Blog Hop Around The World

‘The meaning of life is to find your gift.  The purpose of life is to give it away.’  – William Shakespeare

My friend Boomdeeadda invited me to join in the fun and made a lovely introduction for three of us in her last blog post.  Boomdee is a Canadian blogger with an amazing eye for colour, form and detail in her paper crafting.  She once sent me a gift that included a handmade paper bag that was so intricately made, full of fine detail including special words and images that fit me perfectly – it was awe inspiring – really!  It still sits on a shelf in my art room and is often picked up and admired!  Boomdee is genuinely sweet and kind and generous and is much loved by her many followers.  If you have never met her you really must pop over and say hello and tell her I sent you!

HM2

Gift Bag from Boomdeeadda

I have to answer four questions for this Hop – so here we go:

Why Do I Create What I Do?

I have spent the past few years working as a Life Coach.  Much of my life has been spent helping others move from despair into positivity and contentment and healing.  First, of course, I had to start with myself.  Part of my personal process was painting. I painted huge landscapes, often empty, but full of potential.  I painted the sea – it’s changing colours and patterns and the vast sky above it with all its changing colours and moods.  I painted for a year and In a manner of speaking I painted myself back to health.  I put it away for a time, and went back out into the world but then as life began to slow down and as I prepared for retirement, I found myself returning to it.  This time I started painted whimsical faces and little mantras, sentences that mean something to me or are especially formulated for someone I know who would benefit from this thought.  Some are quotes from others, some are my own words.  It just depends.

How Does My Creative Process Work?

There is no one way into a painting.  Sometimes I have a quote I want to use and that is my starting point – I simply lay some colour down and see where it takes me.  Other times I start with a painting and wait for the quote to reveal itself.  Sometimes I collage a background first, other times I paint the face then create the back drop as an after thought.  I have favourite colours that I return to again and again – and then I will challenge myself and pull out a different palette to see what emerges.  Again, it just depends……

How Does My Work Differ From Others of It’s Genre?

‘Beauty is not in the face.  Beauty is a light in the heart’  – Khalil Gibran

I have no idea how to answer this question.  There are a lot of women working in a similar fashion to me, some are really well known.  I am not. I wonder if my intent makes my work different.  I want my painting to offer something deeper than just a pretty picture – I want it to wake you up, touch you in some subtle way, lift the spirits, speak to a quiet hope.

pizap collage

Selection of mixed media paintings

What Am I Presently Working On?

I am currently finishing off some organisers to put in my Etsy Shop.  There won’t be any more – these have been quite a challenge to get made!  I have begun work on a small gift idea that I picked up recently from another of my favourite bloggers which keeps me busy in the evenings and am re-finishing a small book that just needed a little something extra – I am terribly sanguine in my creating at the moment – blame it on ‘puppy brain’ – there must be such a thing!

I am mumma to a new puppy and it would seem that he is my current work  He certainly takes up the majority of my time.  I have two more paintings currently sitting in my head and several more little craft projects I really want to get on with too – but……. time is scarce and here is why:

pizap Siddy

Siddy the Mi-tzu Pup

The delightful Siddy who elicits the excited cry which all fans of ‘Despicable Me’ are familiar with “He’s so fluffy I could die!”  [And please, we mustn’t forget Orlando, the beautiful boy who sits on the header to this blog – currently very hard done by and not very pleased with the way his home and mumma have been usurped.]

Enough about me and my pseudo-grandbabies, let’s move on……  because now it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to two more ‘down-under’ bloggers both of whom I really admire.

We are popping over to Australia first – to Tasmania actually, where the redoubtable narf77 – otherwise known as Fran – writes a weekly post about her life and escapades in her totally random and vastly amusing style in her blog ‘The Road to Serendipity.

Fran’s writings often feature her husband Stevie-boy, no slack hand with a whittling knife and a guitar, and Earl and Beziel their poor benighted  energetic dogs.  A student of something which I really don’t understand, a pretty knowledgeable horticulturist, permaculturist, gardener, avid shopper for exotic foodstuffs,  keen cook and pinterest surfer, Fran’s blog is never without a cup of humour, a dash of introspection and more than a tablespoon or two of common sense.

