All of Me in June

I wasn't going to do a review of June cos I've been feeling a bit down about not making much completed art. And then I decided I'd gather as many photos as I could of things I've been involved with this month and it's a very happy list that has improved my perspective ♥  
My work life continues to bring new challenges and joys. I work at Carncot Independent school part-time as their librarian and part-time in administration, and get involved in other diverse ways as you will see. This month is my birthday month, and my friends and family know I love to extend birthday celebrations - it's just such a lovely excuse to catch up with the people that mean so much to me. Also my youngest son's birthday so he gets a weekend to celebrate ;-) 
This is a photo record of my busy month with lots of social interactions that make me happy. For you - a great month may be more time spent in solitude, in reading, in writing, in walking....What does a happy and inspiring month look like to you?
Began the month well with my Klimt in the Garden with Rumi : Autum art card Sunday 2nd June 

Monday 3rd - long weekend : quilt top completed and ironed ready for basting layers together. Didn't get the time to go further = on the list for my holiday jobs.

Gatherings made over weekend and beginning of week and taught art class on faces and image transfers on Wed 5th. 

Thursday was for gathering materials needed for Friday 7th Quilt Elective at school 

Saturday 9th : especially fun afternoon cos visited the craft market with my lovely Mum and 2 Aunties...and I bought some gorgeous earrings

Sunday we went for a river walk over the new He Ara Kotahi bridge - just down the road from where I live.

Tuesday 11th I helped out at the Carncot Year 8 speech competition in the evening - inspired to hear these talented students on the topic "If I could be....for a day"

Friday 14th was my birthday. Special treat to go to the Matariki Glow show at the Regent with Carncot's junior school

After school I got to celebrate my birthday at home with thoughtful gifts and my Mum to stay a couple of nights. That glorious embroidered pencil case at the bottom from Trade Aid may turn out to double as an evening purse. And we're going to WOW World of Wearable Art show in October - so excited!

Saturday 14th was further celebrations with all my lovely extended family that live close

and my brother has pre-ordered this for me : YAY - due out in August. 

Sunday 15th managed to complete this art journal spread!

Monday 16th - took my gelli journal to quilt house group and managed to begin a face

Tuesday 18th - supported Carncot students and videoed their performance in Te Pae Tamariki at the Regent.

Tuesday night - another birthday celebration with some special friends

They know me well and gave me such thoughtful gifts. The pen has the word "Shine" on it and the Wild Child scrub bar (palm oil free, soy free, sls free) label description is very cool - click on any photo to see it larger.  

Also on the menu that night, my friend made this stunning Klimt heart cake 

and then I was preparing again for Friday's school quilt elective 

as well as purchasing presents and organising birthday celebrations over the weekend for my youngest who turned 15 on Sunday 23rd. 

And then it was back to me again! Tuesday 25th was afternoon tea with a dear friend and a sweet posy from her garden 

and Thursday 27th with 2 creative friends at a favourite cafe that serves delicious lemon and white chocolate slice. The stamps and butterflies will be appearing in my work soon I'm sure. 

That night I was VERY lucky to be able to spend birthday money at the Farmers sale and get some great 1/2 price bargains that have helped fill some gaps to warm up my winter wardrobe in style.

Friday night I was brewing a head cold - lucky for me that after an early night and beginning this last season, I got to finish it on Saturday when I had to spend the day on the couch - silver linings! 

And here we are at Sunday 30th June. I've done some gathering and notes for my class coming up on Wednesday night about journal construction. I'll be sharing ideas and links here on the blog after I've taught the class. 

I've enjoyed creating this blog post today. It has really made me realise that I'm doing lots in my life that I love, and it really was impossible for me to find more time to complete art this month. We all have different seasons of creativity and for me this month needed to be about being inspired by events and filling myself up with love and support from my people.

If you're new to this blog, you've had a peek at some of the things that bring me joy, and be assured the tide will turn back to more art in July because I've got the class above to teach on Wednesday night, and then 2 weeks of school holidays from Saturday 6th July. As well as the free inspirations I shared in my previous post, I'm also going to be spending my first weekend immersed in this FREE event: 

See you again soon.