Been and Done

Harvest.

2012-02-26T14:43:00.002+11:00

We have been experiencing an abundant harvest in our garden!

We moved house knowing that there would still be vegetables coming through, but I must admit I didn't image it to be this successful. Every few days we go back and visit, to water and to pick ripe vegetables, and we have been coming home with oodles of capsicums, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, chilli, corn, celery and herbs. WOW.

Amazingly there is still a lot more growing! This is the first summer in a long time that we have been home to tend to the garden. I love the growth in our garden, and am still excited to be eating our own harvest.

Already we have made Tomato Relish, Tomato Sauce and pickled 20kg cucumbers. And next we will make salsa with our chilli's and capsicums, cook our eggplant in a tagine, and make more relish because our last batch was ridiculously tasty.

Love it.

Blessings.

2012-02-23T09:31:00.001+11:00

Without a doubt one of the greatest blessings in my life are my six nephews and nieces!

I love seeing their characters flourishing, enjoying their conversation, and spending time with them. They are fun, spontaneous, thoughtful, generous, funny, loud, loving, unique and incredibly precious.

This week we celebrate the first Birthday of our littlest niece and Godchild.
What a gem!

An image of Love.

2012-02-12T22:45:00.003+11:00

Next weekend I have the incredible honour of photographing our friend's wedding. Today we shared ideas of what the day might look like through the camera. I love the celebration of love and I can't wait to be part of their very special day.

Moving House: CD Sale.

2012-02-08T08:39:00.000+11:00

As we have just moved house, we are also in the process of significantly downsizing in many areas, including our music collection!

We LOVE music, and have a wonderful CD collection... but just like our books, we need to part with many of our CDs too! Here are the first 75, and I'm asking $3 per CD with a *minimum of 5 if possible, please* (plus postage). Some of these CDs are very recent, and some we've both had since we were in High School, but we're happy for them to now find a new home now...

~~1. Hillsong United - Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls~~ KP
~~2. Hillsong United - The I Heart Revolution (2 disk)~~ MK
3. Hilltop Hoods - State of the Art
~~4. Linkin Park - [Hybrid Theory]~~ KP
5. Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams
~~6. Hillsong United - Aftermath~~ MK
7. The Script - The Script
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (2 disk)
9. U2 -Achtung Baby
10. U2 - Zooropa
11. Jay-Z - The Hits Collection, Volume One
12. MAGIK Seven - Live in Los Angeles, Mixed by DJ Tiesto
13. Green Day - Nimrod
14. Green Day - Warning
15. P.O.D. - Payable on Death (Bonus DVD)
16. Artists United for Africa - In the Name of Love
17. DC Talk - Jesus Freak
18. Delirious? - The Mission Bell
19. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
20. Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute
2l. Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
22. Red Hot Chili Peppers - What Hits!?
23. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (2 disk)
~~24. Steven Curtis Chapman - All about Love~~ KA
~~25. Compassionart - Creating Freedom from Poverty (Bonus DVD)~~ KP

26. The Cranberries - No Need to Argue
~~27. United Live - Everday~~ MK
28. Eskimo Joe
29. The Superjesus - Sumo
30. Chevelle - Wonder What's Next
31. Supertones - Hi-Fi Revival
32. Beanbag - Well Adjusted
33. Zao - (Self titled)
34. Wild - Volume 9
35. Wild - Volume 14
36. Wild - Volume 15
37. Wild - Volume 16: Wild Nights
38. Club Mix 2000
39. Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack
40. Romeo + Juliet Sountrack 2
41. Triple JJJ Hottest 100 - 1994 (2 disk)
42. Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape
43. Shawn Mcdonald - Simply Nothing
44. Skunkhour - Chin Chin
45. Moloko - Things to Make and Do
46. Jewel - Spirit
47. Skunkhour - (Self titled)
48. Ministry of Sound - Dance Nation 2003
49. Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
50. Ben Harper - Fight for your Mind

51. Shawn Mcdonald - Live in Seattle
~~52. Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown~~ KA
53. Incubus - Make Yourself
54. Ministry of Sound - Moving Melodies
55. Triple JJJ - Hottest 100 4 (1997)
56. Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
57. Charlie's Angels Soundtrack
58. Jars of Clay - If I Left the Zoo
~~59. Hillsong - For All You've Done (2 disk)~~ MK
60. Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me
~~61. Hillsong - Touching Heaven, Changing Earth~~ MK
62. Missy Higgins - The Sound of White
63. Youth Alive - The Plan
64. Youth Alive - Chosen One
65. Youth Alive - Generation
66. The OC Supertones - Chase the Sun
~~67. Audio Adrenaline - Some Kind of Zombie~~ KA
68. Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business
~~69. Missy Higgins - On a Clear Night~~ KP
~~70. Jars of Clay - Platinum~~ KA
71.Ghoti Hook - Sumo Surprise
72. The OC Supertones - Loud and Clear
73. Common Children - Delicate Fade
74. The Dance Beat 93 (2 disk)
75. Demon Hunter - Storm the Gates of Hell

Please leave a comment below for the CD's your keen for, including your email address, and I'll contact you to arrange payment and to get your postal details.

Thanks!

Moving House: Additional Book Sale.

2012-02-05T17:16:00.000+11:00

Books, books, books!

In addition to the books I posted already today, here are another 18 books I am prepared to part with as we squeeze into our very compact flat. I would really like to find a good home for our books. No book should end up in storage, and I certainly can't pack up and take all my books with me. So, I'm having a book sale! I'm asking $5 per book plus postage, but if you want to buy many I am happy to negotiate a good price for you (Love some African bartering). Some books I bought new and some were second-hand for me... but Ben or I have read most of these them and looked after them, and they are in good-used condition. I am happy to give reviews on any if you want...

1. The Rebels' Hour - Lieve Joris (Illuminated the dark heart of contemporary Congo as seen through the eyes of the rebel leader, Assani)

~~2. Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The story of an African Childhood - Robyn Scott (From NZ to Botswana, a great read!)~~ MEL

3. Dreams from my Father - Barack Obama

~~4. Scar Tissue - Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer, an incredible life's story!)~~ MEL

5. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down - Anne Fadiman (A Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures)

~~6. Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela (Incredible insight into South Africa, Apartheid and the life of Nelson Mandela)~~ MEL

7. A Golden Age - Tahmima Anam (Story set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence)

8. Ugly - Constance Briscoe (The true story of a loveless childhood)

9. No Logo - Naomi Klein (A book about consumption, exploitation, excess and branding)

~~10. The Jesus I never knew - Philip Yancey (uncovers a Jesus who is brilliant, creative challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable and ultimately satisfying)~~ KATHY

11. The consolations of imperfection - Donald McCullough (Learning to appreciate life's limitations)

12. My seventh monsoon - Naomi Reed (A missionary story of a couple from the Blue Mountains Sydney, working, sharing and learning in Nepal)

13. Vision for God: The Story of Dr. Margaret Brand (working with those suffering from leprosy in India)

14. The Calling: A challenge to walks the narrow road - Brother Andrew ("Pay attention to the call of God in your everyday life - and then follow it. Because it is here that we can begin changing the world) LIBBY

15. The Narrow Road: Stories of those who walk this road together - Brother Andrew

16. Captivating: A guided journal - John and Stasi Eldredge (Unveiling the mystery of a Woman's soul)

~~17. Traveling Light - Max Lucado (Releasing the burdens you were never intended to bear)~~ KATHY

18. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey (Awesome book!)

All money I get for these precious books will be saved to go towards our work overseas. If you're keen for books, be sure to check out my other listing on my blog - please leave a comment below for the books you'd like!

Moving House: Book Sale.

2012-02-05T16:16:00.000+11:00

As we have just moved house, and massively downsized our floor space... though I love books, it is time to find a good home for lots of them!

No good book should end up in storage, and I certainly can't pack up and take all my books overseas with me. So, I'm having a book sale! Here are the first 18, and I'm asking $5 per book (plus postage). Some books I bought new and some were second-hand for us... but I've read most them and looked after them, and they are all in good condition. If am happy to give reviews on any if you want...

1. Fed Up - World Vision (Devotional for teens about love, poverty and change)

2. China, Inc - Ted C. Fishman (The relentless rise of the next great superpower)

3. Cheap Ways To... (Don't just spend less. Live more)

4. China's Christian Millions - Tony Lambert.

5. Living Water - Brother Yun (The same author as The Heavenly Man)

6. The Road Less Travelled - M. Scott Peck.

7. Faith Like Potatoes - Angus Buchan (The story of a farmer who risked everything for God)

8. Back To Jerusalem - Three Chinese Church Leaders with Paul Hattaway (Called to complete the Great Commission)

~~9. The City of Joy - Dominique Lapierre (An epic venture into the soul of humanity - filled with love, tenderness and hope) Based in India - I LOVE this book!~~ MEL

10. Extreme Devotion: The voice of the Martyrs - Daily Devotion

11. The Divine Art of Networking - Mal Garvin

12. The Message: The Old Testament Wisdom Books

13. The Vow - Ed Gungor (How a forgotten ancient practice can transform your life)

14. Us Aussies - Mal Garvin

15. Prayer - Phillip Yancey (Does it make any difference?)

~~16. Family - M.I.L.K photography~~ MEL

17. Jesus Freaks - DC Talk and the voice of the Martyrs (The stories of those who stood for Jesus: The ultimate Jesus Freaks)

18. Secret Believers - Brother Andrew & Al Janseen (What happens when Muslims turn to Christ?)

If you're keen on a book, please leave a comment below and we can arrange payment and postage. Also leave a comment if you have any questions about any of my books. There will be more to come, plus CD's & DVD's!

Woolly winner.

2012-01-23T20:49:00.003+11:00

Thank you to all those who entered my woolly give-away.

The competition has closed and the name has been drawn!

And... Congratulations EMMA BOYD!

A big bag of woolly goodness is coming your way! Thanks everyone again for getting involved, and I'm sorry there was only one winner. I am loving those creative ideas and inspirations you're sharing.

Be sure to come back and keep your eye out for more creative inspired give-aways this week and next!

Wool Giveaway.

2012-01-18T12:38:00.000+11:00

Change is in the air at our house! And we have dismantled our house and are slowly, and significantly, downsizing in preparation for moving overseas.

And, anyone who has been to our house before will be fully aware of just how many creative resources I have collected! But as discussed previously on my blog, I know that I need to find new homes for some of these wonderful resources.

So, I have begun with my wool collection...

I have a garbage bag bursting with a selection of wool. It has wool of every colour, texture, size and fibre content. It would be perfect for crochet or knitted squares, for a rug, for beanies, for softies or tea cosies, baby booties or winter scarves, or for anything your creative imagination can think of!

I've already given away one bag to my lovely sister, and now I'd like to give away the other...

So, if you'd like to be in the running to receive this massive bag of wool, please leave me a comment below and tell me what you'll do with it! I'd love to pick my favourite answer, but I think instead I will draw a name out of a hat. Giveaway finishes 6pm Sunday 22nd January.

If you live in Melbourne or Tasmania we can arrange to deliver the bag of wool to you, but if you live anywhere else in Australia you are responsible to find a way to get this wool home!

Thanks for sharing in the wooly giveaway!

Green space.

2012-01-10T16:57:00.000+11:00

Holidays are lovely.

And I especially love the chance to take a break at Christmas and New Year.

We have just enjoyed a holiday: a change of scenery, an adventure, a break from the everyday-ordinary , time away from work and home.

And, what I missed most from home was our 'green space'.

Our house is nice, though I wish it was smaller and ours so we could make changes and update it. I do love our 'stuff' inside, but it is our garden that I miss when I'm away! I love this green space and over the past two years we have totally transformed this space. We have pruned and mowed, built up and cut down, dug and weeded, watered and watched.

As soon as we got home we worked side by side to inspect, celebrate and share in the progress and growth of our garden. Ben mowed and the green space was transformed. I feel at home here, and when we move I will miss this space.

We have SO much green: three varieties of lettuce, corn, red/green/yellow capsicum, mint, tomatoes, parsley, chillies, cucumber, beetroot, celery, eggplant, pumpkin, bok choi, spring onions, dill and zucchini.

But I remember that rather than lingering on this space and missing it like crazy, I'd rather capture and celebrate that the amazing thing about a vegetable garden is that we can have it wherever we go! With just some soil, seeds and time, we can rediscover this place of growth and harvest.

Tomatoes, and self-seeded pumpkins.

We have planted what seems like a million tomatoes so that we can make our own tomato sauce and tomato relish soon. Oh my goodness, I really can't wait!

But what I realise when I am in this green space is just how much joy it brings me. I love to get my hands dirty in the soft soil, and play around with the hose when I'm watering the garden. I enjoy peeking in at the worm farm and spending time feeding the chickens. I love to harvest vegetables, but my favourite thing to do is to watch the vegetables grow. We have tiny little green chillies, and cute purple flowers on the eggplants, we have small yellow capsicums and leafy green lettuces. This green space is often on my mind, and in my imagination, and I'm thankful for the abundance of fresh food.

I often notice how many birds come and visit our back yard because of our chickens. They sing and play and eat the left over chicken feed in the lawn. Can you see the little dove on the chicken house? It's so lovely to be able to be close to the birds, bees, worms, snails, butterflies, though perhaps not the earwigs and the spiders!

Ben and I are on a journey, and 2012 is shaping up to be a big year. And as I look ahead I feel like we we've planted many seeds and set off on the path we're travelling and now we're waiting for the growth and harvest. Seasons change, and there is always something to miss in the past seasons but we must celebrate what is before us. I remember the wonderful harvest we've seen in our green space in the past, but what I see right here and right now is to be celebrated. And what is to come is even greater than where we've been before because we are learning and trying new things and we are growing in skills, ideas, dreams and faith. I can hold, touch, watch, smell, and see the growth we have in our garden right now, and it is delightful. It is fresh and new.

Our abundant harvest really is too much for just the two of us! So, if you live nearby would you like to swap some of your harvest with us? We can offer cucumbers, bok choi and lettuce fresh from our garden. I would love to swap for some of your fresh produce, or perhaps something else you have made?

Please let me know, because this green space is bursting with goodness that must be shared!

Hemp & Crochet.

2012-01-02T23:47:00.000+11:00

I love handicrafts, and I especially love crochet.

And, over the past couple of years I have been regularly working on my crochet hemp wash cloths. I love that it is a portable craft, which I can work on wherever I am on the go. And, I love that I never seem to grow tired of crochet.

But I have a new crochet project on the go with hemp twine: fruit & veggie shopping bags.

I love these shopping bags - they are light-weight, hard wearing, practical and are perfect for sustainable shopping. Made from handspun hemp twine from Nepal, these bags have texture and each is unique, plus they are natural and organic.

