Dare to Dream

my little space

2012-01-24T14:56:00.000+10:00

beautiful jeanne oliver aprons that Kirstie and I wore on Christmas day, ceramic tags, vintage ribbon etc

fun art supplies to play with :)

memory board changing all the time....

paper balls, paper bunting, new Jeanne Oliver stock....

Just about to go and do a little baking as it is one of those sorts of days but I was cleaning up my atelier so I thought I would take a few pics... Happy creating, enjoying an art course, doing a little paper work all the fun things I get up to in here......:)

A little clean up and move around ....."the kitchen"

2012-01-15T20:39:00.002+10:00

Just having a bit of a clean up and play around in my kitchen.....The timber makes it quiet dark but it does have a lot of character.... I have a large blackboard that I put different quotes or sometimes recipes on....

and I moved our large stainless steel refrigerator so the other photo is the nook that was left and has my bread maker, flours etc.... Beautiful Sunday lunch at one of our favourite coffee shops with my gorgeous family and Kirstie's lovely young man David.....

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home.

The light is what guides you home, the warmth is what keeps you there.

Daydreaming about the beach......

2012-01-08T13:47:00.001+10:00

Every time I return to the coast I feel a little bit more at peace...I am not sure whether this is a very familiar place from my childhood of day trips to the coast with my family but there is a deep connection.... Where we stayed at Christmas I would walk about 5 km to this corner of the beach to watch all the surfers looking so free on their boards....This is definitely my happy place .......

doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness......

Happy New Year - home again :)

2012-01-02T23:25:00.002+10:00

Just home from a truly beautiful 10 days at the coast celebrating Christmas on the beach with my family... Our days were spent walking, riding our bikes, swimming and spending time taking day trips to some of my favourite places.... Kirstie had time to spend with the gorgeous young man in her life and his family as well....

Our magical family farm where I grew up has been for sale for a couple of years now so we thought we would take the hour drive from where we were staying and show David our little piece of paradise...So many cherished memories ...We got a chance to visit my favourite neighbours for lots of hugs and kisses....

I must say it has been a truly lovely way to end 2011 and I can't wait for every moment of 2012....

Last post for the year....

2011-12-23T19:35:00.000+10:00

Slowly packing up ready to head to the coast tomorrow for a wonderful break... Long walks on the beach, riding our bikes, swimming and eating yummy food...This photo was taken at the Christmas markets in Verona last December...I loved this city so much.... So many wonderful families out enjoying each others company...I will enjoy every second with my beautiful little family this Christmas... Thank you to all of you out there for a wonderful year in blog land...I hope you have a truly blessed Christmas and a magical new year....

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas .......

2011-12-09T20:19:00.001+10:00

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Just finishing off my last order for the year....Quiet a nice feeling :) so I thought I would take a few photos this afternoon.... We are heading to the coast for 9 nights over Christmas/New Year break so my extremely exhausted hubby can have a proper break...

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. ~Augusta E. Rundel

Twelve years have gone by......

2011-12-07T11:30:00.001+10:00

A little plaque for my dad on his favourite tree at the family farm

I awoke this morning to the beautiful sound of rain on my tin roof....I lay in bed and thought about my gorgeous dad that passed away 12 years ago today... Andrew was just waking up so I jumped into bed with him and I told him how proud his pop would have been of him, of his achievements and of how this lovely boy treated his mamma.....I lay with Andrew for a long while and we talked about the wonderful man my dad was... He lived a very simple life and his greatest love and joy was his family, I was the youngest of 5 children and he was one of those men that would tell you how beautiful you were every day, he was never ashamed to cry over a movie and tell you how much he loved you... He went to school till he was only 12 and then worked on the family farm till his mum passed away when he was only 15...he then moved away and worked in the mines for over 10 years and then came home and married my mum.... They adored each other and still looked at each other like they had just fallen in love for the first time after 49 years of marriage... When my dad was very, very ill and we had all came home to see him, he talked to us all and cuddled us and said he never ever wanted to leave any of us because we were his greatest joy of his life...

I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart. ~Terri Guillemets

Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever. ~Author Unknown

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

1st December 2011

2011-12-01T19:28:00.001+10:00

Today was a day of listening to lovely Christmas music, visiting a new kitchen ware shop that we all hope to go to for cooking lessons in 2012.... Baking yummy cookies and making marshmallows with raspberry coolie through them.... We all wore red either in a scarf or Andrew had a red shirt on and we smiled at the joy of being together... Missing europe so much this year on the run into Christmas. At this time last year we were staying at a chateau in north eastern France...and playing in the snow....Visiting europe changed me forever... Even though sitting in my studio right now listening to the rain on the tin roof of my little cottage is pretty special too.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

my children....

2011-11-27T16:53:00.001+10:00

My little girl got her P's this week...Sorry not a great photo but only had her mobile phone at the time.... We have a new little white Mazda 3 hatch that will be hers in a years time at the moment she will share it with us...Both my beautiful children are home with me now, school and uni are finished for the year...They both should be extremely proud of themselves, they have worked so very hard....Just trying to finish up my orders and I will take about a month off work to enjoy them and be refreshed for loads more creating in 2012...

Famille day :)

2011-11-07T07:31:00.000+10:00

What a lovely day with my beautiful family.....

Firstly, a beautiful little french patisserie in Brisbane, organic raspberry and apple juice and pastries to share...and some yummy macarons in all different flavours to bring home... Then the boys dropped Kirstie and I off at the Finders Keepers markets while they did a little shopping. Wonderful hand made goods from extremely talented artists...Bought a couple of Christmas presents and browsed for a couple of hours and then off to Ikea to pick up a couple of big photo frames Kirstie wanted for her room.......

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

Help for a friend PLEASE....

2011-11-03T11:55:00.000+10:00

My dear friend Leanne from Tassie just bought this house and HATES the colours....She was wondering if my blogging friends had any ideas for her..... ?????? It is a 1920's Californian Bungalow....

2011-11-01T17:41:00.001+10:00

Well tomorrow will be our 20 year anniversary.... Geoff and I have known each other since we were 15... He was one of those boys that would drive you insane but he become one of my closest friends...He had liked me for 3 years but I didn't want to cross the line of friendship and boyfriend... One day while visiting me at the farm we were mucking around chasing each other around his car and we kissed and the rest as they say is history...(even though its a bit of a running joke because he thinks I kissed him and I think he kissed me) We dated for 7 years before we married.... He still drives me a little crazy but I wouldn't change him for the world....

