PNG Headdresses

We have started homeschooling officially for the year! Sooo we went to the pool...because we can.

Not sure how much blogging I will be doing, and certainly will struggle to comment, so apologies in advance. But I'm keeping up with my reading and keeping an eye on all your doings :-)

I noticed Hat Attack is on again over at Judith The Style Crone. So I thought I'd share some amazing headdresses from PNG.

Reading the Bible - is that grass plant on his head?

Note the pan flute and the kina shell necklaces. Their money is now called kina (dollars) and toea (cents).

Don't forget to pop on over to The Style Crone to see the other hatted beauties. Judith is in a particularly fetching leopard print hat and gaunlets.

Til next time, keep on creating!

Love,

Jazzy Jack

 

Christmas outfit

Just a quick glance at my Christmas outfit photographed so beautifully by Mr Actor on the bush track behind my sister's house in Sydney, where we had a gorgeous Christmas feast. Thanks Sis!

Evidence of recent bushfire.

I handstitched this dress to be a stage outfit but couldn't perform at the last minute, so decided to stage it at Christmas lunch!

Closeup of the silver sparkly fabric and the massive-costume-statement-can't-miss-it necklace!

(Most people said the fabric looked like chainmail)

It was a bit more tenty than I planned as the fabric stretches so much, but it was light and drapey enough to be cool in the heat. The sparkles lift it.

A fun outfit that had many positive comments! And we did enjoy our bush walk...to walk off the first course ready for desert!

Hope you are all nicely recovered from any overindulgence ;-)

'Til next time, keep on creating!

Love,

Jazzy Jack

Linking up with I Will Wear What I Like because I do!

 

Blogging with a disability, elephant pants and scarf hat

Hello there my beauties! I need to apologise.

I am still feeling overwhelmed. Surprise, surprise!

My approach to blogging (and the internet) has been much the same as my approach to life. I have launched myself into it with great enthusiasm, sampling everything so I can decide what suits.

Unfortunately the fall out of this is that I have only so much energy, and inevitably I have to cull. Oh the dreaded culling...! :-/

After over a year of blogging, I now can say that I find the friendships I've made to be some of the nicest people around. I really want to stay in touch!

But to do that I will have to spread myself so thin, I won't exist in the real world. Even though I have ridiculously restricted my blog roll!

I feel sometimes like I'm standing in front of a room full of people(gorgeous people), and they are all shouting at me their latest news. It feels as stimulating to my sensitive nervous system as actually interacting with them in person.

Unfortunately these same gorgeous people are the ones who leave beautiful comments on my blog!

So there is an unspoken agreement that I will leave comments for you and you will leave them for me. A conversation! Very civilised and a lot of fun.

However because of my recent health issues I find I only have energy to write blog posts, not comment on them. What to do? I don't want to be selfish and never comment on others, and I want comments on mine!

But I'm now taking the awful step of doing just that. The alternative is stopping altogether, which would grieve me more!

So I will be posting, and hoping some people still enjoy my offerings. But there will be no guarantees of reciprocation :-(

This is the sad reality of living with and managing a disability.

Feel free to drop me if you feel annoyed. I will still be trying to keep up with your news, and occasionally commenting, but can't promise the level I've managed up until now (which was pretty bad)!

I'm hoping that by taking this step I will have more energy to do art in the real world.

Of course I will be reassessing this down the track.

Another solution will be that I will leave little smilies to say I'm thinking of you. Please feel free to do the same to me! :-D

I am also abandoning Disqus although in some ways it has been great. There have been too many people have had issues with it, and if I can't manage the commenting anymore there is no point.

As far as the rest of the internet goes, I have Facebook to keep in touch with people I know in real life, Google for those who have followed me in photography groups, Instagram for cute quick photos, and Pinterest for inspiration. These have also been pared back to the minimum interaction, but I find them useful so keep them around.

Anyway, on the fashion front...I offer a photo (at the top) of my elephant pants, aren't they great?! And here is a lovely scarf I received as a surprise from a friend. Doesn't it make a great hat?!

'Til next time, keep on creating!

Love always,

Jazzy Jack

 

 

Heartwoods rewound

Last time we were at Heartwoods I took some shots and never shared them, so here we are!

The dam with no water except dried up mud...its most common state...it leaks!

The wombat home between two old bathtubs. If you look carefully you can see fresh cube shaped dung in front of the space.

The little tiny honey eaters love to swim in those same bath tubs, so we can't move them or clean them. This is the pool in the moss they love. Look carefully and you can see one in the centre of the left photo.

Birds above, wombats below!

This little fella you've seen before in my BeautyScope 227: Frog exposure

My niece says he looks dipped in silver, which I think is apt and beautiful!

Here are some more head torch photography experiments. I love how it isolates. You notice things you wouldn't in the day.

