driftwood

daily dose

2011-06-07T17:11:00.002+10:00

it is our duty as men and women
to proceed as though the limits
of our abilities do not exist

- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Conscious Convergence

2010-07-16T15:10:00.005+10:00

Form your own circle this coming weekend, July 17-18, 2010 and join the "Global Prayer For Peace" or Conscious Convergence.All people of our planet are invited to set the intention of manifesting unity consciousness as part of the global transformation predicted by the Mayan calendar.
This will be one of the defining moments in the history of our planet when thosecommitted to being co-creators of the cosmic plan will step forward and set theirintentions as part of the larger human race. And so, if you share such a commitment,it is critical to take part and let your friends know about it so that they will not miss out. The program is outlined at:

http://commonpassion.org/group/conscious-convergence

The Conscious Convergence ... a wave of unity
The Conscious Convergence mission is to bring people together with the shared intention of cultivating a critical mass of harmonious energy that supports inner and outer reconciliation. We come together in the spirit of unity to heal wounds that separate us, to reconcile conflicts that divide us, to...

unschooling

2010-07-16T14:53:00.003+10:00

I have long thought about having a life with my family that
was less structured. Where we found our own rhythm. Where
the day was dictated by our own needs and wants. Where we all
naturally found our way.

When it was time for my firstborn to start preschool i baulked,
but everyone else was doing it and i thought she would 'fall
behind'. So i let her go 2 days a week. She did seem to enjoy it.

Then school started. I wasn't even going to work ut i felt like
i was again on the treadmill of 9-5. Which i have long detested.
Rules and regimens to follow, and i mean for the parents.
She is one who likes to please , so of course she has become a
wonderful student and welcomed member of that community.

But every school holidays, the real girl emerges. she lightens up.
she eats better. she has time for her sister. she keeps different
hours. She feels more at ease.

So when i came across this video, it really has shaken me to my core.
Unschooling seems like the most natural way to live.
I will show it to my girls and husband.

Check it out

If you want to find out more about Astra Taylor check out her doco.

The NewYorkReview hailed her as one of the people to watch. She may be from
a well educated family but the thing that struck
me most from her speech is her message of having trust that people
are curious and that it's human to learn if givent he space.

MJ working his magic still

2010-01-27T19:40:00.003+11:00

I know most people I know think I'm crazy, but I think
the man is still alive, orchestrating all that has gone
on, creating the biggest media hoax ever.

The world will finally see the media for all its flaws
and realise that we have been hoodwinked on many many
issues, just as MJ was persecuted thru the media with
lies and slander.

And the real messages he was trying to get out there all
along, Love one another, look after the planet,look beyond
colour, unite as one people, shine your light, peace not war
will be heard and hopefully at long last listened to.

Peace, love and Light

John Lennon

2009-12-07T10:57:00.005+11:00

One of the great songs by the peace lover himself
Mr John Lennon, sadly gunned down as he walked into
his hotel residence way too early, 29 years ago.

I loved this man's work and I will never forget
how he tuned me in to so much of what makes me
who I am today

dreaming

2009-12-02T16:47:00.003+11:00

Today the moon is full. So it's time again to put
together my Dreamboard for the month.

My biggest dream is to look after Mother Earth,
nurture and protect her. I believe that only by
making changes within can I create and effect the
world outside of me.

Happy full moon to everyone and may all your
dreams come true.

To see what other dreams people are creating
go here

step by step

2009-11-25T20:41:00.003+11:00

" You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes "

The Wishcasting prompt from Jamie Ridler
this week is

WHICH STEP DO YOU WISH TO TAKE?

Mmmmmm. After a lot of thinking, I just let my mind go.
I took some some deeper than normal breaths and sat with
this question.

And then I found my answer.
The step I wish to take is one step. One step at a time.
Just trying to be present. Well not even trying. Just being.
I have been practicing meditation seriously for over 2 years
and this is what I've been learning. Just being in the moment.
One step at a time.

If you'd like to cast out a wish into the universe and have
other people support you on it to boot, head over here and add your name

love is all you need

2009-11-25T20:24:00.003+11:00

I am loving this short film so much i wanted to share it
with you all. I love this guys drawings and the honesty
he got from people is very touching.