I'm currently working on my sixth bag in two weeks! It has been the perfect handicraft to work on while travelling around. Each bag has been taking me more than four hours of crochet to complete, and I'm loving that I can make something so practical by hand. I love how relevant, practical, useful and sustainable crochet is, right here in 2012!

I'm looking forward to a rich year of handicrafts, of new projects and the bringing to life of ideas. I love the self expression of creativity, and particularly crochet. If you've never tried crochet, I encourage you to give it a go this year.

You might just love it!

Think global, act local.

2011-12-08T18:46:00.001+11:00

What global issues do you think about?

Do you watch the news on TV, or read the newspaper or read the news online? Do you dream of travelling overseas and experiencing more of the world we live in? Do you support organisations that are working to make the world a better place?

We live in an incredible world of communication in 2011. The world is literally at our fingertips through the internet, and we can instantly be informed of news from all corners of the globe. And, us Aussies have big enough incomes to enable us to get out and about, travel and experience the bigger world ourselves.

We are made aware of natural disasters, war and displacement, poverty and diseases, need and challenges. We learn about culture and life-style, traditions and histories, food, language, and the unique characteristics of the environment, wildlife and people groups.

And let's bring this global experience home.

There is no need to live in Africa or Asia, South America or Europe to stay connected to it. We can live with a global perspective, applied to our everyday life. The way you choose to live has a ripple effect on the world we belong to. We live in a global community, interdependent on one another;

Where is your food grown that you eat? Where are your clothing and shoes produced? Where are the parts in your technology originating from? What parts of the world are the gems in your jewellery coming from? What story of production is behind your car, your furniture, your coffee & tea, your beauty products, your home-wares, or your bible?

When you begin to bring precious stories of the global community into your every day, it becomes a point of conversation with those in your local community. The photo of our sponsor child Ezekiel on our fridge, next to the photo's of our nephew and nieces, generates conversation of who he is. He is part of our life, and part of our extended family now.

When our goods have been carefully crafted, bought wisely and carry a story we are more inclined to value them and to hold them close to our heart. I work with an organisation that receives tonnes of discarded clothing and homeware donations each week, much of it has been barely used. The way we shop, the way we live, the things we value, the stories we connect with and re-tell, begins to shape our own world and has the capacity to carry a global impact.

I urge you to dream big, to learn and explore, to study and to care. I look forward to sharing in your local action, as you live out your calling in your home. Share in my journey also, as I explore my calling and am willing to go wherever God calls us to be.

Live, love, local.

Moroccan Recipe.

2011-11-29T00:14:00.001+11:00

Lamb Tajine with Ras el Hanout

750g boned lamb shoulder, chopped coarsley (I used forequarter lamb chops)
2 tablespoon of ras el hanout*
1/4 cup olive oil
8 baby potatoes (400g), halved (I used large potatoes)
2 small leeks, chopped finely
4 cups stock or beef consommé (I only used 2 cups of chicken stock, perfect it wasn't too wet)
2 tablespoons parsley

1. Combine lamb, spices and half oil in bowl and refrigerate (I did for an hour, but if you're organised then for 3 hours or even overnight)
(Soak Tajine for 30 minutes in warm water before use)
2. Heat remaining oil in base of Tajine or flameproof casserole dish on stovetop. Cook lamb in batches until browned.
3. Remove lamb from Tajine and add potatoes and leek to oil. Stir, until potatoes are browned and leek softens.
4. Return lamb to Tajine and add stock.
5. Cover, bring to the boil and then simmer for 45min or until lamb is tender (I left it an hour).
(This can also be transferred now and cooked in the oven at 200 degrees, though our Tajine is too large for our oven so I cooked it entirely on the stove top and it was perfect)
6. Season to taste and add parsley.

Serve with cous cous (2 cups cous cous combined with a tablespoon butter and 2 cups boiled vegetable stock in a bowl and covered for 5 min) and natural yoghurt.

Serves 4.
And is incredibly tasty - YUM!

(*A complex and distinctive mix of over 21 aromatic & rich spices. It originates from the villages of North Africa. Its ancient meaning is "best of the shop" and this blend represented the best spices the merchant had to offer)

The First Grader.

2011-11-28T23:52:00.001+11:00

I was really excited to be able to go and see 'The First Grader' at the cinemas this weekend. It has been a very long time since we've gone to the cinemas together, so it was a rather special outing.

This movie was made in Kenya, and based on a true story - the story of an 84 year old, ex Mau Mau freedom fighter wanting to receive free primary schooling in Kenya so he can learn to read. Wow. An incredibly moving and heart warming story, yet with a raw and confronting history of independence in Kenya.

I loved the Swahili throughout the movie. I love seeing Kenya on the big screen.
I highly recommend this film for a story with depth, truth and for a glimpse of East Africa.

Travel Pouch.

2011-11-15T20:44:00.001+11:00

This new project has been on my mind for a long time. Last year I made a sample travel pouch and have used it weekly for my notebook for work. But for lots of reasons I hadn't made any more until last week.

With a new market that I have got involved in, it felt like the perfect time to expand my range of products for my market stall. I have been collecting gorgeous souvenir tea towels from op-shops and eBay over the past few years and have carefully selected a range to be made into my travel pouches.

Each Travel Pouch has an A5 notebook, and a set of Eco Pencils or Twist Crayons and are $35 each. Perfect for creative space, wherever you might be.

I had an incredibly positive response to the travel pouches at the Pop Up Shop MAD: Melbourne Art & Design Market, and loved how bright, colourful and fun they look! A highlight of this new design was to give them as gifts to my three gorgeous nieces, all who are about to move overseas and I thought this would be a perfect Birthday/going-away gift for each of them. My heart melted when they opened the gift with 'Ooooh, wow!' and all three excitedly filled page after page with beautiful artwork.

I was so inspired by the creative persistence of my five-year-old niece, which makes me really, really want to make it a value to have time to sit and draw. I loved how she captured our time together in pictures, my favourite was me jumping on the trampoline, which was also jumping off the ground. With my shoes beside the trampoline, of course.

Love what I can learn from the creativity of others.

Shopping Bags.

2011-11-09T19:57:00.000+11:00

Just a glimpse of one of the things keeping me busy lately: sewing for the Pop Up Markets - Melbourne Art & Design Fair, Love Local & the Maribyrnong Makers Market - all which I'll be involved in over November & December.

These are my upcycled Fairtrade Coffee Sack shopping bags, featuring fabric I sourced from East Africa. I love how much texture they have. I love the bold colours, the big prints, the contrast of fine wax print to the rough coffee sack. I love that these bags have a story, they have a history and they now have a future.

I love sewing, and the opportunity to create. I will miss them when they sell, but I love that the story continues, been and done.

Twelve.

2011-10-29T08:53:00.000+11:00

I'm so glad you said yes when I asked you out twelve years ago, Ben!

I love our life together.

I love what we stand for and believe in. I love our values and passions and I love that we take action and choose to live a dynamic and meaningful life. I love that you are my soul mate.

Yes, our hair has changed: more for you than for me I think. And our style has matured: though I think we are still true to what we love. And I think we are looking good together now and I love that we are working to be healthy and holistic. This life journey together has been incredible!

Thanks for being with me through joy and sorrow, challenges and success, and for that we've lost but all we've gained. Thanks being willing to see the world with me, for unquestionably supporting my creative endeavours, for taking such great care of me. You are fun, loud, and energetic, but also kind, full of integrity, and wise.

I'm glad I found you all those years ago!

Keen on old fashion.

2011-10-26T22:38:00.000+11:00

I thought I'd share with you the article I had written about me in the Footscray Star Newspaper on 13th September, 2011 -

THEY’RE the handbags and accessories made from coffee sacks.

Spotswood artist Erica Keen works with a range of vintage and recycled fabrics and fibres to create bags, satchels, pillows, door snakes and beanies.

Ms Keen, 30, makes her pieces using her mother’s old Husqvarna sewing machine and sells online under the label Been and Done.

“It’s great for me because I get to do what I want to do overseas, from home,” she said.

“It’s a nice way for people to recognise the value of something that can be reused.”

Ms Keen also works with Green Collective and the African Women’s Sewing Enterprise, a social enterprise which teaches women to sew and chat freely in a safe and creative environment.

She is currently studying Textile Design and Development at RMIT and has applied for a three-year placement in East Africa with her husband to work with the women there.

Ms Keen and her husband Ben visited the region at the start of 2009 to get a feel for the area.

“We lived in a rural area where we were the only foreigners… we lived in a mud hut with no running water,” she said.

“We chose to live really simply – it was easier to get a snapshot of real life when you weren’t being treated like a tourist.

“It was great.

“We’re both pretty passionate about making a difference in the world.”

Ms Keen is one of nearly 50 stallholders who will exhibit their made-in-Melbourne creations at the Maribyrnong Makers Market on Saturday 17 September, from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

The market will run out of Seddon’s Uniting Church Hall, go to www.maribyrnongmakersmarket.com.au for more information.

Wow, what amazing article! There will be one more huge Maribyrnong Makers Market in Seddon on the 26th November - be sure to come along and check it out. I will have a stall with my handmade homewares, plus Ben will be busking as a Living Statue and I will also be busking with Balloon Sculpting!

That which I love.

2011-10-24T23:04:00.001+11:00

A few things that I love at the moment:

Receiving letters from our sponsor child, Ezekiel, who lived in Tanzania. I love hearing what life is like for him, and being able to support him to help him reach his potential.

Listening to the radio. I could happily have it on all the time, and not just in the background but loud enough that I can hear each song and enjoy the creativity of music.

Welcoming my friend Victorine from Western Kenya to my house. Showing her our garden, our chickens and all our precious East African treasures in our house. I think it was clear to her how much we love East Africa and our time working with her at the UCRC in Kenya.

Walking around my local suburb. I could happily walk all the time, with no specific destination but just to enjoy being outside in the elements.

Sewing for a purpose to help support my childhood friend and her family during a very difficult time. I love that I have the capacity to take action to use my creativity to support, share and help.

I love when friends, and strangers, engage with me through my communications online. Making a small effort connecting online can make a lasting impact, give great encouragement and be a very special reminder that we are not alone.

And, finally finding organic cotton on a wooden reel. I think it is gorgeous and I love that I can integrate my values into my passions and activities. Thanks to all those people that have made this product available. Those people behind the scenes in the production line: the growers, the spinners, the sellers, the managers and decision makers, the stockists and all those that have handled such a small item - I love it, and thank you!

One final thing I love is sharing my creative world with those who take the time to read my blog. xx

Remember.

2011-10-22T23:23:00.001+11:00

Tonight as I sat on the couch, I looked up and saw our nativity that sits on our bookcase. I love it too much to only put it out for just a month a year. It is beautifully hand carved in Rwanda. We visited Rwanda earlier this year so this is very special to us, we bought this fair-trade set just before Christmas last year.

For the past five years of living in Melbourne we have not been at home for Christmas, but rather with our families in Tasmania. We don't have a Christmas tree, we don't really put up any lights or decorations but I really wanted one special handcrafted symbol of Christmas to have in our home.

I really don't love the hype and craziness of Christmas, though I do love the hope and connection of it. I would love to remember the meaning of Christmas through the year, to remember the heart of my faith and that is why I love having this nativity as a reminder of a story of an incredible past that enables an amazing future.

What makes your Christmas special? Are there things you have that remind you of the foundations of your faith?

Experimental.

2011-10-21T22:32:00.000+11:00

When I started my class in experimental textiles as part of my Textile Design & Development course I wasn't sure that I would like it. But, surprisingly, I have loved this subject! It has been interesting, creative and very hands-on. I've really enjoyed the chance to design with paper, to experiment with dyeing, design with inspiration from nature, enter the Artland exhibition with my piece about child soldiers, and designing incorporating the techniques of knit, knot, net & coil.

This is my crocheted jellyfish for one of my assessment pieces for this subject. I have made it from a big ball of cream coloured waste selvedge that I picked up at the op-shop. It's strong, thick and looks glorious! As this picture shows, this jellyfish now hangs in our bathroom above the bath.

Different.

2011-10-17T23:14:00.001+11:00

How do you feel when you are different to others?

If you were the only meat-eater in a crowd of vegetarians, or you've never been to Uni and all your friends had and they talked about it all the time, or you want to live by your faith but your friends aren't interested at all.

How do you treat other people when they are different to you?

What if their taste in music was completely opposite to yours, or they were really rich and you were poor in comparison, or their taste in clothes was outrageously ugly in your opinion.

Image from here

The more I think about my friend and family, my workmates and classmates, I realise just how diverse and different we all are. Sometimes the differences are outstanding and challenging. At times the differences can be discouraging, like there is a big divide between us. But I also work hard to remember that the differences are a gift which remind me to think bigger, to consider new alternatives, to change my outlook and to challenge my viewpoints.

And, I continue to work on my value of accepting differences, of celebrating diversity, of valuing alternatives. It's great to be honest and to talk openly about our differences. It's worthwhile to share and listen to why we are different. It's OK to agree to disagree. It's beautiful to receive the gift of someone else's world view. I love that the Gospels in the Bible were all written with different details because each individual had a different world view.

Difference is enriching.

Moroccan Recipe.

2011-10-11T09:30:00.001+11:00

We just love this Moroccan chicken recipe, and if you've come over recently to our place there is a good chance we've shared this meal with you.

I found it in a Real Living Magazine from September 2009 from Green Collect. And here it is for you to try out too!

Moroccan Chicken with Pistachio & Coriander Couscous

Serves 4-6
Prep time 15 min
Cooking time 25-30 min

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp smoky paprika
2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 cup olive oil
8 Chicken thighs on the bone*
1/2 cup natural yoghurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
sea salt
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups couscous
1 tbsp butter
1/3 cup shelled pistachio kernels chopped coarsely
handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped coarsely
fresh ground black pepper, to taste

1. Preheat oven to 230c (210c fan-forced). Combine cumin, cinnamon, paprika, garlic salt and oil in large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Place on lined baking tray and roast for 25-30 minuted or until chicken is cooked.

2. Meanwhile, combine yoghurt, lemon juice, chives and pinch of salt in small bowl. Cover with cling film and refrigerate until needed.

3. Bring stock to the boil. Place couscous and butter in medium bowl and pour over boiling stock. Cover with cling film and set aside for 5 minutes. Remove cling film and use fork to separate couscous. Stir through pistachios and coriander. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Remove chicken from oven and serve with coriander & pistachio couscous and a generous dollop of yoghurt.

(*Chicken thigh cutlets which are skinless and very affordable from Woolworths are excellent)

Please let me know if you try this recipe! It's our favourite at the moment.

Heartfelt.

2011-10-10T22:39:00.003+11:00

The more I travel and see new places, the more I am reminded of the incredible life we live here in Australia.

