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Monday 11 February 2013
Where to start. Another Eclectic Exhibition is fast approaching: March 2013. We're teaming up with the Quickipro Neverland event at Kirra Hill for a live art EE launch on Thursday March 4 from about 6pm. A few local boys will entertain us with their unique style of fine art graphics while I keep the gallery 'interactive'. More workshops for the exhibition this year - lanterns, mobiles, salt dough sculpting, window decals, and whatever else I come up with. Music, poetry and art process as usual. Check the schedule for dates and times or call me for details; activity spaces limited.
New packaging for the Restoration Kits! Our ad in the Source Magazine has evolved into a regular article. It seems I forget how capable I am and am most grateful to be acknowledged for talents I take for granted. Channeling information comes so easily I don't think of it as 'work' or even process. All you do is sit in stillness and receive the words which flow onto the paper or screen and send it off to be published. Fabulous! Kerry at the Source is amazing and we thank you for the work you do. I thought I was busy :)
Bleach Festival has booked us to do some creative workshops this year. Come by Currumbin Sanctuary Saturday 23rd 11am - 2pm for candle making or Roughton Park, Kirra Beach 10am - 1pm for bead drum making. Three classes for each project and plenty of colours, fragrances, designs and other goodies. Thanks to Louise Bezzina and Rachael Cannard for all their hard work putting together such a fantastic event. A real festival for the southern Gold Coast with music, art, food, markets and movies!
Still busy with online studies but moving ever closer to graduation. Lots more workshops and projects once I'm officially educated. Until then, I'm booking regular classes at your request - candle making, paper crafts, creative therapy, and everything else that is an absolute joy to call 'work'. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to share and design a more colourful world.
Melanie
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Monday 16th July 2012
Creative Wink had a fabulous weekend at our first market stall! Kingscliff on Saturday and Uki on Sunday were a great introduction to the whole process. Fortunately, we shared our space with two wonderful ladies who made the whole weekend a bit of an adventure. Louise Moriarty the poet and Robyn of 'I Like Bikes' fame, held the experience in child-like wonder. We even sold stuff! I ran into Gregg (the candle man from Byron who Gaga told me about ages ago), and met some lovely people. There was an amazing duo on stage at one point Bernie (Purely Vocal) and Jerome Williams who provided this beatbox percussion competition that blew me away. Bernie, you are amazing!
This week is all about preparing for the Quota Craft Fair at the end of the month. Louise and I have still got a bit to do for the launch of our new product line ~ Restoration Kits. Then there's whatever the next lot of school holidays have in store? The tote bags with the OSH crew was a great experience. I do love that we can bring the canvas and those creative tikes pick up without a second thought to make absolutely breathtaking art. I did post images on facebook, twitter and instagram for those who would like to see a few examples. I am proposing a stationery set or something for Father's Day as a theme for the September activities, but we'll wait and see what Bella has to say. Perhaps she already knows what she wants from us!
Life is providing lots of opportunities to practice my prosperity and joy wisdom. Those who profess must first demonstrate their ideas, yes!? May you all prosper doing exactly what you want to do and find joy in every moment regardless of the circumstances...
Melske
Check out this fruity artist...
