weekend wonder

[instagram photo @mguyatt]

Oh the perfect day and the perfect setting for a springtime weave+wonder birthday party! The sweet birthday girl selected our ever-popular clay fairy garden and there couldn't be a more beautiful, natural setting than this vast parkland next to a beautiful lake...

weekend wonder

Class preparation is progressing in earnest here with lots of folding and bending and trying and trying again. Our wire sculpture class, based on the work of Alexander Calder who we have explored in past art lessions, is coming along well...our home is full of 'bent-bits' and slowly a beautiful garden of flowers is emerging!
These will be seated in our wonderfully textural cut logs.

There is inspiration a-plenty budding in Spring gardens around here...

6yrO was inspired by these prolific annuals in our vege garden and jumped at the idea of a spring garden collage, thick with colour, texture and beauty - she was so proud of her work! We are experimenting for the holiday mixed media collage class.

I love how creativity has a beautiful meandering effect...the photo below shows 6yrO three piece series....the spring garden above ground; the seed and roots in the dirt with bugs surrounding; a close-up collage of a bug! Spark the imagination and it takes you on the most magical journey!
This time mama was soo proud!

weekend wonder....our first knitting workshop!

It was so lovely to begin the weekend with an inspiring and bountiful visit to the local farmers markets. An old familiar habit tried on again for size and enjoyed immensely!
This week on my list I added flowers to share with my afternoon knitters at Riverbend!

...and a few sweet treats for those staying at home too!

If truth be told, I was a little nervous about the upcoming knitting workshop...if the tangles my children have found themselves in knitting were anything to go by, I was hoping the transfer of information through instruction + encouragement + laughter + good company would cover any frustrations for any first-time knitters!
I had a dear friend join me to help teach and I knew her gentle and patient manner would be an encouragement to those with any difficulties - I was so grateful!
The beautiful mothers and sweet attentive children were such a delight to spend an afternoon with! The setting was an inspiring backdrop to the relaxed conversation and general good feeling around the tables. We were so busy during the 1.5 hours that there was no time for photos sadly, just these sweet images beforehand to give you a feel for the afternoon ahead....

There were many + varied skill levels attending and I hope all went home inspired to continue knitting with their children! Some mothers could knit, for some it came back, just like riding a bicycle! Some had never picked up needles before! We worked together with parents to teach and encourage the children in what was mostly a new skill!
Thanks so much to all who attended and we look forward to seeing some snaps of your completed works in the days to come!

creative living in winter

I believe that living creatively is rooted in having your eyes open to inspiration, focused, attentive and present.
While I believe this strongly, my personality is driven and I am often pulled along mentally to the next challenge or where i am headed tomorrow. I miss the inspiration. That exchange that happens when we 'respond' fully to stimuli in the present....a cookbook that sparks a desire to bake, a sunset that inspires you to run and grab your camera, a tickle with your child that causes you to laugh out loud together...all inspiring moments fully lived.
I have noticed an increasing desire as I get older and my children's personalities more 'full' to observe the seasons as a positive marker for the ebb & flow of life. Instead of observing our culture's freight-train mentality, I am drawn to slow in winter in order to conserve the energy to 'sprout' again in spring. Qld living doesn't often inspire this hibernation with its toasty warm days and only rugged up at night so I have to remind myself that this is the slow season.
Our winters for the past 5 years have been marked by close friend's extended stay and often I find myself whipped up in the enthusiasm for change that visitors can bring. But then I remember, this is the slow season...more books, more games, more baking, more together, more inspiration stored up, pondered, taken in for the coming Spring.
I believe that inspiration should be 'soaked in' during winter. Reading good books and like the spicy fruit macerating on my stove, pondered, considered, processed and stored. For out of this storehouse can come great productivity and growth in time. For now, I must remember not to miss the inspiration that is here for the seeing, right now, with eyes open.
What can you see that inspires you this winter? A good book? Board games or puzzles with your children, the knitting basket, a game of backyard soccer or family bikeride? Delicious smells wafting from the kitchen? Stunning sun drenched scenery outside?

These are just a few snaps of creativity happening here this weekend...

:: knitting is a winter delight around here for young and old - the soft feel of wool between fingers is thereputic - hands are busy while sitting still!

:: The creative project basket follows us around on our travels...

:: Lego is a constant...

:: creativity is spontaneous...this tee pee was designed and constructed by siblings waiting out a Saturday morning game of soccer! LOVE.

:: my favourite 'toasting' spot...

:: washed linens - creativity slowly set in motion

:: an afternoon of family baking...

:: eager and productive hands...

:: bookshelves re-arranged inspires new reading and new discoveries

:: while waiting for straight-from-the-oven-goodness!

:: in the last hours of light this afternoon, fresh picking was happening

:: and herb remedies were prepared outside the temporary residence...

Ahh nothing like a sweet visual reminder to savor the moments and soak up the inspiration of the everyday. Hope your weekend was rich!

weekend wonder

Not quite the weekend but close enough for me after an intense week on many fronts, we visited our wonderful local GOMA on friday for a taste of art+creative fun! My children always love to go and sketch their favourite paintings and even though the regular gallery was being refurbished, we still found much to entertain...

:: I have been eyeing off this kind of fibre art across the internet recently and we found some in a glorious corner here!

:: Fiber arts gathered in the entry installation to form a giant tree full of texture and colour

:: Dreamy watercolour, when you peer up close, stunningly intricate linework awaits!

:: bold hessian curtains

:: and double story abstract works

:: voluminous natural dyed fabric and mirrors

:: We love being surprised by what creativity awaits in the children's corner - the 'fly away home' exhibition saw us engaged in making birds + nests for hours [it seemed!]

:: There were wonderful wooden tree's and stunning wallpaper to complete the experience

:: and of course the most majestical work of art on display this day was the brilliant warm sunshine after a cold week of rain!

[I do apologise about the lack of credit for these splendid works of art - you'll just have to go to Queensland GOMA and see for yourself - we had too many children in tow to take notes!]

weekend wonder

We have wandered from lush green countryside to cozy home comfort, from re-arranging accomodations for visiting friends to a sweet 7yr old woodland fairy party [seen below]. Lego creations hide in every corner and new/old books rest on every surface after a date afternoon at the Lifeline Bookfest...Just the ways to amble through a cold and rainy long weekend!