There has been so much happening in our lives over the past month.
Both our fathers have had problems with their hearts recently. Ben's Dad undergoing open heart surgery while we were overseas, and my Dad undergoing an angiogram to check for blockages in his heart. But, the incredible thing is that Ben's Dad is on the road to recovery, and the results for my Dad found no blockages.

And I'm so pleased they are both OK.

And experiences like this reinforce even more why I want to go overseas and work in a place with great need. Why? Because I know that our family and friends have access to incredible medical resources, they are educated, informed, resourced, financed and empowered to utilise the services available in Australia to help themselves. I want to be with people who don't have access to resources, support and assistance; those who are going without.

Image from here.

My heart grieves for the loss of lives - such as Wangari Maathi, the incredible woman who worked for justice, environmental change and imparting hope and opportunity in East Africa, and Steve Jobs, the visionary and co-founder of Apple. But even more, my heart breaks for the 30,000 children who have died in the past few months as a direct consequence of where they were born. The famine in East Africa is such a big problem, yet those most deeply impacted people are invisible to me. I won't know their names, I won't hear their stories, we won't walk alongside each other.

But I know I have been called and I need to take action. I feel at peace at wanting to go and engage in the global community when I know that there is so much here to ensure those I love are helped and supported. Being far apart is OK, because love can transcend land and space, time and special moments. I am blessed to know that my family loves me deeply. I am thankful for the support and encouragement from those that I love. The love of God, and the love of my family & friends is love that I want to share; it had changed my life.

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:29-31

Afrique.

2011-09-14T07:27:00.004+10:00

What do you know of Africa? And what do you love of Africa?

Have you dreamt to visit this vast land of deserts, beaches, mountains and savannahs, steeped in rich traditions and culture, safaris and wild animals, amazingly diverse people.

Though most of us talk of 'Africa' in general terms, it is one land consisting of 54 individual countries. So far in my lifetime I've visited five of those countries, four in Sub-Saharan Africa and one in North Africa.

Each country has been amazingly diverse: the landscape, the people, the food, the languages, the handcrafts. Yet, there is without a doubt a common thread that passes through these different counties - an intoxicating charm blended with an earthy reality of life.

I feel like I just can't get enough of being in Africa. But whether your feet ever land in this place, you can still celebrate the richness of this land and its people by investing in it.

When the opportunity arises, I urge you to buy goods made or grown in Africa: coffee, chocolate (cocoa), cotton, and an incredible range of handmade items. Read books and watch movies about Africa. The reports regarding Africa so often on the news are so negative: wars, famines, AIDS, poverty. But those living with these problems are beautiful people who work hard to live well.

The problems of the world can seem so huge that it's hard to even know where to start with making a difference for someone else. But taking action as part of our everyday life can directly make a difference for people on the other side of the world. Perhaps you have a sponsor child - we do, his name is Ezekiel and he lives in Tanzania. Or, you can support the work of an Aid & Development agency. Or, your church supports a community development program. Or, you buy beautiful fairly traded handcrafts. Or, my personal favourite of ensuring your coffee has been ethically & justly sourced.

Whatever you do, I urge you to invest in Africa: to learn about it, to live in a way that remembers our African brothers & sisters, and to love it and invest in it.

Market Place.

2011-09-13T06:54:00.000+10:00

I love the colour, the diversity, the unique, handmade treasures and the fun and life of the market place.

In Australia, markets are wonderful but not always very often. I could quite happily be part of a market each month. I love meeting people who value handmade and it is a joy to send my handmade goods to a loving home. I do love the opportunity to put my handcrafts on display, to fill a table with the work of my hands, my imagination and my heart.

But in Morocco the Marrekech souks are an incredible part of daily life, a labyrinth of narrow lane ways of stalls with an incredibly colourful and diverse range of goods. I love the glass lanterns, the beads, the woven cushion covers, the tea sets, the spices and the decorated tiles.

Lanterns

Spices

Beaded jewellery

And, every night the main square, Djemaa el-fna plaza, is filled with open air restaurants roasting meats and preparing incredible meals plus a whole lot of chaos of tourists, locals, buskers, horse & cart and bikes. Mmm, tonight we ate a one of the food stalls - yum! I love the smell of the BBQ's and the noises of the snake charmers and the local musicians.

I am missing a local market while I am away overseas - the Maribyrnong Makers Market [MMM] in Seddon on the 17th September. My lovely sister Bec is helping me have a stall there even though I am far away. I am excited to be part of a market, in heart if not in person! I was fortunate for my work as Been & Done to be showcased by the MMM in their newsletter and through the local paper, the Footscray Star in the lead up to the Market.

I look forward to taking home some ideas and inspiration from the Marrakech souks to incorporate into my handmade creations. Love this place!

International.

2011-09-12T20:41:00.000+10:00

Ever since I was a teenager, I loved to get out and about. I loved to be socialising or roaming around the neighbourhood, swimming in the river or hanging out at the park.

And as I've got older that love of exploring and adventuring has just grown stronger.

I love exploring. I love being outside of my homeland and being exposed to culture, tradition, diversity in lifestyle, new foods, languages, climate and communities. It has been a very special thing to have a life partner who values these things too. We are very intentional about our lifestyle. We choose not to work full time so we have the opportunity to invest in others things, such as learning how to grow our own food, or for me to explore my creativity with my handicrafts or take the time to give from my own education to tutor local kids who need help, or for Ben to busk as a Living Statue or to work as a gardener to help others.

One of the girls I tutor said to me that I must be really rich to be able to travel... And, from a global perspective of the poor I am a very rich person - rich in education, opportunity, choices and money. But I told her that I make the choice to save to go overseas. I don't go shopping and buy new things, and that money we save enables us to travel. Saving a little bit every week adds up. As does the support of those who choose to invest in my handmade items. My opportunities exist due to my participation in a community of support, encouragement and opportunities.

I want to be able to look back on my life when I'm older and see that I lived out my values and had the courage to turn dreams into reality. I love that my heart is for community, to engage with others and to serve and support, and to share what I have. I don't want to be rich, but to be rich in life and love. I adore that I tutor Somali children in English and that I spend time sharing in their worlds. I love that I study textiles - pushing myself to extend my abilities, my technical knowledge and the discipline to learn and achieve more. I value that I serve in a faith community, to give what I can to work together with common-hearted people for God.

My life is far from perfect, and there are challenges we face all the time. When I write from my heart I don't want it to give the perception that I have it easy or it's perfect. I don't always talk about the challenges here but they are there, just as light and dark exist side by side, my heart's desire to be all that I was created to be is held in tension with my flawed humanity. But, I know that when I celebrate the gifts, the strengths, the joys, the wins, the achievements, the faith - those are the moments I know I am rich, I am blessed, I am called and I am taking a step of faith each day.

I feel like I have been filled with skills and knowledge, gifts and abilities, faith and love and I want to sew these treasures into others. I want to be courageous to take risks that enable me to grow - to study, to travel, to ask, to give, to try, and to not give up when the going gets tough.

The sun rises again and again, and we have the opportunity to seize the day.

Thank you for travelling this journey with me, for taking the time to invest in me and share in my world. It is the friends, the moments, the opportunities taken, the joys celebrated that make us rich.

Flourish.

2011-09-03T23:34:00.001+10:00

Today I was so surprised to discover we have baby cauliflowers flourishing!

We planted a whole row of cauliflowers what seems like ages ago, and I thought they were only leaves and not going to develop. I am sure the soil needs more nutrients and I just haven't taken the time to research what is needed to help them along their way. And now they have sprung to life and I am so pleasantly surprised to see growth.

And, such a great example of how we can overlook growth and progress but it can be happening without us noticing. Our garden is incredible at the moment! Everything is growing and now we have lots of holes to replace with more seedlings due to our abundant harvests.

Love our garden. And I love our efforts of investing in something worthwhile and valuable.

Green Collect.

2011-08-31T21:47:00.000+10:00

I work for an incredible social enterprise in Melbourne called Green Collect. My job is with our African Women's Sewing Enterprise, which has 10 African women who meet weekly to sew with reclaimed & upcycled fabrics. We make gorgeous homewares and bags, and over the past month I've been teaching the women how to sew using upcycled coffee sacks.

And, after filling up the window in the Green Collective with our coffee sack and patchwork vintage woollen floor cushions, I just had to capture it to show you our handiwork!

If you're in Melbourne, I invite you to come by and check out our fabulous shop and see our beautiful AWSE products in our Green Collective Yarraville shop (71 Anderson Street) tomorrow night Thursday 1st September. There is a Spring Festival for the Yarraville Traders and shops will be open from 6-9pm.

I will be working in the shop, and Ben will be busking as a Living Statue in the street - good times!

Knit.

2011-08-31T12:57:00.002+10:00

Oooh, there really is nothing better than completing a project! Here is my design for my machine knitting class, of which the project brief was to design either a scarf or cushion cover, using a minimum of three knitting techniques - my theme is ECO foraging, and all yarns woven in on the front are offcuts from my beanies. The yarn of the body of the cushion is cotton.

I love it!

Cushion front

Cushion back

Detail of the weave

Side view, nice and plump!

Perhaps I might keep it on the couch. So, when you come over to say Hi you can sit with it while I make you a cuppa!

Love the moments of taking an idea from my mind, and making it with my hands, and my eyes being pleased with the results.

Excitement.

2011-08-26T00:09:00.004+10:00

Oooh, this is the book that arrived in the post for us today! In sixteen sleeps we're off on an adventure abroad - fun and relaxation, adventure and cultural exchange. And I can't wait for the sunshine, and incredible food!

Just released August 2011 edition!

Together with time in Morocco we can't wait to spent time with friends in the UK. I am so excited. It's been a wonderfully busy time this semester with my study and work and tutoring and my own projects, but oh how I love an adventurous holiday! Perhaps you need a holiday too? Well, you are always welcome to come stay at our place while we're away... providing you are willing to look after our chickens and eat our vegies from the garden!

Cushions.

2011-08-24T23:02:00.000+10:00

I find it odd that I am on the brink of having an addiction to making cushions, and yet on my couch there is currently only one.

Just one! Wow, that is ridiculous.

But it does leave a lot of room for making some more. The one I have is made from an upcycled World Vision Tea Towel and backed with a panel from a woollen blanket. I love it. Now I think I'd like to make myself some cushions with coffee sack panels combined with vintage woollen blanket pieces, or maybe more Souvenir Tea Towel cushions, or perhaps more airline blanket pillows, or my own screen printed fabric, or cushions made from my African wax print - oh so many possibilities - unless you'd like to make me a cushion to befriend my current one, and I promise to give it pride of place on my couch!

My project for knit class is a cushion cover based around the theme of 'Eco Foraging'. I loved the challenge of making a circular cover on the knitting machine, and have woven in small offcuts of wool onto a chocolate cotton knitted cover. I will add photo's when it's completed! A rewarding end to a worthwhile 8 week intensive course - but for now I will be kept busy finalising my technical file to submit next week.

Rewards.

2011-08-23T23:31:00.002+10:00

There are moments when I feel a huge smile come across my face, and I feel like my heart might explode with happiness.

There are also moments when I feel like it doesn't matter how hard I try and how much I work, I never seem to make an impact on my To Do list.

But right now I am thinking of how these two feelings relate to each other. I am so thankful for the time when I am really working hard to keep on track. I don't mind a bit of pressure because it pushes me and I have to be wise with my time, prioritise my schedule, and in the end achieve my goals. I feel like the best rewards come when you've worked hard for them.

At the moment I'm right in the middle of my final semester of study in Textile Design & Development. My workload is demanding, and my homework is incredibly time consuming. My schedule is really full with day and night classes, and I really want to go to an event next Tuesday night, One Just World. Firstly I got myself totally ahead of myself and thought it was on tonight, but I realised just in time that I'd got my dates confused! But without missing a beat I headed off faithfully to my night class. And, the reward of turning up tonight was that I got through heaps of work and with a bit of homework I am not required to go to class next week! I am now free to go to this event, am I'm keeping up strongly with my study. What a great reward.

Another example of feeling rewarded is from the faithfulness is sticking with a dream. I have been investing in my Etsy shop for the past few months, and I am so excited to see it gaining momentum. It's really rewarding to move forward, carefully step by step. Every sale is an encouragement! I am celebrating the opportunity to express my creativity, I am thankful for the support and investment of others in my handmade items, and I love that I am achieving my goals.

Harvesting beetroot for dinner!

And another reward is harvesting our own vegetables that we have worked hard to grow and care for! But even more rewarding is sharing what we have with others. Today one of the women that I sew with gave me a burner for Somali uunsi (incense). It's really lovely, and later she told me it's very special to her because it is from her homeland of Djibouti. Wow.

I felt very humbled and wanted to reassure her that she didn't have to give me something so special. She told me that with her faith she believes it's right to give away something special, because she what value is there in giving something lacking meaning to you. I will cherish this gift and I feel blessed. A reward from working together, and building relationships.

Lovely to celebrate the rewarding moments in life today!

A Song of Thanksgiving.

2011-08-14T22:47:00.005+10:00

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us
   and make his face shine on us— so that your ways may be known on earth,
   your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, God;
   may all the peoples praise you.

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you rule the peoples with equity
   and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you, God;
   may all the peoples praise you.

The land yields its harvest;
   God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still,
   so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Lost.

2011-08-13T21:02:00.000+10:00

Last week I was visiting in Tasmania, when all of a sudden my laptop stopped working... just as I was working on my design for my assessment piece for my textiles study. Oh no!

And due to being in transit, I waited until I got back home to Melbourne to get it looked at. Fortunately there is a Mac shop a few doors down from where I work and I know the guys who run the business.

So, the terribly sad news was that my data was unrecoverable - and no, I had no back-up. Yep, I could-of, should-of, meant-to, planned-to back it up but I just hadn't prioritised it. And I felt very disappointed for the loss, but as I've processed it I now can feel OK about it. Ok because it's not the end of the world... my mum mentioned that she has two photo's from her childhood, and I take ooodles of photo's every week. And I remember that we have reality of a whole different way of life today. There was just so much 'stuff' on my laptop, and much of it I probably would have never used again.

Capturing the moment together, Sandy Bay beach

The loss of a photo doesn't take away from my memories, the loss of a document means I need to rework it but that enables my creative expression and the chance to update and renew my work. I know that I will work hard to not loose my data again but I thank God for all that I am blessed with. I am glad it was only data I lost, and not something much more valuable. I was blessed by the help and support of the guys in the Mac shop who took such great care of me.

And, it's so nice to blog again from my lovely laptop - Welcome home!

Simple life.

2011-08-11T08:32:00.003+10:00

Ah, a lovely part of going away is the joy of coming home and seeing the growth in our garden! Growth is a wonderful thing - it makes all that hard work worthwhile!

This year has been incredible for us as we learn how to grown our own food. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and try, and am reminded that I do it because I want to and not because I need it to survive from.

