muse

Adelaide Pix

2007-09-22T14:11:00.000+09:30

Our August trip, too brief as always.
Its a touchstone -
catching up with old friends and places
reminding me who i am.
reminding me of the path.
and dont you just love a suitcase monster.

gypsy journey. part 2

2007-09-13T20:21:00.000+09:30

ok. so both sides of my pages started in the same way... first with a drawing that I copied, then transferred.
next step was to collage with hand coloured paper towel (a la Tracey be Bautista)-
then while wet coloured the image with caran dache neo colour 11 (LOVE this bit)
and when dry adding those shimmery water colour pots
um....then details with white pen and sequins and beads and things.
now i'm finished and i dont know what to do.
what do you do in those quiet inspiration free zones ?

ps. these pages were inspired by cinka panna
18th century gypsy violinist and the gypsy journey from India to Europe.
When i think gypsy - i think music, horses and dancing. and i love those vibrant Indian colours...

gypsy journey. part 1

2007-09-13T20:07:00.000+09:30

first....charms.
These ones i threw together with some felt I'd made a while ago, some banana fibre and little mirror things.
they are to go on your bridle (ok - your horse's bridle) as protection from the evil eye...spooky

and this... started with a disk made from model magic. Then an image transfer using 'orange spirit' ..mmmm smells great - the image was from one of Mums old swap cards. Then a coat of glass varnish (basically 2-pac). I'm going to try some more of these... one day.

Gotye - Heart's A Mess

2007-08-13T11:01:00.001+09:30

Sunday arvo @ the atheneaum
what a treat
an inspiration infact
( hey Melly Wally is coming to the UK in a week or so with the basics- playing the Marquee club on sept 9)
Do yourself a favour and all that....

I remember you

2007-08-13T10:31:00.000+09:30

A mad dash to the city, driving through rain and weather, several wardrobe disfunctions
saw us arrive at the wedding just a little late.... but it was the start of the most wonderful weekend....
Sam (darling goddess) looked after the girls.
What a gift. A night away, the first in several years...
a hotel in the heart of Chinatown
a stroll though hidden arcades ever so slighty surreal on a sunday morning

(Gaz' photo)
window shopping street art
lunch with Wally
music sublime @ the atheneum
(watch the video)
and voila
human again.
I remember this girl - she used to be me.

Alchemy

2007-07-31T13:20:00.000+09:30

Not so many of the blogs i read speak of failure
of the frustration of the creative process
of getting stuck and not knowing where to go.
After inspiration sunday
i 'm home joy of joys
inspired headfull with ideas.
Positvely bursting forth
a veritable cess pool of creativity as it were
(thanks Gomez)
yet today
i have blockage

(Lucie Walker has a great spot for looking at the process. Check out State of the Art)

Maybe the wise words of Dr Suess will help

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go....You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don' t
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.....
NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

(the abridged version of "Oh the Places you'll go")
by Dr Suess

Sea Change

2007-07-25T10:29:00.001+09:30

Dont you love it when birthdays just keep going.
Marty and I spent a beautiful sunday night with Beck's Sea Change.
Eyes closed, candlelight, drifting with the stars......

Beck - Lost Cause [Version 1]

2007-07-25T10:22:00.001+09:30

Parenting 101

2007-07-11T16:19:00.000+09:30

QUESTION 324

Are all 8 year olds full of
"I know everything" ?

Do I
a) Insist that she gets some humility, NOW.
b) Let go. Remember how good it was to feel like you really KNEW something.
c) Ask her what she thinks - she probably knows the answer anyway.
d) Lock her in a smallish yellow cage and send her into space, to return when she learns to treat her mother with the love, unconditional respect and tenderness she so obviously deserves.

winter

2007-07-07T13:36:00.000+09:30

bleak
winter
stuck inside
wet out
may as well blog

Frida

2007-07-07T13:30:00.001+09:30

Yesterday would have been Frida Kahlos 100th birthday.
To celebrate, I painted this, drank tequila and made my first Mole'.
Happy Birthday.