Look into my eyes - you will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart - search your soul

And when you find me there you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for

You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for

You know it's true

Everything I do - I do it for you

Look into your heart - you will find

There's nothin' there to hide

Take me as I am - take my life

I would give it all - I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for

I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more

Ya know it's true

Everything I do - I do it for you

There's no love - like your love

And no other - could give more love

There's nowhere - unless you're there

All the time - all the way

Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for

I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more

I would fight for you - I'd lie for you

Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you

this song we had at our wedding and it says it all.... we have definitely had our ups and downs but love is worth it...

Inspiration - quotes, sayings and my childhood...

2011-10-24T14:21:00.000+10:00

We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.
Louisa May Alcott

I have been slowly starting to get back into the swing of creating and just enjoying....Trying not to take on too much so I can use more creativity rather then feeling like I am mass producing... My latest inspiration for charms are some of my favourite books or quotes from my favourite books.... Especially classics from my childhood.....

I still wish the world would slow down just a little so everything didn't seem so urgent and have to be done yesterday.... I remember as a little girl growing up on a small dairy farm and just sitting for hours watching the cows or playing with my piglets in their pen. The beautiful days of lush green grass against the picture perfect blue skies and waiting patiently for an easterly breeze to sweep through from the ocean after a scorching hot day....

My sweet little girl is going through so much change in her life at the moment...and she is trying to think of all these things she should be doing and I said you just need to breath for a little while....

Have a lovely week :)

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.

Hope is a waking dream.

Aristotle

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
Mother Teresa

Pretty Packaging

2011-10-13T18:14:00.000+10:00

Well my friends I spent a lovely afternoon cleaning charms on there way to Norway.... I LOVE packaging!!!! I love to make people feel like they are getting a present rather then an order :)...I love the simplicity of white crisp paper ( I am actually using some Australian 100% recycled at the moment - really lovely) or plain kraft... My colour palette is soft grey, brown, white, linen and black....

Kirstie is doing her first prac with toddlers and has nearly finished her first week and is just loving it...so nice to watch as a mummy.... She only has 2 weeks left of uni and then her first year is over....

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”

“You may tire of reality but you never tire of dreams.”

“There is such a place as fairyland - but only children can find the way to it. And they do not know that it is fairyland until they have grown so old that they forget the way. One bitter day, when they seek it and cannot find it, they realize what they have lost; and that is the tragedy of life. On that day the gates of Eden are shut behind them and the age of gold is over. Henceforth they must dwell in the common light of common day. Only a few, who remain children at heart, can ever find that fair, lost path again; and blessed are they above mortals. They, and only they, can bring us tidings from that dear country where we once sojourned and from which we must evermore be exiles. The world calls them its singers and poets and artists and story-tellers; but they are just people who have never forgotten the way to fairyland.”

words from ― L.M. Montgomery (one of Kirstie's favourite authors)

Dreaming.....

2011-10-07T12:16:00.000+10:00

At the Christmas markets in Roma last December......

It has been a year of change, a year of indecisiveness on my part...Not knowing exactly what I want to do in my creative pursuits...Being home again in the little cottage where my dreams come alive....and come true.....Watching my babies grow into adults....Sharing their hopes and dreams and sometimes their sadness... When opportunity knocks do you just grab it by the throat and run with it or do you sit down and think and prioritise... ?????? What do you think?????

Nature

2011-09-28T21:54:00.000+10:00

Driving home the other afternoon at about 4 the sky was just so incredibly pretty...This is a strange sort of sunset (yes this is the sun not the moon) caused by loads of smoke haze.....Nature never ceases to amaze me......

my girl

2011-09-23T22:21:00.003+10:00

Precious moments in time..... Earlier this week Kirstie spent a lovely couple of hours in the kitchen baking some extremely yummy red velvet cupcakes....She loved every minute of it and it was so lovely to see that beautiful smile of hers...This year has been a bit of a struggle for her....I think sometimes it is just too much on her plate and not being able to just enjoy moments like this... She leaves on a 7 day cruise tomorrow so I am missing her already :) and she hasn't even left....I know she will have an amazing time......

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”

-- Anatole France

Happy Birthday my beautiful boy !!!

2011-09-20T21:50:00.000+10:00

What a lovely day!!!! My little boy turned 15 .... We had a yummy breakfast out, did a little shopping and went to the movies (they are both on Spring break)... Kirstie made some absolutely gorgeous little red velvet cheesecakes and wow they were good.... Lots of laughs, hugs and chatting....a perfect day!!!

carnival time - so pretty

2011-09-16T11:20:00.000+10:00

Had to go and do a few errands in Toowoomba a couple of days ago so decided to take my little camera...Carnival of Flowers has started and all the parks look so pretty....Yesterday Kirstie and I took a sandwich and sat in the beautiful sun in the park and I did a little paper work while Kirstie finished off a uni assignment... Still not feeling 100%......but this beautiful sunny weather definitely puts a smile on my face....

playing around.....

2011-09-07T12:21:00.000+10:00

Still having a lot of trouble getting over this flu (barky cough, headaches and lack of voice which my hubby is probably happy about :) which makes it near then impossible to solder, concentration level is zip. So I have packaged up several orders this morning and now just making some notes about things I want to do etc with the weeks and months ahead.... I love this combination of zinc and glass (this will be a new line very soon)....Everyone needs to go over and read Vicki Archer's post today....so truly beautiful it is beyond words....Here is couple of gorgeous sayings from William Ellery Channing......

"We look forward to the time when the power to love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace."

“No one should part with their individuality and become that of another.”

“Beauty is an all-pervading presence. It unfolds to the numberless flowers of the Spring; it waves in the branches of the trees and in the green blades of grass; it haunts the depths of the earth and the sea, and gleams out in the hues of the shell and the precious stone. And not only these minute objects, but the ocean, the mountains, the clouds, the heavens, the stars, the rising and the setting sun all overflow with beauty. The universe is its temple; and those people who are alive to it can not lift their eyes without feeling themselves encompassed with it on every side.”