Why do we have so much here in Australia? - and we throw so much away. We buy and buy and buy more 'stuff''. It's crazy, and I've seen firsthand the tonnes of clothing and household goods we discard. We eat and eat and eat until we are overweight and sick. We have the best education in the world, we have wealth, we have access to health care, we have an incredible environment and amazing resources - And we are not the happiest and most satisfied people on the planet.

What will make us happy & satisfied?

For me, I want to live, and love, the simple life with faith, hope & love.

Inspiration.

2011-08-06T00:43:00.004+10:00

I love hearing about creative projects that show how creativity and industry can change lives.

Let me introduce you to MEND Bags. Have you heard of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)? They have terrorized people in Northern Uganda, and in the surrounding regions. MEND Bags is helping to restore lives and dignity of women who have been abducted by the LRA; to empower and enable, to encourage and inspire.

And, let me introduce you to One Mango Tree. They are also working in East Africa to help change lives of vulnerable women through design and Fairtrade. Their focus is also in the war torn region of Northern Uganda. I love how creativity is so beautiful, so practical, so important.

And SEW bags, made by HIV+ women in Tanzania are another fantastic development project that is helping to change lives. These bags are made from upcycled African flour bags, with jute and features of the African wax print. I have loved seeing these bags around Melbourne, and being reminded of how many people care about investing in a bag with a story of hope and transformation of lives.

And another inspiration locally, sourcing goods globally is Sankofa. Based in Gertrude Street, Melbourne, Sankofa is filled with quality handmade ethically traded products from throughout Africa, and from other corners of the globe. I love going in this shop, I feel like I am participating in the global network of creative souls.

I am passionate about Africa, about the transformation of lives, about the role of cottage industries in community development, and the intersection of creativity with sustainability and empowerment.

I am SO inspired, and thankful for those who work to enable creative expression to change lives.

Wax Print.

2011-07-31T22:20:00.001+10:00

Oh my, I really do love Africa Wax Print fabric!

I love its vibrancy and boldness. I love the colours and the intensity they create. I love how it's a bit outrageous and makes a big statement. I love when I see this fabric, the images that come to mind are of my beautiful African friends in their gorgeous dresses and head-dress. Never boring!

Love.

Coffee.

2011-07-30T22:00:00.002+10:00

A glimpse of just some of the range of the Coffee Sacks from Jasper Coffee: each will be transformed and upcycled back into a practical item, such as a bag, a cushion, a book bag and more!

Do these Coffee Sacks capture your imagination too? I would love to help you make your own handmade item from one. I have ideas on how we can work together, but I will talk more about this in August! Until then, keep your eye out for a new range of floor cushions in Green Collect Yarraville featuring coffee sack panels!

Why Bother?

2011-07-28T10:03:00.000+10:00

If your kids or family were suffering you would want to help - I tell you, when you put a name and a face to poverty is has a very different meaning to us. Remember, we are all ONE under God and we need to take action to ensure compassion, justice and mercy is the core of who we are.

Kenya.

2011-07-27T22:42:00.000+10:00

Kenya has been on my mind a lot this month.

I love East Africa, and I have loved my time, and all the people I have met, in Kenya!

With the drought and famine affecting the Horn of Africa - Somalia, Kenya & Ethiopia - I am deeply saddened and concerned for those suffering. The women I work with from the African Women's Sewing Enterprise have family and friends in these regions, and I feel even more mindful of my connection to this part of the world. God has put Kenya, and East Africa, in my heart and mind, in my life and my job, and I commit it back to him in prayer, through support and action.

So, I have been looking back through photo's from our time living in Western Kenya in 2009. And I thought I would share some of my favourites -

Alice showing her skills with braiding hair.

Ben with our local Masai.

My crochet apprentices.

Riding the picky picky to work.

African sunset. Breath-taking.

Soweto Gospel Choir.

2011-07-24T21:09:00.000+10:00

I decided to do something really special and go to see the Soweto Gospel Choir live in Melbourne with my friend Kath. Being a Child Sponsor of World Vision, I was able to buy two tickets for the price of one - Wow! And what a treat to go out to the Palais Theatre in St Kilda, such a beautiful venue.

This night was fun, colourful, creative and energetic! The music and singing was breath-taking - so much heart and soul. And the dancing was amazing! But it was the costumes that had me captivated - incredible design: colourful, flowing and with an amazing South African feel.

With special guests, The Bala Brothers

I am really committed to supporting the creativity of others - just as so many people invest in me - and I have the value of investing in others. I know the importance of giving the gift of my time, or money or my self. The clothing I choose, the music I listen to, the shoes on my feet, my bag, my jewellery are very obvious examples of that which I support and value. So, if my creative expression of who I am can incorporate the creative spirit of another then I am happy - a living example of my values. And there are other private ways I invest in others - reading books and articles, how I share privately with others, how I give financially. Creativity is certainly worth celebrating!

Ooh, it was hard to go back to church on Sunday, we don't sing (and dance) with quite so much heart and soul! I encourage you to check out The Soweto Gospel Choir either through Youtube or iTunes. I love their collaborations with U2!

Tea.

2011-07-23T20:27:00.000+10:00

My favourite T2 is Vanilla Slice.
Have you tried it? Oh my, it's delicious.

Harvest.

2011-07-23T15:39:00.002+10:00

I am so in love with our vegetable garden at the moment!

And I can't help but feel really excited about our harvest of cabbages at the moment. Ah, cabbage... not my most favourite vegetable but there is something so much nicer about it being 'ours'. Now whenever we visit the supermarket, we see the vegetable section from a new perspective - particularly freshness.

Tonight Ben is cooking us up a Keen version of Chop Suey with this delicious cabbage, including some most excellent Keen's Curry powder. Ah, should be tasty!

The delicious Keen Chop Suey!

I'd love to do a vegetable swap with anyone who has fresh produce at the moment - on offer would be our silverbeet, cabbage, broccoli & chinese cabbage! Another option would be for you to come over for dinner sometime soon and we cook for you... Can't wait to make a delicious stir-fry with our beautiful snow peas.

Travel.

2011-07-21T23:15:00.000+10:00

Another thing I treasure in my life is the freedom to travel!

I love getting out and about, enjoying my neighbourhood and braving the elements.

My bike is light-weight, easy to use, accessible and I love just jumping on it and riding whenever I can.

I do get frightened riding on the road with all the trucks, which means I always try to take the road less travelled. I think it was so worthwhile getting just the right bike for me - it's totally worth spending the money on something I can use easily and comfortably.

There is a bike track being completed that will take us from Spotswood, all the way to Werribee (more than a 30km path). We rode some of it recently and it was amazing to ride the bike track together because Ben & I could ride side by side and talk (rather than being drowned out by the roar of the traffic). The bike track winds through some amazing industrial areas, and I love the chance to explore somewhere new

I love weekends and the time to adventure and get out and about.
I am blessed with my access to freedom.

That which I love.

2011-07-20T09:00:00.001+10:00

Ah, my house is filled with my treasures. Items collected from my travels, gifts from friends and family, precious pieces rescued from the op-shop and treasures I've made with my own hand.

When people come over to my house, the often comment firstly that we have a lot of stuff (really?!) and secondly that it's very 'us'. It's nice to know our house reflects our loves - when I look around I see books, crafts supplies, African art and crafts, handicrafts, photo's, fabric.

Everything I've gathered has a tale, and I thought I would talk about some of my favourite treasures that I love.

Here is my Nbedele doll from South Africa. I understand she is used traditionally in courtship and ceremony. I haven't been to South Africa, and I got this doll from my local op shop. But, Wow, what a treasure! I love at how she is made, with all the different materials and techniques used. She sits in my kitchen and I am thankful for the hands that made her, and for the people that have learnt and continue to work with traditional techniques.

I cherish the handcrafts of others. I'd love all my things to be treasured handmade items. Ah, love!

More Books.

2011-07-19T19:15:00.004+10:00

Books, books, books!

In addition to the books I posted on 30th June, here are another 12 books I am prepared to part with as we plan for a change in location next year. I would really like to find a good home for some of my books. No book should end up in storage, and I certainly can't pack up and take all my books with me. So, I'm having a book sale! I'm asking $5 per book plus postage, but if you want to buy many I am happy to negotiate a good price for you (Love some African bartering). Some books I bought new and some were second-hand for me... but Ben or I have read most of these them and looked after them, and they are in good-used condition. I am happy to give reviews on any if you want...

~~1. Rumours - Philip Yancey~~ [EM]

2. The Jesus I Never Knew - Philip Yancey

3. Miracles for Life

4. Travelling Light - Max Lucado

5. Wild Spirit - Annette Henderson
6. Tomorrow You Die - Reona Peterson (Missionaries in Albania)
7. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
~~8. Blessings of the Poo~~r [EM]

~~9. Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini~~ [MEL]
10. Dreams From My Father - Barack Obama
~~11. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini~~ [MEL]
12. Scar Tissue - Anthony Kiedis

All money I get for these precious books will be saved to go towards our work overseas next year. If you're keen for books, be sure to check out my other listing on 30th June, as there are still 12 available.

Thanks for stopping by - great to share the love of books!

Sweet Pea.

2011-07-17T11:56:00.000+10:00

Ah, I am celebrating the arrival of our Snow Peas! Our eight garden beds are full to the brim of vegetables and we have been eagerly awaiting more from our harvest of home-grown vegetables.

Soon beetroot and cabbages will be ready, and we are currently enjoying our silver-beet and chinese cabbage at the moment. I am wondering if the cauliflowers will flourish... one is big and leafy and the other still small and cute.

I enjoy watching our garden grow in winter, and I enjoy eating it even more! I love seeing the green garden out of our bedroom window - such a contrast to the gloomy winter weather.

I can't wait for the leeks so I can make some more tasty soup. YUM.

Glimpse.

2011-07-08T22:21:00.001+10:00

Seasons.

2011-07-08T10:14:00.000+10:00

I have just entered a new season - my final semester studying Textiles at RMIT.

I love my subjects. And I am so excited by the new skills I'm learning and the opportunity to immerse myself in creativity and training. This semester I'll be studying: drawing & design, computer design, knit & weave, experimental textiles and dyes. WOW!

Ah, but the adjustment of being back in class and no longer on break is tough! This is a huge week of adjustment and I am looking at an extremely full schedule until the beginning of November. But, the best thing about being busy is to be doing something that I love.

I like how the change of the weather with the seasons can be such a great reminder of the seasons in our own lives and just how much we are impacted with changes, opportunities and challenges. I can see times when I am growing and flourishing at an incredible rate, and I can also see when I am challenged and working extremely hard and I'm doing the best I can to just stay on track.

I enjoy the journey of change - just as I watch my garden grow I see its progress and I celebrate it. I feel like that in my own life - I started out studying Textiles and I felt at times out of my depth, inadequate or tired from my big workload, but as I reflect on the past 18 months I can see incredible growth in my skills, technical knowledge and my confidence. I think it's really important to celebrate our own growth and progress as we enter new seasons - just as spring is a refreshing and encouraging when it arrives after a cold winter!

This picture is a glimpse of my swatch book from Screen Printing last semester. It was based on my 'Tribes' assignment in Colour & Design, I chose 'Fairtrade' as a tribe that I belonged to. I loved screen printing - it was challenging to development my skill and technique but once I got the hang of it I was in my element. The season of screen print has only just begun!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...'

A.B.C.

2011-07-07T22:19:00.002+10:00

A. Age: 30

B. Bed size: Queen, with a King sized Doona.

C. Chore you hate: Dusting the venetian blinds.

D. Dogs: I like small dogs, but I don't really like patting them cause of the doggy odour.

E. Essential start to the day: Fairtrade Coffee. I love the first coffee of the day. I often think about that coffee when going to bed at night, something to look forward to!

F. Favourite colour: Green, orange, brown, yellow.

G. Gold or silver: I love a combination of white and yellow gold, my engagement ring has both.

H. Height: 5 foot 6 inches or 167cm

I. Instruments: Bass guitar since grade 7, and now about to embark on learning to play guitar.

J. Job title: Sewing Instructor, designer and co-ordinator for the African Women's Sewing Enterprise, Green Collect... and Community Development and Outreach for Anglican Parish of Yarraville... Designer and Producer for 'Been & Done' handmade creative products... and ESL tutor, for 6 lovely kids.

K. Kids: None, yet.

L. Live: In the house beside our church. I love visitors though, so I think you should come over for a cuppa and some craft!

M. Mum's name: Anne Barbara... My Nan's first name was Barbara which became Mum's middle name, my middle name is my mum's first name. Lovely tradition.

N. Nicknames: Keenie

O. Overnight hospital stays: When I was born, and when I was 18.

P. Pet peeve: Road rage and crazy & impatient drivers... calm down people!

Q. Quote from a movie: [Talking about Africa]... "You come here with your laptop computers, your malaria medicine and you little bottles of hand sanitizer and think you can change the outcome, huh?" [Danny Archer (Leonardo Di Caprio) Blood Diamond)

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: Two brothers, Jonathan & Blair

T. Time you wake up: Usually 8-8:30, but now I'm back at school it's more often 7ish.

U. Underwear: Bonds.

V. Vegetables you dislike: Brussel sprouts and Turnips - though I have both currently growing in our garden! - not super keen on Eggplant, Carrots can be really boring, and I swear I've never eaten dish that made Swede appealing.

W. What makes you run late: I always seems to think of things I need to do in the last minute, and if I try and squeeze them in it always makes me late. And I always take too much with me... I'm a 'stuff' person, and I think that often adds to my lateness.

X. X-rays you have had: Teeth, lungs

Y. Yummy food you make: Pancakes, Moroccan Chicken, Black Daal & Red Daal, Tomato Sauce, Passionfruit Melting Moments,

Z. Zoo animal: Anything African... BUT, I'd much rather the animals on safari in the wild in East Africa than in the Zoo!

Thanks for the list, Jenny!

Green.

2011-07-04T23:22:00.000+10:00

Guitar.

2011-07-03T10:54:00.000+10:00

I am really keen to learn to play the guitar.

I'd love to use the next six months to learn the basics of the guitar, to complement my bass playing.

But, I have no guitar... and rather than buying one, I'm wondering if someone might have one that is currently not in use which I can borrow until the end of the year?

Rock on.

(Image from here)

Winner.

2011-07-01T20:59:00.000+10:00

A massive thank you to all those who enthusiastically got involved in my blog-party 200 post give away!

Sadly, I would have loved to have given each of you the thing that you loved... but there is one winner, and that is Kylie Polkinghorne!

Kylie has won a handmade Owl softie! Congratulations Kylie.

Thanks for all your wonderful comments and your heart-warming encouragement. I'm so thankful for those I travel this journey with, and I love sharing my world through my blog.

Books.

2011-06-30T16:25:00.007+10:00

I love books!

