tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79724516089517559632024-02-19T22:27:01.076-08:00the ELM treethe ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-33765608357981357692011-09-28T18:15:00.000-07:002011-09-28T18:15:30.546-07:00Turn the pageWe moved back to Sydney in August, fulling anticipating returning to Rarotonga with revived purpose and enthusiasm, but after a week of being home we realised that this might be more than a two week break.<br />
The next week rolled by and still no word.<br />
<br />
Then it was three weeks and things weren't looking so good.<br />
<br />
We've now been home for over a month. Having completed the term of the contract we decided to cut our losses, and our stresses and move on to something new.<br />
Our bed is our mattress on the floor of my parents living room (what used to be part of our living space when we were paying residents) and slowly all the things that I had packed away in the cupboard when we moved out (it was like 3D tetris) is making its way out.<br />
<br />
Life goes on, Gabriel has been sick pretty much since we came back, and currently has the chicken pox.<br />
He has new teeth though. Kyle had his birthday which just happened to fall on his first Father's Day, a very cool thing.<br />
<br />
I'm excited to get started on whatever starts next for us.<br />
For me thats been a fresh start at being an 'artist' and discovering what that word really means for me. I have a new blog so you can follow how its all going (http://lady-proteus.blogspot.com) and will be opening a new etsy store next month.<br />
For Kyle its meant applying for jobs. Lots of jobs.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, we'll enjoy watching the Rugby World Cup on my parents huge TV, which we sleep at the feet of.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcwZ9semWLwCUEvQT9-aBWlDcgHhr9DSZbEiPFMserxQbnkmrC1lp0g9quXkOzv9_XCGYfHZCMdxxBLBWOZVRr_enOVIO7GAxGgZALVFECb7grnp05X2gH7XUVTo5YcvqBcr4biB4sOz_/s1600/IMG_0696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcwZ9semWLwCUEvQT9-aBWlDcgHhr9DSZbEiPFMserxQbnkmrC1lp0g9quXkOzv9_XCGYfHZCMdxxBLBWOZVRr_enOVIO7GAxGgZALVFECb7grnp05X2gH7XUVTo5YcvqBcr4biB4sOz_/s320/IMG_0696.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel: My 1st Rugby World Cup. (Wrestling a wooden snake)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-44361807982974630782011-07-19T18:11:00.000-07:002011-07-19T18:11:54.684-07:00The trade off.Work here is actually pretty stressful. For the first few weeks of being here we saw more of the inside of our cluttered and air conditioned office than we did of the sun or sand.<br />
<br />
Fed up with it, we started a tradition of dragging the family out to have a swim in the lagoon every evening possible... well... its <i>my</i> tradition... I just drag everyone out with me.<br />
<br />
The first day we actually got out for a swim we caught the sunset.<br />
<br />
It makes the stress worth it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1KQ34H8aNQbcp8Q8d_HIEbUggd1M9-CUr585MO_wDC4gvSYG9e-NwKGLreK4dsvPKhmcvMr8K2Yh6MMr7NDxiaZ7NaezFdBC8fiFaqYnKv4x6O3ZkUWlGGVmMvuZpyDJLoRMCYQTFO66/s1600/atsunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1KQ34H8aNQbcp8Q8d_HIEbUggd1M9-CUr585MO_wDC4gvSYG9e-NwKGLreK4dsvPKhmcvMr8K2Yh6MMr7NDxiaZ7NaezFdBC8fiFaqYnKv4x6O3ZkUWlGGVmMvuZpyDJLoRMCYQTFO66/s400/atsunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabriel loves to swim. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apparently its common practice for Fijian mothers to give their babies cold showers or baths so that they will sleep well, and become strong. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrst0UkPeWVKtgOGMz-XmPjiJyVgnf5l1CV0QlEmsH8lLMq74pfRDHDHT-x8vzBLQns7FrNjLUTE0L9Qe5cJIROgaDqe4jZ9E1OStCMjnRK5HfULAwovkI8dW9WaxBxisGhxGaLsWurC3/s1600/Resina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrst0UkPeWVKtgOGMz-XmPjiJyVgnf5l1CV0QlEmsH8lLMq74pfRDHDHT-x8vzBLQns7FrNjLUTE0L9Qe5cJIROgaDqe4jZ9E1OStCMjnRK5HfULAwovkI8dW9WaxBxisGhxGaLsWurC3/s400/Resina.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel's Fijian mama Resina</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to his babysitter Resina, "<i>Gabey" </i>gets exposed to this particular<i> </i>tradition daily and as such he has a tendency to fall asleep whenever we take him out for a paddle in the sea. But he really does love to swim.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGePUhG47jz4BbVGD299X73LAaNp-CdN5wurb2Dsvx-UAHmA75Vofwqalg6LvsduUjdfoLjY3mXCrDTZ8yNYkRRjhjCFD72aMdreYQ388OPtEbJbgTHGNqNIhMQ9YOBrTGMMKXE477x2Zw/s1600/adrift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGePUhG47jz4BbVGD299X73LAaNp-CdN5wurb2Dsvx-UAHmA75Vofwqalg6LvsduUjdfoLjY3mXCrDTZ8yNYkRRjhjCFD72aMdreYQ388OPtEbJbgTHGNqNIhMQ9YOBrTGMMKXE477x2Zw/s400/adrift.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-74186722179671151752011-07-18T22:38:00.000-07:002011-07-18T22:38:18.740-07:00Yes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88JlAy-mm3BHSI1U1wFqD8oYPo02Cuy98S02HQjjtetVbGFr-W3AiPDLA3AftJ0WkHGSb33XyAsRBpOz6GTXDcXfaxqvqB2BauCCjoB85_Wg2kqED0kAWavVJTt1FDlPj6CLCqvjETef4/s1600/feettofly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88JlAy-mm3BHSI1U1wFqD8oYPo02Cuy98S02HQjjtetVbGFr-W3AiPDLA3AftJ0WkHGSb33XyAsRBpOz6GTXDcXfaxqvqB2BauCCjoB85_Wg2kqED0kAWavVJTt1FDlPj6CLCqvjETef4/s320/feettofly.jpg" width="238" /></a><br />
It's been a long time coming - we've been in Raro for 6 or so weeks now, and I never seem to have time to write a blog. But here I am now. A little bit tanner, scarred itchy bite marks all over my legs but enjoying the location.<br />
<br />
I will attempt to get my blog on more often.<br />
<br />
It probably wasn't an original idea when they did it in 'Yes Man', but I will credit Zooey Deschanel with my recent jogging photos.<br />
<br />
Last week I started taking evening runs/walks/jogs through the backstreets of Rarotonga. Baby gets to spend quality time with his dad and I get to spend quality time with me! Win win.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYK3tWu-RuBtoAkdoin9IXNzfTg1mp4LaXZjMVqYc71pF2U9vLdZvcsLhdIDx-QdGi_ZKJE3QqSeLgbp-jhZT9LJsvMbEN9-Jq5qvjGQBQy7-j34KI0yvpPwozXCzjJnpP02fqKK2h-JH/s1600/pawpawleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYK3tWu-RuBtoAkdoin9IXNzfTg1mp4LaXZjMVqYc71pF2U9vLdZvcsLhdIDx-QdGi_ZKJE3QqSeLgbp-jhZT9LJsvMbEN9-Jq5qvjGQBQy7-j34KI0yvpPwozXCzjJnpP02fqKK2h-JH/s320/pawpawleaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">paw paw<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I don't like running. Or jogging. But I do like Raro, and while I'm certainly not going to be getting up at the crack of dawn to hit the streets like Ms Deschanel, the evening is lovely here and just perfect for going for an exercise.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWd59DdqovyvMXOGHbqMwsBBeDVnfAF-yM94hOskT7udDrDR2T0nvLrCphuoqhOupYLkA9Z3MOfAsB8Y6RSaDsAFS5vhOO2TE0E2sreIo71gny2T1o-bjQIm1VpTyY6KzozSlgbdVGYhM/s1600/coconutty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWd59DdqovyvMXOGHbqMwsBBeDVnfAF-yM94hOskT7udDrDR2T0nvLrCphuoqhOupYLkA9Z3MOfAsB8Y6RSaDsAFS5vhOO2TE0E2sreIo71gny2T1o-bjQIm1VpTyY6KzozSlgbdVGYhM/s320/coconutty.jpg" width="238" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg0sLr3FJ5vufFFZJglOKoua2nwGiTSYcAGw8r4_z_lTEJUhplBd0EG-0RNIObozojGLdUC4uKxTnB1pIKcrftK9MHJ2BBTCUUMVASXNLTZYlchHbGajA6m9cwSjXszJkCySKq8IIZzIe/s1600/bigbluehouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg0sLr3FJ5vufFFZJglOKoua2nwGiTSYcAGw8r4_z_lTEJUhplBd0EG-0RNIObozojGLdUC4uKxTnB1pIKcrftK9MHJ2BBTCUUMVASXNLTZYlchHbGajA6m9cwSjXszJkCySKq8IIZzIe/s320/bigbluehouse.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIq5b_2Qj-IGRE7C6Kr8TIVGJuV-hWDicCdq9j2wct4aBL-tfxTnz49M2ylJ0O85u52uytJQeVA7VrfmeXnt0-Yg1D-WBVoR8RzqHi24erFeCklGGAOzXGWucUsG7h_PYooQQSbqLFdJL/s1600/pawpaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIq5b_2Qj-IGRE7C6Kr8TIVGJuV-hWDicCdq9j2wct4aBL-tfxTnz49M2ylJ0O85u52uytJQeVA7VrfmeXnt0-Yg1D-WBVoR8RzqHi24erFeCklGGAOzXGWucUsG7h_PYooQQSbqLFdJL/s320/pawpaw.jpg" width="238" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-iek14phrZ4so-a7En8PMHYOUdpWOQLszGFi3047IdvCoV3jEbMwpHja9K2b3ad3TdRXEq5NQWVzxghAdHKktk_tT5WD4Ob2Zn87O2r7F3KMrWcPMudiseYZgL46upsVwurx0w6cset4/s1600/poochy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-iek14phrZ4so-a7En8PMHYOUdpWOQLszGFi3047IdvCoV3jEbMwpHja9K2b3ad3TdRXEq5NQWVzxghAdHKktk_tT5WD4Ob2Zn87O2r7F3KMrWcPMudiseYZgL46upsVwurx0w6cset4/s320/poochy.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-46926541568803447522011-05-17T03:43:00.000-07:002011-05-31T03:14:16.517-07:00Huge image dumpIt's unfortunate that sometimes it takes external or environmental changes to motivate us to change, to act on plans. For me, I have noticed that this is a consistent fault.<br />