Spring

2011-09-03T17:22:00.004+10:00

On the last day of winter a nasty bout of the flu hit me....After 3 days of fevers, no voice, runny nose, barky cough and aching like I have never had before, I decided the best way to cheer myself up was to take some pretty photos..... I hope you like them....

On my mind.....

2011-08-30T17:33:00.005+10:00

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar" - helen keller.

"One should never count the years -- one should instead count one's interests. I have kept young trying never to lose my childhood sense of wonderment. I'm glad I still have a vivid curiosity about the world I live in." - helen keller

This beautiful old building has been in my thoughts a lot lately......:)

Give Away on my Atelier Blog :)

2011-08-26T10:53:00.003+10:00

Sitting here this morning after a week of bad headaches (even though I did get some Christmas designing down YAY!!!!!), so I thought I would have a give away over at Cathy Penton Atelier...so please go and take a look :)..... I took my darlin boy to school yesterday to finalise his senior subjects for next year....english, german, maths B, Maths C, Chemistry and Physics....WOW!!! is all I can say..... glad it is him and not me.... so we talked about the trip we will do as a family when he finishes and he wants to go to Germany and back to PARIS ..... He is a gorgeous young man and I am extremely blessed....Have a wonderful Friday and may your weekend be filled with happiness and flowers......

Sunshine on a winters day :)

2011-08-22T14:15:00.006+10:00

Oh sometimes I am just the luckiest person alive opening up new boxes of stock from wonderful and creative people from all over the world.... and I love packaging and it was so divine !!!!So then I created this little area in the corner of my studio room.... and it felt like sunshine on a winters day.... I know I am not really a colour person but after a reasonably cold winter some bright vintage yellow just makes you smile ........ then the textures of old books, just marvelous...

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. ~John Burroughs

Chair take 2 :)

2011-08-17T07:37:00.006+10:00

So had a little bit of a play with my chair yesterday afternoon.....What do you think???? It was definitely fun..... :)

a new week :)

2011-08-15T11:25:00.005+10:00

A bit of a random post this morning.... So many exciting things running through my head today but definitely not enough hours in the day, 3 1/2 hours in the car on a Monday with both my beautiful kids :) I think that everyone that has known me through this blog knows that packaging is very high on my list of priorities having a mail-order business (making it as special as I can for the person that receives it)... So I have started to make little linen bags, made of vintage linens for some of my treats to be shipped in....this one is heading into NSW's with a clock charm necklace in it.... Second image is just a random going into Spring photo...there was just something about the photo I liked and the 3rd photo is of one of my Nan's old chairs that has been in the shed for years and I thought I would show you before its make over, don't tell my hubby but with a paint brush in hand it may fit a little better in my studio :) Please drop by and say hi and tell me what you have been up to ........

To those who can dream, there is no such place as far away........

A wonderful day

2011-08-14T10:16:00.009+10:00

Well my dear friends it has been a wonderful week, to be honest I am feeling a little melancholy this morning....but I know she has enjoyed every single moment so that is all that is important... She has so many adventures ahead for her and I can't wait to see what the future has in store .... I finished her book and wrote sayings all through it.....

Listen to your song. Somewhere deep within you is a song that plays softly always. A song you can hear only if you are very quiet and very still..... A song of life and dreams and wisdom... A call to adventure on a path thats uniquely yours.... Take time to listen to the song of your soul and see where it leads.....(I love this one)

Actually need to get some work done this week.... :)

Day 4 :)

2011-08-11T17:20:00.004+10:00

DAY 4... 6.07 am only one more sleep my pretty girl.... Today was sort of about another tradition, always have something new and pretty to wear on your birthday so a little gift voucher from her favourite shop... Tomorrow we will probably get up early as she will want to talk to her boy before he heads off to work (he is away on prac for nursing at the moment and starts at 7 )... She wants pancakes, strawberries and golden syrup for brekkie.... then off for a little shopping and a coffee from coffee, tea and me...Then we will pick up some balloons for the party and her cake (I don't usually get a cake made but they used to have what she calls a celebration cake at school so we ordered one of those lol).... then lunch at the chocolate cottage and a quiet afternoon and then out to tea at 5.30 to a nice little restaurant cafe with her friends... Being a mum is a blessing and I am a truly Blessed mummy !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 3 :)

2011-08-10T09:24:00.003+10:00

Day 3 .. 8.12 am (has uni later today) wake my lovely one and tell her only 2 more sleeps :) she looks at the present and has no idea....Today I wanted to read her the little tag - title DREAM....Since you were 5 years old you knew you wanted to be a teacher, to make a difference to inspire... This dream is becoming a reality. Just something little to help with this journey. Your mentor helped me choose them....I am so proud of you .....xxxx.... so I bought her some little books (Jenni Hill her mentor and inspiration said they were some of her favourites for reading to the little ones) to have when she starts teaching... and one especially for her called Guess How Much I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Day 2 :)

2011-08-09T12:37:00.002+10:00

Day 2.. 6.12 am (running a little late this morning) good morning gorgeous only 3 sleeps to go..... Present in hand....Tag said to my beautiful girl, something to keep the tradition of turning 18 alive :).... I was one of 5 children, 3 girls and when we turned 18, each of us received a gorgeous birthstone ring to symbolise our special day....so I love traditions so I searched the internet for a lovely simple birth stone ring...Found one with a sweet designer in the uk.....she loved it...:)

Day 1 :)

2011-08-08T08:43:00.005+10:00

Day 1: 5.55 am wake Kirstie tell her there is only 4 sleeps :)....and she giggles under the covers...First little gift has a clue, she looks very puzzled.....the tag says.... to the most gorgeous daughter in the world..... so many memories but this is one I think will always be ours....xxxx

She knew it was a CD of some description..... Gilmore Girls has always been our series (as it probably is for a lot of mothers and daughters)... We watched it on Tv and then we have bought the 7 seasons and watched them at least 7 times but really I think we lost count.... We have watched through sad and happy times but it is our cuddle up in bed show..... I bought her the soundtrack and we played it loud on the way to uni this morning...... She will get her car in the next few weeks so I thought if fitting that it would be her first CD...... Sun is shining again in my little cottage this morning....house work and doing some more of Kirstie's album and picking her up from uni..... gosh I am a lucky mum .............

my sweet girl...

