Friday, October 31, 2014

☆Hello. I am the Meanest Mama EVER [Friday Art]

Week 44 - October 31st 2014

I am the worst mama in the world.

My poor children. Apparently they have the meanest mama in the whole wide world.

Ever.

But I swear it isn't my fault. The reason I am a Mean Mama is cause we happen to live in the southern hemisphere.

Meanest. Ever.

When I grew up I lived in rural Australia. We had two tv channels, probably one radio station, there was no internet + beyond sesame street + play school there wasn't really any other kids shows. If you were lucky the Easter Bunny bought one large egg (not six + no presents) + Valentines day was a suggestion not a must do. Christmas was hot. July is freezing.

My children are so lucky.

They are able to explore other cultures + traditions at the click of a button. They are more worldly, more knowledgable. They aren't as insulated as I was.

But there are a few draw backs of this amazingness....

My kids expect it to snow at Christmas instead of being 40°C.

They want to put the fire on + roast marshmallows. (see above 40°C comment.)

And they are desperate to dress up + traverse the streets collecting armfuls of candy tonight.

Awesome. No problem. And maybe I could produce some fake snow + we can roast marshmallows over the BBQ while sitting under the air conditioning + absolutely they can dress up. But....

I was the unfortunate parent who told Bean + Bug we don't do trick or treating in Australia.

I am a mean mama.

Bean informed me (to which Bug enthusiastically nodded + mmhmm'd the whole time), "when I have children they will be allowed to trick or treat." Foot stomp. Head shake.

And I understand the frustration. It's confusing for them.

Because there is Halloweeny paraphernalia in the shops just now but as far as I know no one is trick or treating.

Because Jack is the Pumpkin King + Sally is his queen.

Because even Peppa Pig celebrates Halloween + everyone knows if Peppa Pig does it so do we..(including pig snorts at the table...)

Because even if I had candy in the cupboard, (which Mac would most likely have devoured moments after it hit our shelves) the probability of someone knocking on my door is as likely as it snowing on Christmas day in hell... oops... central west NSW.

I am the worst mama in the world.

So heres my nod to Halloween + Día de Muertos.

And maybe we will pig out on chocolate bars + watch Jack + Sally save Christmas.

Just so I can reclaim the BEST MAMA IN THE WORLD title.

Some one else can claim the mean mama title.... I've had it for a week now...

So tell me, what is your favourite Halloween memory? I can honestly say I learnt about halloween from reading Judy Blume + Sweet Valley High books + watching the Halloween movies. It wasn't until I was in my thirty's + living in Scotland that I finally went trick or treating - I took a friends son and I had to negotiate a cut of his candy....

I would love to hear your memories - please feel free to leave me a comment below

[LINKING TO PAINT PARTY FRIDAY]

post signature

Did you know that I send out a monthly love letter with studio snippets, a monthly give away of one of my paintings or products, a free calendar download + more. Click here or on the image below for more + your free downloadable gratitude angel

The next Newsletter is sent out Nov 1st. Are you this months winner?

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

☆ New In Store {LILLIBEAN DESIGNS SPOTLIGHT}

Every month I take great delight is sharing with you some of the items that I have for sale in the LilliBean Designs Store.

Most of these items are available through my etsy store, unless other wise noted.

If you follow me on either Facebook or Instagram you will have seen that the 2015 wall calendars have arrived + if you've pre-ordered one, you should have received information on payment + delivery.

[If you haven't please contact me directly]

But if you haven't pre ordered + you would like a calendar, I ordered a few extras which are now listed in the LilliBean Designs Store.

AU$20 each + postage ($5 for Australian purchases + $15 every where else.)

Click here for more.

I have a small selection of these hand painted notebooks left - they have proved to be so popular with the market crowd!

They are blank inside so they can be used for sketching, writing your dreams, poetry, grocery lists or to do lists. There are no limits to the uses of these notebooks.

And with christmas around the corner, unique stocking fillers!

