Possum and Deer

Morning walk..

2012-01-25T22:45:00.000-08:00

I have begun walking each morning to try and shift some of my spare tyre and at the end of my walk I say hello to this statue at the Buderim Craft Cottage....I really like it...

This lady holds up the sky or the rain or the sun, whatever is happening...

..next time I need to copy out what this is for...info on the plaque of course, which I have read but have also forgotten..

New journal

2012-01-22T14:52:00.000-08:00

This is the handmade journal that I've kept for myself..I love playing around with old tapestries from the op shops...I have begun cutting random pieces out and just gluing them down..it works really well as they don't unravel at all..and the colours are often quite rich and varied.

Some of the pages I have started...at this stage I am mostly collaging with old pics and bits and pieces...I have no idea where most of these pages are headed but I don't really care either...I am truly enjoying the process...

Some photos of friends and family are sneaking in too...

Children's book pages used as wings...so cute..

Summer Rain..

2012-01-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

Last post was about the heat and now it is raining and raining and its much cooler...we live on Buderim hill and the tv towers are up in the clouds today. It is a wet cold day perfect for snuggling up with a book and a cuppa...I have a cup of tea and the tennis is on...we are very cosy in here after spending an hour or so at the gym...and then buying a couple of Aussie pies at the bakery afterwards..sort of defeats the purpose of the gym as they are definitely not diet food..but yuuummy...

I am having my tea in a big beautiful mug from T2 which was a chrissie prezzie from Trudy two christmasses ago...it is a gorgeous sky blue with old fashioned pink roses along the inner rim...very feminine.

Well since I began writing this I have ventured out..I needed my raincoat, pretty umbrella, (thanks again Trudes) and my gumboots...there weren't many people out walking funnily enough but I loved it...cool and fresh and NOT HOT...I really don't enjoy the heat in our Australian summers so these cooler times are great.

The top pic is from our balcony...normally this view, past the trees in the garden, is of the ocean and in front of that all the housing down below us, but as you can see on days like this there is nothing to see....

Summer heat

2012-01-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

First of all the photos from Sunday: You can see how excited we are about the walk..our incentive was knowing that at the end we would be heading off for a counter lunch..which is lunch at the local pub. Always good in Australia. (I needed to cover all my top part up after having the biopsy for skin cancer...scared the life out of me...)

About halfway along the walk...we didn't realize how far we needed to go to complete it...otherwise there wouldn't be so much glee...

34oC is our expected top temp today...I don't really mind it as long as I'm not out in the sun...I don't like air-conditioning but it really does get too hot inside without it...I have been out cleaning out the garage this morning and sorting a box of art materials...(read: junk..)..tipped out the spiders and saved what I really think I will use..(although probably won't) and the rest went into the garbage. It also seems to be the day to go through my clothing and toss out all the things which just hang around waiting for me to get a bit slimmer or taller..?? It feels good to sort out occasionally...for some reason going back to Canada has been on my mind even though it is 3 months away...maybe as it is a new year I'm thinking about it more. I have the feeling that I need to finish off any works in progress in my art, and not think about buying any more vintage books or paper etc to use...as it will all need to be stored anyway..Having said that, Laura asked me if I would like 2 bags of small canvasses and I had to say Yes! I have been selling some work out at Rosebed Street Gallery and they asked me again to take some out there yesterday so hopefully that will continue until I leave.

My goals this year are to speak up for myself more...so watch out...and to get fitter...I'm sore from the gym but will head back there this afternoon...I went on a 4km walk on Sunday with a group of friends which was fun but too hot..we started late in the morning...However I feel really good for having done it.

I am also feeling pretty grateful for my life at the moment as my close friend goes through a lot of pain and suffering with her cancer treatment...and I'm very grateful for my gorgeous kids and my friends...I know some people who don't have any contact with their children at all...

Woodford Folk Festival..

2012-01-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

Looking down at the crowd watching the blues artists..

The people sitting on the ground are building onto the little pile of rocks in the centre..don't know what it is called but apparently by the end of the festival it is really high from everyone adding to it all week...they must bring rocks from home..lol..

Me, Zoe, Alex and my nephew Josh and his girlfriend Sarah..this is the 3rd year they have camped at the festival all week..obviously they love it..

Relaxing on the grass in front of the big tent listening to Colin Hay from Men at Work...

Al on stage in the children's tent...this band was fun...

And the Gubbi Gubbi dancers..we have seen them a couple of times now and really like them..the little boy was so cute..he was very conscientious about getting the steps of the dance correct...

These tiles met us as we arrived...aern't they gorgeous?

A chrissie gift...

2011-12-29T14:27:00.000-08:00

This beautiful spoon was part of Trudy's gift to me from Holland...it is so pretty and now I have a special mug and special spoon that I can use every day for my morning coffee...I'm very particular and need the right utensils when I eat and drink...they have to be pretty..I hate ugly china and cutlery so this is perfect..thanks Trudes..

Op shop finds from my trip to Stanthorpe..

2011-12-20T22:37:00.000-08:00

3 rolls of vintage wallpaper....yay!!!!

Very old Readers' Digest covers

Fabrics from an old quilt...the one above is the original and below is the fabric put over the top...I didn't want the quilt just the fabrics and I love them so I sat for a few hours and unpicked them.

Another lot of Readers' Digest covers - all to be used for new journals...and close-ups of some of them below...quite lovely.

And these...an absolutely gorgeous old kids' book and the one on the right is an old cookbook....

Christmas dinner with mum

2011-12-20T22:30:00.000-08:00

I was caught out with my mouth full in this picture...

Santa arrived with prezzies for everyone...

Mum's friend Joanie with her dog Brownie..

and mum opening one of her prezzies from us...

Mucking around with art...

2011-12-05T14:41:00.000-08:00

I've been preparing some more books to make..I'm doing the online bookbinding class which I LOVE...so I went through my little collection of old books that I had kept for no reason apart from loving them and now they will become new books that will hopefully be used...Or sold..

Sitting in front of tv one nite I was bored but too tired to really do much else so I sat and drew faces on some beach pebbles I had collected...this was lots of fun..

Travel Journal: Melbourne.

2011-12-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

So I had fun carrying this little journal around Melbourne...writing a bit here and there...I have yet to print out some photos to add so I have some blank pages left for those...

Throughout my original book I used old photocopied pics from my family's travels as backgrounds...

...the angelhead carving above is a photo I took years ago on the outskirts of Melbourne...

and this girl above is from a vintage postcard...she is actually standing in an Iowa cornfield originally...I really liked the way she is looking out into the distance and so wanted her in here...

The black and white pic above right is of my mum walking along the cliffs in Tasmania when she was about 17..she is all rugged up with a walking stick cut from a tree...and then the photo up in the lefthand corner is of Florence taken by my dad on our travels when I was a teenager...nothing to do with Melbourne but of course to do with travelling...and the map of Australia on the golf ball is about the PGA President's Cup which is why we were in Melbourne.

Art

2011-12-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

I have started some more wire hearts...the vines are on and the foliage and flowers are in progress...on the heart below I spent a few hours sewing vintage fabrics and scarves into what I thought looked like flowers but at the end of it all I realized it all looked as though I had just wrapped some old material around the wire...hmmm..all that for not a lot. So back to the trusty wire ribbon roses...or roses made from gathered ribbons...like the pink one below. I'm trying to achieve a look that is floral and pretty but not too twee.. unique I suppose...I'll keep going until I achieve the effect I want...it will happen..it just sometimes takes longer than I want when I'm not even sure what I'm doing..(make sense?).

These 3 paintings are finally finished..I think..I have added some stitching to them if you can see that..I really had fun with these...I had no idea what they would be when I first put paint on the canvasses so it was very freeing..

Mingary Mountain Retreat

2011-11-29T00:44:00.001-08:00

This past weekend 4 of us went on a retreat to Mount Mee which is only an hour away from home. We stayed in this gorgeous big home - lots of bedrooms and bathrooms with nice touches throughout...little sayings and books to read.. a piano to play if we wanted...

Looking down the drive to the house nestled in the trees and the shed on the left...

2 of the balconies..the bottom one was off the dining room and kitchen and we spent a bit of time out here..looking out into the trees...with no other houses around us.

Part of the extensive garden.

Buddhas to greet us at the front door...and....

birdbaths and...

the most beautiful gardenias which were also laid out on our towels and in the bathrooms..their scent is so gorgeous..I brought some of them home and I can still smell them.

Lots of carved hands were placed around the rooms...