traveller

2007-06-11T08:02:00.000+09:30

I used to be a traveller.
I've trecked to the highest peaks.
Riden elephants and seen a wild tiger
seen whales and sharks and turtles
thrown myself off a waterfall
underground.
Ive seen buffalo glow in the full moonlight
I ve eaten fresh shucked oysters under a tree
got naked in the rolling surf
and fallen asleep on the back of a motorbike.
now i stay home
and travel in my mind

Gentle Annies

2007-05-26T15:26:00.000+09:30

An age ago, it seems, dear friends had told us about a magical spot on the king river.
Pure air, golden vines, food from heaven....
and after a long long time
a family decides to take a trip (dogs and all)

the friends decided despite much chaos to come too......

and oohhhhh
how wonderful it was.

first rain

2007-05-13T09:46:00.000+09:30

This was last month i think...
but it was the first rain of the season.
My garden breathed a sigh of relief......

Total Rapture

2007-03-19T11:30:00.000+10:30

acrylic , wire & ink on canvas
for illo friday

doll swap

2007-03-16T13:56:00.000+10:30

I'd like you to meet Astra - she's been at my house for the last ....
well actually its been far to long and she needs to continue on her journey.
Herta made Astra and i added hair and undies.
i think i'll miss her

an open letter

2007-02-14T11:00:00.000+10:30

to my darling girls
I awoke this morning with such mixed emotions.
Seeing An Inconvenient Truth, I think, may tend to do that to one.
At once I am filled with excitement at the propects of travelling this exciting path with you in the belief that the steps we are taking are true; that choosing to lead a simpler life with all the benefits of living in the amazing place we do, is right. There is no question in my mind. That i feel such positive emotions at the same time as being so concerned that the world is heading down a path that can only lead to tragedy is so confusing to me.

The only thing i can do is stay on this path that seems so right.
And by taking one step at a time i seem to be learning some unexpected lessons. Of couse there are the environmental benefits... but
in walking rather than driving I get to hold your hands more.
I get to look around and appreciate what i have, more.
That buying vintage clothing is like going on a treasure hunt.
That buying local vegetables from an 'alive' market makes everything taste better. I swear it.
That starting the community garden has me more excited than anything in a long time.

I hope that taking these simple steps (amongst all the others) goes some way to help preserve our beautiful planet.
and that soon I'll start to feel that we are treading lightly. That its not too late.
that your children too will have a place to live.
and that we will leave this world a better place.

all my love
me

tea

2007-02-10T08:31:00.000+10:30

my day with t
1. Cleanse. Steamy water with lemon and ginger. To clear , start the day full of promise and hope and full of good intentions. If i get this right maybe i'll be good for the rest of the day.- If not , at least i got this right. Also good for the liver.
2. Walk home from school drop off and Marty with any luck has the kettle on. This is the ritual part because Martys is THE t wallah of the family. Warm the kettle. Sellect the t based on discussion on what may be appropriate for this particular day, will it be earl grey or english breakfast. If Marty is feeling dominant, he'll try to convice me that a smoky russian caravan is best (why you'd drink it anywhere other than a smoky russian caravan, I'm not sure.)If he's succesful, the next morning i'll insist on a floral lady grey. Brew the tea (not for the impatient). Warm the cups. Pour the milk......and the t.
Now its our time to debrief on the previous day, gigs or what ever. We are invariably interupted at this point by (generally Martys - my frinds are rarely so impertinent) well meaning friends who must smell the tea from their homes and decide its time to chat.

3. PM. Chai.
It can only be chai.
I make my own caffeine free brew with Rooibos and the usual suspects. Cardamon, cloves, Cinnamon stick, dried ginger, and sometimes if i'm feeling brave star annise and pepper. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Honey. Soy. Country Living or maybe organic gardner magazine. Should see me through the evening craziness... at least until its time for something a little fiestier. Is that a word ?

