As I've mentioned a few times recently (I'm really excited about my nook obviously!), I have my own little space at uni now where I can sit all day and make things in (relative) privacy and stick things all over the walls. I share the space with a couple of other people but each of our spaces is pretty private and we don't have to interact with one another if we don't want to. I thought I'd share some pictures of what it looks like right now - it doesn't have much in it yet as I'm still starting out and developing my major project, but I'm really enjoying having a dedicated spot to sit and make things. The only problem is that as soon as I sit down, the time flies by. The fact that the sun still doesn't set until 8pm is a bit deceptive - but that will change pretty soon and Tasmania's 4pm Winter sunsets will be normal again.





The subject I'm doing is called Studio Project A and it's part 1 of a 2 part unit that runs until the end of the year, wherein you develop and create a self set project. There are several assessable items in the unit and a class for 3 hours once a week, but the majority of it is self directed making. I'm based generally in the area of mixed media, but thankfully I don't have to choose a 'major' (painting, drawing, ceramics, etc) because it would be so difficult to choose just one medium.



Hopefully I'll get to share some of the work I do in this space and the messes made. I've started working with some ideas about my childhood and it's kind of nice to unearth some of those memories.

I bought this skirt from Dangerfield recently on sale and I like to wear it around the house with an apron on while I cook. It probably makes C laugh because I am so not domestic (he is though). But I do like to cook. Tonight I'm making delicious fluffy pesto polenta with roast potatoes and pumpkin.




I wish I could find a way to stop my nail polish from chipping after two days! No amount of top coats will make it last.



I was a ridiculously photogenic child, but these days 99% of photos I see of myself I am pulling a ridiculous face in (there are some crackers in our wedding photos - when I laugh, my whole face laughs and I have untagged myself in so many Facebook photos). Lately when C takes my picture he makes me jump up in the air and then takes photos of me afterwards and I always look happy because my skirt has usually flown up above my head mid-jump and revealed my underwear (I'll spare you those photos) and C is laughing at me and I've made a fool of myself. Works every time.

NB. I only do this in the privacy of my own backyard, heh.

It is my birthday next month. What would a birthday be without a gratuitous wishlist?

1. Back issues of the international version of Flow Magazine. It looks ridiculously good!
2. A Jellybeads Teething Necklace. I haven't really worn any jewellery since Theo has been of teething age because everything goes in his mouth and I'm sure it's not great for him to suck on metal things. These necklaces are made of soft silicone beads and are pretty cute.
3. Polar FT4 to aid in the runnings.
4. Lists, To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists' Enumerations From The Smithsonian Archives of American Art by Liza Kerwin. Longest title ever.
5. Body Shop Body Butter. Delicious stuff, especially in Shea flavour.
6. A digital piano of some sort. I have ruled out getting the big, acoustic sort because I don't want the hassle of having to move it and tune it if we moved out of this house at the end of the year, but I want something that sounds and feels like playing a piano - anyone have any recommendations?
7. Posca Paint Pens. They rule.

Ps. The black font is made from my handwriting!

I found these amazing yellow vintage heels at the opshop in my size for $5. And some free baby hands.


We attended Isis and Damien's 'Year of Retirement' party - Isis' lovely style is always present in everything she does!


I finished painting my traffic controller box, though it still hasn't been installed yet. I'll show better pictures of it when it has been installed in the city.


I treated myself to this cute dress at Target.


I put a tea cosy on Theo's head (thank you for the gorgeous tea cosy Gitte!).


I rode my bike most days (we haven't used the car in so long!) - today I went to the hardware store and loaded myself up with herbs and potting mix. It did make for a rather wobbly ride, but I made it home!



I admired the house colour choices of the homes of Invermay.


I ate lots of good things. I have stopped eating gluten and a bunch of other things because I basically had a permanent belly ache for a long time and now I feel so much better. I am still pinpointing particular foods that make me sick, but so far the gluten free thing hasn't been too difficult because I'm mostly eating food at or from home. I am not a coeliac but I seem to have a sensitivity to wheat - if you're the same way, I highly recommend a low FODMAP diet.


Speaking of food, Theo tried his first kiwi fruit. Loved it.


I gave this boy some piggy backs with minimal hair pulling (and we inadvertently matched our clothes).


He crawls like lightning. He stands. He says "DADADAD" and "MUMUMUM" and something that sounds ever so slightly like "Cat". He feeds himself. He's a ham.


Blackberry fingers.


Mysterious eye graffiti.


Theo wakes up at 7am every morning with a grin on his face, blows raspberries in my face, rips out my hair and searches the bed for cats, then sits and pulls at their fur gently and they don't seem to mind. He also laughs at them when they're near him and tries to catch them.

Reading | Freehand - Helen Birch.
Watching | Teevee: Rectify (loved it), House of Cards (only the first episode but I could take or leave it), True Detective (same goes for this one) and The Checkout. Films: The Book Thief (at the movies with mums's group), What Maisie Knew (which I really liked), Enough Said (enjoyed), An Education (loved Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard) & Murder By Numbers (can't help but love Ryan Gosling even though the movie left much to be desired).
Making | A cosy little nook at uni. I'll share some pictures next week.
Listening to | Lucy Schwartz & Josh Pyke.
Visiting | Hobart to see DJ Shadow (which I wished I enjoyed more).
Looking forward to in March | My twenty fourth birthday, getting into my studio project at uni and spending lots of time in my little nook making, planting herbs on our kitchen windowsill, maybe just maybe buying a digital piano and Autumn leaves.

This month I started running. When I was a kid I ran a lot. I got up early and ran and then came home and made my lunch and went to school. I was the fastest kid in my school for at least a year or two and before that I definitely gave the other fastest kids in school a run for their money. I won ribbons and I was sports captain and basically obsessed with sports (hard to believe, I know). But when I got to high school, I just stopped exercising and I basically haven't since. I never put on weight despite my lack of physical activity and I was happy with the way I looked (well, as happy as any teenager can be). But now my body feels like it wants to run. I don't run very far or for very long, but it feels so nice to be running again. Invermay where I live is lovely and flat and the streets are quiet and friendly and full of cats and nice to run through. My only problem is that I don't like to run during the day when people can see me, but there aren't many street lights around at night. I hope to continue running through March.

Going back to university has made me so happy already. I know it's only a week in and if you ask me again at the end of semester I'll probably curse myself, but I just feel so pleased to be there. I have set up my desk space with my materials and inspiration board and a vase with flowers in it and succulents and nice books about art and being there just feels right. I am really fortunate to be able to go back and finish my degree while Theo is small - I know a lot of people have children and don't get the chance to go back. It is basically C's dream to be a stay at home dad, so he's putting in the long yards with Theo until the end of the year - something he genuinely enjoys and is fantastic at. When I do take Theo out by myself C always says how much he missed Theo. My hours are pretty flexible at uni but I have a lot of work to do on my major studio project this year, so I will be there 5 days a week all day, sometimes into the early evening, and meeting up with C and Theo for lunch (and breastfeeding) in the middle of the day. So far I think it's working really well. I have decided that I won't do work at home if I can help it and I will try not to do work on the weekends so that I can spend time with my family. I am still tossing up what I want to do next year - there are three options - I can do a Masters of Teaching by distance for two years, I can do Honours (and then the Masters later) or I can start a second degree in a completely different field. I've got a whole year to decide, but I'm not really feeling pulled in any particular direction. Who knows!?