Welcome to my blog. I work full time and creating is my sanity. I like to use many different mediums and was a finalist in the Fire Mountain Beading Contest in 2008. I am a passionate blogger, and a promoter of handmade goodness.
I love : my husband, my fur kids, family, music, sunshine, creating, chocolate, handmade soaps, the DUST Team, gardening, friends, Triple J Radio and photography. Comments welcome, I hope you enjoy the adventure with me.
Welcome lovely readers to Blogtoberfest Day 7 - week one of Blogtoberfest is now officially done. For those participating, how are you finding blogging each day? Do you find it hard to come up with new subjects to write about ? If you need some inspiration to move that bloggers block on , just remember, "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls" - Pablo Picasso
So dear readers, how did you spend your Sunday ? We went for a coastal walk and enjoyed the glorious sunshine. Here are some snaps of where we ventured to.
This coastal cliff top walk trail is so beautiful, wild + largely untouched.
A couple posing for a photograph at one of the walk trail lookouts.
One of the unique wildflowers in bloom at the moment
Looking back toward the wind farm turbines
Another more complete shot of the unique wildflowers in bloom
and of course, being a warm day, the Ice Cream Van in the parking area
for when you finish your walk and need cold refreshments :)
See you all tomorrow for Day 8 of Blogtoberfest xo and p.s. thank you for visiting my blog - I do LOVE reading your beautiful comments xo
Dear readers, following the lead of Kat at I Saw You Dancing, today I will share with you five things that I have been grateful for this week. 1. New Music - I heard a song on RAGE this morning that I haven't heard before, and I loved it. It is by a band that hasn't been heard from for a while, the songstress is the gorgeous Shirley Manson and the name of the band is Garbage. The title of this particular song is "Big Bright World"
2. Inspirational Quotes and Images. This little gem was shared by Op Shop and actually holds a lot of meaning for me after a challenging week. I had the good fortune to spend some quality time with some dear friends during the week and it always reminds me of how lucky I am to have people like this in my life.
3. New Things - my brand new niece arrived into this world on Wednesday, welcome to Laylah Ann, can't wait to meet you xox
4. Where I Live. Now that the spring weather is here, we have been exploring walk trails along our beautiful coastline in Southern Western Australia.
We have seen surfing dolphins, bandicoots, lizards, lots of bird life and an abundance of wildflowers. Combined with the sweet spring sunshine, we feel so truly blessed that we live where we do.
5. Acceptance. I love to take photographs, and very rarely leave home without a camera - whether it be a "real" camera or my mobile phone camera.
I was so incredibly humbled when a photograph I had submitted to our local newspaper was published, amongst the many that are submitted each week. It was a photo of a "Pansy" or "Donkey" Orchid, botanical name "Diuris magnifica." I was so pleased with this photo and thrilled that so many would have now been able to see it too.
So there you have it. 5 Things I am Grateful for in this Big Bright World. See you all tomorrow for Day 7 of Blogtoberfest xo
Welcome to Day 5 of Blogtoberfest12. This week, for the Friday Friends feature, I am going to hand the blogging reigns over to Kat of theI Saw You Dancing blog. Kat is hosting Blogtoberfest this year - YAY ! I will now let Kat tell you her inspirational story xo
See you all tomorrow for Day 6 of Blogtoberfest12.
FRIDAY FRIEND GUEST BLOGGER
KAT - I SAW YOU DANCING
Thank you, Samara. I am so honoured to be featured on your
beautiful blog as this Friday’s friend!
Who am I?
I wish I had a pithy and profound answer to that
question!
I am a writer, I am a blogger, I make art.
I am a mama, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend.
My creative journey really started in earnest when my daughter was born and I stepped off the career treadmill (and gave myself “permission” not to work full time). Starting my blog in January 2010 was a huge step in sharing my art, my writing and my dreams with the world. The connection with kindred spirits from all over the world really has changed my life, in the best of ways.