NB:- These pictures don’t show the ‘common sense’ aspect:

DSCF0968

Used with permission from Serendipity Farm

DSCF0977

Used with permission from Serendipity Farm

If you want to know what these photos are about pop on over.  If you time it right – and maybe even if you don’t – there is sure to be a glass of wine or two offered …….

Next we will zoom back to New Zealand and visit the top of the South Island where Wendy resides on her quarter acre piece of paradise with her husband and cat.

In her blog Quarter Acre Lifestyle, Wendy posts about living frugally, recycling and growing and preserving as much of their own food as possible.  She shares recipes and how-to’s, brings our attention to different life-styles, choices and options and wings her way into our hearts with her kind and caring heart.  Wendy is also a talented crafter and artist – though I know she will deny that.

This is a Wendy do-up and make-over:

Used with permission of Quarter Acre Lifestyle

Wendy’s latest post is about her first attempt at soap making – it seemed to go quite well, except for the part about the cat……….. Looks good enough to eat don’t you think?

Used with permission of Quarter Acre Lifestyle

I do hope you will pop into Wendy’s place for a visit – she is a treasure and is sure to offer a cup of tea and show you you her amazing stash of preserves and alcoholically dazed fruits.  Enjoy!!

That’s it from me and my little part in the great ‘Blog Hop Around the World’ – which was I know just a sojourn in the southern hemisphere – my northern hemisphere choices were AWOL, I expect it’s all that lovely summer weather they are enjoying!   But, please do pop over to these two blogs next Monday and see where they take you next.

Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!  🙂

64 thoughts on “Blog Hop Around The World

  1. Pingback: Voyage Through the Virtual Village (AKA “Blog Hop Around the World”) :-) | A Random Harvest

  2. Hi Pauline, I enjoyed reading your post and learning more about you. Love the quote by kahlil Gibran. Blog hopping around the world sounds like fun. I promise that I will hop over to Fran and Wendy’s blogs when I get back into my blogging routine. Have a fantastic week, Pauline. Tell Sid and Orlando not to zap your energy too much:)

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    • How lovely that you came by Elaine! I hope you are having a fabulous summer and doing lots of fun activities – or not, as the feeling takes you! Are you playing around with your paper crafting? We are doing really well down here, puppy just gets better and better and even Orlando has moments of finding him okay 🙂

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  3. 3 really creative souls that I enjoy visiting every week:-) I love that one of narf/fran on the top of the furniture pretending to be orlando! What a stitch!
    Really enjoyed reading about your creative process:-) you are a very talented lady!

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    • Isn’t that lovely – three of us in one go 🙂 That Fran is a hoot – I have never seen any one go to such lengths – and without their dinner – to make fun of their bloggy friends 🙂

      It has been fun to mix into this crazy ride – I have found a few more blogs to follow too! It is a great activity for the winter when one doesn’t mind sitting inside and tapping away on the keyboard for hours on end!

      Are you still enjoying playing in the dirt Robbie? How is that summer going for you?

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      • besides all our cars needing repairs + major ones-lol, we are doing pretty well. I just have not felt much like being indoors. We usually have hot, humid weather in July-september, but this year it is like fall every day! cool nights and cool days…no air conditioners , so who wants to be inside + sitting behind a computer-NOT ME…usually in the middle of summer we are all inside and it is too hot to stand outside since we would melt like the wicked witch-lol!
        this is amazing + I could live like this every day of my life!!!
        You are a fun bunch of gals + I have to stop by even when I do not want to come inside-so you are special group of gals!!!

