AUCTION JOURNAL NUMBER ONE

Nov 12, 2021Nov 12, 2021 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

The first in a series of journals being offered for auction on Wednesday 17th November, 2021 at 10am AEST on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/GladysAndMaude/

Auction Journal Number One – Front Cover

I had planned on uploading these videos to my YouTube channel with a voiceover description of each journal/item in the auction. Unfortunately, the charger for the laptop has been placed in a safe place (yes, we both recall saying “let’s put it here so we know where it is” – can’t find it 🤦🏽‍♀️ and, the hand written description is too long to put in the YouTube description box, so I’ve reverted to my old WordPress blog to share the info with you all.

This little mini or pocket journal is handmade, hand bound and full of hand painted, hand dyed, eco dyed papers and fabrics.

You can watch a detailed flip through on my YouTube here: AUCTION JOURNAL NUMBER ONE FLIP THROUGH

The main journal measures approx 3.5in (9cm) x 5in (12.5cm) and approx 1.25in deep (3cm). It contains one signature only.

This main journal has 22 pages plus cover with secret pockets, but has a total of 57 surfaces to create on, including inside covers and waterfall pages. Not including secret journal or tag.

The secret hidden mini journal measures approx 3.25in (8cm) x 3.25in 8cm). This journal is one signature only.

This mini journal has 14 pages plus cover with a total of 29 working surfaces.

There is also an added luggage tag in a hidden folder in the back cover.

The cover of this little journal is made from a heavy weight tie wrap envelope that has been rust dyed with black tea. The closure is constructed of a strip of vintage Actil cotton sheeting (unused and still wrapped in it’s paper label, all these years later) that I have eco dyed with eucalyptus leaves foraged from our home garden in Lake Macquarie, NSW.
The eco dyed cotton wrap tie has been hand stitched to the front of the journal cover using hand dyed Cotton a Broder in teal with a striking piece of complimentary hand dyed cotton fabric in teal as a contrast to the eucalyptus dyed fabric and çbefore being secured with a rustic looking button from my mother’s button collection. (yes, Mum knows I have her button ).

The eucalyptus dyed Actil cotton wrap has also being rustically embroidered with “x’s” in the teal Cotton a Broder along a section of wrap to strategically emphasise the contrasts of colours, highlighting the striking elements of water & earth. To complete the wrap, I’ve tied the thread off with a complimentary teal coloured, handmade glass bead & the end of the wrap is lovingly finished off with a rustically stitched needle lace accent.

Upon opening the journal, you are greeted with a harmonious celebration of earthy, upcycled and hand crafted elements. The inside cover is a delight to the eyes with a cacophony of delightful earthy eco dyed colours from eucalyptus, black tea and dried flower petals that dance and swirl around the page. It is then layered with a soft and gentle sage green, hand painted, watercolour circle with the most delicate gold dust shimmer. I have then layered two rustic strips of drafting film that has been painted with recycled iron water. This little collage stack has been finished off with a hand drawn, original “wonky” botanical.

The first page is made up of the front of an upcycled candle box in sage green that perfectly compliments the hand painted sage green circle on the inside front cover. The clear acetate sheet in the first page already had a hole nearly punched in it so I took that as an opportunity to use as an accent that I added a piece of rust dyed, vintage sari silk and an upcycled piece of teal covered cord.

Inside Front Cover, Page 1 & Page 3 Behind

Turning this first page over to page 2 and you gain a peek of the hand drawn “wonky” botanical through the acetate window.

Moving on to page 3 & you are greeted by a happy and colourful piece of watercolour paper that I’ve splashed with my own handmade teal ink, combined with a rust coloured watercolour paint in a colour I mixed myself to match the rust dyed fabrics. This page has a rustically torn piece of vintage sari silk in teal that I’ve hand stitched to the bottom left corner of the page as an embellishment. This piece of sari silk is bejewelled with a surface embroidery that looks very much like Or Nué.

