Dear Carla

It was such a great paint-n-sip Saturday night, hosted by a dear friend of mine. I had the best time… how could I not with three of my favourite things all in one evening; art, wine and being surrounded by a group of open, fun, loving people 🎨🍷 🥰

Here’s my field of flowers along with our joint painting of a man which we took it in turns adding our own touch to. I think ‘Steve’ turned out pretty good 👌🏻😆

Here’s a painting I did just for fun..

Whilst painting this I had in mind something I learnt recently whilst doing a course about adult learning and encouraging a learning culture at work.

When thinking of an organisation and providing staff a good learning environment and encouraging life long learners, you can think of it as a learning garden. The L&D function is the sun, it sheds light on learning offers, any new learning opportunities and learning gaps. Flowers then need the space to grow and good soil to flourish (soil being the environment staff are sitting in and the fertiliser is the courses and learning opportunities provided). A garden needs good Gardners to shape the environment (Leaders who provide encouragement, support and get rid of ‘pests’ that erode the environment) and water is really important (a personal want, need and love of learning) for individuals to really flourish.

People, like plants, mostly respond positively to being nurtured and negatively to being neglected. Weeds and weather in a learning garden are the stressors, workloads and distractions. Weeds can choke plants and inhibit growth (not allow your staff to learn or grow and then they focus on their own survival). The less “weeds”, the better they will grow. As you know you can never have no weeds in a garden, but keeping it tidy as much as possible will provide your flowers and plants the best possible environment! As staff grow and reach their goals, so too will their self-confidence and overtime the learning culture.

Although it’s not an outside garden that I painted, I wanted to include some books so I went with an indoor garden room. It’s turned out pretty cool so thought I’d share with you.

I was just a pup when we first met,
I loved you from the start.
You picked me up and took me home,
And placed me in your heart.
Good times we all had together,
We shared all life could throw,
but the years went so quickly,
my time has come to go.
I know how much you all miss me,
I know your hearts are sore.
I see the tears that fall when
I am not waiting at the door.
You all did your best for me,
Your love was plain to see,
for even though it broke your heart,
you still set my spirit free.
So please be brave without me,
One day we’ll meet once more,
for when you’re called to heaven,
I’ll be waiting at the door 💕🐾🐕

Rest In Peace Sophie x

Fathers Day… a bitter sweet day for me personally given my Dad and I haven’t spoken for years, but it makes me so, so happy to see how excited our two little ones are today to cook their Dad breakfast and surprise him with handmade gifts 💕 they are so lucky to have such a fun, loving Dad!

Happy Father’s Day to ALL of those who are father figures in someone’s life. You are so loved and appreciated by those who you ‘father’💕 Hope you are spoilt with lots of love, coffee, and hand made gifts!

Sending lots of love, strength and good internal happiness vibes to all Mums out there, especially those with new borns in lockdown, and those who aren’t yet Mums, but really want to be Mums 💕 keep strong, you’ve got this 💪🏼

Just sharing this little pot I have painted over the last few weeks. The photos don’t do the colour justice, the pink just pops in person, I love how it turned out 🍄

‘Good friends are like mushrooms…the good ones are hard to find’.

Given many of us aren’t able to go to parks at the moment in this current lockdown, I thought a little scavenger hunt might be fun! Whilst on your next walk be sure to take a pen a piece of paper with the below listed (your kids could draw them before you leave), and cross them off as you see them;

1- a bird that is close by
2- a bird that is far away in the sky!
3- a pine tree
4- a pine cone that’s free!
5- a feather of any kind
6- a rainbow which is always hard to find!
7- an insect that can fly
8- a leaf that is dry!
9 - a leaf that is green
10- a lady bug who is hardly ever seen!
11- a flower of any colour
12-a soft stone maybe in a gutter 🤔
13- x3 different shaped twigs
14- a bottle brush in a tree doing a jig!
15- a cloud in a shape that is fun
16- last of all the big, bright sun!

Enjoy! Keep safe, keep active both physically and mentally and keep in touch with your family and friends online. You aren’t alone in this. This lockdown has been a tough one!

It has been awhile since I have shared any of my craft/art on Facebook. I have a moment of calm, peace and quiet so I thought why not share some, for any other night owls out there in Melbourne still awake 🌙 🦉