I really enjoyed the weekend...to be with 3 other women all committed to their personal growth and spiritual health was fantastic and I learnt a lot from them..We did some guided meditations and went out in the garden walking and laughed a lot too of course.

It was time out from life I suppose but also time for reflection.

For the Dutch kids...Hello! xo

2011-11-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

We had brunch at the Aussie kids' house on Sunday morning...yummy pancakes made by Don..here he is in the kitchen and I asked the kids to say hello to the Dutch kids...special hello to you guys..xoxo

Work in Progress and New Barbed Wire In Stock

2011-11-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is my watercolour 'ghost people in the garden piece' that is ongoing...not sure where it is headed but I found this very cute frame in the opshop for it so that is dictating the size for now..One of them is reading by a lamp in the garden..ha.

My friend Desley visited on the weekend and brought me a whole box of old barbed wire...when she received my text asking if she could do that she was at home with her husband Albert, and he is very keen to help out so sent over this big box (below) with some extra bits he added including this wonderful bit of chicken wire which has gone through a fire. You can see the colours on the close-up photo. Aaaand it already is in a great heart shape...I LOVE it...I think I have a pretty good life when I get gifts like this...

My First Hand Made Book

2011-11-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

I am doing a class online and this is the first book I have done..it is a bookbinding class. It is taught by Mary Ann Moss and her blog is Dispatch From LA..it is in my favourites..and it is one of my favourites..she is funny and open and relaxed and I really love reading her stuff. She talks about being a 'guerilla bookbinder' not a perfect bookbinder as she is not into perfection but lots of creativity. Having said that I think her books are well made but the colour and fun come across more than the structure I suppose...Anyway if you have a look at her blog you will see what I mean.

The fabric strips on the binding could be decorated a bit more and I wasn't quite sure how long to make them...so I will possibly add some more paraphernalia as time goes by.

Some of the pages waiting to be collaged etc. I'm going to use this one as a travel journal beginning next week when we fly to Melbourne for a week for the PGA...thats golf!! not tennis as a friend thought..haha..didn't tell Don...

I have always loved books...ever since I was little..I grew up with no tv but lots of reading and for a long time books were sacred and I wouldn't turn down page corners or write in them or damage them but now I use them in all sorts of art projects....I use the covers as I have here, and the insides as I have here also...I needed quite sturdy paper for this so some old picture books and coffee table books helped out with that...Trudes you might recognize some of them...

I really really loved doing this and have plans for MORE MORE MORE....I can plan them around the size I want and the purpose I want them for eg this one is small enough to put in my bag and carry around so I can sketch in it and write on the go..and it has plenty of pages to cover a holiday..

Sunshine Beach Surf Club...Good Music, Good Company

2011-11-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here I am with the musician we went to see...he was grrrrrreat!!

Col and Jane...both looking a bit hippy in their outfits..Col loves this shirt and it suits him..all 'peace and love'.

3 Friends...Me with Leonie and Sandra...xxx.

Phil talking to Al in between sets.

We are a group of lovely friends..we all have our idiosyncracies and oddities...(they the same thing?) but we all have good hearts and are pretty funny too..some of us. They all came for dinner at the surf club as I told them Al was playing. They enjoyed his music and the next time we go to one of his gigs we want to DANCE!!! So it will be a band gig.

Feeding Wild Dolphins....

2011-11-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

We spent a couple of days in a little place called Tin Can Bay...it is well known for the wild dolphins that come in each day, (when they feel like it), to be hand fed. This has been going on since about 1951, I think it was. A dolphin was hurt and came into the bay and was nursed by some people and when it regained its health, it began visiting each day and being fed and this has continued through a few generations.

They only recieve a tenth of their daily needs and some days they don't appear...it is entirely up to them. They can touch the people but we are not allowed to touch them at all and it is an on the spot fine of $300...

The volunteers (in the khaki uniforms), described the dolphins as coming in for 'tea and bikkies' as it is such a small amount of food for them..This was of course a pretty incredible experience..

Work in progress...although more like fun not work.

2011-11-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

I am playing with watercolours again..I find them really difficult but really enjoyable as they are so beautiful to use. I'm doing lots of drawings of different figures from old family photos and vintage postcards...repeating the same drawings over and over. Practice does make the finished drawing better and I can definitely see the difference in each next drawing.(is that goodish grammar?I feel a bit fluey this morning so my grammar brain is slow.) I am doing the same with some flora from around the garden, vines and flowers, leaves, plants..there is lots to choose from..and then they are being combined on backgrounds of old maps.

This picture above is from a vintage postcard of a girl holding a sickle standing in a field. Somebody's personal message on the card says, "Iowa cornfields, gone but not forgotten". Pretty cute.

What I really like also is that I don't have any plan in mind other than the process...no finished anything is in my head. So it really is about doing and having fun and playing and seeing what happens..

The picture above is from a photo of my mum when she was in her late teens and was crowned "Queen of the Ball", hence the crown.

So this is my mum with her crown and a lady from another postcard reading by the light of a lamp..I think the flowers and leaves etc will become a lot more detailed and the figures will be mysteriously hanging around in the background...maybe...

Whales and rollercoast boat ride...

2011-10-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

So, Don and I setting off our on whale watching adventure! It was a 3 hour trip from Mooloolaba out to the 'Whale Highway' just off the Sunshine Coast. I love that name - Whale Highway ie. Most locals have been seeing whales regularly just when walking in the mornings..I saw some off Point Perry one morning when I was there early with friends, so there are lots about. It took maybe half an hour to get out far enough and then we cruised around looking for them. Found a couple of pods of mothers and babies. The closest we could get was about 50 metres..and they weren't curious enough to come closer to us but thats ok.

Leaving Mooloolaba was very rough and the boat was rising up on the waves and then crashing right down into the troughs..I am normally pretty nervous with that sort of behaviour but this time it was FUN. We sat up in the pointy end of the boat and there were probably 15 people with us, the rest down the back or inside (some poor unfortunates were quite seasick...) Each time we crashed down again I screamed...there was a little girl sitting right beside me and we were screaming in unison..haha..Don kept saying to me 'You're screaming like a little girl..' and your point is??? It was great..I think most people were either yelling, screaming or just groaning..

I had a hat but it was a broadbrimmed cane hat which would have blown off easily so Don lent me his cap as my skin is so fair..unfortunately that meant he had no hat and we didn't realize until that nite how that wasn't a good idea. He ended up with a very red sunburnt face..quite sore..

This is me just before going out...I was extremely tired after a busy week and not much sleep the nite before so Don wanted to take a 'before and after' photo...cranky before the trip and happy afterwards...probably about right.

And a couple of paintings I am taking out to the gallery for the Smalls exhibition opening next week...the picture below is only 40cm square and the one above is smaller...I have 6 to take out..Don and Nick spent hours framing this one below...It has a small quote by Emily Dickinson inserted in it where I put a hole by mistake.

Art table in progress...

2011-10-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

This actually says Perseverance...lol..not really 'erserverance'...haha..beside part of a painting..perseverance is what I often need..

A piece of old fence which was 'handed down' to me by Trudes...I love it..thanks Trudes..and a cute old painting, I think from Laura.

Some of my art journals..in progress..

This little doll is very old. She is still gorgeous.

My art table - fairly tidy...with a couple of works in progress

Mum and More of our Cold Weekend..

2011-10-07T01:19:00.000-07:00

Apple and Grape Motel...Don spent the weekend practically inside the whole time watching Austar and the grand finals in Rugby League and Aussie Rules Football...it was nice and cosy...

The 'art' in our motel room...sort of dated and cute...

Me giving mum a footrub...it was so cold..8 degrees top and only for a couple of hours...in Spring! I took one cardigan and the big jumper I am wearing to slob around in inside, (it has a big hole in the back but I love it) and had to wear them both all weekend...

Mum waving to the camera....I asked her to do that for Alex and Trudy...

Visit to Pen and mum...Stanthorpe

2011-10-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of pictures of the town of Stanthorpe...it is quite a cute place..a few old buildings..

Pen, my sis, coming out of the garage sale we took off to on Sunday morning out in the country..it was a gorgeous drive..

Me..on the boulder I took the other photo from..

This is taken from my sister Penny's place looking down the valley...the cattle have just been given a yummy treat of apples!

Lazy life...

2011-09-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

We spent most of our time out on this verandah...all day for days...I read and wrote and painted and drew and loved it all.

I lay under a huge old bottle tree and took this pic...Desley figured out it could be 2 or 3 hundred years old...it is quite incredible..