Turning over to page 4 & I’ve left the soft & subtle colours of the teal ink and rust coloured watercolour to gently peek through. to the bottom left corner of this page, I’ve stitched a mini fabric stack consisting of a layer of rust & coffee dyed vintage linen tablecloth and a layer of teal dyed vintage linen.

Moving on to page 5 & I have included a piece of rust dyed, hand torn, vintage cotton fabric as the page. This page is ready for you to add your own embroidery, writing, collage or more. On the upper right of this fabric page, I have pinned a layer of hand dyed teal vintage tablecloth & a piece of eucalyptus dyed cotton that I’ve pinned to the page with a little gold coloured safety pin. You can either leave these accents as they are, stitch them in place or use them somewhere else in your journal.

Turning to page 6 & of course we have the reverse side of the rust dyed cotton that I’ve pinned a piece of coffee dyed vintage lace & a tiny piece of teal dyed cotton that compliment the two page spread beautifully. Again you can leave these little textile accents as they are or stitch them in place or even use them elsewhere in your journal.

Moving to page 7 & you’ll see a piece of white copy card that I’ve covered with asemic writing before sprinking a few dots of teal ink then splashing some small glistening gold splodges all over. I have then added a semi circle of an original hand painted watercolour in teal which I’ve topped with a piece of eucalyptus dyed cotton fabric, lovingly stitched into place with some teal dyed DMC stranded cotton.

Turning over to page 8 & you’ll find the reverse of pg 7. Page 8 also has asemic writing & fine, glistening gold splashes & splodges. To this page I’ve hand sewn another original hand painted watercolour semi circle in Paynes Grey with a piece of teal dyed vintage tablecloth placed underneath as a perfect complimentary element. These again have been hand stitched to the page using hand dyed teal coloured DMC stranded cotton.

Moving on to page 9 and you’ll find a lovely crunchy piece of painted tracing paper with gold crosses. The page is accented with a piece of vintage embroidered sari in teal that has been stitched on with matching crosses in an eco dyed stranded DMC cotton. Page 9 is simply the reverse side of page weight which is has an opaque transparency. The reverse side of the embroidered teal sari has been layered with a piece of rust dyed vintage sari silk.

Page 10 is a simple white page with delicate and minute splashes of gold mica paint and has been accented with a small collaged and painted canvas disk.

Page 11 is a white page delicately washed with gold mica offering a glistening sparkle ready for your journaling or adornment. It is accented by a mini layer of rust dyed vintage sari silk and a piece of teal cotton fabric.

Page 12 is a striking piece of ecy dyed cotton with gorgeous imprints of eucalyptus leaves. I’ve gently pinned a piece of rust dyed cotton, layered with a piece of rust dyed and teal dyed vintage sari silk. Page 13 is simply the reverse side of page 12 – the eco dyed cotton.

Page 14 is a gently painted piece of white card with washes of teal and blue watercolour and a small amount of rust dye sprinkled on top. I’ve hand stitched a piece of rust and teal dyed vintage sari silk to this page and the reverse on page 15 as well.

Page 16 is another piece of white card, adorned with gold mica crosses and accented with a hand painted watercolour disk with hand drawn white gel marks and stitched into the page with iron water dyed stranded cotton.

Page 17 is the reverse of 16, again with gold mica marks abs affected with teal embroidered sari and rust dyed cotton stitched on.

Page 18, a lovely gold mica wash, with the entire edge of the page accented by a teal sari ruffle with gold embroidery and sequins, hand stitched into place.

The reverse side of 18, page 19 has been painted with teal ink and gold mica and accented with some needle weaving on the reverse of the ruffle stitching.

I’m just going to add a few more images but if you’d like further details or explanation, please do not hesitate to contact me. It’s taking way too long to photograph, upload and describe. I’m more than happy however to provide more images or information.

Fibre · Spinning

Game of Thrones

Sep 8, 2020Sep 8, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

Once again, I’ve struggled to keep the posts coming here regularly on my blog and have only been posting on Insta instead 🤦‍♀️ Not deliberately of course, it just seems easier to post to Instagram at the moment. However, I really want to challenge myself to post here more regularly too. I’m not going to keep making promises or challenging myself though because every time I do, the posts stop. I’m just going to try to make a more concerted effort. I think my biggest challenge is that in too much of a perfectionist but I have so many great ideas in my head that I really want to get out so I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to start making that concerted effort more often.