<br />
It's a frustrating things. It would be great if I could find enough motivation within myself to get things done when I wanted them done instead of when I absolutely <i>needed </i>them done. Certainly something for me to work on...<br />
<br />
In the mean time. Kyle and I have taken a three month contract to work in the <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/rarotonga-and-the-cook-islands">Cook Islands</a>. As such I will be setting aside my vulpine craftiness in favour of my far less blog-worthy administration skill set.<br />
Before we go (at the end of this month) I would like to sell the art that I have sitting around, that I produced with the full intention of selling... and yet never really bothered to market very hard.<br />
<br />
So. At around half price (give or take), here is everything displayed below. There are limited numbers of prints and obviously only one of each painting and book so make sure that you get in quick if you want anything. Last mail out will be on Friday 27th May (as we leave not long after that) There are other postage costs for original paintings so message me for details.<br />
<br />
PRINTS<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSHGG5xP42QNIOgb9HbxaKInb9fJWfvuadFtJd-D5sBGKMH_gOhYsJsWh37__NCXww5BEqiTZIhcB1rTERWwrnCblt-XUxlA_Ns_jDyABqAgPdwFqRqqXDJX9hHSxdqqz98ccaDOr38up/s1600/prints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSHGG5xP42QNIOgb9HbxaKInb9fJWfvuadFtJd-D5sBGKMH_gOhYsJsWh37__NCXww5BEqiTZIhcB1rTERWwrnCblt-XUxlA_Ns_jDyABqAgPdwFqRqqXDJX9hHSxdqqz98ccaDOr38up/s400/prints.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A4 prints. $8 Free postage within Australia </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Tree print (2nd one) SOLD OUT</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKRK4c82UbZTMUwAQsAnpfH6ypM9XfpEq2y368T2R4v0GW2YQl2RdXA8IM-vWpvR5Ve9OhSFk_sBORv_FO3y0YcM7hCOTEurBLSw1CNffI6l_8GL-BylCtz9ub8lQuh2nsUCs5lxbvYDL/s1600/fishprints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKRK4c82UbZTMUwAQsAnpfH6ypM9XfpEq2y368T2R4v0GW2YQl2RdXA8IM-vWpvR5Ve9OhSFk_sBORv_FO3y0YcM7hCOTEurBLSw1CNffI6l_8GL-BylCtz9ub8lQuh2nsUCs5lxbvYDL/s320/fishprints.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A4 (blue print is slightly smaller) $8. Free postage within Australia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">First image (Red & Blue fish) SOLD OUT </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1qFXz0TjFPECEHhmvS2F89OacdFos4FlbiY2Z_gImcS4Azh074f9LVmYflUF5AhBONJ3TB6PsBuTr_Qc4d0-fBE5hNcf9FrPe6R5_o3a52k4nazUq6N_UOFQVbtluct_pMcYg5_jtOC8/s1600/3tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1qFXz0TjFPECEHhmvS2F89OacdFos4FlbiY2Z_gImcS4Azh074f9LVmYflUF5AhBONJ3TB6PsBuTr_Qc4d0-fBE5hNcf9FrPe6R5_o3a52k4nazUq6N_UOFQVbtluct_pMcYg5_jtOC8/s320/3tree.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A4 Print. $8</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat8VYPG98YJajZG4csBgG2GI45jB7ZY5m5oxgMF-QTg-bsO9Ijgu-LfutrFUQoETEn8_muiUoIDlW_3DVdIs84XSZaBKI9bf3HoqgzFjMcxXhgnnxvCJUKjwVzI1iVBZRWsFvXzyahOKB/s1600/read.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat8VYPG98YJajZG4csBgG2GI45jB7ZY5m5oxgMF-QTg-bsO9Ijgu-LfutrFUQoETEn8_muiUoIDlW_3DVdIs84XSZaBKI9bf3HoqgzFjMcxXhgnnxvCJUKjwVzI1iVBZRWsFvXzyahOKB/s320/read.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A4 print. $6 Free postage within Australia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwWDgoKrmlzQ_OsTSX3o8rqxp8rRajgt2buQmK6b2bn22fw-oBS2OXxjbUtlylsJ520DuX3JYsyinm8ToaNnGBOEbeh5_EBV3Mt3pJ4vp817JQ1ScNjm8qQ6u6akSG-3aiQNlW7f_8u5a/s1600/linoprints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwWDgoKrmlzQ_OsTSX3o8rqxp8rRajgt2buQmK6b2bn22fw-oBS2OXxjbUtlylsJ520DuX3JYsyinm8ToaNnGBOEbeh5_EBV3Mt3pJ4vp817JQ1ScNjm8qQ6u6akSG-3aiQNlW7f_8u5a/s320/linoprints.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lino prints of various sizes (all A5 or smaller) $8 Free postage within Australia </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Waves (2nd image) SOLD OUT</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvIWmFEGYWKc8aaCiRl2bnG7cDtcBKBF8P5p7v94L2xP665orWAjpoUfdbyqtlYgy5gQDXhptu1XE0rGeMLtHAE6OOFyqzxAInImxTNwjRpb2pCORE7khjq9_auCEmy-zNRLN4KbjdBbS/s1600/ridinghood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvIWmFEGYWKc8aaCiRl2bnG7cDtcBKBF8P5p7v94L2xP665orWAjpoUfdbyqtlYgy5gQDXhptu1XE0rGeMLtHAE6OOFyqzxAInImxTNwjRpb2pCORE7khjq9_auCEmy-zNRLN4KbjdBbS/s320/ridinghood.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">$8</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are several other lino prints that I can't find the jpegs for which are on my facebook. <s>The couple under the tree $8(with no coloured leaves)</s> and the A4 tree, with ($12) and without leaves ($10).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
ORIGINALS<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW_qHJ5Q_WZGZH_PbjqQvKVVdUMMGNC9dx7UI_JYE5xszrwL9GzR1wrjZsUaO9hwQfzl9QSt0JlGovoAwH0Xx-Afc7-k8zqopeSVpdODz-RWNH_WJePL4I8qINLXZF1j6zMe92PDoX6nP/s1600/fightingfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW_qHJ5Q_WZGZH_PbjqQvKVVdUMMGNC9dx7UI_JYE5xszrwL9GzR1wrjZsUaO9hwQfzl9QSt0JlGovoAwH0Xx-Afc7-k8zqopeSVpdODz-RWNH_WJePL4I8qINLXZF1j6zMe92PDoX6nP/s320/fightingfish.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Approx A5 Ink and Watercolour. Signed (signature edited out of this scan) $12</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJufknoJQ94Oblh_isfs6saC5DI7pUHk4Bi7hqgmZ4xySf47mECXduGori8Usc7_8ITm7qzSNKipr23wh4Eex13WzLqTKAwv33yM7bg5FTwfypzJXL9n_D0yLTyB18BUaUvzF-YoRDNUhf/s1600/Fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJufknoJQ94Oblh_isfs6saC5DI7pUHk4Bi7hqgmZ4xySf47mECXduGori8Usc7_8ITm7qzSNKipr23wh4Eex13WzLqTKAwv33yM7bg5FTwfypzJXL9n_D0yLTyB18BUaUvzF-YoRDNUhf/s320/Fish.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike>this painting is SMALL (smaller than A5) $8 acrylic on canvas</strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span><strike> </strike></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlcc5ZQNpKoWTSJR84iilsMdNJVqtbfHmoyYAZYRNdV3YbCtsHTrv2DcRidqmy1kOBsAUage4wJJGjVVZT7sPOfgj5sVBzYu57IwIMLlnZpvliX_RwyCjEyhJ_6F9DPlLSt-uWSflxo75/s1600/Allerleirah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlcc5ZQNpKoWTSJR84iilsMdNJVqtbfHmoyYAZYRNdV3YbCtsHTrv2DcRidqmy1kOBsAUage4wJJGjVVZT7sPOfgj5sVBzYu57IwIMLlnZpvliX_RwyCjEyhJ_6F9DPlLSt-uWSflxo75/s320/Allerleirah.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A3 mixed media on illustration board. Watercolour paints, pencils and acrylic paint. $20</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DLbPiAtqIlZHoZ8m-Q1tL3kXkGPxCNA-rY1OByE9whqRlih2uEzMNU5HCnDEvVWVv2cLDXRl7L8Nh7-L90z3cCx_Q66-tpZFE6FAEEj-mvQwdmJOqSiXlKnPrJ1Zw4OnMurzV-mRGsDe/s1600/Jorry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DLbPiAtqIlZHoZ8m-Q1tL3kXkGPxCNA-rY1OByE9whqRlih2uEzMNU5HCnDEvVWVv2cLDXRl7L8Nh7-L90z3cCx_Q66-tpZFE6FAEEj-mvQwdmJOqSiXlKnPrJ1Zw4OnMurzV-mRGsDe/s320/Jorry.