This is my favourite quote...

Whatever you can do,
or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it.

JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

I actually used this quote for an earlier "This is" post, but I couldn't resist using it again. It really is great motivation for taking a leap into the unknown - being bold and seeing what might happen.

So what are you waiting for?
You heard the man! Begin it!
Go for it!

The theme for this weeks "This is..." came from Ashley at Strawberry Kisses. The "This is..." meme was started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

I have other quotes I love too... just click on "quote of the day" link below to read a few more of my favourites.

This is my trade secret...

Whatever you can do,
or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it.
JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

If you want to be creative.
Get going and live creatively.
Get on with it...
This is my trade secret.

Do not procrastinate.

If you have a dream.
Start living it.
If you aren't sure what it is you want to do...
start the ball rolling and do SOMETHING!
ANYTHING to start the momentum.

Things grow when they are cultivated and given a little TLC.
If you want to follow a different path or make a change, you can't do it standing still.
Be Bold. Be Brave. And as Goethe says in the above quote... begin it.

The theme for this weeks "This is..." came from Amelia at bollewangenhaptoet. The "This is..." meme was started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This is the winner...

Congratulations to Melbourne based jeweler Kate from The Monday Project who is the lucky winner of my first blog giveaway. I will be dropping by tonight to give her the good news. Drop by and say hi too. Kate and Sophie (Sydney based writer) set a new monthly project on the first Monday of every month and they invite everyone to take part. Hey guys - that's tomorrow! Go for it! I'll see you there!

It seems we all love the art of blogging.
Sharing of ideas, support, inspiration and a sense of community were all sentiments that were repeated in all of your comments. And I can't agree more. It is a creative outlet that continues to motivate and inspire me and colour my life. So thanks to you, for all your blogging goodness and for all your lovely comments too.

This is my gift to you...

In February last year I started blogging. It was something I had been contemplating for sometime, but true to form, (being a great procrastinator) it took me sometime to sit down and just do it! EVENTUALLY I created my blog using a Blogger template, added a couple of personal touches and in no time I was hooked. I have never looked back. In fact, I often find myself creating new posts in my head and could easily spend hours visiting other blogs. Mal regularly complains about being a blogging widow!

What continues to surprise and please me, is how many creative, wonderful people are out there and the number of people that drop by and say hi! There are many bloggers I like to visit regularly and then so many new ones I keep finding! You all colour my internet life.

In September last year I added clustermaps to my blog, to track how many visitors I get. This week, I reached a grand total of 10,000! Yes, TEN THOUSAND visitors to my blog! That is amazing to me and is definitely worthy of celebration. And so, as the "This is" theme for this week is of our own choice, I have decided to make it my first blog giveaway in honour of the occasion. This is my thank-you for your inspirational blogs and comments.

So, post a comment by midnight next Saturday and you will be in the draw to win. What do you love about blogging? What is your latest blogging find? What inspires you? Who inspires you? On Sunday of next week, I will draw the lucky winner and post it on my blog.

This is what the lucky winner will win. Can you tell I like pink and that I have a 'thing' for notebooks? I made the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie badge. I plan to add a couple of other bits too, but I will wait now until I see who wins and go and take a look at their blog to see what might be suitable.

Good luck everyone, have a great week and thanks again for visiting.

This is what makes me happy...

1. Window Seat, 2. Beautiful bedding, 3. Frangipani 4, 4. Jump, 5. Sunny smile, 6. Scrabble Dreaming, 7. Full bowl of maltesers, 8. Deserted Beach, 9. Beautiful Shells

It seems to me, that we sometimes forget to acknowledge even the simplest of things that make our lives more pleasurable. And often we spend so much time pondering on the battles of our lives that we don't even realise how lucky, or happy we are.

