back on the farm

I just can't seem to keep away from the Funny Farm, in the last couple of weeks I have had the pleasure of not only some quality time with this lovely family but I also had the pleasure of snapping some very precious breastfeeding moments for Emma and Sassafras, some lovely 3/4 family pics (Susan was down with the dreaded belly bug) as well as a peek and some snaps of their guest accommodation on the property. It is a very sweet place, simple but delightful, if you are ever up this way you should definitely stay there, unless you are friends or even semi acquaintances of ours, in that case you must stay with us.

I was really happy with both these shoots, the light was just a delight to play with and obviously it helps  to have such wonderful subjects.

Susan and I are also hatching some plans for  a couple of Bellingen Food Festivals for next year, festivals that celebrate the amazing produce that is grown in this area in a way that engages everyone within the community, we had a brief meeting yesterday, it is looking pretty wonderful, I look forward to sharing more with you as it progresses.

to market

I realise I have been embarrassingly slack with regards to posting any of the clothes that I have created, then presented and then in some cases sold at the markets every month. And speaking of embarrassing don't even bother going to my Blue Caravan shop, boring, same old, same old. But I am vowing to right this wrong and get reinvigorated with photographing and posting my cloth creations both here and in my shop, so stay tuned, oh and now that I have said this, I will feel the eyes of all of you boring into me until something is done, so I have no choice really.
Anyway, here are a couple of tops that I made today for tomorrows market, nothing like the last minute.

oh what a lovely night, but first

But first we catch up with three out of four very lovely and dear old friends in a park in Mullumbimby (yes, I am lagging behind all this blogging business but doing my very darndest to get you all up to speed). Ree and her two beautiful children Bowie and Dexter, oh it was as it always is with these folk the catch up was so easy, relaxing and fun, Scott and I have known Ree for at least ten years and her partner Kristian, well we have been good friends since high school, so maybe nearly twenty five years, oh my goodness, I had to do multiple calculations to work that one out and to be sure I got the numbers right! Oh yes, these folk are family. We played in a park outside my aunt's door, dining on delicious morsels and leftover Milk & Honey Pizza, a delight.

Later in the day we scooted over to Dave's place at Tyagarah, just a few minutes from Mullum, to catch up with the beautiful family who are Nikki, Pete, River and Sol, yes the beautiful Wholefood Mama and co, in the flesh. Some of you may remember our meeting from last year but this meeting was even more special and more connected, the foundations had been well and truly laid and our friendship was free to just get in there. Dave, whose place Nikki and Pete often frequent when they escape the southern winter for some northern sun, had carefully crafted a most magnificent bonfire, ready to be lit in honour of River's birthday. The call had been put out and people gathered bringing children and plates of deliciousness.
Oh fire, what a special thing you are, fire and darkness, the children delighted in hiding just where they were under a blanket of black, they squealed as they ran around just laughing and running. And then the fire was lit and their stares were drawn in amazement and then they ran and laughed and stared some more.
Sky lanterns were lit adding a magic that was beyond words.

The following day Nikki and I stole away and in the sun met up with Natalie from The Spaces Between, yes a little mini bloggers fest, it was easy and lovely, kind of sums up the whole weekend really.

Happy Birthday Beautiful

Yesterday was our dear, dear friend Leisa's birthday, oh a day of worship/celebration was planned starting at another dear friend's new cafe Ink & Tart, then a long leisurely lunch at The Purple Carrot followed by an evening of who knows what. But unfortunately it didn't happen that way, I was in bed recovering from the previous day's tummy bug and Nicole spent her first day at her new cafe at home suffering from said tummy bug. Hmm not quite the glorious day we had planned.

Nevertheless wishing you my dear Leisa, the happy of happiest Birthday days, our family is so delighted and blessed that you and your amazing family are so closely nestled into our lives. We love your kindness, joy, determination, creativity, stunning beauty, oozing love and constant wit, charm and hilarity. We hope you had the most magnificent of days (yes, even without us) and we can't wait to shower loads of love and affection on you next weekend as we celebrate your and Ben's wedding anniversary, hooray. We love you. 

* and yes this is a photo that I just used recently but I found it perfectly summed up Leisa, her vibrancy, beauty and zest for life. 

down by the river

In Year 8 at Chrysalis, students undertake a major project of their choice, it can be anything from taming a wild brumby, making up a binary code for a computer program, making a surfboard or even training and taking part in a triathlon. The students chose a mentor to assist them with their project, they keep a journal of their progress, deliver report and then present their project at a presentation evening. 

I have been lucky enough to be called in (at kind of the last minute, ish) to mentor Chloe. Chloe is interested in photography and more precisely photography that captures movement, being a dancer  she is drawn by the human figure in motion. A couple of weeks ago I supported Chloe at a photoshoot she did at, where else, the Never Never Creek. As I am only relatively new to photography and have kind of taught myself everything I know, it was nice to think about things a bit more in relation to teaching Chloe, I am loving seeing how her photos are developing and seeing her confidence growing. What a beautiful afternoon it was, we will probably do one more shoot and have a play with editing (just a smidge) before the presentation evening in September.