this theory

It’s been a funny old week. We packed up the guest room on the weekend (our visitors have come to an end for now), and I spent the first couple of days this week miserable; unable to get out of bed, mopey and teary. Then, slowly, I managed to help myself up and out, went for a swim in the sea, laughed at being slapped in the face by a wave, and by yesterday afternoon I was walking barefoot along the beach with no-one around, smiling wide for no apparent reason.

When my loneliness subsides I’m once again given the chance to feel the bewilderment at what a beautiful place we now live in. Amazed that I can pop down the end of the street to a quiet, almost untouched beach… Swim in the ocean, and breath in fresh sea air that’s travelled miles over distant oceans. I just can’t believe it. It feels like a reward somehow.

Then this morning I woke to find an email… I’m not one to count my chickens before they’re hatched, so I’m not saying too much right now… but let’s just say this morning started with much excited/astounded gasping and leaping.

You know how much of a self-help cynic I am… well, a-hem, I’m starting to warm to this theory of gratitude… express thanks for what you have, and you’re offered something more in return.

At least that’s kind of what I think is happening. Either way, today I feel really good, and that’s a great thing to be able to say no matter who you are or where you’re from.

stage fright

Can you believe I haven't even decided if I'm going to learn an instrument yet, and the anxiety to be "good enough" has already set in?!

Last night I got stuck in a dream... I was on stage about to perform with Mr You. He was on Guitar and I was going aaaalll wrong.
For 1: I was on the keyboards, and I couldn't find the volume, so it was really really quiet
2: I only remembered I don't know how to play music once I was already on stage in front of a crowd of waiting people with glaring eyes (luckily Mr You leaned over and wrote numbers on the keys so I could just hit them in sequential order)
and 3: The keyboards were set to play pan-pipe sounds - (I was hoping for more of a Dresden Dolls sound, and came out sounding like new age meditation muzak) LAME!

a want to be fiddle-licious

Last night I got a look accompanied with a raised eyebrow when I announced to Mr You that I want learn to fiddle.

It all started with a dubiously angelic sounding group of women wearing wedding dresses. A DVD Mr You’s Dad (we’ll call him Papa-You) insisted I watch because I have an Irish background (my dad comes from and lives in Ireland). It was at excruciating! Watching women in wedding frocks sing not-irish songs through syrupy smiles. (unless you count Ronan Keating hits).

So, when Papa-You came to stay with us last week I sat him down and made him watch my DVD of Sinead O’Connor’s documentary about the making of her Sean Nos album, to show him a comparison. A few of my favourite scenes in that doco are of 2 different women singing unaccompanied a capella songs in Gaelic. Anyway, he said he enjoyed it, and agreed it had a higher ranking of “Irish” authenticity than those prom-dress-chicks.

Last night we went to Papa-You’s place to celebrate his birthday. He upped the anti and cracked out his Chieftains DVD for me. It was great, a live concert in Nashville, where they teamed with Bluegrass artists (including Gillian Welch!) to show how similar irish folk music and bluegrass actually are. It’s uncanny, and unassumingly entertaining.

Anyway, ever since I’ve been “reeeerrring” and “diddlydiddling” like a violin rippin’ up some celtic-bluegrass.

Unfortunately I have a sneaking suspicion that I’d need to learn violin first before I could start “reeerrrydiddiling” in an infectiously foot-tapping fiddle style.


Do you play an instrument? I don’t, never have… I’m very un-musical. How long does it take to learn an instrument, bluegrass style? …(when you’re un-musical?)

Mr You tells me that playing violin is really hard because they don’t have frets. And considering he has 4 guitars, a mandolin, a banjo, and a keyboard in the house already, maybe I should start to learn something we already own.

But how am I supposed to one-up Papa-You with a keyboard? No, the only way will be if I squeeze into a wedding frock and bust out the fiddle (like her) before his very eyes. Then at a key moment, give a secret signal that brings a few of my Guinness swigging, irish jigging aunties out from the sideline for a bit of a arms-by-their-sides diddly-dee dance-along.

what a workout

The other morning Mr You, while poking at his armpits, asked me:
"What does it mean if the lymph nodes under your arms are very sore?"

I thought for a while... ruled out breast cancer... then realised...
"Is it just sore muscles from skimming stones at the creek yesterday?"

"Ahhh", he replied, with a somewhat sheepish grin.