2011-08-06T22:49:00.007+10:00

I have been playing with photos all afternoon, trying to get some together to make one of the special treats for my girl this week... a bit of a life this far type of book with blank pages at the end for the rest of her journey.... Lovely sayings, quotes and photos... The first 2 images she was only one day old... The last image is my gorgeous mum in the park with baby andrew and Kirstie.... Kirstie loves polaroids so I have made all the photos into Polaroids and have put them into a black leather photo album I bought in Italy last year.... I am also working on a cooking journal with recipes from her great nan and nan and ones she and I make.... I must admit I have had a few happy tears while doing this....I can't believe she will be 18....

only a week till her big day .....

2011-08-05T21:58:00.002+10:00

Dropped into to see my gorgeous 17 year old daughter at her work today with a lovely bunch of flowers... You see it is her 18th birthday next Friday so we start celebrating early in my house...I have a bit of tradition of buying them a combination of the numbers in their age...so this year Kirstie gets 9 little bits....The surprises will start early Monday morning and she will get the remainder of her surprises by Friday :).....She is finding uni pretty hard and then working two full days a week she is a busy little trouper.....I have always told both my children, they are my dreams come true and she definitely is......

Cathy Penton Atelier - my website....the beginnings

2011-08-02T13:37:00.003+10:00

Well my dear friends, I have been playing with a web site for a little while now....It is by no means exactly how I want it yet but I thought I would give you all a look....You can find it at http://www.wix.com/cathypenton/cathypentonatelier.... Would love any feedback you can give me.... Now I have toyed with the idea of having a shopping cart but for me I love communicating with my customers and a shopping cart sort of feels a little impersonal....So you can write to me on my order form and we can go from there... Spending a fair bit of time on mummy duties at the moment (loads of driving to and fro), but I think you all know that is the way I like it. Big plans ahead for my business, and just need to work out how to juggle things a little better..... I just loved this photo so I thought I would share... Beautiful wine corks from europe a beautiful reminder of family at the table, on a vineyard in Provence.....

my mentor....my inspiration... my friend...

2011-07-25T20:11:00.005+10:00

In 2006, I was extremely lucky to meet someone (via email) that changed my life!!!! I saw this amazing shop in an issue of American Romantic Homes magazine and I felt compelled to email the owner to tell her how beautiful it was..... She emailed me back and we started to chat about our lives and loves.... She was contributing writer, photographer and stylist and asked me whether I would create some of my charms for a valentine's article she was doing... I only had a few short days but I was so excited and the images above were in the 2007 February edition of Romantic Homes magazine....Elizabeth believed in me and I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have such an amazing opportunity... More importantly I had met a lovely and truly remarkable woman who had touched my heart ....Since then we have kept in contact and we have shared our up and downs....I am extremely excited because I may get the opportunity to meet her in the new year and it will be a dream come true..... Please drop by her blog adventures of elizabeth and be inspired !!!!!!!!!!!!!

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

Kirstie's new jewellery

2011-07-22T20:38:00.005+10:00

Kirstie has created a limited edition range of penny necklaces....

dedicated to a beautiful love story....

When my mum (kirstie's nan) was only 2 years old my dad who was 10 at the time told my nan I am going to marry your daughter one day...20 years later the dream came true. After nearly 50 year of marriage they were still holding hands and looking into each others eyes it was a true love story...

Kirstie has found a 1920 and a 1928 penny and joined them as a symbol of this love...Each necklace comes in a gorgeous little linen bag. Email me if you are interested...

My friend Claire

2011-07-19T14:53:00.003+10:00

Sometimes you are lucky in life to meet someone that you instantly connect with... Three years ago I was blessed to have an article written for Country Style magazine by a beautiful and talented girl... She came into our home with her tiny baby girl and her mum and sat and chatted to us like she had known us forever, I felt an immediate connection with her... We have kept in contact and recently she came for a visit again and it was the nicest afternoon I have spent in such a long time...She has just started her own blog and I just wanted to let you know so you could drop by and say hello to her.....Her blog is lettersfromthecountry.blogspot.com

a moment in time.....

2011-07-06T14:50:00.001+10:00

Cherished moments in time.... Had a bit of a hard week last week so decided to head to the coast to have a couple of days as a family....I always feel my heart is a little happier when I put my feet into the ocean... Only just over a month till my baby girl turns 18....quiet unbelievable really...and look how tall my little 14 year old is....They are and always will be the twinkle in my eyes....

"All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust."

— J.M. Barrie

playing with photos

2011-06-24T21:23:00.000+10:00

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran

Well another week has flown by, still getting over this nasty flu .....When I am at home more my house is like a canvas that I just want to change and explore...Still organising and constantly rethinking my studio....Now that I have my new laptop, I can sit by the fire which is nice and play with photos...The first image is little drawers from my grandmothers old dressing table that was in peices and I like the quirkiness of how I have put them on the wall.....Gorgeous black letters waiting to be made into jewellery....little french pastry tins to store things in and so much more...

FLU!!!!

2011-06-18T22:13:00.001+10:00

Andrew and I have both been suffering from a terrible flu....Barking like a dog and waking every morning to an extremely sore chest, aching all over and head aches...I am not very good at lying around but my hubby was home today and did a grocery shop, made me some potato and leek soup and I did some computer work and not a lot else.... When I feel like this I look back through our photos to share a bit more of our wonderful trip.... I am really having mixed feelings at the moment of what to move forward with as I am having lots of wonderful little opportunities coming my way but I love the freedom of being home and just being me... I hope you all had a wonderful week...Drop by and tell me what you have been up to....

a little chilly....

2011-06-10T14:28:00.001+10:00

The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination. ~Terri Guillemets

Oh I love going back through the photos of our trip....So many memories etched in my heart.. Isn't this chateau so very pretty. My lovely hubby surprised us with a night here and like typical children (all of us that is) the next morning after a gorgeous brekky we went and played in the snow...It was the best sort of morning... The last couple of days have been very chilly here, yesterday it definitely felt like snow, unfortunately it doesn't snow here so I sat and started to play with my new shop blog...Go and have a look and tell me what you think....It is cathypentonatelier.blogspot.com would love to hear your thoughts.....