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike>A3 mixed media. Watercolour, pencil on illustration board. $20</strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UDLn55RE9A06jObQjZuXvt4J5y6BU0nx_SszBRfW8ARt_0N5vLVDipRe0o1ElqyZiZE8B9s3XbEnTMhKWhFMifAE5tmnvY-ppQstqFazUd3sBF4CYs35y4uBNutdqrWDjVX-FFbJn2-A/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UDLn55RE9A06jObQjZuXvt4J5y6BU0nx_SszBRfW8ARt_0N5vLVDipRe0o1ElqyZiZE8B9s3XbEnTMhKWhFMifAE5tmnvY-ppQstqFazUd3sBF4CYs35y4uBNutdqrWDjVX-FFbJn2-A/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><s>A3 Mixed media. Watercolour, pencil, acrylic paint on illustration board. $20</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">SOLD</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygni7Ex_RPbnOrM_YueiuZoG4DUUmYj5BNr99Q-1lKnZew8n9CZg1-J0diUU_Nekzntt3rW358HriLD9FJpvs272phIoSvhmic88Ozbc_3_OMrpWjNkjvZmxvCGn1VUMqbFnajm9zEo8b/s1600/ppea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygni7Ex_RPbnOrM_YueiuZoG4DUUmYj5BNr99Q-1lKnZew8n9CZg1-J0diUU_Nekzntt3rW358HriLD9FJpvs272phIoSvhmic88Ozbc_3_OMrpWjNkjvZmxvCGn1VUMqbFnajm9zEo8b/s320/ppea.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A3 mixed media. Watercolour, ink, pencil, acrylic paint on illustration board. $20</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1qFXz0TjFPECEHhmvS2F89OacdFos4FlbiY2Z_gImcS4Azh074f9LVmYflUF5AhBONJ3TB6PsBuTr_Qc4d0-fBE5hNcf9FrPe6R5_o3a52k4nazUq6N_UOFQVbtluct_pMcYg5_jtOC8/s1600/3tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1qFXz0TjFPECEHhmvS2F89OacdFos4FlbiY2Z_gImcS4Azh074f9LVmYflUF5AhBONJ3TB6PsBuTr_Qc4d0-fBE5hNcf9FrPe6R5_o3a52k4nazUq6N_UOFQVbtluct_pMcYg5_jtOC8/s320/3tree.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><s>A3 Mixed media. Watercolour, ink, ballpoint and graphite on illustration board. $20</s><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">SOLD</span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdYzFw4ch1OX-d6OLOLjOSRtsiVGYNBc-gRbODuqjpysKrNki77e8SDWzVI7hyDcNX49wRJDd7cjcF07Mnp7AFxBfm46VvQe1tq9GPfxLsZ-M_ecr_jFj4ApnPwBYISI6nDBoaaBdPIWp/s1600/spellsinger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdYzFw4ch1OX-d6OLOLjOSRtsiVGYNBc-gRbODuqjpysKrNki77e8SDWzVI7hyDcNX49wRJDd7cjcF07Mnp7AFxBfm46VvQe1tq9GPfxLsZ-M_ecr_jFj4ApnPwBYISI6nDBoaaBdPIWp/s320/spellsinger.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ1Xg2zoXrw3E0JvTWBbxfjjuBeXl_RRBbwc8dHjd7fQwL3b7tXBETU1JrzOyoPfbDafSx7gymdx7P4CRlw_kecl6vICn9Za1dQJAOgxxi8RsgfBjBqna2MN-_Er7XPYZoD9FxhtKen_E/s1600/valkia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ1Xg2zoXrw3E0JvTWBbxfjjuBeXl_RRBbwc8dHjd7fQwL3b7tXBETU1JrzOyoPfbDafSx7gymdx7P4CRlw_kecl6vICn9Za1dQJAOgxxi8RsgfBjBqna2MN-_Er7XPYZoD9FxhtKen_E/s320/valkia.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><s>Warhammer inspired acrylic paintings $30 each. (10"x20")</s></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZJSBwRskLrQebL1lzMqKUBetKVbtQnuehm-mqkg-weFsnBYRAn4YoygC4_-O_XBeDUgR3pndFdNKkLPfvzK0xQLxJmw2dEadaqDOIpG77R0ZLwCJww7uwgHTzfHsDUKzIS5Wi7khbjGN/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZJSBwRskLrQebL1lzMqKUBetKVbtQnuehm-mqkg-weFsnBYRAn4YoygC4_-O_XBeDUgR3pndFdNKkLPfvzK0xQLxJmw2dEadaqDOIpG77R0ZLwCJww7uwgHTzfHsDUKzIS5Wi7khbjGN/s320/butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Acrylic on canvas, with sharpie to draw the ribbons and paper cut out butterflies. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />45 x 60 cm (roughly 18" x 24") $50</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7LELg8A6I3mxyVGG3qBQb8V7i6_5P_viPs4TOk17HK2fuJRDE2YpNdcVXY9QfLPQ3KUs26SiOCncunW8bdejvQeb22d9rXwye21EuLiHbcJBIz4-g_dVNYELS-RpB6_6taKa8Y0G3bhD/s1600/icebirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7LELg8A6I3mxyVGG3qBQb8V7i6_5P_viPs4TOk17HK2fuJRDE2YpNdcVXY9QfLPQ3KUs26SiOCncunW8bdejvQeb22d9rXwye21EuLiHbcJBIz4-g_dVNYELS-RpB6_6taKa8Y0G3bhD/s320/icebirds.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><s>A4 mixed media. Ink, pencil, coloured pencil, acrylic paint on paper. $12</s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">SOLD</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYLEcQHrx0b988aWQe0x0Ikd8LjKUChmCmOUlUlBhFvNXsEIm41N8zcxCW-dnMbAo4-Jzpu7RLO8xD1Ren5f1PcJYmtLMBLavWpJ4U6E61ERKzm8zpmjWI4E3wjrK1QqHBSMpeSTBS4Ow/s1600/IMG_1150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYLEcQHrx0b988aWQe0x0Ikd8LjKUChmCmOUlUlBhFvNXsEIm41N8zcxCW-dnMbAo4-Jzpu7RLO8xD1Ren5f1PcJYmtLMBLavWpJ4U6E61ERKzm8zpmjWI4E3wjrK1QqHBSMpeSTBS4Ow/s320/IMG_1150.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><s>Huge lotus acrylic painting. $80 I don't know the dimensions at the moment. Won't be able to post it though so pick up only. </s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">SOLD</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSYawT7a9Pd21MdxBVsiCsutpGKgvmeK4IB8hNEv7Hj5zbgcfSO9JY1fblyB-1EKzyMMANEEkN9KbZ82CRAheCMwItnn_oZfNPw8n-Qyizr7QitPWjFNVYuJBe-so-paPLJrVYASGnLTh/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSYawT7a9Pd21MdxBVsiCsutpGKgvmeK4IB8hNEv7Hj5zbgcfSO9JY1fblyB-1EKzyMMANEEkN9KbZ82CRAheCMwItnn_oZfNPw8n-Qyizr7QitPWjFNVYuJBe-so-paPLJrVYASGnLTh/s320/IMG_0641.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Fighting. 3x2ft $70 Pick up only.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTgefrpONDaxRV8zO_JSyFMJyGO19paCw9650Ai9fJgqsThlYwm0r8ugHzfBar08VeC4FVoFAjUEehQz9pKWz8K7mHQ8_ssVqXVS7oXwqLokpzaoA-v_tAloKMWIa9zYNObMQGku-TQrR/s1600/bluerose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTgefrpONDaxRV8zO_JSyFMJyGO19paCw9650Ai9fJgqsThlYwm0r8ugHzfBar08VeC4FVoFAjUEehQz9pKWz8K7mHQ8_ssVqXVS7oXwqLokpzaoA-v_tAloKMWIa9zYNObMQGku-TQrR/s320/bluerose.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Reminds me a bit of some quilting fabrics mum has. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />24"x24" canvas, painted with artists acrylics. $60</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA0mjyIl5_engz0IE2HVOOo7OFIaOvpBiCFa3pN6aRQVSylIDL28oEv2GEwFvKTJ5oncVCRP4OfzoCz_Gz2cF_FRMAb_4XockFYtc1x_6o_Hx5T8LoDm-TNG8boNBe2FnT_TXLAJPOXwx/s1600/pinkflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA0mjyIl5_engz0IE2HVOOo7OFIaOvpBiCFa3pN6aRQVSylIDL28oEv2GEwFvKTJ5oncVCRP4OfzoCz_Gz2cF_FRMAb_4XockFYtc1x_6o_Hx5T8LoDm-TNG8boNBe2FnT_TXLAJPOXwx/s320/pinkflower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">24"x20"x1.5" <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Its basically just what it looks like, a pink flower.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Painted with acrylics on canvas, edges are also fully painted see how diligent I am? $60</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdItATqNRXbDtelJ3douDXolSIeNzbtmQhZPnIY0V5pds4KVjOrUudjYARsVE91KjicMMAmYUdimprgYh-XZKTtJvHK386tlag4MORCKsGktNjz9WnNEhnPWE4gxYUq6X25Y99Kxk0owx/s1600/berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdItATqNRXbDtelJ3douDXolSIeNzbtmQhZPnIY0V5pds4KVjOrUudjYARsVE91KjicMMAmYUdimprgYh-XZKTtJvHK386tlag4MORCKsGktNjz9WnNEhnPWE4gxYUq6X25Y99Kxk0owx/s320/berries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Berry thingos. 18x36. acrylic Pick up only. $50</span></span></span></span></span></strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></span></span></span></span></span><strike><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<br />
BOOKS<br />
Along with the ones <a href="http://beautifulboat.blogspot.com/2011/04/crafty-like-fox.html">sold here</a>, (<strike>the black one</strike> and the orange themed one) there are also these two. All are now $20. (excuse the budge photos)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVrfiiNmYzeSCH3Aw4hCqZWGe8nB47F5JLx2-0Bhz2EhHujiY-6egPI1k-nTEUviqe3WiZ3C_25wwtnYId5x7_hI67iHkpbagFE9WGp2Ezoc2EFdRbP_lZVw17qmZtPuyqDtt0wNhHmSv/s1600/bluebird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVrfiiNmYzeSCH3Aw4hCqZWGe8nB47F5JLx2-0Bhz2EhHujiY-6egPI1k-nTEUviqe3WiZ3C_25wwtnYId5x7_hI67iHkpbagFE9WGp2Ezoc2EFdRbP_lZVw17qmZtPuyqDtt0wNhHmSv/s320/bluebird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike>Blue theme. Cream coloured paper. Fabric covered $20</strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span><strike> </strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIpfgFsA0_9lGG5yyE7fnxPVs9tRNafZMGbcmjnrutIla9MjMEZf0KQN6ZuRlg1m35pbiN5vVZ63ILvllz5t4ZlOJxDjpETn-RQ8Jzxl3M5YJQz-cWUVpfbidAGyhH0cio_sgDiJgpa0x/s1600/whitebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIpfgFsA0_9lGG5yyE7fnxPVs9tRNafZMGbcmjnrutIla9MjMEZf0KQN6ZuRlg1m35pbiN5vVZ63ILvllz5t4ZlOJxDjpETn-RQ8Jzxl3M5YJQz-cWUVpfbidAGyhH0cio_sgDiJgpa0x/s320/whitebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An earlier book. Purple/pink/grey themes. White paper. $20</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:eleanor.mccomb@gmail.com">Email me</a>. Facebook me. Or just call me if you have my number.<br />
