70 Artists aged 3-5 years are capable of anything!

The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through.

Jackson Pollack

It is difficult to describe today.

Was it the look of pure amazement and glee on their faces?

Squeals of delight ....

bubbles of laughter...

splashes of paint...

Today's dishwasher generation were impressed that they could paint with a dish mop!

This little man transformed...

How do you know you did a good "flick"?....

When the splash goes from your feet....

to your face!

A Masterpiece?

Today can only be described with three words....

Art is...Joy!

Happy Birthday Gib

Did you every have an imaginery friend growing up? My brother did. His friend was little gibby (pronounced jibby). Little Gibby went every where with Marcus and lived in his top pocket. I remember Mum could only dress him in t-shirts with top pockets! Then one day Marcus announced that Little Gibby had died, he went out to the garden, buried him, came back and that was the end of his imaginery friend....or so he thought.

I don't think I have called my brother anything else except Gib and apart from the usual young sibling punch ups we have always been good friends and the best part is that he understands me and still loves me!


So today is his birthday and no doubt he will celebrate (or is done celebrating...seeing as it is 9pm Sydney time) with his lovely wife and his two boys the J man and T man.

Happy Birthday Gib.

P.S.....if you are wondering about the note at the top of the page? When life gets busy, the reminder notes just get bigger!

The Gift

We have just farewelled The Engineer's mother as she travels back to Australia via Chicago and San Fran. However prior to leaving she presented us with a very unexpected gift.

Maxamillion and Miss Flossy! and yes Jo....there is your beautiful tree topper!

The likeness is uncanny.

They immediately went up onto the wall in my favorite "nook" that features my JoAnnA artwork, Mrs Pom's artwork and some of my own! They will be treasured. Thank you Marie.

The Wonder of Love is its ability to overwhelm sorrow.

I approached my final Treehouse with a bitter sweet feeling. I knew I was going to be sad that this was the last official time of seeing my girls but also hoped that in some small way we had helped them to deal a little with the death of their parent.

We started the night with our Tiara Tea Party and a joyous occasion it was.

They all put on their Crowns - Gabriela you would have been so proud!

We laughed, we ate tiny cookies and we celebrated life.

Then we all gathered with the rest of TreeHouse 44 for the Pillow Ceremony - the most wonderful moment when all the pillows were attached to the tree and we took a moment to remember. You could feel each and every one of those souls in the room.

I can't begin to tell you how honored I felt to be there at that moment.

TreeHouse - SisBoom - Graduation

The week that flew was early June.

My second last Treehouse was filled with memories as my little girls decorated a pillow that we had printed with a special photo of their parent.

As these girls looked into the eyes of their fathers and mothers the memories flowed - she smelled of perfume, he smelled of lemon shampoo, he loved green, his beard tickled,

he loved playing with me and my sister, I remember his laugh.....and so it went for two hours of the most wonderful therapeutic time for us all.


Whilst sharing memories one little girl talked about how she learnt that for every soul who leaves the earth, another soul arrives...these are six year olds talking here.

So I got the opportunity to share with the girls - that on March 23, 2006, the day her Mum died, our little Max was born.

I felt like I had bestowed a gift of gold as I shared his photos with them all and especially with that little girl as her eyes glowed and she gasped with sad delight.

The following day was a lovely sunny day and we celebrated the "Moving Up Ceremony" at Rose's school.
She celebrated this day with a couple of awards and is now showing definite signs of being the Math Geek that her big cousin is!!

This is what you do when Graduation goes too long!

The start of the weekend was heralded by a trip to Jennifer Paganelli's magnificent hideaway home where we (Pamela Huntington and the Goddess and I) oohhed, aaarrhhed, sighed for about three hours.

I could go on about how talented, clever, wise and witty Jennifer is but the Goddess has done it for me and so has Pamela - so stop in and check out the pics!! I am so glad you are teaching at Art Is...2008 Jennifer! My mum is coming all the way from Australia to take your class!

Our week closed with a full weekend of recitals plus preparing for my final treehouse - Tiara Tea Party!

Life is a fine act of Balance!

The Monday of Memorial Day was spent, cleaning the car (Neil style ie...it is actually now clean) and playing in the paddle pool .... ok my american friends ... you are right, it is a toboggan but we are much better at using it this way and it is still loads of fun! Note my new herb garden courtesy of the Goddess!


The week after Memorial Day we had the arrival of The Engineer's Mum (Nanna) and her lovely friend Ian who is a train buff!! I was busy preparing for Mini Camp (65 kids aged 3-5 - music and art!). But I had enough time to book a short weekend away for the visitors, MM and Neil.

They went off to see Thomas the Tank Engine.


Every Train Driver needs an oreo in one hand and the wheel in the other!


But whilst they were away...the girls did get to play. Flossy babysat Little Red and my Goddess, the generous hearted Pamela Huntington (We have found a kindred spirit) and I sped down to Tinsel Trading to sail away on our own little boats with Lisa Kettell.

A glorious day of glitter.


This was followed by a wonderful day of Shakespeare, performed by Flossy's class at school. When she asked me if I understood what she had said, I had to carefully explain that I didn't understand it the first time (20 plus years ago) but her presence on stage made up for it.

Following in the footsteps of her Great Grandmother ... Big Nan, our daughter is at home on stage!
This is what you do when Shakespeare gets too long!


The Awsome Foursome!

and so it was Sunday June 1st and I was still in New York and feeling weary from a wonderful weekend of art.