First week

My first week back into the workforce proper, I'm digesting all that I have learnt, yet no chance to wind down, I have more drawings to complete, emails to send and then flying to Sydney Saturday afternoon for a my dear Uncle's 90th Birthday, it's a whirlwind of family catch ups. I am then back on the red-eye flight at 6am in the morning, hoping to be at work on time for further training and development. It's certainly mad around here! This journey is wild!!!

A random pic, from two weeks ago- lunch at 'I love Pho'

Anticipation....

A beautiful dessert at 'Graze on Greys' - St Kilda.

There is a certain sweetness to change, whether it's the anticipation of a new beginning in our ever changing 'life cycle'. I feel excited and a little nervous as I start my new job tomorrow...

Colour!

Because my last post was so freakin' brown ...

Cleo making announcements at the park...

Sebastian's Birthday cake extravagance, especially after a chocolatey easter...

Feltie Seastars (Star fish) made with Cleo's friends on a crafternoon...

I do love a pop of colour!

Change is in the wind...

The start of the renovation for this apartment int he Docklands began with the floors. The flooring is actually tiles.

So not only are the seasons changing so in a couple of weeks everything I've known is about to be tossed in the air and a new life in effect starting... It sounds dramatic however it is what I have been working towards from the beginning of the year and finally I had confirmation last Thursday, that a position I had applied for was mine.

I spoke about my want for change in an earlier post this year about requiring change, stability and consistency. I realized that although I craved a creative path in my career that it was too inconsistent and I was unable to achieve momentum with working as a freelance Interior Designer. The last 18 months have been particularly tough as I worked with setting up my small business. However it hasn't gained the ground I was wanting to achieve and in the process we have had to budget tightly as I await the next payment from a client. In between you find you end up working many more hours then you are able to charge for and this is just not rewarding in the scheme of things.

So I start my new job on the 1st of May. I am currently tying up loose ends with my three clients and the results are looking wonderful. I have found a very reliable builder, cabinetmaker and painter, so I effectively have a team of people that I can now rely on. On one of my jobs I passed the batten to my builder today after a lengthy meeting with my client, to project manage the final phase of the job and now at home I am feeling slightly emotional about the whole process. Yet there is relief as well. Because I still feel strongly that I am taking the steps in the 'right' direction' and it actually feels weirdly liberating as well. I guess that could also be underpinning my emotions as I realize and accept this new phase in my life.

Above is a photo of the said apartment that I have finalised the details with my builder and painter. The wall above is a hideous brown which took a bit of convincing yet the client finally conceded to have it painted over. I will update the with a post and photo's of a lighter and brighter colour scheme when it has been completed.

In the meantime I ticking lists and making headway into the next phase of my working journey. However I haven't given up on my creative path, more or less I feel like this is a new opportunity  giving me the space to grow, research and contemplate a new creative path and direction.

2 months have passed...

Wow, time flies when your saying 'yes' to some great opportunities and also great celebrations. So in wanting to share but not indulge in a long winded writing exercise. I'll list the highlights of the last couple months for me...

It has have to be one of the best summers for a long time, lovely long hot days, lots of swimming and activities, catching up with friends and that heatwave! what a way to finish the longest summer season I can remember. The last day of the 'official' heatwave it was 37 degrees in Melbourne, so after school I took my three children to the beach, we took snacks, our boogie boards and pitched our beach tent, Dad was working so couldn't join us...

We also celebrated milestones with my birthday and my youngest son's birthday both in March:

A wonderful gift, a decadent dessert for my birthday of cherries, mascapone & chocolate.

My Beautiful Birthday Boy on his 3rd Birthday. Portrait taken by his Dad.

and finally we endured a term of school was that was very trying at times. School weeks that were 4 days due to Teacher's strike (respect*), Pupil free days, children's ills the usual colds, flu, gastro etc...

I feel like I have had one big long summer break, especially as I type this tonight and there are crickets singing and it's mid-April! I feel blessed that the start of the year has been a very different start to last year. More easy going, less strenuous and more wonderful news to come....

now for a lighter touch...

After writing my post about "Getting to know oneself", (the post I wanted to get off my chest), the one where you acknowledge it;s time for a big change. However as big change doesn't happen overnight, while I'm still applying for work and managing my current projects. I have time to write, blog and put into practice what I preach.

So a little show and tell. Firstly, whilst shopping for the Christmas presents last year. I had decided that I would include a couple of  'selfies', presents for me for under the tree. One such purchase was a 'fat quarter pack' from the delightful Corrie @ Retromummy. who originally inspired me with the ideas of 'selfies' for the Christmas shopping.

However is wasn't the premise of more presents for me that was the reasoning for my purchase of the fat quarter pack, it has been a long crafting interest in wanting to make a quilt.This is the start of using some of my free time to re: learn to sew on a machine, to create and create pieces that have long lasting use. In a long list of 'What I'd like to create', quilts top my list. So watch this space!

Scootering along...

A christmas gift being put to good use.

Have just worked 5 days straight = exhausted!

Went and saw 'Life of Pi' at the movies, a late night I'm sure didn't help with me feeling tired. However such a beautiful movie well worth the lack of sleep.

Looking forward to my first 'Craft night' tonight for this year, another late night, again well worth it!

So many changes in our lives at the moment, exciting, new adventures and loads of possibilities, I look forward to writing about these moments as they unfold.

For the moment I will keep this post brief, due to my tiredness as I adapt to my new working week.