<br />
For those who wanted to actually see how to stab bind a book, never fear. I will finish that blog! I will also keep everyone up to date on how things are going.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ta.the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-23050285560984561252011-05-10T23:05:00.000-07:002011-05-10T23:05:33.537-07:00Stab bound Album: part one.I'm going to be honest here. Much of the craft that appears online for sale and even in shops you are perfectly capable of doing yourself. Not just 'oh anyone could do that' but more specifically YOU. Maybe you don't think you're a very crafty person or very creative, but you're<i> you</i> which is different from anyone else, meaning that as long as you make things that are "you" they'll be unique and wonderful...<br />
<br />
... alternatively there is a wealth of inspiration online, in books and magazines, and in shops which, (so long as you aren't going to gain profit by going into mass production of the things) you can just recreate.<br />
<br />
While it appears (and probably is) rather detrimental to my own purposes (ie. selling the things that I make to you) I am going to attempt to show you how I do some things so that you can do them too. A lot of the craft and art that I come up with I bodge together from ideas and techniques I glean from my internet trauling and picking through mum's craft books. In fact I blame nearly <i>all</i> of my foxy craftiness on my mum. As I wrote this I gained a great appreciation for people who write clear and easy to understand instructions as it can be tricky to explain some things in words. <b>But enough excuses!</b> Onwards!<br />
<br />
So... <b>Stab binding</b>.<br />
It's called <i>Japanese binding</i> by a lot of people, but as the Japanese used MANY traditional binding methods and this one was actually first used by the Chinese (I think) so its probably more appropriate or accurate to call it 'Stab binding'<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtZ8su5pgWUgRQ8JDZEbJRdU8L2zdMtWzWKUyZhs_sHVMtC_GaJPCiHNVPxJAaruBFKQTjOb7aJ_EQE9fPfi06dHkQ5WbgqyEi8Vj9qQoMZg4nAHuugLx4NNpjRoA9MQLDSznjHsW8_WV/s1600/mumalbum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtZ8su5pgWUgRQ8JDZEbJRdU8L2zdMtWzWKUyZhs_sHVMtC_GaJPCiHNVPxJAaruBFKQTjOb7aJ_EQE9fPfi06dHkQ5WbgqyEi8Vj9qQoMZg4nAHuugLx4NNpjRoA9MQLDSznjHsW8_WV/s320/mumalbum.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Recently I have used this technique to make a wedding present album for a friend and her husband in NZ and just last weekend a Mother's day present for mum.<br />
<br />
I've split the tutorial into two parts so its not too long, first up, the part which is the most time consuming... the cover.<br />
Fortunately, after too long being monopolised by the stereotype of the <i>'craft woman' </i>needlecraft is making a comeback. I've never been very good at keeping to patterns so I imagine I'll be terrible at making them. You don't need one anyway, this is the part of the whole thing that is supposed to be "you" (whatever that is)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj_M3oixFY7eDHzUkKffBfGUpXMTCphbjfgFqil6k-VSdWK6Gemn_0Scwdrz88FKerEAkaeNQ8awBV62jwJvhOqaKTrii8LZGxsx89cYkUA9j0C20lBI8xx8OnXN-Aom0WQ8zffjU8_9U/s1600/albumtree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj_M3oixFY7eDHzUkKffBfGUpXMTCphbjfgFqil6k-VSdWK6Gemn_0Scwdrz88FKerEAkaeNQ8awBV62jwJvhOqaKTrii8LZGxsx89cYkUA9j0C20lBI8xx8OnXN-Aom0WQ8zffjU8_9U/s320/albumtree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>These are the stitches I use most often.<br />
<br />
<b>Back stitch</b><br />
At 'A' bring the needle to the front and stitch back to 'B' (its called backstitching because you always kind of loop back) Bring the needle back to the front of the fabric at point 'C' and then back to 'A'<br />
Then at 'D' bring the needle to the front, and back at 'C' and so on.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_Vwj-d_GRUggxUVdA9cRZekd7QIuR_9J-ydIjbjSr3UXe6I3oHNOaYqYE_UGOJsEiGJErSZ8KS_WwFQ6uQ1zUPPSbwudx03IDylVmEFeY_dA-W6Tbbq30Mu0Uph2r0kzaZ4XhyC2x9SA/s1600/backstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_Vwj-d_GRUggxUVdA9cRZekd7QIuR_9J-ydIjbjSr3UXe6I3oHNOaYqYE_UGOJsEiGJErSZ8KS_WwFQ6uQ1zUPPSbwudx03IDylVmEFeY_dA-W6Tbbq30Mu0Uph2r0kzaZ4XhyC2x9SA/s320/backstitch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I don't actually do it this way because I am a cheater and I like saving tiny amounts of thread by taking shortcuts, but this is how its supposed to go.<br />
<br />
<b>Blanket stitch</b><br />
From the back of the fabric you bring the needle forward at 'A' then from front to back at 'B' bringing the needle to the front at 'C' keeping the thread under the needle point. The stitches can be as close together or as far apart as you like.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuKUg99GmzRSh7ekK4OYafBtkaaANs9PhCQhqp30RYjvj3ijp3onCrcfH3P7TqvSn0B7SFyl5grHyd6RIU-qkDKx-GA4ObvIOmYFwFW_3_79AewShYkesc68Ig0Rgn0Kd0CqiaPLXMnRO/s1600/blanketstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuKUg99GmzRSh7ekK4OYafBtkaaANs9PhCQhqp30RYjvj3ijp3onCrcfH3P7TqvSn0B7SFyl5grHyd6RIU-qkDKx-GA4ObvIOmYFwFW_3_79AewShYkesc68Ig0Rgn0Kd0CqiaPLXMnRO/s320/blanketstitch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This stitch is good for sewing applique on for your designs.<br />
<br />
<b>Chain stitch</b><br />
Pick a starting point 'A' and bring your needle to the front of the fabric. Insert it again at the same place and bring the point out again at 'B' keeping the thread under the needle point. Continue like this until you're done, and when you are just anchor your last loop with a normal straight stitch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32iFRKpAv-hbaeYCVsTEHS9o9nS4KWF46c7snB0TfYV6z_cw3g7wRNHzAKE3P4SyFVsbCCSkrPeeJwEIpWUnEMKa6KMXHPm1kRLXef3EgWP9mLP4Jgjrpt2k8HODT1smVN3iiN0T5NOzW/s1600/chainstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32iFRKpAv-hbaeYCVsTEHS9o9nS4KWF46c7snB0TfYV6z_cw3g7wRNHzAKE3P4SyFVsbCCSkrPeeJwEIpWUnEMKa6KMXHPm1kRLXef3EgWP9mLP4Jgjrpt2k8HODT1smVN3iiN0T5NOzW/s320/chainstitch.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br />
There's lots of other stitches you can use and there are some wonderful online resources to help you learn them. <a href="http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/knots/french-knot/">This one</a> is amazing, if my meager instructions are not clear enough I guarantee Sarah will have a much better explanation. And she does pictures... good ones. (Unlike mine)<br />
<br />
All you need to do is cut out your fabric and get stitching. I have used linen. Make sure that you have at least two extra inches on every side. I'm making an A5 album so I just measure it against a piece of paper that size, pretty easy and no 'real' measurements involved.<br />
