{on dreaming - blogtoberfest day XXXI}

Time

Acrylics, spray paint, inks, Pitt pens and collage on canvas

8 x 12 inch

"Since I re-started my creative journey in August 2006 so many things have changed in my life.  The single thread that winds through all the change is dreaming that it could be so.... The thing that I've really learned in the last couple of months is not to limit my dreams.  Not to decide that my small dreams can manifest but my big dreams aren't really for me.  It's taken a long time to get here but I'm starting to know in a real way that it's true.  The deepest, truest things that you wish for yourself are also meant to be." 
                                                                                    October 29, 2009 

Do you remember the painting above?  I used it in my post on day I.  What I didn't tell you at the time was why I created it.  Monica mentioned that a call was out for artists to submit work for Patti Digh's next book.  They had such an overwhelming response to the call out that they decided to randomly select 200 people who would have the opportunity to submit their work for consideration.  I was one of the lucky ones chosen.  'Time' was my submission in response to the essay I was given to work with.

In April 2011 'Time' will be published in Patti Digh's new book 'WHAT I WISH FOR YOU: Simple Wisdom For A Happy Life'.  I am absolutely over the moon.  Getting my work published has been a dream for so long.

I am so excited that I get to share this news on the last day of blogtoberfest.  It somehow seems so fitting.

What an amazing month it's been.  Topsy-turvy and all kinds of crazy mixed in with lots of exciting news, big lessons, simple happiness and realisations aplenty.  Just like life I guess.  My life anyway.  My big, dreamy, wonderful, topsy-turvy life.

I hope you've enjoyed Blogtoberfest 2010.  I hope you've enjoyed the challenge, found some lovely new blogs, made some new friends and maybe, just maybe, planted or manifested some dreams of your own.  I hope you'll come back again next year and do it all again.  Just think, in 12 months time we'll be another year along in our journeys again.  I wonder where this time next year will find us?

For the grand finale I've got an extra special giveaway.  If you would like to win a set of my limited edition '3 Parts Faith' & '2 Parts Hope' prints then just leave a comment.  For a runner up you can have your choice of any single print from my shop.  I'll draw the winners on Thursday.

I might not see you tomorrow peeps, but I'll see you soon.

{saturday - blogtoberfest day XXX}

Enjoying a quiet rainy Saturday over here.

The commissioned painting is going ahead.  It will be my largest painting ever at 3 x 5 foot.  I was so excited I went and bought the canvas yesterday and started work last night.  I'll be sure to play show and tell.

I had other absolutely amazingly wonderful news this morning too, but I'm saving that for tomorrow.

Until then peeps....

{i gotta be quick - blogtoberfest day XXIX}

I'm off to see a man about a dog.

Or in my case a guy about a painting.  It might be my first commissioned work.  So exciting.

I decided to save my final Blogtoberfest giveaway for our last day on Sunday, so pop back then.  It's going to be a giveaway bonanza.  

Can you believe it's almost over?

{smoke & mirrors - blogtoberfest day XXVIII}

I love to take photos, particularly artistic shots of my studio and works in progress.   

I thought you might like to see how things really look when I'm in the midst of painting things.  Messy, busy, and colourful.

{bugs dig it too - blogtoberfest day XXVII}

I found this guy hanging out on one of my paintings this afternoon.  It's nice to appeal to a broad audience don't you think?

Only 4 sleeps till Blogtoberfest is finished peeps.  We're nearly home.

{things the last six months have taught me - blogtoberfest day XXVI}

 
Three Parts Faith*

Acrylics and gel pens on canvas

11 x 14 inch 

• that I need money to live comfortably.  Not a huge amount, but enough.
• that grief softens with time, but never leaves you completely.
• that structure and routine are good for me.
• that it takes an incredible amount of hard work, energy, motivation and determination to run your own business.
• that I am deeply loved.
• that I want to be a commercially successful artist.
• that exercise is so good for me.
• that my dreams will come true.
• that 'working for the man' probably ain't so bad for the moment.
• that living life to the fullest requires more trust, hope & faith than I thought possible.
• that I'm ready to embrace what comes next with all my heart and soul.

