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.....

seashells by the seashore

I love being surrounded by beauty and I love being inspired by whats around me. This is what I felt when I created this painting.It brings so much more meaning into the painting rather than coming from a head space. These paintings are a commission to go into a 'posh' lounge room as the English family call it! 2 canvas's with drawings, ink, acrylic paint and crocheted shells. I enjoyed search the beach for these shells and tried to spot ones that already had holes in them.

All the collected shells that I picked up made their way into a lovely bowl...and went along with the paintings.

I delivered this creative bundle last weekend to Toowoomba and whilst we were there we went to our nieces 1st birthday. As a gift I decided to do an event painting and got everyone at the party to contribute to Ava's painting. Everyone painted a heart. I had a ball, the kids really got into it...some where a little disappointed they couldn't paint more, some adults where a little reluctant but it all came together in the end.

Some of the hearts have love coming out of them, others reminders of juicy strawberries...lots of special energy in this painting. A special keepsake for a darling girl.

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!

meaningful paintings

Just finished this painting for my darling new niece. Well I guess she is not so new, but she did have a bit of a sudden welcome to the world in May at 29 weeks, weighing 1225grams. I am happy to share that she is doing really well, growing and being like any other baby.....ah yes I remember those days, sleepless nights, endless cuddles and lots of milk!

I have included parts of Ava's baptism invitation in this painting and paper wings seems so fitting for this little angel. The four of us, myself, the kids and my hubby have all painted part of this painting~a gift from all us to Ava. The kids even wrote letters to Ava that I have put in an envelope and attached to the back, so she can read them when she gets older.

I really love doing these sorts of paintings. They have such special meaning right through the layers of collage. It brings me so much joy to include paper 'bits' that have that connection.

recent journeys

Discovering New Lands

900 x 1200

A commission I recently finished for some lovely English now Aussie friends. In the bottom part of the painting there are collaged pieces of map....from Verwood England and Highfields Australia.This painting is for a family that are adventurous travellers! It was a delight to paint this, and I know it is being enjoyed.thanks!

My recent trip back to Toowoomba was a great opportunity to see family and friends. We have been away for 6 months now, and it is always interesting to return where everything is so familiar, the streets, the hills, the cooling weather and yes my family and friends...I was wondering if I was going to step back into old patterns, thoughts and my old way of being. In the last few weeks especially I have really been focusing on becoming more the person who I am wanting to be....new thoughts, acceptance, courage.So I returned with a renewed attitude, different perceptive, and gratitude for those moments that maybe I grumbled about before. It felt empowering. and clear.

Thanks to all my lovely friends who welcomed myself and my children into your homes with loving arms. I'm feeling grateful and thankful that I have such beautiful friends.

no longer wishing i was there...

Well the energy of Aries sun is coming to a close, and i wanted to share with you what i've learnt through this month. My Action energy often played out as impatience, especially when I got into that creative space. i just had to get the piece finished. i've been creating over the last couple of days and when the rushing energy rose up from within i consciously slowed it down. i found i was just working at a speedy pace to move onto the next project and i felt i wasn't enjoying the process.

i found by slowing down i can enjoy what i am doing and it gives the piece time to evolve and the inspiration to come in.

This motivating energy has been with me for a while....it has been driving me and my need to succeed in my business and my creativity. Again rising and rushing to get to the goal anyway i could.things not always turning out because i was feeling frustrated and angry about not moving forward. it kind of blinded me to the fact that i have been so focused on where i want to be, i wasn't enjoying where i am now.

i can now appreciate where i am, right in this moment. and feeling i can enjoy the journey of discovering along the way, rather than wishing i was already there.

VIRGO BIRTHDAYS!

There has been so many birthdays around here of late.... and I've been creating lots of 'goodies', instead of painting for our Crea8 exhibition that is opening this weekend! And you know what I have had soooo much fun playing and making up patterns. Most of the elements I've used have been from photos I've taken or papers I've collected. Been great to incorporate all the things I love to use. So here is happy birthday to all you Virgos!

This is my dear friend that loves Feng Shui.....Happy Birthday!

This is my beautiful fairy like niece.......happy birthday!

This is one of my husbands mates, who enjoyed dressing up for Darryl's 40th..he has just turned 40 and loved his present.....happy birthday.

Astro Hearts

Confidence and Strength

These paintings are 2 commissions I recently painted. They are 30 cm x 30cm, and priced at $55 each. I feel they may be the start of an ongoing series of the 12 Astrological signs. With the paintings I included information relating to the traits of the signs. And they are quite tactile with stitching around parts of the heart.....

Freedom of Spirit

Pisces is next on my list, so I'll post it when its finished.

Love those Cafe Cups

This is a painting I created for my first solo exhibition in July 2004, Banquet of Colour. It is 1 metre square, quite a large painting with texture, wire and paper-mache.I used tea to stain the border. Honestly I love this piece and I guess that is why it is in my kitchen today. A while after the solo show, some how I got it into my head that my art didn't have enough depth or meaning and went on a very long search to find it (whatever it was) .

Recently I have been working through my self criticism.And I was asked to do a commission painting, like the one above.My first reaction was to say that it is not my painting style any more, but I felt drawn to say yes....and to my delight it was an absolute pleasure to create. It was fun and it came easily. And I knew in that moment that I had it all along, and what I was creating was perfect and it was meant to be easy. No more criticism, conscious or unconscious.

"Love is Filling Our Cups" has a wonderful energy to it, and is going to a home that appreciate its essence and meaning. Maybe I'll incorporate some of the techniques I used, maybe I'll paint some more themes along these lines, maybe I won't...but I am acknowledging the wonderful latent creativity that shines within me, knowing the artist within is perfect, as is.

So that has been one of my aha moments over the last week...today is New Moon in Capricorn, and a great time to set intentions and goals.To read some about this New moon check out Lisa Dale-Millers Astrowisdom site.

Wedding Celebration

This painting is a commissioned piece for a couple celebrating their 15th Wedding Anniversary. I was able to use some original paperwork in the collage, a copy of the Marriage Certificate and I tore some lace from the brides garter. Happy Anniversary.

Christmas preparation seems very relaxed here, it's almost like I've forgotten something...but maybe it's just that I am organised and anything I haven't got mustn't be that important!

Giving and Receiving...

The Venetian Wardrobe

I have just finished a specialized Art program with the Preps and Preschoolers at a local school. The themes we explored were line, shape and colour. And I had so much fun!!! My last session with the group was today and after talking about the primary colours , mixing to make new colours, and a cellophane and light show, the children made coloured snowflakes and put cellophane behind their creations. I loved assisting the children who were challenged by the cutting out of the snowflakes... and once they saw they could do it, great creations happened. To see the pure delight on their faces when the snowflake was opened, gave me so much joy! And inspired me to include a few snowflakes in my own artwork.

Below is another artwork I created this week for a wedding present. All the paper elements came from the couples invitation. And again a pure joy to create! That is the great thing about art....there is so much giving of self, of talents, skills, ideas but the rewards are magnificent!

Trust....

I've been creating a commission painting of late and found it somewhat challenging: not the subject, not the skill level, not the design, but the motivation. Why was I having difficulty making time to paint? The commission certainly felt good when I took it on.... Until I realized this artwork wasn't about me. I am the tool like a brush or the paint. This painting is for a gift and when I tapped into the how much love and the reason why I was creating, the energy, the time and paint just flowed.

When I was creating the center of the painting ,which is the heart image, I trusted the process and my intuition more than I ever had before. No self judgment, no self criticism. It felt good! And my client loves it.....