Feeling productive, and enjoying it.

Nature's Evening available on Etsy

A friend recently encouraged me to share in a Mother's Day stall and I was so thrilled to sell some of my journals and jewellery. My goal is to be more proactive in this area as I really do need to get rid of my mortgage if am to have the freedom I want to move in other areas. Pray for wisdom as I make decisions for the future, please. (Update: Sorry to have confused some people, the 'other areas' are not art ones, but more voluntary work with some kids who need help - I love my art but not planning on going full-time w ith it).

A Thankful Heart available on Etsy

Another scarf, this one a Pink Girl's Dream for a good friend's birthday. Lace, chiffon and flannel are threaded though a soft wool acrylic blend. I am not a 'pink girl', but the end result is solf and romantic so hopefully it will be well received.
Sweet boy sitting with me as I photograph the bracelets, not so sweet to smell at the moment so I predict a bath coming up very soon.

A river of warmth ...

A little frog, a seahorse or two, ribbons, sari silk, wool, beads and me; the ingredients for this scarf, winging its way to a new home now.

Are you enjoying rivers of life?

Oh and a confession, I wore it once, just because ....

A Beautiful Button

This beautiful antique steel cut button was rusty and a bit bent when I purchased it, but some sanding and a light application of the hammer left it just right for this 'enchanted night' necklace. Vintage Japanese cotton pearls and hand made hematite beads combine with a modern chandelier drop.

I am back knitting and sewing for now, so who knows what will appear next, it is nice to never be bored.

Friends and Fibre

Have you had your all-bran today? No, no not that type of fibre the one you wear, touch, stitch and even knit. Last week I was lucky enough to have my friend Dawn visit, a week of talking, creating, eating and even a little exercise followed.
We walked to the top of “my” rock which looks over town and took a few photos as Archer ran around beside us.

We ate picky platters of cheese, olives, cucumber and crackers, and ate only as we felt hungry, with very odd meal times.
We created, Dawnie made beautiful jewellery – I wish I took pictures – and my muse decided to knit. Three scarves, this one embellished with sari silk, ribbon and beads, another almost done.

The fur and purr babies delighted in Dawn’s attention and Charles, dear boy, even slept with our friend, loving her as I do.
This week it is back to work I go, and by the end of the week I will have found the rhythm, for now I am clinging to these sunshine filled play days.

Sweet Kitties

Thank you so much for all the encouragement after my last post.
Since last I wrote here I have been given more work time to work with our wonderful, indigenous boys, a group I was giving a lot of my free time to. I have also had some positive feedback from my line managers and caught up on sleep, my world always seems to right itself when I don't have massive black rings under my eyes.
The world is not perfect, and I can't fix it all, but I can do, what I can do, well.
I have thought and prayed as I painted and stitched these little kitties, gained perspective and found peace, much as I do with my own purries - all without having to feed them non-stop! If only they were warm and snuffled in their sleep.

This Easter has been a quiet one so far, sleep, reading, poochie and purr cuddles and chocolate - why does it feel so good to bite into a hollow egg?

Have a blessed Easter everyone!

Hot Flushes, Heart Strings and Help

What a week, constant hot flushes had me sure menopause had snuck up and grabbed me a tad early, but no, apparently stress has the same effect. What stress? You might ask.

The stress that comes to a teacher when she cares, perhaps too much and even after all these years retains her idealism, the stress that comes when you don't want any child to hurt and you see it happen. A hard week.

Help came in the form of moments at my desk putting this little lady together, in the time I spent photographing her in Autumn sunshine, and in wearing her to work one day.

Help came in the form of this beautiful art work from Gaye: the colours; the quote; the stillness; just what I needed.

Help came from friends and family, from cuddling the most beautiful woofy face in the world, and help came from above. Thank you Jesus. May the next week be one of peace and wisdom.

The Brotherhood in Action

Scene
A warm summers day, and the teacher (me) sits at her desk working with one of her favourite classes. 22 boys, all about 15 years old are working fairly quietly and the male deputy (MD) appears at the door carrying a huge basket, full of flowers and chocolates, a bottle of pink bubbly tucked under his arm.

Boys: Who are they from Miss?
MD: Someone thinks you’re special
Me: A dog
Boys: (chorus) That’s not nice! He is trying hard to make up. That must have cost a lot. Maybe a hundred dollars. More than that. Give him a chance. No one is perfect Miss. You have to listen to him Miss..
Me: (Struggling to be heard) A real dog!
More chanting and calling out …
MD: (Catching on) It must be a very clever dog.
Silence descends, reluctantly
Me: I looked after my friends’ dog for a few weeks and they have sent me these in the dogs name: Pipepee.

Boys: Can we have a chocolate please?

The teacher shares.

Archer, with his dear friend Pipepee, hogging the couch and blissfully happy. They wear matching pearl collars (Archer's is blue) and influence each other to get up to all sorts of mischief.