 

Two Parts Hope*

Acrylics and gel pens on canvas

11 x 14 inch 

*I'm really hoping to have new limited edition prints in the shop very soon, including these two here.

{what do you see - blogtoberfest day XXV}

Gifts We Give Each Other

Acrylics on canvas

8 x 10 inch

I got to wondering this morning, what it is dear peeps that brings you to my blog?  I don't feel like I've been a very good Blogtoberfest host this year.  The reality of my life at the moment hasn't left a lot of time or energy for blogging, and I've felt like a bit of a fraud to be honest.

I am so grateful for the gift of friends to share my journey with.  So I pondered this morning.  What is it exactly that finds you here?  What makes you take time out of your busy days and nights to stop by my little corner of the world?  Is it the art, or perhaps the dreaming?  Or is it something entirely different?

What do you see when you look over here at me?

{the one where tinniegirl finds herself without much of anything to say - blogtoberfest day XXIV}

I do hope my words and inspiration return to me soon.  I know from experience that the more I try to force things the more elusive they become.  

So I'm just taking it easy over here, hanging out with my fur peeps and Ms L, and leaving the words, the inspiration, the everything else to sort itself out, in its own good time.

{he's got the right idea - blogtoberfest day XXIII}

{chunkychooky to the rescue - blogtoberfest day XXII}

Just when I was wondering what to post today Cath has come up with a great meme.  Pop over here to sign up.

4 things that I always carry:

• notebook and pen
• phone
• handkerchief
• glasses

4 things that are in my bedroom:

• notebook and pen
• little treasures collected on my journey through life
• a patchwork quilt passed down to me from my grandma
• a miniature eiffel tower, golden gate bridge and seattle space needle

4 things that I would like to do but haven't done yet:

• run in a fun run
• write and publish a book
• buy a house
• have a solo exhibition in an art gallery

4 things that you don't know about me:

• i was born in South Africa and my birth certificate actually notes that I am "white"
• i once attended lunch with George W Bush (Senior)
• i'm having a stall at the Buninyong Maker's Market this Saturday (ok, you probably knew that one but I needed to get it in here somewhere! You should come and visit me)
• i love being in a plane when it takes off.  I love that feeling of leaving the ground.

4 things I often wonder:

• where my creative journey will take me
• if I'll live to be a hundred
• when things will feel more settled
• why

{shoulda - blogtoberfest day XXI}

I should have been preparing for a job interview tomorrow, 

or getting ready for the Buninyong Maker's Market on Saturday,

or writing an application for a board position with the Emerging Writer's Festival, 

or getting the house ready for the umpteenth open for inspection, 

or getting new things into my Etsy shop, 

or doing the grocery shopping 

or, or, or....

Instead,

I poured myself a cold drink, 

kicked off my shoes, 

put some tunes on,

and lay in the sunshine with a magazine 

(that I didn't even bother reading), 

and boy did my soul thank me for it.

{past & present - blogtoberfest day XX}

I used to smoke, now I run,

I used to lament, now I paint,

I used to hope, now I believe,

Not always, but sometimes.

{i'll be back soon, i promise - blogtoberfest day XIX}

I didn't plan to be M.I.A right in the heart of Blogtoberfest.  

Sometimes life really gets in the way doesn't it?

************************************************

EDITED:  Everything is OK over here folks.  Just been busy taking care of Mumsy for a couple of days after a minor surgery and now just catching up with myself.  Thanks for your kind concern.  I'll be fully back on deck in the next day or two.

{let me count the ways - blogtoberfest day XVIII}

how i love thee Ms L

happy birthday

xxx

****************************************

I hit the random number generator up for a giveaway winner.

18 on the 18th.  Pretty cool huh?

Congrats to dorothybills.  You've won the $50 gift voucher.  I'll be in touch to organise things.

Okay, I won't be around much for the next 36 hours or so, but I'll see you soon.

{no words today - blogtoberfest day XVII}

You know where to find me.

{bye bye house - blogtoberfest day XVI}

It didn't sell at auction today, but we expect it's just a matter of time now.

I was surprised at how seriously unsettled I felt this morning.  I thought I'd made peace with this moving business.

