Bubbles of Joy

I just couldn't resist posting these absolutely delightful pics of Lola Belle... the gorgeous daughter of one of my lovely friends from London days, who now lives in Mid Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand. I just felt so joyous when she sent me these pics she had taken of her daughter - thank you Helen, it made my day!

Banx Art Exhibition

Don't forget to pop in to the Banx Art Exhibition if you get the chance 12th until 21st May Central Plaza One, 345 Queen Street, Brisbane (during Office hours).

Moffat Rocks!

I just love this pic taken on my mobile phone's camera of "Rock Star" (!) Banx standing on the jagged rock pools at Moffat Beach last weekend.. We took time out from furnishing the little beach pad to get back to Nature.. the waves were about 4 metres high, the weather was dramatic and thunderous and it somehow brought back many childhood memories of spending hours at rock pools at the seaside, time just slipping away, imagination running wild as to whom or what lived in each little salty pool. The strata of the rocks is fascinating, years and years of water wearing away stone, producing a stunning natural slate floor! Soon enough it was time to get back to assembling flat pack bedside tables and we had to tear ourselves away....

Langkawi

We have just returned from an idyllic week's holiday in beautiful Langkawi, Malaysia... aaaah! sheer bliss! We have actually been a few times before, the only place we return to frequently in all of our travels.. not sure why - we just 'click' with the place - the people are gentle and don't hassle you to buy things you don't need or want; the weather is amazing (bordering on a tad too hot!); the Indian Ocean is wonderfully warm to swim in; the food is absolutely delicious (especially for my curry-and chilli-aholic partner!; the pace is relaxing to the point where we just STOP! As Banx says, we go on holidays to DO NOTHING and we do it very well! What is always amazing is that a day can pass so quickly doing nothing! Time evaporates when one's own natural body clock and body rhythm kicks in - eating when we feel hungry rather than by the clock (watches, along with shoes are confiscated in the Villa on day one anyway, to be replaced with swimming togs, sarongs and flip-flops!).. whether to eat, nap, swim, or read become the biggest choices of the day.. ah! we never take holidays for granted! Enjoying the "now" is paramount..

Caloundra

As we strolled towards Bulcock Beach early on Sunday morning in search of coffee and breky, I was reminded of one of my favourite poets, Emily Bulcock. Her poetry is so visually stumulating, she was prolific, her love of the region easily recognisable in so many of her poems. What a wonderful woman too..kind and generous of spirit and very helpful on a practical level to young writers and children.. Below is an excerpt of one of my favourites of hers entitled simply 'Caloundra', it makes me see the place through new eyes..

She has dawns of wonder, and flaming sunsets!
When soft strange lights on the waters lie.
I have no words to paint the marvel
Of opal colours of sea and sky,
When the ocean chants to the day "Good-bye,"
'Ere back of Beerwah the last rays die!
The weird Glasshouses catch the glow,
Then dark with mantling purples grow!

If a painter stood at the gates of Heaven,
And caught the gleam of the streets of pearl,
Then, as they opened, glimpsed the vision
In the radiant eyes of some ransomed girl,
Watching the banners of beauty unfurl:-
He then might picture with artist hand
These rare rich colours on sea and land!

Art does more than just hang around on walls...

"You can start the day in a rush...or by looking at your favourite art book.." This quote comes out of one of my fave books called "Sensual Home" by Ilse Crawford, that I picked up in London over ten years ago.. her sentiments reign supreme even today.. Ilse's book is all about creative energy, creating balance harmony and space in the home and the spirit...and choosing special art pieces that you love, intuitively not rationally, I love it! What our beach bungalow currently lacks in furniture it makes up for in artworks, including Banx originals and also some from my own personal collection by my favourite female artists like Anne McLeay, collage artist Anne Foster and a Samoan artist friend Ruta. Another friend in Canada is hand making an exquisite quilt for us. Not to mention Peter Hardie's award winning photography of flippers too (how lucky he is my brother!). Our bungalow will be an artisan's haven. Even the dining table we are currently scrubbing back in the studio for the bungalow was once an artist's and a potter's table. I love every one of its scratches and marks, it tells a story. Artists create things that excite our senses, they dig deep into our psyche's and unlock something personal within us, and how wonderful to bring this to everyday life! The rest of the furniture can take a back seat - I want to sit on my temporary fold up chair in our new space and just keep staring at the sensational art that surrounds us! (This painting is called Medley by Banx).

Dive Right In!

We got the keys! We have a stunning beautiful little beach bungalow at Moffat Beach on the stunning Sunshine Coast about one hour north of Brisbane - proud new house owners of a little place in a magical part of the world, where the sea glistens and they make the best soy cappucino's I think I have ever tasted!... and it's all ours. It is just too exciting for words! It's furniture-less, but who cares, the main thing is it will have a few beautiful select Banx original artworks (along with a card table and fold up chairs, after all, we had to get our priorities right!) We have been looking for such a long time, but wow! this has been worth the wait.. stay tuned for some pics as our beach project progresses from dream to reality..PS This pic is a Banx original that I just love, first painting to be hung in the new little pad called 'Dive Right In'... what a great lesson in Life.. just Dive Right In!! We did! I can thoroughly recommend it!