Then just design your cover and stitch it up!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBQ4eGu_OE_yRvMq1nSWDhkSkYjY8bl_Kja_fd-xqio24S5QbMiDd8Odf3Sh8nrTka3qWjalLtnGlnqB02n2K_LNnsBp8ol7vcq97idX8i5YHBIPtnVlSwG20biISNtEhAaaD1qlckPLG/s1600/tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBQ4eGu_OE_yRvMq1nSWDhkSkYjY8bl_Kja_fd-xqio24S5QbMiDd8Odf3Sh8nrTka3qWjalLtnGlnqB02n2K_LNnsBp8ol7vcq97idX8i5YHBIPtnVlSwG20biISNtEhAaaD1qlckPLG/s320/tree2.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I make up pictures off the top of my head generally and as you can see, simple is good. Obviously I have a fondness for trees which you make by cutting out a rough circle the size that you want and blanket stitching it in place. <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_vliesofix">Vliesofix</a> makes it much easier to keep flat but I did mine freehand... and its not super flat, but I'm not worried about that. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The trunk is chain stitch then the branches are backstitch. The fruit or flowers on the trees (the dots) are french knots. The leaves are cut out of felt and straight stitched in place... the grass is just scattered straight stitch too. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirdolf2sx3zB8AYYEB9su2Kfa6r6D4fDALZqc51xUf2dvoAuDmW__cPtXWi3timS7vaey4e-f9MKK7EkWEzwsG3X_Vygg_KlyJGjLiV9nPnYpg5jUugN_TaXmvTvXc8xMHeXhB8IcJzIz/s1600/21251565_vEmF76BP_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirdolf2sx3zB8AYYEB9su2Kfa6r6D4fDALZqc51xUf2dvoAuDmW__cPtXWi3timS7vaey4e-f9MKK7EkWEzwsG3X_Vygg_KlyJGjLiV9nPnYpg5jUugN_TaXmvTvXc8xMHeXhB8IcJzIz/s320/21251565_vEmF76BP_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73590112/birds-white-linen-pillow-cover-14x14">etsy</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL6I1cNRyDE0v783hMH5TYurN2SRSwy4EKnWH0q8SMP-sL-nQCnK_1jATLuDtcB6aXMMilmt1MoCOZZcqDLhyy1pVT_HtdiWJwk4xBWbkTCJ6O45G_31DwerxdpHmStgHL4RhI9KL9jkp/s1600/21252024_44bQLnPS_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL6I1cNRyDE0v783hMH5TYurN2SRSwy4EKnWH0q8SMP-sL-nQCnK_1jATLuDtcB6aXMMilmt1MoCOZZcqDLhyy1pVT_HtdiWJwk4xBWbkTCJ6O45G_31DwerxdpHmStgHL4RhI9KL9jkp/s320/21252024_44bQLnPS_c.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/2008/11/embroidered-hand-prints.html">plumpudding</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLNjG4EmRXmxqiOiH6sJpIwlbXMDqBhMYxRK30s5JImaQmGvmYNorTXNGoU3yjoYVdXC-M_bBvFu9_GIG0ZhVohYI_EIYRudAgDLaGL2GSuX5COIai6kJ9aMBp0kbqyqQ0CTPwqlRZ0MH/s1600/21246430_vXEuBTCQ_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLNjG4EmRXmxqiOiH6sJpIwlbXMDqBhMYxRK30s5JImaQmGvmYNorTXNGoU3yjoYVdXC-M_bBvFu9_GIG0ZhVohYI_EIYRudAgDLaGL2GSuX5COIai6kJ9aMBp0kbqyqQ0CTPwqlRZ0MH/s320/21246430_vXEuBTCQ_c.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenkitchen/102695043/in/photostream/">flickr</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you want a paper cover thats fine too... but you just have to wait till next time for me to explain how the binding paper parts go. </div><div><br />
</div>the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-22787305890099292662011-05-09T20:35:00.000-07:002011-05-09T20:35:02.364-07:00Mums the word<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Clearly, this is late. I have been having some issues with blogger so I apologise for the delay. The sentiment, however, remains entirely true and I hope that everyone is grateful for their mothers <i>every</i> day.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuznQPeZbuEUREYSbnUU2gplfN0lXIws2CYPMxUw0AaZInNRijPLdC8rkaZpLROLLuweh5DJ5PKZ2KlOFy3qA0UKAMSk9o7IqdrjaJ8evLvDeoqgmW_hiyjQKX8wNPWX1-39Ef_HmDIG8O/s1600/Gabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuznQPeZbuEUREYSbnUU2gplfN0lXIws2CYPMxUw0AaZInNRijPLdC8rkaZpLROLLuweh5DJ5PKZ2KlOFy3qA0UKAMSk9o7IqdrjaJ8evLvDeoqgmW_hiyjQKX8wNPWX1-39Ef_HmDIG8O/s320/Gabe.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">look at our ghetto TV aerial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sunday was my <i>first</i> mothers day and while it was essentially a day like any other, it gave me a chance to think back over how much my life and indeed <i>myself</i> has changed over the passed seven months. Gratefully Gabriel slept from 1-7, which was a surprising and very awesome gift followed by other awesomeness from my own wonderful mother who made sure that my sister and I did not get left out as our children are too little to put in that kind of effort. I stayed up late and got up early so that I could finish an album I made for her, there will be a tutorial on it later in the week...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For me, the greatest change that I have noticed since becoming a mother seven months ago is the seemingly infinite expansion of my capacity to love. Mums may run short on patience with their children, and probably money... but never love. I asked some friends who are mums to share their thoughts in an effort to keep the day from being too cliche or materialistic. This is what they said.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I think is so wonderful about motherhood is how it makes the mother, but it makes her slowly, so she hardly sees the process, the becoming. We're not asked to do everything all at once, slowly we're eased into pregnancy and learn care and connection. Birth and bonding make for the nature of nurture and fierce protection. Gradually, as baby becomes child, we're eased through a process of change. If I could call that young woman on the cusp of motherhood, and just chat with her on the phone I would say. It will all happen so fast, enjoy every day, never wish one away. You will find so much happiness just being with their kids - encourage their quiet sense of humours, catch them serving, surround yourself with women you admire. Most of all have the courage to admit you made a mistake and be the moral touchstone for your new flock. Smile more. Be grateful and express your gratitude for all the abundance of love your husband has for this new family. Record the little things, take photos of the every day before it changes. Enjoy all the rich association extended family will give to your children. Make sure you sing, you have adventures, and make things as least busy as you can on any given day. Motherhood is long and exhausting and real hard work, but it's great to go to bed tired and happy, and know you are raising awesome funny little people.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Carli (who has a <a href="http://carlisclan.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">beautiful blog</span></a> full of photos of her <i>awesome funny little people</i>)</span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDLzHe0VZxeH__VNb7dOQ34A00fKC1Krjehm6e8SgWtAJC9GgcT_kFGaF0lunxLTalw4gir660mXDjrPMdcNO8OgDQofEFSQnwvn5DowWxZY77iMmUJ7vIOiRBWT7t2cHWO49-HQCGFkS/s1600/katinkayoung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDLzHe0VZxeH__VNb7dOQ34A00fKC1Krjehm6e8SgWtAJC9GgcT_kFGaF0lunxLTalw4gir660mXDjrPMdcNO8OgDQofEFSQnwvn5DowWxZY77iMmUJ7vIOiRBWT7t2cHWO49-HQCGFkS/s320/katinkayoung.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Well, I would tell my younger self that you don't need to teach them to obey the word 'no' at one year of age; that it is really important to eat well and look after yourself so you're not forced to give up breastfeeding at 12 weeks, especially when you enjoy it so much; to marry a man you want your children to be like when they grow up; that letting them watch M rated stuff at 9 yrs old was stupid; that you did a great job of being patient when things went wrong and remembering always that they were more important than material things or spilt things; that letting them make little decisions and live with the little consequences needs to start really really early so they know how it works when they get to the big ones; that all the moments of joy would make up for the angst; to really enjoy the times they wanted to be with you and tell you everything, it wouldn't last forever; that you will never actually know if you're doing it right, just keep praying and do the best you can; that through loving them and stretching yourself beyond what you thought possible you will come to love yourself so much more; that it is vital to set the boundaries on technology and teenage stuff BEFORE they become teenagers cos it will be a huge battle to set them later; that the more you react, the less they will want to tell you; that living the council of the prophets is so important because if they go down a different path at least you will know you did all you could; NOT to change schools for them so often, they need stability; that letting them live with a healthy and happy marriage is the best life experience ever....just try to make it the first marriage!</span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFifTaDhHUqVTlfK2U0jmTPRbkIX2ZCHtbxm9k3CGkVR1m-7zjbMIyVzNyJGVUVQswASJ-GFLJghDrkH1q0Eep3NBK8fVdlk-QjMaeAB_BU7R0hd20aTasr5sPdvRVlvro2AhJC7E22MV/s1600/katinkawedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFifTaDhHUqVTlfK2U0jmTPRbkIX2ZCHtbxm9k3CGkVR1m-7zjbMIyVzNyJGVUVQswASJ-GFLJghDrkH1q0Eep3NBK8fVdlk-QjMaeAB_BU7R0hd20aTasr5sPdvRVlvro2AhJC7E22MV/s320/katinkawedding.