The truth?  This process of exploring new paths and possible places to call home has made both  Ms L and I realise how much we love this neigbourhood.  Our hearts are right here.

The journey continues....

***************************************

Don't forget my Friday Giveaway.  You've got till Sunday night to enter.

Half way on the blogtoberfest front peeps.  A big pat on the back to all of us hey?

{ok, you choose - blogtoberfest day XV}

I can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying by at the moment.  I wake up on Monday morning with the week stretched out before me and all sorts of plans.  Before I know it it's almost 8pm on a Friday night and I haven't done half of what I thought I'd do, including my daily blog post.

Before I start waxing lyrical about international timezones and when Friday technically ends, it's time for the Friday Giveaway.  I thought I'd do something a bit different this week.  If you'd like to win a $50 voucher from my Etsy shop leave me a comment.  By next week I'm planning to have new goodies in the shop so you'll have lots to choose from.  I'm going to pick a winner on Monday this week so you'll have to get in quick with this one.

Have a great weekend peeps.  I'll catch you tomorrow.

{i heart mumsy - blogtoberfest day XIV}

Man, I love my Mum.  She's the best.  She's kind and clever, and generous and quirky.  She has an awesome and irreverent sense of humour and makes me laugh.  A lot. 

She's also an extremely accomplished woman and a published food author.  I'm very proud to come from such creative stock.

 Mum's Recipe Book

Published 1983

But I think what I love most about Mumsy is some of the classic things that she says.

Last night we were watching the diving at the Commonwealth Games and she turned to me and earnestly asked me if I could "dive like that".  I can't stop laughing about it.  I actually can't dive at all, not even from a sitting position at the side of the pool.

Perhaps what I really love most is her unerring belief that I can do absolutely anything.  

Thanks Mumsy.

****************************************

Thanks to everyone who joined in the self-portrait challenge.  You blew me away. 
I have to apologise that I haven't had the chance to get around and 'see' everyone.  I've got some family stuff happening that's going to mean not much computer time in the coming week, so please excuse me if I'm a little absent.

{happy... - blogtoberfest day XIII}

...in the most ordinary and satisfying kind of way.

Are you joining in the self-portrait challenge today?  Pop your link on the list.  Look forward to seeing you!  Big thanks to Karin for the idea.

{good news, not great news, a check in & a challenge - blogtoberfest day XII}

I'll start with the good news.  I have winners from the giveaway.  The first winner is Car from Carrose Creations.  I'm guessing that Car might actually wish she was in the USA at the moment instead of rainy QLD.  Car's choice of painting was Blooming so it will be off to her shortly.  (Car, you'll have to email me your address)

The second person drawn was Brianna from Rolling in Fabric.  Brianna's a girl after my own heart suggesting she'd like to live in France and see the Tour de France.  Brianna was happy to win either painting so she'll be receiving Blossoming.  (Email me your address too Brianna)

Congrats to both of you.  It makes me really happy to share my original work with people.

*******************************************

Now, the not so great news.  The Northern Craft Bonanza is unfortunately on hold until further notice.  Chair 14 have kindly been staying open for us especially on a Thursday night, and they are no longer able to do it.  So my crafty friends, we are homeless.

Before I go ahead and start looking for a new home for the group I'm looking for 2 volunteers to help me run the bonanza.  There's not much work involved.  I'm just looking for a couple of people who will help me find a new venue, share responsibility for being there on a regular basis, be a contact point for the venue and help keep people informed about any news or updates on the NCB.  If you'd be willing to help out shoot me an email at tinniegirl(at)optusnet(dot)com(dot)au.

Stay tuned for an update on the future of the NCB in coming weeks.

*******************************************

Now that we've got through the business of this post, how are you?

How are you traveling with Blogtoberfest?  Are you having fun?  Are you finding new blogs that you like, new people to connect with?  I've only made it to number 30 on the list so far, but I like to really stop and have a good look around when I visit.  I'm definitely a quality over quantity kind of girl.  I like to pull up a comfy chair, have a cuppa and get to know people a bit.  I'm definitely aiming to stop by all 265 blogs on the list throughout the month.

If you haven't signed up and you want to, it's never to late.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on yesterday's post.  I really appreciate them.

