EEEEEEEEPPPP!!!!!!

I can hardly believe it!!!  I have hit another milestone in my artsy journey!!!!  Today, my first ever art exhibition is opening at the Banana Shire Councils Art Gallery in Biloela!!!!  The exhibit will run for the whole month of September.  How cool is that????

I have called my exhibit "My Heart is Full".  And that's exactly how I feel!!  I have a lot of new artwork which I have held back from general viewing so I could surprise you all with what new things I have been exploring.

As many of you who follow me know, I have quite an eclectic and diverse style and can be working on faceless girls one day and charcoal sketches the next.  Well, this exhibit represents exactly that!  And why wouldn't it?  There are so many things in the world to inspire us all, so why stay put in one creative space for too long?

So if you're venturing out West then make sure you pop into the gallery for a visual and soul renewing feast!  If you're not able to make it out there then I will post a slideshow below of all of the artwork I have on show.

I am also having a mini exhibit at the Taroom  Art Show also which runs over one day on the 23rd of September.  All of the artwork is for sale and can be located in my gallery tab at the top of the page.  I have only got a few with "buy now" buttons because I have completely forgotten how to do it and am waiting for some help to remedy it.  However, if in the mean time you would like to purchase any then please post a comment below or message me.

I have to say a massive thankyou to Shanna from the Banana Shire Council for her amazing work and also to Emma Rose, from Emma Rose Art for being kind enough to transport my artwork out to Biloela.

Hi sweet friends! 
Can you believe Whimsy and Me has just turned 3???  Amazing isn't it?

I can hardly believe that my little dream of sharing my artwork with my little town has grown as much as it has and that I have not only shared my artwork with my local friends but with friends across Australia, America, Germany and the UK.

I also run workshops from my studio at home as well as in Biloela.  And we are planning to branch out even further into Emerald and Alpha.  How exciting!!! 

My heart is so full when I think of the humble beginnings my little joyful art business has had and how, with the wonderful support of my husband Stephen and our children as well as my super awesome parents......and of course all of you, we have been able to see so much growth.

My passion for our mission has only increased as I watch the joy my art brings and the beautiful faces of my students as they discover something that is uniquely theirs in my workshops.  I am so truly, truly grateful and humble by this incredible journey.  Thankyou for joining me on the Whimsy train xxxxx

This is just a short slide show of some of the hard work and fun we have at our workshops!  I love the fantastic energy each of these girls brings xx

Hello sweet friends!!!
I'm so excited to announce that with the success of our first Homestead Workshop and of course with the encouragement from you Whimsy and Me will be running our second workshop!

As workshop space is valuable the numbers have to be capped at ten participants.  This not only allows for  plenty of space for you to get all arty and messy but also guarantees you that I can get give all of you some one-on-one attention.

I have already filled seven spaces (woohoo!) which means there are only three spots left up for grabs!!

So if you're considering attending don't waste time in contacting me and paying your deposit so you know you will not miss out!  You can contact me either through my Whimsy and Me facebook page, on email at toni74@live.com.au or on my mobile via text or phone call.  I also have eftpos facilities available for your convenience.

I cannot wait to get all artsy messy with you all xxxx

Wow! I can hardly believe that it was this time two years ago that I made the brave step of sharing my art with the world!  So much has changed in me throughout the process.  So much of my artwork has changed along the way too!  I find myself each month looking at my stall as we set up for the Handmade Expo in Rocky and seeing my progression as an artist and how much I have transformed into my own person.  I love it!

I do have to thank two super special people who have travelled this journey with me and that's my sweet husband Stephen and my mum Laurelle.  They come with me to every Expo and help set up and sell my art.  They are my on scene cheerleaders who make the process a whole lot smoother.  And then there are my home based cheerleaders, my children - Jacob, Bywa, Sariah, Bianca, Isaac, Adam, Hannah and Rebecca and my dad, Michael.  They are so supportive at home and I know I can rely on them to keep the ship afloat when I get snowed under with commissions and Expo preparations and if I get stuck on a canvas I know I can go to them for suggestions.  Dad is my sounding board, my go-to-guy when I need something created or cut or simply just advice.  Dad always comes up with things that I never even thought of.  And lastly, but certainly not the least there are you guys.  My stalwart supporters!  My friends!  Some of you I have known for forever and others I have met along this journey.  Some of you have purchased my artwork and creations and some of you goo over them.

