Ticking off milestones...in all areas!

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope it finds you all well! I thought I would write a post about what I have been up to lately on the creative front.

Since I last posted (yesssss....I know it's been a little while...) a few things have happened. The biggest one being that I graduated! I didn't originally think much of it, and to be honest, the graduation ceremony was one of the most boring things I have ever had to endure... But after a bit of thinking and reminiscing- I have to say that I am proud of what I have achieved and the experiences my degree brought to me. After studying at four different uni's to accomplish it (UniSA here in Adelaide, Griffith University in the Gold Coast, Sunderland University in the UK and Curtin University online) I can safely sing in my best Frank Sinatra impression: 'I DID IT MYYYYY WAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!' I wanted to study but I wanted to travel more- turns out I did both and came out with a degree, so I'm chuffed!

Since finishing my studies last year, I have been working four days at my usual admin job and having one day off a week to do my writing and art work. I am now working for Peak Physique Hot Yoga as a blogger/marketing assistant, Wyld Orchids: Wedding Florists as a blogger and, most recently, This Is Radelaide as a contributor. This Is Radelaide is an online publication about the happenings and treasures of Adelaide, so obviously I love writing articles for their publication! I have gained experience in interviewing people,too, which I was a bit nervy about at first, but now really enjoy. Here are the links to my articles so far:

Humans of Adelaide OzComic-Con

The Flinders Street Market: Crafty Treats and Healthy Eats

Conchillia Under the Rotunda

So, as you can see, I've been very busy- and not just with writing! I have also been doing lots of odd-jobs in the creative arts area. Mainly helping friends to design wedding/engagement decorations and invites, but also designing some logos. The Healthy Little Lady is an Adelaide business that makes and sells vegan healthy treats- and I designed the logo! I have included images of some of the earlier ideas for the logo, as well as the final design and product at the bottom of the page...

So writing and art fill all of my Monday's, which is cool because while everyone else is hating that day, I'm adoring it! But to be honest, with everything that I have been working on, I'm starting to feel like one day isn't enough. Now that I have my degree, I can start looking at this kind of work on a more full-time basis. But I have to wait until after May. May is going to be a very strange month for me and I am finding it a bit daunting. While I know I have some tough times coming, I also know I will get through them and I have a trip to Vietnam to see my brave parents (who are spending some time there at the moment), to look forward to. So until I get back, I just need to keep doing what I am doing- staying busy and earning those dollars...

Final design for The Healthy Little Lady

I would really like to focus more on my artwork and have been feeling really inspired lately. I guess it is because people have asked for custom designs and I always feel like I have more direction when the work is actually FOR something (plus it helps when there is some payment involved!)

SALA festival registrations are still open... something to consider...

Art Avenues, Forgotten Florals...

Ok guys, something is going on in the universe (or at least in mine) and I think it is growing an abundance of petals. I was having a conversation with one of my friends today who was telling me funny stories about a rather flamboyant university tutor she has in one of her interior design courses. Apparently, he waves his hands around passionately saying; 'Some days you will just have a colour moment! You will notice a colour, like it, observe it- and then suddenly you see that colour EVERYWHERE! And you become inspired!!!' (Or something like that anyway... maybe it was just a funny conversation in real life. Awkward.) Annnnyway, my point is, I think I am having one of these 'colour moments,' except with flowers. 

Like I mentioned in my last post, I have developed a lust for filling old glass jars with pretty petals and succulents, and usually free ones at that! Sometimes the flowers come from my garden, sometimes from my street. They aren't anything special or expensive (they're free, duh.) but they always come together so nicely and really spruce up my flat! I like to think of them as the forgotten florals, and me as some kind of flower robin hood- rescuing them and bringing them to their full potential! 

Apart from playing florist in my backyard, pretty flowers have also been the source of inspiration for my recent art scribblings. I've mentioned before that I am really getting into watercolours teamed with black felt tip pens or ink- and these are some of the results! Some of this stuff is a few weeks old, but some is from the Monday past. Oh, and the breakfast is also from Monday- how delish does it look? Plus it fuelled my artworks!

Flower Bomb

Up close

The Florist

This one I did on the grass in the botanical gardens. Ahhh I love Adelaide on my Monday's off!

I have really been enjoying these new mediums, but want to get my hands on some decent water colours and some super fine brushes. Right now I am using a kid's watercolour set... seems to be serving me well, though! No complaints! 