*******************************************

And last, but not least, a challenge for you.  Karin from Sum of Mum had a great suggestion.  She thought it would be fun to get everyone to post a self-portrait.  

So I'm declaring tomorrow self-portrait day.  If you want to join in then post a self-portrait for us.  I'll put a linky list up so that we can see who is playing along.  

If you're feeling a bit shy about it you might interpret the idea creatively and show us an aspect of yourself.  Or maybe you'll show us your face.  I remember being very shy about showing my face on my blog when I first started out.  Now?  Not so much...

See you tomorrow peeps.  Perhaps literally as well as figuratively....

{pushing up against my edges - blogtoberfest day XI}

Losing weight and getting fit has been on my list of things to do for a long time now.  Last year when I did the Mondo Beyondo course I challenged myself to take action towards this long held dream.  So I joined the gym, and I went along, and at times I tried really hard, and then I'd fall off the wagon, and then I'd get back on, and off, and on, and so it goes.

Amazingly though, I've never thrown in the towel.  It's been almost a year now.  I'm still trying to find exactly what works for me, and thanks to my dedicated and passionate trainer Michelle, I'm completely determined to stick with it and achieve my goals.

I started a new gym program last week that's really different to anything I've done before.  Instead of doing a set number of a particular exercise, I have to do as many of each exercise as I can and only stop when I can't possibly do more.

As well as finding it extremely physically demanding, I've found it a huge emotional stretch. When I considered what it was that was challenging me so I realised that it was about failure.  Because that's essentially the way this new program works.  It's all about failure.  Doing something until you actually can't do it anymore and stopping when the failure occurs (or the limit is reached).

I had a major a-ha moment yesterday when I was thinking about all this.  I realised how much I prefer to take the comfortable path and achieve less than I'm capable of than risk failure.  I like to know my limits, and stick safely within them, and tell myself I'm doing a great job.

Then I had an even more amazing insight.  Recently I've been having a hard time with painting.  While I've been feeling like my paintings are taking such great direction and that my work is getting better and better, it's felt so much more difficult. I often say to Ms L that painting used to feel so much easier and lighter, and that it rarely feels that way now. 

I realised that my new exercise program is the perfect analogy for where I'm at with my painting.  With painting I don't have any sense of where my limits lie.  I just have to keep pushing up against the edges of what I think I'm capable of to see what's truly possible.

An Act of Love*

Acrylics on canvas

10 x 10 inch

*The title of this painting reflects my relationship with painting and also, the work involved in creating this piece.  I estimate there are roughly 5000 individual dots on this small work.

PS.  Don't forget my giveaway.  There's still plenty of time.

{a girl's gotta dream - blogtoberfest day X}

Silence is Golden

Collage, acrylics, inks and Pitt pens on canvas

8 x 10 inch

(via Dumpr)

Don't miss my current Friday Giveaway for the chance to win a Tinniegirl original.

I'm always telling friends they'll be able to retire on the value of one of my paintings one day.

Dream big I say!

{still friday somewhere in the world - blogtoberfest day IX}

After some thought I realised that I'm actually not late for the Friday Giveaway at all.  After all, it's still Friday in many parts of the world, and blogtoberfest is very much an international event.

It's easy to get caught up in our own little worlds and forget there's a whole big world happening out there.  One of the things that I love about blogging is the way that it brings the world to your doorstep, but in a real and connected way.

So without apology, or further ado, I present to you the Friday Giveaway for this week.  It just wouldn't be blogtoberfest if I didn't give away some of my original artwork.

Blossoming

Acrylics on canvas

8 x 8 inch

Blooming

Acrylics on canvas

8 x 8 inch

Leave a comment any time up till the end of Monday telling me two things:

1. what part of the world would you love to live in if you could go and live anywhere.  No rules.  It could be for a little while, for a lifetime, you can have as much money as you want, do whatever job you like, live exactly as you want.  Let your imagination run free. (for me it would be Paris or New York City or somewhere in the Middle East, or all 3 for a few months at a time.  Money would be no object and I'd be living in an amazing apartment in the city, painting, eating out every night, wandering the cities by day)
2. which of the two paintings you'd like to win.