My first crush after my teddy McDougall, was on the actor
who played in The Little Prince, a B&W movie based on that
alltime great book, way back in the '70s.
He had blonde curly hair and big eyes.

If you feel like sharing your first crush please go to my
comments

Embrace

2009-11-18T17:44:00.003+11:00

It's Wishcasting Wednesday again, this week Jamie
Ridler poses the question,

What do you wish to embrace?

I am willing and ready to embrace my Shadow side -
those parts of me that I refuse to see as me and
that I usually project onto others, more often than
not to the people I love most.

So today is the day, when I will look deeply and feel
into the judgements I make about others as a clue to
what is lurking down inside of me.

Synchronicity with the soul coaching I've been doing
as well with Michelle Chant - spooky!

painting by Dan Ah-Kim

papier mache

2009-11-16T19:54:00.008+11:00

Yay. The summer issue is up over at the darling
kids mag headquarters of Beck and Alice.
You should definitely watch these girls, with their beautiful
eye for all things dreamy, vintage, quirky and magical.
I just wish I was a kid again so I could wear the
clothes.

This issue has a great feature of David Bromley,
who I love love love and a newbie from Japan,
Atsuko Ishii who I will definitely keep following.

Night of Hecate

2009-11-16T19:39:00.002+11:00

We are under the quiet yet bountiful energy of the New Moon
tonight. This is a time to let go of things we don't
want in our life and in doing that creating the space for
what we do want.

For me, today is the day to let go of FEAR. All fear.
I want to banish it, as it serves not me or anyone.
Fear is such a limiting place to operate from and I am
done with it.

Fear acts like a magnet for bad energy so with this
releasing of fear, I accept the mantra, I am safe.

skyfire

2009-11-16T19:26:00.002+11:00

i am grateful for the electrifying energy a
summer thunderstorm brings. dancing in the rain
without a care and children squealing with every
thunderclap. cleansing fat raindrops feeding the
garden and a warm syrupy wind to keep us guessing.

sunshiney days

2009-11-12T15:42:00.001+11:00

i am so grateful for the beautiful day i woke up
to. the beautiful clean sea i live near and bathed in
and the warm wind blowing things up a little

MJ

2009-11-04T20:31:00.005+11:00

It was really not until the passing of Michael
Jackson, that I realized what a great spirit he was
and one of the shining Lights amongst us. For all
these years I had allowed the media's awful portrayal
of him to get in the way of the artist and human that
he was. But in looking back at his speeches and
interviews and lyrics it's pretty obvious where he was at.

Thanks for spreading the message of love and
beguiling us with your groove. You were a true original
and beautiful spirit

thank you

2009-11-03T13:36:00.004+11:00

to my body for your strength and good health
and propelling me forward on this journey

Taurus Full Moon

2009-11-03T12:52:00.004+11:00

We had a great weekend celebrating the Goddess -
Mother Earth and singing to her as an act of
replenishment and healing, respect and gratitude.

We sat under the Full Moon by the sea in a circle
as one big family, children husbands and girlfriends
and sang up the Earth, to honour Her.

For this months Dreamboard I am choosing to dream up
deep grounding for myself. I am choosing to find
and allow myself to sink down into my being and get
out of my head. To be at One with myself and
Mother Earth.

For more inspiration on Dreamboarding, go to Jamie
Ridler's Fullmoon Dreamboard Circle here

I love treats!

2009-10-28T16:52:00.003+11:00

It's that time of the week again when the lovely Jamie over here invites us
to look within and tend to our hearts desires.
This week, she prompts us with

WHAT TREAT DO YOU WISH FOR?

I'm going to try something different this week, something
really specific and see how quickly my wish can materialize,
because I am a big believer in the philosophy that you can
create what you put your attention towards.

So here goes Universe, are you listening?
I wish for a weekend away, somewhere exotic, where I can
eat the most delicious of foods and be in nature, with time
for rest and play, have a massage, read, swim and do yoga.

It's very lush but that is my wish. Bring it on!

Hula Girl

2009-10-24T12:15:00.001+11:00

I found this over at Starshyne's Virtual Dance Party
and it really made me smile.

