Decorating

I've been quite obsessed with decorating books and magazines lately. And so a country style subscription and many decorating books later, I am needing some kind of outlet for my love of decorating as I currently have no space or money to 're-do' anything myself. I am making a folio. Back to my lovely years in the high school art room, cutting, pasting, sketching, water colouring, and sobbing. Fun!
I actually got the idea from a gorgeous home decorating book I bought the other day, Shannon Fricke's 'How to Decorate'.I am absolutely in love with it, it has style, balance, and gives a really good idea of how to turn your ideas into realities (big cliche I know, but it is true).
So off I go on my decorating frenzy I suppose.

Painting

I've been painting again recently and it's making me quite incredibly happy.

Book shopping...

I went to Lorne for two nights at the end of my

family's holiday there. There's a gorgeous little second-hand bookshop there that I absolutely adore. They have a brilliant selection and don't overcharge- you get the best of both worlds! I picked up a copy of The Professor by Charlotte Bronte which I haven't read before but which cover I just couldn't resist. Homer's The Odyssey which I've been meaning to read for the better part of two years, The Q.I book of General Ignorance which, as Q.I books tend to do, will make for some interesting reading. I also picked up a copt of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, a story of which that was adapted into a film I studied in

my first year at Uni and that I've been wanting to read ever since. Thomas Hardy's A Pair of Blue Eyes was one that I hadn't heard of, probably on the account of it being one of his earliest novels but which looks interesting all the same. I've never read A Series of Unfortunate Events and so I thought I'd finally begin with the first book in the series. I also found two cute inspirational books for writers and artists which I hope will soon begin 'speaking to my soul'! I also found Lawrence's Lady Chattterley's Lover which I'm looking forward to reading. Ever since reading The Virgin and the Gypsie a few weeks ago I've become quite interested in Lawrence again (I suppose I'm recovered from studying his work in year 12). My last find was a book of John Lennon's stories and sketches which I'm ecstatic about, being a massive Lennon fan and all.
All in all, a lovely book-buying trip!

      

Perfect summer setup.

Summer reading.

Summer holidays are the best time to get some reading done. I've recently finished D.H Lawrence's 'The Virgin and the Gipsy' which was brilliant. Lawrence has an expert way of expressing underlying thoughts and feelings common to all human beings without being too general. I've now begun Terry Pratchett's 'Hogfather' as I watched the tv-movie adaption last week. I'm only 20 pages or so in but again- brilliant.
But for some bedtime lazy reading, I'm going with the new issue of 'Country Style', so many pretty Christmas themes.

A small sketch I did by the creek in Bright today.

Bright

The glorious view from our cabin verandah. We can hear the creek rushing by as we fall asleep. It's been far too long since I've been here.