But as we are planning on a change in location next year, I would really like to find a good home for some of my books. No book should end up in storage, and I certainly can't pack up and take all my books with me. So, I'm having a book sale! Here are the first 20, and I'm asking $5 per book plus postage. Some books I bought new and some were second-hand for me... but I've read them and looked after them, and they are in good condition. If am happy to give reviews on any if you want...

~~1. The White Masai - Corinne Hofmann~~ [MEL]

~~2. Back from Africa - Corinne Hofmann~~ [MEL]

3. Alek - Alek Wek

~~4. Maalika - Valerie Browning~~ [EM]

5. Long Walk to Freedom: Part One - Nelson Mandela
6. Long Walk to Freedom: Part Two - Nelson Mandela
7. My Seventh Monsoon - Naomi Reed

8. God Chicks - Holly Wagner

~~9. Factory Girls - Leslie T. Chang~~ [MEL]
~~10. Mao's Last Dancer - Li Cunxin~~ [Kylie]
~~11. Nine Lives - William Dalrymple~~ [MEL]
~~12. Memoirs of a Geisha~~ [Kylie]

13. Everybody Loves a Good Drought - P. Sainath

14. Too Small to Ignore - Dr. Wess Stafford

~~15. Blessings of the Poor~~ [MEL]

16. Beyond Mombasa - Frank Coates

17. A Golden Age - Tahmima Anam

18. The Lord of the Rings: Part One, The Fellowship of the Ring - J R R Tolkien

19. Manufacturing Consent - Edward S Herman

~~20. Small is Beautiful - E F Schumacher~~ [MEL]

Change.

2011-06-30T13:29:00.000+10:00

I think change is good.

Five years ago my husband and I lived in Tasmania, where we had lived for all of our lives. Then we both applied to study International Development at La Trobe University in Melbourne. We were accepted into our course, and we packed up our belongings, sailed on the boat and moved to Melbourne.

In preparation for moving we had one day to find a house, and amazingly we were accepted to a lovely little two bedroom place in the Inner West of Melbourne. We didn't really know anyone in Melbourne. It was a massive change, but we knew it had the potential to open incredible doors for our future.

I loved being at Uni together... we had classes together, we helped each other understand the course content, we talked a lot about what we were learning and together we built a shared framework for working in Aid and Development. It wasn't a competition, but rather a partnership to equip ourselves for what we feel called to do. I believe it's not enough just to be passionate, but we wanted a deeper and broader understanding of poverty and development, and what our place in that will be.

I think it is incredible that I am married to a man who wants to respond as holistically to poverty and injustice as I do. We believe that we have been called and are willing to share our skills, passions, knowledge, faith and love in East Africa. We will live, work and be there, for as long as we can.

And in preparation for moving to a new place I am preparing for change. I actually can't believe how many friends and networks we now have in Melbourne. We loved our Uni study, and graduated at the end of 2009. We have travelled overseas nearly every year we have been in Melbourne - for the practical experiences of poverty and development to accompany our study. Since graduating we have both got incredible jobs that utilise our skills and passions, and we have both continued studying and developing our skills through other courses. We have lived in a few houses in Melbourne, still in the Inner West. And now we have an amazing house, with a beautiful garden and it enables us to serve in our local Church.

Life is sweet! But we know this isn't as good as it gets.

There are so many good things about life in Melbourne, but I don't actually think it's the location that makes it so good but rather us living holistically here. We accepted the challenge to move by ourselves, to leave our families and friends and start a fresh. We have felt lonely, we have struggled, we have felt out of our depth and overwhelmed by the unknown, but we have stuck it out. We are very resilient people who are determined, when we make a commitment we follow it through.

Change is unsettling, but it also is so good for growth, reflection and opportunities. Whenever I find myself thinking about what I might miss, I also think about all that I will gain! I don't want to get so attached to my stuff, my identity in my work, my familiar surroundings that I can't faithfully follow that call I've heard. I certainly have no illusion that the grass will be greener in East Africa, but I do believe I have something to give, and that I have been created for a moment such as this. And, I know I can flourish wherever I am planted because I know I am sustained by a faith in an incredible God.

I really do believe change is good - bring it on!

The Message.

2011-06-27T23:15:00.001+10:00

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

   I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?'

Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

Matthew 25:34-40 [NIV]

Wooly.

2011-06-26T22:51:00.000+10:00

It's winter and wool is on my mind!

While in Tassie I got the chance to do a little bit of op-shopping and discovered a delightful craft section of City Mission full of bags and bags of wool. Super exciting, but I did need to be very self-controlled due to carry-on luggage only when flying home! I chose three little bags with the plan to make a beanie from each of bagged colour combinations. So far one beanie is completed, and I love it!

I really do find it delightful to sit and crochet in the winter time. All through summer I've kept myself busy crocheting hemp dishcloths. I am waiting to reorder more hemp twine, and for now I just want to play with wool and make beanies.

I love wool. I love spinning from the fleece and the smell of the lanolin, wow! I love the colours of dyed wool and the softness of the different textures. I love making things to wear, and I love the millions of combinations possible with wool. I love natural fibres, and I love using my abilities to create something unique and special.

And, I love having projects to work on - so I am finishing off beanies for my lovely nieces and fun nephew. And I will also be putting some of my 'teenie weanie keenie beanies' in Green Collective for Winter. Plus I will be completing some 20cm square crochet panels for the blankets my church creative collective 'Yarraville Yarns' has been working on.

But for now, sleep. Time to dream of all that I love!

Growth.

2011-06-22T18:12:00.003+10:00

It has been such cold and gloomy weather in Melbourne at the moment.

I really am missing the sunshine! Some days I feel like it's hard work to get going and feel motivated in such chilly wintery weather.

A lovely highlight of such ordinary weather is seeing our vegetables growing and flourishing despite the oh-so-ordinary weather. What a great reminder that there's no excuse to lose motivation or slow down just cause it's cold and gloomy!

I really love getting outside, even in the windy, rainy cold weather! This morning I just needed to 'be' in the garden... life has lots of pressures, and responsibilities, demands and complexities. And, sometimes it is all a bit overwhelming. It's great to just find a moment - in the midst of jobs and chores, requirements and expectations - to relax.

We now have 8 garden beds. And today they are all filled to the brim with vegetables! There is so much life, so much colour and variety. I feel thankful to be where I am. The past is been and done, and the future full of lots of questions, opportunities, paths and options. I want to grow where I am planted. I don't want to believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence - the problem with that is I can never be satisfied with what I've got. If you think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, then when you look in our yard you might believe that. But, it's not because it's any better here but rather we are working to make the most of what we've got. Let us spur each other forward to live to our capacities, rather than seeing the strengths in others and feeling weighed down by our own weaknesses.

Grow and flourish where you are planted.

Teaching.

2011-06-21T19:16:00.005+10:00

I really, really love my job.

I teach and design and source resources for the African Women's Sewing Enterprise through Green Collect. Green Collect is a social enterprise based in Melbourne, with a commitment to being innovators in resource recovery and waste minimisation.

The African Women's Sewing Enterprise has 9 participants this year, 3 beginners and 6 intermediate. I love the women I work with - from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti - they are fun, friendly, creative, and committed to learning how to sew. I am so excited to look back over the past 18 months and to celebrate how much they have grown in their sewing skills, in speaking English, and in confidence.

I love teaching and sharing my skills with people who really want to learn. I love their respect for me as their teacher and their enthusiasm to learn and to improve. We talk a lot about the difference in taste of colours and patterns for Africans, compared to other Aussies. We share stories and ask questions, we talk about life and histories, faith and religion, ideas and hopes. The women bring their traditional food to share, and they love drinking my coffee. Sometimes they even bring their kids along, which is fun and I love their kids having an insight into a special part of their mum's lives.

There are many, many women who want to join our program! The participants have spoken highly to all their friends about the sewing group. I have loved getting involved in the African community in my local area. I love running into my women in Footscray, or Braybrook. I am so thankful to Green Collect for their commitment to employment, training and enterprise development. The highlight of our outcomes of the sewing project has been the sale of the stock we produce in the Green Collective stores in both Yarraville and Brunswick. We have developed our skills in sewing and mastered more than ten designs, and together have produced and sold more than 600 items in the past year.

So, as I love where I am now, I can't help but also look back to see how I got to this place. It has been a rich journey of developing and investing in my own skills. I am thankful that my mum shared with me her skills and knowledge of sewing, but also invested in seeing my creative expression, skills and capabilities flourish. I love teaching because it is my opportunity to share my passion and equip others to make, create and produce.

Give-away.

2011-06-20T21:33:00.005+10:00

I have really enjoyed the chance to enjoy writing and talking and thinking and expressing myself through my blog!

And to celebrate the journey of 200 blog posts over the past 18 months, I thought I would throw a blog party, get some feedback on the journey and give away one of my creative pieces.

So, if you like my blog, please leave me a comment and let me know why. I'm keen to keep going, telling the stories of what I do, where I am, what I'm learning and creating, and what I love, and I'd love to build on my strengths. And to enter the giveaway, please tell me which of these handicrafts pictured is your favourite, and why you like it. If you are the winner - who will be randomly selected - you will win the creative piece you've picked and told me about.

[Note: I work with reclaimed, recycled, and vintage resources so I cannot guarantee it will be the same as the item pictured, but I will make you something super special especially for you I promise!]

1. Travel Pencil Roll.

2. Organic Hemp Dishcloth.

3. Vintage woollen blanket cushion.

4. Vintage woollen blanket floor cushion.

5. Souvenir Tea-Towel Cushion, backed with Vintage Woollen Blanket.

6. Fairtrade Coffee Sack Book Bag, lined with African Wax Print Fabric.

7. Owl softie.

8. Tie Door Draught Snake.

9. Coffee Sack Handbag, with Vintage Plastic Handles.

10. Fairtrade Coffe Sack Shopping Bag, lined with African Wax Print Fabric.

11. Keenie Beanie or Woollen Ear Warmer.

12. Baby Bibs.

So, now I've done all the hard work it's your turn! Get involved, share your loves, your favourite, and your feedback in a comment below - and leave your name and email so I can let you know if you've won! Competition winner will be announced on July 1st.

Happy 200.

Good, Better, Best.

2011-06-18T18:35:00.004+10:00

Stuff I think is most excellent:

1. Car: BMW mini, orange. One day I will get one! And a pre-loved Land Rover Defender for living in Africa.

2. Shoes: My new all black Etiko boots. Love them with skirts.

3. Magazines: Inside Out, Frankie, Peppermint, Target [TEAR], Donna Hay, Real Living. I love magazines that are interesting, creative, colourful, global and inspiring.

4. It's best when it's about 25 degrees here in Melbourne. Not a top of 12 degrees like it's been in Winter.

5. Vegetable: Our first harvest this week of Chinese cabbage (wombok). It's awesome in crunchy noodle salad!

6. Music: Staff Benda Bilili, from DR Congo. A group of musicians who have all suffered from Polio. They sing with soul, stories, passion and with a message.

7. Recent movie: Pirates of the Caribbean IV, great laugh and a good story! Loved it. And a different perception of mermaids.

8. I love jewellery, from head to toe: earrings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, toe rings. And I'm quite picky about what I like, so when I like it - I love it!

9. Shampoo: Herbal Essences. With coconut and orchid. I don't know how earth friendly it is, but far out it smells nice and cooperates with my hair.

10. Drink: Alcoholic - Midouri and Lemonade, Hot - Fairtrade Coffee, Cold - Raspberry cordial with Soda Stream and ice-cubes. Yum!

11. Favourite place at home: Sewing at my desk, in the afternoon sunshine while watching the world go by outside the window.

12. TV show: Offspring. Love it! Nina is just too funny. I love her honest character.

13. Sports Activity: swimming. But I never seem to go - need to change that! I'm keen to get some 'go-fast' bathers and get out of bed early to go swimming at the local indoor pool.

14. Colour: I have loved orange forever, but I am very much in love with grey at the moment. I love how it goes with so much, but not too heavy especially at Winter.

15. Hobby: List writing! Ha ha, not really. My most favourite hobby at the moment is gardening. We have made so much progress that it's now really enjoyable being able to work on it daily.

16. Book I want to read next: Heart of Darfur, or Twenty Chicken's for a Saddle. My last book was about China, and now back to Africa! It's amazing being able to trek all over the world just through reading.

Ok, that's enough for now. Next blog will be a give away because it's my 200th post!

Swahili.

2011-06-16T21:42:00.006+10:00

I love languages.

I enjoy words and writing. I love number and problem solving. I love talking and discussing language. I love learning and trying new words.

I have begun tutoring Somali-Aussie kids. I love encouraging them, and getting the chance to get alongside them as a support. I am also loving the chance to reflect and revisit my own education. I have been a student nearly non-stop for the past 25 years. Wow. I love learning, and I love how it equips and enables me to live, work, create and dream. It is so worthwhile to refresh my knowledge and skills, and to use it to help others.

I am embarking on my own journey to learn Swahili. Why? Because I want to be multi-lingual. I would love to be skilled enough in more than one language to be an interpreter. I want to be fluent in a language that is spoken across East Africa. Swahili is spoken from Northern Mozambique, through Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi, Uganda and into DR Congo and Malawi, Somalia and the Islands off the East coast. Swahili is the 7th most widely spoken language in the world. I have had a taster of using it when we lived in Western Kenya, and I am captivated by it.

I am so thankful for the life journey of education and learning I've experienced. I feel like my own education is brought alive as I share it with others. I love challenging myself to grow, to make the most of the rich wealth of education I have been blessed with.

Screen Print.

2011-06-14T23:11:00.000+10:00

I am currently one and a half years into my study of Textile Design and Development course at RMIT. After completing a degree in International Development at La Trobe University - which was incredible - my aim is to combine my skills and passions in both these areas of study.

I have been studying part-time so that I can work with Green Collect as the sewing instructor and designer for the African Women's Sewing Enterprise. It has been wonderful partnering my work and study. I love the opportunity to take the time to learn and develop my interest in textiles. There have been lots of challenges and trials as I learn, practice and grow in skills, and develop confidence in trying new things.

I have just completed my first semester of screen printing... WOW. I really loved such a practical, creative, colourful, and fun subject! It has been really worthwhile seeing my subjects intersect - colour and design, CAD, design influences, and fibres, fabrics & yarns. I had such a great time that I am keen to continue the journey of screen printing on my own. I aim to buy myself just enough of the gear that I can keep learning and practicing and enjoying the fabulous outcomes!

I look forward to being able to enjoy screen printing wherever my feet are planted in the world. Love what I have learnt!

Priorities.

2011-06-13T23:12:00.002+10:00

Many doors of opportunity have opened in my life.

I love the path I am currently on, because I have been intentional about the choices I have made to take this path. I am thankful for the significant moments I am experiencing as I trek forward.

I believe in a great God and have great hopes and visions for the future. I am sold out for actively living out my faith and utilising my skills and giftings. I am passionate about Africa, about working with women and creativity. I love serving in organisations that work for justice, mercy and hope.