I have been thinking about it a little lately. Trying to be more aware of the things that bring joy to my life. More often than not, it is the small things that make me happy. So I have made a list, for a couple of reasons... A good list makes me happy and, I have decided to list only 10 things, so I have time to go and visit everyone else's "This is" posts for this week. I hope you have all enjoyed the theme... and you have a happy Sunday.

This is what makes me happy...

A free table in the window of my favourite cafe makes me happy.

Slipping into a freshly laundered bed after a long day makes me happy.

The smell of frangipani on a warm summer evening makes me happy.

Living a creative and adventurous life makes me happy.

Summer smiles make me happy.

Using all my tiles in scrabble on a triple word score... makes me happy.

Curling up, with a good book and a full bowl of maltesers, beside an open fire makes me happy.

A walk on a deserted beach makes me happy.

Beautiful things make me happy.

BUT. ABOVE ALL.
My family and friends makes me happy. When everyone is healthy and happy - so am I. I am happy when spending time in their good company, sharing stories over a healthy meal, laughing. Being happy together. THAT is what makes me happy.

Thanks again to Angela for creating the "this is" magic

This is... the theme for this week.

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it is that makes us truly happy... It is so so easy to get buried under the daily battles and forget the simple pleasures that bring us joy... the love we have for our family and friends, the tune of a favourite song, the beauty that surrounds us daily, the sounds, the visions and the smells that colour our world.

And so the theme for this week (I hope you enjoy it) is...

This is what makes me happy.

Thanks Angela for asking me to suggest the This is theme for this week.

*I have used this photo before and you get to see it again today, because I love it and it makes me happy! Have fun everyone and see you on Sunday.

This is what gives me goosebumps...

The idea of deep water (and especially rough seas) gives me the goosebumps.

I have been swimming with the dolphins and seals in Port Phillip Bay and I grew up near the beach, but deep water and rough surf in particular, gives me goosebumps BIGTIME!

I don't get seasick and I am a regular user of ferries, I really don't know why I have this reaction... A rough trip to Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania on school camp? The movie Perfect Storm? Too many episodes of Gilligan's Island? Perhaps it is more the idea of being out of control in rough water maybe? Whatever it is, the idea of deep water is definitely goosebump material.

A couple of months ago, when I found out my brother was going deep sea fishing off the southern coast of Victoria. I've gotta tell you, my stomach lurched. When I imagined him taking a charter boat out into the ocean, over 40 kilometers off the coast with the aim of catching a bluefin tuna, all I could see were stormy seas and big big waves. I am relieved to say arrived home safely and was even published in the Geelong Addy, having landed the catch of the day!


Tim Smith of Point Lonsdale with the bluefin tuna he caught off Portland aboard Adamas Charters on Sunday. (Photo Rod Lawn).

The theme for this weeks "This is..." came from Flightless Boyds. The "This is..." meme was started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

I see I get to choose the theme for next week - I have been thinking about it all day and I am still undecided... I will let you know by Wednesday... Have a good week everyone.

This is my most treasured childhood possession...

This is a collection of my most treasured childhood possessions.

I was trying to decide what I was going to include and was thinking I might even struggle a bit! Then, this week-end I have been staying in Point Lonsdale (in my childhood home) and managed to find lots of things hidden away in back room cupboards and in secret drawers.

Turned out, I couldn't decide what NOT to include, so I have included a small selection... Favourite dolls, swap cards, the small pop-up toy and my most treasured childhood book The Big Tidy-Up (a recent acquisition) all feature strongly in my childhood memories.

Off to see everyone else's treasures now. Have a great week everyone.

The theme for this weeks "This is..." came from Teacups on Treetops (go and have a look at her blog - it's very cool!). The "This is..." meme was started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This is the space in which I create...

This is my desk at home. It is the place where I do much of my creative work when I'm not at school. There are a few creations in view - a couple complete and many more ready to begin. Each item in the pigeon holes is intended to inspire. From calligraphy inks to juggling balls, mind puzzles to beads and japanese brushes... It's quite a mix. Of course there is jar full of pens and brushes and a number of books, blank paper and photos on my desk close at hand.