Another skein that was spun during Tour de Fleece Part 1, 2020.

This time it was in the form of a batt and I do believe this one was a gift from someone in the #AustralianHandknittersandSpinners group on Facebook after I was involved in a single vehicle MVA some years back and in doing so lost the majority of my fibre – my car burned to the ground with the majority of my fibre in the boot, ready for an upcoming workshop the next day.

If it was you who gifted me this fibre – THANK YOU! It is beautiful, was beautiful to spin and offered me some wonderful little surprises along the journey.

The batt was an 82gm batt produced by @catandsparrowfibres and is called #Missandei – #GameofThrones Inspired (#GOT) and contains #merino #shetland #silk #babyllama #angora #cashmere #sparkle and #SariSilk to which I added some grey #cria to make it up to or over 100gm.

It was spun on my Ashford Kiwi Mk I, “Z” spun and “S” plied in a 3 ply construction using chain plying and measures 198 metres or 217 yards.

#spinningfiber
#fiber
#fiberartistsofinstagram
#spinningwheel
#TDF
#TDF2020
#TourdeFleece
#TourDeFleece2020
#handspun
#handspunyarn
#handspinnersofinstagram
#spinstagram
#IMakeYarn
#igspinners
#handspunstagram
#Ashford
#ashfordwheelsandlooms

Have a beautiful day and until next time;

May You Be Happy

May You Be Healthy

May You Be Filled With Loving Kindness

😊❤🌈🌻

Got Your Back Sista · Say No To Domestic Violence · Self Isolation

Daily Uptimisms

Jul 17, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

Reposting from the 27th April, 2020.

I’m incredibly happy and rather proud to say that I do indeed have my own page with one of my own favourite quotes published in the latest edition of Daily Uptimisms.

Reposted from @the_joy_box …

Excited to say the little book of Daily Uptimisms have Arrived.

Created by community for community – this little book includes favourite quotes from over 60 people in our community and all proceeds go to @gotyourbacksista to support the great work they do as a charity helping women begin again after leaving domestic violence.

Thanks to everyone who contributed a quote – please buy a copy only $20+gst and postage and help save a woman’s future life today.

Link to buy in bio https://www.uqpower.com.au/uq-power-shop/products/daily-uptimism-vol3

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mum of Awesome (aka Rochelle) (@gladysandmaude)

Health · Self Isolation · Stitch Meditation · Stitching

Slow Stitch Meditation Kits

Jul 17, 2020Jul 17, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

Going back to the 24th April, 2020.

Today I delivered some Slow Stitch Meditation Kits to @themakersplacehunterregion for a very small and reasonable cost of $25/kit.

Slow Stitch Meditation Kits

Each kit contains 1 x piece of 8” x 8” base fabric, a combination of carefully selected and co-ordinated fabrics including reclaimed & salvaged pieces perfect for your slow stitch projects or meditations.

Each kit contains a mixture of new & old fabrics, used fabrics, vintage fabrics, upcycled and recycled fabrics. There may be some frayed fabrics, some fabrics with holes worn through and there may even be some much loved stained fabrics with character in there too.

All kits when laid out will include enough fabric pieces to roughly cover a minimum of 50cm x 50cm square surface.

I also try to include a couple of co-ordinating or contrasting embroidery threads and a needle so you can get started right away.

All you will really need is a pair of scissors. These kits have been designed to help inspire your creativity!

If you’d like to get your hands on a complete kit to carry out your very own Stitch Meditations, either visit, call or message Chris, Chris or Bec at The Makers Place Hunter Region at Teralba.

They’re even offering home delivery during the covid crisis.
ORDER NOW!

Call or SMS (0438 695 684)
Message through Facebook (www.facebook.com/themakersplacehunterregion)
Email (themakersplacehunterregion@gmail.com)

Until next time:

May you be happy

May you be healthy

May you be filled with loving kindness 😊🙏💜🌈💐

Self Isolation · Stitching

Isolation – Day ???

