3 weeks to go!

With three weeks to go until my birthday, I still have a few things to cross off my list...

1. Buy myself the prettiest bunch of peonies – doable

6. Try on a wedding dress – not going to happen, but I end up with a bridesmaid dress, does that count?

9. Actually, finally, pay of my credit card – um, nope. Miserable fail.

12. Make a great dress and wear it with style – there is still time.
15. Buy three more prints – I haven't and probably won't. I'm trying to decrease the stuff I have.
18. Keep enjoying getting fit – another miserable fail. Last winter hit, I had some health issues and never got started again.

20. Re-open my etsy shop – I opened it but never listed anything. So not going to count it until I do.

21. Make and send one card a month – I have sent more than 12 cards, but not once a month. You decide if this gets a tick or not.

24. See a movie by myself – another totally doable one.

29. Celebrate the fabulous last day of my twenties – still deciding if I'm going to spend it on the beach or on the rollercoaster. Either way, it is going to be fantastic!

I'm pretty proud of my successes this year. These last few things say more about the way my plans/goals have changed then anything.

Can't wait to make next years list!

a nice way to spend the morning...

I took some time off this morning to wander round our wonderful art gallery and see a couple of exhibitions I've been dying to see.

Heather Straka: The Asian, was fantastic. We spent a long time trying to decide which one was the real one out of the 50 hand-painted copies. It was amazing to see that each of the copies looked so similar until you really looked and noticed all the subtle differences in each. In fact, after spending a great deal of time looking, I realised that they were all quite different.

Seraphine Pick, Wandering Rose, 2008.

The Seraphine Pick exhibit was the one I most wanted to see. She was the first artist I fell in love with at school and my love for her paintings hasn't appeared to dwindle at all.

 Seraphine Pick, Girl (with Offered Eyes), 2004.

I love the dream-like, fantasy worlds she creates, the deep and rich colours she uses, and the depth and layering in her paintings.

 Seraphine Pick, High Rise, 1995.

Every time I go to the gallery I get an uncontrollable urge to paint. This time in oils. Now to dig out my oil paints...

29 before 30 List

This is it. The last year of my twenties. Am I freaking out? Not yet. But I really do have a lot of things I want to do this year. Some things are on this list, somethings are a bit too big for a list like this.
But I'm really going to try very hard to do all these things, because they are things I REALLY want to do. More than that, I don't want to NOT do them.

Here they are:

1. Buy, for myself, the hugest, prettiest bunch I peonies I've very seen.
2. Take more photos. And actually edit them, upload them or print them. Document this year.
3. Continue on my journey of self discovery and healing.
4. Create at least 12 scrapbook pages.
5. Visit Louise and take her a great house warming gift.
6. Try on a wedding dress (or make my dress pattern in a non-wedding fabric).
7. Art journal constantly. At least once a week, or no if needed.
8. Visit dad and Lou's new house and not just to scout as a potential wedding venue!
9. Actually, finally, pay of my credit card and throw it away for good.
10. Learn not to be so afraid. Or at  least stop letting fear control me.
11. Read all the books I've bought and have never finished reading.
12. Make a great dress and wear it with style.
13. Subscribe to a great magazine and be thrilled each month when it fills my mailbox.
14. Do another swap with Ms Debs.
15. Buy three more prints to replace the prints I've stopped seeing.
16. Take an art journal class with Dina Wakely, and really push myself.
17. Build a magical fort and spend a Sunday playing.
18. Keep exercising regularly and enjoy getting fitter.
19. Get a tattoo. Even if it's a small one. Just stop being a baby and do it (see No. 10).
20. Re-open my etsy shop.
21. Make and send one card a month to someone special.
22. Take a really great holiday with Shane and really relax.
23. Get a massage (heaven!).
24. See a movie by myself. Candy, popcorn, the whole nine yards.
25. Teach Lily how to shake paws, without bribery!
26. Spend a morning exploring the Public Art Gallery.
27. Stop feeling intimidated and visit the M.A.C counter and buy something pretty.
28. Embroider something pretty to hang on my wall.
29. Celebrate the last day of my twenties in fabulous style.

Image from We Heart It