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">I don't think it gets harder as they get older, it gets different. Your physical demands become more emotional and although it is ultra scary to let them make their own decisions it is also an exercise in trust...not trust that they will always choose well but that HFather loves them as much as you and that you have given them a strong foundation and that they will work it out if you keep loving them to bits.</span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Katrina </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Within hours of giving birth I found myself ‘wounded’ and alone, yet filled with a sense of strength I had no idea I could yield. </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By the late afternoon we were approved for discharge from the Hospital and transferred to the luxury of the Birthing Centre.</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Although I couldn’t tell you an exact time when it happened or of a poignant moment that had occurred, by this stage I was slipping fast and deeply in love.</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7p-VwYT0KsMAwa5tiRtUxMQDf7DB39eIPcGvJPJ7ZRc3_6YM0_ylMoPxuo4stTVS_sn_JdgjwY0D94yJbxL8gfiHBgrLnvA5tLNmt0G2RsFKTW9PJUYDToBXX-lVtDnOV-Wl_Ck2V7xv/s1600/Bubba+Bubba+Bubba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7p-VwYT0KsMAwa5tiRtUxMQDf7DB39eIPcGvJPJ7ZRc3_6YM0_ylMoPxuo4stTVS_sn_JdgjwY0D94yJbxL8gfiHBgrLnvA5tLNmt0G2RsFKTW9PJUYDToBXX-lVtDnOV-Wl_Ck2V7xv/s320/Bubba+Bubba+Bubba.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Second cousins meeting via the computer :P</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I wish someone had mentioned about the Intense, emotional, unconditional and overwhelming sense of love that is felt for your Child. I recall thinking: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why didn’t anyone tell me becoming a Mother leaves such an emotional wound so raw and vulnerable?</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I wish I had been warned that the joy we feel is so real and so close that it hurts. That the whirl of emotions buzzing around feels too much for one human vessel to contain. </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By Day 3 I have a completely new definition for LOVE. We know love goes hand in hand with ‘becoming a Mother’ – albeit for some, hours after the initial crowning of the new calling. I knew I would love my Son but had no idea of the extreme level of love it would be. When I drove my Son home for the first time I had a new outlook of the big wide world, I was scared of what it would do to my Son, and the usual 3 minute drive from the Birth Centre to our Home took at least fifteen. A new level of cautiousness kicked in. This Love was so beautiful yet surprisingly daunting. I quickly learn that there is no wordily description to sum up the Love for your Child and no way could it’ve been added to a ‘LIST’.</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Becoming a Mother can be looked at from so many different perspectives. One that has always stuck out to me is this LOVE that is involved. The word ‘love’ does no justice, there should be a word above ‘love’ that describes it to its fullness, but the only way to understand this love completely is to become a Mother yourself. To say becoming a Mother has completed me sounds cliché but it’s absolutely true. Today I think my Son is a beautifully stunning masterpiece I have been entrusted. Whom I still can’t comprehend is </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Son.</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anneke (my beautiful and </span><a href="http://www.hushbaby.felt.co.nz/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">very talented</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> cousin, wish I could have shared everything she wrote, it was so good!)</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2GHhToAWwGN_0cxs8Tv7tq8SlO_UdNmPnbLO40JaNiVloFjgyL_U2slGYazgRVEzGai6PMOdqPw5-t9PC8G10pqD17Jkdmz19l4-q2ihtRfw7jkFzPVMOEQ-OtG9B67BCdAOy-cxrlHL/s1600/AllyKaira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2GHhToAWwGN_0cxs8Tv7tq8SlO_UdNmPnbLO40JaNiVloFjgyL_U2slGYazgRVEzGai6PMOdqPw5-t9PC8G10pqD17Jkdmz19l4-q2ihtRfw7jkFzPVMOEQ-OtG9B67BCdAOy-cxrlHL/s320/AllyKaira.jpg" width="240" /></span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If I'm totally honest it still feels surreal to me that I'm a mother. I look at my baby and I can't believe she's MINE! Having said that, I miss her when I'm not with her (which at this stage has only been for short periods of time) and now I cannot imagine life without her. I have truly loved being a mom and a lot of the transition to this new role has happened naturally and instinctively. Perhaps that is why it feels surreal. However, some of the adjustments have been difficult and certain aspects of being a mom are really hard!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This past weekend I had someone tell me that I looked radiant and happy and that motherhood suited me. :) It was one of the nicest things anyone has said. It made me happy to know that people can see that I enjoy being a mom and that I absolutely love it! Yes, I worry a lot. Yes, sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the responsibility. Yes, I miss uninterrupted sleep and am jealous of my husband who seems to sleep through all of the baby's cries. Yet it is all worth it when my baby looks up at me and gives me the biggest smile and I know she recognizes me and knows who I am. So ultimately it is and has been AMAZING to be a mum!</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna-Liisa (should move back to Australia!)</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx3Sl2BmpdlYscYJUJe3yPflt9wf7iBJ27PJdBXPUoujfy11d6woEsR7aXqCr0TdtHEIg3cDrSVLR8Knn-thwD3m1z_Ta1SuNl5LoqMHoF8tp1ifjIwAV75UZG2bWtOrnFF7K770muQqm/s1600/suzi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx3Sl2BmpdlYscYJUJe3yPflt9wf7iBJ27PJdBXPUoujfy11d6woEsR7aXqCr0TdtHEIg3cDrSVLR8Knn-thwD3m1z_Ta1SuNl5LoqMHoF8tp1ifjIwAV75UZG2bWtOrnFF7K770muQqm/s320/suzi.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGmM3OL_cqhv-10EdD-tn5993JQ_PCVo4MjHgtX08nbTNzQtV0wV3M6chqbEVJk78I1dcxGWff_l_O2XUIf-ScppRPmTaPGCg71ir8ldvO6EGi2YeoJIpxt3htjWmshj35_EErn9FHlSA/s1600/lucasreilly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGmM3OL_cqhv-10EdD-tn5993JQ_PCVo4MjHgtX08nbTNzQtV0wV3M6chqbEVJk78I1dcxGWff_l_O2XUIf-ScppRPmTaPGCg71ir8ldvO6EGi2YeoJIpxt3htjWmshj35_EErn9FHlSA/s320/lucasreilly.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coolest way to recycle ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">Being at home with little ones makes me feel more like the real me than I ever have. I was so relieved at the thought of leaving work to be at home, chill out, hang around and do all the things my mum did for me that made my childhood so happy. Time together, home made food and laughing. BUT It's incredibly hard coming from a corporate job where I got recognition every day for the work I did. I was in control and saw fast results. I got paid well and could work at super speed. What a difference! It's taken me a long time to slow down and enjoy it.<br />
Now, after 4 years of being at home I'm LOVING it. It's taken me ages to adjust and I truly believe that having children is a refining process for us as mothers. I can't think of anything else that has made me want to be better, more consistent and had me re-evaluating myself so often. Also increasing my compassion for other people and seeing that small and simple acts give great long term results.<br />
<br />
