the Golden Beach with Pinky & Maurice ~ a weekend in South Golden Beach, Byron Bay surrounds

Today I'm bringing you a lovely little look around the studio where we will be holding our upcoming Gather :: Create, with some info about the sweet township we'll be in. We are so lucky to be presenting the workshop in the studio space of ceramic artist Claire Atkins, who works under the name Pinky & Maurice (that's the name of her two cute cute little dogs!). Here's some stunning images of Claire's studio (borrowed from Megan's blog Seeker of the Lost Arts), but today Claire is sharing her love of South Golden Beach with us. So come along for a weekend of creative play and beach dreaming........

South Golden Beach is a sleepy little town that time forgot, with a wild, stretching blue break where you can surf, swim, fish and watch the whales breach and play. 

During the weekends and holiday time, the beach shacks are full with holiday makers and the quiet streets come alive with the colourful buzz of families, kids, dogs and bikes and the dress code is bare-feet, towels and cozzies. 

The South Golden Beach corner store sells all the daily essentials, board wax, the freshest free range pasture raised eggs and the best pizza on the coast. Next door in New Brighton, dine alfresco from breakfast till afternoon tea by the River at The Yum Yum Tree Cafe, Manfred and his superb staff make the best coffee and create a menu from the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Stay till Tuesday and shop for farm fresh produce and groove to live music at the funky New Brighton Farmers market from 8am - 11am.

You can find holiday houses for rent in South Golden Beach and our cute neighbour New Brighton. Elders Real Estate in New Brighton manage all the holiday and weekend rental properties in South Golden and Newy. 

South Golden Beach is situated 20 minutes north of Byron Bay and 30 minutes south of Coolangatta airport. 10 minutes from Ocean Shores and Brunswick Heads.

 All images used with the kindest of thanks to Megan Kinninment, from her blog Seeker of the Lost Arts. Megan is a local photographer and journalist, who specialises in highlighting local craftspeople, musicians, authors, artists and creatives. Megan takes beautiful, intimate photographs that tell a story and entice you to look deeper into her subject. Megan is available for creative portfolio photography work and story sharing. 

These photos were taken in the studio of ceramic artist Claire Atkins. A beautiful space, designed by her architect husband, and planned to be an area for creative thinking and work, as well as gathering and sharing. Her large open studio looks out onto a lush back garden - a place to contemplate and inspire.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more info on other accommodation options around the region.

gather :: create ~ creative workshops for getting lost and found

I want to tell you about a beautiful and really special new 'thing' I've been working on. And finally launched. It's full of heart and creative making and connections and joy and play and lots of colour, and maybe some mistake making too. Just the way I like my days I think!

gather :: create is the collaboration of myself and my sister Leah. It's the start of events and workshops that are a little different than the usual. It's about immersing yourself into the process, of learning new skills, of learning new ways to rework old-known skills, and also - very important for me - of not needing to worry about the outcome.

For our first event we are hosting two very inspiring visual artists, both who work a similar way, yet their different styles and personalities bring completely different viewpoint to their work. By similar I mean, they both have a relaxed and play-based approach to their work, their are willing to let go and see where talking with their materials takes them, they are ok with mistake making, with learning on the journey, with sometimes being wrong and learning something new about themselves and their practice. 

Different approaches? Well, you only have to look at their work to see that while process and journey making is vital to both of them, they are absolutely on different journeys. 

Unfurl :: small scale conversations with textiles by Alex Falkiner.

Poetic Collage :: where words, paper and pictures collide by Karina Jean Sharpe.

The day will be two workshops, one with each of these talented and fascinating creatives, as well as a long lunch, endless cups of tea (nibbles for morning and afternoon tea - cake!!), a goodie bag and SO much more. It's to be held in the beautiful ceramic studio of Pinky & Maurice in South Golden Beach, Northern NSW. 

I'll be back soon with more info about the whole day, with details about each workshop, who is making our delicious food and lots more. For now, please do check out the bookings site for some extra info and our facebook page. Spaces are very limited for this event, as we want to have connections made between the participants, rather than a giant party! 

{images used with thanks from:

top left - me, top right - Leah, middle: Alex, bottom: Karina

these are all links to our Instagram feed. Go have a look at the pretty over there!}.

happenings....and an Announcement

I don't want to spend ages telling you how sorry I am for not being here. Do I say this every time?? I'm not here. That's it. I'm being where I need to be, and mostly for the past month or more that's been on the couch or in bed!

So, how are you? Hope you're all well and happy and things are adventuress (in a quiet way maybe?). 

Want to hear my big adventures? WELL well. 

oh hey!

We're having a baby. Shall I say that again, in case you didn't quite believe me -

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!

I'm not being so good at keeping this a secret. Except I just haven't been here to tell you all yet. I've been wanting to. But mostly I've been lying in bed feeling sick and sorry for myself, and ever so tired tired tired. 

