final year students exhibition...

(Me and Adele)

(Jonathan, me and Anthony)

(Me and Michael)

(Anouska, me and Sophia... me trying to be taller)

(Heather and me laughing at something funny)

Was so good to see the final year students again for their exhibition, I will miss them all... I really hate this time of year, I have known some of them for 4 years, seeing them everyday, and then suddenly they are gone. It is hard...

I am glad...

(the first 'hope floats' all finished)

(the second 'hope floats' not quite finished)

I am feeling glad at the moment, glad of who I am, where I am and what I am doing...

And I am glad Christmas is coming, I love Christmas... but mostly I think I love the preparation for Christmas. Thinking about putting up the tree, thinking about presents, thinking about Christmas food, and writing lists.

I am glad for Mona at the post office who doesn't charge me as much as the other ladies do to send my parcels... Thank you Mona!!! (I have been to the post office three times this week already).

I am glad it is raining on my flowers that are very near death as I haven't gotten around to watering them this week (my mother will be glad of that too).

the art market...

(The beautiful historic Ormlie Lodge)

(my table in the middle of setting up)

(Mum and Dad taking over near the end while I had a bit of a look around)

I wasn't quite sure what I was taking a photo of as it was so bright I couldn't see my camera screen so I just had to point and shoot... but the photos didn't come out too bad.

That was an experience I would want to do again... the day of the market was the hottest in a long time, even as we arrived to set up early in the morning we were already sweating in the heat. There were so many fantastic displays with wonderful products, good to see so much local talent in one spot. I think the organisers can chalk their first art market up as a huge success. I sold out of a few things and ran out of business cards... and since the market I have had a few phone calls from buyers wanting more.

I have another 'hope floats' painting nearly finished and will post that later in the week as well as an updated version of the one from the post before.

hope floats...

(hope floats)

I did a painting a while ago with a mother and child... well I had a few extra faces left over and I had a play with them last night, this is what I have come up with. When I started I kind of imagined her as being bird like with her little wings instead of arms, but I don't think she looks very aerodynamic without an arm to balance her? I am now thinking if people could fly they would need their arms (like superman). I might do a little series of these this week as I am feeling hopeful at the moment.

For any people out there that are close enough and are interested in dropping by the Ormlie Lodge Design Market, it will be on Sunday 29th 10am - 3pm, 17 Omarunui rd Taradale (next to the Napier golf Club). Will be good to see you there...

to do list...

(small originals for the art market at Ormlie Lodge)

My to do list for the art markets is getting smaller and smaller and last night I really missed the manicness of getting things done and crossed off from the previous weeks. I have a busy (busy fun) weekend ahead so it is good that there is not too much more to do.

(a few more goodies for the art market)

space dinosaurs...

(new painting)

My things are all coming together nicely for the two art/craft markets I am involved with later this month. I love doing things like this... there is nothing more satisfying for me at the moment then sitting at my table making things (apart from playing space dinosaurs who drive bulldozers with Ben). When I start I find it really hard to stop and I am staying up really late at night pottering around.

I will take some pics of my pendants on their stand and the other things I have been working on and will post them here soon.

I have made the above painting into my new business card for the art markets...


I went for a walk for the first time around my new neighbourhood in the weekend, I have been putting this off and I think it is because I am feeling a little scared, well not scared but maybe a little wary of exploring my new world on my own... I can kind of understand how people find themselves stuck in the safety of their homes, not wanting to venture out. It would be easy to slip into that kind of thinking, but 7 years ago I was a confident, self reliant person so sure of myself and where I was in the world. I want to be that person again, that person and more, I think my self confidence has taken a blow, but I know I will be that self assured person I was again, soon.

somewhere only we know...