I'm going out to buy a hoop asap and try and channel
some of alison's style

wishcasting wednesday

2009-10-22T17:52:00.006+11:00

I keep losing track of the days so I will post
here a day late to the prompt Jamie Ridler left
on her site
" What do you wish to say yes to"

This is a really interesting question for me to
ponder and it seems in an instant I can think of
many things to say, but I would like to edit it
down to one answer that encompasses the kernel
of all the thoughts into one.

So I've come up with, I want to say Yes to Love
and by that I mean anytime I am given the
opportunity to be loving, share my love,
receive someone's love, promote love,act from the
space of love, be love -
then I am being the true and authentic person
that I am, and that we all in fact are.

It sounds simple enough, but if I really live
this, it means forgiving others I need to forgive,
it means accepting all that is, just as it is,
it means being compassionate and understanding even
when I may not believe that is the way I am being
treated. This is where I want to be and so this
is my wish for today.

To see what other people are wishing for go here

from the kitchen

2009-10-15T14:37:00.005+11:00

Tired of all the shop-bought heavily coloured and
fake flavoured icecream and iceblocks, we decided on
experimenting with our version.

Little One wanted mango and Blossom was happy to try
the combo of mixed berries (blueberries and raspberries)
with banana and mango. The berries are very sweet right now
but not holding there crispiness or shape so great for
cooking with. The mangoes are already super sweet and juicy
from the NT so hope they are not peaking too early and gone
by Christmas

We chose a great biodynamic yoghurt as the base and
whizzed it all up in the blender, leave in freezer for
a couple of hours and voila! A tasty treat the girls
are fanging to eat and one I'm happy to offer.

Night Noodle Market

2009-10-15T13:43:00.005+11:00

After checking out the finalists of the Sydney Life
photo competition in Hyde Park, we followed our noses
over to to Night Noodle Market, where a huge crowd
was already chowing down.

If you're looking for an Asian street stall eating experience
without leaving home, this is a variation on that theme.
I suggest you get there before 6 to get a table, but we managed
to enjoy our balancing act sitting around the fountain watching
a great street performer thrill the gathering. Loads of food
styles to choose from and very kid-friendly.

Open week nights from 5-9pm and finishes October 24.

wishcasting wednesday

2009-10-09T09:32:00.001+11:00

Oooooooooooops it's already Friday, but I've been
having so much fun hangin out with my girls, I forgot
to post my wish.

Jamie Ridler posted the prompt:
WHAT DO YOU WISH TO COMPLETE?

I wish to complete another round at the oncologist
in December and be given the all clear, just as I have
done for the last 2 years. I wish for smouldering
good health.

glue and scissors....

2009-10-08T18:04:00.006+11:00

Thank God the lovely Amber over at Kids Craft Weekly
sends me her great newsletter, because she has lots of ideas
of things to do and make which you need up your sleeve
for rainy freezing school holidays.

here's what the little one and I got up to this afternoon

mankind mag

2009-10-07T18:47:00.007+11:00

Sad days indeed!

If you're not tuned in already it's about to be too late,
because the incredibly talented folk at mankind mag, or should I
say Erin Loechner are closing down this production.
For the last 2 years I have hung out waiting to see what
Erin has discovered for us. She has an amazing eye for
originality and talent and is one of the most generous people out
here in the ether.

The mag features artists, designers, craftsters and all things
fabulous. You can download this months issue for under $2 and
there is also the back catalogue option as well.

In the meantime, I can satisfy my cravings with Design
for Mankind daily pages, which are a real treat
and Erin also offers awesome giveaways on top.

Jonny Applehead

2009-10-07T17:51:00.008+11:00

Melbourne illustrator and theatre designer Jonny
Applehead's work is just beautiful. Can't wait to
check out his picture books, Christmas presents maybe?

found via the awesome people at Drawn

holiday snaps#1

2009-10-06T21:34:00.006+11:00

and then the rains came down

tune in

2009-10-05T17:39:00.006+11:00

I am loving this girls voice and her whole act really
check Lykke Li out here
to see what I'm talking about
but first watch this video

I'm Good, I'm Gone – Acoustic version from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Full Moon Dreamboard

2009-10-05T09:41:00.009+11:00

Yesterday in the Southern Hemisphere we fell under the influence of

the Pink Moon. It is the first full moon following our Spring Equinox,

so is still very much about new beginnings and celebrating new life.

