The Best of 2011 in Pictures

I did't think that I had many happy memories of 201l, however; looking back over the photographs I have taken, it is kind of easy to dismiss the shitty stuff and enjoy the good parts. 

The good parts include but are not limited to; Crafternoon Tea, Bangalow Road Trips, Woodchops, visits to the park, new tattoos, breakfast with friends, parties and makeovers. 

For Courtney

a day in the life..

shooting my friends new shop

and little miss gets and award :)

when inconsiderate people ruin your therapy

Things in my world are moving along slowly and I, with the help of my therapist

are gently moulding me into a stronger human being.

We are walking in baby steps, but they are defiantly forward... well they were until Saturday.

My mother, knowing that it was a weekend I didn't have my kids, and knowing that this is a particularly difficult thing for me to cope with, decided to take me to the next town over to look at a quilt and art exhibition, clearly she knows me well.

Creativity = Awesome distraction for Lisa

We wandered around admiring the unbelievable talent from members of our community.

Under Water 3d Embroidery

Vintage Braids

Felted 3d Fairygarden

My FAVOURITE 1930's flowers.

Until, I turned the corner of the next aisle of work...

I stopped

Vomit rose up in my throat

I was nauseous

There were no words

Just 10 weeks of feelings welling up inside me

10 weeks of working HARD to get well again

there hanging on display for all the Valley to see...

MY WEDDING QUILT

hanging there like nothing had changed

how could someone be so inconsiderate

to think that it would be OK to hang such a personal item

on public display.

And an item no less that represented a union that was now

past crisis point, past recovery point

just plain past.

I am thinking of passing on my next therapy account........

This is how we roll......

Knittin'

Yep that's right folks,

I cast on a new project at the park today,

and until i returned home i had

completely forgotten that it is

World Wide Knit in Public Day !

oh and i wanted to show my new bling off

this was a get well/get smiley gift

from one of the girls at work !

Citrine and Silver

Preparing for Cast On

In the beginning.

Extreme Ferry's and Lollyshops

Two ferry rides and a trip to Maclean and Yamba.

Result = Fun, Lollies and....

AN OFFER TO EXHIBIT MY ART!!!!

stay tunes for more details....

Journaling on the Inside

What I did, saw and wrote @ the LDU.

18/4 - 10/5

Planking for Beginners

Ok; so i am not usually one to follow trends like the rest of the herd,

but how could i let such a "non-statement" such as planking pass by without

at least photographing some planking action.

Tri-level Plank

Dali Inspired Plank

Two-tier Plank

Fresh Ink

Fresh Ink

We're all mad here - circa 15/4/2011

Alice - circa 30/4/2011

what in the world happened to Lola?

where have i been and what have i been doing?

I have been absent, from my blog, my mind and my life for a period of time now, but i am happy to report that i am back on track now, albeit a different track than i was on before.

my new track involves a new diagnosis - bipolar II disorder,

a 3 week rebirthing process, in a mental health facility,

a marriage separation,

shared care of my children,

and the inception of a beautiful new friendship.

I will admit, it has been a bumpy ride and there have been many ups and downs in the last 8 weeks, it has not always gone to plan. I have learnt that once a chapter is written, it can not be unwritten, that sometimes you just have to end the chapter, and move on to the next one, start a fresh and just keep writing because things can and will improve.

I am becoming a master of my own destiny, i want to write a happy story, one filled with adventures and journey's and light and love.

My new chapter starts here:

Stick around if you want to find out what happens next...

More Art Journaling

i have been spending my evenings indulging my creative self and reviving my soul.

Today's Playlist

Images from my week away 7 - 10 March, 11.

Clicky Clicky for Youtube Videos !!

Fidelity - Regina Spektor

Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead

Close To Me - the Cure

The Waitress - The Waifs

I wanna be your Joey Ramone - Sleater Kinney

exposed...(not a photographic post)

i feel exposed

vulnerable

and clinical again.

my mind works me into crazy places

i can feel the black waves coming again

and this time

it is my fault

i put myself there.

i feel like i am standing, naked, shivering, in the dark, yet everyone can see.

they don't point

they just watch me drown...

1 month

It's been one month.

My little princess has been a kindergarten- er for 1 month.

This evening I took the opportunity to have a quick flick back through those important

first day of school photo's I* captured.

Goodness me, we have come a long way in 4 weeks.

4 weeks ago - she could write her name, that was about it , a little bit of copying words, but more out of enthusiasm than anything else.

NOW, she can spell words out on a page using nearly every letter in the alphabet,

can add items that are illustrated on a page, and can read 8 sight words,

I, DAD, MUM, LITTLE, BIG, HERE, A & IS!!!

She is excited and enthusiastic about reading her home readers each night and is already bringing home library books and "reading" them.

I am a proud mummy!!

The night before, she had her uniform and backpack ready to go.

Ready to leave, little brother just as excited as she was.

At nanny and poppy's, getting a bit nervous

With Mummy

Market Sunday

Ashby Markets and Sweet Vintage in Yamba

What an awesome Sunday Morning.

Things that made me smile today:

Henry Miller books - $5

Coffee - $4

Chocolate Lips - Complimentary

Alice Cooper - Priceless

Cloud Staring and Butterfly Chasing

My soul feels revived after spending the afternoon

lying on a blanket staring at the sky and chatting with my beautiful friend Flick.

We munched on Chokito Cookies

and watched my 3 children (3,5&33)

catch butterflies in the bug catcher and play on the equipment.

Saturday afternoons just don't get any better that this.

a sunny saturday

with not much to do, or should i say while procrastinating on cleaning all the things today,

i enjoyed a latte @ Gym Beans with Felix and the kidlets, then we headed to the park for some fun, lollipops, jellybeans and crochet. Ahoy!

In celebration of an amazing day of friendship and adventure !

What a fantastic day, books, antiques, boutiques, treasures, food, chatting, laughing and sharing.

there was a schedule; however it was only loosely adhered to.

our first stop was the Maclean Rotary Book Fair - SCORE= 1 BOX of books $5 for Lola and a bag of books for Felix.

Books @ Eclectika, Maclean

second stop was "on the bite"

a delightfully warm and inviting cafe on the main strip in Maclean

- SCORE = 1 x skinny latte for Lola and 1 x skinny flat white for Felix

Skinny Latte @ On the Bite, Maclean

we unswiftly followed out coffee with a visit to "OUR" favorite gem of Maclean "Eclectika"

when Lola became engaged in taking photo's of the unique and beautiful store and Felix engaged in a deep and revealing conversation with "Eclectika's" owner about food and restaurants of the area only to discover that said owner, once owned and ran the most successful restaurant in our region. the things you discover when on an adventure in your own back yard !

Felix @ Eclectika

stop number three, Bangalow and lunch at "ate" OMG the most delicious food.

- SCORE = Pumpkin and burnt spinach lasagna and Organic Lemonade for Lola

hmmm i can't recall a delicious looking pie with crispy brown pastry and an Organic Lemonade for Felix.

Felix deep in the pages of a cookbook @ Ate, Bangalow

Then we wandered the streets and boutiques of Bangalow

giggling, enjoying and embracing the culture of doing not very much.

I have had the most amazing day!