(somewhere only we know)

Well things are plodding along nicely in my new little world... the pendants were a good way to get the juices flowing again. I have been doing some new/old works for a few galleries this week and it feels good to have caught up with all that. I haven't really settled on anything new to get on with yet, ideas are still coming and going in my brain. I am waiting to find the right patterned paper to finish the princess and the pea green necklace painting, she is waiting patiently on the corner of my table. I have put the resin on all the pendants, they are looking really good, I can't decide which ones to keep for myself though? and getting things ready for the art markets this month is coming along nicely too. I found a huge old canvas that I have started a few times and have ditched a few times. I thought I might give it a go again, maybe third time lucky. I think that is about it on the art front so far...

(the two Ben's playing at the park)

My friend Sarah and I spent a few hours in the park on Saturday afternoon with our Ben's... they had so much fun running around exhausting themselves (and us, just watching them) time went so fast. It was really nice to be able to sit and chat about stuff and not have too much of the other stuff on my mind anymore (if that makes sense).

There have been many times when I have wanted to say a whole lot more then thanks to my family and friends (blog friends included) but words just don't seem to come out right... so when I say thanks I really mean I couldn't have done this without you and a whole lot of other things. A few people have said I have been so calm about everything that has happened. I really don't think I would have been so calm if it wasn't for the support I have been given. It is true, you really are able to tell your true friends in times of need, so thanks you guys....

crazy dance...

(a few of my new pendants)

I seem to be doing this crazy dance around the house at the moment as I get used to where I've put things. I am finding I need to form new routines and am shuffling things around as the storage is different, things need different homes to where they were before. Also the house layout is very different, there are kind of three levels (the stairs have been a big attraction to other kids visiting, I am now cool as I have stairs).

I would love to put paint on my feet and track my movements around the house, a different colour for each day... although I don't think my landlord would be too happy about that... but it would look pretty.

Anyway I started on some new collage pendants last night, it felt really good to be sitting at my table making things again. I thought doing these would be a good way to start as they are small and don't take too much space or time to get done. I seem to have a little bit of a block when it comes to painting at the moment so I figured that doing these pendants might spur me on in some way. I found myself sitting at my table the other day, just sitting there staring into space I couldn't get started on anything, I was like a stunned mullet. Anyway I shouldn't give myself such a hard time, I have been through a major life change, taking a bit of time is ok...

I haven't put the resin on these pendants yet but once they are finished they will go to the Christmas sales and the Art market at Ormlie Lodge (I may even keep a few for myself to wear this summer)?

I am home...

Well I am all moved into my new home... and I must say a huge big thank you to my Mum and Dad (where I would be without you two I don't know) and my friend Jo and her family... thank you so very much for all your help. Hannah and Ben have settled well into the new house and have taken the changes in their stride.

Although I've got the house sorted I do have 11 art boxes to unpack (planning to get them done tonight)? I am so itching to get back into making, painting and creating again!!! I think it might be a mixture of a few deadlines coming up and seeing my art supplies again after being in boxes for the last few weeks. I think it is going to be a bit of trial and error sorting out where things will go and what I will need on hand and what I don't need on a regular basis etc... it is all a little bit exciting and then at times it all seems so overwhelming too.

So many different routines to get used to, different ways of doing things and some other strange changes (you know how I feel about change). But I am going to take it day by day and I am sure it will sort itself out.

a minor incident...

(tears are words the heart can't express)
found this the other day in my work book

A lady nearly ran over me on the pedestrian crossing the other day... the look of horror on her face at what had nearly done made me chuckle. I smiled at her and waved her on, she smiled weakly back (still slightly traumatised) and went on her way.

It got me thinking about peoples lives and how a tiny little incident like that, if she was a split second later, could change both our lives forever. Words we say, thoughts we have and things we do could take our lives on a completely different tack within seconds. It reminds me of the pick a path books I used to read where you can decide the outcome of the book by choosing between two paths. Or that movie "Sliding doors"... anyway I am thinking of some new works with this idea in mind.

Well will be starting the move tomorrow... I am excited and scared and worried and anxious and ok...

I have got a lot of art work to do once I settle in, I have two galleries wanting more work and the Christmas sales coming up at the end of November and an art market at Ormerlie lodge 29th November. Feels good to be busy and have things to get on with.