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~Edith Sitwell

Blessings

2011-06-05T12:12:00.015+10:00

Sometimes I feel just so lucky to be in the presence of some of the most talented and beautiful people. When considering what I wanted for my new on-line shop my dear friend Sara from Sadie Olive was top of my list so I emailed her and as always she was so gorgeous and generous with her time and printed off 6 of her prettiest photos for a new range of postcards just for me... I will be selling them in packs of 5 for $12 + postage. I am also working on a beautiful range of charms using some of Sara's lovely images which I am so excited about and will be released soon I hope... Sara inspires me with her beautiful eye for detail, her love of her family and friends and doing what she loves..... I hope all her dreams come true :)

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.

May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.

May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.

And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

~Irish Blessing

My beautiful mum and my shop opening....

2011-05-29T09:34:00.006+10:00

Happy Birthday mum, you are my sunshine and my stars and moon....
You taught me so much about love, patience and seeing the best in people... You had a great love for children, and your children...You never yelled, you never swore, you never drank alcohol and you made each and every person that came into your life feel special... You loved to bake and make birthday cakes, you loved animals, you loved the little details of life. You never went on a plane or traveled to foreign countries but you loved even the smallest adventures...I know you would be missing us terribly but you are in heaven holding dads hand now....

.....so I know I said I was going to open my new shop blog today....but it is too soon...I am not ready yet....still sorting out all my new adventures, spending time with the ones I love most and just being me.... soon I promise...

.... and the winners are.....

2011-05-29T09:26:00.002+10:00

Lynn - Sea Angels and Karla Rohde - will be in contact soon to get your details :).....Congratulations and thank you to every one for taking the time to drop by...

the beginning of my new business ...and giveaway

2011-05-19T12:01:00.011+10:00

Well while having a shower this morning I decided May 29th (my beautiful mum's birthday) sounded like a wonderful day to open my new blog Cathy Penton Atelier...and to celebrate this I think I should have a giveaway... While in my little retail shop I always loved putting little treats into the bags of my dear customers. So here is a bit of a treat to all my dear blogging friends and customers out there...All you need to do is answer 2 questions.... When you think of me....what is the first thing that comes to mind??? and what is your favourite word or quote???? I will give away 2 prizes...1 for my Australian friends and one for my overseas friends...The prize will include a beautiful magazine (and I promise I will make sure it is one you haven't got) and a surprise from my new range... Giveaway closes May 28th......Please drop by!! I can't wait to hear from you....

Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. ~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts. ~Charles Dickens

In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet. ~Albert Schweitzer

Another week has flown by......

2011-05-14T06:57:00.011+10:00

Mother's Day was so beautiful, going to the little local markets, having some morning tea with my boys at the place where Kirstie was working so we were all together.... Home for a relaxing day and then off to the movies with Kirstie in the evening. Magical !!!! I am so lucky to finally feel like me again, some decisions are hard but wow do they have benefits. What am I up to you might ask???? Designing and journaling about my new kitchen, taking photos, spending time just being a mum, baking, playing with a new web site and really trying to clean and get organised and maybe a bit of ordering :)....In photos from my studio you would have seen a gorgeous white chest of drawers well this week I found out it had active borers in it so I have replaced it with this lovely black metal set....What do you think????? Just gave it a quick lick of black chalkboard paint and put some words that inspire me on the drawer tabs...

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. ~e.e. cummings

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. ~Confucius

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T18:27:00.004+10:00

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden
- Claudia Ghandi
My mum is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune
- Gracie Harmon
Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible - Marion Garretty

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful mum's in my life and to my mum in heaven.....

My studio

2011-05-06T14:55:00.008+10:00

Oh I love taking photos..... So what do you think of the floor???? You will have to go back through the archives and find a before... It was originally an old verandah and over the years someone made it into a tiny sun room so its pretty rough and definitely not perfect but I LOVE IT !!! A friend sent me this saying this morning......

{To be a star you must shine your own light, follow your own path and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the star shine brightest....}

New Beginnings Part 3

2011-05-01T13:06:00.004+10:00

Well it has definitely been an interesting week.....This transition time is well how should I put it, a little hard.......but I finally painted my little studio rooms floor and it looks oh so amazing...I love it, will post some photos soon as my camera isn't working....It is a beautiful, sunny autumn Sunday in my little cottage...My hubby is having a nap on the lounge, Andrew and I just finished a game of up-words (which as always he won) and Kirstie is watching her boy play soccer.... I sort of feel like I am on this plateau, eager to climb but still a little afraid to fall ....

Anna Hoxie

The past is like a river flowing out of sight; the future is an ocean filled with opportunity and delight.

oh Verona -a perfect moment in time.....

New Beginnings Part 2

2011-04-24T20:58:00.003+10:00

Well I thought I'd better drop by and tell you that today was my last day in my little shop... It was beautiful there in the land of white and I will miss it very much but I really needed to be home again, back to my family, back to creating, back to my cottage to rearrange the furniture recklessly and back to blog land :).....I have missed you all... I am a little sad but I am also excited about the future and whatever it may hold...I took this photo in regional France last year - oh so pretty ....

Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.

lunch on good friday :)

2011-04-22T14:52:00.005+10:00

Well just a few photos from our lunch table today... Kirstie and Geoff just absolutely love prawns...so prawns, fish in my hubby's special way, my mum's favourite vegetable rice, salt and pepper baked potatoes and salad and sparkling apple cider.......Yummy!!!! must be nap time now :)

Happy Easter

2011-04-22T07:23:00.003+10:00

What a glorious, picture perfect morning here in my little cottage...Everyone is still sleeping....Just wanted to drop by and say happy easter to you all.....

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.....

New Beginnings Part 1

2011-04-15T21:46:00.003+10:00

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Saying goodbye isn't easy........new beginnings......la dolce vita "the sweet life"

The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.

Oh how she has grown

2011-03-02T08:11:00.005+10:00

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.
Napoleon Hill

Kirstie has wanted to be a teacher since she was 5 and has had so many people tell her she has so many other options and that teaching little ones is such a hard job.... People are funny aren't they, do they really know what is in her heart!!!!....Her mummy has always encouraged her to do whatever makes her heart sing, whatever could make a little difference to her life and the lives of others. I know people think that I am an idealist and I sometimes don't live in the real world....but this is how my parents raised me and I turned out ok !!!!