And just as a bonus because you made it this far, here is a photo of my reality. Sitting at the keyboard, in a renovated jumper, a gifted silk scarf and a handknit poncho, with my hat on my head from when I was digging in the garden, because I forgot I still had it on until I saw this shot! Hee!

Much love,

Jazzy Jack

 

Scarf roundup 3 and needle felted hat

Here is my latest scarf roundup! We are up to day 30!

Pseudo PJ day, with fluffy snuggles.

Dressed up on top and down on bottom.

Daffodil in "hair" for Northern Hemisphere spring.

Newly knitted necklace.

Love this vest, and my inside shoes.

A change of pace.

Oranges to warm me.

Day of the dead leggings with new neon sneakers.

A formal look...see I can do them.

What to do with a sarong in Winter.

I took my leggings to my son's circus performance!

And here is some random needle felting I did on my beret when I was bored. Like it?

'Til next time, keep on creating!

Love,

Jazzy Jack

 

Quiet down!

Simplicity, Focus, Creativity, Relaxation

These are the watchwords I have written on the wall at the moment, as I attempt to redesign my life.

I have put in place a few changes to achieve this.

Firstly I issued the following statement to Facebook and Google+.

My life is going through a health, and therefore a lifestyle, flux at the moment.

In an attempt to simplify things and allow me to focus on only a couple of goals, I will be withdrawing once more from Facebook and Google+.

If you would like to stay in regular contact I would love you to stop by my blog naturalmedley.blogspot.com.au and say hi!

I will still be posting on Instagram and Pinterest @naturalmedley.

Quiet corner

I made a quiet corner/altar where I sit and breathe and slow down, thinking about whatever beautiful stuff I have on the chair.

A corner of my living room which is generally dedicated to quietness,
is specifically dedicated to quietness.
A chair with a nice piece of fabric, and some themed items to meditate on.
A cushion to sit on. A bell, some water, some rocks and scented candle to waken and soothe the senses.

Yoga

I'm trying to do yoga once a day to stretch out and tone my muscles that want to cramp and to quiet my mind.

Focus

I'm deciding on one focus for the day and writing it on the whiteboard that is my pantry door. This helps me utilise my focus ability.

I have two brain modes. To brainstorm and bring in multiple thoughts and ideas which really helps with my creativity; and to focus and never want to stop doing the one activity...to obsession!

I have been too much in my brainstorming mode, allowing the many visual cues (mess) distract me, and I've been running hither and yon trying to achieve some neatness in my life. Of course becoming way over stimulated in the process!

In receiving my health motivation, I've had to stop and rethink. Focussing on one thing has allowed me to achieve something at the end of the day, and I'm also learning to walk through the mess and leaving it alone. I'm hoping this will help me in my everyday sensory onslaught.

Cleaning and tidying in 15 minute bursts.

Since I've been unwell for so long, the house has been slowly falling into an unacceptable state. This is fuelling my stress.

So now, when I do turn my hand to cleaning and tidying, I am putting the timer on, and doing it in 15 minute bursts, so I don't end up running the same rat race again, and forgetting to stop.

Drop everything

I have executive function issues, and find it tricky organising my own brain, let alone training my kids. And yet they probably need more help than some.

I want to teach them how to look after themselves, but have been having woeful success, with the result I start screaming at the mess and them.

At my son's class, they have a system called DEAR- drop everything and read. I'm implementing a new chores idea for the kids of drop everything and clean/tidy for 15 minutes on the clock.

I'm hoping this new system will help with both the cleaning and the teaching!

Expert help

Mum and Dad are coming over today to visit for a few days while Bushy is away for work, and I've asked them to cast their tidy eyes over my place and give me some sorting and storing ideas. I hope to go to a storage place and put in place some new systems.

Crossing fingers!

Simplicity Spot: Wings
Here are some of my meditations this week as I thought about Wings. I call it my Simplicity Spot.

A butterfly Bushy brought me back from Papua New Guinea,
feathers birds have left in my path, crystal birds gifts from Bushy,
glass mushroom from Lava Glass in New Zealand,
wooden egg made by Mr Artist in woodwork
(he also made a matching spoon - convex and concave!)

bedraggled and torn

stilled beauty

can even now

make your spirit fly

Take a moment to breathe and think about wings and feathers and flying things.

Such fragile objects made of silk threads and fabrics, but they ride the air!

May our fragility be our strength today.

I've been meditating on the flight and nesting of birds.
Their life is balanced between movement and soaring, and stillness and rest. Also, when we fly we have the chance to fall. But if we don't accept the risk, we never have the chance to fly!

A newly thrifted poncho reminded me of wings,
with little feathered fringes all over it,
woollen shorts and hat- thrifted, slippers - too old!