The chooks...we became quite attached to them..they walk all day scouting around for whatever they eat..they must do miles each day..

Road trip to babysit the farm at Moola..

2011-09-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

We stopped at Yarraman for lunch instead of Blackbutt on our way out to Moola..just for a change...and right next door was an op shop!! who planned that? Me!..and I found a few bags of old buttons...I don't use them very often but still love 'em..

Quilts and colour

2011-09-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

These are pics of my quilts mostly..obviously closeups. I love all the fabrics and colours...I think I used to love patchwork quilts because I could use so many fabrics in one go as I can never make up my mind which one to choose.

Calm and serene

2011-09-03T23:51:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with my new camera and I wandered around our place here taking close-ups of lots of things..I took many photos so have only posted some today. I tried to group all the calmer pictures together...I just realized they almost all have shells in them..I like shells and bits of broken coral and anything off the beach really.

This little doll's head was my niece Jodie's...it is still with me...she actually has a little tear running down her face...in the background is a little piece of art Trudes made.

I looove this one...the '5' bit of timber I found on the beach and it occurred to me the other day that I have lived in 5 countries...I couldn't work out what to do with it even though I love it..it'll probably end up in an art work one day.

I really like spirals....

This is fun and I'm going to post some more tomorrow..with colour!!

My Day for Art

2011-09-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

Its a gorgeous day but I'm still sitting here in bed with the laptop...drinking coffee and looking at my facebook and emails and checking out peoples' blogs...I'm all on my own for 4 days as Don left yesterday morning for Toronto in New South Wales, (10 hours away), to his latest powerlifting comp with his mate Ted. I have a lot of art planned and maybe also a trip out to see friends and a walk on the beach..but nothing is set in concrete and I can change it all if I want..

I painted these little 'planets' to cut out and add to a small collage in progress. I'm working towards entering another exhibition and this time the works wanted will be smaller scale. So another focus for me with my art. I can become quite scattered otherwise and not really have any goal in mind and sometimes just think what the hell and just give up and go and do something else. I know I am extremely fortunate to have this good life with lots of time to use for my art..when I was working fulltime it was really difficult as I was so tired all the time.

The first photo is the flyer for my first ever exhibition!! Well, its not actually all about me..but it is the exhibition that I have one small piece in. The painting that I showed in the last blog post has also been accepted for the online auction to raise proceeds for Japan. I really liked that painting but the photo doesn't show it very well. I had to take it out to the gallery so they could see it in the flesh too and they said the same thing...it was a lot fun to paint.

So....off to create!!

In my home.

2011-08-30T03:50:00.000-07:00

This painting was an attempt at a traditional subject (teacups and saucers) using a modern method...I had a lot of fun with it. Its actually a lot more colourful but difficult to get a good photo.

I have an 'altar' at the front door...it is intended to protect the people in this home and I have this angel above, the small buddhist statue in front of her from Thailand via Trudy and Tom and a large wooden Buddha which was my mum and dads' and must be about 50 years old...will post a photo of him soon. Also on the altar is this little doll from Japan I have had since I was a girl...It is also a repository for any natural elements I find out in the world...eg rocks, leaves, seedpods etc. I have a feather tree in place at the moment.

And my birthday roses from Don. I love them...

Beach Treasures

2011-08-30T02:11:00.000-07:00

I scrounged along the beach the other day and found these little treasures...above are some spines from a sea urchin...I have never seen so many in one place. I plan to sew them into embroideries...I like the sound they make when the knock together...very 'shelley' and sort of bell-like.

Some more embroidery bits and pieces...all ready with holes to attach them.

A shell I had to have and heart rocks all along the beach...

These are little rounded bits of coral I think, with funny markings...they remind me of game markers of some sort.And I took these photos with my new birthday camera!! It is great and I love it.

Trudy's last stay before flying away...

2011-08-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

Here she is in bed...the last morning here...I love spoiling my kids and breckie in bed is one of the ways I can do that when they stay. We had the nicest couple of days... pizza nite at Al and Zoe's and lunch with Al on Tuesday and then all of us together that afternoon at home..although poor old Zoe was unwell...but new shoes from Alex may have helped her mood..He bought them while we went shopping for books for Trudes for the plane. When Trudy finally left here on Wednesday morning I said that we were only saying goodbye until Brisbane which was her initial destination..but still cried. I will certainly miss both Trudes and Tom but I'm also pretty excited for them and proud that they would have the courage to leave their jobs and pack everything up and sell up and head off on such a huge adventure. And next year we hope to visit from Canada. So again life is pretty good..

Pizza nite at Al and Zoes'....

2011-08-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Al and Zoe's cute little flat...Alex relaxing before making homemade pizzas..including the bases...they are not visible in this pic but there were 2 bowls of pizza dough rising in the doorway in the sun all afternoon.....

These were growing out the back near the clothesline...and they needed to be inside..in an old jar...

The homemade pasta sauce by Erin...decorated with an edible flower...so pretty! The flower was a broccoli blossom...

And Al holding the other jar of sauce...with the nasturtium flower peeping out.

Hard at work in his kitchen..he made 8 pizzas and we ate them all...

Sophia, Zoe and Trudy deep in conversation and ignoring the camera...

Some of the finished product...it must have been later in the nite as they are still on the plate...no photos of Don, me or Erin...oh well...it was a fun nite...very relaxed.

Letting go....

2011-07-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

My gorgeous girl leaves next week to fly away with her man Tommy to go and live in Europe for a few years...I will really miss her...she and I are wonderful friends and that makes me really happy and grateful but of course sad too as I'm not sure when I will see her again. Don and I plan to go over and visit them in Holland next year so hopefully that will come about. Trudes is coming up here for a few days before she goes and we will go to Brissie for their farewell party on the weekend...so its not happening quite yet. I do get teary every now and then though and need to remind myself of what a good thing they are doing for themselves and what a great adventure they are about to embark upon...

I have been following lots of art blogs lately finding so much to inspire me with my art. I was really brave this week and entered a piece in an exhibition at a small and beautiful art gallery where I took a few classes recently. It is called Rosebed St Gallery in Eudlo and the link to their website is on my favourites list of blogs here. I had decided that I would not pre-judge my piece but had to enter it as I've never done this before. So I sent it off on Monday then realized that I was actually a day late but they accepted it anyway...all the artists will be notified next week of acceptance or not. For me it is the fact that I'm having a go and if it is accepted that will be another matter. I don't expect anything. The photo above is a detail...I made 2 hearts of barbed wire..rusted..with a recycled fabric vine and embroidered details and ribbon roses wrapping them...the theme was 'Resilience' and mine was surrounding the inner strength of the human heart and nature...Don helped me with the name which is 'Wounded Heart'.

This is a photo Trudy took in our place a few months ago...a couple of old jars with flowers sitting on my red cedar table...which I will be selling hopefully soon...I have decided my furniture needs to go as storing it while we are in Canada doesn't make much sense..I have let go of these things emotionally now and know it is a good thing. And Canada is full of cute old furniture which I am going to buy...not all of it maybe but something!!

Magical Monday...my good life..

2011-07-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Typical Aussie dam...smallish manmade...this was a very quiet peaceful spot at the nursery

Sandra laughing as usual...she finds life funny....

Leonie contemplating a blade of grass...we had a perfect sunny afternoon...

Looking very ladylike...

And us in the restaurant...Sandra not wanting this photo...she gave in gracefully though...

I spent Sunday at the Suitcase Rummage sale again with Trudes in Brisbane. It was her last one before she heads off overseas to travel and live for a while so she had lots of clothing and books and things to get rid of. It was a big market this time in terms of stallholders but we were able to grab a good spot on one of the benches which we think is better than down on the ground...it seems to make it easier for people to go through everything and is a little bit more inviting when they don't have to be bending down to ground level. Trudy sold at least half of what she took so that was excellent...it was another interesting market day with all the shopping crowd...I love it as the fashions are so out there...not really fashions as such more peoples' individuality coming out which I enjoy a lot more.

Monday I travelled home by train which I also love...the Sunshine Coast part of the trip is through the bush and past pineapple farms and some of the Glasshouse Mountains - gorgeous. Don picked me up and we headed home for a while before I took off again to Yandina, about 20 minutes north by car. I was meeting Leonie and Sandra for lunch at Fairhill Nursery, out in the country at the end of a little winding road.