Jul 17, 2020Jul 17, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

Still catching up on old posts. This one was from the 24th April, 2020…

On this particular day, I’ve lost count of how many days I’ve been isolated. It’s beginning to get a little tough – not being able to see family or friends but we can talk and text and Face Time which is good.

After stating yesterday that I’ve had a really great routine happening as I’ve been up early every morning, I slept in this morning 🤦‍♀️ I was rather exhausted I guess it wouldn’t have helped that I didn’t get to sleep until after 2am.

I did the usual though, got up and made a cup of coffee then got to work on more stitch meditation kits and then decided I need to get some actual stitcheries completed myself as ideas and samples. I then spent the remainder of the day meticulously cutting bases and fabrics from some of my favourite and coveted fabrics so I could do some stitching. It’s currently after 7pm and I’m still to get any stitching done. Mind you, I’m also waiting for Simon to change a globe for me so I can see what I’m stitching. Sure, I can change a globe but it’s so much easier for Mr 7ft Tall to do it for me. He doesn’t even need a step ladder.

Today I created my very own Stitch Meditation Kit in an attempt to reduce or end procrastination. I have a basket that was laying around home and I’ve so far placed in it the following;

Multiple 4″ x 4″ cotton interfacing squares (as backgrounds or backing)
Multiple 4″ x 4″ printed or woven fabric squares
A pile of off cuts that measure less than 4″
A pile of cut up embroidered and or edged linen pieces/doilies
Lace motifs
Laces
Ribbons & ric rac
Hexagonal
Fabric Scissors
Thread snips
Various embroidery cottons & threads

This is my “so far” kit that I’ve put together today. After attempting to sit down to stitching a couple of times recently then becoming distracted by hunting for fabrics or ironing or cutting, I decided that today was the day to take Liz Kettle’s advice and pre-cut and iron fabrics and lay flat in a basket or container.

Today’s Slow Stitch Meditation.

* 4″ x 4″ * cotton interfacing backing/base
* 2 x Japanese fabrics top and bottom
* A small piece of quilting cotton vertically in grey as visual contrast
* Running Stitch around outside (mainly to hemp hold it all together)
* Decorative Cross Stitch over seam to tie together with additional contrasting cross stitches over the top in opposite direction
* Small contrasting cross stitches in centres of print at bottom – buy only the top half for added visual detail
* Whip Stitch around vertical grey

Maybe you could try your own stitch meditations?

Until next time;

May you be happy,

May you be healthy,

May you be filled with loving kindness.

😊🌻🌈🙏☮

Self Isolation · Stitching

Still in Isolation

Jul 17, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

I have managed to maintain Instagram but not so much here so I’m going to cheat a little and use my Instagram posts here in an attempt to fill you all in and catch up a bit 🤦‍♀️

23rd April, 2020

Well yesterday’s post seems to have gone AWOL – again so I’m just going to share with you my very first 4″ x 4″ Slow Stitch Meditation.

Normally I’ve been doing 8″ x 8″ meditations – well I thought they were meditations but last night – OK – all of yesterday I decided it was past time to follow the advice of the learned @lizkettle

I spent the day cutting up a heap of 4″ x 4″ base squares as well as 4″ x 4″ patterned fabrics, an array of smaller fabric pieces and some vintage linens.

I then sat down with my basket of materials and found it incredibly motivational and uplifting to just stitch what flowed from my fingers without even thinking about it.

Normally I would place much, much more stitching but this piece just spoke to me and I must admit – I’m satisfied with the outcome.

When are you going to try these stitch meditations for yourself?

Coronavirus · COVID-19 · Health · Self Isolation · Self Isolation

Isolation – Day 34

Apr 22, 2020Apr 22, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

** It is now tomorrow so technically today is day 35 of isolation, however the post below is about yesterday. 🤦‍♀️**

I cannot believe how quickly the days are zooming on by. I feel like I blink and another handful of days are just gone.

