Time out

Reflection, hibernation, time out.....it's winter and I feel like it's the perfect time to take a step back,  collect my thoughts and reemerge energised for Spring.

You can follow the Gratitude project here and  Project Life here and I'll work on a few interviews over July so there will be plenty to occupy my time .... However, I'll take a whole month off from daily posts.  It will feel rather strange...... and decadent.

Thanks to all of you who contribute here and make it a lovely space to share my photos, occasional ramblings and the small things that make a difference to each day. This little blogging community has bought some amazing people my way.  I feel very grateful for this.  You'll definitely find me nosing around on your blogs during my sabbatical....I couldn't go completely cold turkey now........could I?

Each week I will pop by to post my photos, no words. 

Keep toasty and enjoy the silence.  
xx

Looking up

Some days I feel a little overwhelmed. Today is one of those days.

Thankfully as overwhelming as the sky is.... I find great solace in looking up, taking a breath and remembering my place in this world.

This song struck a cord today, music tends to do that.... on days like these.

Happy weekend. xx

PS. Due to a very underwhelming response I drew the giveaway early..... and handed the loot onto the only entrant. The lovely Miss Nynke. Enjoy. xx

On the shelf

141/366: for books and the hours of pleasure they bring., a photo by Stupendous Joy on Flickr.

These are some of my old favorites. I'd love to hear about your favorite books...old or new? Tell me tell me tell me, do.

x

PS. Thanks for the book recommendations via text, Facebook and in person. I'm make a little list and post here next week.

Born to be Wild

Yesterday we took 2 little monkeys to see "Born to be Wild' at IMAX. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing this film I'd recommend you do. If I'm honest I was totally hit by a pang of admiration....& jealousy. Seeing these two women living with such incredible purpose, not purely for their own benefit but the benefit of so many sentient beings, was highly emotive.
Oh, and the boys loved it too.... not quite for the same reason.

Here's the trailer:



Happy Monday. x

The Great Fabric Giveaway

We've been having a clear out this weekend. Lightening the load around here and moving on things which just aren't getting as much love as they deserve.
I've cleared out my fabric drawers and made a pile desperate for a loving new home. I don't get as much time to sew these days as I used to and some of these pieces are just too lovely to be sitting idle in a dark draw.  Not wanting to dump them at the op shop I thought I'd have a little Giveaway and hope they find their perfect place.
I've bundled the fabric up with a few extras and placed it all in this great, very retro looking, beach bag. All the pieces are varying sizes, manly cotton, a couple of Kimono pieces, some silk & jersey. If you would like to make them yours leave me a message here under this blog post or on Facebook and I'll draw a winner next Sunday 24th June.

 ** Since the bag will need to be collected from Elwood, Victoria this giveaway is only open to people able to collect it within 7 days.

Feel free to forward this giveaway onto any crafty friends who could put this stash to good use. 
Good luck. x

Making use of dead spaces for public use. Hooray

I had to share this amazing project. It's so wonderful to see people thinking outside the square and making use of dead spaces in out city's for public use. I'd love to see more of it here in Melbourne.
I'm sharing my enthusiasm for this Lowline project, hoping it comes to fruition and has a ripple effect throughout the world. There's so much dead space out there that we could put to good use. What better way to create and inspire communities.

:: more about The Lowline here.

They have 75 days to raise $75k. If achieved a generous angel donor will match that amount, allowing them to hit their research target of $150,000. This critical funding will help them complete their engineering studies and business plan - and make the case to the Mayor, the Governor, and the community that a Lowline park makes good sense for their neighborhood.

Good luck guys. I really hope your dream comes true.

A couple of other 'dead space' favorite's are Prinzessinnengarten located on a formerly empty plot at Moritzplatz, in Berlin (you can read about it here) & The High Line, a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line.  There's a great clip here of the Highlines history narrated by Ethan Hawke.

It makes so much sense.

Wallpaper picks... not so easy.

135/366: for individual expression. This really made me smile walking through a grey and solemn city street at 5pm yesterday. xox

Now... from fake flowers...... to wallpaper.
My brother is renovating his place and has asked for a list of wallpaper suppliers. There are so many incredible choices of hand printed wallpaper out there these days.
It sends my head into a spin. If I had to pick one which would it be?
Possibly Publisher Textiles Protea.....Ora Kiely's Flower Blossom (inspired by Fran) or Onsself's Anaglypta Math.... actually I give up. I can't choose. I've changed my mind already.

