Goddess Dolls

Last year I designed these Goddess Dolls Kits, and gifted them to my ladies who came to Fraser Island . I wanted a medium to embody the essence of how I felt about this special time away, the energy of the Island and to create a tangible memory. And now its time to share....

The kit is like a blank canvas....it enables your imagination to run crazy-wild and stretch. Paint, Stitch, Collage,Create, Embellish to create a beautiful, feminine doll...

pictured here are the Goddess Dolls I've made up to get your inspiration flowing. It was so much fun creating these girls and then I mucked around for a while giving them their own photo shoot.
The photos didn't quite make it off the editing floor, but loved playing around.

The kits are available on my etsy (in US dollars) of my website in AUS dollars.

My website has had a makeover too, drop by for a visual visit!

ps. I'll be bringing some of these kits to CSR 2010 to sell at my trading table on Market night.

Colour in the Bay ~ blue

tweet with me.....

the inspiration came to me to join the branches of the twitter tree. and so here I am, learning as I go how twitter works. and how best I enjoy receiving other peoples messages and thinking about what messages I would love to share.

so what is twitter? I see twitter as another way to communicate and connect, with smaller messages.you can read them via your computer or receive on your mobile phone like a sms. thats how I like to receive my tweets.kind of like a friend texting me with good news. and besides I think I spend enough time on the computer reading....

so what messages have I decided to share? positive ones. messages that pop into my head. affirming words and I know they are not just for me, but for all of us. with out a doubt.

so how does twitter work? if you click on this link it shall take you to the twitter page. here you get to login and register.like most online things today it is free....once you have logged in and found my page there is an phone icon near the word following.this is what you click on if you want to receive your messages by phone. And Hey I am no expert on twitter so please use your intuition to find your way around. I am learning too!

affirming prints

I love being surrounded be positive messages. They remind me of where I'm heading and help to dispell that blabbing that goes on in my head at times. don't want to give that one anymore energy ! I've put together some prints of my most recent paintings with some affirming words, machine stitching and some recycled pages from books that relate to the energy of the painting. Cosmic girl has pages from a book called "The Heavens" and the Determined girl in "I Shall" has street directory names stitched to her back. Nothing like a bit of direction!

They have just been listed on etsy and come with an off-white matt board and foam core backing. Both fit beautifully into ready made frames of 11 x 14".

I'll be out scouting the stores for frames this week....want to get some white frames.When these original girls go to the artshow I shall still be reminded of their messages.

colour in the Bay ~ pink

stardust and angel wings

I'm finding these little stars everywhere through the house,on my studio floor, in the rug upstairs, on the kitchen floor and smaller silver ones too....even in the garage. I know where they came from, a box in my studio. A friend gave me an envelope full for my , dare I say, 40th party a couple of years ago.Whats puzzling and amusing is how they got on to my studio floor in the first place. Maybe my studio fairy has been playing again a.k.a my dancing 9 year old or maybe they made their own way out....anyway I love them. I vacuum and sweep around them, enjoying having them turn up in unexpected places.


had an inspired idea today....thought I'd have some fun in front of one of my paintings. You know, like the carnival paintings that you stick your head through and have your photo taken.

I'm enjoying my angel wings. May stardust and angels wishes fall gently onto your shoulders today.

digging up....

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almond blossoms and up styles

Ms Aqua has decided to make her own appearance at an upcoming art exhibition. I'm so glad she decided to be part of the show.The blossoms I painted to cradle her are almond blossoms. They are very similar to cherry blossoms but it is almond blossoms for me. I remember as a child a row of almond trees growing in our yard. The blossoms were incredible. Mum took my brother and I out to the trees and we picked a handful of flowers. Heading back inside Mum kindly drew an outline of a tree, on green paper and we glued our blossoms on. I recall my brother didn't quite get the same kick out of it as I did.....





Maybe this helped ignite my love for collage, texture and all things that bloom? It has certainly stuck in my memory box for a long time.






Ms Aqua and myself have been sporting our own Lyn Gardner hair style. Its been so hot and humid here lately, that wearing my hair up and curly is the only way to go.I felt the same last year, really over the heat. Then I went to Melbourne in March to Creative Soul Retreat and got my fair share of cooler weather and layering up. I wonder if March in Melbourne this year shall give me some opportunities to wear a few more layers?

Introducing Ms Aquarius

I'd like you to meet Ms Aqua...shes my latest drawing and loosely based on my interpretation of Aquarian themes. Let me describe her to you....shes that groovy girl you know that is unusual and brilliant in a weird sort of way. Shes the one that comes up with original and some may say 'strange' ideas that just pop out of nowhere. At times she can be a rebel and lives to be free. And definitely has her own unique 'thing going on'.

Doesn't she sound fun to be around?

a heart full

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may you connect with love today. be full my beating heart.......

Empire Vintage

yes, yes.....I admit, I have a crush on Empire Vintage and the lovely style wise, vintage collector Lyn Gardner. How could anyone not? I was scooting around the web and found this delightful Inframe.tv interview. ( an Australian site about art design and culture).

Lyn has been featured in many magazines and decore books, I think I first saw her in an Inside Out publication. ...oh the vintage and the whiteness vibrated within me and resonated 'til my heart got all fluttery. And I just love her hair!.....is this too much for you? Truly great viewing...

any Melbournites like to share their experiences in Vintage Empire?

what does creative potential look like?