No pretty pictures to show you about the baby. It's only just barely 12weeks big so far. 

So, anyway. I popped in to tell my happenings. 

Hope your happenings have been lovely too. 

There's lots and lots of other happenings around here. House building is going well, and we may be in our new space soon soon soon! It's almost barely hard to think about in case it doesn't come as soon as we want. And there's lots of upcoming events - such as markets and also talks and special events where I've been invited to be the guest speaker (Little bit scary and such, but ever so wonderful to be invited to all these special gatherings where people want to hear about me!). I'll talk more on this later, closer to the time. 

Have a lovely lovely week sweet ones. As ever you can follow me along here, on my Instagram, I am there almost every day. If you don't have the app on your phone, you can follow it here online.

the reality ..... online me

I have had some beautiful comments on IG over the last few days. Well, all the comments are always beautiful, but these few particularly got me thinking about what I portray through this online personality petalplum).

Let's start with the first reality right now: I have left the dinner plates on the table, a half washed up sink of dishes, and my kids have Lego spread all across the floor in our teeny leaky shack that I'll probably step on and swear about (and yell about!) later tonight. 

So, the comments I am thinking about made my heart sing to read them as it's so lovely to be thought of in this way. But then my heart got a bit sad because people are thinking I'm zen and productive and creative with no anxiety...... While I can be these things, that's not the whole of me. In fact (and especially if you ask my family) that's only a very small part of me. Mainly am I zen when I'm sitting crocheting, which isn't so productive for getting jobs done around the home or work (paperwork mostly) stuff needing to be done.

It got me thinking about how we (I) portray myself through my Instagram feed, through this blog, and perhaps also while talking to customers at markets and such. For people know very little about me, and certain aspects of me. Only what I share. 

My friends were talking the other day about the lack of reality through social media, particularly IG. How everything is so extremely perfect and beautiful. And how they'd like to see a kid vomiting or something with that realness to it. (Though I'm totally sure they could find that if they went looking!). And I've read a few articles over the past years about people portraying only the fun, exciting, beautiful parts, and how that can affect us by watching and making us feel inferior.

I do get that. That aching feeling of why isn't my life all white walls and perfect antique / modern / vintage / retro in the hottest colour at the moment. Why doesn't my life have the Instagram filter to it! Why isn't my crochet as good, why aren't my kids as pretty, why don't I have those lovely shoes like everyone else. I've had that feeling with blogs and with Instagram. 

I want to tell you why I gave up that feeling (mostly), and how. And also, why I think it's so important that we all keep showing our online personalities as the best we can.....

Firstly - it's so unhealthy to always be looking outside of yourself for happiness, and inspiration and contentment and joy. We must learn to find happiness within, from whatever we have to offer ourselves. I found at times my stomach felt tight and knotted thinking about what I didn't have, and what someone else had, and often breathless. And I was missing out on the beauty of what I do have right here right now. Completely not seeing it, or appreciating it, or acknowledging it. 

How to give this up, you ask? It's not easy. I'll tell you that. And I think it doesn't go away completely, but I think that's ok. I think to feel that occassional tightness and breathlessness means we want to improve ourselves for the better, but first we must love ourselves. Two and a half years ago I stepped away from the blogging world I was caught up in (due to our living situation), and had time to really be where I am here and now. And enjoy and appreciate it just simply for itself. Not to notice it so I could share it online and boast about it, but to soak it up. I haven't found I needed to do that with IG. I've learnt instead to follow people who make me feel inspired by their images, their words and (most importantly) their community connections. And to feel happy for them for their wonderful situations, not jealous - because they are people who deserve good things too, and who work hard for those good things. 

Also - and this is the important one - I've learnt to notice, appreciate and love moments in my life that I can share. Be sharing them on IG and here, I sometimes take more notice of them. By photographing and thinking about a moment I take it in. Sometimes I don't take photos, I simply take in the moment - and that's the best isn't it!

So, instead of showing the ugly, uninspiring things that don't bring me joy in my life and my days, I actively choose to share the joyful creative inspiring nurturing beauty-filled moments. By noticing things I make them bigger in my life. 

I think this is such an important thing for us all to do. Yes, please do keep it real - you don't need to show off to friends, or to impress people, but if you share those moments that bring you real joy and where you see beauty you will notice it more in your own life, and find the anxiety of watching other people's perfect lives will diminish as you start to see the beauty of your life - no-one's life is perfect, those people are simply choosing to share the moments that bring them joy and beauty.

*I am not at all suggesting that we ignore everything bad in our lives, for some things do need to be looked at and dealt with and talked about. I think it's important to talk about a lot of things that are sometimes hidden. But if that's all you focus on, if you cannot find one moment of beauty, please please look harder at a flower in your street or the clouds across the sky or the meal you cooked for your family. (Or please go and talk with someone in real who can help you to love yourself and see the beauty in your day).