$20 each + postage - click here to see the selection available.

Another popular addition to the LilliBean Designs Store are these small hanging wall plaques.

I have been told that they look awesome on door handles, on fridges + of course the wall.

Only $20 (+ postage) you can see the complete range of plaques + canvases here

Check out this section of the LilliBean Designs Store for ONE OF A KIND, original artworks that have been reduced.

Keep up to date with new items, special listings + limited editions on Facebook or follow the LilliBean Designs store here

I love hearing from y'all, so if you have any questions, any queries, discuss payment options, or don't have an etsy store please feel free to contact me directly.

post signature

my next love letter is due out November 1st

Monday, October 27, 2014

☆ Healing Intuitive Goddess [Life Book]

Week 40 - A Healing Intuitive Goddess Painting with Kate Thompson

Kate Thompson was my guide for this weeks Life Book lesson.

And a healing intuitive goddess was just what I needed this week!

During this lesson I ran through a gamut of emotions.

From joy (loved smooshing my texture paint through stencils - it gives a beautiful base texture.)

To frustration (at one stage my goddess looked more like a pink smurf, than a dignified goddess!)

And finally the feeling when I am certain a painting is done, when my soul settles + when my goddess is herself. I guess this feeling is peace.

Healing Intuitive Goddess.

What makes your soul settle? Is it a job well done? A beautiful painting? Seeing family? I'd love to hear what makes you feel peace.

post signature

Next love letter comes out November 1st...

Friday, October 24, 2014

☆ Believe [Friday Art]

Week 43: October 2014

Sitting at my new desk this week, I was itching to paint. Itching to break it in. Itching to see paint splatters marring it's pristine white top.

The problem was I didn't know what I wanted to paint.

I opened up my sketch book.

I found a page to use.

And I sat there.

Looking at it.

Not knowing where to start.

Not knowing what to paint.

I remembered meeting a beautiful soul at the markets last month, who asked me if my intuition spoke to me through my art. If what I painted was what I needed to hear at that moment.

Which obviously it does. I've just never formally asked.

So looking at this empty page, I decided to ask myself

"Dear Kirstin, self, tell me what do I need to hear right now?"

(Yes this was out loud. I am a goof!)

Then I decided not to think too hard about it. I just sketched. I just painted. I just played.

And when I finished, I couldn't figure out what she was telling me...

Something about the sky? Stars?

So unsure about the message I let her be for a while.

Today as I was preparing to scan her, to write this post, I knew exactly what she needed to hear.

Exactly what I needed to hear

I struggle at times; am overwhelmed others.

Struggle with doubt verses faith.

Struggle with believing in my self verses hearing my inner bitch.

Every one does.

But today, this is what I need to know. That if I listen to my heart. If I take a chance and trust myself. I will be on my path to my true north.

What about you?

post signature

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

☆ How do I find my voice in a world where there are many?

Once a month I send out a short newsletter, where I share what's going on my head at the moment, a free downloadable calendar featuring my art + announce the winner of that months give away. This is a short snippet from October's newsletter that I thought might be of interest + be relevant to others.

"How do I find my voice in a world where there are many?"

I was asked the other day, how I discovered my 'voice'? How did I make my blog + my art my own?

And I realised that I don't have an easy answer. (Sorry guys now ten step solution here!)

But please, if you are trying to find your own voice, your own style, your identity, don't give up JUST YET!

2011 - 'Beneath'
Still discovering my style

Some days I don't feel like I have progressed very far in my journey. Some days when my little bitch is in full force, I feel I should just throw in the... well, throw in the paint brush...so to speak.

But, and this is so important: What I realised early on was I needed to show up. I needed to keep writing + painting. Even if it sucked.

Even if I hated it.

Even if I lost confidence in my self.

And if you are struggling with finding your 'voice' I want you to keep going. Keep doing what it is you aren't sure about. Keep doing what you are afraid of.