My boys are bursting with life! With energy, enthusiasm, smiles and creativity that constantly surprise and delight me (Can I add exhausts and frustrates me too!). I love to spend time with them. Free, simple and happy time. Mostly in nature, finding bugs, observing, catching. Swinging in the hammock, having picnics under the trampoline, digging in the garden, walks, bike rides, cuddles. Sitting together to eat. Involving them in service and giving to others. Family time.<br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"> I'm not looking forward to when school starts for them. I want them all to myself! Mother's day is important in our house. Motherhood is such a thankless job and one of the best gifts to give a future daughter in law is to teach my boys to love and appreciate the women in their lives.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">Suzi (who also <a href="http://dirt2dinner.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">blogs</span></a>!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7xk70dz3AGb4APAKZRmIxQC73xfoE5ukGtitJgGOKJgN_G4cI8FSTlxJkwBzxL-ClPRcRP-5ln-MjYXNRAsW6KB7Ce2Iyjdx3jKV_kxaPxue4DN6DbBMqz150xFd9vYXygPGUs4dsoln/s1600/Tristan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7xk70dz3AGb4APAKZRmIxQC73xfoE5ukGtitJgGOKJgN_G4cI8FSTlxJkwBzxL-ClPRcRP-5ln-MjYXNRAsW6KB7Ce2Iyjdx3jKV_kxaPxue4DN6DbBMqz150xFd9vYXygPGUs4dsoln/s320/Tristan.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My thought on being a mum is that it's the greatest joy in my life and yet at the same time the greatest challenge.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The love and happiness Tristan brought into my life is indescribable.. there are times though I wish I could be this great person who has this infinite patience and invincible ability to endure when things don't go my way.. it could be frustrating for me sometimes because I am still so far far from being that great person. I hope all my efforts and experiences of trying would make me that little wiser in the end so I could help my Tristan steer the course of his life a little bit better when he needs me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nicole (I didn't know which photo would be okay so I just got one of Tristan... he's so cute!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and finally:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Because we are being constantly exposed to the world's definition of greatness, it is understandable that we might make comparisons between what we are and what others are-or seem to be- and also between what we have and what others have. Although it is true that making comparisons can be beneficial and may motivate us to accomplish much good and to improve our lives, we often allow unfair and improper comparisons to destroy our happiness when they cause us to feel unfulfilled or inadequate or unsuccessful. Sometimes, because of these feelings, we are led into error and dwell on our failures while ignoring aspects of our lives that may contain elements of true greatness.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> In 1905, President Joseph F Smith made this most profound statement about true greatness: 'Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may make history, but they do not make real life' </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. <b>To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful statesman</b>"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Howard W Hunter. 1987.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><br />
</span></span></div></span></span></div>the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-1131220268573781502011-05-05T01:55:00.000-07:002011-05-05T01:56:21.579-07:00the horse's name is Helaman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY51_RCFmPM592voQcV4PgO3BtwBWSuOEbBO_9PaizuOOl77AS9QsiujKdNiTftUak3iGDJnejzaM0YcEnmHlnsCAKTOhvkoFAeJHI5on4FkpBnj0ITzsE2mBoVqnTet4Cf7u4EIjtl9vD/s1600/sevenmillion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY51_RCFmPM592voQcV4PgO3BtwBWSuOEbBO_9PaizuOOl77AS9QsiujKdNiTftUak3iGDJnejzaM0YcEnmHlnsCAKTOhvkoFAeJHI5on4FkpBnj0ITzsE2mBoVqnTet4Cf7u4EIjtl9vD/s640/sevenmillion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-62033489789195360612011-05-02T21:50:00.000-07:002011-05-03T18:47:31.431-07:00"MOONCHILD!"After looking through all those journals I started to think about family history and the heritage we are left by our parents... and theirs, and theirs... and so on.<br />
<br />
That heritage can be as personal as your name or as global as the state of the planet. Despite studying environmental biology I have no intention (or desire) to begin some kind of Dick Smith style controversial debate. So I'll step it back... to the state of <b>me.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
I'm fair skinned, with green eyes and brown hair. My eyebrows for some reason are a few shades darker than my hair, (my <i>natural</i> hair mind you) and I am absurdly tall.<br />
<br />
Thank you mum and dad.<br />
<br />
I am sure that there are things that you can find about yourself that you can identify as originating from one or another of your ancestors. My niece Lola can point the finger at her great grandfather for her "luscious ginger mane" for example. In my opinion this is one of the best parts of family history. Seeing somewhat literally where the bits of us come from.<br />
We have no control over our genetics though (if we did I wouldn't have frizzy hair) but something that we can blame on our parents is our name.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4asvLukLctnhkI3es8LwQ98dUybwTHs6fENrjTioow80n8qJGDYw8Ae9U8W0u_2gZqPV48VzKImk1PSPwuC1B7x_7T8bZI0lEsqFn2LvqjuCHeGSsBtI45ojhnWFxAFOOg4hhWXOakvTG/s1600/omablog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4asvLukLctnhkI3es8LwQ98dUybwTHs6fENrjTioow80n8qJGDYw8Ae9U8W0u_2gZqPV48VzKImk1PSPwuC1B7x_7T8bZI0lEsqFn2LvqjuCHeGSsBtI45ojhnWFxAFOOg4hhWXOakvTG/s320/omablog.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleanor the first</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
My name is Eleanor.<br />
Not coincidentally, my Oma's name is also Eleanor.<br />
I was named after her and as a girl she would introduce me to friends as her namesake. It wasn't just my name, it was also hers, carrying with it the legacy that she had built of righteousness, caring and love.<br />
While at times I thought that my name was old fashioned and unsuitable, I have come to appreciate the great gift that it is. (Not just because it's popular now)<br />
<br />
While not all readers of this will be believers in the Book of Mormon, I think that this verse, taken from the book of Helaman 5:6 expresses the sentiment perfectly.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"...Behold I have given unto you the names of our first parents </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>works ye may know how that is it said, and also written </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that they were good..."</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">And why would Helaman want his sons to remember the good works of their ancestors? So that they would emulate their goodness. </div><div style="text-align: left;">When our son was born Kyle and I hadn't put a great deal of thought into what we could call him. We knew more or less what we <i>wouldn't</i> call him as most of our conversations went something like this: </div><div style="text-align: left;">"What about ______?"</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Oh no, I went to school with a _______ and he was a total _________" (... you can fill in the blanks.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">If remembering a righteous ancestor helps a child become righteous, surely naming someone after a _____ may risk them becoming a ________. Or something like that? I wasn't going to risk it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoquGuVRdDJTokktJrKD-ISHhsNBlIZYVWkmOILZPDwlecX3Z5RskMvjq4qfxveBnAcLHXcgiW59TJHbyTXYVFag3fYmf-9uleaISJ7HIsI-7jA3PHj06nPqOshs8GdDV_qG-o-8pgfK5/s1600/mama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoquGuVRdDJTokktJrKD-ISHhsNBlIZYVWkmOILZPDwlecX3Z5RskMvjq4qfxveBnAcLHXcgiW59TJHbyTXYVFag3fYmf-9uleaISJ7HIsI-7jA3PHj06nPqOshs8GdDV_qG-o-8pgfK5/s320/mama.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phoebe Donation</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">In the end we decided on Gabriel. In Hebrew it means 'Strong or mighty man of God' (or a variation of this) and it certainly describes some of the hopes I have for my baby. One of my dads mum's names is Donation, which asides from being a highly uncommon name, brings into my mind words like charity, kindness, and giving, which were all things that she embodied. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The name came first though so maybe my next baby will be called Placid... or Petite!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Names are pretty important! Bastian saved Fantasia by giving the child-like Empress a name though I certainly wouldn't have gone with <i>Moonchild</i>, but thats beside the point. (Kudos to you if you knew the reference before I mentioned it)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Were you named after anyone? How did you come up with your children's names?</div>the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-55089683742837863432011-05-02T00:25:00.000-07:002011-05-03T18:44:51.458-07:00"The Journey is the Destination"I really like books, some of them I would even go so far to say that I love.<br />
