Weekends in Sydney

Moving to Sydney from out home town in the country has been a bit of a rollercoaster. There's been ups and downs, and at times it has been difficult. We try to find time every week to do something fun and different (to us).

A few weekends ago, we visited two different markets in two different suburbs. Saturday we went to the Glebe markets where our very talented friend Jessica had set up her stall selling her beautiful handmade silver jewellery. I've known Jes for a good few years now, and she is a beautiful soul. Her jewellery is special to us, she created our wedding bands and my engagement ring.
 At this second hand book stall, I found a book I have been looking for  called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It has been recommended to me by several people, and as soon as I saw it Jessica came over and told me to buy it. We had no money on us whatsoever, and had been living on a very tight income since moving to Sydney, so I reluctantly put the book back down after flicking through the pages. The next week I found the very same book in my letter box, hand delivered by Jessica who had bought it for us after we left. I was so moved by her doing this, such a thoughtful act of kindness. This is just the type of person she is.
On Sunday we visited other friends of ours at the Rozelle Markets. They have a clothing stall, and also sell fruit and veg. They are very generous and lovely people, and they gave us a huge haul of fresh fruit and vegetables to take home. To two people who had been living pretty much on toast for weeks, this was the most wonderful gift.
After the markets I popped down to Customs House where the French Food Festival was being held. My brother and his girlfriend had stumbled across it that morning, so I joined them and ate cheese and drank wine in the winter sunshine.

I am so grateful for knowing such lovely and generous people. We have both been blessed with generous families and friends who have also helped us through this rough patch in our lives.
The whole weekend was a lesson in gratitude, and made me very happy to be taking this new step in our lives.

Royal Botanic Gardens Fernery

Clovelly Beach in Winter

  Since I am beginning full time work shortly, we have been trying to make the most of our days.  We went to Clovelly Beach on the weekend for fish and chips, and also in the hope of maybe seeing some whales pass by on their migration route to warmer waters.
  There where whales out there, we could just make out the splashes of them breaching way off on the horizon near a whale watching boat, but they were too far out to see anything.

There were plenty of birds to photograph though. I know many people find seagulls irritating, but I like them.

  This little Willie Wagtail was hopping all over the rockface catching insects and drinking from the puddles. His 'eyebrows' made him look very harried and fussy.   I love how much detail in the seagulls faces my new camera captured. They really are pretty birds.   The whole time we were there I could hear a flock of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, but wasn’t near enough to get a photo until we drove up the headland. There were so many of them! I love the call they make.   I think my next bird painting will have to be one of these gorgeous birds! xx

Terrarium

My lovely mum made me the most beautiful terrarium for our new home. The last one she made for me became rather overgrown after three years and had to be dismantled. As I've mentioned, my parents both have green thumbs and spend a lot of time in the garden on their bonsai and terrariums.

This one has a tiny deer nestled amongst the greenery. I'm still trying to find it a happy place where it gets enough light, but mostly I keep it in my studio on my desk. It is very much in the way in this spot but I like having it there to look at and remind me of home.

New Stockist

I have just delivered a whole bunch of different cards to a new stockist in Newtown! A lovely holistic health centre called Pure Botanicals. As well as a naturopathic dispensary and clinic, they also stock a range of natural and eco products - soy candles, essential oils and creams. I'm thrilled for my cards to be stocked in such a beautiful place.

I've also updated my website to include a list of stockists where my cards can be found.

New Tropicana Range

I have added a bunch of new items to the shop. I've been so inspired by the different foliage and plants around Sydney, and have been painting lots of tropical palms and ferns.

Lately I have had so many ideas, and haven't been able to paint fast enough. Painting has been coming really easy to me, the paint flows off the brush right, the colours mix well and the paint hits the paper in the right way. For whatever reason, this only happens rarely!

 I am trying to make the most of this burst of creativity, as I know it doesn't always last long, and soon enough I will be struggling for inspiration again.





These paintings are available as at prints too, if you want to check them out here!