| Lately I've found it extra difficult finding the time to create... it's been 8 weeks since I picked up my paints :( It's always been difficult, it's always been a battle, I've always had to squeeeeeze it in somewhere, make it happen somehow, you know... do whatever it takes. Then of course, something/one else always suffers and the guilt sets in. It's a constant battle, and sometimes I lose. Sometimes the only thing left to do is throw my hands in the air and say "well, I tried but I just can't do it at the moment", and kindly give myself some space. So that's what I'm calling the past few months.. space to breath. But I'm back, refreshed and renewed and so ready to hit the canvas and give it another shot. Still not sure how or where I'm gonna fit it in... I'll just have to try harder I guess :) |  |
The difference between the difficult and the impossible...
the impossible takes a little longer. Lady Aberdeen
the impossible takes a little longer. Lady Aberdeen
Mind you I did manage to squeeeeze out these lovelies just before I hit the wall...
 SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL (SOLD) |  A HAPPY BUNCH |
MY PASSION
 LOVE IN A BOTTLE |  HELLO SUNSHINE |
IN FULL BLOOM
CELESTIAL FAMILY
FUN FLOWERS
You will find full details on all of my available art including size and cost in my On-line Gallery. You will find them in person at my Grow & Believe exhibition at Gemelli Estate.
And in other share worthy news....
In my garden.....
My beautiful Magnolia which we lovingly transplanted not long after we moved in and have been nursing ever since has bloomed which is awesome! I created some arty arrangements from bits and pieces in my garden... love! And pretty little pink blooms in white pots.. love love. We planted out a new garden with the most beautiful cascading native shrubs, Wisteria of course, forever flowering orange Snappies, loads of little white blooming groundcover which I just adore and the sweetest miniature coral rose... had to have. Oh and we now have humongous mandarines :) Simple I know but I'm forever grateful for small blessings :)
My beautiful Magnolia which we lovingly transplanted not long after we moved in and have been nursing ever since has bloomed which is awesome! I created some arty arrangements from bits and pieces in my garden... love! And pretty little pink blooms in white pots.. love love. We planted out a new garden with the most beautiful cascading native shrubs, Wisteria of course, forever flowering orange Snappies, loads of little white blooming groundcover which I just adore and the sweetest miniature coral rose... had to have. Oh and we now have humongous mandarines :) Simple I know but I'm forever grateful for small blessings :)
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| In my head.... I took this personality test and found out that I'm an INFJ (the rarest of all personality types) which very much explains why I have always thought I was going bonkers but clearly proves that I'm not which is quite possibly the most amazing news ever ever ever :) This was recommended to me by a friend to help find my core values... the things that matter most to me. What I found was my self, me in all my glory warts and all. Explained in a way that I had never been able to explain myself, right there in plain english. It has had a profound effect on me.. in a really good way :) Like I know where I belong now, where I fit. I'm an INFJ and that's ok. Infact it's pretty damn awesome I think! |  |
The 16 Personalities Test is based on the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (I'll let Wiki explain that one). It is the go to personality test for corporations world wide. It takes about 10 to 15mins to complete and gives you a comprehensive 'Explore Your Type' report. My partner took the test also and was equally blown away by the accuracy and detail of the profiles. And it has given us a much deeper understanding of each otherand what makes us tick which is just priceless really. It's all very interesting and at the very least fun to do. Why not give it a go... you never know who you might find :)
In my family....
My son Mitch who is almost 14 races motocross... he is obsessed with all things motocross and wants to be all things motocross. This of course creates one of those horrendous motherly dillemas whereby we have to be all excited and supportive even though every cell in our body is saying no no no no no. Well my worst fears were realised a few weeks ago.. Mitch crashed and was air lifted to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital with a suspected broken leg and hip and possible spinal damage. Thankfully Mitch is the most flexible kid on the planet and while his leg went were no leg should go there were no breaks and he limped from hospital 3 days later with bruising, ligament and nerve damage... sore but otherwise ok. I'm happy to share he is fine now. And so am I :) However what I really want to share is the unbelievable care that Mitch received from the minute he crashed to the minute he walked from the hospital. I am in awe... 2 amazing first aider, 2 policemen, 4 paramedics in two ambulances, 2 paramedics and a doctor in the helicopter, an ultrasound at the track that showed no internal bleeding or organ damage, a team of 5 surgeons and neorosurgeons at the hospital and countless amazing nurses and other caregivers... it's all a bit of a blur now but there were so many. How lucky we are to have this available to us. I will never again take our emergency services, nurses and ancillary workers for granted. I will forever include them in my list of forever grateful fors and hope that I can one day repay them for taking such amazing care of my Mitch.
