House - Warming! Bring your own mail!

I had the idea to paint our mail box for quite a while, but time & unsuitable weather kept me from starting this little project! I am glad that I eventually got around to it! ...And so are all the children, adults ...and postmen who pass my house daily! We live just right next to my daughter's school, and one of the main access gates! So, it's easy to imagine how busy it can sometimes get in the mornings and afternoons. I decided to brighten up every tired student's, stressed parent's, overworked teacher's and bored postman's day by adding some fun and colour to their daily routines. Not to mention, adding more flair to the already friendly and stylish neighbourhood in our small street!

Well, I am happy to report that we are observing an enormous increase in smiles, laughter, conversations and very positive feedback from the regular, and visiting passers -by!

It makes our day!

Lakeside manners, please!

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to being part of a weekend retreat, just for women: Talks, workshops, arts, yoga, massages, dance (around the fire, with & without our broomsticks!), veggie food ...and skinny - dipping at the nearby lake was just what I (and the 30+ other goddesses) needed to recharge my body, mind & spirit.

It took place in the beautiful countryside, about 1 1/2 north of Brisbane (next to Australia Zoo!) at the amazing Ewen Maddock Dam.

We stayed in small huts , on bunk beds with vinyl covered matresses surrounded by hungry mosquitoes. I felt like a real Yogi, the ones that meditate on nail beds! So much for my yoga practice...

But the trance like (otherwise called 'tired') state of mind and body made the whole weekend even more of a very spiritual experience. There was a lot love, support, positive energy and laughter going around. The facilitators and organising women (Elders) put a great effort into the smooth running of this short annual festival!

Highly recommended 'all over - Rejuvenation'! And cheaper & more effective than a visit to the Spa, Noosa, or Byron Bay!!!

http://www.beingwoman.com/

Bray Park News

ISSUE 3
Watch this Space!
Positive pARTnerships at Bray Park Station:
The Passenger Positive pARTnerships program has commenced painting a student designed mural onto the Bray Park station wall.
Positive pARTnerships contracted artist Danielle Pearce assisted students from the Bray Park and Strathpine state schools in designing and painting four sign board panels that will be installed onto two shelter sheds at the Bray Park station. Art students at the Pine Rivers State High School assisted Danielle in designing the mural that is currently being painted on the Bray Park station wall.
Students gained inspiration for the designs from the regions local history reflecting the neighborhood and a historical air strip that today is Spitfire Avenue which runs alongside Bray Park state school.

Positive pARTnerships contracted artists Silke Savran, Nina Maika and Clare Hawes are currently assisting Danielle Pearce with the completion of the mural at the station.
The mural painting and attaching of the sign board artwork at Bray Park station will be completed in the next few weeks. So watch this space for the latest on this project!
The positive pARTnerships program involves local schools, community groups and organisations in the beautification of our train stations which can include station walls, shelter sheds, subways, car parks and bike lockers throughout the South East Queensland network.

Well - come 2009!!!!

It is already mid March 2009....and I am finally getting around to blog again!

Obviously, there has been lots of 'goings -on' since my last entry. It would blow the size of this blogspot to catch up with all the internal and external happenings in my life!

Well, our New Year arrived with a bang (yes, Fireworks!), rain , loud music, 1000's of happy people, and myself sliding and rolling down a muddy hill in the dark ( Thank God, I didn't have much of an audience!), because I was trying to help my daughter finding her phone. She found the phone, but lost me in the process! But that's another story!

Yes, we have been to a music/art festival! It's called Woodford (no, not Woodstock, although the mud was there!) Folk Festival and it happens every (New)year about an hour's drive north of Brisbane, Australia. Lots of 'folks' ( ca. 100 000), but, gratefully, not so much folk music. Lots of great Aussie bands, performers and artists. Fantasticly healthy food & coffee, and I even made to the daily yoga and dance classes, which was an experience/challenge, because I certainly wasn't the only one there! But you kind of get used to find sweaty arms, legs & other('s) body parts in your face!

