Lucky Seven

My lovely Laura has linked me as part of the Stylish Blog awards flying around so I need to share 7 relatively unknown facts about myself. As I think almost everyone who reads this knows me personally some of these may not be surprises.
{edit} her post has disappeared so you are just going to have to believe me. I didn't nominate myself I swear!!

If you don't know me personally, say hi in the comments! {Hi Rain & Sage!}

1. I danced for 11 years from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Mostly classical ballet; I also did contemporary, jazz and pilates. I have danced on and off as an adult and I love it so much. Concerts and ballet classes with great friends are some of my favourite memories. I'm certainly not the best dancer in the world but doing barre work is one of my favourite forms of exercise.

Teaching Frenchie barre work

2. I come from a family of travelers. My parents, all grandparents and all aunts and uncles have all lived in other countries at some point in their lives. My Dad was born in Holland and my Mum was born in Papua New Guinea. My Grandparents are Dutch, English and Australian. I grew up with stories of different stages of their lives lived in Holland, PNG, Italy, Switzerland along with travels to lots of other places. I remember being 8 and waiting and waiting until I was old enough to get a job so I could start saving to move to Europe. Travel has been a constant inspiration my entire life and something that was always encouraged by my whole family.

The motel in PNG where mum grew up

All the workers in the hotel, including one of the resident dachshunds

My nana christening a ship with a bottle of champagne with a local watching (probably wondering what is going on)

My Pop

Working on the seahorse shaped pool

3. I grew up in Dalby. A country town 3 hours west of Brisbane. While it's not tiny it is definitely a country town. I'm glad I grew up there, we lived 15 km's out of town and I had an awesome childhood playing in dams and being part of the 'Colkerri Bike Riders Gang' when I was 6 but by the time I was 17 I was ready I move away. My Dad still loves in the house I grew up in.

The garden at Colkerri

Coming into town

4. I really, really want one of these.

5. I've recently starting doing Bikram Yoga. It's hard. Really hard. But also really awesome; and I will be so proud when I finally manage to do this. In the meantime I just sweat. A lot.

6. My boyfriend is an awesome writer. He doesn't make a big deal out of it but he's good. Read his stuff.

7. I'm currently learning Dutch. It's a lot of fun and I'm hoping I will actually manage to get a job!
Ik ben opgewonden om narr Nederland!

So now I need to nominate some other bloggers to tell us all 7 things about themselves.

I nominate:
Possum and deer (Mum, not me again)
A Year with Oscar
Edward and Lilly
Under the stairs studio

Happy Monday night!

Exciting News

I've had a wonderful week with two pieces of super exciting news!
First of all - Tom's big brother Paul had a baby girl Thursday afternoon. They live in Canberra so we are heading down in about 4 weeks for lots of cuddles. They have a working name at the moment but it's not confirmed so I won't share just yet.
I can't wait to meet this baby girl.


Secondly, I have been asked to have a Suitcase Rummage stall at St Jerome's Laneway Festival on Friday 4th Feb. For a slight charge I get to sell my art to festival goers then wander around and listen to all the bands after dark. Super excited! I had such a great time at last year's Laneway.

The XX

Florence and The Machine

I can't wait to travel the world with you

Last Tuesday was Tom and my 3rd anniversary. And also the day that Brisbane realised it was about to flood. Great timing.
I made him a special little papercutting for the day.

I went to work and by about 10am it was panic stations. Everyone at work was deciding whether or not to go home. I decided I wanted to get home and start bringing things up from the garage because at that point we had no idea how high the water would go. I called Tom and told him my plans. There was a big pause. Then he asked 'So nothing's been delivered yet?'
Amidst the torrential rain Tom had ordered me a dozen red roses that were delivered to work in a huge white box wrapped in a red bow.

Very, very sweet.

These are the things that inspire me. I have been very productive in the last week or so. Probably all the rain then flood stress.

All new pieces (please excuse the bad photos due to the shocking lighting in my office) -



What do you think? Any particular favourites?

Feeling Grateful

So as I'm sure most people around the world are aware Brisbane has been through a pretty rough week.

We spent several days waiting for the river to rise, breathing a sigh of relief when it didn't reach it's predicted heights and shocked at the damage that still occurred. Tom and I are so glad it didn't reach our house, we spent Wednesday bringing everything upstairs from the garage and preparing for the power to go out. My two girlfriends had to evacuate (one to my place) and spent a few stressful nights waiting to see if their houses would go under. Thank God neither did.

Clean up is well and truly under way and people are heading to Bris from all over the place to pitch in. Some of the stories that are coming out are heartbreaking while many others make me feel so grateful that I am part of this community.

I have been feeling a bit useless and wanting to help but not knowing where to start, particularly without a car. This woman is co-ordinating baked relief to all the hard workers who are currently cleaning our city. I have started baking and will continue to do so tomorrow. Along with a friend we will bake our hearts out then deliver wherever the food is needed. If you are cleaning tomorrow please let me know and we will drop by with some sustenance.
I am thinking of everyone who has been affected by this disaster, this will be an event we remember for a long time.

No matter where we are

I promised a photo of the papercutting that I did for my mum for Christmas in a post last week. I took the train up to the Sunshine Coast Friday afternoon and spent the weekend with Mum and her husband so I took the chance to grab another photo.

My mum and I are very close and I find it very hard being away from her, (she spends half her life in Canada with her Canadian husband and the other half here) but we make it work by spending quality time together when we can and communicating a lot. I know when we go away later this year I will miss her a lot along with my dad and my brother (and so many other people).

We had such a nice weekend, I had two bubble baths, caught up with an old friend who I adore and had coffee and GF cake in Buderim with mum.

I managed to do some papercutting while I was there and I'll share those pieces soon (they are getting naughtier).
Mum and I went for a look in some shops and I saw a lace top that I really liked. Mum decided that she could make one for me so we went home, she pulled out an old lace tablecloth and she whipped me up a new top. She has so many talents.
Don decided on Saturday night to take us out to a SUPER fancy French restaurant. I had duck and creme brulee - this is why I NEED to go to France as part of our big trip. Most amazing food. The over the top, hilarious French chef and cute French waitress totally added to the night.

(wearing my new lace top)

While I was there I went through some old photos that Mum has of her side of the family. There are some amazing old photos and I photographed them (too lazy to make the scanner work) to share. I will upload soon. The ones from Papua New Guinea are especially awesome.

Friendship framed

A little while ago I did an impromptu photo shoot at a friend's house with two of my favourite girls. These two mean a lot to me and I really wanted to capture how lovely, happy and playful they are.


I clearly played with these a lot in Lightroom. I normally prefer sticking to the original photo as much as possible but I must admit it was a lot of fun to alter these like crazy. Sometimes I think we need to not take everything so seriously and just have fun with art; appreciate the tacky and the over the top!

Aren't they adorable?

All the time I was making this I was thinking of you

Now that Christmas is over I can finally share some of the pieces I made for commissioned Christmas presents and little gifts for loved ones.

I actually really enjoyed making this piece even though it was very fiddly.

This wall paper is my absolute favourite.

This amazing bakerlite frame was given to me by a lovely lady who commissioned a couple of pieces from me.

I made a very special piece for my mum but for the life of me I can't find the photo I took. I will take one when I visit her this weekend and share it next week.

Much love.