14 creative projects for 2014

In an attempt to find more motivation, i have come up with 14 projects that i would love to complete this year. A rather lofty goal, especially as month five is already underway. However, I am getting rather frustrated with my lack of creative output. Admittedly I do have family, work, EQC repairs and life in general going on - but in a recent personality test i completed, it was rather apparent that i thrive when creativity is a big part of my life. Another big theme that emerged was living in the moment - something i am definitely needing to be mindful of - and practice - (which sounds crazy, but is easily forgotten in a fast paced world.) However back to the matter at hand - creativity. I have been journalling about family/work/life balance lately...and mulling over my time management. Where do I invest my energy? Most of it goes to my family - which is pretty reasonable at this stage of life. The rest of my emotional output mostly gets sucked up by my youth work job. Which is ok most of the time, and really hard some of the time. When the ‘some of the time’ hits I have to manage myself more carefully - get more sleep, say no to extra stuff, and somehow find time to recharge. A delicate balance - one that i am still working out how to achieve. And somewhere in all of this lies my creativity. It also became apparent in journalling that creativity is woven into my day to day life - baking, cooking dinner, family walks on the beach, doing crafts with my daughter, playing lego with my son, choosing colour schemes for the house, photography, and coming up with creative ways to teach young people about emotional coping skills, and negotiating the sometimes rocky journey of adolescence. It was also apparent that most of this creativity involves giving to others. Which is a pleasure most of the time - and really hard some of the time. And that is another reason I came up with my list. Having some more tangible goals to work towards that are mainly focussed on doing something creative just for me feels slightly selfish. Which probably comes from being a mum for the past 9 years and getting so used to giving out more than I get back. But I need to keep reminding myself that it’s actually self-care. A phrase that can be quite foreign in the world of parenting young children, and in our somewhat hectic schedules of life and work in general. Furthermore, if creating just for pleasure, and just for me, helps boost my emotional reserves - it will actually result in more capacity to creatively give to those around me. So will 2014 be the year of 14 creative endeavours? That remains to be seen. One thing 2014 is already becoming is a year of being more mindful of where my creative energy is being focussed, and what i am doing (or not doing) to boost my emotional reserves.

Hamner holiday

It was about time we had a bit of a break from New Brighton - as much as we love it here, the roadworks are edging ever closer to our house....so off we went.  Andy's lovely work gave him a holiday bonus, so we were even able to take the kids skiing.....Lots of fun!

the view from our road as we were leaving New Brighton

the view of the cute wee batch when we arrived in Hamner

family fun round the brazier toasting marshmallows

sparkler fun!

time to celebrate birthdays with a cake the kids decorated

my wee man is growing up!

gracie wanted to take the bunnies home!

isn't he adorable!

some of Paul's handiwork with a gas cutter on the brazier

Jack's Pass looking beautiful

T and G found a snow cave to play in...

It was just what we needed - so blessed to have such generous and loving whanau to holiday with!

sew far to go

I got the bunting bug again - but i was quite time poor, and decided an easy peasy one was needed.  So i cut up Andy's old map i rescued from the recycling bin, and teamed it up with some vintage ric rac trim i found at an op-shop...

Here is the result:

I don't think Andy has worked out its his map from student days...

And here is our slice of paradise - Aotearoa NZ

I think i might pop this into the package going to Uncle and Auntie (Hubby's bro) who live over in England....A wee reminder of home so far away... :)

Tirohia atu nei ka wheturangitia Matariki, te whetu o te tau!

"Look above beyond the horizon and there you shall witness Pleiades, sign of the New Year Happy New Year!"

Wow - I can't quite believe Matariki is upon us again - the excitement of a new year, and the fun of trying to spot Matariki on the horizon - which is usually done sitting on our rooftop huddled under blankets...Although we are not quite brave enough to venture up to the rooftop tonight, for fear of being blown off!

It is also an excuse to get crafty with nga whetu (stars).  Gracie had lots of fun designing these stars to use as a Matariki table setting.

Matariki is slowly gaining attention in Aotearoa – nowhere else in the world has this unique celebration, so we need to embrace us, and celebrate our uniqueness as Pakeha and Maori living together in Aotearoa.

So tomorrow night’s celebrations will involve gathering with my sisters whanau, having hot soup and bread, decorating more stars, and tucking into a Matariki themed chocolate cake for dessert (which I have yet to create!)  So to you and yours this wintry new year - 

mihi o te Matariki, nga mihi o te Tau Hou

Happy Matariki, happy New Year…

connected with bloggers

lots and lots and lots of bloggers! From all over the place.  Thank you so much to all the hard working women who pulled this off! I had such a great weekend of chatting, relaxing, eating, crafting, laughing, crying, and dreaming....Just what was needed to help me clarify some of the journey I am on presently.  And the possibility of running some creative upcycling workshops is now looking like it could happen! Fantastic - its got my creative juices flowing (unfortunately in the middle of the night!- luckily i keep a pen and notepad by the bed)...

miriam showing us some zumba moves on The Panel

up on the top of Alice's and C1 building

loving the colour scheme and bag!!!!

shipping crates can look lovely

getting ready to create buntings with Deb

dance-o-mat buddies Stella and Miriam

beautiful day for a boggie!

we have to go up there?!?!?!

making friends on the roof top overlooking CBD

mmmmmmm.....at Make Cafe

It was awesome....

Easter Getaway to Okains Bay

The glorious weather continues, and camping with friends this Easter was the best way to enjoy it...

taking Gracie for a paddle around the estuary

heading out for a tiki tour in our sea kayak

my favourite thing to do this Easter!

hey! Where's my food?!?!

 The horse over the fence from our campsite got used to lots of lovely children feeding him...

Tarn helping decorate

balloons and streamers amongst the trees

Nia's 4th birthday celebrations

party picnic time!

 A gorgeous Easter holiday... :) J

Aotearoa Outdoors

I love camping.  And so does my little whanau - we love to discover new places, explore beaches, climb hills, find rivers to build dams in - all those lovely things childhood memories are made of...

my little whanau 2010 at Kaikoura

campfire and marshmallows graveyards surfbreak

sunset over kaikoura range

fireworks at graveyards beach, Kaikoura

Pohutukawa in flower at Gore Bay

Taylors Mistake beach

andy carving it up at Kaiks

Staying at Onuku Marae in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula

the first Anglican church in the south is, Onuku Marae

Island on Lake Kaniere on a beautiful still day

hut building at Gore Bay

sun sets on Mt Seddon - view from our campsite

gracie at Church of the Good Shephard, Lake Tekapo

Walking up to view Aoraki Mt Cook, with Mt Seddon in the background

the mudslides are awesome at Little River Campground

Little River - Camping at Manaia by the river

free camping at Meatworks, Kaikoura surf break

Dorothy Falls, lake Kaniere, West Coast

tarn building a damn at Sunny Bite, lake Kaniere

So I thought that i would share some of the places we have found on our journies around this beautiful island in the South Pacific....