Hat DIY

I sewed a peak on my hat, so I could use all the depth to cover my ears in Winter, but still look smart.
This hat came in a give away bag, with bent wire in the brim, so I undid the stitching removed the wire and resewed the edge. Voila, straight brim. Never say never!

'Til next time, keep on creating and showing it to the world.
And try to spend some time in simplicity.

Much love,

Jazzy Jack

PS I finished my medication reduction on Monday...yeehah!

Edit: Linking up with Style Crone to give her a hat attack. Come over and join the hatted beauties.

 

Why not leave a three word impression (poem) or a smiley if you enjoyed your visit? :-D

Mad Hatter

In order to show off my latest creation on Style Crone's Hat Attack, I've composed this post :-D

Hetty the Hatter
made hats when it mattered.
When the cold winter winds bit,
Hetty would sit and knit.
Needles and wool would fly
She nearly put out an eye!
But Hetty nevertheless
made hats worthy of the best.

 

Here Hetty is modelling her chocolate brown merino creation, which with versatility can be worn against the head, or with the more slouch hat look.
 

 
This green creation is reminiscent of moss. For this one Hetty pulled out her crochet hooks. Made with mohair, merino and alpaca wool, the crown has a spiral form. Very warm.

Next Hetty is wearing her variegated green and brown slouch hat which can also be converted to a cowl. She loves to make works which can be experienced many ways. This piece has been created out of alpaca with its soft fall, and knitted squares adding texture.

 
Finally we see Hetty in a new style for her. A whole new look using bulky wool and sky blue colourway. The design of this hat is a conical shape finishing in a point, referencing acorns and seedpods.

I feel Hetty may need a short break from working, it seems to have affected her slightly, as we witness her wearing all her creations at once proving her balancing ability, and finally juggling them!

Well, she was always one for innovation. Not only hats, but circus toys as well!

So ladies and gentlemen, please remember Hetty the Hatter as you choose your hats. May she inspire you to experience hats a little differently this season!

'Til next time, keep creating

and showing your individual selves to the world!

 

Love

Jazzy Jack

PS A sneak peek at Hetty's work in progress...baby alpaca and silk...mmm love the colour...and sooo soft!

PPS Don't forget to visit the linkup. Judith is looking particularly snazzy in multi-coloured velvet...mmm...mmm!

Kiwi thrifting and scarf play!

Warning photo heavy!!!

Hello you gorgeous peeps! I'm back! Back from The Land of the Long White Cloud,  aka Aotearoa, aka New Zealand. It is as beautiful as ever, and I'll share some piccies later on.
To start off, I have a photo Bushy took of me taking a possible BeautyScope shot. Typical me, out in the middle of a lake, balancing on a rock, fully dressed to go out, with my shopping over my arm!

This is Lake Rotorua, and I'm taking shots of carvings in the rock...trying not to include my feet!

I visited my favourite consignment shop in Rotorua when we were there. I was in luck, there was a sale! Yes please! I abandoned my family to putput golf, and tried on a few pieces. I found 6 items, at $10 each! Now how to fit them in the suitcase...hmmm.

  A lovely cream linen shirt with buttons down the back.

 A light cotton shirt with interesting majorette detailing and a navy linen dress with apple shaped buttons.

 Two jackets found their way into my grasp, a print stretchy one that rolls up into a tiny ball...great for summer emergency cover. And a cotton twill white jacket with cute fraying edges.

Finally a silk velvet stole, lined in silk with bead detailing. Gorgeous colour! 

This is the amazing bag I bought on a market stall. A maori tiki face embroidered on to recycled fabrics, with a tie handle. She didn't include a label, so can't tell you her name. Gorgeous machine embroidery!

I had a play with some of my scarves today. This is the lovely coloured rainbow they make in my drawer. Wouldn't that entice you to play?

Here I have combined a beige wrap with a silk velvet flower pin I bought in Rotorua.

 This is a multicoloured rectangle silk scarf...I just love its sheen. 

And finally a trio of square greeny striped silk tied on the side with a half bow, a twisted green silk oblong scarf tied at the back, and a viscose gauzy wrap tied into a turban.
In the first shot you can also see the new white jacket.

 Here I am wearing my new navy linen dress, with a headband made of ribbon to which I have pinned a clown brooch. He's having a lie down as clowning can be very exhausting! On my wrist is a necklace twisted into a bracelet. 

 While in NZ I caught up with my good friend, and we spent a day at Lava Glass just south of Rotorua. I couldn't resist this little mushroom to go with the blue and orange bowl (first pic) Bushy and I bought ourselves for our wedding anniversary a while ago. It seems to be interesting our little worm ...! 

So back down to earth. After those glamorous poses, this is how I ventured out into the rain to collect the kids from school! 
(shorts added for decency, new gumboots thrifted...first wearing:)

So my lovelies, until next time, 
keep creating and showing your uniqueness to the world!
Jazzy Jack