Today’s coffee cup mood is “Knit One, Sip One” that I purchased from Spotlight many years ago. I had a collection of these but I ended up gifting most, apart from my favourite purple one which came to an awful fate.

I’ve managed to keep a good routine since being in isolation. I’m waking early every morning, which for me is quite unusual, especially with these chronic illnesses. It’s very, very challenging waking and moving and the colder mornings add to those challenges but I know that once I’m up and moving around, cracking all the rust out of those joints, I’m feeling much better. Maybe it’s because I’m sharing my home, OUR home with someone else once again. It really is lovely to share my space with someone I care about, even if we do rub each other the wrong way sometimes. I am finding it a tad challenging when things get moved or put in different places, after being here myself for 20 years and having created my own routines and spaces for things, it’s a little different but I am incredibly grateful that he’s beginning to take some ownership of the house. I’ve kept myself very busy too, very busy. There’s always plenty to do around here. Cleaning, sorting, purging, tidying, maintaining, gardening, cooking, creating, creating, creating. I don’t think I’ll ever run out of activities to do.

Cooking: Some pre-cooked fillings for breakfast wraps for Simon to take to work.

I did find it hard yesterday not being able to join my cousin while she had her treatment. I’m sure it must be even harder for her having to go through the treatment in the first place. Even though I’d only recently started joining her. Yesterday would have only been the third time, I was enjoying that quiet time with her in the treatment lounge for a few hours, especially since it’s been so challenging to spend regular time together the last few years, picking her up a coffee on the way over and helping her eat lunch. With this pandemic though, it’s just not an option for any of us to sit in the treatment lounge with the patients at the moment. All of those people having chemo would be incredibly susceptible to illnesses so it’s just not worth the risk.

Yesterday however, I spent some time creating some cute little individual needle books with needles of course for some Stitch Meditation Kits.

This has proven much more time consuming than I had ever imagined or planned. Don’t even get me started on the time it’s taking to create the kits themselves. Initially I spent a good week digging out fabrics (which I initially had plans to make masks and scrub caps with 🤦‍♀️) then trying to think outside the square of what else I could use in these kits. Then collected some odds and ends from friends and family before grouping fabrics in colours before then trying to work out colour co-ordinated themes, cutting up the fabrics to collectively measure a minimum of 50cm x 50cm (I’m actually doing 50cm x 70cm) then, trying to fold the fabrics neatly and attractively to fit into the little cellophane bags I have. And then… finding, matching and fitting all of the pieces into the bags also, adding some ribbon, lace, buttons, ric rac, or braids etc.

Each Stitch Meditation Kit will contain the following;

Coordinating or contrasting fabrics that measure a minimum of 50cm x 50cm when all laid out
An 8″ x 8″ piece of backing or base fabric
A needle
A single needle book
3 x buttons
3 x stranded threads
At least one length of lace
A crochet or lace embellishment
A brief guide/explaination
Everything you’ll need to get started on your own Slow Stitching Meditation.

Please be mindful that these are the very first kits I’ve ever compiled so they’re a living document as it were. I have just tried to create something that I thought I would use whether I’ve stitched before or not. They may not be perfect and even though I think I’ve thought of everything, I’m sure there may be a kink or two to iron out or a fabulous suggestion or three that we could add down the track.

Even though I’ve been working on some samples, I need to get cracking with some smaller, kit appropriate, stitched samples to share to offer you all an idea of what your kits can be used for.

I’ve finally managed seven (7) Stitch Meditation Kits. Geeze It’s much more challenging to compile them than I had ever imagined. See below for the ones completed so far that will be available soon.

A sneak peek at the first Stitch Meditation Kits

Apart from that, I’m still maintaining my gratefulness journaling and following along with Melody Ross.

Until tomorrow;

May you be happy,

May you be healthy,

May you be filled with loving kindness.

😊🌻🌈🙏☮

Uncategorized

Isolation – Day 30

Apr 17, 2020Apr 17, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

So now, I’ll try once again to write some more drivel for those of you who are interested in reading.