And please be kind to yourself!

Ellie xxx

in the raindrops and the early mist

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf" Rabindranath Tagore

The weather has been quite spectacular this past month. Hot hot days combined with afternoon Summer storms. Creating beautiful scenes everywhere we look. 

I captured this lightning shot on my phone - after a crazy hot and sticky day we headed for the creek to cool down, only to be joined by the most amazing company of thunder and lightning across the valley. A quick jump in the water and then driving home in the pouring rain.

I endlessly find inspiration in the tiny minute details of a blade of grass or a thread of spider silk. A rain drop rolling down a leaf is such an intoxicating moment to enjoy.

Creative Business Talks - in conversation Teegs from Ink and Spindle

This image used with kind thanks to Artisan Magazine

Tegan Rose is one-beautiful half of the dynamic duo that is Ink & Spindle*; one of this country’s top bespoke screen printing businesses, and a true success story for any small business creative aiming to follow a sustainable and ethical path.

Tegan, call her Teegs, started her career as an art teacher, and discovered she liked the art making and teaching more than the department and rules. A chance meeting led her to her now business partner, Lara Cameron, and the start of a beautiful business that has grown and flourished since it's beginning five years ago.

Ink & Spindle hand screen print organic sustainable fabric, using designs that are organic and nature-based, with modern interpretations and stunning colourways. But this is not all that the pair do! Teegs and Lara are eager to share their passion for sustainable and ethical business with others by sharing their story and experiences with interns as well as their 'competitors'; other creatives and makers.

Being naturally generous, Teegs is back in her heart-home town of Byron Bay for a short while (after sailing a pirate ship from Melbourne. Yep. It's true. She's the daughter of pirates!), and can’t wait to share with you her insights into small business, staying sustainable and ethical, collaborations and partnerships, a view into the fabric and fashion industry, as well as how to stay connected to your true journey and build a work/life balance that makes you contented and fulfilled.

This talk will be an informal night, with questions being answered along the way. Teegs has a broad knowledge on pricing, wholesaling, markets and trade shows, as well as collaborating with others (collaborations include NancyBird Accessories and Matt bags), open studio days, running a Pozible campaign, applying for grants and much more. Ask the question and she’s sure to know the answer!

There’ll be cake (did I mention Teegs’ brother is a chef….), conversation, new friendships and beautiful connections made on the night. Please bring along some business cards to share with others. 

*please please go and visit the Ink & Spindle website, it's such an amazing site with fabulous features, including colour matching their designs and base cloth. I find I&S to be a youthful, vibrant partnership with forward thinking in their business aspect, combined with a heart-felt and honest approach, honouring traditional skills and environmental concerns. 

Conversation with Teegs from Ink & Spindle - Wednesday 9th October, 6.30-8.30pm. Held at Byron Lifestyle store and coffee shop, 109 Johnson St, Byron Bay. $45. Bookings essential - book online here.  

** all images used with kind thanks from Ink & Spindle website, except image of Lara and Teegs used with thanks to Artisan Magazine.

why Instagram is so much more than pretty pictures

I just realised that the freaking amazing thing about Instagram is that it's a whole lot more than itself.
Huh?

When I talk to people, who are my Instagram friends, and my real-life friends, they get what I'm talking about. You might not be an Instagram person, so I wanted to explain it a little more to you. What Instagram really is!

Yesterday someone said to me that Instagram is for the kids, she meant teenagers. And yeah, for sure IG is for the kids, the teenagers. But so much more than that. Oh golly. SO.MUCH.MORE.

This is why I think you *need* to come along to the IG talk I'm hosting as part of Creative Business Talks.  Some of the reasons anyway. I'd be here forever if I shared all the reasons. So I'm narrowing to the main reasons. Mostly they come from what I get out of my personal experience with IG, and from what I've seen other people get out of it. And what we all put it.

1. It's fun. So fun. Part of the best gang.group.club ever. But there's no horrible initiation rituals, there's only a whole lot of lovin'. For sure. Don't believe me? Join up to IG now and find out for yourself.

2. You'll meet people. Yep, like old fashioned penpals. Except you can say good night to these people with sweet thoughtful and lovely messages, and someone on the other side of the world will get it when they wake up in the morning. Or even your friend up the road who you haven't run into for a few days.

3. Every single day you'll be inspired. Not only by the amazing beautiful interesting unusual stunning images that people share - from everywhere, all over, all walks of life and all parts of the world - but by what you put into it. By what you give. It makes me think about my daily adventures in an excellent way. I want to share the beautiful in my life with others, and that makes me *see* it more clearly. {And no, it's not about ignoring the mess of life, or hiding the truth, or pretending we're all superhumans. It's about seeing the beauty in everyday}.

4. You'll get some great contacts that may or may not turn into customers / clients / collaborators / connections / cool fun people (that one yep, the cool fun people bit will happen for sure!).

