May 20, 2016

Two years since I last posted.


Hello.

I have been thinking about writing again on my blog for a while, I know this is a cliched line, however it's true! So here I am back on my lovely little platform to start honing my writing skills (not that I see myself as a skilled writer) I however enjoy the process. Since I last blogged, a lot of changes have occurred in my life, quite diabolical changes that in a moment of "Well I didn't see that coming?" meant a whole new round of soul searching and new beginnings. So maybe in a 'Ground Hog' moment I have come full circle and decided to start back with my blog, which feels poignant and a great starting point.

My last entry was in February 2014, I was working full-time in the Public Service, long days, balancing that with a commute and coming home to three young children, high fiving my partner as he walked out the door to work in the evenings. We were one busy family unit.

Normally I was responsible for preparing dinner, having children ready for bed, homework, books read and lights out. I managed nights out rarely and my one regular night out a week was to my craft club which we affectionately call it, however it was whatever we wanted to make of it for the night, an inexpensive therapy session filled with nibbles, wine, laughter and some creative projects.

My intention was to always come back to my blog and redesign and start again. So when I thought to revisit my blog with my new good intentions I'd sit down and feel uninspired. The one thing I have done since discovering blogs and then starting my own in 2005 is keeping up with my blog reading. Rediscovering old favourites and discovering new bloggers along the way. There are so many blogs whose authors really dedicated themselves to constructing well thought out blogs, well written, clever insightful posts, beautifully art directed photos. I felt that what was the point of me even competing with the newly sophisticated curated blog. Or why did I even think I should have to compete? Over thinking ran away with me and I even wondered why I had a blog, What was my purpose, my voice? what was I wanting to communicate? My life? My hobbies? My interests? My knowledge?... I shrugged my shoulders and thought "I dunno?"... so I left it. I would come back to my log-in page and after forgetting the password again and again and then updating the password that seemed like a whole lotta effort right there.

I guess another explanation is I have noted myself in my miniature bio as a 'Freelance Interior Designer', not a lie and not finished with. I had decided after leaving a rather reliable part-time Interior Design job due to dwindling work load and hours, to have ago at becoming a fully independent Interior Designer working from home. This was 2012, my youngest child was 2 years old, I felt I was ready. I wasn't. It became difficult to find motivation during the day,  the usual working from home folly if your not disciplined, being distracted by having a coffee with my friends after school drop off, coming home and thinking the dishes have to be done (they really didn't), having to vacuum any housework really, having to check emails (kinda constructive) and then once I had dwindled the day away, back up to the school and childcare. Any serious work required to be done was always after dinner, working at night sometimes working until 1 or 2 in the morning. I had a toddler who would still wake in the night and two other children I had to get ready for school in the morning as my partner worked very early morning shifts. It wasn't ideal, my partner was feeling the strain of working in a job for over a decade he had no interest in and I was feeling the strain in general, the cracks were were starting to appear in both our mental health and our relationship.

2012 presented many challenges along the way, anxiety was a major hindrance for myself  and I sort counseling through a Psychologist. A challenging year on many levels, which I wrote about here. I finally came to the defining conclusion and wrote about this this period here.

I had the experience of client's who were amazing to work with, interesting, inspired and excited with the process of  having a designer work with them.. However it never financially got off the ground and was more stressful then it was worth, I was emotionally getting back on my feet, my partner was on a new career path which I fully supported. I felt the need to let go of a career I had always loved yet had battled with, as I felt my career had never quite gained momentum. I was ready for what I thought would be a new direction and moving forward. In 2013 I applied for a job in the Public Service, I accepted a role and by May of 2103 had started on what I thought would be my new career path.It was a great introduction back into the corporate world and working in a large office. I'll only reflect on this for the one time, I made a mistake which I admitted too at work, any other organisation would have slapped me on the wrist (metaphorically speaking) as based on my fantastic work record and told don't do it again. Not with the Federal government, one mistake and your out. My contract was wound up and I was back home, no work and wondering "Where to from here?' again.



A bit lost "yes", I looked at all my legal options which consumed me for another 6 weeks after I lost my job. I learnt along the way how the process works through the CPSU Union the Fair Work Commission and lawyers. It was an eye opening time in my life, in the end I was given exceptionally sound advice by a Senior lawyer who worked for me pro-Bono, her advice " Let it go, put this situation behind you" I bawled my eyes out and then felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders.

I found that I could move forward, I was still going to job interviews, I even co-incidence or not found an Interiors freelance job for a small Commercial office. I completed that job yet knew I had no intention of following up on any more freelance Interior work. I was done with that phase of my life.

I attended many job interviews some were so comical I almost thought I had walked into a  'Working Dog Production'. I ended up working for a friend in her homewares store which was a good starting point. I loved being in a routine and earning again, after being out of work for four months.

However I never took my time off from not working for granted,  I cleaned out our storage unit in Oakleigh (a massive 5 years of stuff came back home, that's a post for another time!) I held several stalls both, craft related and household items, clothing etc. I have donated bags & bags of item's to charity's and yet only just starting to shift through what we have still left in our home.

I'm on a new path again and have now found a new direction, a new purpose. I have since found work, side stepping back into sales, selling an Interior product. I'm not chasing a career, a dream or trying to find out my purpose in life. I'm realise I am happy where I am at and for the moment this is all I need. I have my family, our health and whole lot of new experiences awaiting us and I look forward to sharing these again.






February 11, 2014

9 months later and 'Taking stock'...

My latest creation, Felt softie 'Pig' .

It's 9 months since I last posted on my blog. I'm still here, busily working, juggling, playing and resting when I can. Inspired by an email Pip sent on her latest post from her blog 'meet me at mikes', I thought I'd also answer the 'Taking Stock' list and address it as a way to check-in with myself and my blog, Thanks for the inspiration Pip!

So here's my 'Taking stock:: list' :

Making : felt softies, cards and a big mess.
Cooking : summer barbeque's and chocolate fudge.
Drinking : water, tea and the occasional cheeky white..
Reading: just finished 'The happiness project' about to start a crime novel.
Wanting: a holiday..
Looking: at moving house too...
Playing: catch-ups with kids, friends and housework!
Wasting: very little time, always on the go...
Sewing: embroidering and have several projects on the go...
Wishing: I could find the perfect house to rent...
Enjoying: reading magazines, a cup of tea, snuggled on the couch with a fan.
Waiting: for trams and trains...
Liking: retro Interiors the 1960's...
Wondering: what it would be like to fly overseas again...
Loving: that feeling of being more organised.
Hoping: for more sunny days...
Marveling: at my motivation, it's come along way over the last year!
Needing: time to recharge.
Smelling: freshly brewed coffee in the morning...
Wearing: my favourite current label 'The wolf & I'...
Following: the news and this week feeling saddened by the scourge of life, decisions made affecting people's futures and the way our current Government are conducting themselves.
Noticing: 'change' and not just seasonal weather!
Knowing: that I'm in that midst of 'my life turning around'...
Thinking: about 'possible' adventures...
Feeling: content
Bookmarking: my journal with my lists of new adventures...
Opening: my heart to new opportunities...
Giggling: at those moments when you shouldn't, when your child is incredibly cheeky (or rude)...
Feeling: positive about the future.

So join in and 'Take stock' of where you at at this time of the year...

So pleased I could touch base, I'd love to see where you are too.

Looking forward to blogging more, 9 months on after working hard I feel ready, energised and not so burdened, more discussions to come as I open up about my world.

May 03, 2013

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'

April 30, 2013

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...

April 25, 2013

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!

April 24, 2013

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.





April 12, 2013

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....