Room Tour!

So the most requested video from my giveaway was a room tour, and here it is. I'm super lucky to have a whole room for me and my LARGE quantity of stuff so I don't normally have to keep it quite this tidy! Let me know if you have any questions that I don't cover in the video.


You can watch this video on YouTube or subscribe to my YouTube channel here.

Reading :: Watching :: Learning

Apart from spending far too much of my time browsing blogs, Facebook and Pinterest, I also spend my screen time in other ways too. Now as Autumn hits its stride, I've been spending more time indoors keeping busy. Here is a list of a few things I been loving.

• I've just finished The Winter People, it was much scarier than I had anticipated (not helped by reading it alone, at night!) but none-the-less I read the whole book in two sittings. Loved it.
• I devoured the Divergent Trilogy, but I ended up slightly disappointed by the ending.
• Hollow City was the follow-up to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, which I loved. I didn't enjoy the second book as much and now I can't wait for the third installment (which will be released at some point next year).
• While I didn't enjoy the diary-style writing of The Martian, the story of Man vs Planet had me hooked the whole way.
• I've currently got two books underway at the moment, Creativity Inc. and The Goldfinch (which is the ABM Book Club May selection.

• I love Richard Curtis movies and About Time was no exception. Funny, sad and sweet.
• I completely binge-watched the first two seasons of Girls, so I was hanging out for the third. It didn't disappoint.
• I'd never heard of Austenland but it was a delightfully light-hearted movie about love. Plus it has one of the best quotes ever on creativity!
• I'm more of a Pixar fan but Frozen was pretty good. Can't stop singing Let It Go either.
• Derek is just the sweetest. I've been re-watching before Season 2 , only a few more days!

• I'm doing One Little Word again in 2014, so helpful having the monthly prompts keeping my word (Sparkle) front and center.
• I've just joined the Spring session of Daring Adventures in Paint and I'm finally getting messy again. Struggling to let go but enjoying myself immensely.
• In need of a little blog pick-me-up, I loved Styling | Shooting | Sharing by Ann-Marie Loves.
• I'm trying to carve out a bit more time for journaling this year and 52 Weeks of Art Journaling was just the kick-start I needed.
• And I can't wait to start Sketchbook with Kelly Purkey next month.

12 months of Selfies

There's been a lot of flack lately for "selfies" but I just don't care. I love them. They help me feel present, to see myself kindly and with less judgement. They help me connect with others when I feel alone. And I love having a record of how I have changed, here is the last 12 months in Instagram photos...

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I'll always be grateful for that first class I took with Vivienne 3 years ago. It changed me. 

Acceptance, love and kindness. If that's what happens when you take selfies, then I for one don't even want to stop.

Before & After :: A little refresh

Now the days are getting darker and the sky is a little bit duller each day, I decided it was definitely time to lighten up a little. Literally.

Nothing like a fresh colour to make you feel a bit more pulled together.

I've been feeling the effects of the "winter blues" lately, which is worrying as we are only just beginning to head into winter so this is a good reminder to keep up the habit of actively finding ways to be happier.

I'm excited to join in Vivienne's new class in June. I'm looking forward to setting some self-care policies that will help me take care of myself this season.

What little things do you do when you need a little pick-me-up?

I've worn glasses for most of my life and can count on one hand the number of frames I've had in that time. But when my beloved frames had been repaired for the third time and couldn't be repaired anymore, I had to go through the arduous task of choosing a new pair. Here are some things I've learned:

1. It doesn't matter how much you love a pair of frames, if they don't suit you, they don't suit you. I love big, round, thick frames. But I don't love looking like a bug-eyed insect.
2. Try each pair on for more than 5 seconds. Do they look good? And more importantly, do they feel good? There is nothing worse than having to wear a pair of frames that hurt.
3. Although my instinct was to go for black so they'll be more versatile, I tried on lots of different colours too. You never know what is going to light up your face and bring out your eyes.
4. Find a size/shape that suits you face and then find variations on the theme. I found that narrower, rectangular shapes suited me best.
5. Take a friend to help you decide. But only one who is going to tell you the honest truth. If all else fails, ask everyone in the shop. Strangers may be less likely to care about your feelings and tell you the truth.