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  4. Pingback: Blog Hop Around the World | quarteracrelifestyle

  5. Pingback: A creative blog hop down on the farm | theroadtoserendipity

  6. Oh LORDY what have I gotten myself into! To anyone redirecting from Ms Paulines amazing blog please be gentle with me and don’t blame Ms Pauline OK? 😉

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    • I have no idea how I missed this comment – but I did. Apologies are useless – you have already posted an absolutely fabulous and hilarious post for the world to enjoy ad I am sitting here as smug as a daisy because I had the foresight to include you in the great round-the-world extravaganza! 🙂

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      • Smug as a daisy eh? How come you get to be smug as a daisy and I am lazy as a daisy? Must have our grandmothers crossed there (or was that metaphors? 😉 )

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        • I have no idea why I wrote ‘smug as a daisy’ did I just invent a new saying? I have always fancied daisies to be quite smug – they always look most happy and pleased little flowers don’t you think?

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          • They do indeed and there are so many of them and they grow so easily and they are the predominate flower type in the flower world so they deserve to feel smug 🙂

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            • There you go – I knew you’d have something horticulturally accurate to impart about daisies. I shall insert this saying into as many places as possible and see if it becomes part of our modern lexicon! Then you can tell your grand-kids “You know the expression ‘smug as a daisy’? I knew the woman who invented that saying! She was the first president of your grand-pas fan club” 🙂

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              • Lol! “Smug as a daisy” those little buggers (especially those osteospermum daisies) can invade a space faster than lightning, they can survive on the moon and they can hide a multitude of sins (especially clucky chooks that you just cant find their nest till they bring out forty squillion fluffballs and make you twitch) so no doubt they are the smuggest of the smug daisies around. Yup, “smug as a daisy” is VERY appropriate and I shall be casually name dropping with the best when it catches on you can believe me 😉

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  7. Hi Pauline – just thought I’d pop over to say hello and check out your latest post and I’m so glad I did. Really interesting about how you begin a painting and also how you painted yourself back to health. I’m a great believer in finding something that you enjoy and that is calming for it to have an holistic effect. Lovely post – oh and the dog is cute too – and I’m not really a pet person, but I could make exceptions …. 🙂

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    • Even the most hardened dog hater is just a little thawed despite themselves by this little enthusiastic, fluffy creature! Thanks for coming by Jenny. And yes on the calming, holistic effect – any creative effort is also healing in my world 🙂

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      • No no no, I’m most definitely not a dog HATER – I enjoy walking with friends and their pooches – I just don’t have the dedication to have a pet of my own. Of any sort …

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        • Oh Jenny, so sorry I wasn’t meaning to infer you were. My mind had gone back to an elderly man we passed by yesterday on our walk whose face went from utter disgust to almost a smile as puppy wagged his rear end off in enthusiastic joy at seeing him. 🙂

          You are right though, it is a dedicated effort that goes into pet owning. There is such a freedom in not owning, I remember it……… 🙂

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  8. Your blog just reeks of love, passion, talent, and caring. and I’ll definitely visit the bloggers you recommend!
    Take care my friend! Isn’t it about time for another Skype session? 🙂

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    • Yes it is! Do you want to pick some dates that suit you [I am so flexible it is scary!] and we’ll start from there. I’m happy to send out the emails etc.

      Thank you for visiting my other friends – it is always so nice to share the love! And bless for those words – must go take a shower 🙂

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  9. Pauline, I am in awe, still, of your art and now knowing how you get your inspiration even more so. I can’t imagine trying to craft with a new puppy around they take so much attention. Oh and I loved the cat story of Wendy’s. I could picture her running to save her soap.

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  10. Pauline – it is your sweet, beautiful soul that sets your work apart. Now you will have the answer next time! Big hugs to you, Orlando and the cuter and cuter Siddy! : )))xox

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  11. Pauline, so enjoyed reading through the process of how you came to pick up the brush and paint such expressive works. Amazing isn’t it what we have to go through to get somewhere that’s a natural fit for who we are and what we want to do. Keep up the great work!

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  12. Ha! Puppy brain. 🙂 Your paintings are so serene and yet vibrant. I could really see you and Boomdee collaborating on a project together!

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    • I have read your post and loved it! However cannot comment on it for some reason – it doesn’t come up as WP posts normally do for some reason. I’ll work on it when I get time and see if I can resolve that issue.