 Mt Tambourine lookout      | Wednesday 8th February 2012 First entry for the year, that might give some indication as to how many opportunities have been jumping from the trees into my path as I meander through the forests, clearings and towns that make up my experience of this wonderful world. Just listened to a webinar podcast by the Australian Businesswomen's Network about social media storytelling. I have to confess that facebook and Twitter don't appeal to me as much as blogs and websites, because they limit the number of words I can use. Given that they open one up to a vast, largely untamed network I am beginning to see the value in their 'bumper sticker plus explanatory note' format. Not everything has to be the answer to a lifetime of desires. Each part plays a smaller role in satisfying your needs and wants, and that includes technology. I went to Tambourine Mountain with a friend not long ago to treat my inner child. We haven't had much of a chance to explore wild places and just be. It's an important part of maintaining a creative career, unstructured play. Something I am rediscovering and finding invaluable for the energy levels required in my business. While I was in the mountains I spotted this fantastic tea pot shop and just had to take some photos. The lady was incredibly obliging but was reluctant to pose for any shots. There were these design called 'tea for one' which I just fell in love with. The pot fits into the cup so that it warms as you brew. Brilliant! Then I saw the mini tea sets and reminded myself that I must finish my salt dough tea set waiting patiently in my craft room for me add colour over the base coat. There is also a lonely block of air drying clay sitting under my candle table which calls out to me as I walk past. It says "hey lady, I am an entire afternoon of inner child getting dirty and creative just waiting to happen. Whenever you're ready, I'm the answer to your rainy day!" And, I promise the plastic wrapped block of potential joy that I am looking forward to that afternoon as soon as I find the energy to sit myself down to absorb in just one activity. Hmmm. The mountains has fairy stores and the most amazing gallery cafe overlooking a vast panoramic view which would distract the most vigilant reader of morning news as they sip coffee and prepare for another day in paradise - High Tea at Hill Top on Tambourine. Spectacular service and inspiring artwork to boot... My trip to Tambourine was actually the sleepover after a day at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. The first time I've been since the renovations (I visited over ten years ago). Before we even got inside we discovered a 'Look at Picture Books' at the State Library and I was immediately transported into the body of my eight year old self, who simply loved to read. When I stumbled across Roald Dahl, my life changed forever. A whole world of adventure lay before me and I realised that I too would write one day. The exhibition introduced me to writers and illustrators I had not yet been introduced to such as Shaun Tan (whose work I am now besotted with), and to the inspiration to draw again. I have since entered the Sketchbook Project and am actually making marks and feeling those arty fingers at work after a ten plus year hiatus. Most satisfying. A whole new self is emerging from all this active participation. An aspect that was being neglected with all the organising and focus on other people's work. Then to top it all off, we went to the Henri Matisse exhibition (among others) and I sketched! One of favourite things to do, when I lived in Sydney, was pack a lunch, my VAPD, and all my woes, and bus it to the AGNSW. There I would wander the through the old and new installations, feeling the inspiration surge as my footsteps echoed in the palatial building. One coffee overlooking the world and then sitting on the front steps drawing until I got hungry enough to walk across, find myself a tree, and eat my packed lunch. Absolute bliss. I have been on the Coast for over a decade and have not found that kind of experience. We have parks, rivers, galleries, and cafes, but they don't compare to the AGNSW. But, I think what I found at GOMA might be the beginning of a new ritual, just as satisfying. The last of the school holiday workshops were a real learning curve. Finding drivers and helpers to replace the ones who couldn't make it kept me high on adrenalin for most of January. Going over budget and tripping safety switches and realising that I need to delegate more if I want to keep my head from exploding, were all powerful lessons. If we want it all to be perfect then I guess we don't start anything new and we certainly don't take any risks. That doesn't sound like much fun to me. The important thing is that the young people made jewellery and candles and had fun while they were doing it. Some of the pieces were pretty fabulous. I think Andy is getting photos of the holidays so i'll be sure to add a link when they're on the net. Candle making is still the order of the day. I've had quite a few enquiries about 'home-based' workshops since I put the word out there and it's going to be a busy year if this month is any indication. Thanks Dad for coming up with the brilliant idea, you are a great strength for me. Always seeing the next step towards true joy. There's also a possible contract to distribute my all natural cosmetics, which would be wonderful! Nothing confirmed as yet, and I'm still focused on product development for the immediate, but all very promising in the scheme of things. Can't wait to get my body butters, skin creams, cleansers, and everyday pampering range out into the world. They're just so intoxicating and fresh. I've never really used or been motivated to even try cosmetics because my skin is so sensitive (and I don't trust the ingredients) but making your own changes everything! Apart from workshops and product development, I'm also busy on the art front. The Eclectic Exhibition is in March and I'm still inviting artists to participate. Remember, this is the first year which is run to a more organic schedule than next year's which will have funding, etc. As such, I'm not going to let the event run away with all my time and energy. It's more about meeting locals and bringing more people to the site, than trying to be a Gold Coast Arts Festival. This is a community event for all to enjoy, including me! |
Friday 31st December 2011
Mithras was great. I ran a candle making workshop on the 25th for my brother and his family. Six layered masterpieces of candy cane, strawberry, banana, cranberry-mandarin, gingerbread, and choc mint. Suffice to say they were most impressed with their smelly colourful creations. Watching them reveal their candles the next day was magic. I miss being able to do that in the workshops that I run for business. That anticipation and ultimate wonder as you rip open your mould has to be the best part of making candles (or soap for that matter).