This process can take a while and I've definitely learnt what suits me and what doesn't. I've returned two pairs (luckily I have a very understanding optometrist) and have had to go back to have some readjusted more than a few times. But I now have not only one, but four pairs of frames that I love and can choose from daily. It is totally worth the perseverance!

Brave

The concept of being brave feels hard, overwhelming. Like to be brave I should be jumping out of planes or moving to a foreign country. I forget that I can be brave everyday, even if it is in very small ways ...

It is brave to tell the truth even when it might not make you popular.
It is brave to try something you've always wanted to even if you're afraid of looking foolish.
It is brave to start making your dreams happen even if you might fail.
It is brave to open up to someone even if it makes you vulnerable.
It is brave to be yourself even if people might judge you.
It is brave to wear your favourite colour even if it isn't fashionable.

Birthday wishlist

I was going to post a pretty "Birthday Wishlist" filled with lovely things that I've been wanting. But the truth is that I've been feeling pretty down lately and one way I try to cheer myself up (which never really works, by the way) is by shopping. 

So, I will admit, that most of the things that were going to be on my birthday list, are already on their way to me (like this and this and this) or I already have them (like this and this).

Instead, I've made a list of things that I am truly grateful for this year…

The little ones who are always so happy to see me come home at the end of the day.

A relationship that has only grown stronger and deeper as the years go by.

A partner who pushes me to be stronger and who supports me when when I'm not.

A lovely home of our own to hold our lives, our dreams and our furniture!

A job that allows me to live a life without much want.
 

Good friends who are always there to share a laugh or a cry or a hug. Or a huge piece of Caramel Slice (well maybe not share, maybe more like a slice each!)


So, my only real wish for this birthday, is to remain thankful for all the beautiful things I already have. And maybe a slice of chocolate cake!

Flow magazine

A couple of months ago I did an interview with Flow magazine about art journalling. I had completely forgotten about it until yesterday when I got home to find a copy in the mailbox.

It was pretty neat to see my pages and photos in an actual magazine, which by the way is super cool. They have lots of little extras like stickers and wee foldout books.

Now I only wish that I could read Dutch! Oh well, I'll have to make do with looking at the pictures.

Before and After :: ME!

The night we got engaged I decided I would have to start growing my hair longer for the wedding. More than 3 years later and my priorities have shifted somewhat. So I woke up and decided that enough is enough.

Or too much as it turns out. I got it all chopped off and it feels great!

11 things on 11.11.11

After a month of blogging everyday, I needed a break. But I didn't mean for it to be quite this long! Funny how time slips away, isn't it?

So, without further ado, here is a totally random list of 11 things about me:

1. I love randomly weird number combinations and have been looking forward to today for some time, not for any real reason, other than to say it is 11.11.11 (at 11.11).
2. I've been working my way through Kelly Purkey's new Sketchpad class and I love it! It feels good to be scrapping again. I'd love to buy some new papers but have made a deal with myself to really try and use what I have. It makes it a little more challenging but even more rewarding.
3. I am enjoying watching my little garden grow (especially all the little flowers on the strawberry plants) but not loving the slugs and snails and constant weeding. Can't wait to actually eat something I've grown.
4. We had the most amazing sunrise this morning, I actually had to stop my walk halfway and go back to the house so I could take a photo (above) before I carried on walking. The dog thought I was crazy.
5. Poor Lily has been quite sick but seems to be on the mend now. The sneezing has been pretty horrendous so I'll be glad when she's back to normal. Doesn't stop her begging for food or going on walks though.
6. I'm so happy that it is Friday today and I can't wait to have a whole weekend with no plans (the first for a month)! I plan to do what-ever I want, when-ever I want. Heaven.
7. I am loving Peta Mathias' show Peta's Culinary Adventures In France. It makes me want to pack up and fly to France so badly. And eat cheese, a lot of cheese.
8. I've started another class from the Brave Girls Club and I can't wait to share it with you! I love getting messy with glue and paper and paint. It's so good to be creative and messy when my job requires me to be creative and precise.
9. I'm really not that great at waiting for things, I have absolutely no patience. And now I have the ultimate waiting test. Now I only have 841 days to wait! What I'm waiting for is a secret for now.
10. This year for Christmas we have decided not to give each other presents but we are going to get a new mattress and I (and my back) can't wait. It'll be a great present, but slightly hard to wrap!
11. I went to print out some photos the other day and realised I have stopped taking self-portraits, something that must be remedied soon!