4. Late. A sleepy time infusion does the trick. Chamomile, caledula with some peppermint and licorice root for good measure...now I'm feeling dreamy

portrait

2007-02-05T08:51:00.000+10:30

My beautiful girls in our beautiful home....
its always like this ofcourse,
sun a shining,
birds a singing,
girls playng peacefully together
he he he

summer in the garden

2007-02-03T22:46:00.000+10:30

What can i say.
Life is sweet.

the end is nigh.....

2007-01-25T21:20:00.000+10:30

It seems this sunday , the last in january is global turn off the internet day.
So go out and do something with your life.
Go here for instructions

Cry of the snow lion

2007-01-07T14:45:00.000+10:30

After seeing the footage of Tibeten refugees being shot in the snow while attempting to cross the border to Nepal , I was wanted to better understand the situation and so borrowed this film.Tibet. Cry of the snow lion

Something to be inspired by.
Visually and politically.

a new year

2007-01-06T12:03:00.000+10:30

At the moment this is my favourite. In fact every new piece i do is a favourite for a little while so you may have to ask again in a couple of weeks.

Its probaby the first piece i've done that relates directly to an event in my life, (that i remember around this time of year) so it feels really personal to me. I dont what to be too specific 'cause
it interests me to hear other peoples understanding of a piece of art.
Marty had a really different perspective to what I was feeling when I painted it... and since hearing his ideas my understanding of the piece has changed a little too. I love that.

hand made

2006-12-30T11:26:00.001+10:30

this - i made for shanti for christmas

365 days

2006-12-27T10:17:00.000+10:30

this must be checked out, mused upon, passed on. I feel so inspired by Micheal Norton. His book was a last minute prezzie I picked up for Marty, and I havent been able to put it down. he he he. "Wrapping" it and hiding it away for just a day was torturous. Pleaseeeeeee have a look.

Christmas

2006-12-15T10:04:00.000+10:30

Off tomorrow bight and early for celebrations in Brisbane with Marty's family.
Peace and joy
Mandy

blossom

2006-12-12T22:02:00.000+10:30

For Inspire Me Thursday.....
actually while I was doing this piece the temperature was around 38 c ...hot hot hot. so winter feels like such a long way away. I just couldnt bring myself to paint her wearing a woolly jumper. The thing i like about winter (apart from warm fluffy clothes) is the soft light... and thats what inspired the colours here. It made me feel cool anyway. Phew.

cat

2006-12-08T21:34:00.000+10:30

dont look issey
this is your christmas prezzie

shrine

2006-12-04T12:02:00.000+10:30

a little bit christmassy dont you think ?

earth

2006-12-03T10:06:00.000+10:30

yesterday
i lay in the sun
as the girls played in the garden
the earth warmed my belly
mmmmm

World Aids Day

2006-11-22T19:20:00.000+10:30

For more info check cousin leonard

U2

2006-11-21T11:01:00.000+10:30

Wow wowowowowowowowowwwwww
What an amazing night. The boys went off.
The culmination of such a beautiful journey.
It was a 60000 strong love in and Bono was shining.
Such a positive affirmation for where we're at...
I'm still buzzing as you can tell
(Marty says I'm a Bonophile - )
so......and......

eco

2006-11-15T16:39:00.000+10:30

Whoooooo
I'm getting a bit passionate about our environment.
Went up to the ecocentre in St Kilda & came home with great ideas about how to reduce our footprint. Check it out !
The thought of treading lightly gets me all excited... I'm loving the thought of re-using materials. In our home.
In my art. Buying local where I can, or making my own.
I'm finding inspiration in so many places...old bottle tops, trashy jewellry and my favourite at the moment...old christmas decorations. My studio space is in danger of spilling over.....

Yay

visit

2006-11-10T09:32:00.000+10:30

Look whos in our tree out the front. Right now.
As I type.
Isnt she Gorgeous.
How lucky am I ?

whoops

2006-11-08T11:24:00.000+10:30

Ohhh
Sorrrrrry bout that last one.
The good news is I was so grumpy afterwards that I needed to go for a lovely long walk on the beach to clear my head and it worked and now I'm only going to do quick posts so that I dont make the mistake of missing a walk, or making something or planting somehing.
Oh oh I'm rambling.............