At the moment I feel like as I look around I am surrounded by rich fruit that has flourished as part of the past five years of work and relationships. I love where I stand, and am excited when I see what is around me.

My greatest challenge is balancing my time to ensure I can fit in all the amazing opportunities I have before me. At the moment I just don't think I can fit in all the things I'd love to be doing, and I am needing to prioritise projects and time. I find it really hard to have a jam packed schedule because I don't want to feel like I am running all day. I am finding it hard to prioritise all my opportunities - I just wish I could do them all, as much as I wanted!

The next six months are looking incredible. I can't wait to savour each day.

But for now - decisions, decisions!

Small is Beautiful.

2011-06-08T23:33:00.002+10:00

Economics - is it something that interests you, or a topic you avoid?

Whether we love it or hate it, we each interact with economic factors everyday. I think the more we are intentional about how our economies work, the better the outcomes will be for us as individuals and as a community.

If you were to read just one book about economics, I would absolutely encourage you to spend some time reading 'Small is Beautiful: a study of economic as is people mattered' by E.F. Schumacher.

I discovered this book years ago as part of my community and international development study. But was reminded again of it this week from the Guardian Poverty Matters Blog. When this book was written nearly forty years ago, it was profound as it described how economics could be transformed to transform lives.

I like the challenge of thinking beyond what I know. I value those those who ask big questions, and come up with in-depth thoughts in response. I need to read to see beyond that which I currently believe is possible. I value being challenged to live differently, to live better and more holistically. I think it's time I re-read this book, there are so many ideas that I need time to chew over. People do matter, and if we integrate it as a value in our economic structures then the world can be a richer place.

If you take the time to read Small is Beautiful, let me know what stood out to you about it.

Love.

2011-06-07T20:54:00.006+10:00

I love you.

So, I called you up to chat and to say hello.

Connecting with you is heart warming.

I love you.

So, I patiently waited for you when you were running late so that you wouldn't miss out.

I don't want circumstances to get in the way of opportunities.

I love you.

So, I ran to the shop on the corner to buy milk so that I could be hospitable to you and offer you a coffee.

Caring for you and making you welcome is important to me.

I love you.

So, I asked lots of questions to get you to talk about your world.

Hearing you share is important to me.

I love you.

So, I bought you a ticket so that you wouldn't be out of pocket.

Investing in you is priceless.

I love you.

So, I made time to sit with your kids and listened to them and helped them study.

In my actions I want you to know how important you are to me.

I love you.

So, I chose just what you liked and brought it back for you.

I want you to know that I know you well.

I love you.

So, I think about you when I'm working, and out and about.

You are on my heart and mind.

Thanks for loving me too!

Cushion from Etsy.

Stories.

2011-06-06T23:52:00.002+10:00

New books arrived today in the post! I ordered 'Heart of Darfur' from the UK in April, and was told to expect it in July. It arrived surprisingly earlier than I thought. Slow trip around the world, but for $5 Aussie dollars I'm not about to complain!

And, from my book wish-list my brother & his family got me 'Twenty Chickens for a Saddle' for my Birthday. Fabulous, thank you!

I can't wait to take a bite of these books and be captivated by their stories. And I love finding a parcel with a book in it in the postbox!

Stories from Africa: intriguing, enticing, incredible.

Serious.

2011-06-05T21:34:00.003+10:00

Do you believe you are fortunate? Are you lucky, or blessed?

And if so, what makes your life so good - money, belongings, relationships, work, family, love, faith?

There are moments when I feel like some of the greatest aspects of life can be overlooked, under-valued and even presented as somewhat overly serious, complex and boring. Sometimes I am in class and though the topic is wonderful, the delivery is mind-numbingly dull. Education does not need to be boring! Let the students be active and engaged. We need to break out of the tradition of the long winded lecture, and share stories, create practical examples and connect passion, with data, opportunity and engagement.

And sharing of the gospel can be incredibly serious and dry. My understanding of the gospel that it is life-changingly good. Yet, in life we seem to get bogged down at times in tradition, concepts, arguments, explanations, critiques of one another and forget to share the love, joy and hope that our faith is based upon.

Let's not be so serious!

If your life is good, and blessed and rich and wonderful, then talk about that. I don't want to just see what I don't have in life. If all we talked about was doom and gloom in the world, what motivates us to act or enables us to be effective? There is a lot more to the global story than what the news reports to us. We need good news stories. We must engage with the stories of one another. We need to know that 'the poor' are individuals - with names and faces. And have passions, hopes, families, ideas, hobbies, opinions and lives that we can learn from. We each have the capacity to make a difference in the world. Make the most of your journey, maximise your opportunities, and live out your passions, hopes and faith. I urge you to cross paths and engage with people who are different to you.

If I looked at my garden and all I saw was the weeds, I would be missing out on seeing all the wonderful vegetables growing! But also if all I did was read books about gardening, but never got my hands dirty, I would have no vegetables to eat! Get yourself prepared and then act. Let us build our hope, our passion for life and our faith - and from the overflow of this goodness in our lives we will impact and effect one another positively.

Awesome.

Harvest.

2011-06-04T20:40:00.004+10:00

I know I've talked heaps about our garden lately.

I was reflecting and think about how I've come to be so passionate about growing my own vegetables. While buying seedlings at Bunnings today, I made small-talk with the check-out guy asking him if he has tried growing his own veggies. He told me that he thought gardening is for older people. Hmm, I think he just called me old! But, I don't think I've just grown into it. I think instead I've caught the vision of just how incredible it is to plant, tend and harvest your own food.

I also went to the DFO today, and was amazed at how many people there were there shopping! I went to one shop, focussed to get just what I was after and nothing more. But I came away thinking they are such consuming, un-creative places. But still I go because I haven't got to the point where I am fully self sufficient, and I must admit there are some products I love... like Element clothing, and Keen shoes. But, I am happy to mix and match the gear I love with my love for the gear I can make. I enjoy making my own clothes - guaranteed to be just my size, my style, and exactly what I'm after!

We have two new vegetables patches: now planted with cauliflower, broccoli, silver-beet, garlic, snow peas, bok choi, carrots, and coriander. Our aim is to be able to have an ongoing harvest of our own vegetables. And, a picture of the super fresh vegetables from the garden for dinner tonight!

Grow.

2011-06-03T21:24:00.004+10:00

I love going outside every day and spending time in our garden. When we moved to this house at the start of last year, our garden was terribly neglected and out of control. Since then we have worked slowly and consistently on transforming our space.

We have cut back trees, fixed fences and gates, relaid garden edging, weeded, pruned and mowed. And then we have planted, built garden beds, created space, planted vegetables and natives, invested in chickens and a worm farm, and grass has started to regrow.

I love our life - when we eat, we are constantly able to consume the food we have grown. This morning it was eggs from our chickens, and sauce we made from our harvest of tomatoes. This evening it was roasted beetroot and steamed broccoli from our garden.

Do you GROW your food? Do you think about who has grown it for you? Is it important to you to eat organic or locally produced vegetables? Do you know the chickens that have laid your eggs? There is something incredibly profound about getting your hands dirty in the soil, and watching your seedlings spring to life. There is something incredibly rewarding when you can enjoy eating vegetables that you have worked hard to produce.

Here in Australia we have so much choice when it comes to food, and with our lifestyles. We don't have to worry about if we eat, but what we will eat. Our health problems are not because we are undernourished, but rather because we over-consume. There is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone, yet nearly 1 billion people face hunger every day. We need to GROW and make changes, not only in our own backyards but also in the backyards of our neighbours, and in our communities and throughout our cities and across the land and seas. We must share our wealth and resources, our food and land, our knowledge and time.

We all have the capacity be making, producing, creating and contributing. Read about Oxfam's GROW campaign, and consider you part in our global community. Make choices to not consume more than your fair-share. Think about the hands that laboured for your food and goods, and be sure that the choices you make support those people that need it the most. I urge you to invest in fairly traded, environmentally friendly, sustainable, local and handmade food and goods. We have been given an incredible life - be sure to share the love around!

Project.

2011-06-02T22:24:00.006+10:00

Here is a glimpse into some of my handiwork this past week:

I have been testing out the first handbag I produced, and I love it! It is just the right size for everything I need when out and about. And the incredible thing is just how many people have commented on the bag. I love that it's unique. If you are interested in a bag like this for yourself, visit my Etsy shop or have a chat with me.

These bags have been designed around a random range of vintage bag handles I have. So, each bag will be a little bit different. Oooh, I am so pleased with the outcomes so far! I have another 5 in the pipeline at the moment.

And, I'm excited to be nearing 200 blog posts, and am planning on running a competition with my handicrafts to celebrate. So, be sure to keep visiting and get involved!

Sharing.

2011-05-29T21:12:00.001+10:00

After a week of Birthday celebrations for both Ben and I, it has got me thinking about sharing. And in particular the sharing of time and of gifts.

There is something delightful about presents: with carefully chosen wrapping paper, ribbons, & hand-written cards. But, I wonder why we don't give gifts more often? I think generosity is a great value to live by.

I think being generous requires being courageous. We don't always have to 'know' exactly what the other person wants most - there is something very significant about us giving a gift that reflects a bit of who we are. I would like to make more hand-crafts for friends, but I know I wonder too much if the recipient will like what I've made. If I'm unsure I know it can unintentionally discourage me from giving. But I would love to have relationships where I also receive special handmade items. Is being generous part of our culture here in Australia? How often do you give gifts - outside of events such as Birthday's and Christmas?

There is something wonderful about being generous with our time as well. I think everyone I know talks about being busy, and feeling stretched for time. I realise there are times in my life when I wished people just lingered - for an extended chat after church, or a catch-up when crossing paths at work, or a spontaneous phone call just to say Hello, or making time for a coffee. I personally hate feeling time poor. If we're friends, and we both want to hang out - then it must happen! Life: work, sleep, chores, study, events will just keep happening. But to have rich friendships, they need time. Time is an amazing gift to share with each other.

My life is richest when I am giving, sharing, loving, supporting, encouraging, thankful.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me, and for your thoughtfulness and love in celebration of my Birthday!

Edun.

2011-05-27T00:34:00.002+10:00

Edun, founded by Bono & his wife Ali, is a sustainable & ethical clothing line. Edun's mission was founded on a commitment to encourage trade with Africa.

I love Edun, and have a few of their t-shirts they made for the One campaign. Incredibly, an Edun scarf - made in Uganda from 100% African cotton - came through as a donation at work this week! Incredibly soft and warm, with a poem and a story woven into the fibers:

With all its eyes the natural world looks out into the Open. Only our eyes are turned backward, and surround plant, animal, childlike traps, as they emerge into their freedom.
We know what is really out there only from the animal's gaze; for we take the very young child and force it around, so that it sees objects - not the Open, which is so deep in the animals' faces. Free from death. We, only see death; the free animal has its decline in back of it, forever, and God, in front, and when it moves, it moves already in eternity, like a fountain.
Never not for a single day, do we have before us that space into which flowers endlessly open.
By Rainer Maria Rilke

Celebration.

2011-05-25T18:41:00.005+10:00

Wow, it's been a very special day! I am thankful for all those who share their love with me and are such blessings in my life.

I feel enriched and grateful for such a wonderful celebration of life, love and the looking ahead to the future. Bring on many, many more good years!

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years.”

Abraham Lincoln

What are you...

2011-05-24T18:56:00.003+10:00

Reading... I am captivated by 'Factory Girls: voices from Modern China' which I am about half way through. But I have also been flicking through the current edition of Frankie and Peppermint magazines. And, I have been enjoying trying out the crosswords in The Guardian Weekly. Enjoyable, but also very challenging!

Cooking... I made a Fairtrade Chocolate Mud cake for Ben's birthday this week! And, I have also been enjoying trying out different vegetable soup recipes. I have never particularly liked soup, but I am willing to try making some as we have oodles of fabulous homegrown and organic vegetables available at the moment.

Supporting... We have a sponsor child with World Vision in Tanzania. His name is Ezekiel. And we actively support the work of TEAR Australia, and particularly my creative enterprises have been supporting TEAR's Lydia's List.

Drinking... I have been drinking a lot more tea lately, and I have even adopted an English tea Guru. I love both Fairtrade coffee and T2 - delicious! A highlight recently was having afternoon tea at the T2 teahouse in Macquarie Centre in Sydney. Wow!

Dreaming about... New products I want to make for 'Been & Done. I have so many ideas! And now it is so cold here in Melbourne, I am dreaming about working on lots of crochet projects.

Wearing... handmade skirts. I have been adjusting, making, altering, revamping and repairing skirts!

Watching... with night classes there are shows I'd love to watch, but am not home enough. But I have been enjoying Burn Notice season 2, and am happy Offspring is back on TV on Monday night!

Listening to... I am addicted to listening to the radio. In fact, today I had two radio's going (one at each end of the house, so that neither had to be too loud). And then realised I actually had two different stations playing! I love music, and very rarely am I without it on nearby.

Tweeting... I haven't got into twitter, and I don't think I will. In fact I would much rather simplify my life of so much technology! Bring back the pen and paper, letter writing and the feel of beautiful paper, the look of fine printing and the feel of a good book!

Most looking forward to... My birthday and celebrating with my precious friends and family this week. I am having a Champagne Craft Party, with lots of lovely Tasmanian made food & drinks!

Organising... Taking steps in the process of downsizing our house ready for long term living overseas. Before we go I aim to utilise lots of the resources we have - and turn them into beautiful, practical handcrafts and life long treasures.

Smelling... my Fairtrade Nui skin care! It's an organic body wash, and smells amazing - Island Rose and Rosehip Oil! Mmm.

Coveting... Smitten clothing. Tasmanian made merino clothing. So cozy and snuggly and wonderful! I am so fortunate to have been given a Smitten jacket from my folks for my Birthday.

Persuading friends to... craft with me!

Confronting.

2011-05-23T22:01:00.004+10:00

My home page on my computer is The Guardian global development. This is the kind of news I really value, focusing on global development. Much of what I encounter and read daily sticks in my mind and is something I carry with me in my heart. I cannot read about global challenges and injustice without my heart being affected.

This week I viewed images of what unsafe water and poor sanitation looks like in Uganda. I am confronted and challenged by these images. We were in Uganda earlier this year, so I when I looked at these images I pictured the places that we walked around and the people that we met there. But also I think of India, and of all the people who live without a toilet. I remember the smell and the shock of seeing communal open toilets. I think of the toilets we have used when travelling, and yet how much better it is to have horrible toilet than none at all. Globally, 2.6 billion people live without access to a safe toilet, while almost 1 billion don’t have clean, safe water. The WHO estimates that 10% of the global disease burden could be prevented with safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

Confronting?

