On the home stretch..

This week has been a mix of emotions, organised chaos, packing, cleaning and catching up with heaps of people.

Since my last of work last Friday, it's been nonstop. Farewell drinks after farewell drinks after farewell drinks, followed by a Farewell Party here at the house. I think my liver has seen better days. Monday and Tuesday were filled with some full on organizing and cleaning. Basically, waking up at 6 am, straight out of bed to running around the house, blasting through rooms making sure everything was ready and cleaned for the removalists coming on Wednesday. 

And, far out! Thank you Crown Removalists! You guys are awesome! I was so happy and impressed with the way they packed and itemized everything... Sort of strangely inspiring for those like me who are a bit compulsive about those things. 

Jacob and the web of cords.

More stuff to be packed. 

Oh Shetland Ave. We will miss you!

 

Our container has arrived! You guys sure everything will fit????

See?! Awesome packing job guys!

And there goes our things... See you in Wellington!!

Moving on up... 15 days to go.

It's officially my last week at work. Finishing up, handing off clients to co-workers. Cleaning up my desk. Making sure I touch base with as many people as I can. Finalising as many details for the house as I can. Closing bank accounts, all that fun stuff.

I realised today, how much of a nervous wreck I actually am. I feel like I haven't been able to eat in days. My poor belly has been in knots. We have so many get-togethers and parties already, it's so hard to say farewell...

But progressing along, cleaning and donating heaps to Savers. It's been a good while since I've binge-cleaned the house. I've come across so many photos of family and friends and friends that are like family. But instead of getting all caught up in the memories, you just have to power on. 

So, power on. We're getting there. 

In just over two weeks, we will be sitting on our front steps, staring at the beautiful scenery of our private little valley. Power on. 

Happy Halloween!!!

Some quick pics from our pumpkin carving party over the weekend...

Have a very very very happy Halloween and sweet Samhain!

Be safe and eat candy!

It's all happening!

Like. Fo' real. Yes! It's totally official now. No going back now! The Wellington Move is upon us!!!

• Our one-way flights are booked.
• The removalists are booked.
• The boys have their flights and vets and all sorted. 
• The tenants at our house have their notice. 
• Some of the utilities are booked to be turned on at the new house.
• I've put in my notice at work.
• Parties, drinks and farewell dinners are filling up our final weekends...

Full on! I love the fact that we will be without pretty much EVERYTHING for a week here in Melbourne. No furniture, no TV, not much of anything! Once we get to Wellington, that won't bother me too much, as we'll have a lot of painting to do. 

So yeah. It'll be a few really busy weeks coming in. And I'll be counting down the days!

Brown Owls - A Crafty Parliament

Every other Wednesday night, a Parliament of Owls congregate at the Sporting Club over on little old Weston Street in Brunswick. It's always a lovely evening filled with drinks, tapas, chatter and a lot of crafting! 

I'm really happy I've been able to be apart of the group, as it's sometimes hard for me to get moving on a project because I may not fully understand or just don't have the time. But having the gals there to ask and putting that two hours aside has really pushed me to try new things and to really feel good about the things I'd like to accomplish. 

A little while ago, our little group was featured on a show called "Made by Hand" It's a lovely piece!! 

Check it out!!

I'm hoping to start a NZ Brown Owls group once we get settled in Wellington, maybe after the New Year. I think for me that would be the best thing ever! Not only do I have to move to a new city - and country for that matter, but how amazing to start a group and meet more and new like-minded crafty people... Can't wait!

Local Bunnies...

I love Easter.. It is one of those holidays that I find rather different to celebrate living in the southern hemisphere.

Easter has always meant the start of spring, new life, new sprouts of green growing through the snowy fields, baby birds and the first sight of the red breasted robin. But here, we're preparing the coming of winter and cooler weather, as well as final harvests of our gardens and hoping to see the new life soon.

Either way - Easter is on it's way... and now, the chocolate bunnies in our near future will keep us happy and add some padding for the winter.

themobyduck

brambleandbear

Hannakin

RedMush

All of these gorgeous Etsy finds are locally found here in Melbourne. 

Some small scale sketching...

I have been working on small sketches lately. Mostly A5 and under. 

It's nice to just get them out of my system, but am almost ready to start going bigger again.

