I've been sitting here for the last half an hour checking out some of my favourite blogs, admiring their creativity, having a laugh at the funny things, their commitment or ability to post so regularly. Then, all of a sudden, I thought... "Right, stop looking at what everyone else is doing, and do something for yourself Jane!"
I turned my eye to the window for inspiration. There is a fabulous blue sky, clouds blowing by and I can see the beginning of the magnificent bloom of the Jacaranda tree next door. For my friends in far away places, when the Jacarandas bloom about this time each year, it's a traditional reminder to students to start studying for end of year exams.
Can you see the little purple angel at the top of the tree? Magical isn't it. Not sure if it is my guardian angel or some amazing reflection of the lavender coloured flowers on the tree. I think I like the idea of guardian angel. Don't you love having the ability to imagine.
I had a great weekend decorating and moving things around the house. With help from my biggest fan (my husband) I've actually put some of my canvases on the walls around the house. I think it is that, combined with more clutter clearing, that has given the house a fresh new feeling of peace and calm.
I treated myself to a few new things on the weekend too. I got to spend time with one of my 'besties' and we did a little spot of shopping. Loving my purchases....
Angus & Julia Stone, Down the Way.
Fav track is number 3, called For You. how's this for lyrics...
'if you love me with all of your heart, i'll make you a star in my universe'
I feel so lucky to have found blogging and to have met the nicest of people. You are all 'stars in my universe'. Thank you. On that beautiful note, have a lovely rest of the week.
Jane x
PS. Note to self... 'Well Jane, your blogging friends and family love your creative side, so it's time you did too!'
PPS. A quote to back me up, from "When I loved myself enough" by Kim McMillen.
When I loved myself enough, I stopped trying to banish the critical voices from my head. Now I say, 'thank you for your views' and they feel heard. End of discussion.
Hello friends. Thanks for all the lovely emails and commets you have left me recently, and welcome to my new following friends. A few busy weeks have passed since my last blog. There have been a few lovely highlights which I though I'd share with you.
I've been creating again, Here is my latest little piece of art. Another fabulous Barking Mad card (titled Love Nest) in the centre of the canvas which I have added to with mixed media. What do you think?
With a little help from the LOML we've done some tidying in the room we call 'the love room'. It's a very multi-purpose room which contains the desk where we google and blog from, our library, ironing room, my craft cupboard (whose name is Joy), my sewing cabinet, dumping ground for lost and bewildered items. You get the general idea. While I was sorting and chucking, I came across this very old looking little crochet booklet. I would dearly love to learn how to crochet, some of my dear blogging friends do such amazing work. Maybe if I can find a crochet hook and some cotton, I could try this little guide to get me started!
A few weeks ago marked one year since the passing of my beautiful Gran. After her passing, we planted a rose (Peace) in our garden. I don't think it was any co-incidence that on this first anniversary of her passing, the rose gave us this...
On that special note, I wish you a wonderful week ahead.
Jane x
In my little part of the world today, we have magnificent blue skies, a slight breeze (a great improvement to last nights gale force winds) and the birds are singing.
I guess you might be thinking, 'is Jane Russian', 'is she a twin'? I'm none of the above. This is my Russian Twin, my most magnificent Hippiastrum in bloom. Stunning isn't it. A gift to our garden from a special Aunt, in rememberance of a special Uncle.
One bloom inside the other, isn't that so clever!
Lots of lovely things have happened since I last blogged which seems like ages ago.
We've enjoyed a little refresher at the Gold Coast. Whales! I have never seen so many whales in my entire life. We could look out to sea at any daylight hour and in less than a minute (i kid you not), we would spot at least one, either a huge splash out to sea or the fine spray, or the slow rise and fall of them through the sea. What a treat. We felt so lucky, and my favourite word... grateful.
The first morning when I awoke for the sunrise, this is what I saw... At first I thought there must have been some kind of eclipse happening, but due to all the smoke haze around the previous day or two, this is the sun rise. Have you ever seen anything like it?
It's a bit blury because I zoomed my little camera in as far as I could!
On the way home from the coast, I took a short detour, via Ikea. I've been looking forward to a visit there since their 2012 catalogue landed in our letterbox recently. I had spotted a side table which we just had to have, the identical side table to one we found at the Woolloongabba Antique Centre sometime last year. $10 cheaper than we paid at the WAC too! Not to worry.
Whenever I go to Ikea, I always stock up on tealight candles. This time I found some jumbo tealights which are perfect for our outdoor lanterns. So, with a flatpack sidetable and a bundle of candles we make our way to the checkout. ahh, but wait there's more.... Very strategically placed, not far from the checkout I spot the forever useful, have always wanted one, stepladder. For $14.95, I stop and pick one up. I'm excited, I got to go to Ikea, got my candles and two flatpacks! The day ended on such a good note, as my wonderful husband happily constructed by purchases for me.
Hairy and Whiskas are the
guardians of the new table!
You know this Ikea stool. I'm thinking,
I might do some crazy collage on it.
Mega tealight, standard tealight
I have included a video which I saw on another beautiful Janes' blog, Life on Planet Baby, and asked her if she would mind if I could 'pay it forward'. Of course she agreed, I think we all need to see this, it will offer you something, whether you are a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend or all of these. Full credit and applause to Kelly Corrigan for finding the words.
On the reading pile...
Dropped into the library and got these.
I had been waiting for My Heart Wanders
to come in. Do you have this, or have you read it?
Pia Jane has a beautiful blog.
I have just finished reading "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. There were tears (i'm deeply emotional) in the final chapters. A wonderful read, the story told by Enzo the dog.
And I've just started reading "Hearts on a String" by Kris Radish. The prologue got me in immediately, where the Great-Grandmother teaches her grandaughter of "the precious, beautiful, sweet string that connects all women". "The string is a powerful force, my sweet girl. It allows women to lean into one another and find a sister when they need one. The string can never be broken. You can use it to pull yourself up, to pull yourself forward, or to steady the place where you must remain." I'm feeling it, are you? And just by co-incidence it ties in really well with Kelly's video above too.
oh, oh! In the time since I started writing this post, that 'breeze' I spoke of at the start, has decided to get windy agian. Hold onto your hats! I hope you find beauty in your surrounds today.
Jane x
