Leanne Shawler, Artist

Yeah, my posts are lagging behind one day, well, just because. Anywho, I have a cold or something. It's hanging about in my throat which is not pleasant to say the least, especially as I have a busy weekend ahead of me, both birthday- and work-wise. In other news, there's a new shop opening online: Rebecca Ersfeld for Vintage Living . I mention this, because every mention of her new shoppe is an entry in a giveaway for a to-die-for custom fabric collage.

I don't know about you, but I kind of balked at spending more in shipping than what I'm paying for the actual item. So I just skipped ahead to today, Day 2, and Day 1 will just have to slot itself in somewhere or double up somewhere else. So yesterday I signed up for Green Paper's Vintage Gluebook class . I've been admiring her gluebook pages for a while, so I just held off from signing up until my 25 Days began. Actually beginning the class will occur later in my 25 Days. So, okay, Day One didn't quite turn out as planned, but I spent some creative time with Glimmer Mist and did Day 2 stuff and put together most of a spread for the Nostalgic Musings class. Which I guess means that Day 2 will become Day 3 and ... hmm, this could get confusing :) Oh, there's a giveaway (one of many) going on: Vintage Wallpaper Giveaway! I don't have much of that stuff, and so tend to hoard it, but hey, share the possibilities right? Back to 25 Days of Birthday. From the 25 ...

25 days of what? you might ask. 25 Days of Birthday -- and it starts today. My inspiration for this came from Miss Gracie's owner (as soon as I track down that blog, I'll add a link--it's kind of funny that as usual, I can remember the pet's name) and from a co-worker. Miss Gracie's human had a whole month of birthday, and my co-worker had nine days... Well, nine days wasn't enough and a month seemed a bit long, plus, I had this blank Advent calendar which is perfect. (the calendar's not quite done, it needs a little more bling) So the plan is to have a little treat for me each day: it might be something big, or it might be something as simple as walking to the park, or taking a long hot bath, or making time for a creative project I've wanted to get done. (Or finish decorating the calendar) I've also decided that 10% of whatever amount I spend on myself will go to a charity. (Maybe this will help alleviate the guilt of having the privilege of being a...

Last year, I stumbled across this amazing online blog party: Where Bloggers Create. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent going from site to site, looking at beautiful pictures of beautiful spaces and putting together a wishlist to tweak my own space. I still haven't carried out all that I want to with that wishlist, but hey, maybe participating this year will make that happen. I believe my Mum spent hours doing the same once I told her about it, so Ma, please set aside the date for deliciousness (although I think it'll be the day before for you).

I'm not a stranger to the blogging world. I'm still hiding out at LiveJournal (my first foray) at a friends-only space, and as a published author, I joined Blogger to form a group blog (now defunct, alas). But it was sweet Jodie's easy-to-read primer that answered the lingering "wantses" of a blog. I knew it had to have a particular purpose. I won't be talking about my writing life here, for example. And to enable others to share their gifts and talents, I've added a link in the sidebar to Jodie's little tutorial! Check it out!

Today, April 25th, is Anzac Day in Australia. As we're on the other side of the dateline, it's now the 26th there. But it's still the 25th here. ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corp and we remember the fallen on the day of the retreat from Gallipoli in Turkey during the First World War. Dawn services, beer for those who want it and veterans march down the main street. I was going to take a picture of my ANZAC biscuits (translation: cookies), but as usual, they did not turn out. This supposedly easy recipe continues to defeat me. I mean, they're basically oatmeal cookies. So, instead of a pretty photo, I have a poem. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We...

Well, I failed to take Jodie's advice and gave my blog address the name "Provoking Beauty"... So my goal here is to improve my pretty lousy photography, and share something beautiful, be it a picture or thought or (hopefully) a photo of some art I have made. The full quote from Hebrews, which is my "mission statement" if you will, is this: Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.... (Hebrews 10:23-25a) "Ok, so I'm not going to get "all Christian" on you. My goal is to share moments of beauty and art to provoke goodness in the world. I think that is a good thing, whatever your beliefs. I hope this blog is an inspiration, an encouragement, not just to you, but for myself as well. We'll see how often I post ;)