The average Westerner spends three years of their life in the loo (Water Aid). The struggle of the poor and disadvantaged is not just a financial matter. There are so many aspects of life that we need to be OK to help us grow and develop. Next time you use the loo, remember how much of a luxury it is - and that there are 2.6 billion people lining up outside the door for their turn!

Do you worry about your health, and the health of your family? Let us also care about the health of our neighbours and those in our community and part of our global village.

A guinea worm, dracunculiasis, is extracted from a child's foot in Savelugu, Ghana. This parasitic disease is endemic to Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia and Sudan. It could be prevented, and eradicated, through a clean water supply and sanitation (Image from here)

To tackle disease, first we have to get the basics right. More people have mobile phones, than access to toilets (water.org). Which is more important? Perhaps if you feel confronted about those suffering from poor sanitation, or unclean water, remember those who suffer because they have to live with it - and do something about it and take action.

What can ordinary people do? Well, I believe in supporting organisation who are working directly on the ground addressing issues such as water and sanitation. Check out: wateraid.org and TEAR Australia and World Health Organisation. And perhaps spend some time on The Guardian global development - be informed, be impacted and be willing to take action. Our brothers and sisters need our help.

Stories.

2011-05-22T18:46:00.004+10:00

I love books!

This is the book I am currently captivated by:

This book is such a valuable reminder of the girls behind many of the products that come our way from China. A precious insight into the lives of women who could otherwise just be invisible. I'm thankful this story has been told, and that I have the opportunity, education and disposable income to purchase and read it. I am blessed and thankful.

I love reading, but I also love the idea of a book. My imagination is captivated by the description, and I just can't wait to take the journey and for my mind to be engaged and impacted by someone else's story. Most of the books I read are of people's stories and particularly in the field of missionary, or aid & development work. I especially love reading about those people with a global faith based perspective which has caused them to get up and take action, those people bringing their dreams to life and using their God given talents and changing the lives of others.

I know that I am reading too slowly when my 'wish-list' is piling up! But also I am excited about making a sale of my handmade creative treasures, so that I can save up for a new book to savour. Here are a few that caught my eye:

There are so many stories to be told, and so many to read, and one of the reasons I love to blog is because I want to share a glimpse of my world and my story.

Book Bags.

2011-05-21T20:52:00.004+10:00

I have really enjoyed working with upcycling unwanted Fairtrade coffee sacks.

I began converting coffee sacks into shopping bags, lined with African wax print or vintage fabrics! I seriously love these bags. From there I have tried a range of shapes and sizes of shopping bags. I love big bags, matched with big bold fabrics.

I have seen quite a lot of cushions made from coffee sacks, but I am not particularly keen on them - unless they were for seat cushions for my outdoor chairs. There is something rugged about the coffee sacks, and I just can't picture these kinds of cushions on my couch to cuddle up to.

But I do love book bags made from coffee sacks! Book bags are the perfect way to protect my books when travelling, but also the best way to keep track of my notebooks, important papers and pens! I always pack way too much when I travel (especially just for the weekend away) and as a result books always seem to come out battered from being squeezed into my bag. Book bags have enabled me to still have a crowded bag, but keep my books, magazines and papers in fabulous condition.

And next... well, I would love to make some more variations of shopping bags and smaller handbags. Also, I would love to make some Macbook laptop covers. Plus I have been screen printing on coffee sacks at RMIT and I look forward to incorporating some of this work into my sewing. Oh, I love sewing with Fairtrade coffee sacks!

Book bags available from my Etsy shop

Work.

2011-05-20T09:12:00.005+10:00

Do you work?
And, do you enjoy it? Or find it satisfying or rewarding?

I often think about all the factors that make a great job, and wonder if all positions have similar challenges (particularly when we have to work alongside others!) Though I think sometimes the greatest challenge of work is requiring the will-power to climb out of bed on a cold morning!

I think I have always found the loss of freedom hard when working... to commit to being somewhere for a designated time each day. And those precious 4 weeks of holidays each year can feel few and far between! And how much better is work when you are there, in the midst of it and getting involved (rather than just away from it thinking, or worrying, about it!)

But, what does makes a good job?
I think who you work for makes a huge difference, and there is something precious about belonging. I love that I believe in the organisation that I work for. I also think what you do is important, particularly if you can combine your hobbies, passions, skills, talents with your day-to-day responsibilities. But, there are always factors of work I find that can't be avoided - those moments of being under great stress and pressure, or having to do icky, boring or repetitive tasks, or difficult moments with other people, or those moments when you feel like you deserve ten times the wage you are being paid!

But, how great is a job that engages you and brings out the best in you and those you work with! I love when I can bring my creativity and passion to work. I love when my job helps me to care for, and support and encourage, others. I love believing in what I am doing, in who I work for, and feeling a sense of satisfaction and achievement at the end of the day.

My heart sings when people I know take intentional steps towards achieving their dreams...

My brother in law Andrew has just taken up a job at an organic wood-fired sourdough bakery in Tasmania, making bread in the traditional way without yeast. Wow! I am so inspired that he knows where he wants to be, and he knows what's important to him. The choices he is making now is shaping his path as a baker, and expresses his passions and creativity for great bread.

My mate Rick just got a part-time job with Micah Challenge. They are a global campaign of Christians advocating for justice for the poor and speaking up for justice, mercy and compassion. I love that he took a step of faith applying for this job, and I love that he had the courage to share his heart. He is man of vision and ideas, and it's exciting seeing him refining his skills to take him on the path he feels called.

And, I have just taken on a new role of being a tutor to the children of two of the Somali women I work with from the African Women's Sewing Enterprise. An opportunity arose as the women were looking for a tutor for their primary school aged kids, to help them strengthen their weaknesses identified in their school report cards. What an opportunity! I am so looking forward to getting alongside these kids, listening to them and investing in their futures. I start on Monday afternoon!

I think the key to having a great job is firstly knowing what it is that makes your heart sing and what it is you want to be doing. But also, we must believe in ourselves, to step out in faith, and be willing to tell people what we want to be doing and to courageously pursue our dreams.

Winner.

2011-05-19T22:37:00.005+10:00

I feel like I am grinning from ear to ear!

I am so excited that a photo from our time in Western Kenya won a Gecko's 'Africa Week' Photo competition. We took a safari with Gecko's into Tanzania, and it was a whole lot of fun! The African wildlife and environment is just incredible, and the tour was a great way to meet people from all over the globe and to have lots of laughs from our Kenyan tour-guide, Ronaldo. I would definitely recommend travelling with Gecko's if you're trekking far and wide.

I love this photo, and I am just over-the-moon about my prize - it will be treasured:

And, then I entered the Fairtrade Fortnight daily competition run by Republica Coffee and I won a mystery prize... (Oooh, I hope it's coffee beans!)

And finally, I have been selected as a winner in the Moral Fairground 'Show off your Swap' Art & Craft competition for Fairtrade Fortnight. I entered in the category of 'general public' (not as a student or an organisation). This is the bag I entered into the competition - Showing off my swap to Fairtrade Coffee, by utilising a Fairtrade coffee sack converted into a fabulously unique bag.

This achievement certainly hasn't yet fully sunk in yet! The bag has been on display at the Queen Victoria Markets for the past fortnight, and I look forward to receiving my prize of $500 at the upcoming Victorian Fairtrade Festival at the Queen Vic Markets on this Sunday from 10am.

If you are out and about in Melbourne on Sunday, be sure to come and say hello at the Festival! I will be there with Green Collect's Stall, and am looking forward to selling the beautiful handmade reclaimed treasures by my beloved team from the African Women's Sewing Enterprise.

I am glad I got involved and had the courage to enter a few competitions: wow, so many wonderful things to celebrate! I feel incredibly excited and super blessed by the outcomes!

Growth.

2011-05-17T09:16:00.003+10:00

I find the lovely thing about being away from home is arriving back to reconnect with all that is precious at home, and that includes seeing how our garden has grown.

Actually, I think it's amazing just how much the garden can change in only a few days! And especially in Autumn, when the colours are so bold and all the fallen leaves are everywhere, it certainly make the garden look different from day to day.

Here is a glimpse of the growth and the beautiful vegetables flourishing - red cabbage, broccoli, bok choi and beetroot:

We are able to enjoy silverbeet and spinach at the moment, but the beetroot is so close to being ready and closely followed by the bok choi. Though I think the spinach is just about finished now that it has become so cold here in Melbourne. Some of the veggies are just starting out, and I love how super cute they look - especially the peas, leeks and carrots.

A glimpse of our very small cauliflowers, the Melbourne Market Pea (each with a pea as big as the whole plant itself!), onions and brussel sprouts:

I would say a highlight of our place now is our fabulous pet chickens: Abishack, Mary & Esther (or otherwise known as Sarah, Lulu and Lila). Whatever their names are, it is very rewarding to care for them and to enjoy their fresh eggs! They are very inquisitive, and noisy, and love roaming around the backyard digging for worms. I feel like I am getting the hang of having chickens, and now it seems so normal to have them that I really miss them when we go away!

When you have been away from home, what do you look forward to most when you arrive back? I certainly always look forward to sleeping in my own bed again! I also love the variety of clothing from my cupboard - especially after living for any time out of a backpack!

I love taking an adventure so I can enjoy arriving back home. Ah!

Fighting.

2011-05-11T22:21:00.006+10:00

I fight.

I wonder why I fight sometimes, but it just seems to happen! Sometimes it's over teeny-tiny small things, and sometimes it's about big huge important issues. Sometimes a fight just sneaks out of nowhere and explodes, and sometimes it builds up from a conflict and erupts like a volcano.

Just as there is sunshine, we equally need the rain. Life has its good and bad moments, the happy and the sad. Fighting is part of life, just look at the animal kingdom. They fight for mates, for territory, for their offspring and for survival.

But there is more to fighting than the conflict it creates... what if we were to channel this passion and zest into a fight to create our dreams, or to make a difference in the world. How often do you really push forward, and focus on accomplishing your dreams and personal goals?

Dictionary.com defines a fight as 'any contest or struggle' and I think we underestimate this powerful tool - to fight - struggling for what we believe in, and contesting what is right. As we look towards the future, I can see the goals I want to achieve. But without fighting to keep the dream alive, so often we won't push through and the dream remains a good idea but nothing more.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air." Paul, Letter to the Corinthians

Don't give in when you feel discouraged - a challenging situation doesn't mean you're on the wrong path. Don't loose heart when you fail or make mistakes - fight to learn from them and put your knowledge into practice for next time. Don't fear a challenge - it is our opportunity to shine. Don't spend all your time on the sidelines - you were made for a great purpose and you need to take action and fight to fulfil your potential.

Lush.

2011-05-08T21:58:00.003+10:00

I am trying out a new jasmine shampoo & conditioner bar from Lush. Oh, I wish you could smell it, because the floral aroma is just incredible!

Do you know much about Lush?

As described by them: They are all about inventing their own products and fragrances, and their products are made fresh and by hand using little or no preservatives. They are all about simple or no packaging, vegetarian and organic ingredients and all about informing the customer about the origins of their products and ingredients. Wow.

I love walking past Lush shops... you get overwhelmed by the most incredible mixture of smells! I generally am not a 'lotions and potions' kinda girl, but I do have a love of great shampoo. The nice thing about this shampoo & conditioning bar was the scent it left in my bag while we were travelling. Delicious!

I love these nifty shampoo & conditioning because they require no packaging and seem to last forever! And are quick and easy to use. Simple, fabulous and smelling delicious!

If you are friendly with Lush, what is your favourite product?

Geometrics.

2011-05-06T20:55:00.002+10:00

Today we had a day of hanging out together in Sydney, and we enjoyed exploring new parts of town for us. We walked and walked - and it was wonderful!

We went into some huge shopping centers, ah... as a Tassie girl I am still amazed by these places. I hardly ever buy new clothes, and generally I avoid just looking around shopping centers - can be oh-so-tempting if I find something I like!

But today it wasn't clothing that caught my eye... but the decorating! My textile design and development studies have really influenced me. Everywhere I saw amazing geometric patterns, and fabulous design & creative layouts.

I loved looking around and taking it all in. I especially value the ideas and inspiration from patterns, design and layout. It's great to feel like I come away with so much, particularly without having to spend any money for the experience!

My Shop.

2011-05-03T20:53:00.005+10:00

I enjoy opening new chapters in my life!

I love moving forward with dreams and ideas step by step. Heck, I think if I tried to tackle all my goals and dreams and ideas at once I would simply be buried by so much potential and goodness. There really is something incredibly special about taking life season by season; step by step.

It's been a long and incredibly worthwhile journey of making and selling, creating and producing, designing and developing. I have sold personally, at markets, on commission, wholesale and now online! This has been a personal goal of mine to establish an online shop, but I held off until I felt prepared and ready to really go for it. After our time in East Africa earlier this year, I was just sold out to come home and make this dream a reality. And here I am, kicking off my shop just when I had hoped to.

I am working so hard to make the most of all opportunities that come my way. It's not an easy path - my eyes are looking far ahead to my dreams for the future, they are thinking about what is yet to unfold this year, looking at my current week's responsibility, mindful what I need to do next, and reflecting backwards to the path I have already taken. It's tricky to strike a good balance - making space for relationships, creativity, responsibilities, vocation, spontaneity, travel, study, and all that is life.

I don't know what to expect with this new Etsy shop, but I am committed to making the most of it for the rest of this year and hopefully wherever we might be based next year too. I celebrate the completion of a goal, the opening of a chapter and the joy that my creative expression brings me.

Productivity.

2011-05-01T17:18:00.008+10:00

I think I'm on a roll at the moment - I've caught the vision with making myself some skirts, and I'm really enjoying trying some new things.

I found a skirt that had really interesting fabric, but has been handmade really badly with no shape in it all. So, I unpicked the skirt, and rescued the fabric. And, as much as I loved the interesting fabric, I didn't want it in a skirt all by itself. So, I added some amazing plain brown linen from my fabric shelf and they just work together beautifully.

I've put the fabrics together as half and half, with a panel of each of the fabrics on the front and back. There is something bold and fun with the fabric, but also earthy and comfortable.

Next project? Well, I am keen to make myself a dress from some of my fabric I collected while in East Africa earlier this year. So, I've been on the hunt for a pattern that beautiful, suitable for my fabric, that I can see myself in. We're off to a wedding in September, so why not plan ahead I say! I am not really someone who wears dresses... I love the idea of them, but often I find it hard to get a dress that fits 'just right'. Hopefully that I will love this dress so much once I've finished sewing it, that I will feel confident to wear it and treasure it for a long time to come.

I think I might also make a fun jacket to accompany this dress! Oh, I look forward to stepping up to another challenge, and I am filled with ideas and inspiration.

New.

2011-04-29T20:31:00.004+10:00

Anyone who has spent much time with me over the past few years would have heard me talk of my passion for Africa, my heart for the poor and disadvantaged and my love of sewing, and especially making Fairtrade coffee sack bags!