The nursery itself is huge and full of birds singing in the trees. I was early so chatted to the nursery man about what a beautiful place it was to work in and he told me that the birds come down each afternoon and swim and wash in the big bird bath out in the centre of the nursery. They will build their nests in some of the bigger plants necessitating signs to let customers know that for a while those plants are not for sale.

After lunch we walked through the gardens and around the dam to sit on a bench and lie in the sun for an hour or so. Lots of talking happened of course and laughter too.

Sandra hates having her photo taken so the formal photo of the 3 of us has her with eyes closed...but I was able to snap a couple of cute pics of her later. Leonie thinks photos are overrated so just ignored me I think...at least she smiled for the camera...

My life is still pretty good.

Canada Day

2011-07-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

Well a few people here knew about Canada Day, especially after we told them! We didn't have any fireworks here just a quiet nite with a friend over for dinner but we thought about you Canada...xoxo

Some pics from our outings..

2011-06-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

Trudes blowing out her candles...the photographer didn't get any from the front...who was that Tom? Scenes from the crowd waiting to see the Dalai Lama....very patiently...

Sitting with our chai and coffee beforehand...the setting is so pretty...right in the bush..

The Dalai Lama and Australian zoo...

2011-06-17T22:17:00.000-07:00

2 gorgeous days....out to see the Dalai Lama at Chenrezig Institute at Eudlo on Thursday and then off to the Australian Zoo on Friday. Trudy and Tom drove up on Wednesday nite after work to stay for a couple of nites for these special events and also to have a birthday dinner on Thursday nite for her 25th birthday.

Chenrezig Institute is about 15 minutes drive from our place but because of all the security precautions and the sheer number of people involved with the Dalai Lama's visit, we drove to the little town of Eudlo and then travelled in buses from there. It was all well organized and we were up there by about 10.30. 12midday was our deadline for being seated so we had plenty of time to browse the stalls and find something to eat....some risotto balls which I think were called aroncini. We had 3 different flavours and they were quite yummy and then cups of coffee and chai tea. After this we made our way up quite a long track to a cleared field in amongst all the trees where the stage was set up. The crowd of 4000 waited quite patiently I thought, for about an hour until the Dalai Lama arrived. I liked our spot as the hill dropped away from us and we were looking out into the treetops behind the stage...gorgeous. When he arrived on the stage he was very down to earth and relaxed....he took a couple of minutes to work out which microphone he wanted to stand at as the sun was beating down on him...when he was in position he made a 'peek-a-boo' gesture out through the awnings which we all loved of course...and just said 'hello'.

I found him to be just as we see him on tv...very humble, laughs a lot...at himself often and very wise in a down to earth manner...very practical. He spoke to us for a couple of hours I think. I felt that it was such a good sign that all those people made the effort to go and see him - it was such a peaceful event.

Our meal on Thursday nite was fun...we played Rummikub while the roast was in the oven and then after our meal we had chocolate cake and this really yummy coconut ice-cream made on the sunny coast here. Zoe came over but Al was away. And there were candles in her cake...

Friday Trudes, Tom and I went to the Aussie zoo and Trudy really wanted to see the wombats and koalas...maybe because they are heading overseas soon for a few years...they are my favorites too...I think Tommy liked the tigers best...not sure. The show was funny and the whole day was lovely...

Sunny, rainy, who knows?

2011-06-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

So right now it is gorgeous out there...but yesterday it was bleak...actually even half an hour ago it was bleak so the weather is still doing its own thing. But if the sun hangs around it might be a good time for a walk on the beach.

Yesterday we visited some friends with a new baby. Ethan is 5 days old and was 5 and 1/2 pounds born...he is a perfect little little baby. We both got to hold him for ages while he slept so peacefully. His mum looks relaxed and happy and his dad looks exhausted and thinner. Sammi, the mum had an extremely difficult pregnancy as she had only a 2% chance of falling pregnant and when she did was a high risk pregnancy because of her medical condition. So the outcome of having this perfect baby is pretty wonderful. I had forgotten how amazing a new life is...of course it brought back lots of my memories of having my kids and then thoughts of grandchildren for me one day....

I seem to be strengthening a lot of my female friendships at this stage in my life...I am surrounded by groups of women more and more..in my recovery group and in my volunteer work and with Trudes and her friends. Desley, my friend from Dalby, talks to me about this stage in our lives and the 'crone' years as she puts it. Not being derogatory but that is a term for this phase in womens' older years. A lot changes which is obvious, but there are so many benefits and there is a transition stage when the old me and the new me need to meld and settle into each other. I have had to let go of a lot which goes with being female...My women friends my age talk about the confusion in choosing clothing for example as we seem to not fit in a category at the moment. We don't want to be matrons but we don't want to be mutton dressed as lamb either..So last weekend when I went to Brisbane and Trudy and Sarah helped me put some outfits together that was so appreciated....and it was a real help to me. Now Desley wants to see my outfits...I am lucky to be surrounded by so many great females...young and older...and old...

Life is good...

Fun at the markets again...

2011-06-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

I love this market...it is the Suitcase Rummage sale in Brisbane every first Sunday of the month...we were in Reddacliff Place just opposite the casino and heading down towards the mall...so lots of passing traffic. This month's market was huge with lots and lots of fun things for sale...mostly clothing but other goods like cupcakes...yum...and jewelry and handcrafted wares like timber bowls and artworks and knitted goodies..

This pic was taken by a friend of Trudy's on Trudy's camera so I stole the photo. We sat with Laura and were visited by Sarah and some other friends of the girls. It is quite a social day with lots of chats with the people in the crowd and lots of people watching ...the fashions are pretty amazing with all the vintage outfits and indie fashion and just plain incredible. I would like to stop people and just ask them to stand still so I can take their photo but don't think that is a good plan..

Trudes and I just happened to be wearing similar cardies...I went shopping Friday nite with Trudes and then Sarah joined us to help me choose some clothes as I get bamboozled with it all and I bought my (half-price!!!) orange cardigan and Trudes happened to have an op-shop cardie too. So...twins.

I tried to steal some photos of Laura and Sarah from their facebook sites but couldn't so will ask them and post them on here soon...they are lovely girls and fun for me to be around...

Some Aussie winter pics for Melanie, Dave and Phillipe

2011-05-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning the 4 of us, Don and I, Tom and Trudes, drove up to Peregian Beach which is about 20 minutes away to visit Alex and Zoe for brunch. Don made pancakes with maple syrup...real Canadian maple syrup! and Zoe made bacon and tomato and croissants...and I made the coffee and tea. We only had a short while to visit as the Brizzie kids had to get home for Tom's indoor soccer game...but we had time to duck across the road for a play on the beach. Being on the beach does seem to bring out the kid in all of us as you can see from some of the photos...

Tommy is always a clown...a very entertaining clown. Trudy took the following pics..she has a great camera and is very talented with it now. The closeup still life photos are details of our place in Buderim..and then the path down to the beach..while we were there we stopped an older couple (well, my age anyway) pushing their grandson along in his pram, and we asked if they would take a group shot 'if they had time'. They laughed and said they thought so...it just meant that when they reached the cafes they would be having coffee 30 seconds later. What a good life!

Trudy has some beautiful photos on her blog and when I learn how I will put the link on here but she is listed on my list of favourite blogs on the right hand side...so have a look..

Family weekend...

2011-05-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in bed coffee in hand and laptop where its meant to be, on my lap, perusing facebook and my daughter's blog and her friend Laura's blog and other inspiring and gorgeous blogs and facebook pages.

One of the facebook pages is from Rosebed St Gallery & Studio in Eudlo where I took part in a workshop on Friday morning. We worked out in the garden under a canopy and the day was gorgeous. The workshop is about letting go of preconceived ideas and attitudes we may have about our art and becoming more self-expressive. I feel that this is great for all of life not just my art. There were 6 of us in the class and we worked collaboratively which was different for me. I think what I got from it was a feeling of play and fun and loosening up. Which is probably exactly what I am after as I find my art can be very tight and too 'worked'.

Today my gorgeous girl, Trudy and her partner Tom, are coming for an overnite visit and I'm very happy about that.In a couple of months they will be heading off overseas to Europe for 2 or 3 years and I'm beginning to realize how close it is getting. I will be going back to Canada next April and so we will be closer but I don't know how long we will be apart for in the next few years.

So....the thing is to live in the moment and enjoy our time together now. If there is no rain this afternoon we might go to the golfing range and hit some balls and just hang out and have fun. Tomorrow morning we'll head up to Peregian and have brunch with her brother Al and his partner Zoe...I really appreciate it when I have my 4 kids together...(I call Tom and Zoe mine too...)