5. People will support you. Having a bad day - let people know and they'll send you love. I know it - it's happened to me. A simple heart and x from one of my IG friends is sometimes the biggest thing that gets me going. There'll also be a lot of love for things you make. People are supportive and friendly and caring and sharing.

6. You have a record anywhere you carry your phone of all those inspiring things you do and make. You can show people what cool stuff you do and make. You can keep a collection for yourself, in a really cool and easy to access spot, of the cool-eo stuff you make, do, see....

Ok. There's a start. Why I really really do think you need to come along and hear all about IG. For me, I've been loving seeing all the flowers blooming across the world - I never get to have peonies in my house as they don't like the heat, but ah ha - I can see them on IG by those who share with me. And woah - the stunning, simply spectacular magnolias that are flowering all up and down the east coast right now (but not in my garden), oh just too good.

Please send questions or comments. I know some of you may not be IG converts, but I'm on a mission to help us all find the beauty-full in every day and share that with our IG friends.

Ready to sign up? Book here for our workshop.  

*All of these images are used with kindest thanks from the IG stream of Ally, IG Sapa, who blogs over here at everyday miracles. Check out her Instagram feed for so much more than floral love.

Instagram for Creatives - Creative Business Talks with Leah Deighton

Last year I met the most wonderful person, who has become a dear friend and inspiring creative connection. Jo Olive and I have joined our combined talents together to form Creative Business Talks.

Our aim is to bring guest speakers who have skills, experience and a beautiful personality to share with you their knowledge and journey. Being a creative and running your own business is often hard and feels like you're all alone; the reality is that our region has the biggest percentage of creatives outside of a major city in Australia. There are lots of us here, in our studios and workspaces. Creative Business Talks will bring us together, with a combined sense of sharing our skills and our love of being small business creatives. Please read more about us over here.

Our first talk to kick off the new direction is something that we believe every small business and creative maker should be an active part of. Instagram is one of the most powerful of social media forums available for us. Since it's inception in October 2010, Instagram has rivaled Facebook so much that they bought the company to stop any competition! The Creative Business Talks team use Instagram daily, to promote their own small business as well as connect with like-minded makers.

Our guest is the beautifully humble Leah Deighton, who runs the curated online store Sang the Bird, filled with handcrafted goodness. Leah's Instagram images share her heartfelt days with the world, and allow her to live her life in the forest while maintaining her website and being a full time mama. Through her Instagram feed, Leah has been featured on the Times daily blog and in print media Flow Magazine, as well as other online features.

Our talk will take you through the basics of Instagram, including beginners how to, Leah's favourite apps to use, her journey and how Instagram has changed Leah's daily outlook on life, as well as made connections world wide. We have personally seen the benefits of Instagram for small business owners, in the creative realm, from direct sales and customer contact through to media and other promotion.

Instagram for Creative Business Talk - Thursday 19th September, 2013. 6.30-9pm. Held at the Tweed River Art Gallery workshop space. $40 per ticket. Includes tea, coffee, nibbles and take home notes as well as the chance to have fun with our little Instagram photo booth session! Bookings available here.

*all images are from Leah's Instagram feed. Please please go and have a look, and check out here blog too.

The Red Thread- Space to Create

I first found out about Lisa's beautiful blog, design and making many years ago when her friend, Steph Bond, connected some dots between us, asked for some words and thoughts - which I was ever so pleased to be able to pass on. Since then, I've enjoyed visiting Lisa's blog, and being wowed by her skills in taking traditional crafts and reworking them into a modern interpretation. Her tutorials are amazing, with so much detail and thought and time gone into each one. Lisa's styling of her images, as well as the snippets of her home (that she shares with her daughter), are perfectly put together, in a simple and loved way. 

In the past six months I've been lucky to enjoy Lisa's instagram feed; which brings daily joy to many people through her love of bold clear colour and  sharing of skills. I'm so inspired by how Lisa works, and what she produces. 

So, it was completely amazing and humbling for me to receive an invitation from Lisa, a few weeks ago, to be part of her Space to Create blog posts. Where she shares an interview and images from creatives who inspire Lisa. Wow - to know that I inspire someone who inspires me. That's the wonderful circles I'm traveling at the moment!

Anyway, pop on over to Lisa's blog The Read Thread, to read my words on being a creative; a little snippet into our world and my life as a maker. While you're there, please be sure to check out Lisa's tutorials as well as the other Space to Create artists.

Thank you Lisa for your words. xx

practicing simplicity / the "i" issue!

I've recently been really enjoying reading and thinking about the little post series that Jodi has been writing about on her blog Che and Fidel. Called Practicing Simplicity, Jodi is slowly and beautifully moving through different aspects of everyday moments of life to find the beautiful and simple in her days. It's inspiring me so much in ways I'm thinking. Often taking small moments of time with dedicated movements can make changes that ever so evolve into new ways. 