It’s fair to say that loneliness, self-knowledge, the power of the written word, art and connection are the themes that run through my life. My greatest inspirations are the lonely artists of history who stood at a slight angle to the universe. Many of these were women who were labeled as “difficult” or “hysterical” or just excluded from mainstream society. But often they turned this rejection into something powerful, inhabiting the margins with defiant exuberance. I’m thinking of Frida Kahlo, May Sarton, Anais Nin, Vali Myers, Lucia Joyce to name but a few.
My favourite medium to work in is collage and I often use acrylic paints in my mixed media work. Up until now, I have just dabbled, making gifts for family and friends and sharing the odd creation on my blog. But now, with the guidance of a creative coach, I have started to focus on what I have affectionately codenamed “my dream book project”. It is a work in progress and only the goddesses know what it will finally look like!
But, to give you an idea
of the form it is taking, the art has been inspired by the work of Sabrina Ward Harrison and Christine Mason Miller: layered, handwritten, with quotes and haiku
to stir the soul... and, likely, the invitation for readers to write their own
thoughts and dreams in the margins.
Right now, I am hosting a fun blogging festival and warmly
invite Maddabling readers to join in.
I am especially excited that the creative
prompts I post on my blog will include a guest post from yourself, Samara, with
an invitation to join your wonderful photo challenge.
It's Day 4 of Blogtoberfest12, I can't believe that we are four days in already. Today I want to share with you some simple pleasures. I will start with some photos of the most delicate raindrop covered Dutch Iris flowers that are blooming in our garden...........
and then the beautiful watercolour painting that my dear friend Fay (who is currently residing in The Netherlands) sent to me.......... I have put it in a frame but need to straighten it I think.........
and finally who loves a GIVEAWAY ? My dear friend Rachel of missIsa is holding a giveaway on her facebook page :
When missIsa reaches the milestone of 1000 fans, she will hold a giveaway and one lucky fan will win a pack of 50 cutlery pieces of their choice, just in time for the party season. All you have to do is "like" and share this page, then write shared underneath the photo on Facebook at this link : to have your name added to the draw. If you want to check out more of the amazing goodies Rachel has for sale you can find her Etsy store here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/missisaau See you all tomorrow - you will get to meet a Guest Blogger and new Friday Friend - I wonder who it will be? xo
Hello readers, thank you for stopping by my blog for Day 3 of Blogtoberfest12. On Wednesdays I publish a Wednesday Wishes blogpost with a fitting theme for what I am liking or inspired by at the time. Today, I give you "Purple Haze" a wishlist inspired by the colour purple, deep indigo stormy skies seen in my part of the world yesterday and the amazing purple irises that have sprung into flower in my garden. I hope you love my Purple Haze - Wednesday Wishes retro vintage picks xo
Welcome lovely Maddabling readers to Blogtoberfest12 - Day 2. Today I want to share with you a recent craft swap that I undertook with Anne of LaughLand. One of my responsibilities as a DUST Team Admin, is that I co-ordinate a regular craft swap. It's a lot of fun and gives people an opportunity to share the handmade love. Below, you will see some pictures of what we swapped :) I sent Anne some gorgeous earrings made with circa 1960's Glass Rhinestones, some hand cut gift tags and two bath tea bags - suitable either for the bath or as a foot soak.
Anne sent me two gorgeous big shopping bags, a beautiful card and a big zippered pouch suitable as a pencil case or any sort of general stash bag - it will be great to keep my ribbons and string in ! Thanks for stopping by to read my blog, see you all tomorrow for Blogtoberfest12 Day 3 - Wednesday Wishes xo
Welcome lovely Maddabling readers and all those lovely folk participating in Blogtoberfest12. Today is the first of a series of 31 Blog posts to celebrate Blogtoberfest12. I must extend a special mention and a big THANKYOU to the sweet Kat of the I Saw You Dancing Blog who is this years Blogtoberfest Hostess.
As promised, I have been meaning to share with you some photos of a Posh High Tea that I recently I held recently for some girlfriends, and also a recipe for the Cucumber Sandwiches that were such a huge hit with the girls! There were NO leftovers at all! Enjoy xo