Stanthorpe for the weekend - @ Penny's place.

2011-05-11T01:42:00.000-07:00

The weather was so gorgeous over the weekend. We took advantage of it and had a picnic lunch down in the garden...I fell asleep for an hour out in the sun. At night though it was cold enough to have a fire...very cosy..

These photos were taken early one morning with the mist hanging over the little valley and rising above the dams.

Mothers' Day with my mum

2011-05-11T01:33:00.000-07:00

This is my mum Marcia with her lovely old friend, Joanie. Joanie and mum share a birthday so they are twinnies...at 84! They're very cute and Joanie looks out for mum as mum can't speak anymore. Mum is holding the flowers that I picked in my sister Penny's garden. It was a gorgeous bouquet of roses and daisies and herbs and pretty soft leaves. A real 'tussy mussy'.

I'm not sure if mum realized it was Mothers' Day but thats okay...I loved seeing her of course and I think she is a very cute old girl now and nice to be with.

2011-05-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning Jane picked me up and we drove down to the Caloundra markets, about 20 minutes away...Julie met us there and we checked out the market for an hour or so and then went down to the waterfront for coffee. These photos are of our view from the coffee shop and then one of us of course. The market was fun but I didn't buy anything..there was a lot of clothing and jewelry from India and things like handmade soap etc. I bought a Japanese pancake which wasn't great...I love Japanese food but it had mayonnaise all over it and I don't think that is strictly Japanese...oh well I had to try it.

Julie is on the left, Jane in the middle and then me! Jane is my artist buddy...we have lots to talk about when we get together..

Easter at the Bunyas

2011-04-26T02:06:00.000-07:00

We have been holidaying and spending time up at the Bunya Mountains for many years. It is a national park 3 hours from where we live on the Sunshine Coast and about 40 minutes from Dalby where I did live. It is always green in a country which is beset with drought after drought and is covered in large high trees called...Bunya Trees! They are very green and have long spiky leaves and also very large nuts, about football size which drop to the ground below at 'nut' time.

We booked a unit from Canada 8 months ago as it is a popular place at Easter...so having only seen it on the net I was a bit nervous about what we would find. But it turned out to be pretty perfect...2 bedrooms upstairs with their own ensuites and another one down with a large living and kitchen/dining area with a little balcony and bbq. And it backed onto a quiet lawn area where lots of wallabies were congregating...so very nice.

It was cold by our standards...11 degrees at nite so we lit the fire and cuddled up at nite and the days were pretty sunny and lovely although a bit cool. We spent the time making art and watching silly movies and reading and just lazing...also lots of food and junk food...it was easter after all...chocolate time...yay.

Trudy gave me a cardboard globe of the world which we put together and then painted and have begun keeping a record of where we all have lived and want to live...

On Good Friday we had the 4 kids there and that was really special for me as that is a rare occasion now...especially with me in Canada at times and Trudy and Tom planning on travelling too...

2011-04-18T01:56:00.000-07:00

These photos are for Nikki....this is part of an antique dinner set given to me by my mum. The original set had enough plate settings for 12 people and there were 6 tureens with china ladles and 8 platters in different sizes. Mum halved the set and my sister and I were each given a dinner set for 6 people. Some of the plates have somehow found their way to Trudy's house...

The green plates were also some of mum's. I love the cabbage leaf plates. She had a pile of them and I now have a few. I try to use them every day.

Well I hadn't been able to access my blog....I've been having trouble with my hotmail and my new gmail and I'm not sure if it is me or the computer or the internet baddies..stuff I don't understand. Luckily I have some brainiac family members who know what computers are about...I rang my son-in-law, Tom, the other day for internet help and he was very patient and helpful. I realized though that maybe I need to persevere sometimes and so I did and got back on here. This blog is really nice to have for me to post photos for friends who are not okay with facebook. Living between the 2 countries means that I am often thinking about friends and family on the other side from whichever country I happen to be in at the time. So now of course I think of my Canadians....especially Nikki and Don's children, Melanie and David.

Some more art

2011-03-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

This is a page from my journal...the photo is one found in the thrift shops in Canada of all places and not of anyone I know...I just really liked it and of course it is in a very Aussie setting...

I know this is fairly rubbishy but just wanted to show off my spelling (??) not really my calligraphy, which is a new passion and one I am loving....

A page done on being a woman and aging....something that a lot of my friends seem to be going through or have gone through...it is all cliched stuff but very true...the letting go of being 'cute' and attractive and becoming the wise women we are now meant to be. Surely all that experience and living must count for something and I do honestly believe it does and that it should.

Some watercolour fun...my calligraphy ink, water spray bottle and my coffee mug...some favourite possessions.

Vignettes - my place and others'

2011-03-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

Some of the hearts I have collected arranged on an antique platter from my mum...

with a tealight candle set in the centre. The candle is in an old crystal cigarette lighter that was my dad's...I removed the lighter and was left with the crystal..pretty isn't it?

Some of the secondhand patterns I picked up for a dollar each...I was using one the other day and found it was brand new!

Some of the fabrics in my collection...I like having them piled up on the end of my table to keep my inspired.

This is Zoe and Alex's wall of books in their lounge....I love it...

Playing with watercolour.

2011-03-20T03:45:00.000-07:00

When we are in Canada I draw the buildings as we drive through the countryside..just quick sketches from the car...Canada is full of gorgeous old buildings. So I played with some of the drawings and painted them with a bit of poetry.

Watercolour pears

2011-03-20T03:36:00.000-07:00

At left is a pencil and watercolour drawing and on the right just watercolour...the pears were so pretty but not overly tasty...

Amamoor, Mary Valley, Queensland - Gorgeous

2011-03-08T15:41:00.000-08:00

We spent the day with our friend Gary who lives in a beautiful little village called Amamoor...he is now officially an Amamooron...(according to him).

Me in some of my 'keep that sun off me' clothing...I have an umbrella over my shoulder..I had just walked down a path through Gary's garden which is very thick and leafy and occasionally visited by the odd snake, hence the umbrella...(read weapon)!!

The Gympie Rattler chugging past the bottom of the garden...we acted as Amamoorons and waved nicely to the tourists...it would be fun to make the trip one day. Gary is perfecting the art of crossing his eyes and having a piece of grass hanging out of one side of his mouth for the next train....

Some tropical flowers....so pretty and fun to paint and draw..

and very textural foliage..

and Chuckles!!! Isn't he cute?

weekend with the girls...a couple of weekends ago..

2011-03-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Trudy and 2 of her friends, Sarah and Laura, drove up one Saturday morning to visit for the weekend..I loved it. They are all lovely, warm, intelligent young women and can they talk!! But they are creative and sensible and lots of fun and having them around was a privilege. We spent Saturday morning op-shopping and then headed to the beach with me covered up like a walking tent due to my sun-damaged skin and them showing as much skin as possible..in a very decent way. They can do it as they're all gorgeous..

Sarah brought up an armful of old lace tablecloths with some great ideas of sewing up vests and boleros...we spent some time making up patterns and discussing options such as using vintage glass buttons etc.

Relaxing - Trudes after a week of flu and Laura winding down....
More ideas - they were flowing all day..lots of fun..

and Trudy having a look at 'where in the world', literally, she and Tom will be heading to in August...very exciting stuff.

A new watercolour journal is born..

2011-02-24T15:01:00.000-08:00

I spent at least half an hour in Eckersley's on Sunday morning just roaming the shelves and checking out the supplies...so much fun in that shop. I ended up buying myself some watercolour paper, brushes and a set of paints...I have had good paints over the years but left them in Canada...also bought some watercolour pencils and a couple of pretty papers for my journal.

Don gave me a rose for Valentine's Day and it was still okay although a little droopy, so I drew it first...my drawing skills are a little rusty...funny when I don't draw often that happens...

and then i painted it...I find watercolour SO difficult but I love work done by other artists and so have been inspired to try again...maybe just a watercolour journal is a good start as I can practice and know that I'm not attempting a real 'painting' which is going to be on display or 'judged' harshly by...me!!

Aussie bush

2011-02-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

I love the Australian bush...the trees are very special...they have their own spirit and I like touching them when we walk through the bush....I think they know I am there!!!

I found a new setting on the old camera Don and I are using...so I can take close-ups of the wildflowers...

And of course I am always on the lookout for heart rocks and this special one was found at a rest stop we often have on a road in (what I like to think of as:)a 'hidden valley', which is between Gatton and Clifton. I'm always amazed at how many I find and how some places are just 'heart' places...