This article is a great starting point of ideas to work towards, found on Jodi's first simplicity post. 

I hope each week to come here with ideas and goals to work towards, as well as some achieved. To share with you how I'm moving, thoughts on why and what.

One of the biggest distractions in our daily life right now, the thing that is simple in itself, yet eats time and attention and direct eye contact. Our iphones. For they are not just phones are they. These things that bring so much, yet take so much. Some nights I'm disgusted to find all four of us - kids and adults - on a device each, sitting in the same room and communicating through these machines. We have three iphones (Sam and I have one each, and we have an old one that isn't connected to the telephone system but the kids play games and connect through our wifi) and also an ipad.

Sometimes I console myself that we don't have a tv, and the kids aren't watching cartoons every morning or junk every afternoon, like other families. But we are not other families. And I do not want us to be other families.

I will admit here and now that I am somewhat ever so slightly addicted to instagram. Oh ok - you know better. It's where I am, when I'm not here (and I haven't been here much have I!!). I feel at times it sits on the healthy addiction side of inspiration. But when I find myself hitting refresh endlessly wondering why no-one's posted a new picture in the last 17seconds, those are the moments I know it's not healthy. 

So, my practicing simplicity this week will be:

+ no checking of emails on my phone at all. Do that on my computer only (unless there's an important message I'm expecting), twice a day.

+ no instagram in the morning before school - turn off all notifications (I currently have comments notifications set)

+ limit each instagram session to 10minutes at a time. Over coffee in the morning is ok - after kids have gone on the bus.

+ no instagram between 3 - 8pm, this is kid focus time.

+ no late night 3am instagram sessions (that surely sounds like a bad habit doesn't it!). 

+ I do not currently play any games or other apps on my phone so don't need to limit these. 

+ the children may play the ipad only once they have completed all afternoon chores & homework, and not after dinner time or before school time. They may use it for research for school homework.

This is a start. And no small start I feel, to making some little changes to our days. To stopping and looking in the eyes of my family a bit longer, and not wondering what new images I'm missing on instagram. 

Screen Printing Workshops

I'm getting back into the swing of workshops. Excited to be sharing my screen printing skills and tricks. I haven't done any workshops all year, so it's great I've finally found a space to have some fun and teach some fun techniques. 

I recently made a little trip up to a sweet fabric shop at Palm Beach, Qld (sorry, not the Sydney, NSW Palm Beach, as I mistakenly lead a few astray on Instagram!). It's called I Just Love that Fabric, which is exactly what Susie the owner does - loves fabric. Boy it was lovely walking into a fabric shop that "gets" beautiful real fabric. Someone who knows all the designers and their seasons, a place to see and feel hand printed fabrics - a place that supports Australian designed and made fabrics. Oh yes, such a place does exist. It seems that fabric shops are becoming few and far between, what with online buying so easy. But nothing can beat chatting with a real person who loves fabric as much as you do, laying out the roll of fabric along the beautiful wooden cutting table and talking about projects and possible uses. And just oohing and aahhing about fabric in general. 

Susie and I hatched the idea of me running some screen printing workshops in her lovely shop. I met Susie when she came to one of my workshops that I ran at Hey Maker last year, and it was so good to chat with someone who knew fabric, and loved it so much. How exciting to be doing some workshops within the walls surrounded by all the goodness of that fabric. 

So, for all those people who have been asking me when I'm going to do some more screen printing workshops. Here you go! We have three dates scheduled. Each class will be small, with only 6 bookings maximum, which means more time for printing and asking questions and actually learning a new skill. My aim is for you to be able to continue printing at home, making gifts for family and friends, or zhoosing up your home or kids' wardrobe. Let me tell you, seeing your design on fabric is such a great feeling. A Jumping up and down with excitement feeling! Watch this lovely video which gives you a small feeling of a printing day with me.

The workshop is $125 - dates are Sunday 8th Sept 9am-1pm, Sunday 27th Oct 9am-1pm and Sunday 24th Nov 9am-1pm. 

You can make bookings through my online shop, or contact Susie - details on her website.

a bit of lovin' :: bloglovin'

If I know it, then surely you already know (I'm late to the party in these aspects!!). Google reader is closing really soon. Honestly, don't ask me what all that means. I'm one of those people (few people??) who like to head on over to the blog home page to read your blog. I don't read in readers, I don't get your newest blog post emailed to me. I visit my favourite blogs when I can, and check in on them directly at their web address. 

I know I'm in the minority, and that most of you read in some other way. How? I'm curious - right now, how are you reading this blog? 

Anyway. What I've discovered, after a bit of web searching (cause even though I don't use a blog reader, I do know a thing or two about web searches!), I found that the new reader I like best is Bloglovin'. It is much prettier than google reader, and after more reading I found that when you read from there it counts as a web hit to the blog. I like that. Makes me happier to know there's people reading here.

