is still very humid and definitely still swimming weather.

our new home is a 2 storey home and instead of down pipes it has chains from the gutters. we all love watching the water pour down. the kids often play with the pouring water.

and some wet garden shots. it has a very Balinese feel to it. truly lovely, even in the wet.