Falling asleep with your tent neighbours' snoring (and other bodily noises) wasn't the romantic camping experience in the bush either (not to mention pitching a borrowed tent!)

But the human body is an amazing creature, I only heard the cicadas, bats and owls after the second night......

I've worked in the Visual Arts area as a store supervisor. It was a great experience, meeting new and old friends, other artists and trying out some new skills in the workshops!

So, after this great experience at the beginning of this year, NOTHING CAN GO WRONG!

I have planned and visualised a few major changes in all parts of my life, so join me on a journey into the known UNKNOWN!

One plan is to start again with some Yoga Teacher Training...and to finish it this time.

So, see you soon, I am off to a class!

www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

New Arrivals

Welcome to our new family members!

Since last week our small family has been expanded with the birth and arrival of 5 (and counting!) silk moths and two beautiful budgies, named Tom & Millie!

It's so nice to wake up again with the happy ( and hungry!) chirping of budgies...and to find another hatched silk moth in our box....

A fascinating circle of life to watch the fat Mulberry leaves - chomping grubs (silk worms) weaving their cocoons, only to reappear as white moths who cannot fly. Mating seems to be the only thing on their 'minds' (!!!) After laying all their eggs they die...probably of exhaustion! What a life!

Well, I'll soon be wearing silk robes only!...as my first name suggests anyway!

Felted Friends

I have just completed these big - hearted, felted dollies for the upcoming Christmas Exhibition @ Reverse Garbage, West End, Brisbane (opening later this month).

They are about 30 cm high and completely made by hand : hand-felted, - dyed and - stitched from all natural and recycled materials.

The kids around here love them...and don't want them to leave without plenty of warm woolly cuddles!

I am thinking.....Christmas presents.....!!!

Orders welcome!

Sleeping Beauty

After all the painting I have done, with & without kids, I felt like getting my hands onto some good old crafts again. It has always been a great part in my life, wherever I have lived, ...the weaving, knitting, sewing, crocheting, felting....and spinning!

For me, it's keeping alive the traditional crafts I grew up with, and, at the same time, 'handicrafts' (what a funny word!) create a great balance in this crazy, fast, 'technologized' (I made that one up, of course!) world , where you can have everything at your doorstep (NOW!)with a click of a button. The slow speed and repetitiveness of all the above mentioned craft techniques require fine motor skills, lots of PATIENCE and a focussed mind, similar to a meditation session! Because, as we all know, clearer and calmer minds, are able to make better decisions in life.

I didn't plan to 'philosophize' so much!

I just wanted to mention that thanks to my beautiful friend, Mieke den Otter, I have rediscovered the (basic) art of spinning again. Mieke is an expert, and a patient teacher! So, on the photos you can see my first couple of meters of homespun wool! I am patiently practicing daily now, as spinning teaches me to let go...and to accept the faulty bits!

No, actually, secretely I am trying to prick my finger on the spool in order to fall into 100 years of blissful sleep.....only to be woken up by my PRINCE!

Beautification notice!

Here we go!....

I am officially the face of Queensland Rail's 'station beautification' program!!!

Ballerinas & Aliens

More children's art!

I can't get enough of it, it's quirky and inspiring with lots of imagination!

These timber circles were designed and painted (with my expert help!) by primary school students at a local school here in South Brisbane. They will be installed on a train station close to the school, as part of a 'station beautification'- community arts project.

So, watch out for French Super Dog, big - eyed kids, giraffes, green aliens, underwater traffic lights and the ballerina - monkey!

Young Picassos

I recently held a children's painting workshop at the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery, where I asked the kids to first draw and then paint their portraits in an abstract, 'Picasso style' way.

As you can see from the photos, the results were incredible: They ranged from scary, silly, expressive, colourful, pretty...and not so pretty ( in a creative way!). These portraits told me so much about the 'inner' personalities ( don't we call them 'demons'?) of each child...and I only spent 2 hours with them!

Maybe we should all have a go at painting our portraits from the inside out ( yes, facing our inner demons!!!)...or make a dolly at least!

For workshop enquiries please contact me via my contact page on my website.