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I've felt inspired lately to journal, lots. its the place I go when I'm working through 'stuff' and it seems to help cement or anchor the thing I'm working through. there has been lots of pages with hearts, and that was lead up artwork for my journaling class on Sunday. its been about connecting. wanting to connect to my own creativity and my own potential.

its so easy to scoot around and see what other artists are doing via the interent. lets face it it is such an instant, visual feast its hard not too. lately I've found it challenging to know if it is actually my idea or something I've seen, somewhere on someone elses blog or website.or does that even matter? for me the most important thing is to acknowledge the inspiration, try it, see if it 'fits' and give it my own slant.

this journal page is helping me acknowledge that I am already in my creative potential, as we all are. its not something that is out there somewhere waiting till we get to a certain point of our journey. it is already within. realize and recognize it. this is what my creative potential looks like to me at the moment. what does yours look like?

sunrise

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see what a 12 year old can do with a camera at 5 in the morning? amazing. I'm feeling so blessed that he had the inspiration to grab my camera and take this beautiful shot...thank you Bud.

on your day

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Dearest Mum,

thank you. as i look back now , being a mother myself I see you did so much for me. providing opportunities for me to do things, taking me places so I could learn and quench my thirst for involvement. you were the most patient teacher and I am so grateful for the skills and the knowledge you passed on to me. you taught me how to cook, crochet , knit, sew, collage and be resourceful with the things we had at hand ...and to love unconditionally.

those skills have served me well and I hope I am able to pass on this innate wisdom to my children.

you always encouraged my creativity and thankfully you could see my potential and valued my creative spirit and as a young girl who grew into a life loving woman, I now see these skills as sacred and heart thriving ....a bloodline to my creativity and my soul.

thank you for believing in me.

fluttering lashes

photo courtesy of stand out cosmetics.com.au

my fascination with flash eye lashes was rekindled today.

my daughter and I found ourselves at a 'compulsory' make up lesson for her dance school. Tina Sparks from Stand Out Cosmetics did a make up demo and as a former dancer herself shared alot of knowledge, both about makeup and being on stage.... how important it is to connect with the audience and you can't do that if the audience can't see the dancers eyes. Tina has created her own brand of healthy cosmetics for dancers to use and travels extensively world wide consulting Royal Ballet Companies right through to dance schools. She also writes for Dance Train Magazine and has adjudicated on "So You Think You Can Dance" both US and AUS.I enjoyed my girly hour and enjoyed learning that Tina was a Hervey Bay girl.

visual memories flashed back....of the false eye lashes I found in the bathroom cupboard when I was a kid. I think they were my mums, left over from the 60's.

Dad, Mum, baby me and Taggets the dog

they always looked so delicate and I'd place them on my lids and flutter my lashes, only to have them fall on the floor...my granny had a pair in her cosmetic draw too. I'd sit and watch her put her make on and she'd tell me not to wear make up until I "had to". I never really knew what she meant when she said that......why are grandmas so criptic?



my fascination rekindled, I fear it may only be quenched by being daring and trying a pair.

Love Fest

there is lots of talk about the commercial side of Valentines....and my hubby and I don't really celebrate it as such. maybe we are not the romantic type, I would rather a spontaneous gift/words of appreciation or love any day of the year. maybe that comes from being together for 24 years. omgosh that sounds like such a long time....mind you, I was a teenager when we met.

my theory behind all of this is that we don't need another to fulfill the 'Valentine' role. sure its great to share with another special someone, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. We are more than capable of filling the role ourselves with self love...and that's what my next creative Journal workshops is about.

a love fest all for oneself. sound like fun? you are more than welcome to come along if this feels right for you. yes its 14th Feb......more details here

soul guidance

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a canvas for an upcoming exhibition. I've decided to let go of others expectations and create for me. That's how it was when I started painting and it gave me so much joy. slowly, slowly with more exhibiting and sales it was a challenge to stay out of the mind set of 'what sells'.

it feels good. it feels like finally I'm on the way to accepting myself, my own creativity and where my heart is. it feels true. and freeing...

strength and inner guidance and acceptance. this is where she's at (the painting) . this is how it feels for me....

full moon ~ king tide

the biggest tide in 13 years hit the shores of Hervey Bay on the weekend. full moon on Saturday saw a huge volume of water on HB's doorstep Sunday morning, hightide or King tide as the coasties call it.we're all fascinated by the goings on at the beach and went for a look. there were heaps of people out and about.

strange thing was there was no site of sand....


this is the pier I was taking photo's underneath not that long ago.

it came in wet, which really created a mood to the tide. we headed of to a dry spot and enjoyed milkshakes and chai.

a great Sunday morning all round!

as the sunsets

my hubby took this out on his boat, late afternoon

the sun has set on January and my pledge to blog everyday has stood the test of the month....with the exception of a few days that had technical hiccups....

My sweet soul sister suggested I commitment to blogging everyday of the year...is that even possible? I'm sure some artist do, but I don't think I'll be one of them. Having said that, I have enjoyed blogging on such a regular basis. I felt a need to stretch my photography, wanting to see things differently and to capture the intrigue, to use words to describe in a delicious way and to share my real life. Thank you for being part of this sharing, and even if there was a hint of inspiration or connection you felt when you visited, then I am doing what my heart has lead me do and what I believe in.

And to top the closing of the month (although that was yesterday) I am happy to announce that Kate shall receive my 501 Giveaway Original painting.