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  13. Great post Pauline and I really enjoyed reading about your creative process. I love the paintings and I always wished I had the talent to do that. It’s also great to see you are an animal lover like a lot of us fellow bloggers 🙂 I think I might have to travel over to Quarter Acre Lifestyle to take some lessons on living frugally 🙂 Have a great evening.

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    • We all express ourselves differently Joe – I have always wanted to have the camera knack – but alas seem to have some kind of brain short-circuit around them! I was the photographer that always cut off peoples heads 🙂 I loved your post this morning!

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  14. This was such fun to read! I always wonder what motivates artists to do the things they do and the insight you provided helps me know you better. I hope Siddy eventually lets you get back to focused making–but enjoy him while he’s a puppy! I’ll check out the bloggers you introduced . . .

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    • Thanks Kerry 🙂 I’m pleased to hear you will pop over to the other two blogs. I am looking forward to the day I can work in mixed media again without losing track or having things dry out while I am distracted by puppy….. It will come!

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  15. Thank you for sharing your creative process with us, Pauline. You are one talented lady indeed! I absolutely love your mixed media painting, they’re so beautiful.
    Oh that little Siddy…I could just squeeze that little face! So cute!

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  16. How nice to learn more about your creative process, Pauline! I love all your work and it’s always exciting when you share something new with us. I can see that Siddy may be slowing things down for a wee bit, though; but isn’t he worth it! Too cute~ I loved the previous post about how Mr. O ‘wapped’ Siddy . . . I can just see those two . . . This was a lovely break for me. Thanks. ~ Linne

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    • Hi Linne, nice to see you come by. Hope everything is going well with your sorting and packing. Siddy is an absolute honey and I just adore him – he is too cute and too sweet and just a thoroughly lovely little fellow. Even when he is being extremely naughty 🙂 He has certainly livened things up around here!

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  17. Thank you Pauline. I have been hopping like a busy bunny all over your wonderful, creative blogosphere. Siddy is one lucky little puppy to have a home in such a warm and artistic milieu.

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    • Ooooh, I love that you have been visiting past posts. Bunnies are absolutely delightful – I am now on #3 and #4 trying to get the size and look I want! 🙂 Siddy has demolished the art room today – nothing NOTHING can be left below table height if it is not to be stolen away and chewed, shaken, buried or ripped apart. Sigh! He is very naughty – and I cannot help but laugh as I see that furry round bottom disappearing out the door and down the hallway as fast as those short legs will go …..Always a sign there is something clamped in those jaws that shouldn’t be there!

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  18. You are in wonderful company with those 3. Boomdee is a jewel and love and was also gifted some of her work. Like you, I treasure it. As soon as I’m settled, I’m going to take a trip to your etsy shop and pick a piece of your lovely work. It moves me. Don’t you just love Rumi? Did I tell you I saved your video of your cardboard book. I’ve shown it to everyone, even my son when he was here helping me move. He had to show me how to save it so I can watch over and over. I’ve read bits of the others you mentioned and would like to read more (when I have this place squared away a bit). Siddy is a great reason to slow down on other projects. He’ll be grown before you know it. Enjoy.

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    • How is it all going Marlene? I had an email a couple or so days ago for a post from you, but when I followed the link it wasn’t there……. I was so looking forward to seeing what you have been up to in creating your new home. I shall be most honoured if you decide to buy something from my store 🙂 And I am completely happy that you make everyone watch my book video too, it is so lovely to receive such a nice compliment 🙂

      I love Rumi – and Khalil Gibran too. They are my favourite poets [and I have just noticed that I have credited the wrong author to a quote, must change that forthwith!]

      Thanks for taking some time to visit Marlene, so looking forward to seeing a post from you 🙂 xoxo

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      • Thanks for the heads up Pauline. I published the post, then it disappeared. I wondered what happened. Several people commented on it so I had no idea it was gone. Hmmm. I like your philosophy and forgot before to mention how interesting it was that you were a life coach. Love to hear more about it. I lean a little toward the Buddhist way of thinking myself. In Search of is more of a spiritual quest than anything and I have been challenged to write more about that. I like the idea that we each have our own path. Yes, I love Khalil too. I’m off to purchase more paint for the floors. ALL the carpet needs to be pulled out. 😦

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        • I love bare floors and rugs Marlene – and have never found it any colder despite what people say 🙂 [I live on an old carpet and would love to get rid of it, but this is not my house so must live with what I have.]