If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance." Abraham Lincoln

"Every new day begins with possibilities." Ronald Reagan

London Baby Part 2

2011-02-09T13:29:00.005+10:00

Slowly going through all the photos :)... These were taken on the London eye....Very cool....I was sitting here yesterday just thinking about what I should do next...I know this may sound weird to some people but over the last couple of years I have ticked a lot of my goals and dreams off my list....so I want to come up with a few more to challenge myself :)...I would love to compile some sort of inspirational interiors book....that has been on my list for a long time and travel a lot more, do some more renovations and just try to be the best mum to my kids most importantly... If you have any ideas for me PLEASE drop by with a list....I would love that ....

Everything is created from moment to moment, always new. Like fireworks, this universe is a celebration and you are the spectator contemplating the eternal Fourth of July of your absolute splendor. - Francis Lucille

A little ray of sunshine.......

2011-02-02T22:16:00.005+10:00

Well my little girl is 26 days away from starting uni to study early childhood teaching, a dream she has had since she was 5. Her love of art and jewellery has grown into a new business venture for her called 1928 & Co - originally by hand. Go and check it out at her new blog by the same name...

LONDON baby Part 1

2011-01-15T23:41:00.013+10:00

Christmas light displays

Kirstie fell in love with this dress :)

Gorgeous displays

Old sewing machines and wooden spools covered the walls

It was hard to take photos that really captured what it was like

All saint interiors were incredible

Well it has been an extremely hard week in our community... so I needed to go to a happy place so I thought I would start to tell you about our wonderful adventures on our month trip last November and December...After an extremely long flight (not my favourite part lol) we arrived in London late in the afternoon booked into our accommodation and had a nice meal at the Shakespeare pub and headed to bed.... We had booked a hop on hop off bus the next morning so up early to a lovely breakfast and then some adventures around the city of London....I am a country girl so I must say I am not generally a big city type person but London was gorgeous... I felt like a little girl seeing the world for the first time if that makes sense...Everything just seemed magical and I kept having reminders of the monopoly board which just made me smile....The photos I have shared were some of the wonderful shops we visited... As everyone knows I have a love for interior design and I just couldn't believe the AllSaints shops fitting and fixtures, it was TRULY incredible and the photos don't at all do it justice.... Anyway it is after midnight here so I should get some sleep as I have to work tomorrow....more soon .....

You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. -Rabindranath Tagore

We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake. - Marie B. Ray

David Grayson
Adventure is not outside man; it is within.

Rain, rain go away now please!!!!!!!!

2011-01-10T23:46:00.005+10:00

Taken from my front garden

From my kitchen window

Well what a few weeks it has been for the state of Queensland with flood after flood and today, our area has been severely hit with flash flooding, land slips and sadly loss of lives...Just to think that this time last year we were fighting bush fires and severe drought... We are lucky for our little cottage is safe and sound where we live but just to show you that our tiny creek that hasn't had water in it for a long time has blocked our road 4 times since Christmas... and when you stood at the back door this afternoon you could hear it roaring.....Some of the footage on the news would break your heart with what families must be going through in this extremely hard time... They are all in our thoughts tonight ............

So much has happened......

2010-12-31T22:06:00.014+10:00

Home safe and sound after the biggest and most amazing time of our lives but I thought I would show you some photos taken at Kirstie's formal in November, 2 days before we left on our trip. She had an incredible night and I still can't believe school is over for her and in 2 months she will be starting uni...It is nearly 10.30 here New Years eve and I am just having a quiet night at home trying to catch up on a few things...I am going to blog about our many adventures in London, France and Italy really soon.... Happy New Year to all....xx

In Paris

2010-11-29T02:02:00.004+10:00

Here I am sitting in the apartment as seen the last post and what an amazing trip we are having filled with everything you could imagine.....Snow falling as we walked the Christmas markets on the the champs elysee in Paris...Seeing Wicked at a beautiful Theatre in London!!! Eating warm bagettes and scrumptous pastries oh and the list just goes on and on and it is only day 9. Still just feels like a dream.... Climbing the Eiffel Tower tomorrow on our last day in Paris!!!! Can't wait :) Loads of photos to share with you all when I get home in 21 days !!!!!

Only 13 days to go!!!!!!!!

2010-11-06T19:24:00.008+10:00

Plans are the proof a dream can come true!

Well I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged....So many things happening I must say I really miss being here and chatting!!!! Since my darling daughter was about 10 her and I have been chatting about our imaginary trip to Paris...well in a few weeks we will be staying in this gorgeous apartment in Paris, I just can't believe it.... It still isn't real to me and I don't think it will feel real until we hop off the train in central Paris...We have 7 nights and I just can't wait...My little girl finished her last real day in the classroom yesterday...A week of exam block (she has 5 assessment pieces) and then her formal and graduation and then at 11.45 pm graduation day we will be on the plane to London :)...

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

This has surely been a year of change...A new shop, a business partner, trying to sell our family farm, my little 14 year boy reaching 6 ft, Kirstie's last year of school and so on and trying to know where I fit into all this has been a bit of a struggle for me I must say...It has all been a little bit too fast for my liking :) Even though my kids are bigger now I still see being a good and stable mum as the greatest job I will ever have...I feel privileged and blessed to watch them achieve and more importantly smile their way through there days...

When we lose one blessing, another is often, most unexpectedly, given in its place. - CS Lewis

A big few weeks - sigh!!!!!!!

2010-09-19T19:50:00.006+10:00

Well I have had the flu for a couple of weeks and I so hope it is finally rounding the corner and I can enjoy the school break with my beautiful kids.....These photos are little clippings of my studio room, my little place in the world .....So many things happening at the moment...Finally booked our trip to europe which is beyond exciting...My beautiful family property (owned with my 4 siblings, my gorgeous parents left it to us) is on the market and it makes my heart very sad but it is just one of those things that needs to be done.... As a mum my heart strings are playing because my little girl is into her last 7 weeks of school...She is so ready for a new adventure but at the same time it is all just flying by too fast and my little boy turns 14 tomorrow...He is my little confidant, my amazing cook, has the best cuddles in the world and he is growing into such a lovely young man :)

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections.

Joy is not in things; it is in us.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

My daughter - her art!!!!!!!!