It was an Aries Full Moon to boot which contains a very exuberant,

energetic energy of great power.

So I invited some galpals around to Dreamboard at my place,

inspired by Jamie Ridler to create a circle of women coming together

on the Full Moon to create a vision board or a collage of images and

words, to help manifest what we want in our lives.

I have always loved coming together in a circle with other women,

creating a sacred space where we share our stories and support each

other on our journey, but this was the first one that I have initiated

and run myself. My friends created beautiful visions for themselves

and it felt like a real blessing to see them tapping into their power.

After my friends left, my eldest daughter asked to make one, which

I was hoping for all along but left up to her. Here's her beautiful

Dream

here comes the bride

2009-10-02T11:31:00.006+10:00

Tamara Dean's beautiful photo has taken out first prize of the
Sydney Life photography competition.
It was taken next to Sydney airport and is part of a series
by Tamara called Ritualism.

You can see this and the other finalists on the Grand Central
Walkway in Hyde Park for the rest ofthis month as part of the
City of Sydney's biggest public arts festival - Art & About.

wishcasting wednesday

2009-09-30T21:04:00.010+10:00

Over at Jamie Ridler Studios a question is posed
every Wednesday as a wish-prompt.

Today asks: WHAT DO YOU WISH TO SHARE?

I wish to share my authentic self.

I wish to share my Light.

I wish to share my compassion and care for Mother Earth.

I wish to share in the celebration of others greatnesses.

I wish to share in the love that surrounds us all.

nature strip

2009-09-29T14:11:00.006+10:00

what a great concept to share the love around

ethereal beauty

2009-09-29T13:55:00.002+10:00

Lisa Mitchell - See You When You Get Here

you can check her out on Saturday Oct 3
at the Metro

duststorm

2009-09-23T06:55:00.007+10:00

6.38am Bondi Beach

I wake feeling like something is tapping me on the shoulder.
My eyes reach for the sky to check what time it is.
Bright orange light like cheezels or Lucille Ball's mop looks
back at me.That can't be right. My heart is beating strong now.
I have to see this standing upright.
Before I know it I'm pulling clothes on and heading outside,
to be cloaked in this surreal, hellfire embrace.
The beach is crowded with others like me, trying to register
this gritty, smoky, eerie, warm atmosphere claiming to be air.
Camera flashes all around as we clamber to capture the strange
morning that greets us.Strangers strike up conversations reaching
out to share this moment with each other.In the midst of this
setting, mother nature clearly in charge,it seems the humans are
reminded of our fragility and our connectedness to each other.
I take home the smell of red earth in my hair and feel the powdery
dust on my skin and in my lungs. The wind is picking up.
Strange days indeed.

schools kill creativity?

2009-09-18T12:15:00.002+10:00

watch Ken Robinson -entertaining, thought-provoking and inspiring

sydney swelters

2009-09-17T14:41:00.005+10:00

only 3 weeks into spring and we are having another day in the 3o's
I think there must be a lot of sickies going on by the look of things

tune in

2009-09-17T14:05:00.003+10:00

Sleep Alone from Bat for Lashes on Vimeo.

enjoying the scenery

2009-09-17T13:01:00.008+10:00

say it out loud

2009-09-16T12:24:00.003+10:00

some of my favourite pieces along the Promenade

smoky grey

2009-09-15T13:33:00.006+10:00

So delighted to find Bondi again a sleepy old coastal town on this
warm and subdued morning. The heat, the crowd and the hoopla
of the weekend feel a lifetime ago. There is space to find my own
rhythm as I walk. And the only sounds to be heard are coming

from the sea licking the shore.

Spring?

2009-09-12T12:44:00.009+10:00

I don't know about you, but 29c feels alot like summer.
I would love to post you some pics of the beach in all its
madness as the crowds flock to get some relief from the heat,
but my computer is in sick bay and the guys who I took it to
are incommunicado. I feel lost and kinda empty without knowing
it is nearby. Almost like a grief feeling weirdly.

It's all b/c I hadn't backed up like we are all told to do. So when I
found I couldn't upload any new photos b/c the drive was jammed
full, I bought a new external drive, loaded everything on, ticked
the box to "sync with my comp" and then deleted half my photo
files (30GB) and proceeded on.