My current project has been to find some suitable patterns for coffee sack bags with wooden handles. Through my work with the African Women Sewing Enterprise we have been given a pile of plastic and wooden handles for bags. I have wondered just how I could incorporate these handles into unique, useful and eye-catching bags.

Within an hour of getting home with a pattern, I had cut out my fabric and was piecing it all together! Aurgh, reading patterns can really be a complicated process, as they are often so unclear. But, I think naturally I couldn't help but to take some of my own initiative and modify it to suit my own design ideas. It was great to work from a pattern and change it as I needed.

I love this new bag, and am looking forward to trying (and changing) more new patterns!

Maintenance.

2011-04-29T13:28:00.004+10:00

Today I did some maintenance on a skirt that I found in the fabric for the African Women's Sewing Enterprise. It is old, and handmade, and I just couldn't bear to cut it up - it still had much life and a story in it! It was a tube skirt, with no zipper - so I had to put it on over my head to wear it! Plus it was too big and was nearly falling off by the end of the day. But the lovely old vintage floral is just the right colours for my Fairtrade t-shirt! This skirt just needed some love and maintenance.

But now, the skirt has a lovely vintage metal zipper on the side, and has been taken in. Plus I unpicked and re-stitched the waistband as it was fraying. Wow. Now this skirts fits like a glove! And the zipper really was so easy to put in. I used to avoid zippers and buttons, because they seemed complex and fickle to work with, but now through faithful persistence and practice it is just so much easier to do. I am so happy to have a new skirt, made just for me, and all it cost me was my time and effort! Makes me even less inclined to go out shopping for clothing when I know the best clothes are the ones I can make for myself.

I find that I would often much rather modify something for myself, than make it from scratch with brand new fabric. I think there is a bit of that sense of the 'blank canvas', or the uncut fabric, being daunting. I find when something has already begun, it is much easier to visualise what it can become and to work on.

But I also think there is a perfectionist tendency in me that I wrestle with. At times I work up to a project or a idea by working on side projects. For example I have some incredibly amazing vintage fabric I want to use for a skirt, but I'm not ready yet to cut it up. But with practice on modifying other skirts and as I identify exactly which skirt pattern I like the most, then I will give it a go. It's not all bad to want things to be 'just right' but it can be limiting and also can stop me really appreciating what I've done - especially if my eye for detail sees all the imperfections! But, I love that I know about how I tick, and I work hard to harness my skills and to put them to good work.

Read.

2011-04-26T00:16:00.004+10:00

I can't believe how quickly I have read this book!

There is something incredibly captivating about the story of the Lost Boys from Sudan. I found this book really hard to put down. I honestly can't believe they survived such horrific circumstances, for such a long time - they survived through injuries, exploitation, displacement, hunger, thirst, poverty, homelessness, war, torture and they were just little children. The boys sharing their stories were separated from their homes and their parents between the ages of 5-8 years old. Wow. Their spirits are unquenchable and their faith, hope and determination is unbelievable, and inspiring.

Awesome.

And the next book to be devoured... well, I am still deciding!

Gift.

2011-04-25T21:46:00.003+10:00

Ah, Easter.

Both a time of reflection on the heart of my faith, and the opportunity to get together to share with those I love.

This Easter was very special for us, as we have family now living here in Melbourne - so we enjoyed fish together for lunch on Good Friday and an amazing lamb roast on Easter Sunday.

I love gifts - to give and to receive. A highlight of my Easter was an amazing Fairtrade Egg from my husband, along with an iTunes card! Oooh, yes I have had my eye on a fabulous album of African music which I'm keen to buy.

And, so as we prepared our gifts this Easter I dreamed up all sorts of ideas including a balloon bunny for my nephew, and a cozy blanket for my brand new niece. Here is a glimpse of the 'Safari Rug' I've made for her:

There was much trial and error to complete my idea, but I am so pleased with the results! But even better is the gift of family that inspire and value what I can make for them. At the moment I am working on brand new beanies for all my nieces in Tasmania. The biggest challenge of the project is ensuring I add all the colours they have requested to their beanies! I love making and creating for them. Tonight I have begun and undone one beanie over and over until I get the colour combination just right. It's lovely to have a lap full of wool, and a project to embark on. I feel so blessed from my family, big and small.

Sewing.

2011-04-19T11:18:00.002+10:00

I always seems to have a million ideas in my head, and a endless projects I want to work on.

And one reoccurring desired project is to make my own skirts. Over the past five years I have really grown to love wearing skirts! I love them because they are beautiful, unique, contain loads of character and I feel they are feminine and flattering. In fact I am so used to wearing skirts that when I put trousers on it feels completely unfamiliar.

And slowly I have collected a little pile of delightful fabric, which is waiting to be transformed into a wearable item! There are a few reasons why I haven't made these skirts - settling on just the right pattern I think is 99% of the reason. But also I know myself, and when I sew for me I know my standards are high and my eye for detail is too sharp.

As I pondered what to wear to an friend's wedding, I resolved that I would make a new skirt from some amazing japanese designer fabric by Echino. I got this fabric when at a craft fair in Melbourne with my mum, too long ago to remember. It has waited patiently for my in my fabric cupboard for me to be ready to embark on such a special project.

Well, I unpicked another skirt that I love but is now very faded, and there was my perfect pattern! The skirt has been made, it's not perfectly constructed as I still have much to learn about dress-making, but perfect in my eyes. I think it is incredibly beautiful, the fabric is amazing, it fits me well and it's handmade. When I look at it I feel such a rush of joy because it is such an obvious example of my love of making and creating.

My collection of handmade skirts is growing and I love making dreams into clothing I can wear! And there is something uplifting about overcoming all the reasons that cause me not to act on my dreams and ideas.

Read.

2011-04-17T23:13:00.004+10:00

I love my pile of books waiting to be read! Each carefully selected and generally purchased with money earned from selling my handicrafts. Very special books indeed.

I have just finished reading The Rebel's Hour - I picked up this book from the Bangkok Airport while in transit on the way home from East African in February. It's been a slow read as I often go to bed when my eyes are so tired they just want to sleep, but I try and read anyway. It was a insightful book; a complicated story of the life of a soldier in the Congo. I chose it because I really want more of an insight into the Congo, and to understand more of its history. It gave me a lot to think about, and was certainly a worthwhile read.

The hardest thing about finishing a book is deciding which one to read next!

Well, I chose a book along a similar theme of life in a war zone in Africa, but this book is They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky - the true story of three Lost Boys from Sudan. I got this book recently from a workmate, she thought I might like to read it. I would really like to understand more of the history of Sudan, and I think a story like this will be very insightful for me. In fact I hope it continues to deepen my heart for the people of Sudan - I work with an incredible woman from Sudan, and her life story is profoundly challenging but full of faith, hope and love. I love that I can learn as I read. I also love that I can walk in the shoes of another; I'm captivated and engaged.

I love that I have been blessed with education that enables me to read and to explore the world through books. I really want to make the most of my love for books, and to be willing to constantly learn and grow from the writing of others!

Creativity.

2011-04-14T22:55:00.005+10:00

I love creativity!

I love investing in and celebrating the creativity of others, and I love when Ben & I express our own creativity. I think nothing compares to having a house full of creative productivity, and precious handmade treasures all over the place.

While we were in Nairobi, Kenya earlier this year we collected some beautiful paintings. Bold and bright colours, with captivating African inspiration. Ben has been working on making frames for each of these paintings. Wow! These frames are made from fence pailing, lovingly cut and sanded by hand and pieced together.

I love the combination of recycled wood, handmade paintings and uniquely made frames. It's hard not to want to keep every one Ben has constructed for us! But we are choosing to sell these paintings to fundraise in preparation for our time in East Africa in 2012. If you are captivated by this creativity, then chat to me about getting one for your household.

Growth.

2011-04-12T12:54:00.005+10:00

It is nice to see when hard work pays off in the garden!

We are constantly working on our garden - whether it's planting vegetables or natives, or mulching, mowing, moving, or maintaining the garden. Just when I say I've had enough, I find myself back out there keen to make a difference. Our garden is growing beautifully, and we are ready to start eating our spinach and silverbeet! We are still harvesting tomatoes, and lots of our winter crop is starting to grow.

We've had lots of trouble with caterpillars on the broccoli, and cabbage moths are all over the place. But we have some organic pest control which seems to be helping. I think that is the biggest challenge of gardening - fighting the pests and the challenges of the weather. Ben has cut back an incredibly overgrown plum tree which has helped give more sunshine to the large garden bed. Today it has poured with rain, though it makes it terribly cold and hard to get outside, I'm grateful for the rain that sustains the land.

Our chickens are happily settling in, we have enjoyed two eggs in two days! What a celebration of resources, sustainability and a sense of participation in the food cycle.

Love.

2011-04-10T20:48:00.005+10:00

A few things I love in life at the moment...

I love watching our garden grow, especially vegetables that we can then eat and enjoy!

I love watching our chicken snooze in the afternoon sunshine.

I love it when I have the chance to ride my bike, everywhere if possible. But I prefer to ride on the footpath because I hate being in the traffic.

I love the coziness of hoodies on cold evenings.

I love when I find pins in my crafty work-in-progress that I can then reclaim! Especially when I seem to run out of pins - which happens way too much!

I love to read about positive stories of aid and development, especially when it transforms lives. I love reading books that tell stories - real stories - of hope and sadness, joy and challenges, life and loss. I cherish books of life changing stories.

I love time with my nephews and nieces. I love their imaginations, their creativity and how they love me back.

I love having all my creative supplies out, all over the place. I don't think Ben loves it quite as much, but I find it very inspiring and constantly gives me ideas and inspiration.

I love it when my husband makes us fresh fairtrade coffee's. Love a fabulous coffee at home!

Flock.

2011-04-10T08:40:00.003+10:00

Finally we now have our own flock of chickens!

After Ben built an incredible coop incorporating recycled tin and fence pailings, we went and got three chickens yesterday. They are not little chicks, but rather chickens ready for laying. I feel like I have much to learn with chickens! But I am also ready to take the adventure and give it a go - no need to wait until I'm an expert to start, I'd much rather learn on my feet!

And, the highlight of going and checking the chickens this morning - our first egg! It felt surreal to see this little egg in the nest. SO worth the effort and commitment to investing in our own flock of chickens! I showed one of the children, Abishack - she's six - and she told me this egg was 'beautiful'. I think she's quite right!

A highlight was having people from church coming over to check out these chickens - and the kids just loved them! But even more special was having the kids from the afternoon congregation from the Burmese church come and check out the chickens! The kids were amazed and are such fun, and it was so special having a backyard full of little kids. They helped us water the veggie garden, helped spread the mulch in the front garden, jumped on the trampoline, checked out the worm farm. One little girl declared 'Your house is like a farm!'. Yes, indeed!

I love community. I love chatting and caring, playing ball games and helping kids with the watering can or pushing the wheel barrow. I love sharing my life and living out my faith. I love answering creative and insightful questions from little kids, I love investing in the future generation. I love making friends and inviting people into my garden, my home - my farm - and my life. I feel like the richest person on earth.

Going Native.

2011-04-08T10:56:00.004+10:00

Oooh, I am convinced that gardening is incredibly addictive!

The area near our back door is such a neglected, ugly area - with few plants, lots of overgrown trees and no grass. It's the area I overlook when I am in the kitchen doing the dishes. It is crying out for some love and attention!

So, we have sat and dreamed together of what might be... we're keen to make a difference, and the transformation is underway! We have chosen to plant natives as we really want to invite bees and birds to our lovely garden. And they just look splendid! We invested in a trailer load of eco-garden mulch and we're going to work our way around the house, improving the garden, planting flowers and natives, mulching and pruning, and replacing sad brick edging with reclaimed timber!

Before: Lonely garden with lots of rocks and no plants!
After: A beautiful garden of natives, mulch that smells like a rainforest, and Fairtrade recycled garden ornaments from Zimbabwe!

I love that we are both such handy people - Ben prepared the wooden garden edging, while I was inside making myself a skirt! And then we both worked side by side to plant, mulch, fertilise and complete the garden bed!

And next? It will be the transformation of the garden on the opposite side - a lovely shady area that we will fill with ferns and shade-loving plants. And after that... we will be repaving the area! So many possibilities, and life is far too short to overlook a sad and neglected garden. I am really, really looking forward to social gatherings in this lovely garden area!

Bread.

2011-04-05T09:54:00.003+10:00

As I was buying bread this week from the supermarket I just couldn't believe the price per loaf. It's challenging when the staple items such as bread climb in price. But the incredible thing for me is that I will never have to go without bread, because I always have enough money for it. Even when bread becomes more expensive.

A significant moment that was seared into my memory while in East Africa, was when a small local boy, who we saw regularly, asked us in his simple English, 'You buy me bread?'. To begin with I was confused, and clarified 'Bread? But I do not have any bread' and then it struck me, the enormous daily reality of grinding poverty and the many mouths to feed in his family. For a child to ask for bread, not soda or sweets, was something I had never faced before. My heart just broke. To give him bread would be a very temporary solution to much greater problem. I did not buy him bread, but chose to share my food with him, and his sister and two brothers each day as they hung around where we were volunteering.

I am thinking of bread this week after reading an article on Living Proof, which is part of the One Campaign. Living Proof is described as 'a showcase of stories that are too often ignored - the incredible progress being achieved by some of the world's poorest people.' And the first story I read was about bread, and about how it is being produced with added micronutrients in Egypt to combat widespread poor nutrition. Such a simple way to improve health, one piece of bread at a time!

So, as I think about the price of bread, of my dear little friend in Kenya, and this story of life-changing bread in Egypt I am humbled and filled with hope. Thankful that stories are told which remind me of how lives can be changed, in simple and practical ways! I encourage you to check out more of Living Proof and remember how blessed you are, and how you can be a blessing to others.

Ideas.

2011-04-04T08:38:00.004+10:00

I am teaching my sewing beginners today how to make door stops, and while looking for ideas and inspiration I found these sweet burlap door stops on Etsy

I love coffee sack bags, and think this is just a fabulous idea! Perhaps I need to cut myself some sweet stencils to put on.
Love love.

Change.

2011-04-03T18:14:00.002+10:00

I think change is a good thing.
But particularly, change to improve is the best change to make.

Over the past few days I have enjoyed the chance to change my desk space, so that it is more functional and accessible. And we have also been continually working on changing and improving our garden, to make it a pleasant and functional place to be.

The hardest things to change I find are the things that are never urgent. I've really wanted to update my tags for my handcrafts, and have labels produced... but still they are waiting my attention. So, I finally changed the tags for my hemp dish cloths. YES! Oh, there really is nothing better than conquering a task that has been awaiting my attention.

A bowl full of hemp dish cloths with the newly modified tags.
Yep, I love change.