Christmas Shopping at Bulli

Victoria Street Restorations at Bulli has to be the one stop chrissy shop.  Decorations and presents galore.  Vicki has an overwhelming (quite literally) supply of beautiful things - decorations, furniture, homewares.  My biggest problem is buying the presents for others and not buying them all for myself.  Here's a peak at the store and some of my purchases.

I bought a set of these hooks for my mother however they seem to currently be on my bathroom wall.

Dragonflies to jazz up my chrissy presents - obviously too much time on my hands lately.

Peacocks for the top of my tree.

I love this frame.  I have looked at it for about a year - so I finally got it and found the perfect old photo of my mum & dad to go in it.

Two More Sleeps

Another big belly shot - last one I promise.

Wow i cannot believe it has been 2 months since my last blog - but i did say with the lack of sleep it was all becoming a bit much.  Even though i have been up all night, most nights, my fuzzy brain and inability to sit down have sent blogging out the window.  However with only two sleeps to go till i go into hospital and the hopefully (fingers, toes and everything else crossed) safe arrival of the bambini, i seem to have gotten a new found energy.

I did see Eat, Pray & Love and thought it was pretty good, even Julia.  However I thought they dramatised it a bit too much and lost the comic element that made the book so good.  My biggest disappointment was the portrayal of Richard From Texas - one of the highlight characters from the book.  They lost his humour and wit.  Javier Bardem however does make up for my disappointments and I believe he is worth the cost of admission alone.

My obsessing over small details did reach new levels with the re-upolstering of my parker lounge (I am putting it down to pregnancy and an inability to make the smallest of decisions during this period).  Thankfully i can report that the lounge is now completed, after quite a number of visits to inspect foam thickness at Hardware Man Unanderra (the complexities of foam thickness and density was too much for my pregnant brain), many a late night patternmaking project, followed by complete change of cushion pattern next night, sewing of numerous calico toiles and a nice trip to Cloth Fabrics Australia http://www.clothfabric.com/ located in Surry Hills, to their beautiful showroom.

The ever patient Pinky awaits on the newly  upolstered lounge.

I managed to go the the Art Market held at Wollongong City Gallery on Sunday and was overwhelmed by the generosity of the beautiful girls from the Kittybonbiddy stall http://www.kittybonbiddy.com/.  Whilst admiring their beautiful Frida Kahlo jewellery, belts and clothing and a lovely little felted Frida, the girls enquired about my excitment of  the upcoming birth of the baby.  When I explained my anxiety due to the loss of my beautiful baby daughter Eden last year during the final minutes of her birth, they presented me with the little Frida to take home as a good luck token.  It was an unexpected and a truly lovely gesture from the two girls - Katie and Maiki.  I send them love and endless success with their wonderful artistic creations.

Eat, Pray & Love

I'm excited as I just remembered that Eat, Pray & Love the movie begins today.  It is the adaptation of one of my favourite books of the last couple of years by Elizabeth Gilbert (http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/).  That might get me out of the house.  Really am not convinced that Julia Roberts will be right for the lead part - she doesnt strike me as all that spiritual. We shall find out, hopefully tomorrow.

No Sleep No Blog

Its official - I no longer sleep at night.  Due to my expanding tummy and the very odd, restless leg syndrome, I have foresaken sleep for quilting, sewing, watching commonwealth games sports (thats getting desperate for me) and The Tudors, alas though writing a blog (and leaving the house during the day) is becoming a struggle.  Can't really cope with anything requiring too much thinking. (I am however obsessing over which combination of Cloth Australia fabrics to buy to reupolster my beautiful Parker lounge to go in new bambini's room).

I am suppose to be making birth art according to my new book - but that aint happening either.  Stay tuned
I live in hope.

                                                                  My first ever quilt.

I highly recommend the Tudors to any history/Henri VIII fans.  Jonathon Rhys Meyers is excellent as Henri, as well, Sam Neill is very good as the conniving Cardinal Wolesley.



Found this lovely little dolls dress and the 1960's bark cloth at one of my new favourite shops - The Wollongong Antique Centre in Auburn St, Wollongong.  The dress was like a memory left behind.  It was $8 well spent as I have already been inspired to do an artwork from it.  The bark cloth will hopefully one day soon be two cushions for benches that I don't actually own yet.

                                                  
                

A funeral for a friend

Justin, Leah & Lucy


I attended the funeral of my friend Justin Schollbach on Wednesday.  Justin and his girlfriend Leah were killed in a car accident last week, whilst returning home from a visit to the Royal Womens Hospital were their 12 week premature baby daughter Lucy was being cared for.  Lucy died on Wednesday morning, a few hours before her parents funerals.  Please may they all be together again now.

It is such a terribly sad story.  I am so sad for Justin, who was such a sweet and terribly funny guy.  A big kid himself, who loved kids, oldies and animals.  I gave him some budgies once when we were young.  I can still see him leaving my house, carrying the cage, staring at the birds with such happiness.  He was a bright light who made everyone laugh.  I always catch myself smiling when I think about him - I always will.

The Dash poem by Linda Ellis was read at the funeral.  I have not heard it before but I really liked it and want to post it here.

 The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
(You could be at "dash midrange.")

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

Cheers Ears - your dash wasnt long, but it was special. xx

Earth & Sky - Bangarra Dance Co

The beautiful Bangarra Dance Co is in town and my neighbour Ysaiah and I went along tonight for their final Wollongong show of Earth & Sky at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (i couldnt entice my husband off the couch, away from football).  It is such a unique, mesmerizing experience - really, really enjoyable.  http://www.bangarradance.com/

Bunker Shed Artists Exhibition - Take 2

ok this is what i bought.  a small mixed media work by Julie Donnelly - i'm always seduced by pink!   I also bought a very tiny drawing by Mark Wheatley (but alas i have no photo).

Bunker Shed Studio Exhibition - Project Contemporary Artspace 15-26 Sept 2010



I visited the group exhibition from some of the illawarras most up-and-coming artists - the resident Bunker Shed artists:  Damian Bancks, Katrina O'Brien, Peter James Hewitt, Mark Wheatley and Julie Donnelly at Project yesterday. 

It is a really great show with strong works from all the artists.  Peter James Hewitts paintings were particularly intense and very, very good.  Whilst Mark Wheatleys colourful, exotic drawings, done whilst in India, dance across the walls.  I actually liked it all - I wanted to buy something but could not make up my mind - i am going to have to go back.

The opening night is Friday, 17 Sept 2010, at 6.30 pm at Project Contemporary Artspace, 255 Keira St, Wollongong. 

Here is a preview of some of my favourites:



Katrina O'Brien



Mark Wheatley's lovely drawings





Peter James Hewitts intense textural paintings

Julie Donnelly

 



The Illawarra - NSW

I live in a house that could be called a treehouse, in the Illawarra region of NSW.  One hour and a bit south of Sydney.

The Illawarra is sandwiched between the escarpment & the sea.  We are blessed with many beautiful beaches and a bush covered mountain range full of birds & wildlife.  In deep contrast, there is a massive steelworks, a port, a few coal mines & an international university.  Throw in a melting pot of cultures for a diverse range of lifestyles, food, art & cultural events.