Short story, when I go to view photos on comp via external hard
drive it "syncs" with my comp and voila, erases the files it had
previously saved.
F__________!

I am trying to be all zen about this loss and looking for the good in it,
but I can't say this is easy. And now a complete stranger has my comp,
my external HD and although it was supposed to take 30mins to do the
job of upgrading the memory, still no contact. And that was over 24
hrs ago. Will I ever get my baby back?
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrghh!

So who knows when I can get back to delivering more than just text.
Until then, I will just keep breathing in, and breathing out.
Breathing in, and breathing out.

Festival of the Winds

2009-09-11T09:46:00.009+10:00

Hopefully there is as much wind around on Sunday as the last
couple of days because it's that time of year again to dust off your
kite and untangle the string - as thousands of novices and
pros descend on Bondi Beach to join in the largest kite flying
festival of the year - The Festival of the Winds

There will be stalls selling kites if you don't have one or make your
own at one of the workshops being run.

Not into kites? The Pavillion Amphitheatre will have live entertainment
alongside music and dance workshops. There will be great food, face painting,
stilt walkers, jugglers and rides going thruout the day.

Click here to see the program

Yarn Bombed

2009-09-11T07:28:00.009+10:00

I'm pleased to say, Bondi has started being tagged by at least one,
but who knows how many guerilla knitters. I first spotted their
work near the Lifeguard Tower, but before I could get back with
my camera, the 2 exquisite pieces were gone. Had they been nicked?
Or worse, removed by the Council?

My heart skipped a beat when I discovered a new wrapping yesterday.
If you've never heard of this subversive form of street art, it's expertly
knitted pieces, sometimes crocheted that are then stitched around
public fixtures eg. bus seats, parking meters, railings, doorknobs, poles,
trees, or snywhere really.

Although knitting's image has taken off in recent years with many
celebrities now claiming it to be their favourite pastime, I love the way
knit one purl one has morphed down an edgy, even graffiti style line.
It's now a worldwide phenomenon as knitters gather into groups to
spread their irreverent approach to humanising and brightening up our
concrete and steel cities.

In July, Canberra held a festival in celebration of knitting bringing out
Texan knitter and guerilla Magda Sayeg. She made a promise to let Sydney
'see' that she had been here so I'm wondering if these pieces are her
handiwork or by someone who lives nearby?

I'm always on the lookout for more types of this work so let me know via
my comments below if you spot any.

To see more pics go here

Found near the Bondi Icebergs

surfwatch

2009-09-10T20:00:00.009+10:00

Beach conditions had improved from yesterday, with a new SSE swell kicking in, light offshore winds and waves around the 3ft mark. Maybe everyone got up for the early because there was room to move out there while I was watching.

Boot Bay

2009-09-10T14:37:00.009+10:00

I consider myself a Bondi "local". Well, I have lived here
longer than 10 years and my kids were born here, so I'm
sticking with that title regardless of what others may say.

The "local" title is a slippery one. Some say you have to be
at least 3rd generation i.e your grandparents had to have lived here.
Others say unless you went to school here, no claim. I like the crowd
who says you need to have lived here for over 10 years since I fit that
criteria, but I'm sure if you are in the backpacking tribe, you
would be considered a "local" if you stayed longer than a month!

Anyway, I thought I knew a fair bit about this place, but everyday
it seems I discover something new. I was snapping off pictures
as I wandered around this morning, when a man came up and said
"Have you seen the boot? You know the rock that looks like a boot."
It is true that I have put in many kms on the Bondi-Bronte coastal
walk and checked out the rock platforms, the beautiful flowering
hillsides, the sculptures and the whales, while always mindful of
bondi landmines (aka doggie droppings), but i have never seen boot
rock.

So me and Mario get chatting, he shows me where to best view the
said rock and I discover he is a 40+ year local via Sweden and in very
good shape for a 71 years young man. So now I know that the bay
between Bondi and McKenzies is known as Boot Bay. He invited me
for a game of lawn bowls at his club, where you can have a couple of
beers and an afternoon of fun in the sun playing bowls for under $15.
Sounds too good to let go by don't you think?

