☆ Round

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What a hellish week.

Absolutely. Hellish. We farewelled my beautiful cousin and it was just about the most painful thing I have ever been through.

But we continue on, because we have to don't we? We move forward three steps, take a few shuffles side ways, and continue on.

We go round.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Thank you those who left such lovely and supportive comments last week. It meant a huge amount, during such a terrible time.

Have a great week.
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(Linking to AEDM)

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☆ Vanity [Illustration Friday]

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I would like to thank everyone for their lovely and supportive comments, over the last week. I usually try to thank everyone personally, but I this week has just been too overwhelming. I appreciate each and every one of your lovely comments and the support means a lot.

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So this weeks IF prompt is Vanity. Before I started sketching this prompt, I watched as Bean and Bug preened in front of the full length mirror in my bed room.

Bean was twirling, and swishing, singing 'I am a beautiful princess, with a pretty tutu, and beautiful hair, and cinderetta shoes'. et cetera.

Bug, at 15 months is not speaking yet, but was swishing, and preening, patting her hair and holding out her tutu, too.

She's a mini princess.

I often ask my mother how I ended up with two diva's, when I was such a tomboy. She says it divine irony.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

So this weeks life lesson from Bean & Bug is... Celebrate your inner princess.

And spend a moment or two of vanity, admiring your hair, your tutu and your cinderetta princess shoes, and your total and utter awesomeness.

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Linking to AEDM

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☆ AEDM - Day 20

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This week my family and I had some tragic news, one of my cousins, my beautiful, vibrant, twenty-two year old cousin, died. He was such a gorgeous soul, and he is so missed. My heart is breaking not only for a life cut short, but for his family, his parents, his brothers, his grand mothers.

My family has been such a comfort, Mr Mac has looked out for me, my girls, not sure of whats different, have been giving me extra hugs, and I love yous. And my art has given me comfort, a place to escape, but I feel raw.

I am raw.

'Hope'
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

So give your loved ones extra hugs and kisses, tell those you love that you love them, and don't waste a single moment of this life that you've been given. Listen to your squeaks, your whispers and to quote Oprah 'live your best life'.

Have a great week.
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(linking with AEDM)

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☆ The Harlequin [Inspiration Avenue]

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Harlequins, Jesters, Clowns... they all seem so sad to me. Laughing on the out side, but crying inside.

I suppose their mask is more obvious than others.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Have a great weekend.

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(ALSO linking to AEDM)

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☆ AEDM - DAY 18

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AEDM is the most incredible challenge, just when I think I must have exhausted all my ideas I sit down with my pad and this is what ended up on the paper. 

Bird Song
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

My own little princess wants this one in her room, but wondered - where the princess birds hair, dress and legs were?

Nothing like a three year old critic!

Have a great weekend
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☆ AEDM - Day 17

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Day 17 of AEDM...

Captain Midnight
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

I don't even know where to start with ole captain here! I have no idea where her inspiration sprung from - but there is something about her that really speaks to me.

She needs a bit more pondering I think.

Linking to AEDM over at Create Everyday
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☆ AEDM - Check In Day 15

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Wow - I can't believe that its half way through the month, half way through the AEDM challenge.

It's amazing how quickly the month is progressing, and I am amazed that there is no resistance or procrastination on my behalf - because that happens a lot when I take on a challenge. Once I move through that phase its usually all good, but getting beyond it can be really difficult.

This is a princess that I sketch early on in the year, and decided that she needed painting.

Princess of Hearts
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Check out what the other participants of AEDM are up to here

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☆ Silent [Illustration Friday]

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I remember a time when I tried really hard to be silent. I tried to silence my thoughts during yoga and meditations, I turned off the radio and tv for ten minutes to collect myself, but I found these enforced periods of silence were awful. I hated them. Resented them, and they felt unnatural.

When I was studying for my HSC (my final school exams) my mum, who is a teacher, came back from a conference full of studies that dealt with how children with learning difficulties brains work and how traditional study techniques don't work for them/ me. So armed with a cassette of baroque music (oh I am so showing my age now huh!!) I studied with that music day and night and in the end I am positive it helped me pass my exams.

So instead of heading off random thoughts during meditation I encourage them, and followed them through. Instead of turning off the radio or tv, I turn them up. It feels natural.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Ironically just after writing this we had our first power outage of the summer, so for 45 minutes I've had to actually talk to my husband eeek!

Have a great week x

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(also linking to AEDM.)

