I'm Still Here

It has been a long time since I've felt like writing.

Saying goodbye to Venus really knocked me for a loop and I tucked myself away, thinking nothing was worth saying. 

But I have been quietly busy, teaching myself new skills.

I have given embroidery a go and despite my lack of patience and preferring fast results, I love sitting quietly, threading the fabric with colour.

I caught covid and when I wasn't in bed sleeping it off, I was tucked up on the couch watching documentaries and series, working away on the countless projects on the go.

My friend is having a baby in October so I made her a Call The Midwife inspired blanket.

And booties from my Nanna's vintage pattern. I'd like to make the whole set but people don't seem to dress their babies in bonnets and mittens any more.

Another friend had twins! So for her I made matching blankets.

Her tiny baby girls can both fit under one blanket at the moment. Too cute!

I've made a couple of dresses for myself. 

I used jersey stretch to make this 2 panel dress. 

By panel I mean back and front! 

No other seams that the shoulders and sides.

Perfectly simple!

I've become obsessed with ribbons and lace and made myself two of these flanelette nightdresses. The other has long sleeves. I didn't use a pattern, just winged it, as I do, and am so please with how it turned out. My boys call them ghost nighties.

The garden has been a very slow point which saddens me because i get so much joy from having a garden.

This giant bed was here when we bought this house last year but I want raised beds as I'm not getting any younger, and high walls will make it a bit harder for chooks and ducks to munch my vegies!

So sand was trucked in and leveled out.

And slowly the grass runners I plant are spreading to give a nice lawned area to enjoy in summer. Toward the fence I will have my raised beds which I excited will order in a couple of weeks. Then I can get back into the joy of growing my food.

Now some unhappy news.

My heartbreak of losing a furry love will be happening again very soon.

Kitty-puss had a large lump on her chest that was removed and sent for testing which came back with the worst results.

Cancer.

An xray was done and has shown that it has spread to her lungs.

The original expectancy of 12 months has been reduced to 6-8 weeks.

So my beautiful, 13 year old Scribble is getting her favourite cooked chicken as often as she likes, and having all the snuggle naps with me we can manage in between work and chores.

It's just not fair.

Im not sure if I have he strength to go through another loss, especially so soon after Venus, but I have no choice.

I must keep in mind that I have tried to give them the best possible lives they could have, and maybe I'll see them again one day.

Beyond the iridescent rainbow clouds.

🤍🤍🤍

Zinnia Loves & Autumn Feels

Autumn is knocking at the door.

I welcome its cool air wholly as a break from the delayed but sudden heat of summer.

I open the door at let it in to fill my heart and home.

It brings with it promise of kinder days ahead.

Days with iridescent rainbow clouds.

Clusters of Soul Sister roses.

I think the soul sister that gifted me this rose for my birthday last year sprinkled a bit of her gypsy, hippie, witchy magic on it while sneaking a surprise package into my letterbox this week.

How else do you explain such luscious blooms?!

I think some of her magic dust blew onto the zinnias too.

Such pops of colour.

The world needs it.

Beautiful frozen fireworks that no bee or butterfly could resist.

Fairy umbrellas or parasols?

Their tutu fabric?

This one reminds me of a sea anemone.

And this one of the singing flowers in Alice's Wonderland garden.

Ahh.. all in a golden afternoon.

These pinkies keep my climbing rose company as it makes its journey over the archway by the gate.

Autumn has crept silently into my life for another year and I am so grateful.

My favourite time of year. 

It's almost as though everything slows down so much and becomes quiet enough to hear the Earth taking a breath.

I was inspired to sew myself some skirts.

Complete with wide elastic belting to cover my mum-tum and 'love' handles.

Having a short torso, huge sticky-outty handles and long legs makes it hard to fit nicely into clothes and cause many pouty days of dressing tantrums, and a lingering feeling a being nothing more than a lump ol' caterpillar. 

But sewing these skirts to suit my body type, my style and comfort makes me feel like I've transformed into a butterfly!

Way to go me, for lifting my own spirits, being motivated and creative.

I sit in my slowly evolving nest, safe space, home and garden and watch the sky declare it is dusk.

I take in the colours, the brisk air, the birds settling in for the night, the peace.

Then inside I go.

To serve a lovingly cooked meal to my family (another accomplishment, cooking and I have had a bitter hiatus but I'm forcing myself to be better - I repeat.. anxiety sucks!)

I shower and maybe watch some TV with Boof while I work on some new twinsy blankets.

Or I crawl straight into bed and if the day hasn't taken too much out of me, I'll read a chapter or two. 

Currently The women's Doc by Caroline De Costa.

But very soon my eyes sting with tiredness so I turn off the light and daydream until sleep finds me for its midnight mind movies.

Goodnight, Earth.

🤍🤍🤍

Anxiety Is Not My Friend.

Anxiety and depression suck!