Here is a picture of Boot Rock and Mario is above leaning on the railing

Bangarra

2009-09-10T13:36:00.006+10:00

I am still coming down from yesterday.
What a day. A walk on the beach. Tuned in to
global meditation webcast. Laughed and
danced with my girls. Ate great food.
Hung out with great friends. And then to top it all off,
went to the Sydney Opera House to see Fire- A Retrospective,
pulling together the best of the last 20 years
of Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Words can't describe the feeling this performance
created except to say I was transported somewhere deep
into the past, deep into our land and deeply into
the future.

If you want to connect to the spirit, the strength
and wisdom of this land, go and see the show.

Photos courtesy of Bangarra Dance Theatre

t-shirts

2009-09-10T12:31:00.016+10:00

I guess you can never have too many t-shirts and finding good designs
is a challenge, but the people over at threadless are feeling the 9/9/09
vibe big time and selling all their t-shirts for only $9(US). I don't know
how long the sale will be on, so check it out asap.

There is also the chance of making $2500 if you submit a design that
gets voted in by the threadless online community.

To see more of the collection click here

I want these 3

"Picket" by Dann Matthews

"Radio-Activity(Spread Music
Love) by Gianbattista Bonavita

"Art No War - by Noah Benjamin

Artist

2009-09-09T13:56:00.013+10:00

One of my goals is to make this site a platform
for local and emerging artists and craftsters.I am sure
there is an incredible amount of great work going on
out there and I'm happy to showcase artists who inspire.
Feel free to let me know about yours or a friends work.

Although not local to me, but hailing from Melbourne
the work of Eveline Tarunadjaja has been a favourite of
mine for awhile so I'm happy to see she has been commissioned
by none other than Billabong, Hurley, Anna Sui, Gorman and French Kitty
to do some t-shirts and hoodies.

I know what's going on my Wishlist

photos from here

Nowhere near local but a fav for sure.
Check out the simplicity of Zachary Rossman's line drawings
Sublime.

postcards

2009-09-09T11:33:00.008+10:00

Photos by Dani

triple 9 gateway

2009-09-09T07:43:00.006+10:00

I am no expert on this, but the Mayan
calender is said to end on December 21, 2012. Noone knows
what this will mean for humanity, but astronomers know
this date only happens once every 26,000 years. Many people are
talking about 9/9/09 being of great significance, that Earth
is being bathed in new cosmic energy that opens the heart
and consciousness. As it is New Year's Day of the sacred Mayan
calender, today heralds the countdown to 2012, leaving just 3
cycles left. This some say, accounts for the influx of Light and
Energy flooding the planet that many are feeling.

All of this is hard to prove, so it might take a leap of faith
for some of you. But I can say for myself that I have been
experiencing lots of loving and creative energy and hearing
of many others experiencing great shifts and turbulence.

If you feel like tapping into this special time:

Light a candle on the 09/09/09 at 9:09 am or pm in your local area. This SHOULD create a "continuous flow" of collective spiritual energy for close to 12 hours of candles being lit around the world with ONE INTENTION - to bring LIGHT to the PURPOSE and INTENTION of expanding SPIRITUAL AWARENESS that is growing EVERYWHERE around the WORLD! To the TRUTH that we must UNITE to HEAL our people and our world!
You don't need to be at a computer, you can do this ANYWHERE WHERE EVER YOU ARE in the WORLD. Peace, and loving thoughts to yourself and vibrate them out into the world.

If you want to know more about this look here

first up

2009-09-08T17:24:00.002+10:00

i've decided to show up at long last
and join the bloggerati.

i see it as a great place in which to
project out into the ether what matters
to me. what inspires me. what makes me feel alive.
if people tune in, awesome. if not, it can act as
my witness to what's going on in my world.

i truly believe what you put out there is what
you wind up getting back, but probably threefold.
so my intention is to celebrate the beauty that
exists all around us. i wish this place to be one that
shines the light on others and allows me to step into
it as well.

my biggest flaw is being a perfectionist. for me it
manifests as not starting projects for fear they will
not be good enough for my standards or anyone elses
for that matter. this is a big step for me. taking the
plunge into a medium i still do not fully understand and not
having my head around all things technical is scary.
but i figure i just have to make a start and see where it takes me.

so jump on board
i hope you will find something here for you.
as i hope i do.