Weekly news and Studio views...

Do you ever feel like the only words that come out of your mouth is how exhausted you always are.  Please tell me it's only this time of year... either that or I'm feeling my age.  I know we are all working hard and please just tell me that I'm normal.   So that being said... I've so sleepy and exhausted this week.  I had a 1am homework call with my Kitty girl and woke at 4am (I don't know).  Well... I can do the all nighter thing but it chases me all week long.  Not great.  I've also had a busy week work wise but all good and so positive.  Being on up to date definitely has it's perks.

My TeaBagGirls have been keeping me captivated... but I'm only up to #12 I seem to be moving slower than most... some flow out in 10 minutes and others, well they are a bit fussy and keep me a bit longer!  But all in all each new one has been delightful surprise. I haven't planned a single one and each time I sit down, I have no idea who will appear!  And I'm just loving that.

 During the 1am homework run the other night - I finished a painting I had been working on since before Italy. 

SandDollar Collector 16"x24" on Canvas Paper

 I am thrilled to say that she sold the next day and is on it's way to her new home... I can't tell you how much I love that.  It touches my heart every single time I sell a piece.  Maybe a piece of me goes with each one.

 I have been receiving lovely letters all week.  I do love all of it!!!!

And this Sunday I have a lovely Skype chat scheduled with my sweet Robin friend from Aussie and who I got to meet in Italy and I can't wait to catch up.

I'm so excited that I finally made gym today!  I've had this on again and off again relationship with exercise but I'm hoping to have a more balanced one going forward.

Plus most of our friends from Italy are getting together this weekend in California to do a beautiful workshop with Misty about following your Dreams.  My heart is tender knowing I won't be there but I'm so stoked they have this opportunity to come together and to create.  I am with them in spirit - heart and soul!

A much needed breakaway - so grateful for forced rest....

Sooooo I'm finally up to date with life, work and everything else... can I actually say that out loud without it coming back to bite me in the neck...

 

But that being said... I got to have Friday at home catching my breath and soooo totally finding peace in the quiet.  Finding calm in quiet spaces in my little home.  So grateful for these precious moments to myself.  Plus I was packing up us girls to meet Digz in Wine and Whale Country for the weekend.  He had another stage adventure race!  We haven't had a weekend away together for ages and we were excited.

We arrived to this.... our backdoor view... 

We had no wifi, signal, comms or tv and no art supplies or computers.

It was forced rest and forced silence!

And it was rather wonderful.

Once I got over the initial idea of no comms and no art supplies - I pulled out my book and curled up to read my Julia Cameron Autobiography.  I had a glorious nap on Saturday... just what the doctor ordered.  We shared wonderful meals together, lots of healing laughter and lots of deep convos.  It was truly what we all needed.  And it was so embraced by all of us.  We have come home with happy full hearts.  Digs race was good and being a support to him is something we all love!  While Digz rode all day - we got to spend awesome time together - girlie time!

Goofing around, reading together.  Cuddling together and lots and lots of laughing together!

I love the tenderness of this shot.

I love how they still find me in bed and creep in for cuddles in my arms and occasionally fall asleep there... as grown up as they are getting... this is so precious to me!!!!

PreciousStolenMoments!

Digz at the end - all dusty and dirty...
but raving!

MarketStall - lots and lots of bread!

Pity I can't have any :-(

Goodbye beautiful view... it's been special and the birdlife - incredible!

So grateful for this time away to help us get through the final push to the end of the year!

We have 6 weeks of hard work ahead of us!

#InMyStudio - I did something a little crazy... but loving it!

Remember this... 

Well it's been hanging in my room since I finished it and I haven't been sure what to do with it... Someone said they had a gallery that they wanted me to put it in - but I just didn't feel this piece or I was ready for that.  The sheer size of this piece made it impressive and kind of take your breath away.... but everyday I looked at it, I knew deep down inside, that I would still change it more.

Yet the prospect of that felt so ginormous and I wasn't sure I had the capacity to take that on yet again... Plus I knew my girls might get mad with me.... I usually get moaned at when I do that but those SunflowrAngels had been beckoning me for the past few weeks... needing change.  I started throwing it out there that I was considering a makeover... and after Digz had left for his adventure race and the girls were quietly doing homework - I snuck it to my studio and she got a healthy dose of beautiful gesso!

Trying not to panic...

But I have to say when she appeared - I knew we were going to be okay because she was 1000 times better than my first version - out of all the girls she was the one that just didn't feel right.  But I'm thrilled to bits with her.  Now she might be my fav by far...

Now you can see what I mean....

Covering that blue background took all night...

We still have a ways to go... but once again we will journey together and I'm excited... way more excited than the first time.  I've completely fallen in love with this makeover and I can't wait to finish this piece once and for all.

Oh and I am loving the more subdued tones and loving their dresses way more....   

#InMyStudio - 100Faces - #6, 7, 8 slowly gaining momentum...

These two have crept into my heart!

Oh my goodness - I am having so much fun!

I have 8 little ladies hanging on my wall.

#InMyStudio - internet blues and creative hues...

I'm not sure what's going on with the internet - but it's causing me the blues!!!

It's interfered all week with work and it's generally been a struggle.  I sometimes work remotely - which has made it virtually impossible... thank goodness during long waits I've been able to play #InMyStudio...

I had an old abandoned canvas gessoed and ready and waiting,.. I used my Botticelli book for the start with for a reference and this beautiful lady crept onto my canvas and straight into my heart!  I'm totally in love with her hand, blue beads and eyes.

She took me the whole day to paint!  Digby was watching the rugby and doing things and the girls were busy too!  I love it when it just works out right!  Guilt free studio time and beauty finds it way out!

Hands are still part of my journey and I'm learning so much about them... 

Saturday news... in pictures...

So you have discovered I'm a gadget junkie.

But you must also know how much I love iphonography.

It's the only way I take pictures these days and with cellphone technology the way it is and with it's camera quality improving all the time - it's more than enough.  Esp with all the apps etc.  So I've been eyeing out lenses for my iphone for the longest time and I've finally found some...  I have 5 new lenses - I'm delighted!  Although I will only have it for a few months... as I see the new iPhone 6 in my near future.

Let the playing begin.

This week we celebrated my hubbies 10 year anniversary at work and we all went out to paint the town red...  A sunset cruise on the Tigger Two... dinner at The Grand.  Always lovely to play grown up and do things that we don't usually get to do!

Any reason to celebrate this guy - and I'm in!

#InMyStudio - 100Faces fun - 5 done 95 to go...

The vibe and excitement on Instagram about 100faces has been brilliant - everyone one jumping onboard - I love that when it happens... it's #onehundredfaces revolution.... and it's catchy!

I'm having the best time so far.  Painting on teabags and so tiny has it's challenges but all in all - I'm loving working this way!  What a joy!  The challenge is still to capture emotion and expression when painting so minute - well for me... that's the joy!  Each one I start - turns out completely differently than how I first imagined and I just adore that!  I'm letting each one lead the way... and so far I'm completely delighted and completely captivated.

She had me at Hello - #1

Delicate & Soft #2                                        Pearls of Wisdom - #3

Sincere and Tenderhearted - #4

She's stolen my heart wholeheartedly.

She feels emotional, tender and deep!

My fav so far!

Darling - #5