Cats Eyes - 2012
Developing the style that I use today

You see, I re-read some of my very early blog posts + have looked at some of my very early art.

And WOW. Sometimes I cringed. And sometimes I smiled. And sometimes I just wanted to press delete.

Because in the beginning I wasn't myself.

In the beginning, I was so busy reading what I should do, should write about, should paint, that those very early posts seem to be some one else. I swear (like a lot), I throw tantrums, I am definitely not a domestic goddess, my washing is piled up, my kitchen is like a bomb went off + my bed is rarely made.

And it took me a very long time to be ok with that. And I am. Now

2014. How I paint today.

So my answer to that very sweet yet, very difficult to answer question is this: I am so sorry that there isn't a ten step check list to answer this question.

HOWEVER:

If you keep showing up.

If you keep doing what ever it is that you're doing right now that makes you happy.

If you keep doing what fuels your desire

If you keep doing what makes your soul sigh,

Then eventually your voice will shine through all on its own.

Eventually your voice will be true + your style will be yours.

And don't worry if in the beginning if you don't look/ sound like yourself. It's all a part of your journey.

I pinkie swear it. And if you don't believe me check out my first few posts.... or not. Definitely not.

So what about you? How did you develop your style. Are you still working on it? Share with us your stories, your tips, your how-to's - I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

You can read the rest of Octobers News here
post signature

The monthly love letter with studio snippets, has a monthly give away of one of my paintings or products, a free calendar download + more. Click here or on the image below for more + your free downloadable gratitude angel

Monday, October 20, 2014

☆ Botanicals Painting [Life Book 2014]

Week 39 - Botanicals: Painting on Paper & Dry Media with Alena Hennessy

This was such a lovely lesson. I loved that this lesson was intuitive, but I didn't feel like I usually do when I paint intuitively.

Let me explain....

I know that mostly I do paint intuitively.

More often than not, I don't know what I will paint until I sit down. I don't know which colours I will use, or which materials I will use.

More often than not, I make decisions in the moment.

I do this instinctively.

Naturally.

BUT as soon as I stick a label on it, like 'intuitively' then I loose all confidence in the way I am painting.

Crazy right?

I suspect this is tied in with my inner bitch. And the fact that she has for 30ish years told me I am not an artist.

'You can't draw' she's told me. 'You can't paint' she's gloated. And now I suspect she is using an almost whisper as she tells me 'You can't paint intuitively'.

I loved Flora's lesson, but the whole time I was painting I felt uncomfortable. And the painting seemed forced. It didn't feel natural.

This one felt easy + it flowed.

I loved it.

I wonder where else, in my life, where I am struggling to break free of past behaviours, I would be more successful, if I was to relabel it!

What about you??

post signature

Friday, October 17, 2014

☆ Blue Feathers [Friday Art]

I have had such a busy week, organising, sorting, throwing out, putting things away in their new home...

This week I moved my studio.

It's a move I have been thinking about a long time now.

Something that I was always planning to do when we redid our kitchen + renovated our garage.

One day.

Some day.

While we were away, we stayed with my brother + his family. And we love hanging out with these guys - they are so chilled, our kids play awesomely together (99% of the time!), their patch of paradise so peaceful, our conversations lively + I love sitting on their back deck + dreaming.

So sitting on the back deck, cold beer in hand, looking over their two acres of peace, I was thinking some of the dreams that we have been shelving.

To do one day.

Some day.

And then I thought about all the huge dreams I have. The huge dreams we have. All these dreams that we put on hold because we don't have time. Don't have the money. Don't have the inclination.

And the startling thought I had was this:

There were parts of these dreams I had that I could do now. That I could begin right now. Things that aren't dependent on one day. On some day.

It was like I was electrocuted. Such a simple thought. One that has the potential to change everything.

So once we had a day to recover from the long drive home, I enlisted Mac + we moved the studio from downstairs to a sunny room upstairs.

I wish I had done it earlier.

I loved my room downstairs. Loved. It.