I'll draw two winners on Tuesday.

I hope you have a lovely weekend in your little corner of the world peeps.

Pop over and visit Ms L's blog if you want to put a smile on your face today.  It made me smile.

{did i scare you? - blogtoberfest day VIII}

 

I scared me.  Didn't think I was going to get here at all today. 

And then I was pretty sure I didn't have anything interesting to say. Still am.

See what I mean?  Even though I blog most days, I still find this daily business a big challenge.  Especially when life gets super busy, which it has been the last couple of days.

And I put a lot of expectations on myself too, when it comes to blogging.  You know the ones.  It has to be interesting, or lovely to look at, or exciting, or, or, or..... During Blogtoberfest it intensifies all the more.

Sometimes though, you've just got to let yourself off the hook I think.  Cut yourself a bit of slack, change the rules or throw them out the window.  One of my intentions for this year was to be kind to myself.  I think I'm getting pretty good at it.

And on that note, I'm going to take the rest of the day off, and save the Friday Giveaway for tomorrow.  I promise you it's worth the wait.  I'm sooooo excited about it. 

I'll see you tomorrow peeps!

{great excuses - part I - blogtoberfest day VII}

Sign in the window of a local surf shop recently.

{drum roll please - blogtoberfest day VI}

I used my favourite random number generator to select a number from the list of entries...

... and the winner of the 'Tinnie' and the first of my Friday Giveaways, is Bec from Memory Garden.  Congrats Bec.  Shoot me an email with your address and I'll have a beautiful 'Tinnie' on it's way to you very soon.

Don't worry if you missed out this time.  I've got a super giveaway planned for this week.

It's a rainy old day in Melbourne today.  I seem to spend more time staring out the window than getting stuff done on days like this.

{coming full circle, again - blogtoberfest day V}

I knew that the silence had a message for me, even though it felt somewhat empty to start off with.  Late afternoon yesterday the words drifted into my consciousness, just like they did last November.

"You are the one creating this struggle".

It's true.  Again!  At first when we found out our house is being sold I was excited and so open to possibility.  But as time marched on I became confused and uncertain, and full of anxiety for the future.

Right I thought, I'm going to take charge of this situation and I'm going to make it work exactly the way I want it too!  I've got a picture of exactly how my life should look.  I'm going to hold firmly to that ideal and I'm going to make it happen.  

I threw myself at ideas and possibilities of my own creation with all my heart and soul.  Yet movement has completely alluded me.  The more it has, the more I've pushed, all the while holding fast to this one picture of how my life should be.  As it's become harder and harder to hold on to the illusion of control I've questioned the universe's decisions, but never once thought to question my own. 

Last year the words hit me like a great big slap in the face.  This time it was much gentler but equally as profound.  There are changes to be made, but perhaps not the ones I thought.  The dream remains but the path to get there might have to take a different turn for now.  It's time to look at the bigger picture of my life with a more open heart.

***************************************

I'm going to leave the giveaway open one more day.  Just because.

I'm also going to continue the buy one, get one free sale in my shop for one more day too.

{be quiet, be still - blogtoberfest day IV}

It's been a while since I've let the silence envelop me.  Today I'm doing just that.

{marathons, sprints & a wee bit of housekeeping - blogtoberfest day III}

 

The Cows Came Home

How are you settling in to your Blogtoberfest journey?

After feeling like I got off to a great start with my post on day 1, I left myself a little short on day 2.  It got me thinking about marathons.  Blogtoberfest is quite the marathon.  Even though I post most days every year it's still a challenge to blog daily in October.  Which is good.  I like a challenge.

Here's my guide to pacing your way through Blogtoberfest:

1. Enjoy yourself.  It's all in fun and it doesn't matter if you miss a day here or there.  We won't hold it against you.  In fact I always love to see what fun excuses people can come up with for missing a day.
2. Don't worry if you can't get to every blog on the list. Maybe just try and visit a couple of new places.  That way I bet everyone will get a bit of new love from the blogosphere.
3. Giveaways are not compulsory.  If you feel like having one, by all means do.  If you just want to put your name down to win as much loot as you can, well that works perfectly too.
4. Have fun.
5. Have fun.
6. Have fun.

