**************** COMPETITION OVER AND WINNERS NOTIFIED!!************
I was surprised last night to get an email from someone asking where I was and why was I not around when Notebook was featuring my work this week!!
Well after returning from the U.S I had a job down in NSW so was not really home. Notebook did not tell me there was going to be a little letter about the 365 grateful project!! (else I would have made sure the new site was working!! – eek!)
I haven’t seen the magazine in real life but here is the website letter from the editor. I am amazed!
In case you have found yourself at my blog after reading the Notebook letter please find more about the 365 project HERE or you can also view the WHOLE 365 GRATEFUL project here.
If you are still interested in more about my 365 grateful journey you can see my latest iPhone version on this site: http://365grateful.posterous.com/ This is a joint project with a beautiful unschooling Mama in the U.S.A.
For your chance to WIN a pack of gift cards made using images from the 365 Grateful project, leave a comment below saying what you’re grateful for! We will draw 5 winners and post them out to you on Monday the 5th July!!
There are 5 different images and on the back of each card a quote on gratefulness.
**************** COMPETITION OVER AND WINNERS NOTIFIED!!************
I have so many photos I have not blogged lately. Sooo before I go I must share one!! Most exciting to me is this amazing woman, Suse.
Suse is constantly inspiring me with her outlook and love of life, her energy and excitement for meaningful conversation, the way she loves dogs and Eckhart Tolle and living in the NOW. I am so so inspired! I recently had the pleasure of interviewing her for a project I have brewing. While I have no time to do the full edited video, I hope to share this in the future. For now here are a few photos I took and some of her amazing words.
This is what I want to be like when I am 72!!!
The interview with Suse was on growing old, how it has been for her and the advice she offered.
Here is a little piece from our chat:
Hailey: “Suse what would you tell yourself about growing older if you met yourself again in your 20s?”
Suse: “Like a lot of women when I was in my 20s, I thought my value was in my looks and in my attractiveness - but that takes you out of life and out of living. If I could go back I would tell myself – Don’t put that emphasis! It is put on us by society – I was not like that as a little girl! It is totally inhibiting and shuts down your awareness and enjoyment of life. You put your attention on what you see as your faults and how you can improve your looks. Therefore your attention is right away from the moment and relishing life! I would say FORGET IT KID!… now I am 72 and lost my looks and people still like me, they probably like me MORE! Forget all the bullshit about pleasing other people.. you never will!! Give up trying to please anybody else! Just Be yourself! Watch out for yourself… is this authentic? ask yourself… is this truly me? Do I feel this is right or am I trying to fit myself into some kind of a mold so that I am acceptable to others? Chuck that away!”
We are running a little behind here but if anyone hasn’t got a great christmas present yet. I HAVE found a 4 wonderful ones!!
I was recently approached by a company called Mind Gardener™. It was so exciting having them purchase my images for use on such a great product.
Here is a little bit about their products….
Mind Gardener™ is an Australian initiative that brings together a series of resources that contain information, ideas, exercises and tips that will guide your growth and help you flourish in a particular area of life.
Mind Gardener authors spend their time translating the growing body of knowledge on the mind and research on the brain, so that you can navigate quickly to the information and actions that will make a difference in your life.
It is so nice to see my images all printed up and designed into great products. Very satisfying!
I have included an image of my favorite “tip” because we all know being Grateful has taught me HEAPS!! However I just read over one of the ‘Clear mind’ boxes and was so inspired!! (and I do believe my mind cleared!!)
I find my kids are my little muses and really always have been. So today I ‘m blogging a tiny bit about them.
Firstly Poppy – a little character who delights and huggles us so much! I loved seeing her below playing in the curtains and enjoying the late afternoon light.
Next my little big girl who shortly will be ten! Zali.
She is astounding me with her creativity and abilities. Here is a painting she did for me a couple of months ago. I paid her to paint me a picture for my bedroom. I asked for something Klimpt in style and she delivered an amazing painting. When my mother saw this she promptly paid Zali to paint her one too!! She wants to be an artist when she grows up… I tell her she is well on her way!
I know everyone is eagerly anticipating the release of our famous Christmas greeting card and I am proud to be the one to finally reveal it!
Not that you could miss us…
We’ve had a lot of fun around Brisbane in the last few weeks riding bikes, playing in the sand, eating popcorn in a cinema – holding these oversized reproductions of ourselves… ahh the things we do for a laugh art. At least several German backpackers got a memorable photo to send back to their relatives.
I hope you all have a lot of fun this upcoming Christmas season. Do something you haven’t done before!
Like riding a tandem bike with a tag-along (that’s an extra seat off the back), using only one hand, keeping all three of you balanced while all holding ridiculously large replicas of your heads in the other hand pointed in exactly the right direction for a photographer! In a public park…
Now I’m going to cry myself to sleep on my HUGE pillow…
Poppy (my youngest daughter) has written a short story for a clay animation. It is sooo cute and we are NEARLY done!
Here are some pics to get you all excited!!
First pic has thought bubbles inspired by my favorite blogger!! Colour me Katie.
also here is a snippet of the making off this video:
Just some video I shot while we were shooting Poppy’s first clay animation. She wrote it…(5yrs old) Zali made the characters… (9yrs) and my sister and I shot it for them… with their help. (uhm!)
I have wanted to post up my last few 365. GRATEFUL photos for so long! If you don’t know about this project please check out the series on my flickr account here.
I took a Polaroid every day of something I was grateful for.
Not only was it a fun photographic exercise, more importantly it has taught me to be grateful! To live more in the moment and to delight in what I have, rather then always wanting. To see how clearly delightful my family are. To enjoy and remember the wonderful things my husband does for me. To see how powerful and amazing it is to view life from a more grateful and positive angle.
AND SO MUCH MORE!!!
NOT only this! I have had emails and messages and amazing conversations with people who have been inspired by me.
It is humbling and so so surprising.
I am grateful, I am so so grateful for all those who have shared a little about their own journey with being grateful. Thanks so much for your kind comments and emails and letters that have continued to inspire me and others.
Meanwhile here is the last few polaroids that end this project.
I get asked a lot if I am continuing the project.
Yes I will!
However due to the expense of polaroid I have had to use a more digital design of late. I do miss the precious vintagy feel of the polaroid film, it feels more special and memoryish. I am grateful I managed to fund a years worth of film! Will post up some shots from my new series one day soon.
She wants to be an artist when she grows up… I tell her she is well on her way!
