I know I know…  It’s been a while. In fact it’s been so long that if I hadn’t chosen the ‘remember me’ option under my login window, then I’d have forgotten how to get into my own web site!  The crazy thing is that I’ve actually had so many things to blog about over Christmas and the New Year, so many thoughts racing round my brain, reflections on the year past, great photos to show, inspiring sites, people and images…  So much in fact, that I’ve done the complete opposite and kept well away.  Sounds crazy, but sometimes when I feel that sense of overwhelm, I just do that…  Anyway,  somehow I’ve managed to, like I said, make my way into my own site and start typing – and that’s all I actually needed to do!  I’ll keep this short as I just wanted to start off the new year by saying hello first.  Thankyou for stopping by my ‘kitchen table’ and I hope you’ll call in often throughout the year.  Please join me in the conversations by leaving messages as I’d really love to connect with you and get to know you. 

Today I have started a ten week on-line course which is going to completely re-direct the way I think, feel and act about my creative biz.  It’s going to fire me up and help me to really get this thing moving.  Already I can sense my internal compass re-orienting and finding its ’true north’, and it’s only day one!  The course is Hello Soul Hello Business and after only day one, I can tell this is going to be exactly what I need to make my business soar.  So stay tuned as I regularly (there you go I’ve put that in writing) post about how it all goes over the next ten weeks. 

Run Little Dog – acrylic on canvas (a recent commission)

The other big news for me is that I have my second solo exhibition coming up ever so quickly in June this year.  That’s only 5 and a half months away!  Eeek!  It seems so close when I say that!  So guess what I’ll be doing lots of in that time!  I’ve also just completed two paintings for a local Art Competition called the Mid West Art Prize.  Last year was the innaugural year.  There were somewhere in order of 400 pieces submitted I believe, and around 70 ish were accepted into the exhibition for judging.  So I’m very excited to be submitting two pieces this year and I’ll let you know how I go.  I’d really be completely honoured just to have them accepted and see them hanging on the gallery walls – that would be awesome!  But the prizes are pretty grand too – the main one being $20,000!  I know,  wouldn’t that pay a few bills!  There are about three or four $5,000 prizes and also a People’s Choice Award of $1,500.  I really love both my pieces and have high hopes for them!  BUT, if I’m unsuccessful, then I feel really good about starting off my own exhibition with two really strong pieces.  I can’t show them here just yet, but what I can say is that they’ve both been inspired by the course I’m studying on surface pattern design at the moment as well.  It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while now and an avenue you will hopefully see flourish more as time goes on within my creative biz.

So  it’s all go go go around here! 

Catch you soon – promise X d

PS – if you’re wondering why the Combi?  It’s a dream of mine to own one that is fitted out for camping.  We had one when I was little and I remember being able to stand up inside it – I really loved our combi – that was, until dad ran into an emu in it…  For so long I’ve wanted one but never acted on it because it’s ‘not practical’ but heck, life’s too short!  I’m wanting to make my dreams a reality – and here’s one to kick start the year!!!