The camera is my Dads. I used it recently for some photography as I wanted the transparencies which are larger than normal (6 x 6). It takes great shots, and has a three or four step process before you can flick the button to take the shot. It's certainly not as instant as digital, but the results are pretty amazing.

So, the area in which I create is small, but as long as I keep it relatively tidy it is a pleasant place to work. When I need more space, the kitchen table is my next option.

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was bought to you by Michelle from Quilting Mick. The "This is..." meme was created by the magical Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This is my favourite travel memory...

I love to travel and whilst it has been a few years since I travelled overseas I have some wonderful memories. I saw some incredible places and met some wonderful people. It was an amazing time for me.
In 1989 I spent 4 months doing an overland trip from Kenya to Morocco which finished in London. It was a journey that included Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, African Central Republic, Zaire, Nigeria and Algeria and more. It allowed me the opportunity to see the mountain gorillas in Zaire and travel across the Sahara desert. I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and saw wild animals in their natural habitat including elephant, cheetah and lions.

At 21, it was quite a trip. I look back now and am amazed at how lucky I was... I think it was a combination of good fortune and naivety that saw me go to all these exciting places and travel so safely!

This photo was taken in Zaire when we stopped in a town for supplies. The kids were always so excited to see us. I love their smiles. It was a picture that captured their delight and excitement. And if you had turned the cameras on us, we would have been smiling just the same. It was pretty contagious!

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was bought to you by Hila from Your Cover's Blown.
The "This is..." meme was created by the magical Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This is something I got, but (until recently) still hadn't used...

OK - call me a cheat. But this is the story, of the crepe maker. The item that I got and (until recently) still hadn't used. It's a story worth telling and like all good tales, it talks of rejection and heartache, loss and betrayal, an ultimate reunion and finally a happy ending...

Until recently this item sat hidden away in the kitchen cupboard. It was a Christmas gift in 1997. I quietly sighed at the time, wondering when I would ever use it, and where I could fit it in my limited kitchen storage. I occasionally spied it, but it stayed in it's box until less than a month ago, when I grabbed it out of the said hiding place, and decided it was headed for Ebay. I offered it to visitors, but no-one wanted it.

And then there was a turn of events that would rescue it from EBAY oblivion. We had guests for dinner and no dessert. With the thai curry finished, I had to confess, there was nothing sweet to follow.

"Hmmm," I said... "I do have a crepe maker. We could give it a go if you want to - I'm sure I have flour somewhere!" (OK - so I don't bake very often). The response was enthusiastic. Within half an hour, the crepe maker was released, the instructions read, the recipe followed and the first crepe was being served. Except for the somewhat stale flour (hmmm - not good) it was a great success. We all ate as we created, and entertained ourselves with methods and some mixed results.

Needless to say, it has been returned to the cupboard for future use. Once I buy some new flour.

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was bought to you by Flossy-p.
The "This is..." meme was started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This is what reminds me of my Mum...

One week late I'm afraid - but here it is...

Chocolate freckles remind me of my Mum.

When I was in highschool, Mum used to make me my sandwiches for lunch. At that stage it was a standard peanut butter, which she hated by the way - couldn't stand the smell! In any case, on this particular day, I bit into my sandwich to find an exotic combination of peanut butter AND chocolate freckles.

It was a great surprise, an absolute treat and it totally made my day.

My friends all thought my Mum was cool, if a little strange! She was a bit of a legend after that.

Peanut butter and chocolate freckles.
Go on, try it, you know you want to.

The "This is..." meme started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This is my favourite book... actually I just couldn't stop at one...

I deliberated for some time over which of my 'favourite' books to include on this weeks "This is" meme. Sorry guys - I couldn't restrict it to JUST ONE. I tried... really I did. But finally I decided on three... It was a tough call and I have so many more I could have included... How could I not include "The power of One" or "The Alchemist"? And I feel almost guilty for omitting "The Book Thief" and "The Orange Girl". But here they are... just three. It is an odd collection, but all worthy of a mention.