So. Here's me saying :: go and follow my blog on Bloglovin'! Are you there, let me know so I can follow you. Who knows maybe I'll even start reading blogs over there one day. 

Instead of me working out how to tell you how to import your blogs from Google Reader, I found this excellent tutorial that tells you. So go read it here, if you want.

Happy New week friends. Here's hoping it's creatively beautiful for you, with lots of time for tea and crochet and........ 

E xxx

then it slipped {Winter}

+ It's Winter now. It slipped in silently, quietly on a mostly sunny and beautiful day. I was inside for most of the day-time of the day, except for the early morning and the late afternoon. Thank goodness for the beautiful view, and spectacular sunset from the Gallery Verandah.

+ The market is done and over, for now, until the next one in December. It feels good to be done. It was a good market, so wonderful to connect and share and meet new friends, and spend time with 'old' friends. Yes a day of gathering, sharing, connecting. Ideas, laughter, giving.

+ My mind, and the things that I thought were organised are tumbling around. In wonderful ways. Reforming to join or make new thoughts. New plans. Slipping and spinning.

+ A simple understanding. A moment of being. Trying to make that moment be the moment. Slowly slowly learning bit by teeny tiny bit to slip into that habit.


Things that are good:
+ This image and the matching words seen on foxslane instagram. Speaks to be so strongly. Ah - family gathered around a campfire, sipping on warm drinks, sharing in stories and laughter and hopes and dreams.
+ Wanting to re-read Motherless Daughters and Motherless Mothers. Must find them in my boxes of books packed away.
+ Wearing those spotty red tights, that I won (from Kate last Winter). So fun with my boots.

*these images, like this blog post, were from a few weeks ago. Sitting and waiting both to be shared with you here.

{pinterest love} whipsy and ephermeral on a rainy Friday

Things are wiggly and fuzzy and muddled in my head. Life is full. Beauty-full. But also full and jam-packed. Busy. Yes yes. Busy. But I'm preferring to think of it as "full". 

I'm settling into the whimsy and fleeting moments of my days. The brief passing of light. The thoughts flitting and fleeing from my grasp. 

Sometimes it's best to let go. To allow what comes and goes to happen on it's own. To not force things too much. 

Tomorrow I am going to spend just a short but oh so wonderful time with my sister, Leah. We will talk whimsy, but we will hold fabric in our hands and make real stitches. Working towards ideas we have rambled and wished on for these past months. Ideas coming from whimsy into reality. Hopefully we will have something to share soon. Until then, we promise to share on our instagram pages.

***************************

Thank you to those of you still visiting here, in the hope that I will find more time to be here and share more with you. My sister went on holiday to a different country, and came back and told me I still hadn't updated this little page here. MMMMmmmmm - the quieter my blog the noisier my life; I have discovered. 

Images are from top, left-right: floral + ink, stars, purple dress, painted, seaweed, spotted head, flying scarf.

here and there {naturally dyed yarn}

I'm still around, somewhere. here or there.

Happenings:

It's Wednesday. Life has less structure being a homeschooling family. I'm trying to see if we can work some structure into our days, but it's not naturally me; so perhaps it won't happen. Maybe time will tell.

There is much full-ness at the moment. Making and planning and organising and preparing for two markets this coming weekend - one at the Tweed River Art Gallery on Saturday, and the other at the World Environment Day festival in Knox Park. Both in my home town of Murwillumbah. 

I must admit that these rambly days work well for the way I work - I can dabble with bits here and there. Putting some silken threads into dye pots and tending to them over the days, bit by bit. Not requiring more than that from me. 

I'm so pleased with the colours that came out of the dye jars yesterday. There's more there still soaking up the colour. I'm hoping that people will enjoy these as much as me and use them for crochet or embroidery or simply as lovely string for tying presents.......

These are the silk yarns before dyeing, and then after. The purple is from a red cabbage dye batch, and the yellowish / brown is from tea. 

The most best thing about these yarns is that they are not tangled. I have taken time and care and space from receiving the skein and wrapping them into smaller lengths to keep them from tangling. This is good for me - and also in my mind an indication that I am untangled / not tangled (somehow?? Well, it works for me anyway). 

The weather has been rainy and sunny and in between cloudy and cold.

Where have you been lately friends? How are things treating you? 

E xx

Mishi with a skateboard and lots of jewellery......

 I took these photos yesterday of my ever-growing bigger girl. She's so little. She's so big. 

She jumped when I asked her to dress up and pose for a few photos with Sam's skate jewellery. She brushed her hair, tied her ribbon and washed the paint off her arms!

It seems my camera has done something wrong with the resolution, but I love that image too much to not share it with you. And I want to have it here, for my memory, and her memory, when we look at this blog in months/years to come. {And I ask myself yet again why the model agency never found any work for this little one, who we had hopes of making us a fortune!}.

