Thursday 11 September 2014

Just some news for an exciting week...

Omgoodness - wrapping up life before I go has been stretching and exciting... but I have to say the excitement is creeping in big time.  I am almost 100% done will all the little bits of planning - I worked super hard this week to finish last minute things and also prepare things for home while I'm away.

So with limited supplies at hand (because so many are packed) and limited time to do little more than small sweet pieces...  I'll take whatever I can get... I had a small piece of canvas lying around with a failed transfer on...  I only used 2 colors... red, white and stabilo.  Can you tell - I'm still loving that little pencil.   I love her nose...

I don't get to read as much as I would like to these days because if I have time free - it's mainly kept for painting... so I tend to listen to books more than read them.  But some of these titles aren't on Audible so I decided to order some books the old fashioned way.  There is still a thrill about receiving real books and adding them to our library.

On my reading table...
1.  Bird by Bird - I'm reading and listening too... my sweet friend Betty sent me this copy.
2.  Finding Water - a follow on book to the Artist Way... one of them.
3.  A Thousand Mornings - a Mary Oliver poetry book.
4.  Floor Sample - it's Julia Cameron's autobiography.... 
5.  Sensory Intelligence - I was recently reminded by my friend Mel - why it's so good!
6.  The Vein of Gold - Another follow on to the Artist Way - it's the thickest one so far.
7.  Bringing up Girls - by James Dobson, there seems to be much in there about teenager girls - can never know too much about this topic.

Pretty heavy deep material - but I'm in love with all these books and I'm planning on reading Julia's autobiography on my flights... I have extremely long travel times - so it will be awesome to get lost in that!


My hubby was raving about my hair this week - so I took a photo of myself to see what all the fuss was about.  And I have to be honest, I was quite shocked to see how much I'm looking like my Momsie.  I am a good mixture of both my parents but in this pic - I just see her, in her younger years.  This capture feels like a bit of a time warp.  I sent the picture to my folks and my Dad said exactly the same thing!!!!  Which I just love!  I love seeing genetics at play... 

ps... I think my mom was beautiful... still is!  #honored 

When I told my girls what GrandPops has said they were... "ahhhh Granny is so beautiful"  I love the way they see life.

So I haven't bought creative pieces for ages - mainly because I was putting money aside for Italy.  But this month - I decided to purchase a piece or four.  They are all small pieces but they are all so interesting to me.  It's something I've been wanting to do.  Is put small and/or tiny pieces around the house - not only faces or paintings but just creatively interesting pieces.


From the incredibly creative Constanza -  I love this stitching - the red fabric saucer is MamaAfrica fabric I sent her.  She's used it many of her pieces and it totally suited her style.  She's as incredible with the paintbrush/pencil as she is with the needle.
Honored to have more of her pieces.


These two are from my sweet friend and travel buddy, Renee Plains.
If you know anything about me, you will know how much I love this theme... and Renee's pieces are amazing.  She's bringing them to Italy for me.
Can't wait!

Sunday 7 September 2014

Beautiful quiet weekend...

I just had such a beautiful weekend... why???  Because it was perfectly delightfully quiet and unrushed!  And the best part... I was home!  Plus my sweet friend popped in for a quick coffee and a precious chat!  I love beautiful people!  Just so grateful!

Plus I got to start packing this weekend.  I know that sounds crazy early!  But I have a week to go and I have a very hectic week and it gave me the chance to see what I still need to get, how I needed to downscale and cut back etc etc.  What makes it more challenging is packing up the art supplies.  But I am excited to say I'm good.

I basically had to get all these art supplies into....

These two pouches... well mostly!  PS... I didn't take all those brushes (even though I wanted to.  I really only packed the necessaries.

I also managed to put together little gift packs for my friends.  I made these sweet little gift bags from old coffee sacks that I got from a local coffee shop.
A perfect upcycle project!  I plan to do more of that!

I was looking for a little journal to take with me to Italy so I was looking through my ready made journals, altered books and I had forgotten about this wonderful little book.  I need to work more in here.

I did this Journal Spread as part of my homework in the FullCircleWorkshop in mid February.  I decided to just add a bit more depth to her face and she took a delightful turn.  Again mapping my growth over the past 6 months - so excited when I can actually see it!  She was mainly painted with black and white gesso!  I love that stuff!

Saturday 6 September 2014

#InMyStudio - a sweet monochromatic journey

The last few weeks have been too busy to spend real quality time #InMyStudio - so getting a chance to do just little amounts of creativity with my StabioPencil has been a delightful surprise!  I learnt a lot and it was good to experiment and play!
I'm really grateful!

Today was the first Saturday in ages that we got to spend the whole day at home!
A slow morning, tidying up, getting some things ready for while I'm away etc.etc.
It's been the best weekend I've had in a really long time.

Friday 5 September 2014

#InMyStudio - a little series


Another little stabilo and gesso drawing/painting... So enjoying working with a pencil!  Who knew that painting with a pencil could be such fun and so satisfying... I am doing 3 in this little series... But after this... I have 3 big unfinished paintings to work on. I am hoping to get much needed and appreciated studio time.

Monday 1 September 2014

Life in General.... captured in technicolor!

 My sweet friend Betty reminded me the other day to look back and see how far I've journeyed with my art.  Boy was she right - sometimes I get so stuck in the now and take for granted and totally forget about the progress and growth.  The constant reminder that things take time to mature and growth takes effort and work!!! Constantly pushing oneself to dig a little deeper.  For me, when I started this journey, my aim and challenge was to find the creative from my head and not just copy from a photograph.
Just over 2 years ago - I started this intuitive journey...

Little reminders and totally feeling encouraged.
So yes the journey has been long and lots of hard work and time in the seat but I'm encouraged to push through and deeper and excited where I will be in another two years time.  Who knows?

Then and now

Then and now

I'm forcing myself to slow down and rest up a bit... it's not easy.
I hit this year running and I haven't seemed to catch my breath... not once.
I left home early this Sunday, to pop into KalkBay to pick up some last minute things for Italy and to steal a coffee and walk on the beach with my special friend Mel.
August winter days have been rather horrible... so having a beautiful weekend like this - huge bonus!  My beautiful Kitty captured this.  Love!


How incredible are these captures of my Kitty girl!
Corks is totally into Creative Portraiture and who better as a subject than Kitty!
So amazing these two when they get together!  I'm so loving them finding their own creativity!


Busy collecting last minute things for my Italy Art Retreat...
Still have a few things to do and get...
Picked up a sweet little daily sling/messenger bag and beautiful pencils... I still need some paints and I still have to get my paper/canvas/journals.

 This weekend at the Cotlands Fundraiser - I discovered this incredible handmade product full of essential oils and natural plant products.  It feels like I found something I have been looking for for the longest time... Just so beautiful!!! And a real spoil.


Even though life has been so crazy - still managing to find beauty in all of it!