I've sold one of the paintings above, which is always a cool thing. I never sell them for much, but it is nice to know that someone is appreciating them rather than keeping them shut inside a forgotten old visual diary. It is also good when someone asks me to create a painting for them- I prefer to have something to work for, rather than just painting aimlessly. Which is why I was a happy chappy when one of my best friends asked me to help her with some art for her engagement party decorations!

From little black heart shapes and flower arrangements to a big welcoming blackboard, I was in charge of helping my friend with her decorations- and I pretty much want to be a wedding planner now. It was so fun! Not only did I get to use a white Posca pen on lots of smooth black surfaces (*drool*), I also got to help with the flowers (some of which were wild flowers that we sneakily stole from the public streets!).

So, you see? Flowers are everywhere in my life at the moment. And to tell the truth, I don't at all mind!

Small things, big thoughts...

Hiiiii. Once again I have not blogged for a while, which annoys me for reasons I am about to write about! In my last post, I talked briefly about some advice my Mum gave me- to start appreciating the small pleasures in life. I am always planning/saving money/organising travel plans, which is awesome, but I agree that I sometimes miss out on (and even deprive myself of) the simple pleasures in life. Especially lately, I feel like I have lost touch with these things. I've been under a fair bit of emotional stress and feel like I have been putting all of my energy into certain areas of my life, and forgetting about others. The tricky part is, I can't do anything about that right now, and I know that I have some pretty heavy times coming in the near future. But while I can't do much about it right now (and I don't really want to do anything about it) I can start small. Instead of burying myself in my future plans and goals, I am trying to be grateful for those little things in the present moment. I've been looking back on my old blog posts, and I have realised that is exactly what I have always liked about posting on here. Besides keeping my writing up, documenting my life has always brought my consciousness to the present. So, first new focus- blogging more often!

Getting my creative juices flowing has always been something that makes me feel happy and content. I am trying to do more art lately, but I have been finding creativity in different forms. Flowery forms, to be precise! I have developed an obsession for old jars as vases and odd flower arrangements- usually provided by my garden or the short bike ride from work! Even my mint cuttings have been getting special treatment...

My Australian Natural Honey jar and my Organic Coconut Oil jar are my favourites, but every time a condiment or spread is finished in my flat, another funny little jar is added to the collection. The flowers are pretty random and are basically whatever I can throw together. Suddenly petals and succulents everywhere are catching my eye- I like how I can put anything together and it looks cute in my little flat (especially with these Mexican-style doilies my Nanna gave me!).

The unlikely arrangements have even been an inspiration for a few artworks- nothing spesh, but fun all the same!

My little watercolour painting... it doesn't look much next to a Van Gogh print, but they are friends there above my kitchen sink. I want to do more watercolour experiments...

When I start to focus on this 'small joys' topic, I'm sometimes overwhelmed and feel a bit guilty for the things I truly am grateful for, but tend to overlook. I am grateful for my current working situation (even if I complain about my job sometimes, as everyone does). I am lucky to be working in a job that allows me to be flexible with my hours. Because of this, I can work on my career and I am gaining more and more experience with my writing work each week. I love my Monday's- a day away from my usual work at the hospital and a time to focus on what I would really love to do career-wise.

A typical Monday. I sometimes work from home, but I prefer to head into the city to work from a cafe. I am really enjoying my work with writing for different companies. Hopefully one day I will do something like this on a more full-time basis!

I am also grateful for the benefits I have found in Yoga. I have recently finished another challenge with my studio and I am getting better all the time! I am even looking into some private classes to learn some trickier poses! 

Excuse my sleepy face, but these are my new yoga tights :) I love them.
Me after the Peak Physique Hot Yoga 21 Day Detox Challenge :)

Since moving into my flat, I have found it hard to find the time (or the funds) to make my own skin products. Luckily, I have found an amazing natural and organic skincare product range called Purnon Skin Simple. 

Made in Australia, these local products are really effective. My favourite is the orange sugar scrub, which is really gentle yet also exfoliating and hydrating. I also love the cleanser and moisturiser, both with pure tee tree oil, which has always been my favourite oil when it comes to caring for my skin! While I have never had too much trouble with my skin, a few of my friends have found some awesome results with their skin problems from these products. The best part is, it's affordable and a little goes a long way! I would highly recommend! 

My beloved Orange Scrub

So looking after my skin (as well as myself, as much as I can!) has been another focus of late. I want to try and spoil myself in some small way at least once a month. I think lots of yoga, a new hair-do and a shopping trip are due for the coming months! Simple pleasures, right?! :)