I know I’ve not blogged in over a week. Well over a week. My internet keeps timing out before it will let me post anything and the amount of times I’ve written this, the amount of times I’ve changed the day, is countless. I’ll keep trying though, maybe one day soon I’ll get something through.

Today’s coffee cup mood is bought to you by Natalie Jane Parker. One of my favourite artists of all time and somewhat of a local too. I love Natalie’s art and one day hopefully I’ll own a piece. I have met her a couple of times, through the gallery at Morpeth and she’s always been kind, helpful, patient and encouraging.

I’m still cooking quite a bit and on Easter Sunday, I decided to whip up a simple omelette for Simon since I don’t get his breakfast often these days, especially not before he leaves for work so early. The simple omelette morphed into something really rather epic but geeze it tasted amazing!

I was honestly surprised at how incredibly tasty this omelette turned out. Of course Simon ate his serve then asked for another then asked if he could finish it off. Either he was ferociously hungry or it tasted amazing! I like to tell myself it was the latter but in all reality, I’m not that good a cook.

I started off by melting some real, full fat butter then added half a diced onion and sweated it until clear. Then added some diced fresh mushrooms and cooked them down. Removed from pan and kept aside. Then cooked the zucchini and bacon and removed them, then threw all ingredients in, then the egg mix on top.

Onion
Butter
Mushrooms
Shallots
Zucchini
Bacon
Left over BBQ chicken
Baby spinach
Heirloom tomatoes
Potato
Cheddar Cheese
Feta cheese
Eggs
Cream
Salt
Pepper
From the garden….
Fresh Rosemary
Fresh pizza thyme
Fresh common thyme
Fresh orange thyme
Fresh parsley

And OMG- the flavours!
It was delicious!

Well, Monday we managed to keep busy with many chores and tasks that we’ve been overlooking (avoiding). My son delivered some fresh, local prawns to us for lunch which was a real treat. His boss purchased 43 kilos (yes, you read that right – 43 kilograms) so gave Connor a little over a kg to bring home. Honestly, I can’t even recall the last time I ate fresh prawns. They were good. I chopped them up, added lemon zest, lemon juice, avocado, fresh dill, mayo, shallots, and threw them into a wrap with some fresh rocket. Pretty tasty.

Tuesday and Simon and I both went about doing some more chores and tasks we’ve been hiding from. We cleaned and tidied the front verandah, swept the paths, tidied the front lawn, Simon fetched the Webber, I cut his hair and trimmed his beard as well as the damn hairs flowing from his ears.

We then slow cooked a butterflied leg of lamb with Greek influence

OMG, I outdid myself this time. The flavours were amazing, delicious, mystical. Gahhh… So good.

I cooked roast lamb today with potato bake because it’s one of my sister’s favourite dishes. Today is also her birthday and normally we’d be celebrating with her but at the moment, that is not possible so I cooked a deviate meal and ate it for her.

Happy, HaPpY BiRtHdAy to the most wonderful sister. Hope your day is the best ever!

Sorry we can’t help you celebrate today. Thinking of you and I’ll catch up for a Moët when we can catch up again.
Hope your day is wonderful, love me and Simon xxx
❤🎁🎉🎊🎈🎂🍰🌈💐

#happy #birthday #happybirthday #sisters #siblings #love #lovemysister #haveagreatday #muchlove #birthdaygirl #sorrywecantbethere

Monday night we decided to just have some cheese and crackers for dinner. Neither of us were really hungry so thought we’d just pick, that was until I baked a camembert with garlic, rosemary and maple syrup. OMG – another taste sensation. You must try this one.

Cross hatch your camembert, stuff with fresh herbs from the garden; thyme and rosemary in both directions then stuff with some sliced garlic cloves. Place in a small oven proof bowl sprinkle with salt then cover with maple syrup, bake in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes. Eat and enjoy.

Meanwhile, I’m still sorting through my fabrics and linen, trying to sort out what I can cut up and make things with, what I can sell on and what I can use for classes, kits and workshops.