2010-09-01T09:07:00.010+10:00

Well Kirstie is in her last 10 weeks of school..Quiet unbelievable really!!!!! As we speak she is sitting the second day of the biggest exam of her school life!!! So I just thought I would share something that I think is just beautiful of her final art work...The subject is personal......The title generation....The top image is of kirstie is a little petticoat that I wore when I was about 5 that my mum made for me and these are the words she wrote on it ......you are my universe, my shining light my blue butterfly flying through the sky, my romeo my millions of words with beautiful covers and my every breath. When I think of you my mind wonders to the delicate wings of a butterfly. When I think of you my mind wonders to my one and only confidant that is always there. You are the smell of freshly made bread, you are the star that kisses the moon, you are each stitch of a dress and you are the flowers that sway in the breeze. When I think of you I think of the beautiful sky above. When I think of you I know I'm home............ She has used the dress that my mum made me for my wedding and the butterflies are a symbol of us all......I hope you like it :)

A Little help PLEASE!!!!!!!!

2010-08-09T22:26:00.003+10:00

Well my friends I am pretty sure most of you know in just over 3 months my beautiful girl will finish high school and we are heading off to Europe to celebrate. I know I am biased but she is a truly amazing girl and her and I have been planning this in our heads since she was about 7 and she turns 17 this week... We haven't been overseas before (well my hubby has been to the US and NZ with work and I have been to Singapore but many, many moons ago) so it is a huge adventure. So I am hoping that all my well traveled blogging friends may share some of their wisdom especially if they have a favourite place to stay etc as looking for accommodation on the other side of the world a little intimidating....but at this stage this is our sort of itinerary.

There will be 5 of us traveling...
3 nights London
5 - 7 nights Paris
7 days driving around the French countryside
1 night Nice
1 night Verona
2 nights Venice
3 days car hire through Maggiore
3 nights Rome........
If anyone has any suggestions I would so appreciate it :)

So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.
-Christopher Reeve

Monday post!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-19T11:22:00.003+10:00

"We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true......"Woodrow Wilson

Oh this is so, so true. I must say since being in the shop environment I have seen a lot more of the world and how worried people are about everything. Some days I so wish that people realised at the end of the day it isn't about what we are in the world or how many things we have but it is about how you treat people, happiness, smiling and really just loving the journey... That is definitely the only lessons really I want my children to have and then to be themselves and let their lives unfold. Some people would call this naive but I call it LOVE!!!!! Have a simply magical week!!!!!

WOW!!! where did that month go!!!!

2010-07-12T16:51:00.005+10:00

Well I can't believe it is over a month since I did my last post but the weeks of this year are just flying by..... The last day of winter break today and Andrew went to a friends house and Kirstie and I went and had a latte and looked at formal dresses. She will start her last Semester at school tomorrow, just incredible...When out looking at dresses we ran into our dear friends that we have known since we were both pregnant with our girls and they have grown up together, went to kindy, primary school and high school together.... They both went into change rooms with gorgeous black dresses and I just couldn't believe where the years had gone...I remember the girls doing a fashion parade for a children's wear shop when they were just walking and seriously that feels like just yesterday....Such different girls now but I think they will always be friends...and I love them both for that.... I wanted to show you a photo of my big boy...He is over 6 ft now and was looking pretty handsome in this photo I think.... he loves his sister to pieces... A little inspiration for this week...I hope everyone is smiling today, I know I sure am......

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.

- Helen Keller

200th Post (SMILE)

2010-06-08T12:32:00.004+10:00

Well my friends I was just doing a post for my shoppe blog and noticed I was sitting on 199 posts for my home blog....I couldn't believe it!!!!!!! I thought I would share with you the saying I have above my work bench at the shop...It really does say it all for me....and I do realise I was one of the lucky ones.... I had a bit of a cynical customer in the shop the other day asking me lots and lots of WHY questions and basically in the end I said to him....I am a dreamer and I still believe in the world and that it is a beautiful place and really we are all blessed to wake each morning to whatever the new day has in store for us and I think if you treat people well life will give you what you need and that smiles are so, so easy to put on your face they don't cost you anything...Like today for instance, it is a beautiful sunny winters day... The sun was warm and energising as I put 3 loads of washing on the line...I got to take my beautiful kids to school and get kisses as they got out of the car...I came home and emailed my business partner and dearest friend.....and then played with photos for my blog....Simple but joyous !!!!!!!! Well my one in a million mother instilled that in me and I thank her for that each day and I am hopeful that I have instilled a little of that in my children... Thank you all for being out there and making me smile.... May happiness, joy and simplicity to detail fill your hearts today and always .......

my favourite things

2010-06-01T17:33:00.003+10:00

Well what a busy, busy time we are having...Our little shop was featured in the June edition of Australian Country Style...A 2 page feature which was beautifully written and photographed...I feel extremely blessed to be part of it. So for all my friends out there I thought I would give away 3 free copies and for those of you that already have it I will send a surprise if you win :). All you have to do is tell me some of your favourite things....Some of my favourite things are snuggling under the covers with Kirstie on a winters night and watching movies, making hot pancakes when the kids come home from school and chatting about their day, going to work with one of my dearest friends and giggling like teenagers all day and talking about anything and everything, reading inspirational blogs and magazines and rearranging furniture.... and the list would go on and on........now its your turn......

A little bit of me

2010-05-19T10:38:00.008+10:00

Like all the other busy woman of the world....Lately I am struggling to stay organised....and I must say I am not enjoying it... I am really a home body, not a neat freak by any means but I like to have a little order in my life...so once again I have changed my little studio room around...I have moved my desk back to where I used to have my big work bench and I must say I am liking it there better... I really thought about painting my old green chair chalk board paint but at this it is staying green....I love having fresh flowers in my room and these photos are of my mother's day flowers my family gave me....

Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. ~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts. ~Charles Dickens

Have a great week xxxxx

Happy Mother's Day for Sunday

2010-05-07T20:42:00.003+10:00

I can't believe it is May already and its Mother's day in a couple of days.... It is nearly 8 years since I lost my gorgeous mum and every Mother's Day I always try and bake something she loved to make like her favourite banana cake recipe...So that is what I will be doing before heading off to the shop on Sunday....I thought I would share with you a couple of photos of Kirstie and I taken last weekend before heading off to the Empire Theatre to watch a local production of High School Musical that one of Kirstie's childhood friends were performing in....It was a lovely night and Kimberly was truly amazing!!!!!

