Starting to unpack boxes...

Yay!!! Got into the studio space this weekend and have started to unpack all my stuff....

A bit overwhelming as I have soo much art stuff!!! But exciting none-the-less.

Here is a pic of Tilly being quite entertained painting whilst I unpack and move boxes around her...

And here is how it is looking at this moment...

Countdown to studio set-up!!!

Okay, life is finally settling down somewhat... The year is rolling along, we are feeling at home and relatively unpacked and comfortable in our newly built house... and in only 5 days' time our tenants in the front house will be moving out - leaving it free for us to take over again!! SO EXCITED!

Ben is starting a new job which has him working from home. He will be setting up an office in what was the main bedroom - the rest of the space will be for me to set up as my art studio, and also a mini-shop!!!!

Gee, really can't wait!

For my own art I am SO looking forward to getting back into:
* oil painting (mainly shell inspired/abstract paintings)
* printing - doing more fabric printing using potato prints and simple stamps - and into exploring some silk-screen printing techniques
* shell collages
* plastic/recycled items exploration into products, collages, etc.

CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

I will start doing a few classes every now and then, but ensuring that I don't take too much on and feed my own interests first before catering to other's needs...

I will be able to work things through at my own (slow) pace - and have lots of FUN!!!

Yay! - Stay tuned - soon there will be pics of what is happening :)

The speed of time...

It's true that time is an arbitrary construct that humans have invented... a way of measuring, dividing, analysing, describing.... a way to put the PRESSURE on when you are trying to get somewhere 'on-time' or meet a deadline, etc. etc.

Time does take on a whole new meaning when you have kids.... Suddenly time needs to be mega-flexible!!! Young kids have no clue about time whatsoever - and trying to do things at particular times becomes rather difficult..

Time can go super-fast or super-slow...

I remember when I was a new mum, time would seem to be VERY slow! I felt like I had done so much entertaining: nursery-rhyme singing, playing with toys, clapping hands (not to meantion cleaning, feeding, etc) - and I would look at the clock surprised that it was not yet even 8am!!

Today I have my two children in childcare together for the first time ever... which gives me 5 hours to myself.... And of course it has gone SUPER FAST!!!!!!!! I think I blinked and three hours went by!

I have less than an hour left now - and I am looking around the house in bewilderment: it is messier than usual, there are several chores that I have started but not gotten far into... and that long, lovely list of things I really want to do whenever I get some time for me... I can't even find that!!!

Hmmm... maybe next Friday I will be able to use my time a bit more productively...

Hope so!

Just trying to get out of the house...

ahhhhh...
If you are a mum, you no doubt know what this it all about...

How hard can it be just to get out of the house!??? VERY HARD sometimes... and there is not much that you can do about it but accept it.

This morning I was trying very hard to get me and my two little children out of the house for an early morning walk - the arrangement was to meet at a friend's place at 7:30am.

At 7:20am I cracked it, and decided to call it off! A few irritable 'mummy tantrum' moments which passed quickly when I realised the smartest thing was to just change my plans! (Really the only person who wanted to go for the walk was me - and probably the mum I was trying to meet... the kids didn't want to be rushed about - they were quite content to keep messily eating their breakfast at a supremely slow pace. More than happy to stay home and pull toys out, do poos, whinge a bit and make their usual mess...)

But gee - everything as a mum can be VERY difficult sometimes (most of the time!?) - silly me still has my expectations a bit out of whack most days. Yet when I do let my own frustrations boil up and overflow - I am getting much better at taking a step back from things: realising I am trying to 'control' things too much and accepting what is and just changing my tack to more positive emotions... (The book I am reading: "Buddhism for Mother's is definately helping me a lot!)

Now I am just trying to clean up the house a bit...
Just trying to pack our food bags and clothing bags for our outing out...
Just trying to get everyone clean and well fed...
Just trying to enjoy my kids and be happy and communicate well with them!

I realise that just trying to clean-up my desk or do any of the other 'important' things on my 'to do' list, or anything for ME - will just have to wait!