So this is a god box

Into which you place your hopes, dreams or parayers...so that the universe can take cae of them.
My next dream will be for a good spot at the U2 concert
a little bit excited bout that
Yippppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

It was Shanti's Number 1 bithday yesterday
Beautiful
She had a magical day...
Shall post pix later

arrrggghhhhhhhh

2006-11-02T13:35:00.000+10:30

Just wrote the best longest happiest post ever

and i lost it in the ether

thats crap

W I P

2006-10-21T15:27:00.000+09:30

Thats what I feel like.
A Work In Progresss.

On the verge of so many changes it seems.
The crazy weather has me considering major lifestyle shifts to live in a rainforest on the mid eastcoast.
No power. No water.
No road actually.
It would really be camping till we built a house.
An eco house. To tread lightly.
All this waste seems so ridiculous...
its time to start living a bit more responsibly methinks...
thats how i feel today.

lost freaky doll

2006-10-08T08:20:00.000+09:30

This is Lost.
She's my doll for my Friend Sammy's Art Doll Swap round robin collaborative art project thing.
Anyway - I shall send her off on her adventure soon. I've never made a doll before so I'm a bit happy about her.
She has a soft cloth body and a papier mache head.
I really like her despondant look - now I need to make her story for the journal that is to travel with her...
I'll be posting images of the dolls I work on too.
Stay tuned for more....

change

2006-09-20T23:19:00.000+09:30

Oh Bottom thou art changed.

Pretty slack photo...never mind.
A Mid Summer Nights Dream is a favourite and I love that line.

clear

2006-09-20T09:39:00.000+09:30

A little dark cloud on an otherwise clear day

I love this photo.
She looks so strong and defiant. It makes me laugh, Laila is usually such an ethereal fairy, and this shows another side to her altogether.

journal

2006-09-18T09:37:00.000+09:30

a couple of journal pages i quite like...

2006-09-13T11:44:00.000+09:30

Spring has sprung. But much like the weather I'm a bit all over the place right now. Just call me yoyo girl.
My garden is looking lovely after some sun and some rain. Thats good. I made a yummy onion tart to share with beautiful friends. And as of yesterday afternoon its school holidays. 2 weeks of adventuring with the girls. Yay. There is a wattlebird nesting just outside the door, being very protective of its new family ( oscar cat is trying to ignore the impertinent snapping and swooping- it is his garden after all)

yesterday I bought the prettiest vintage dress ready for the warm, I'm a bit excited, I so love a bargain....

yet another opshop bargain to add to my collection of kitsch ceramic puppies

cloudhill

2006-08-17T12:46:00.000+09:30

We went up to the most beautiful gardens on the weekend. Here are the pix - a bit tricked up. Just a bit.

playing with stars

2006-08-16T09:00:00.000+09:30

ha ha. this is looking a little patriotic for my liking (I cropped out the rest of what was looking too much like the Australian flag) - maybe I'll try it again in the daylight. I need more blue paint, maybe i'll go to the art shop today........

B&W

2006-08-09T08:46:00.000+09:30

This was fun. I've always had trouble getting my head around negative space, and this helped. A bit disapointed with the finishing (my glueing technique - a finely honed kinder skill is in need of help) - but Sammy came to the rescue & has given me some ideas for improvement. One of the many practical uses for Martha Stewart magazines.

in a box

2006-08-07T14:21:00.000+09:30

ooohhhh. This is my first try at self portrait challenge. I had fun. It was a liberating way to spend 20 minutes or so on a rainy monday.
My first thoughts were of a jack-in-the box (hence the face paint) but the pix turned out a bit more sombre than I expected.
Anyhoo- I quite liked the composition and clarity of this one.