You? Which would you choose?

my little list of wallpaper link love:
Publisher textiles
Printink Studio
Sackcloth & Ashes
Signature Prints - Florence Broadhurst
Dearwood
Monomeith Designs
Porters Paint - handcrafted Wallpaper
Ora Kiely
Marimekko
Studio Nommo
Trove
French American
Miss Print
Hygge & West
lizzie allen
Grow House Grow
Kimberly Lewis Home
Etsy
Oneszelf
Farrow & Ball
Abigail Edwards
Gaston y Daniela

ps. Hope this list helps P & M...although I fear it may possibly confuse the matter slightly. Good luck.

Jump in & witness a......

I'm chuffed and very grateful. I've been invited to contribute to Project Life - a photographic journal of being with a number of incredibly inspiring women. It's fun getting to know them through pictures. We're spread far and wide, Canada, Chicago, Montana for starters... others I hope meet along the journey.

Here's to the little everyday miracles. I took this at the top of a playground in St Kilda while racing Z to the top today. Hence he's feeling better....although still not looking flash. It was so funny to be rewarded by this. For jumping in and being childish. If I'd stayed on the ground I'd never have witnessed the 'Miracle'.

I hope you'll pop by, join the ride & say hello over at Project Life. Happy hump x

Weekend in review

These shots are not all technically part of my gratitude project but they make for a lovely tale of a weekend gone by.
Z has Scarlet fever here so we are lying low and taking it slow. The little man has been a star patient. Humorous and cuddly, even through the worst of it.
Hope your weekend was relaxing. x

may-dah-say

130/366: for clear communication, honesty and respecting one another's true colours., a photo by Stupendous Joy on Flickr.

Grazie

129/366: for our local Cafe and all the friendly, familiar faces we meet there., a photo by Stupendous Joy on Flickr.

Not just the human ones .... Flo, Buster, Barry, Barley, Jet, Lola, Chaver .... what a treat to see all of those wagging tales too.

128/366: akun

128/366: (7th June) for parcels in the post with hand written notes, lollies and beautifully made products., a photo by Stupendous Joy on Flickr.

Z's Jonah & the Girl shoes, they're beautiful....and so is their service.
.......also so thankful for more home baked treats arriving on our doorstep this afternoon. xxxx

Ευχαριστώ

127/366: for a day in town with my little man sans pram..., a photo by Stupendous Joy on Flickr.

The week that was.....Tusen takk

An anniversary...5 years.
It's crazy how time flies on one hand...and well, by the same token, doesn't. I don't feel old enough to have been married for 5 years...some people however may well have been married 20 years at my age.
Time is funny like that. Completely different for everyone.... and every situation.
Flowers, food and inspiring oldies in red lipstick all made my gratitude project this week.
Even on the coldest, wettest, most miserable of days I love how this project seeks all that is beautiful.

What's warming your winter (or summer) days? I'd love to see.

xx

Get pickled.

This makes it looks so easy. I'm going to give it a go. xx

Happy Monday

Eat less, chew more.... after an indulgent weekend it seems to resonate today.
You? Is there any one that jumps out?

ohh, these Mod Collective lights are really jumping out at me too. They are so incredibly beautiful. I think I'd have to have one in every colour.

Have a lovely week my lovelies. xx

Snappaing up the senses with Susannah

Since I'm not feeling very ritualistic today I've scrapped {this moment} and thought I'd plug Susannah Conway's latest book release, This I know.. You may have come across Susannah's stunning photographs  and writing here or.... been introduced via my recent interview? 

Either way do pay a visit to her site.  She's one contemplative lady with ensuing wisdom lining her work and a keen eye for capturing the beauty in all that she does.

I pre-ordered a copy last night. Which I can't wait to hold in my hot little hands.....and, ta da da dah.... Susannah has another sweet surprise. If you pre-order a copy of the book prior to June 4th you can enroll in her 30 day e-course 'Exploring the Senses' for free.

Grab yourself a copy and we can compare notes in class...all for under $20!...be quick..

Thanks Susannah & congratulations lovely. What a difference you make to the world. xx

P.S. Kim Manley Ort has her hands on a copy of the book and offers a review over here. Take a squiz. x