Have a great weekend!

I do hate moving...

  ...but if there is a silver lining it is being able to look back through all your things and relive the memories. I have found so many treasures. And a lot of stuff that I have no reason to keep now. So I am cleansing myself of all the junk, all the things that keep my life cluttered. And it feels good.

Parting Gifts

 A friend at work gave me this spectacular tangerine rose as a leaving gift. But the beauty of it is, she gave it to me last week so I've actually had some time to enjoy it! So thoughtful.

I only have two days left at work and four days before my life gets packed into boxes and moved. I am such a swirl of emotions that I can barely function. But mostly I am excited to be taking this chance to start a new adventure, grateful to have someone to share it with, and sad to be leaving behind the friends and life that I have built here. 

When I look back to the girl I was when I came here, I was a sad and lonely girl, desperate to start a life. And over six years I have. I think I've learned something from every experience and person, good and bad, and although I have taken what I have for granted a lot of the time, I am grateful for everything.

Through the Lens (this is me)

Experimenting more with props, mirrors and paint. And even taking the camera outside on a walk, which was a big win for me!

 

Through the Lens (this is me)

As I've been going along though Vivienne's class, I have come up with a few goals for myself:

1. To start to put my full self into my photos, not just closeups and details.
2. To be able to take my camera and myself out of my comfort zone (home) and explore the world.
3. To continue to experiment with light.
4. And to be brave about sharing my photos and myself.

So as promised, here are some of my self-portraits...

 

How do I spoil myself on the first Monday of November?

Yep, I signed up! I blogged about this a few days ago and it has been in my mind ever since. And today when I read that Vivienne had extended the registrtion and there were a couple more spots left (go quickly), I just had to. Can't wait to get started!

Happy November!

Before and After

I had my hair done this week and I feel great. It took a long time but I love the end results. Glad to be literally lightening up for summer.

What do you think?

Before and After

Today I got my first tattoo. I'm totally in love with it and can't wait to get the next one I have designed for the other wrist.

Of course, 'create', for me is about my loving of making things. This is a such a huge part of my life, making things with my hands and my heart, hell I even create for a living. But more then that, this is to remind me of an important lesson I've been learning...

I have to create the life I want to live.

It doesn't happen by magic, or by wishing. And being sorry for myself that things aren't how I want them to be won't help either. If I want something, I need to make it happen. I can be who I want to be, if I support, love and trust in myself. This is my reminder that everyday I am making my life the way I want it to be.

Before the madness begins...

Early mornings can be a little bit fun, playing with Lily and Mel. Taking photos in my pajamas. Sitting by the heater, enjoying the quiet. Before the madness begins.

Have a great week!

What I've been up to...

Time for another photo dump. I've been busy living life and taking a break from it all. There has been lots of dreaming, sitting in front of the heater, puppy cuddles, road trips, organising by colour, painting with oils, mindless crocheting and plate collecting. Life has been pretty good. It might be wishful thinking but I swear the mornings are getting lighter too!