the view from here . . .

as the days turn to weeks
i have to take deep calm breaths
so the work load doesn't get the better of me

and more than anything i need to navigate paths
through the production of work
so as to make sure spaces are made for the new ideas
to take flight

make sure joy is still a big part of the hard work

( this was the view from my office chair today )

a beautiful mess
a creative space
a tabletop full of dreams and tools
bits and pieces


there is not a particle of life that does not carry poetry within it
- flaubert

i n t r o d u c i n g . . .

this years christmas bird design !

i've finally sent my wholesale list for this years christmas range
to all my stores . . .

so thought it only fair i show you what this
years bird looks like too . . .

i think a little of my trip to paris has rubbed off
on one of the birds . . .
( actually, the design was finalised in february, way before i left,

and the studio girls and my sister all commented that
they loved i was already influenced by the french
before i even got there . . . )

anyway i hope you like this new design . . .
i'll make sure some are in my online store by early september

AND in other exciting news
i have been wanting for a long time to produce
some journals . . .
they are finally going to print this week
and will be available in shops and in my online store
by mid september

i will be sure to show you some photos as soon
as i have samples of them to share

there are 3 designs,
hardback journals with blank pages and a ribbon marker,
a beautiful textured cover paper,
with a quote and different pattern on each. . .

( that's all i'll say for now, i'll keep you waiting a bit longer . . . )

this week

my friend selene baked me a surprise birthday cake this week,
it was a chocolate wattleseed cake
sitting atop a plate she made, and decorated with some of the
gold candles i bought her when in london a few months ago . . .

my mum and dad always give me a birthday card with
an image of wattle on it, of course for a certain reason . . .
when they built their family home back in '68
they planted many natives around their garden
one of them was a wattle tree . . .
mum often tells the story of how it bloomed
for the first time, 4 years later, the week i was born . . .

even though selene and i have been friends for many many years
she didn't know this story,
but that's how life works sometimes . . .
the stories and beauties just sometimes collide
you just have to have your eyes and hearts open to see them . . .

as we all know the world can often feel like it's crowding in on us,
and our hearts can be heavy, our days long,
all of which i've felt a bit of late . . .
so i've felt very lucky this week to be surrounded and lifted up by
so many treasured people in my life, be they near or far . . .

x

so thoughtful

my friend claudia visited last week,
she is learning jewellery making at the moment
and surprised me with a gift on her visit - this bangle . . .

she put a french translation of the titles of my two books
around each ring . . .
so thoughtful, and so precious -
both her and this gift . . .

afternoon light

this moment contains all moments

- c.s. lewis

ink # 2

jackie has just sent me pictures of jay's arm
( see this post if you missed the story behind the tattoo's )

i love the silhouetted images of their kids . . .

and scattered over his arm also are little stars and circles
illustrations that feature in count me the stars

i am touched beyond words that this lovely couple
have used my words to celebrate their love

beyond . . .