The Man Who Planted Trees is one of my favourite stories because it is such a beautiful and universal tale. It is a story I have read a number of times now, and have given to friends and family as gifts. A link to the entire story can be found here so you too can enjoy it's magic.

Gone With The Wind is the book I read when I SHOULD have been studying for my HSC exams. You may well laugh! It is corny and melodramatic and an epic I could not put down once I had started. Afterall, how could I resist the charms of Rhett Butler and the unbreakable determination of Scarlett O'Hara. It was far more interesting than biology and Maths!

The Tattooed Flower is a recent addition to my Favourites, and I am adding it in the hope it will inspire you to track it down. It is written by a Melbourne woman (Suzy Zail) about her dying father and his experiences as a child of the Holocaust. I cried in the first pages and again in the last, and in between, it regularly took my breath away at the incredible story of survival against the odds. It is definitely worth a read.

Here is part of a review from Scribe Publications... "The Tattooed Flower is the tender and illuminating story of how a father and daughter choose to spend their last years together: Suzy discovering her father’s past as a child of the Holocaust; and her father teaching his family, by example, how to live well, love fully, and die without fear or regret.

The Tattooed Flower finds hope, love, and beauty in the saddest of places. This is a remarkable, compelling book about life’s lessons, and how one man can leave a mark and make a difference."

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was bought to you by Dees at DaisyinLaLaLand.
The "This is..." meme started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

I am almost too scared to read everyone else's posts as I just know it will only add to the pile of books already waiting to be read. But how can I resist? Wish me luck!

This is my jewellery box...

This was a birthday gift when I was living in London. It has a mirror on the inside of the lid and is lined with dark red velvet. I have always been a silver person as opposed to gold and so this was the perfect gift. As a result, most of my jewelry is also silver.

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was bought to you by Anastasia.
The "This is..." meme started by the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This is... the contents of my handbag

Wow! Now I understand why my bag feels so heavy! And having taken the shot, I realised I hadn't even included my mobile phone or my second (yes SECOND!) set of house keys!

So here it is... the contents of my handbag...
2 sets of "paint your own" Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls!
1 lipgloss and 3 lipsticks - crazy really for a girl who barely wears makeup, and certainly not on a daily basis!
3 purses - one for all my 'normal' purse 'stuff', one for change (that doen't fit in purse no.1) and the third for my Canon IXUS camera which I carry everywhere.
A badge (which I made myself) which is intended to remind me to seriously consider setting up an ETSY store...
A print out of business cards I am mocking up for my cousin's massage business... and a blank CD...
A packet of magnets along with a few cardboard disks to be covered and stuck on my fridge...
A gift voucher for a Thai cooking class which I am taking this Thursday at Pip's Cooking School...
A pay-slip, a travel pass, a few loose coins, and a few hair clips...
The inevitable 3 pens, tissues and my car key...
Yes, there is some needlepoint I started yesterday...
Oh, and 2 diaries... one a daily planner and the second my creative journal...
Phew! I think that's it - I have given myself a bit of a headache! Luckily I have a few Aspro and Panadol close at hand!

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was suggested by Sharon from Iris & Lily.
The "This is..." meme started with the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.

This Is . . . My Favourite Accessory...

This is a bag I made recently in a class at The Kimono House in Melbourne. The class was run by the lovely Nicole of Nicole Mallalieu Designs. who was incredibly patient and managed to keep us all on track. At the end of the day I was amazed I had created such a beautiful satchel.

The subject for this weeks "This is..." was suggested by One Red Robin. Sorry I didn't include a picture of me with thw bag, but the photography and flash into the mirror caused me all sorts of problems - in addition to that, it was a really bad hair day, so this is will just have to do.
The "This is..." meme started with the very creative Angela of Three Buttons fame.