For you all I am so very grateful!  You have all made this journey all the more easier and a whole lot more fun!  You are a blessing to me and I am thankful for you. 

So to celebrate our birthday I have refreshed the blog to better reflect ME!  I am committing myself to posting here more often.  I find I am the worlds biggest procrastinator when it comes to posting and would rather hide in my creative space, but this is no more!  I am determined to be more involved in this side of my business and I know it's only me that can make it happen and that no "non-tech savvy excuse" is good enough.....I have to get educated! Lol!  Having said that, if anyone out there knows how to create a "blinkie" for my blog I would love your help!

Well that's it for me today........but tomorrow I will have an exciting announcement to make.....so watch this space my sweet friends!

Warmly, Toni XX

Hello Friends!!!!  Wow where has the time gone??  I can hardly believe it's been nearly two months since my last post!  So much has happened in that time.

Our family celebrated the arrival of a new nephew.  We said goodbye to basketball and netball for another term.  I have had medical problems come and go and some that just don't want to go!  My husband has had a huge change in his role at work.  Adam got his first job working at KFC.  Hannah is now taller than me!  Now that's never a good sign when your 12 year old daughter becomes taller than you!  Musical is now only 2 weeks away......Isaac and Hannah have not stopped singing around the house since they were selected for roles.  Our oldest son Jacob turns 21 in two weeks as well.  I can't believe how much of a wonderful man he has grown to become!  So, so proud of him! And our oldest daughter Sariah celebrated her 19th birthday and is now venturing out and spreading her wings and discovering new and exciting things!  She is amazing!!!

Stephen and I were also very fortunate to attend a special friends sealing down at the Sydney temple.  This was the first trip away for just the two of us in a while so this made it all the more exciting!

We stayed in Darling Harbour and spent most of our time walking along the harbour and just enjoying the atmosphere and the food.  We were lucky enough to be there while they were celebrating Christmas in July and they had an outdoor ice skating rink, a beautiful snow cave filled with fairy lights and Christmas trees.  I think I looked the part of a wintery wonderland because I was totally freezing my butt off!!! Lol!  I just couldn't get warm even with a scarf and beanie!  But it was a most wonderful time for both of us.

Also, during my blog absence I attended a wonderful scrapbooking/crafting weekend away with my Mum and gorgeous sister in-law Genevieve at our friend Sharon's property in Gogango.  There were I think 18 of us in total.  We had such an amazing time seeing old friends and making new one's.  There's nothing quite like a group of women creating together!

So, knowing what I'm like about playing with new products, Genevieve picked offered to pick up some linen canvas boards that I had eyed off last time I was in Brisbane.  I have to say, I am totally loving the softness of the linen and there's something that makes me all giddy happy about playing with new products!  Colour me crazy I know!!!  Anyway, I am who I am right??

Needless to say, these girls will be going up on my shop page very soon.  But in the mean time if you're interested in purchasing the original just send me an email or post in the comments below.

Well that about wraps this post up my sweet friends!  I promise not to leave it sooooo long between posts and will try and have some more of my work up in the shop very soon.  Until next time, take care xxxx

Hello Friends!!!  I know what you're thinking!  Holy cow....Toni has blogged twice in a week....and even on the same day!!!! Lol!

Well it would be totally remiss of me to not share with you that our baby girl Rebecca has just turned 9!  I can hardly believe it myself!  You see, Rebecca was kind of our miracle baby.  Stephen and I were told while trying to fall pregnant with our fifth child, Hannah, that we wouldn't be able to have anymore.  And despite planning for 6 children we resolved ourselves to this news and were content in feeling blessed with the five beautiful children that God had entrusted us with.

Fast-forward three years later.  We were purchasing a new car and were debating between a seven or eight seater and Steve jokingly said "we'll get the eight seater hun....just incase we have any accidents." I held his hand, looked him square in the eyes and reassured him the doctors said there would be no more babies....we bought the eight seater!  Shortly after we went on a family holiday down to the Gold Coast and on the return drive Steve and I were talking and made plans (my decision to do something for myself) for me to get a personal trainer and try and get myself back to my usual size.  Two weeks after we returned home I noticed I was feeling a little bloated in my lower abdomen, so, feeling rather foolish I went to the doctor......I was pregnant!!! 

