A walk through Cook Park

We've been lucky enough to have some beautiful sunny winter weather over the last few days. We went for a walk around the neighbourhood and I took a few photos along the way.

1. The duck pond at Cook Park, Orange
2. The Cook Park Guildry
3. A Japanese Anemone seed
4. Witch hazel on the window sill

Painting cumquats

Living in this house with its beautiful gardens, I am able to just go outside and pick flowers and leaves to draw and paint. It's such a nice change from using books and google as a reference for sketches.

I painted these cumquats on the weekend. There are two beautiful cumquat bushes in pots right outside my studio. (I even got to eat the cumquats once I had finished painting them, I love their sour citrus flavour!)

Flower arranging

I just had to snap a few photos of the gorgeous flower arrangement Mum made on the weekend. Hellebores, camellia, jonquils... It's so nice to live in a house with a garden, and have fresh cut flowers on my desk every day!

I love jonquils, their scent takes me back to my childhood. As soon as I smell them I am transported straight back to the big, leafy backyard of the house I grew up in. It reminds me of jumping on the trampoline after school with my little sister, and judging her cartwheels and handstands and generally bossing her about.

This beautiful crown vase is made up of nine balls made of glass, which are all connected. It's so lovely, and the best thing is that you only need a small amount of flowers and foliage. My sister and I bought this for Mum from Jumbled, a gorgeous homewares store here in Orange, NSW where I live. (The Jumbled pinterest page is also definitely worth a look for some beautiful bright colourful inspiration!)

A quick painting

I painted this vase of flora in about five minutes after breakfast today before beginning my (boring) work for the day. I like how it turned out, kind of messy and organic. Sometimes it's fun to forget about planning and not worry about messing up and just see what happens.

Lately

Lately I have been so busy moving house and setting up my new studio that I haven't had time to post. On the weekend, I took time off to read, pick flowers from the garden, take some photos and eat good food.

1 + 2. Gorgeous yellow blooms on Mum and Dads Witch Hazel bonsai. I love the scent of witch hazel.
3. A posy of violets in a tiny vase my lovely Mum left on my desk.
4. My Dad made the best lamb pie I have ever tasted, even the gluten free pastry was delicious!
5. A sneak peek at a painting I have been working on.