These bracelets are now available at our little online shop, ellie beck handcrafted, (though all made by Sam!). The necklaces will be through their final testing and production soon, and will be ready in time for the Gallery Market in two weeks. I hope they'll be in the online shop before / soon after then.

******************

 Thank you so much all of you for your kind words and thoughts on my previous post. It's so good to have friends here who I can talk with, who will listen and share their advice and wisdom. I so want to continue this homeschooling journey, but know that I need to find the balance to make it work. Caged Tiger Mama is no good for anyone!

brave or .....

Over the past few weeks/months whenever I've talked with someone about our new homeschooling adventures they have proclaimed me to be brave. "Wow, I could never do that. You're so brave", generally with real admiration in their tone. My response has generally been "yeah, or stupid". 

I was saving writing about our homeschooling journey on this blog, as I have thoughts/ideals that it's a crafting/making/creative/small business blog. But, I think I need to realise that it's a me blog. And right now the me who writes, owns and is this blog is all about homeschooling.*

Let me start off by saying that so far in this 6 weeks since we left school, and began homeschooling, it has not been an easy or smooth transition. Not that I thought it would, but I had hoped it would be easier than it has been. I think I guessed the kids would settle into their school routine and allow me to sit and be their book-work teacher for at least 3-4 hours a day. And I had crazily assumed that the daily work would just sort of write itself and evolve easily. I mean; my kids can read (one learning, one very proficient) and write, and are highly intelligent inquisitive children. I think I assumed we'd all skip along a path of self-learning and enjoying reading/writing/working every day. 

Ha! Let me say that louder HA!. (Therein lies the "stupid" part. The part that thought it would all happen on it's own! Ha. I hear all our teachers laughing hysterically at that one). 

Well, actually that has happened on many wonderful mornings; we've sat down with our books and a semi-planned idea of what we'd work on. And stayed at it contentedly for a good couple of hours. Beautiful. The kids learning and talking and remembering and being inspired and excited. But then the next day it didn't happen. And another day they wanted to play Barbies / Lego / building fairy houses / on the iPad for an extra few hours. Or the maths work was too hard. Or they didn't want to put in the effort of the English or the research for the project we'd talked about doing. And it's dwindled. Day by day has slipped into a semi-holiday. 

Of course, in our home even on holidays and weekends and Sunday mornings there is life learning happening. Reading and writing and story telling and making and planning and exploring and discovering and researching are always happening around here. We talk about things at breakfast, or recite our times tables in the car, or make up Haiku's when we see a beautiful cloud. Or a play evolves from a remembered snippet of a favourite story. And they curl into bed at night, and we read stories together - sometimes him reading, sometimes her, sometimes me.

And I think all this is good. It's schooling. I believe it would fall under what is generally termed natural learning or un-schooling. And I love that. It seems to fit within our life and days and the kids self-learning personalities.

Aside from my need to be totally dedicated and on top of recording and note taking to assure the board of studies that my kids are learning and doing work (and really - perhaps learning more, and more passionately, than many classroom children); I think it's all good. 

All good. On the schooling front. 

oh but. but but.... What I'm really rambling on about here is: Is it all good on the mama/teacher/carer/cleaner/hugger/bookreader/crafter front. What I'm wondering is. When do I get my break? That moment between teacher and mama.

I love my children. More than the moon and the trees and life. No denying that ever at all. But I'm wondering when I'll be brave enough give over wholly of myself, and be there with them endlessly. And stop wanting/expecting/demanding that time for myself. As I see it needs to be. I'm eager here if there's anyone with experience reading able to give some advice, or take my children for a day or so.... 

Will homecshooling give them everything. But take everything from me?

Wondering if I'm brave enough.

*though I am keen to hear from you, my dear readers, whose thoughts and visits I really really honestly value and respect and don't take for granted. I'm eager to hear if you'd like to read more of this style of style of blogging, or if you've come here to see pretty pictures of things I make? Please do do leave a comment and let me know. I love that blogs, this blog, can be a conversation between friends. 

{images from top: maricor/maricar; rummage, but found here; bottom 2 from my words Pinterest page.} If you'd like to see pretty pictures that I'm posting, head on over and follow me on Instagram. It seems a teeny too much stretch to get those images from my phone or camera onto the computer.

Tweed River Art Gallery Handcrafted Market

It's that time of year again! The upcoming Handcrafted Artisan Market has me thinking of new products and what we'll make for our own stall; as well as the lay-out and set-up of the market itself. 

Being a market organiser is scary and wonderful. There's lots of pressure to give the local handcrafted makers the best day possible, and also present the most interesting and design focused work to the customers. All while having a fun day, meeting new people and hopefully coming home with some delicious wonderful new treasures (and some extra house-hold cash!).