No don't get me wrong....I was excited.....but man it took a lot to undo my brain from thinking we couldn't have anymore, and accepting it....to then tell myself it was possible all along!  I have learnt that things happen not in our time but in the Lords time.  I know there are no mistakes.....I know our beautiful girl was sent to us to bless and enrich our family.....and she fulfils this every single day.

So I say thank my Heavenly Father for the past 9 years of an ongoing blessing....and I thank my Rebecca Mary (aka BooBoo) for being such an important part of our lives.

Hug your children.....tell them you love them, over and over again...they can never hear it enough!!!!

Peace and love xxx

Hello friends!!!! Wow what a busy week I have had!  Last weekend was a long four day weekend for us which presented an opportunity to sneak off for some much needed "MË time".  I was invited to spend the weekend with other like-minded creative women who also enjoy scrapbooking.  And whilst I didn't do one shred of scrapping I did get busy making some canvases.  This is something I hadn't done for several weeks due to lack of motivation and focus.  It seemed that every time I would feel the urge to venture into my studio I would just end up sitting there for a while and just stare blankly at my supplies, then feeling disgruntled I'd leave the studio and plonk myself back onto the lounge and continue to flick through sites on my IPad.  Very depressing for me I must say!  I like to feel productive. I like to be able to show Stephen what I have achieved for the day.....but it seems that at the moment I have to be happy with just getting through the day!  Hhhhhhhmmmmmmm.....life keeps moving forward and so must I.

So with all this time, I got to thinking.  Some of my fondest childhood memories are me at dance classes and performance's, playing netball and hockey.  Although the activity was enjoyable what I loved most about it all was seeing my Mum and Dad on the sideline.  I remember looking over at them after scoring a goal or at the end of a performance and feeling my chest fill as though they were injecting me with the pride and love they felt for me in that moment......these are the emotions that we carry with us into adulthood......these are the same feelings I want to instil in our children.

This week marked the last week of the netball season for Hannah (pictured first on the left) and her team.  This is the first season that Hannah has ever played.....she never missed a game.....I never missed a game.  And on their last game......the family didn't miss the game!

I can't begin to describe what it was like to watch Hannah play on the same courts I played on at her age.....to watch her learn to play the game as she played.....her skills developed quickly and she became a valuable member of a team of beautiful girls.....and all while I sat eagerly glued to her on the court, calling out instructions and encouragement......all the while feeling my chest swell with pride and hoping she too would feel what I felt.  And while they didn't make it into the finals.  In fact they only won one game.  These girls had the time of their lives on the court every week!  I am so very proud of Hannah.....and her team!

This week also marked the semi-finals for Isaac's senior A-grade basketball team.  Isaac is the bearded young man on the far left.  And much to the boys excitement they have made it through to the grand finals in two weeks time!!!  I can't tell you how excited Isaac is to be a part of such a great team of boys!

This is Isaac's second season of basketball.  Crazy I know considering he's 6'6" and wearing size 16US shoes....the kid was built for basketball.  But until he hit grade 11, despite all our previous encouragement he was not interested in playing. INSANE I know!!!!  Now he can't get enough of it.  So our plan is to get him into club basketball next season as he is currently in the school musical "Treasure Island" and playing the role of Billy Bones as well as the Bearded Lady.....hence the beard. 

I have made it to every game but one.....I have loved watching Isaac play and develop.  I have watched his frustration when he gets pulled up on fouls....I have watched the elated expression on his face when he finally manages to score a basket after a few attempts.....I am usually the most vocal person at their games!  Lol!

On one occasion several of the boys from their school sat in and watched a game.  I witnessed these boys mocking some of the team.  Isaac overheard one of the boys commenting on Isaac's inability to get a basket....I watched Isaac blow the comment off.....he then went on to score twice.  Can I just tell you......despite the points gained, these comments still haunt Isaac.  I have watched him pass the ball off so many times since instead of taking the chance and shooting.....I see that comment weigh on him.  We have had numerous discussions about this.....he is my softy....he is not infallible......his height doesn't give him and instant advantage.....he has to believe in himself first.

Win or loose....I will be his biggest fan......I will never stop believing in him.....I will continue to cheer the loudest from the sideline....for I know that it isn't about winning or loosing the game, it's about what is in your heart, that you speak with your mouth that will have the biggest impact on the long term outcome of a person.

Peace and love to you all my friends xxx