Also, just a reminder - the Because I am a Girl Fund-raising Exhibition will be opening this Wednesday night at SmartArtz Gallery in South Melbourne. Hope to you see you there!

Upcoming Exhibition - Girls and Sisters

I know, it's been a while since I've posted. Sorry! I still love you! Honestly!

Anywho, I've been working on a painting for an upcoming show over in South Melbourne at the Smartartz Gallery. The opening night is the 13th of April and runs until the 29th. Please go check it out, it's all for a good cause - check out the website for Because I am a Girl for more info on the campaign.

I'm really excited about the painting. It's been a long and slightly painful journey for it, but it's nearly finished.. I know - I'm cutting it fine... It's titled Sisters.

When I was going through ideas about what it means to be a girl, I kept coming back to the weird connection women have with other women. That strange thought processes and mental connection we have with other women that are close to us still astounds me.

The painting relates to the connection I have with my sister. We grew up together in a fairly small, secluded town called Sterling. There was never much to do there, since the population then was probably less than 3,000 people, so we would wander through the woods and rely on our imaginations to stop the boredom from driving us mad.

The painting I've been working on relates to the adventures and hardships that my sister and I went through together. I don't know how my life would have ended up if I didn't have my sister. Now that I live thousands of miles away, I feel in someway, we are still connected. As sisters, as friends, and as women.

I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the show and see what 30 other women think about being a girl. Hope to see you at the Opening Night!

xoxo

Happy Sufjan Stevens Day!

Or rather Happy Monday. But in my world today... It is officially Sufjan Stevens Day here in Melbourne! I get to see him play at the Arts Centre tonight. I've never seen him play before and am really really ... REALLY excited! Can you tell????

This weekend was pretty brilliant! Hilarious and good times had by all! And a HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Andy for hooking us up for the Mos Def show! What a lovely surprise and what a lovely night... even my 5am bedtime didn't dampen my spirits much.. And just a note to myself - I know I live on the other side of the planet to where heaps of my old friends are... but more than 10 years of not seeing people... Way too long. So much catching up and never enough time!

Anyway.
Happy Sufjan Day!

heheheee!

Meg & Jay are Married! {sneak peek}

Congrats to you both!! Love you guys dearly and can't wait to see you after the honeymoon! 

xoxo

Beth and Jackal

Some Etsy Lovin'

Hey kids!
Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!!

We had a big and busy few days! Our gorgeous friends are getting married on Halloween, so this weekend was the Hen's Night and Buck's Weekend festivities!!

Let's just say - good times were had by all!

Monday mornings are always nice to wake up to an Etsy Treasury and a blog post of some of my crafty bits and pieces..

I'm loving loving loving this treasury!!! Gorgeous!!

Thanks to Adictaaloscomplemnts

 

Thanks to handmadespark.com

Also, my Port Melbourne Button from Etsy was on handmadespark.com for this article featuring Melbourne and Victoria crafters and artists.. Some great shops mentioned! Check it out!

See you soon!

xo

Wednesday's Wants

I love Etsy. I love almost anything red. Have you seen our kitchen? 

Even better, all of these sellers are Australia based... No guilt on shipping! 

 via interrobang

via encouragementaward

via wonderlandavenue

via tractorgirl

Me on my bike vs. a car door...

So I have become a statistic.

Yesterday on my way to work, while riding my bike on my normal route through the city, someone opened their car door on me. It’s one of every cyclist’s worst nightmares. He threw his door open just at the right (or wrong) moment. I was in the bike path and while most people check their rear-view to see if there are any cyclists coming, he did not.

I couldn’t get out of the way in time and my handlebars caught the window frame. Granted I was only going about 20k/hr, but it was enough to throw me from my bike into the road. I’m so thankful that there wasn’t a car on the other side of me. So so so thankful…

I fell to my right side and all of my weight landed on my knee.

After that is kind of a blur. I know some people came to my side and helped me off the road. I remember Paul who sat with me the whole time and even waited for Jacob to get there… Thank you so much!!

The medics in the ambulance were awesome chicks and everyone at Royal Melbourne was fabulous. But I was so happy to see Jacob when he finally was able to get there.

Anyway. I’m on crutches pulling moves like Tucker.

I’m a picture of grace with my swollen knee, soft tissue damage and my fractured toe.

Thanks again!!
xoxox

*more WIP

I'm really happy with how this is turning out... xo