My sister's house

2011-02-16T22:50:00.000-08:00

On Sunday morning Don and I travelled over to Stanthorpe to see my mum and my sister....my sister Penny loves her home and garden....she covers drawers with fabric and paints canvasses to hang on her walls and grows gorgeous flowers...

2011-02-01T21:22:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Trudy, has nominated me in the Stylish Blog Awards...a bit embarrassing as this blog has sat dormant for a few weeks now since I left Canada and settled back into oz. Life took over and so nothing has happened here...but now with a bit of a push I'm back and happy about it.

The idea I gather is to share 7 facts about myself that may not be common knowledge, so here goes:

1. I have lived in 5 countries in my life beginning with being born in Papua New Guinea, moving to Italy for 2 years when I was 16 and also spending a year in Switzerland, settling permanently into Australia at 19 and then travelling to Canada 3 years ago with my new partner and now husband who is Canadian. I have never seen myself as a gypsy and wasn't for many years but my life seems to push me in that direction for some reason that I like to ponder occasionally.

2. I like mermaids...I have been making some art dolls and took them to one Suitcase Rummage sale and had lots of nice comments but no sales..I would like to try again although not February's rummage as it is being held on the day of our wedding anniversary...

3. I lift weights at the gym with Don and his mates, Ted and Fred..yes really...Ted and Fred!! The youngest is 60 and they lift these incredibly heavy weights which have the local young guys sneaking over to take a disbelieving peek. They have their turn and then I do...I love the way they lift off the super heavy big mansized weights and carefully replace them with my cute little girly ones....they take it seriously though and treat me nicely.

4. I can half speak 4 other languages: Pidgin English from growing up in Papua New Guinea - I was fluent once upon a time,Italian from 30 years ago, French from 30 years ago and now Quebecois French from Canada which has a quite different pronunciation so is almost like another language again.

5. I love Chinese art and furniture..I have a small red painted timber box with a sliding lid which is one of my treasured possessions...

6. I have a very talented family...my son is a professional musician and my daughter has a degree in Creative Arts and is a very clever artist, and they both have partners who are excellent writers.

7. (Finally) My life is shared between two countries now, Canada and Australia. I thought Canada was all bears and huge mountains and big tough men with axes but I have found that a lot of it is extremely pretty with fields of wildflowers and gorgeously painted and decorated homes that look as though they came out of Anne of Green Gables,which is a Canadian novel.

Flowers and cupcakes

2010-11-13T23:56:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday afternoon and I've had a nice weekend.

Dad stayed Friday night and we had brunch with Alex and Zoe on Saturday morning in Wilston. That was really lovely and lazy and enjoyable.

I have been very tired all weekend and a bit emotional today. I am counting down the days till I see mum and even though I know it's close it just seems to be dragging. I have so much to show her and things that I want opinions on.

Today has been a very lazy day, the slow cooker is on and I have made a lot of art.
I bought some flowers today for $2.70 (I can't remember what they are called) and they looked lovely next to my banana and cinnamon cupcakes. The cupcakes are pretty freaking awesome too. Very light and fluffy for GF.

Lisa and Kiel are coming over for tea tonight so I'm looking forward to a nice end to the weekend before back at work tomorrow.

Snowing and snow ball fight....

2010-10-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

The air smells like honey

2010-10-30T02:38:00.000-07:00

Tom and I have been inside all day creating. He is learning how to make websites which is very exciting for me!

Late this afternoon I convinced him to go for a big bike ride and we meandered through a few different suburbs until we ended up at the river and looped back around. It was a gorgeous afternoon and the air smells so yummy at the moment.

Cold weather and its only 'fall'...not winter yet..

2010-10-21T13:35:00.001-07:00

This morning I was watching the cute little kids at the school next door running along behind their teacher...they had beanies and gloves and big jackets on and they were dancing along as though they were on the beach. They all ran over to the swings and monkey bars and started having fun in the very very weak sun. It was freeeeeeeeeeezing out there...I have decided that Canadians are tough people..they have to be to survive in this country. Its not even winter yet and I'm wearing enough for a very cold day in Australia.

Snow flurries tomorrow nite!! woohoo...

2010-10-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

I went out this afternoon - took my Dexter dvd (season 1) back and ducked into the thrift shop. Found this cute little vintage typewriter ribbon box. And inside were 6 boxes of old ink ribbons in their own boxes.

Minus something is forecast for tonite and then tomorrow nite our first snow...yay...I am quite excited..especially seeing as I will be out of here in 4 weeks' time so it won't have time to become a pain for me.

Today was spent packing my art things away. I filled 3 boxes and have a chest of drawers still half full of art supplies to use up before I leave and some fabrics to sew. I have a deep red velvet to make into small purses with zips and a washed out floral to sew into large bags to show off the design. I also spent time sanding back the 4 coats of paint on my 8x8'' wood panel. It is a collage in progress and I'm still pondering the final arrangement of found objects. I LOVE collage.

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling.

2010-10-18T02:19:00.000-07:00

I went for a big bike ride this afternoon and took some quick photos.

I came flying down French St on my way home. There's nothing like it!

Flowers for Ash..stripey chrysanthemums

2010-10-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

Nikki and Dan brought these over on thanksgiving...I was talking to Ash on the net and told her about them and she was interested...so here they are Ash!

Sugar Pie...and gluten free!

2010-10-11T19:14:00.001-07:00

okay..the recipe: 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp table salt
Combine sugar, cream and syrup over medium heat and bring to a boil. Boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring often. Let cool in a bowl to room temp. whisk in eggs, lemon juice and salt. Put in (gf) pie shell and bake for about 30 minutes @ 375o. YUM YUM YUM...actually you have to play around with the baking times for gf pie shells and maybe bake the pie shell first...mine was sloppy on the bottom..

Feeding birds at Mud Lake

2010-10-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Don was feeding the chickadees...(real name of the birds) and I was trying to catch pics of them...got some of him making funny faces too..see the colours in the background?

Wildlife at Mud Lake...

2010-10-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

The bird is actually a woody woodpecker..it is not a great photo but I wanted to put it on here anyway...the geese are resting up before their big flight south...and the squirrels are taking nuts away to hide.

Fall colour...gorgeous gorgeous!!!

2010-10-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

Just along our street and in mud lake...the leaves really are that red....

My life in food

2010-10-11T03:40:00.000-07:00

I uploaded the latest photos from my camera to see what I could show you of my life lately. The only things I have on there are art and food. Which is pretty apt actually.
I shall put the art photos up at trudyflorence so all you get is food.

Eggplant parmigiana - which was amazing.

And coke spiders!

Over at Nikki's place.

2010-10-02T16:27:00.000-07:00

Some fairytale mushrooms growing over at Nikki's neighbour's place...they were quite large and very cute...a little village of them.

This is her front glass door with fall sticky decorations on it...very cute.

Bits and pieces...

2010-10-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

I was a bit sad on Friday about nan so I walked up to the op shop and found this pretty pretty tin...isn't it lovely? I made a light blue linen skirt...this is a close-up with my crown pin cushion... This looks as though the people in my painting are hanging onto the thread

An old tapestry, some red fabric and the padded bag that my gift from Al arrived in...all just stuck in a drawer.Some of the antique handwritten enveloppes I found at the Antrim flea market..

Thrift shop Tuesday

2010-09-28T16:42:00.001-07:00

So as it is Tuesday, Donna picked me up at 10.30 and we headed off to find lots of treasures. First stop was Finders' Keepers...a consignment shop in Crystal Beach. I really like the shop and have found a few special items there. Today I bought a bag of sewing ephemera...ie a needle book, an old tape measure and some other odds and sods to sell back in Oz. Then off to Sally Anne's..which is the Salvation Army shop on Moodie Drive. It is a big place and we go there every Tuesday - it is seniors' day and so Donna gets 20% off everything...I found a bag of crepe paper ribbons..funny cause I had just last week bought some brand new rolls from Walmart..this bag has completely different colours in it though...some old and faded which is even better. I picked up and put down a very pretty old water jug too. But I didn't bring it home as I am getting embarassed about the amount of china I have collected so I'm trying to be fussier with it.
After the salvos we drove over to another consignment shop..don't remember the name but I bought a small chrissie gift there, can't say what. Michael's craft shop was next and I walked out with a bag full of fun stuff for under the tree. I almost bought a couple of lifelike crows...all the Halloween things are out and a lot of fun...the crows were great.