The days have felt like they’re whooshing by in the blink of an eye. I’ve been unwell, exhausted. Not sure if it’s the chronic illnesses or something more sinister. I’m waking each morning this week feeling add though I’ve piled on an extra term kilos over night. I cannot understand why I’m piling on so much weight when nothing has changed. I’m eating the same, I’m exercising the same, I just don’t get it. In fact I’ve cut back on poor food choices significantly so I certainly should not be putting this weight on like this. Feeling pretty darn awful about it to be honest.

I’m trying to concentrate again on getting the final touches to my workshops finalised. It’s incredibly challenging when you have no computer, just a phone to do all of your documents, worksheets and notes on then you have almost no internet is frustrating.

I’m trying hard to focus on the goodness in my life instead of constantly ruminating on these silly little challenges that I’m giving way too much weight to.

Simon and I have both been working through a gratitude program, called Social Distancing Serenity Kit with Melody Ross which we’re both finding incredibly helpful.

So for now, I’m going to get back to organising, writing, sorting, packaging and trying to get my workshops and kits together.

I hope you’re all doing OK during this unprecedented isolation across the globe. Personally I’m resurfacing myself from watching out listening to any news stories. I find it causes me to much distress and angst so I prefer to live in my own little bubble. The only info I receive these days is via family, friends or Facebook and even then I’ve significantly reduced the amount of Facebook time I’m spending.

So for now I’ll wish you all peace

May you be happy

May you be healthy

May you be filled with loving kindness.

☮😊❤🙏🌈

Uncategorized

Isolation – Day 14

Apr 1, 2020Apr 1, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

Wednesday, 1st April, 2020.

Day 14 of isolation.

Today’s coffee cup mood is another stunner by Pete Cromer. This one was a gift from my parents for Christmas.

I actually painted a copy of this whilst I was in an extended hospital stay recently.

My attempt at a Pete Cromer inspired original. Oh I do LOVE this painting of mine – even if I may say so myself?.

I joined AJ again this morning for her 10 at 10. I just love that we can meet up like this in our own homes. How cool is that?! Have I ever told you that AJ and I have known each other since we were 3 years old? That means we’ve been friends for 43 years!

I then vacuumed and decided to change the loungeroom around – again. Afterwards, as I was sitting doing some work, I kept being distracted by a light. It was one of my chimes swinging in the breeze and shining rainbows upon my face. When I actually stopped to appreciate the light, I also became aware of the beautiful bird song that’s surrounding us again today. Isn’t that glorious! Funnily enough, most of those birds are rainbow lorikeets – just like today’s coffee mug and my painting.

Bird song in the background of my glistening chimes.

I’m procrastinating today. I’m so tired and exhausted. I’m having a Fibro flare so every damn thing hurts like hell. Feels like the bones in my feet are broken again, my joints hurt so bad that I can barely hold my coffee cup and they’re so swollen and tender too. I’m just really tired and unfortunately my body tells me when I need to rest whether I like it or not.

So I’ve dragged out some empty journals. I’m renown for buying them on special for a rainy day. I mean who could go past a $49 journal for $3? Am I right? The plan is for Simon and I both to work through this fantastic program by Melody Ross – Social Distancing Kit. We talked about it over the weekend when I first came across it. I’ve been following Melody and her Brave Girls Club for years and she’s a real gem. I’ve found her teachings very helpful and inspirational. So that’s something we’re both going to be working through while we’re stuck inside.

I also dragged out a couple of boxes of linen to start sorting through but as yet, haven’t opened them. And no, that is not all of my linen.

I did spend a little time playing with painting fabric to use in some stitch meditations but I didn’t get the effect I was after on the first attempt so put it away for now.

I cooked a Rosemary Infused Beef Ragu with Mash and Butter Steamed Carrot, Zucchini and Baby Spinach for dinner. I tweaked the recipe a tad, as I often do and even though I didn’t get a photo of it – it was rather delicious! Even the Mr said it was “fucking awesome!” Either it was good or he was starving.