          Can you find the post in your dashboard and repost it? That is a poor go if it has disappeared without you deleting it!

          I try to follow the Buddhist eight fold path in my daily living. I know I see things from an unusual perspective compared to most, I am aware of the spiritual life and what I call ‘the bigger picture’ around our daily doings – all this informs how I work with people. Some get it, some don’t. 🙂

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          • I get it Pauline and maybe that’s why I’m drawn to your energy. I did find it and reposted. I just checked and it’s still there but it wasn’t this morning. Thanks so much for letting me know.That’s a first. I wanted to do all wood too but met with some family resistance. So I’ll compromise and just have it in 2 bedrooms and the TV room to muffle the sound a bit. Hugs, m

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            • I read this comment and went straight over to your blog Marlene – great post! Sometimes strange things seem to happen on WordPress. I have had blogs fall off my ‘follow’ list, several incidents like the one we just had with yours [I always assumed the author had taken them down for some reason – maybe another wrong assumption!] I’ll know to check with the writers themselves next time. 🙂

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              • Thanks Pauline. I would not have know had you not said something. I so appreciate it. I had not thought of music while I’m working on the house. That’s a wonderful idea. I try to keep things quiet here so I disturb no one. We are all quite close together but not like in the apartment. I’ll turn some on today. I DO NOT sing for any reason. The universe begs me not to. 😦 Back to work now. Hugs. M

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  19. Alas, it is Monday for you and your wonderful post. Thanks again for joining Pauline and for a beautiful introduction. I am really touched and enjoyed reading all about the way you approach your art. I found it interesting that you find your way ‘into a painting’ (loved that) in so many ways. I think what draws me in is the eyes. You can usually tell a fair bit chatting up a person and looking at their eyes and how they look back (or don’t). I actually think it’s a lost art, conversation. A nice cup of tea, conversation face to face and the possibility of a budding friendship.
    Of course Siddy is beyond cute and your absence in the workroom makes perfect sense. I tend to have a fairly unstructured life and sometimes, you have to set aside one love for another. Would you be painting the little fluff ball some day do you think? He’d look great with those big soulful eyes.
    I read that post of Frans a bit ago and laughed like mad. Gads that girl is funny…..oh and smart and articulate and probably a great cook (by the look of her baking) and so many other things I’m sure. I can’t believe I know someone from Tazmainia, how darn cool is that? I have just begun to follow Wendy too and I’m looking forward to seeing what charms her rubber boots off :D. Well now, I shall find my way back round to their place next Monday to see where we’re going next. I love traveling with all you amazing people xoxoxox

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    • Gosh that’s a good question – will I paint Siddy one day? ‘Never say never’ as some wise person once said. I am not a great animal painter – I have done a couple many years ago and they take forever as I re-do and re-do to try and capture the essence of them. Great artists can do it – I am not a great artist!

      My days have certainly lost all the structure they once had. It really is like having an overactive toddler in the house – but man he is so gorgeous and cute and he tries so hard – can you tell? – I am totally besotted! And there is still dear Orlando too, who still needs lots of reassurance and extra cuddles – when he’s not sulking because something else has gone terribly wrong in his world ………

      So glad you are following both my girls already – making wee mini community within a larger one huh? Have a great week Boomdee xoxo

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  20. Oooh goodness, how do I follow that!!?? Thank you Pauline and I apologise…I forgot to do something I said I would do!

    Nice to know more about you not usually shared and your creative process, I did wonder if the quote or painting came first in your mind. You know how much I love your art! Lovely post and a great intro to Fran’s blog lol, love the photos you used.

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    • I’m glad you like the photos Wendy 🙂 I figured you were busy or had forgot so I scrabbled through your posts this morning – I wanted to find that curtain painting but couldn’t. I’m also pleased and relieved I wrote something you hadn’t heard before 🙂 I’m looking forward to your post now 🙂

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