Everything can be (and basically is) going so well but the feeling of foreboding just lingers like a bad smell.

Im having panic attacks just driving through town, anticipation of the expected blast of extra people that will inevitably be filling the town over the holidays.

The days are draaaaaagggging!

All energy is a beautiful, distant memory of days gone by when I could wake up one morning and decide to paint an entire room and have it done by evening.

All activities, big or small, take careful planning.

I want to stake the tomatoes? Better make sure I'm not working the next day in case my back seizes and I exhaust myself.

It's pathetic and destroying and frustrating and heartbreaking.

I am trying so hard to just be.

All the things I love to do, the things that make me who I am, just exhaust me at the thought.

Crocheting seems like running a marathon and aches my head.

I want to crochet but when I think about picking up some wool and a hook it seems too hard.

I am thankful to have finished the twin's blankets before their arrival.

I have the Dahlia yarn pack from Attic24 still tucked away.

The colours are screaming at me, my heart needs their warmth and vibrancy, but can I really be bothered?

The sun comes out to warm my bones but it's easier to lay in bed than sit on a chair out the back.

I force myself to make short trips to the beach for Son3, before the crowds arrive.

It's taken me this long to write a blog post and here I am, whinging.

As Son2 would say.. you want some cheese with that whine?

I hope I can look back at this post in the very near future and think, thank goodness I got through that.

Holidays are coming up.

I will be able to rest up, absorb the sunshine and moon glow, take my time and hopefully feel better.

Big apologies for a very negative post but better out than in, right?

🤍

Daisies for Dinah

Ah, Winter.

It has been lovely having you around but I can feel you getting ready to move on.

The sunshine is getting warmer and there is Sring on the breeze.

I collect tiny daisy blossoms from the back garden and bring them inside to the dappled light that eases through the lace curtain in my bedroom.

Using the fingernail of my thumb, I gently snip off excess stem and lie each flower on some baking paper.

Then close them up safely in my heavy encyclopaedia of spells.

Soon they will be dried and pressed and will join their fellow blossoms on this beautiful natural hemp paper to create a sweet kitty print. Her name will be Dinah of course.

It will then be framed and hung in the guest room of our new house.

Did you notice that?

Our new house?

Thats right.

This beautiful little house built the year of the moon landing, using strong Jarrah timbers, that has kept my family safe and warm for the last 14 years will soon be a part of someone else's memories.

We made the decision, it is time.

We need more room.

I need a studio.

The boys deserve a bedroom each.

Boof needs a shed for his future boat.

So this will be the last post I write in this house.

It is bitter-sweet but I recently heard a phrase that eased my hearts ache...

"Memories belong to a person, not a house".

So with that in mind and excitement in my heart, we step forward on our journey to the next chapter. 

🤍🤍🤍

Take Me Back to the River in the Forest

Oh, the river by the forest.

Thats the place for me.

The magic is so strong and pure.

My heart goes silly with inspiration. 

Even my terror of pelicans can't take away the joy I feel here.

Sorry fellas, no fishy snacks from me.

Son2 and I drank sweet handfuls of this magical fresh waterfall flowing onto the beach.

Feeling Mother Nature smiling at our grateful, cheesy grins, dripping with water.

Rainbows are always a gift, but just look at the stunning shades of blue peaking through the clouds.

And the ocean, wowsers.

I took the ocean palette to create a baby blanket which I worked on by the river.

It is finished and will recieve a post of its own after a photo shoot.

Goodbye to the forest and river were inevitable but one day I will call it home, though my heart already does.

At home I found my own rainbows.

When things go bad, sometimes all you can do is breathe through it.

Which is what I've been doing this last week.

So many what ifs, but an overwhelming gratitude for all that we have.

So keep doing what you do, look for the rainbows and make sure to breathe!

🤍🤍🤍

Autumn Happiness

What a crazy start to Autumn it has been.

Half way through and we were still getting nearly 40 degree days.

But a storm is upon us.

The temperature has dropped.

Wind has picked up.

And rain has been falling to give our gardens a much needed drink.

I love these days.

The boys are out of town, Boof is at work so i will enjoy the silence of the house and work on a jigsaw puzzle while drinking oodles of tea.

But first I lay in bed with KittyPuss snuggled in close, listening to the gentle rain outside my window.

I finished a new picture last week.

She needs a name yet.

I tried out a technique for the background and am super happy with how it turned out.

Darker than I had in mind but a beautiful contrast to the pink roses.

I have begun printing certain products with my art on to sell in my Etsy store.

Im still waiting for a few bits and pieces to arrive before I list them.

I cant wait to share it all with you!

I hope with all my might that lots of people will want a little piece of the Moon Circus in their homes or to share with friends.

I watch the moon ascend the night sky in wonderment.

The lunar rays wash over me and I absorb the inspiration.

I have a new idea....

Where's my sketchbook??

🤍🤍🤍