Sat down after dinner to an album I haven’t heard since I was a kid. Dad used to play it every single fucking night at dinner. We had to sit at the table, use our makers and be civilised AND listen to this music…. sure, I’m thankful now but then – kill me now! I do believe it was also purchased via one of the very first ever mail delivery via infomercials. K-tel..

I spent the remainder of the evening talking to my sister who I’ve not spoken to in many weeks. It’s always great to catch up again. I really should make more of an effort.

But for now…

May you be happy.

May you be healthy. L,

May you be filled with loving kindness.

❤🌈🌻

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Isolation – Day 13

Apr 1, 2020Apr 1, 2020 gladysandmaudeLeave a comment

Tuesday, 31st March, 2020.

Day 13 of isolation.

Today’s coffee cup mood. This is a gorgeous Pete Cromer coffee cup that I stumbled upon in Myer a few months back. Mind, it’s VERY rare I ever enter Myer but I was shopping for a gift for my sister and saw this beauty. Had to have it. I must admit, I had never heard of Pete Cromer before that day but geeze I’m in love with his artwork.

Before I started getting too consumed with my day, I joined AJ for her 10 at 10 again. You can join in on Wednesday if you’d like.

Join me tomorrow for day 6 of my 10 @ 10 series – 10 days of 10 minutes meditation daily to help you de-stress and stay centered during these times of change and challenge.
Can’t wait to see you then – tune in live here on FB. Visit my page for the first 5 days 🙏🏻
Like and share if you can.

#meditation #destress #10degreeshift #10at10 #covidcures

I spent a good part of this morning looking for a bag that has some workbooks and blank journals in it. The workbooks have all of my preliminary notes for workshops and classes that took me months to write so I’ve been determined to find them. Finally! Found the bag after searching for a week. It was underneath the damn vacuum cleaner 🤦‍♀️

I’d seen an idea on Facebook a few days ago that I thought I would implement at home. After seeing and feeling that my man was incredibly upset about not being able to see his children under the current circumstances and not being able to go camping (after planning for months and after he’d gone camping at the same place every year for the last 19 years at Easter), I decided that this idea might be good for us both.

So I got out a jar, tried to decorate it a bit. I tried for masculine to start with but the materials I had wouldn’t stick so it’s turned out a bit pink. Then I dug out some scrapbooking paper and card scraps and cut them up as little blank notes to sit beside the jar, with a biro of course. Whenever one of us wishes we could do something, go somewhere, visit someone that we’re currently unable to do in the current circumstances, we can just walk over to the pile of papers, write it down, stick it in the jar and then after this is all over, work through those wishes as a bucket list.

The Corona List (instead of Bucket list)

Whilst I was searching for the books, I found a mystery bag of fibre that I have absolutley no recollection of acquiring. I posted images in a Facebook fibre group asking if anyone could identify and much to my delight – it’s suri! I was hopeful but also doubtful. I’m rather excited to have more Suri to add to my stash. Now I’ll have to comb and spin. Might come in handy for a project or two that I have in mind.

Has to be Suri but where the heck has it come from?

It’s quite some hours since I’ve last written and right now I feel like I’ve been cooking all damn day. It’s 20:30 and I’ve just sat down.

I made some spinach and ricotta tortellini to match the tomato cream sauce I made yesterday. I got my hands on some very cheap baby spinach last week that needed to be eaten but unfortunately I didn’t have enough to cook an entire double batch so I did half with spinach and another half of ricotta mix with zucchini and garlic. That’s all I had at home so I challenged myself ton use what I had.

Fry some diced onion until clear for the zucchini and garlic mix

The completed tortellini were frozen then stored in bags of 5 in the freezer. We’ve found that 5 per serve is a good amount and they’re easy to reheat. For full recipe and instructions on how I store, freeze and reheat you can go to a previous post I made HERE

As mentioned above, I began with the spinach and ricotta tortellini but I ran out of spinach so the second half of the cheese mix became zucchini and garlic ricotta. But then I ran out of pasta to wrap the ricotta mix in. Challenge number 2 accepted….

So I dug through my pantry and fridge to see what I could come up with. Method and steps explained on photographs below.