Donna needed to get to a particular bead shop and that was in the city so we got on the Queens' Way, which is the big fast 4-lane freeway, and 5 minutes later got off at Bronson Street, turned left and right into Bank Street and just a couple of blocks down we found Sassy Beads. There was some parking around the corner and the meter had 35 minutes left so we took off and found Donna's beading wire she wanted, then stopped in a couple of other places and I bought another small xmas gift and then headed back to the car and found out we still had 35 minutes left!! The meter was broken so we went off to Second Cup and had a coffee before we headed home. Got home about 4.30 through pretty busy traffic.

Tonite Don and I had no food out for dinner so we went down to Theo's and I had my yummy quail dish again...yummo. Then we headed over to Wallymart for some vitamins and more ziplock bags for my kits and came home...nice day.

Forgot to say that Donna arrived this morning with a bagfull of old postcards, sewing patterns, handwritten recipes...very old and some old kids' books for me for my kits...the bag is bulging with good stuff...she is a nice friend.

rainy sunday in Ottawa..

2010-09-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

Well it was funny reading your post from your sunday because my sunday is similar. It is raining and quite bleak outside. A lot of the trees are now turning colour as you can see from the photos. They are probably almost exactly the same as I took last year. The second photo is looking towards the river and we can normally see right across and up to the bridge but today it is just white. I'm heading over to Nikki's place in a while. I will drive myself (!!). I collected a big heap of stuff from Donna's on Friday for the new idea of the kits. Maps and old photos in particular so I thought I might start putting them together today. I really liked your idea of the kits. I enjoy this weather as it is so cosy inside and I know we will be out of here in a few weeks and into the heat which I don't enjoy.

Shake it like a polaroid picture

2010-09-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

It's a lovely cold rainy day and I am making art, journaling and playing with my polaroid software. Tom is playing on the computer, we are listening to Missy Higgins and I'm heating up leftover eggplant parmigiana for lunch. Perfect day!

The poladroid (software that turns your photos into polaroids) is so awesome! I've been going nuts.

Friday evening

2010-09-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

It's Friday night! This week has gone so fast. Crazy fast.
I just made a really yummy eggplant parmigiana for dinner. Anything with that much cheese in it has to be good.

Tomorrow night we are going to the Sunshine Coast for Hollie's birthday, should be a fun night!

I feel like making art but my desk is too messy and it's too hard to clean it.
I'll share some photos instead.

My new bike, it's not very pretty so I only took a photo from the front. The basket is the best bit.

My $3 flowers from Coles. They made my week.

Angel painting finally finished...I think...

2010-09-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

Her nose has actually changed again...I don't think I am ever happy with my paintings - I just get to a stage where I think I have had enough of it...

She looks a bit serious...I didn't want her to be too pretty.

She looked a bit 'piggy' here so I changed the nose.

Lunch with Nikki in Westboro on Friday

2010-09-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

Looking towards the shops and cafes...

We stopped here for ice-cream and coffee after our luncy...

This is Tivoli, a gorgeous florist shop....

A paper shop full of beautiful cards etc.

She gets smaller every time I see her

2010-09-19T03:11:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad I went over to Stanthorpe this weekend.

(Tom found your sunglasses in the glove box)

Nan was very cute. She was so glad I was there and was very responsive. I told her lots of stories about monkeys and elephants in Thailand.

I told her all about our plans to move OS next year which she loved. Tom explained to her where his uncle lives in London who we will stay with and she knew the suburb.
I can imagine how hard it is for Tom, to him she is just a tiny old lady who stares at him with bright blue eyes and doesn't speak. For me, I can imagine how she would respond and what she is trying to say so it is a lot easier to have a 'conversation'.

She loved hearing news about Alex and Dad as well. I told her we are trying to learn Dutch but it is hard.
I told her that your French from Switzerland was coming in handy in Canada and she was very happy with that. I told her I wanted to go to the Cinque Terra and she said that was her favourite spot of all. She also likes Scotland more than England.
I really miss being able to have a proper conversation with her. I can't imagine what it's like for you.
Today she wouldn't wake up when we went to visit her, Tom said maybe it's nicer for her when she's sleeping.

Penny's place is looking lovely, her flowers are looking beautiful. They had a hail storm this week so she lost a bit of her garden.

This is Penny saying hello to Lou.

The weather was freezing, perfect for afternoon naps.

We stopped at our favourite second-hand shop in Warwick. It's closing down! lucky I got to shop at the 50% off sale!

New shoes from Montreal...I love them..

2010-09-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

Nikki, Dan, Louise and Don at Mont Tremblant

2010-09-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Dan and me...The barbie and the view ...Looking up at the condo one evening when Don and I went for a walk...looks cosy..The views from the condo...across the golf course and the little hills...Nikki being a bit serious...Dan cooking the barbieMe posing...yeah!Don saying Hello! A little cafe in St Jovite..the little french town Nikki and I went into a few times.
We ate at this cafe..(not Curves). I bought some gifts and things...

Geese flying south..

2010-09-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

I sat in bed this morning (sunday) drinking my coffee and writing in my journal and watched about 16 geese fly past the window, honking the whole way. We see a lot of them now, all heading off.

Yesterday we watched Federer get flogged in the tennis. Good match. Poor old Federer..There were a few 9/11 shows on too which is interesting. The day was so perfect we went walking in Mud Lake...it was quite busy with families and couples and kids walking through. Then we walked up to Rainbow Foods to get some gf pasta and lasagne sheets and gf brownies which Don loves. Then last nite we watched a dvd called Solitary Man with Michael Douglas in the lead. It was pretty good.

Now today we have been to the gym, and come home with a take-away, Chicken Shawarma and now it is all bleak and rainy and foggy...but cosy up here on the 16th floor. I'll cook a lasagne this arvo and tidy up a bit as the agent has people to show through this week.

Also we have booked a unit up at the Bunyas. It was difficult to find something...it is Unit 8, Bunya Ave...I need to let Al know about it...xo

Sunday afternoon

2010-09-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday afternoon and I'm buggered, had a really lovely weekend. We went down to the coast yesterday to see Brady and spend some time in the sun. On the Broadwater in front of Australia Fair they've done up this park on the beach and they have these great little huts. We bought so much food and ate it all with our fingers and stolen plastic cutlery.

Last night we went to Yash and Chris' for what we thought was a house party but was actually a surprise celebration of their engagement! Chris proposed Saturday morning and had already organised us to come over that night so they could tell us in person. It was really lovely and they are so adorable. We ended up going to a cocktail bar in South Bank and had a nice night.

Today I did my self-defence workshop with Laura. It was really great. Pretty intense and physical. As part of the workshop I had to get right up in Laura's face and yell 'Fuck off!' Not many people get to do that to their boss!
The woman who ran it was fantastic. She was a cop for 19 years then has worked with all forms of rape, torture, assault victims as well as working on Hate Crime task forces etc etc. She was very impressive and had a wicked sense of humour.I think every woman should do the course.

Sunday in Ottawa

2010-09-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

I love your photos...I think I like the middle two best.

Today is quite bleak out. Pretty grey and cold. I haven't been out yet but will go for a walk after dinner...I am lazy and tired and a bit homesick so to make myself feel better, I made a big cheese and vegie omelette (shared with Donnie), and watched an art show I had taped and then was inspired to work some more on my angel, so I did the wings again, using lots of medium and fingerpainting. I like the soft effect so I hope I'm on the way to finishing the painting soon. This canvas must have about 20 layers on it already...

When we came home last nite it was really really cold. On Thursday I bought a long woollen coat with big buttons and luckily I had taken that with me so I got to wear it. The weather has turned cold in the last 2 or 3 days just all of a sudden...from 30 to 17 or something...it was 11 last nite with wind...

About 10 weeks now..xxo

Sneak Peek

2010-09-05T04:49:00.001-07:00

I had a really nice weekend with Dad for Father's Day. Lots of eating out of course! My breakfast was so big this morning that I didn't eat till 8pm and even then I wasn't very hungry.
Tom and I took the bikes for a test ride yesterday afternoon while Dad had a nap. I love riding through the park, it's going to be lots of fun riding everywhere. I had an appointment with my physio yesterday and he said riding a bike is the best thing I can do to improve my knee. But he also said I definitely can't play soccer till February :(

I ran into Alex and Zoe in West End this afternoon and hung out with them while Tom played soccer. Al needed some photos taken for promo shots to give his manager on the coast. I took some shots this afternoon in the car park and they turned out pretty well. It got cold in the rain by the end! I want to play around with them a bit more but here is a sneak peek.

my art table and workspace

2010-09-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

some of my journal pages...I can't get them to all load onto the blog in an orderly way the right way up...

bits and pieces on my pinboard...made with one of the old frames I got..

heart rocks, coloured pencils, old photos and bits of inspiration..

the bottom of the pinboard behind a cup full of charcoal..