euterpe

2006-08-01T17:48:00.000+09:30

Euterpe glanced her fingers o'er her lute
And lightly waked it to a cheerful strain
Then laid it by, and took the mellow flute
Whose softly flowing warble filled the plain;
It was a lay that roused the drooping soul,
And bade the tear of sorrow cease to flow;
From shady woods the nymphs enchanted stole,
while laughing cupids bent the silver bow
Fluttering like fays that flit in Luna's softened glow

from An Ode To Music
James G Percival
Euterpe (by the way) is the muse from greek mythology, for music.

clean

2006-07-31T16:13:00.000+09:30

Here are a couple for IF - clean

I was considering starting a blog on spiritual and laundry advice. Actually more laundry than anything - but I'm not actually that good at washing either. Patience grasshopper....

Oscar the cat was feeling indulgent and posed for me. A quick sketch done in a couple of minutes .
Remind me to tell you about the time he rescued the baby possum.

tumble MSO

2006-07-25T10:23:00.000+09:30

ahhh the beach in winter. Frolicking dolphins. Crisp walks. Building uber-castles in the seaweed.
Approximately 0.03 seconds after the shutter closed, sparky here took a dive. We spent the next 3 weeks getting the sand out of her nostrils. I think theres still some in her hair. She's 17 now.
the judges score - 9.8. She needs a little work on her delivery, but technically BRILLIANT.

choc- full

2006-07-22T14:22:00.000+09:30

who's that in the "o"

another exhibition - mc clelland gallery Loved Louise Weavers work

poppas cake

with a week choc full of celebrations, we've been snap happy. and theres more

1 love

2006-07-18T10:04:00.000+09:30

And this....for inspiration thursday. I'm in a bit of a Sabrina Ward Harrison Mood lately. I hope she forgives me for the shameless borrowing of her look.

Mary

2006-07-18T09:53:00.001+09:30

This little jounal page i created with the inspiration from Illustration Fridays topic - sacrifice. I was having a bit of a dark moment. I wasnt even going to post it because it looks so miserable. But....
on the weekend we had Shanti baptised and that (beautiful service) got me thinking about relgious icons and then I thought that maybe this is my version of mary with a sacred heart.
Anyway if after this you're in need of something happier with the same theme check out blu collage. It made me smile.

whimsy

2006-07-14T11:43:00.000+09:30

whimsy is one of my favourite things... the very thought conjours images of swirls and dancing colours in my mind...and yet of late it seems there has been not so much whimsy in my days. So -its a timely reminder to search out more. More pink. Alot more glitter.And definitely more flags. Some mosaics maybe. Skipping and fairy lights. Scones with jam and cream. A tea party a la Alice. I feel better aready....

ps - the jester is an sticky tape transfer. I painted a gorgeous little fairy to transfer with the inkjet transparency method but i just couldnt get it to work. Maybe the combination of my brand of gel medium, transparency paper and printer ink dont get along. I thought mabe next time rather than try and transfer - i'd just collage it. Gotta love a collage.

skyline

2006-07-10T09:53:00.000+09:30

oh the humiliation

2006-07-08T15:57:00.000+09:30

Ok so its a little embarrassing to be removed from a host website. I figure that its probably because I've made mistakes in my addressing linking type thing so I'm not welcome at Mama says Om this week. I dont feel so Om at the moment.
Perhaps the universe is trying to tell me to stop spending my time searching for inspiration, nurturing, connection on this crazy machine. Just get on with it. Turn the computer off and live my life...
ok ok Im going already
No need to tell me twice.
Im off.
Dont try and stop me....
Here I go.
I'm going.
Now.