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☆ Inspiration Avenue

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Before I begin on this weeks IA prompt I would love to thank everyone for their wonderfully supportive and lovely comments of late. I have tried to reply to everyone individually, but I encountered a few 'no-reply-blogger' email addys so I am not sure everyone has recieved a reply. But know that I am very thankful for the encouragement and support xx

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This weeks inspiration avenue prompt was paying homage to the seamstress and the crafts woman.

Well I am no seamstress, but I do love the occasional sewing session. Sometimes though, my projects  end up half done - like the owl mobile I made for Bug's birthday that took two months to hang up or the beautiful curtains I made that are still hanging unhemmed. (and thats a good 15" hem fyi- not just a few cm's!)

I have grand plans for a hand made and crafty christmas - there is the princess fiona plushie dolls, the art suitcases, the reciprocal home made gifts for my sister and brother in-law, the cake pops, the rum balls and home made pudding.

But these are all works in progress that haven't yet progressed from scribbled notes or even left my head!

So this is the piece that was inspired by this prompt.

'Princess Illona would rather eat cake.'
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Bean helped me with the final touches - shoes were a must, a crown obviously, and she told me that she was missing a baby - a green shrek baby. When I asked her what I should write - she said 'The princess wants a green shrek baby.'

Of course I said what about 'I'd rather eat cake?' and she said 'no mama - she'd rather a green shrek baby!'

Hmmmm...

(Linking with AEDM)
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☆ AEDM - Check in

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AEDM - Day Ten & Eleven....

I am having so much fun! I was slightly worried that I wouldn't have any ideas, that the creative spark would fail me but they have flowed continuously so far. I guess its like any muscle once exercised it continues to grow stronger.

So here is day ten:

Open Your Heart
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

 And day eleven:

'your heart is a licious'
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

'Your heart is a licious' is inspired by my eldest daughter Bean who couldn't say delicious, so she would say, while devouring chocolate or ice cream or broccoli (perhaps trying to convince herself) 'mmmm this is 'a licious mama!

Speaking of 'a licious, how cute are bean and bug dressed in their wedding finery?

Delish!

Have a great weekend
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☆ Inspiration Wednesday

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I thought I would share with you some amazing, quirky, and cool things that I have snapped over the past few weeks.

Things I thought that I would never see, things that I perhaps wouldn't have seen if for that instant I was open.

Jackson Pollock and Salvador Dali inspired Gnomes at Floriade

The old watch tower in a summer fog 

This Baby Kookaburra decided to shop at Aldi's with Bean, Bug and I

 Pink pink sparkle shoes under UV lights - who knew?

I should take advice from my McDonald's coffee more often!

Sunrise over Sydney Harbour from the botanic gardens

The colour of this Bamboo - gorgeous

Most places tell you to keep off the grass and not to hug the trees! Loved this welcoming message

Graffiti wall in a random lane way

What's inspiring you this week?
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☆ Stripes [Illustration Friday]

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I am feeling so much better after my weekend of excess and a good twelve hours sleep seemed to help!

So I am not sure where this one came from, only that she was in my head one morning on a walk.

Some drawings just flow, and others just are stubborn and take more time to appear on the page - this one took three hours of sketching, erasing, and re sketching. She just didn't want to appear... and in my heart I don't think she is finished.

So I think I will put her away, for another time when I have had a chance to ponder what it is she needs.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

She doesn't look all that impressed the christmas is only seven weeks ago... but then neither am I!

(Also linking to AEDM)

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☆ AEDM Check in

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I started off so well with AEDM - I was so organised and have heaps of inspiration, but my brothers wedding on saturday threw a bit of a spanner into the works.

So not much creating this weekend, I couldn't even find five minutes to post my painting I finished for the Inspiration Avenue challenge this week, but it was worth it - the gorgeous couple had the most glorious day with the harbour bridge as the back drop, lunch on the waterfront, and an after party over flowing with mojito's.

So as I am feeling slightly fragile, I will share a few photos of the art I have created this week, and start planning for next weeks.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Have a great week.
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☆ Art Every Day Month

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Have you signed up for Art Every Day Month over at creativeeveryday.com?

Crazy person that I am I decided to challenge myself and join in. I am slightly anxious, very excited, and I have lots of ideas and a few new materials to explore.

But in between weddings, normal weekly schedules, dance recitals, the lead up to christmas, I may have to be more organized in finding some time each day to create.

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