My son Mitch who is almost 14 races motocross... he is obsessed with all things motocross and wants to be all things motocross. This of course creates one of those horrendous motherly dillemas whereby we have to be all excited and supportive even though every cell in our body is saying no no no no no. Well my worst fears were realised a few weeks ago.. Mitch crashed and was air lifted to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital with a suspected broken leg and hip and possible spinal damage. Thankfully Mitch is the most flexible kid on the planet and while his leg went were no leg should go there were no breaks and he limped from hospital 3 days later with bruising, ligament and nerve damage... sore but otherwise ok. I'm happy to share he is fine now. And so am I :) However what I really want to share is the unbelievable care that Mitch received from the minute he crashed to the minute he walked from the hospital. I am in awe... 2 amazing first aider, 2 policemen, 4 paramedics in two ambulances, 2 paramedics and a doctor in the helicopter, an ultrasound at the track that showed no internal bleeding or organ damage, a team of 5 surgeons and neorosurgeons at the hospital and countless amazing nurses and other caregivers... it's all a bit of a blur now but there were so many. How lucky we are to have this available to us. I will never again take our emergency services, nurses and ancillary workers for granted. I will forever include them in my list of forever grateful fors and hope that I can one day repay them for taking such amazing care of my Mitch.
  Mitch is itching to get back on his bike and I'm back in that space somewhere between "get right back on and go for it Mo" and "over my dead body son". I know I have to and will support his hopes and dreams but it's hard.. so so hard! A mother's love is the fuel that enables a child to do the impossible. Marion C Garretty |    |
Blessed to have sold these...
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And of course in my studio....
I've been working on a very special piece. So thrilled to have been asked to donate a painting for the local Heights Vet Hospital's Beyond Blue fundraising event supporting peope with depression and anxiety. Having suffered from anxiety for over 30 years now I truly poured my heart into this painting with an aim to create something bright and happy, something that would bring light and bright and fun into someones home and life and of course help raise funds for a cause that is very close to my heart.
I've been working on a very special piece. So thrilled to have been asked to donate a painting for the local Heights Vet Hospital's Beyond Blue fundraising event supporting peope with depression and anxiety. Having suffered from anxiety for over 30 years now I truly poured my heart into this painting with an aim to create something bright and happy, something that would bring light and bright and fun into someones home and life and of course help raise funds for a cause that is very close to my heart.
A WHOLE BUNCH OF HAPPY ( Not For Sale)
Not many would be aware just how much anxiety has been and is a part of my life. It is there everyday really. Somedays it's right there in my face, raging and threatening to engulf me, other days it's just hanging around the edges... waiting. But it's always there. I try very hard every day not to let it rule my life, but sometimes it does, there's no doubt about that. And yet even those closest to me wouldn't see it. In fact I only told my boys about a month ago... they had no idea. You see it's not something I talk about, not something I let out, I just deal with it. I'd really like to change that though, I'd really like to do my bit to bring anxiety into the open, make it part of everyday conversation.... "How are you Pip?".... "Oh I"m great thanks but my anxiety is raging today, not sure why it just came on this morning for no reason. How are you?". This is how the converstation would go down if it were arthritis or a headache or any other condition that doesn't fall under the mental illness umbrella. So I'm trying. I guess this is part of that.. my "coming out" if you like. It's my hope that one day I will be able to speak up and help others survive anxiety, after all I've had plenty of practice. For now tho hopefully my art and my honesty will make a difference... wouldn't that be nice :)
So that's about it from me for now. I'm sooooo excited to paint again so hopefully there'll be more to share soon.