So - now I'm really embarrassed. I'm typing posts to myself and even I'm not listening....
Oh dear.

treat

2006-07-04T11:39:00.000+09:30

"Crickey " she exclaimed "I'm atop a rock and a big one too"
Its true the climb had been long and arduous but despite inclement sunshine and occasional blinding lense flare she had summited the birrung ma mama without oxygen.
What remarkable athleticism, what stamina, what next ?
"Another Treat" the cry echoed across the valley...
and it was so....
a puppet making workshop, japanese for T and a hot chocolate worth writing home about (that was for me!)

rain

2006-07-03T15:42:00.000+09:30

here are a couple of altered postcards - 2 birds with one stone.
1. An attempt at capturing "Rain" for illustration friday
2. Sending 5 friends a postcard for my ARTISTS WAY homework
any hoo
This is what Ive been doing in my eons and eons of spare time...

open studio

2006-06-27T10:27:00.000+09:30

My dearest and oldest friend has had a hard year, battling depression. I painted this for her. I'll get to see her in August so I'll give it to her then, for her new house. She's a florist and peonys are the most gorgeous luscious flowers, my favourite. The colours are kind of crazy but I like the way they vibrate off each other. I hope it has a positive energy that'll bring something positive to her, if only knowing that its made with love.

and this is my girls playroom. My studio is under construction at this very moment. any month now it'll be done. So for the time being I paint in this fantastic light filled space. Its fun.

pommegranite

2006-06-23T09:10:00.001+09:30

acrylic on canvas board

saunterers

2006-06-20T14:06:00.000+09:30

saunter had me baffled. with no couture runway within walking distance how was i to capture saunter ? my brain's functioning at low speed anyway - bronchiolitis has our home in limbo and combined with world cup at 2am no-one here is getting much sleep. anyway...saunter
after a day of cuddles and well... more cuddles all to no avail I thought maybe our brisk walk around the block would settle Shanti, (maybe I'd see a horse SAUNTER along). parenting rule #1 - make plans/routine
Shanti cried the whole way.
parenting rule #2 - dont get upset when parenting rule #1 goes pear shaped.
Not easily defeated i returned home and just wandered through the garden looking for something beautiful - interesting would have done.This is what i found.
I'm having so much fun slowing down. Looking at things in a new way.
Sauntering, infact.

comfort

2006-06-13T13:55:00.000+09:30

This is Marty. aka comfort. My legend husband, who whilst often has me rolling my eyes heavenward at his craziness, keeps me sane most of the time. He is in training for the ultmate foot massage and has a little way to go. He writes a mean song and makes a cup of tea like no one I know. He's rather gorgeous actually.
Oh, and a stroll on the beach is good too.

saturday night

2006-06-10T22:29:00.001+09:30

Any moment now Shanti will call for me, so its now I practice my speedy typing. !!??
Lumberjack cake was a highlight today; not so much the consuming as the making with Mollie.
Its very cool to get some time with her, when she's not busy gymnasticing or pianoing or some other incrediblly interesting ing thing. Before that it was a surprise visit to Marty on the hill - what a spot. Pale smudgy green and maroon canes from the vines reaching to the sky. It would be good to do something with them before theyre cut - but what. I need to learn to weave.
Hey, and Laila lost her first tooth. And Shanti started crawling this week. Small things in the scheme of things...but i smiled.

2006-06-07T16:07:00.000+09:30

angel

2006-06-07T15:49:00.001+09:30

warm

2006-06-01T22:17:00.000+09:30

Its late now and while the sun begins to thaw those northern hemisphere bones, here frostbite threatens to sharpen its nasty little teeth whilst i write, so warm seems a little incongruous at this point; nevertheless, warmth you shall have....
A big dancing chai with a shoulder shrug and wrist flick a la bollywood should do the trick. Thick with honey, heady with ginger and cardamon to toast from the inside. Thats what makes me warm.
When the frenetic energy of my girls is about to topple me into the abyss - its then when I hear it calling me from afar. a teeny little voice heeelllllllooooooooo. Its time to be quiet, even better if theres a little sweety thing too. Mayhaps a chocolatey bicuity thing or even a syrupy filoish delight but it all works. Especially if no-one finds me...

Shanti & me

2006-06-01T12:22:00.000+09:30

winter

2006-05-31T10:51:00.000+09:30

tomorrow marks the first day of winter and today i celebrate the last day of autumn, cool and crisp, my toes are calling for socks and my girls are calling for fruit. Time for another cup of tea.