My Illustration in Easy Living UK


Back in September I had my illustration the "Crow and the Peacock" published in Easy Living Magazine UK. It was around the same time I gave birth to Zoe so it missed a mention back then. I have finally taken some photos of the magazine. The issue was an Inspiration special, detailing where people got their inspiration for their various endeavours. My illustration was coupled with some of Alex Monroe's beautiful jewellery. He was inspired by the fable the Crow and the Peacock.

Paper for Art swap with Dawbis

Photo by Dawbis.

I have been following the artwork of Dawn for years now and asked her if she’d do a paper for art swap. Once she agreed I started saving some papers I thought she might like. One design I had bought in Florence, Italy. Another at a gift store in the Hunter Valley. Some are from my favourite art supply stores, others are origami papers from a Japanese gift store in the city.

Photo by Dawbis.

Growing our own food

Recently I have been reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and watching "Gardening Australia" and "the Edible Garden". I have been inspired to grow our own fruit, herbs and vegetables and have so far started planting a small amount of herbs and salad greens. We have been happy with the results, enjoying salad from our own garden most days. It tastes so much better when it hasn't been sitting in storage for awhile, and it saves us buying a massive lettuce or bunch of herbs and wasting what we don't need.

Above is the Mizuna which is a Japanese lettuce with yellow flowers which you can also eat. We also have mustard greens, perpetual lettuce and sweet rocket (which is a delicious spicy flavour). In the herbs we have rosemary (established), lemongrass, oregano, continental parsley, mint, lemon thyme and garlic chives.

I have two types of strawberries, one type has white flowers and they were a gift from a friend, the other has pink flowers and has green fruit now. My white flowering strawberry plants have produced two ripe strawberries so far, but they where nabbed by birds before I could get to them. I might have to put netting over them so I get to try one this season!

And then there were four...

Our Spring baby was born one stormy night in September. There was something magical to me about the night she was born. She was a big girl at 4.35kg and 54cm long. She and her big brother have been keeping me busy!

Getting ready to leave hospital.

Sleeping on Daddy.

Spring in the garden

Catching up on some posts... I have been otherwise occupied having my spring baby! I'll update on that soon. Meanwhile all the flowers and bees are out in our garden. When it rains you can hear frogs chirping happily from their leafy homes, and the bell birds tinking away at the tops of the trees. I love this time of year.


This moment

I love the colours in this photo of my son playing with his friends. I'm trying to make the most of these last months with my son before my second baby arrives. I am 35 weeks pregnant now.

Winter at our house

We have gotten over our winter colds and have a bit more to organise before the new baby arrives.

My thrifted pinch teapot and African violets.

In the garden with the little man.

The japanese maple losing it's leaves.