 Nice and simple.  Just the way I like it.

On the housekeeping front I just wanted to let you know that I tidied up the sign up list.  For some reason it didn't like apostrophes and ampersands and other punctuation.  So I fixed all that up, along with a couple of links that weren't quite right.  If there's a problem with your link just email me and I'll fix it right up for you.  If you haven't signed up yet, it's never too late.

Fields of Gold

And now for a sprint or two. 

Firstly, I'm having a 48 hour sale in my Etsy shop.  Until 5pm on Tuesday buy any print, including print sets, and get a second single print of your choosing free.  Just tell me in the 'message to seller' when you check-out which free print you would like.

Secondly, you've got just under 48 hours to sign up for my first Friday Giveaway.  If you'd like to be in the running for your very own Tinnie then visit that post and leave a comment.  I'll draw a winner on Tuesday.

Until tomorrow...

{i heart paint - blogtoberfest day II}

I really, really, truly do.

**************************************

It's not to late to join the Blogtoberfest fun.  Join in anytime.  Pop down to the sign up post and throw your hat in the ring.

Oh, and definitely pop over to Kellie's blog and grab your free Blogtoberfest calendar.  While you're there make sure you tell her how awesome she is for making the button for us this year.

Hope you're having a lovely day.

{beginnings - blogtoberfest day I}

 

Time

Acrylics, spray paint, inks, Pitt pens and collage on canvas

8 x 12 inch

Good afternoon festive peeps, and a big welcome to the official beginning of Blogtoberfest.  I am full of excitement for the month ahead.  If you haven't signed up yet pop down to the post below this one and add yourself to the list.

I've been thinking a lot over the past few days about the beginnings of Blogtoberfest.  Do you know that one of the initial reasons I started Blogtoberfest was to help kick start my Etsy shop?  2 years ago I was at the very beginning of setting out on my journey with my creative business.  Even the Etsy shop was so completely different back then.  I was selling 'Tinnies', vintage tins filled with fabrics and other crafty goodness.

I was even pretty new to blogging back then.  I remember being so amazed when around 80 people signed up for Blogtoberfest in the first year, and blown away when we hit 290 peeps last year.

I really had no idea then of what I know now.  That deep in my soul there was a birth taking place. That I was at the beginning of a journey that would carry me to the places I'd always dreamed of going.  That I was stepping into my place in the world.

That there was so much more happening than the opening of an Etsy shop.

There's a post that I go back to whenever I want to really connect with how far I've come.  It's kind of like a touchstone for me.

September 28th 2008:

"...I'm going to start listening to the secret desires of my heart and I'm going to let them become loud and visible, tangible and possible. How am I going to do it? Well first of all I'm going to give them voice.

I want to be an artist, and a writer.

Wow, it feels frightening to see that on the screen in front of me, to think about pushing the 'publish post' button. So many thoughts of being an impostor, of not being good enough, of not being allowed to wish for such flights of fancy. I can't help but worry that everyone is just going to laugh at me either overtly or behind my back.

Somewhere deep inside though is a tiny flame that won't be extinguished. It's been there for as long as I can remember. There's an energy and lightness to my being when I am being creative. When I dream of a life as a creative soul, and when I am being creative, I feel energised and at peace with my place in the universe."

Beginnings are awesome things.  I am so glad that I created this place to record my journey.  That I can look back and see the countless steps that I have taken along the way and see how far I have come.  That I can see the amazing changes that have taken place in the way that I view myself in the world, and ultimately in my very way of being in it. I'm so glad that I found a community who share my hopes and dreams, and who have gently but irrevocably become a part of my story.  And I am glad to have a special time each year to celebrate all of that.

To pay homage to my Blogtoberfest beginnings I thought it only fitting to kick off my Friday Giveaways with a very special prize.  The lucky winner will receive their very own Tinnie.  The vintage tin above will come to you full of fabric and buttons and other crafty bits and bobs.  All you need to do is leave a comment and you'll be in the running.  I'll draw the prize on Tuesday.

Happy Blogtoberfest everyone.  Thanks so much for joining me on this incredible ride.