The next day Dad and I headed up to see the rest of the troupe in Brisbane where I made a few more potential business connections while I caught up with the fam. It's just so liberating being able to visit the ones you love when they are relaxing and celebrating the end of another year. Especially when work has interfered with that for so long. Hospitality is not a family friendly industry. You're always rostered on when your loved ones are having a weekend barbecue or celebrating birthdays, or seasons greetings.
I am most grateful for the changes I have made in my life, and endeavour to take advantage of every birthday, holiday, and hallmark moment that comes my way. That means lots of crafting, card making, and gifts to send all the people I love and appreciate - starting with my father. He has been a patient, supportive, open, and generous influence since I started the move toward true independence. There are so many things I want to give him in return. All he wants is to see me live in joy and wonder; to let go of obligation and worry; and to recognise the opportunity to freely express my true self without hesitation. I'm working on it.
I borrowed 'The Artist's Way' from the library and haven't had much of a chance to read anything but the preamble - thanks to my merry Mithras. Not even up to week one and I'm hooked! So, I've ordered a copy from the bookdepository and started with the 'morning-pages' exercise to keep me entertained until the book turns up. It's a text on creative practice and how to move through blocks into sustained and successful self-expression. Right up my alley. Actually, I'm reading it as further inspiration for the therapeutic program I'm designing for women ready to let go of obstacles to real success/joy/independence. Still considering names for it and already have parties interested in supporting and promoting the workshop. A sign it must be part of my life purpose.
New Year is just one sleep away and there is so much I want to do over the next few weeks. I've got the workshops in mid-January to prepare for as well. Wire & bead work, and candle making. Looking forward to being crafty and working on the March event too. Artists to organise and all that paper work to keep official channels happy. First, though, I'm going to finish my thank you gifts and send out some parcels of love to all the people who made my Mithras so very merry.
Melske
Thursday 22nd December 2011
So, bath bombs were a big hit with the young people at Thrower House on Tuesday. The humidity interfered a little with the success of some mixes, but overall I feel the participants had fun - which is the main motivation for running these classes in the school holidays. Next time I might introduce layering and use stainless steel moulds instead of plastic, which can take a bit more punishment.
I can't thank the volunteers enough for their hand in making the workshop a pleasurable experience. Without them the process would have been a great struggle to coordinate. But then I'm not used to running such a large class and you really have to be vigilant with teenage enthusiasm and certain ingredients.
If I wasn't responsible for the whole process, I'd sit back and watch in awe at their natural urge to experiment and take the project beyond its design. If there is one thing to be admired about the teenage years it's the ability to tap into that creative mix of science and art to forge new paths; innovation and fearless curiosity abound.
Tomorrow is lip balm. I'm always a bit nervous about the ingredients because they are so sensitive to weather. All natural dyes, oils, waxes, and scents tend to change their consistency and absorption with temperature and humidity. The Gold Coast summer is turning out to be a fickle season with intense heat, followed by rain and steamy conditions. Not ideal for ingredients that need to harden. I guess some things are out of my hands and ultimately difficult to plan for. I'm just hoping the participants are satisfied with the results. I want them to walk away with their packages of home made lip balm confident enough to start experimenting and making their own. No more store bought versions with all manner of unnecessary toxic ingredients. Wish me luck!
Melske