(quite a workout for computer geeks like us) :)

lovely hearts 2

A few weeks ago Susan from ArtStream Studios sent out an email asking to help her spread the word about this years Lovely Hearts exhibition. I don't know what kind of major brain lapse happened on my part to only be mentioning it now... a day before the submission cut-off date!

But anyway, Artstream are currently taking submissions for this year's exhibition. The theme is "love in all it's forms" and at least half of all the proceeds are donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It's a gorgeous way of raising funds for a really good cause.

So, I know I've left it a bit late to spread the news, but if you have a work you've done, around 10x10" or smaller, that spreads good loving feelings... then get yourself over here, and submit it.
(It can be all sorts of stuff: art, craft, photography, knitting, jewellery, etc)


Last year I was lucky enough to have 2 works in the show, both sold, and the exposure led to a roll of great projects for me. So not only is it a good cause, it's one of those experiences that shows if you give, you're likely to get! :) Plus it makes you feel proud to be part of it. :) I couldn't recommend it more highly...

And while I'm raving... hehehe

Last year, Beth was the one who suggested I submit something. I didn't think my work was good enough, but just knowing someone else thought is was, was enough for me to try. Plus that's how Beth and I became freinds. :)

See it's all good: new friends, good karma, exposure, and an exhibition to add to your BIO (...with a smiley-filled post to prove it).
What are you waiting for?!!! Go! Dig through your artworks, scan and send!!!! Quick sticks!

I'm off to scan and send my entry.

Details are here. 21st is the last day to enter, so don't hesitate. Good luck!

if i could give you all the stars

I had another commission that I sent out just before Christmas also. This one came via Susan at Artstream, for a lady (a grand-daughter) who commissioned a painting for her grandfather's 80th birthday. She sent me photographs of her family, and wrote the most beautiful story of her grandfather's life and character. A nature loving, carrot farmer from South Texas, who cherishes his family and adores his wife. From what she wrote I could tell he is a wonderful man with vivid life stories and a passion for life itself.

It wasn't easy getting all that onto paper, and hoping that my interpretation met what he is really like. But I was soooo relieved when I got good feedback. Apparently there were even tears (good ones I'm told). So it was all well worth while in my books!


I haven't drawn anything since then over the Christmas break, and this week I'm really struggling. I've been drawing just one painting ALL week long. It's not even that detailed, I'm just rusty. It doesn't take long to get out of the habit. But Friday's are always productive, because I realise it's the end of the week, and I pull my finger out and get serious.
So, excuse me, I'm off to be all serious like...

gold days for esme

I was so happy to hear that my painting commissioned for baby Esme arrived to it's new home right before Christmas! Sadly, it was dented in the post, despite me packing it very well I thought. But I'm almost certain it can be repaired fairly easily without any trace of damage.

It's a painting of the lovely Sparklehorse song "Gold Days", which is sung to Esme by her lovely parents every morning. The lyrics are so dreamy and visual it made my job much easier really, and kind of a delight.

I hope Esme grows to love it as she herself grows. And I hope it rekindles the happiest of childhood memories, those of being sung to by her loving mum, sometime down the track in her bright shiny future.

too lazy to think of a title

Happy New Year! Did you have a good time?

I'm having such trouble getting back into the swing of things after having a nice break. Trouble blogging again, and getting back to work. Is anyone else having that same problem? You just get into relax and fun mode and can't remember how to get out of it.

We had so much fun over Christmas because we had visitors!!! Family and our first set of friend visitors. Plus we're having a fresh set of friends visit us each weekend from now until the end of the month!!! I'm just too excited to work. Or even concentrate for that matter.

Has anyone been game enough to make resolutions yet?

I came up with a couple... I won't call them resolutions, because that's too contractual, let's call them "wish list version 2008.1"-
One: stop getting fatter
Two: start yoga (funnily enough this is on my list every year, and every year I start, but fail to see it through to the end of the year)
Three: put much more effort into my illustrations, push myself a bit further with this.

The first half of last year was really busy and fun for me, but I don't know what happened to the 2nd half. Everything creative seemed to fall away for me. And the whole 2nd half of last year vanished in a big smudge. Life came up and took over... All the stuff with Tilli's health, all the crap with our last house, and then having to move, and then re-settle... It all took up so much of me and creative ventures became a struggle - which is not what I want. Anyway, I'm taking this "new year" as an opportunity to take it back, get back on track and get stuff happening again.

Now, if I could just snap out of holiday mode... hehehe
Bare with me, this could take a while.