<br />
One such is a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures?lang=eng"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Book of Mormon</span></a> which I inherited from my Oma. While she was investigating the church she made notes in it, highlighting scriptures and then writing the number of the next page that she had highlighted a scripture. It's a precious thing to be able to see, even for a small moment, through my Oma's eyes and to be taught by her even though she's been gone for a long time now.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJpS8qhPphAeKk6gKAZjlXKzVf9xqjlkZ8Cg5TqwB-pM9bZP8P1H6yDDGxgfJwz1DFyF_si1ublnFxEZ_OUhf4y3uRm5Oe2O6JjfhgqdIk_FMKn6BwQjV9hJqGqhsQSKPhC2MDKrt8aQ2/s1600/journal6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJpS8qhPphAeKk6gKAZjlXKzVf9xqjlkZ8Cg5TqwB-pM9bZP8P1H6yDDGxgfJwz1DFyF_si1ublnFxEZ_OUhf4y3uRm5Oe2O6JjfhgqdIk_FMKn6BwQjV9hJqGqhsQSKPhC2MDKrt8aQ2/s320/journal6.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Journals</b> are gifts like this. I've thrown out some of my old journals actually to spare any future readers from the vast majority of my younger angst and whinging, but this doesn't diminish the fact that keeping a journal can provide insight for future generations. It can also help us to acknowledge and be grateful for the small miracles of day to day life as we live them. Of all the craft projects you can undertake (I suppose you can view them as ongoing projects) journals are the easiest to make your own because there is no wrong way to go about it. As I make and sell journals and notebooks this is probably not a very impartial statement, but I do think that everyone should have a place to write down and collect thoughts and feelings. A teacher once told me that revelation not written down is wasted so I tend to write everything down... just in case.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_4rWQ9d2pH08gbWfydvgeYXsQ2h_w8fic7-zNv-FSis33OXja5mI-f2QgzYl48du5rT1cwNIPLnHpqNk6vgs7b22GErX5wE0GjgOzcZXRq4VSqYQPMpx9fn3WV3m2mkqdNfF4FoiLZss/s1600/journal4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_4rWQ9d2pH08gbWfydvgeYXsQ2h_w8fic7-zNv-FSis33OXja5mI-f2QgzYl48du5rT1cwNIPLnHpqNk6vgs7b22GErX5wE0GjgOzcZXRq4VSqYQPMpx9fn3WV3m2mkqdNfF4FoiLZss/s320/journal4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">mum doesn't think she's much for journalling, but her notes are <br />
some of the best parts of the scrapbooks she's made for us</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mum used to be my Sunday school teacher, and I remember making a book which we all filled with quotes and thoughts that uplifted and inspired us. I don't know what happened to that book, but mum still keeps one which is not even half way full yet and already puffed way bigger than the spine. A fat book is a happy book.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbnNC1EgaLIs4ifw7TTAEmqYEc2zt_9FBcSW7w4fegUGbqJ_7VFgS0oW7g6Hs0SSCduf4zbDqK83x1Mde1Jlb09JB7403uLOnvrx5vDWylw75ey1Vz86_e2HDZSvct6dJqyqdPIX3K4Ef/s1600/journal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbnNC1EgaLIs4ifw7TTAEmqYEc2zt_9FBcSW7w4fegUGbqJ_7VFgS0oW7g6Hs0SSCduf4zbDqK83x1Mde1Jlb09JB7403uLOnvrx5vDWylw75ey1Vz86_e2HDZSvct6dJqyqdPIX3K4Ef/s320/journal2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">an old journal in Maori from mum's family, mum's book of thoughts and a <br />
collage from one of my journals</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_jLTzYq1zAO4GK-RDOqmumQpFa5pkADih7ceUDTT9CuDVIZ8g9Mo0QypMPpnRfOURjzTZ1y2Sc8Siz0Jveq7TuKd7mqQpNZ69adqjTl7sIhifRHrLnsgrbPvwcQeciHwsLphI85gQVdf/s1600/eldon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_jLTzYq1zAO4GK-RDOqmumQpFa5pkADih7ceUDTT9CuDVIZ8g9Mo0QypMPpnRfOURjzTZ1y2Sc8Siz0Jveq7TuKd7mqQpNZ69adqjTl7sIhifRHrLnsgrbPvwcQeciHwsLphI85gQVdf/s320/eldon1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">one page of over 2000 from Dan Eldon's journals</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>When I was in my early teens I read the journal of murdered photojournalist Dan Eldon. To be honest it was more like I <i>experienced</i> it than read it. It was full of photos, art, writing, letters, needlework, glass, leather, feathers, rice and even blood... in short, it was full of <i>him.</i> I was sorely tempted not to return it to the library. "The Journey is the Destination" is from him. I tried to copy this style and imbue the blank pages of my books with as much life and emotion as he had, but it kind of defeats the point of a personal journal if it isn't personal.<br />
<br />
Since then I've filled dozens of books of all shapes and sizes with <i>my own story</i>. My art and photos, my reflections and thoughts, letters and flowers... no blood, but there is some hair. I even learned how to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://beautifulboat.blogspot.com/2011/04/crafty-like-fox.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">bind my own books</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrcf7AgiJ3mg3paABYuy6rci4r-LDwt0oKJgOcx4yEp-pEtsqI1a1cw9CXnbf5nansXZarkO0UKqP4AxP2t02SUhB2zNcSonAkx9s3QNRkIwUL8XPMcQlwScFEwVDoF1FEj1cDDBy4API/s1600/journal3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrcf7AgiJ3mg3paABYuy6rci4r-LDwt0oKJgOcx4yEp-pEtsqI1a1cw9CXnbf5nansXZarkO0UKqP4AxP2t02SUhB2zNcSonAkx9s3QNRkIwUL8XPMcQlwScFEwVDoF1FEj1cDDBy4API/s320/journal3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">art journal, mission study journal, cool things journal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtO_QuTrxkmkn3upQHmOo9OnLi0xRnOHCZRkVQ7DaH8-GPcFyw0x_WNCNl6KF53I1WHITD6WIgJDh1y0XFPPv0XAsaCPAVrXk0nUDLZWuFK1A1V9VcwSptoXsdr6p5Z5Z9-6uFRhpWsOh/s1600/journal5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtO_QuTrxkmkn3upQHmOo9OnLi0xRnOHCZRkVQ7DaH8-GPcFyw0x_WNCNl6KF53I1WHITD6WIgJDh1y0XFPPv0XAsaCPAVrXk0nUDLZWuFK1A1V9VcwSptoXsdr6p5Z5Z9-6uFRhpWsOh/s320/journal5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">my Kyle and Ellie scrapbook</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yesterday was my wedding anniversary and I took the opportunity to think back over all the things Kyle and I have managed to cram into the two years that we've been married. I'm glad that I have been somewhat diligent in keeping a scrapbook journal because, like everyone else's, time fades my memory.<br />
<br />
If you don't keep a journal, you should, even if you just write what you've done in the day (I have one like that... it just doesn't look as great in photos) it helps us all recognise the good that we have, and if they aren't too mortifying, can be passed down to help our children get an insight into our lives.the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972451608951755963.post-6624771942271996972011-05-01T23:22:00.000-07:002011-05-01T23:22:15.865-07:00the ELM treeEleanor L McComb is my name, and this is my tree... my way of sharing with you all the wonderful things that I love and hopefully provide <i>you</i> with a platform to share the things that you love too!the ELM treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04681572024650122022noreply@blogger.com0