I do hope you can come along to visit us at what will be the fourth Tweed River Art Gallery Handcrafted Market. Since my initial idea, and the excited response from Gallery Director Susie Muddiman, and Friends' President Lyn Stewart, it's been such a wonderful experience to showcase the amazing work within the region. And even better to present as a maker, creator and artist within the walls of the beautiful art gallery that we are so lucky to call our local!

Check out the facebook event page for a little snippet of what will be there on the day. I'm also hoping to update the Market Blog over the coming days.

rosey garlands // rosey cheeks //

Last weekend we made some garlands with the petals from our roses. The roses were nearing the end of their blooming beauty, and some had begun to let their petals tumble onto our table. We thought this would be a great way of remembering the velvety roses and having some fun as well. 

The garlands themselves were very simply stitched with a needle gently through each petal, and threaded onto some variegated embroidery thread we had. The kids decided that they wanted head garlands as well as one necklace for Ari - it matched his t-shirt better!

What fun they had in the garden. Running and giggling and being silly. They do love posing and playing up for the camera. And with lush green grass and vibrant colours as the background I just snapped and snapped as they kept on posing and moving and giggling and finding new props. I'm so glad our beautiful cat Lou-Lou made it into the photos too - even though he wasn't the most willing model. 

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I think these photos perfectly sum up what I wish and hope my Mother's Day to be. My beautiful babies enjoying living in the same place that my beautiful mama (and dad) raised me and my siblings. Exploring and discovering treasures in our forest. Sitting still and watching little birds with fascination and joy. Running and laughing and being children. And all the while making this mama's heart sing through the pure joy they are experiencing. 

Oh yes. So it is. Happy Mother's Day to all you Mamas out there. 

{and extra big hugs to all those of you who are missing your mama today}. 

E xxxx

am I allowed to say.....

The other day, while driving to pick up my friend, a thought crossed through my mind (I often have wonderful thinking and singing sessions while driving on my own).

I realised - with no vanity or ego - that I'm really happy with who I'm becoming. Not to say that I'm perfect, or have reached any higher level. I just felt that in myself - how I think of myself, and perceive myself, and present myself - I'm a person I'd like to know, and be friends with. 

Am I allowed to say that....!!?

{I always believe that if you can't love yourself how can you expect other people to love you. If you don't stand tall feeling and believing you look good, are interesting, or beautiful or special, or wonderful or unique; how can you really expect anyone else to think the same!}. 

Anyway. I don't want to gloat. Or pretend that life is always peachy. 

But it's how you look at life isn't it. Yes - we still live in a teeny shack. A shack that leaks when it rains heavily, the sun doesn't shine on it until almost mid-day, the outside creatures can get in (think native mice, rats and snakes), there's no space for thinking or being away from anyone else. Yes - I haven't done one single tiny bit of screen printing all year (yep ALL YEAR). And barely any sewing. And my crochet projects seem to have fallen by the way side. And I don't have a bathroom, or a wardrobe or a chest of draws even for my clothes (those that aren't packed in boxes in our shipping container are stored in plastic tubs under our bed). I don't have a bank balance to zip off overseas, or let alone to go justify going away for a weekend for our upcoming anniversary {house building does that to you - takes everything!!}. I don't have the perfect studio for making or creating any time I feel like it. 

And those things all affect me. And get me down. But then - is it worth being down, and dismal and upset and bitter about these things? Not for me. 

Stop and smell the roses is as old as sayings go. But it's true. It's the stopping, and taking notice of one thing that matters. Of enjoying and appreciating tiny moments and everyday happenings. Those for me make me more than happy. They make me content. 

I think happiness is wonderful. Pure joy and bliss and all that. But high happiness can be fleeting - at least it doesn't last forever. For me, contentment lasts longer, is steady and real and brings about joy and happiness more often. 

Again with the roses :: I brought some home the other day from a local road side stall. And being real roses (rather than grown across the globe to specific commercial conditions) they had lots of big spiky thorns. While snipping the leaves and thorns to put them in water, I pricked myself. My little ones asked my why roses have thorns. Of course it really is so that animals can't climb up and eat them. But it's a reminder that the beautiful and the difficult (ugly) exist side-by-side. Can so-exist. Or that out of hardship can bloom beauty. 

The same as the lotus. That beautiful spectacular flower that blooms from dirty mud. 

{oh, I'm full of the quotes today aren't I?}. 

So - this whole long wordy post is to say this. That it's ok to be happy. It's ok to be content. To say yes I am good and things are good. And that if you're not feeling that way - then maybe take a moment (a long moment) to stop and enjoy those tiny moments of beauty you DO have around you. Sometimes you have to invent or exaggerate that beauty, but it will be there if you look.

The Dalai Lama says: "Choose to be optimistic, it feels better".

** This post was written a few weeks ago, and has sat in drafts until now. Now when I needed to read and remember and say these things. I posted on Instagram today about feeling moody - and what I meant was low and lacklustre and joyless.

Every day is an endless journey to finding my peace, contentment, calm and balance.