Alex on the pinboard with some other photos and artists' cards..

a full pic of the pinboard on the chest of drawers where I store a lot of things like my fabric etc.

my art table with the 'believe' collage (in progress) and my journal

journal in progress

an overall view of the little area Ihave..you can just see the curtains on the left...I can sit and look out the window...the globe on the left is the one I found at the op shop for $4!!

art and flowers

2010-09-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

I couldn't turn this around...oh well...if you can see it ...I have changed the hair to flow out to the right...but am a bit stuck with it...any ideas? I have since randomly written stuff all across the wings in different directions which I liked...the hair needs some life...maybe lights through it..?

These were my birthday flowers...we sort of bought them together...sunflowers and roses and jonquils or something...very pretty...

Heat wave in Ottawa....

2010-09-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

This is the front page of the free paper....and the temperatures are in the pic below...it is hot...but I was saying to Don that I don't think Australia has ever had a temperature warning which they have here...no matter how hot it gets...of course this is not hot at home..

Back from hols down east...

2010-08-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

We flew back this morning from our week in Halifax with Don's mum, Mary. We walked miles each day as Halifax is a hilly little city so my legs had a good workout. We had an overnite stay up in Pugwash, (I know...cute name) which is the hometown of Mary's family. The photo is one of the family cottages. We stayed in it and there is another cottage is over on the right out of the pic. We also spent a day down in Lunenberg which is where the new tv series, Haven, is filmed. And had an ice-cream in Mahone Bay...both places were just gorgeous...

vintage dress for you Trudes....op shop this morning!!

2010-08-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

It is a really pretty pink broderie anglaise fabric...very retro...its halter necked..

Thrift shopping...

2010-08-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

a close-up of fabrics I bought..these are old curtains and there are a few metres!! Very nice...I love them.

A gorgeous old book in French...it really is beautiful..

My finds laid out on the bed....I forgot to mention the red velvet under the book..I think there would be 3 metres ....$5!!

A funny old kids jigsaw I actually DID...I wanted it done to use in collages...it took me a while..haha...

This was quite large and lovely but I didn't buy it - I could have wall to wall pictures without trying so I have to rein my enthusiasm in.

This set was one I thought you might like...I didn't buy it either though but wanted to show you...there is just the little issue of bringing it all back..Can you see the price tag on the cup? 49c...maybe I should have bought them...

Our finds in the basket...My plates and Donna's inlaid box..

Some more pretties that stayed in the shop.

A lovely cup...I can't think yet what to do with cups..they are so gorgeous and so prolific but what do I do with them? Didn't get it.

The reeeeally big frames I bought and our home.

2010-08-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Do you remember these birds from one of the markets a few years ago? They are so lightweight I brought them over here and blutacked them to the wall in the dining area...I made the funny looking glass stand and collected the old books from the op shops...I have found some beautiful old old hardcovers...

This is one of the frames with black and white photos from nan and pop blutacked to the wall inside the frame...the lamp was pink and green and I painted it cream...I made the ivy circle and your books are sitting on this side table.

An old jug standing next to the silver frame which is being used to frame a pinboard in my art room..the just has an 'A' engraved on it...A for Alex!!

Both frames...I didn't really show you a good pic of the silver frame.

Birthday prezzie from Trudy...a lovely surprise..

2010-08-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

Some of the illustrations from 'Art Forms in Nature'..the smallest of the 3 books...I love it and used one of the colour palettes as inspiration in a collage.

I will start reading 'The Art of Travel' soon...it looks very interesting.

This is a large coffee table sized book on homes...a lot of them are set in Japan and China...it is pretty amazing and I love it.

New art

2010-08-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

This is the old large vase of flowers painting which wasn't working. Some of the flowers were okay but parts of the painting were just not good, so I decided to use some of it as part of a new painting. This angel will have flowers either as her hair or in her hair...I really like the change...I,m hoping it will work out well but if not there is more paint.

A small collage done in layers with varnish between each layer...I really like its luminosity...this isn't the best photo though

This is the second collage done with the one above...there was a third but it didn't work out.

This weekend

2010-07-24T23:43:00.000-07:00

I made choc pear pudding which was a hit!

Very well received and soo easy to make. Dinner at Ash's was really nice. Matt came along as a surprise guest and Brady told us all about his OS trip.

I have a couple of shots from my course yesterday, nothing amazing because it was mostly just exercises to practice the stuff he taught us. It was very good but there was some basic stuff that was very easy. Way too many old ladies with amazing cameras that they didn't know how to get off auto!

Practising panning which is harder than it looks. All in the hips! I really want to practice this when I get my bike!

Slow shutter speed stuff at night - lots of fun. I think we'll play with this in Thailand.

Playing with foreground and adding depth.

And just mucking around while everyone else figured out how to change their shutter speed . . .

Today we saw Inception. It was really great, long and very complex, don't see it when you're tired! Great acting and good story.
Tom and I went to Carindale and spent too much money on travel stuff that we probably don't need but it was fun. Had sushi for lunch and came home for a nap. Gem dropped in just before and is going to come back later for dinner.

And the weekend is over again! It goes way too fast. Only 1 week to go. Cannot wait!

An assortment: op shop, my painting and macro photos

2010-07-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

For some reason I can't load this picture the right way up no matter what I do so this is it...its a very pretty tapestry found the other day... My new stash of cutlery using the macro setting on the camera to show everyone the details on it...Don't you love the name of this cutlery?These 'beaded' forks with the 'M' are my favourites.

And my collage...she actually has a different face now...over the weekend she had a facelift..ha.

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

2010-07-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

More papercutting.

and a beautiful ship print in an amazing frame that Sarah found at Stevo's and bought for me. One day I will put all my ship images on one wall, including Pop's sketch framed!

Bread baking and art making

2010-07-17T21:04:00.001-07:00

I made a parmesan, olive and pesto GF loaf of bread today. Sooo yummy! Like a meal on it's own! I'll grab a photo before it's gone of the big chunks of olive throughout it. Just the way I like it.

I've been working on some paper-cuttings for a future rummage. I have 4 so far but I really only like 3.

I spent the afternoon with Sarah and Laura and I am very inspired to keep producing and do a show at some point, somehow. It's so nice to have something to work towards.

Very exciting find...

2010-07-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

This is beautiful old hotel and railway cutlery...they are monogrammed and have pretty designs etc and are just really pretty..there was a whole basket and I sorted through to get these out...also bought a heap of teaspoons out of the same stash...they were 19c each...I should have just bought the whole basket really....

op shop Tuesday finds...some just seen...

2010-07-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

I bought these 3 platters..they look like old hotel ware..the blue one is a really pretty blue with a fine silver pattern ...I took a close up pic but it was blurry..

I lurved these old lamps...but couldn't find out if they worked and then gave up. They were $5 each...the one on the right has a little raised pattern of flowers and leaves..

Donna bought these 2 sideboards for $25..they are mahogany or something...she was very excited..the bottom one actually has drawers and shelves but we had removed them and put them in the car...I would have loved one for an art room!!

I almost forgot

2010-07-14T01:10:00.000-07:00

That I hadn't posted my finds from the weekend's Op-shop trip!

A Canadian tea-towel. Love the beaver!

An absolutely beautiful apricot etched vase. Will have to take a better photo in sunlight.

This beautiful leather, velvet lined handbag was $1!

Floral pillow cases

A bronze bow hook - the ladies at the op-shop kept telling me what a bargain it was!

More frames for the artworks I'm creating at the moment. The large one has tiny roses carved into it.

It's true!

2010-07-12T01:02:00.000-07:00

Look what Tom and I came across on our walk Saturday afternoon!

Sunday in Canada

2010-07-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a walk in Mud Lake...we saw a white owl and lots of bullfrogs..they make a really amazingly deep noise when they 'bark'...

I went to a lunch today and took Joe from Oz and some stupid woman was telling him to do a different accent....what the??? and then telling me to do a different accent...like we are performing monkeys or something...I told her to do a different accent...(I can be pretty cutting when I want...at least that shut her up...I probably confused her..)

I really like sitting up here on the 16th floor looking out over the buildings and trees and people and roads and watching the sky change. That woman got my blood up for a while but I'm all peaceful again now.