sprung

SPRING!!!! And boy am I happy about it! It’s like Spring flicked the weather switch on its way in and suddenly it’s a beautiful sunny 28 degrees (that’s 82.4 for all you Fahrenheit folk). It feels so wonderful, especially as just a few days ago it was so cold. I was saying to Mr You today that because the change in temperature was so quick and extreme, it felt like we had gone somewhere on holiday.

We spent the day outdoors soaking it all in. I picked a package of fabrics up from the post office this morning, then we joined Elle and Kilkenny for a long lazy café courtyard breakfast. After that we stopped in a guitar shop on the way to an outdoor market. The rest of the afternoon we pottered around the garden, cutting our small patch of grass, observing new blooms and drinking tea. We had such a relaxing holiday like day.

I’m experiencing that amazing sensation of uncurling my heat-retaining posture, unclenching my hands, and taking a long, steady, deep, sunny, breath in, and out.
I know that’s not the end of the cold, there’s always another chilly snap before the end of Spring, but for now I have a taste of warmth and am looking forward to more of it.

While we were at the market today we bumped into Wendy, a lady I used to work for. I haven’t seen her in about 8 years, so it was amazing to see she still has her stall there after all this time. She’s a ceramic artist, and when I was at Uni I worked part-time in her studio helping her make ceramic kitchen wear to sell at the market. She’s one of those excentric arty people you don’t come across too often; someone who is perfect for that lifestyle and enjoys every minute of it.

Her studio (with glass ceilings) was upstairs of her inner city terrace house. When you stepped inside you could have stepped into a little house in Provincial France: complete with a pianola, hand-painted silk wall hangings, black and white checked tiles on the kitchen floor, handmade plates, bowls and cups, a paved courtyard built around an olive tree, and 3 dogs and 3 cats. She’s a sweet loving lady who surrounds herself with family and friends, and treated her pets like her children, tying a bandana around their neck each day before taking them out walking. (When she did this you could see the pride fill in their little doggy chests).

We stopped and chatted with her for ages, we were so happy to see each other, she insisted on giving me this sweet “Pirate & Mermaid” platter. I was chuffed, even though I made stuff with her for about 3 years I don’t have a single piece. I painted a portrait of Lacey-T on a platter for her 21st, I painted a plate and a tile for my Mum, and another platter for my Dad, but forgot to do anything as a memento for myself.
This myth-filled platter captures Wendy’s whimsical style perfectly, I’ll treasure it.

It’s so encouraging to see someone living a life based around their creativity. Especially since I handed in my resignation at work yesterday. Yes, you heard right (gulp). I’m not going to say too much about it because:
1) I’m still in shock, it doesn’t feel real yet
2) I’m working up till the end of September
3) I have no idea what I plan to do after that
4) And if my mother hears about this… eeeeek!

run

My Illustration Friday attempt for "run".

This one was tricky. 'Running make-up' is where it ended up.

Also, to everyone who asked last week, my 'match' illo was inspired by the twins I photographed (although they are not really conjoined in real life). Twins make me so curious; that connection they share is second nature. Although, of all the identical twins I've ever known there's alway one who enjoys being a twin, and another who is really bothered by it. Even at the age of 3 I could see this in those boys already. Yet, the connection remains. These boys took ages to learn how to talk because they developed a language between themselves first. They would have entire babytalk conversations together that no one else could understand, but they continued as though they were really communicating. At points one would even crack the other one up with a joke of somekind and they'd both end up in hysterics, leaving the rest of us wondering what was so funny. So fascinating!

melbourne

I spent this past weekend in Melbourne on a trip Sister Sparkle arranged. It's the first time we've ever done anything like this; a girls weekend away for Sister Sparkle, Mum and myself. As we were on the plane on the way there Mum was telling us the last time we all flew together was when Sister Sparkle was only 5 weeks old, and I was 5 years old. That's a fair while.

When the idea was first raised I must admit I was frightened, you see it was planned as a shopping trip and holy moley can those women shop! I flashed back to times when I've been shopping with each of them separately, hours and hours of me begging to stop for a cup of tea, only to see them disappear into another shop calling back "Sure, I'll just have a quick look in here first" over and over.

I knew this was a special occasion though, so I went willingly stating my only conditions were that we stop for a drink and a bit of a rest every 2.5 - 3 hours, and I get to go to a craft shop I remember going to last time I was there. We did both, thankfully. And it was fun. I went into training 3 months in advance; in the lead up I didn't go anywhere near a shop just so my thirst for shopping was somewhere on the same level as theirs. It worked.

It was good fun in the end. We didn't get to see any landmarks or do any sightseeing - it was serious clothes shopping only. I didn't mind, this was my 5th trip to Melbourne (I love Melbourne) and it was good to have a different type of trip to what I'm used to. The shopping part was successful, I picked up a few cute items so I was happy. Sister Sparkle on the other hand... Well she was happy too... $685 later!!!! (that was on clothes alone, and in one single day). I told you they were serious shoppers.

match

My Illustration Friday attempt for "match".

mega shoe sale sign

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Coming Grab Bargain" yells a new banner that has been errected at a temporary shoe sale along my journey to work. Gives me a giggle each morning.

stuff and other stuff

I recently did a photoshoot of these adorable 3 year old identical twins for a friend (they're her boys). They're soooooo freakin' cute. It was a little tricky catching them both in the same photo, but heaps of fun all the same. Anyway after this I've decided that I might try and do more family/kiddy photo's. More light hearted and spontaneous than weddings.
(p.s. I've used this somewhat ambiguous photo here to protect their cute little privacy from the big wide web).

This weekend I also finished a 2 part picture framing workshop, and now have a nice new framed painting on my wall. So now I'm all kitted out and skilled up to make my own frames, or frame Mr You's life drawings like I said I would.

I'm rambling, it's because I'm distracted. I think I've decided once again that I should leave my job (shhhh! no one, except Mr You, knows anything about this yet, so don't say anything). I've been there 8 years. Can you believe it?! I can't. I'm depressed that all that time has gone by without me having explored anything else. So that's what I'm thinking about. But I don't have an "if I leave this job what am I going to do" plan. I don't want one. And I'm trying to stick to that, against my better judgement, and every fibre of my far-too-sensible-being. I want to stop planning for a bit and just allow some space to let something happen. But that is so unlike me. It hurts and I'm scared. Petrified!

So why am I doing it? Because I'm at the stage where if I don't do something I'm going to start crying and never ever stop.
I don't hate my job, I'm just in what they call a BIG old rut. I need to do something brave to get out.

I haven't done anything yet, I may still chicken out and change my mind. But I can't, I need to do something...

I'm rambling, it's because I'm distracted...

game play

My Illustration Friday attempt for "play".

What if Snakes and Ladders is a form of economic propaganda, and all these years and I've never noticed? What if it's encouraging us all from an early age to climb the ladders of success, join the "straight and narrow", and ignore the playful snakes.

Those evil snakes will bring you down, ignore the urges and pagan desires to live your life in a natural, creative, playful fashion. The only way to better your standing in society is to join the queue, step in line, and work hard for big business. If obeyed, you may be rewarded with a shortcut up one of the many ladders of success.

Poor misrepresented snakes.