But there were always little things that made it difficult to work in.

As soon as my desk was put in my new room. I felt at home. I felt settled.

BLUE FEATHERS - journal page painting. © kirstin mcculloch LilliBean Designs http://kirstinmcculloch.blogspot.com.au

Blue Feathers
Mixed Media Journal Page

This is the first new painting in my studio. It was a page in my journal that I had used to wipe ink sprays on in the past + I never knew what to do with it.... until this week!

So I wonder if I am guilty of pushing my dreams to one day + some day, if you are doing the same. And I wonder if there are little things that you can do today to make those dreams just a little bit closer?

Feel free to share what steps you are going to take to move a step closer to your dreams next week below in the comments. I would love to hear what your planning!

And now I am off to measure steps. To make another of my one day dreams just one step closer...

[LINKING TO PAINT PARTY FRIDAY]

post signature

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

☆ Creating with Kids [October 2014]

Since Bean started school, it's been hard to find blocks of time to create with her + Bug.

Not like we've done in the past anyway.

They often paint on the weekends: We drag out the watercolours and blank paper for them to play.

But I have missed the one on one, chunks of time + watching their faces as they learn new things.

So I was trying to figure out how to do this with them, when I received an email - one of those 'recommended for you' emails that had Keri Smiths 'Wreck this Journal' in it.

(Yet again the universe speaks to me - via email this time!)

I bought three books. One each for the big girls + me and as soon as they came in the post we started.

"Awesome" says Miss Bean

I adore this book. Adore. It.

I love that we can spend short amounts of time, being creative, being spontaneous, being fun. We don't need special materials, special paints or studio space. All we need is this book.

The other reason I adore this book, is that it pushes my very rule oriented Bean into doing things that make her uncomfortable. Hell, even I had a problem cracking the spin of my book - this being one of my huge pet peeves!

So if you don't have a huge amount of free time, you have kids and you want to create with them, you should definitely try something like this book.

Do you create with kids? What ideas do you have to create in short bursts of time? We would love to hear your tips + tricks.

post signature

Monday, October 13, 2014

☆ Intuitively Creating with Flora Bowley [Life Book}

Week 38 - Brave Intuitive Painting with Flora Bowley

no brushes needed

Well...

This was one of the hardest lessons I have ever done.

Not because it was technically difficult.

Not because the subject was hard.

Nope.

The reason I found this one of the hardest, is because I was accessing new ways of painting that I had never done before.

Using a range a tools, from potato stamps, flowers, feathers, and other items I found around the house, the pantry + the fridge I made marks.

Marks that had no real rhyme or reason.

Marks that were intuitive.

I had no idea that this would unleash my inner bitch + bring her to the front.

Every mark I made she has something to say.

Every time I added something new she had a comment,

I had to walk away several times...

And I realise that the reason my inner bitch was out to play, was because this was something I hadn't done before.

It felt foreign + uncomfortable.

So uncomfortable...

In the end, although I am not particularly fond of the painting, I love that it represents that I pushed past the doubt, the criticism + the fear.

I think I will need to make some more of these types of paintings, paintings that use my intuition.

I would love to be in a place that I could create with out the commentary of my inner bitch.

What about you? Are you comfortable with your intuition guiding you while creating, playing or living? Or does your inner bitch like to pop up + share her two cents?? I'd love to hear your stories.

post signature

Friday, October 3, 2014

☆ Hidden Moon [Friday Art]

This was supposed to be something else.

I started with a quote in my head about a single star in black.

Once I started sloshing paint on the page it became something else.

But I like it.

A lot!

I decided that it needed a quote + in amongst the cliched moon quotes this one leapt out at me.

And I think we all, just like the moon, we keep a little part of us hidden.

Have a fabulous weekend. I will be back around the week after next. We are having some quiet family time before the crazy festy season starts.

Yikes!

[LINKING TO PAINT PARTY FRIDAY]
post signature

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Pages