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust

a little sad today !!!!

2010-04-27T22:40:00.002+10:00

Well my friends I have some photos of my kitchen to show you but whilst getting them ready my computer froze and I lost them so here is an inspiration board we have at the shop...painted with chalkboard paint really cool!!!! We lost our beautiful little goat Caramel today so we are all feeling a little sad....She had such a gorgeous nature and was so loving.....We will miss her :(

If we opened our minds to enjoyment, we might find tranquil pleasures spread about us on every side. We might live with the angels that visit us on every sunbeam, and sit with the fairies who wait on every flower - Samuel Smiles

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over,
it became a butterfly

Each fairy breath of summer, as it blows with loveliness, inspires the blushing rose - unknown author....

a little inspiration

2010-04-14T19:25:00.002+10:00

Oh I love roses.... Always have gorgeous bunches in the shop and in my home...Snapped this photo this afternoon as I thought it had been so long since I blogged people might forget who I am. The shop is such a happy and joyous place, I am enjoying every minute there much more then I ever could have imagined... Looking for inspirations for charms this afternoon and came across a couple of lovely quotes....

"To those who can dream, there is no such place as faraway" from Rachel Ashwells book

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary can speak"- Hans Hofmann.....

and as it is getting close to Mother's day....
"Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over" - George Cooper

Still no computer

2010-03-06T21:42:00.003+10:00

Well my computer is still away getting fixed. He is hopeful that he has recovered about 95 percent of my hard drive so it could be worse but I must say I miss it. The shop has been pretty quiet these last couple of weeks but our wholesale orders are keeping us rather busy...A new shop in Germany and Austria which is very exciting. My other wonderful news is that my favourite magazine Australian Country Style are coming to photograph our shop at the end of this month so very exciting and I get to chat with the wonderful writer and photographer that were responsible for the lovely article on my house last March. My beautiful kids are so busy at school with loads of accessment due before their small break at Easter.

so sorry

2010-02-26T22:28:00.005+10:00

Well my hard drive on my main computer ceased to exist this week....So I am a bit lost without it and I am not sure how much I have lost yet which is pretty sad...This is photo of my gorgeous boy at the swimming carnival this week...His sister snapped this happy shot...

a little change

2010-02-17T07:22:00.004+10:00

Just a couple of images of my lounge room....Gave it a good clean and change around on Monday and it looks so much nicer....Valentines roses just adds the finishing touch.... :)

Trying to get back into a good habit

2010-02-14T22:52:00.006+10:00

Well this is what my studio room looks like now.....I had to basically start from scratch as most of my furniture is in the shop as props....It isn't exactly how I want it yet but it will get there...So need to be more organised.....Week 4 of a very busy term at school for both my cherubs ... School captain duties, basketball and debating but we will get there.... Here is some nice quotes to start your week...

A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home. ~Author Unknown

Life is slippery here, take my hand....jacksom brown jnr

The beginning of a new week!!!

2010-02-08T12:16:00.007+10:00

One of my favourite people in the world.... Having fun taking some photos on the weekend!!!

Well I just wanted to show you a couple of photos of Kirstie's room....I love it so much and she has basically decorated it herself with a little help from her mummy!!!!!!!!! As I have told you before it is an extremely dark room so my photography could be better but I think you will get the idea....and her new bed is so nice....

a lovely little break!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-21T22:14:00.011+10:00

Well it has been so busy that I thought I needed a quick break with my gorgeous daughter before she went back to school (her last year) next week so we drove the 3 hours to the coast and stayed at Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast... Just beautiful, early morning walks, swimming, shopping, eating and I also had a chance to visit a dear shop that I supply my charms to called South Peregian Trading Co. at Peregian Beach... Vicki sells so many gorgeous things from bikinis made from vintage fabric, clothing, cards and 80 percent of her stock are made by local artists....She also runs french classes (as you can see by the eiffel tower in the photo) and even knitting classes at different times throughout the year...Vicki will be starting her own blog really soon so watch out for that. She was an absolute treasure and delight to meet ....

valentines is on its way!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-14T19:59:00.003+10:00

Well I took this photo at about 6 am this morning....Changed the shop around last night with a little bit of a valentine's theme.....Just a touch of red! Hope you like it....!

a new display at the shop!!!

2010-01-07T22:00:00.005+10:00

Well Happy New Year my friends....Just a few photos from a display I set up in the shop this morning....We have these gorgeous little glass jars for sale and I think this would be a nice idea as you know how much I love roses...We have also tied some of our tiny wee charms around the necks of the jars to spell out dream....I think they look pretty sweet!!!!!!! Our gorgeous vintage look cushions are nearly sold out and my dear friend Michelle from the US is working on more for us....Very exciting!!!! My studio room is starting look a little more organised so will take some photos and share soon....Kirstie room is looking amazing so will share that with you as well....

Moving In

2009-12-03T17:58:00.003+10:00

Well everyone the journey continues....... We started to slowly move in last Friday and I must say it is looking pretty nice.....I will post some more images on my shoppe blog.....Will also be doing some posts to update you on what my house looks like now as a lot of my furniture has gone to the shop as props....as you can see......I can't believe it is already December....Kirstie has been on leadership camp this week and my hubby is away as well for the whole week so last night I stayed up till 2 am trying to get my studio room to resemble something nice again lol...Andrew is in the kitchen baking ginger bread cookies for a german break up party tomorrow....I so love that he enjoys cooking ......

More inspiration - so, so beautiful

2009-11-17T15:12:00.005+10:00

I have been so lucky while blogging to come across some of the most inspirational people...Vicki Archer is one of those people...Her new book French Essence is so, so beautiful and I think you should all put it on your Christmas list if you haven't already bought it...Here are just a few images that put a smile on my face....

Inside the pages of a book - things that inspire me

2009-11-12T08:12:00.007+10:00

Over the next few posts I am going to share with you things that inspire me. These beautiful images are from a new book called New Farmhouse Style by Terry John Woods (first printing already sold out).... I am lucky to call Terry my friend as we have chatted for several years via email about renovating and the beautiful simplicity of white that we both love ....This book will definitely be on my shopping list for all my friends for Christmas and I really hope to be able to get some in for the shop as well...Terry's home has been featured in many American magazines and is truly breath taking!!!!!!!!!!

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

Tears of joy!!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-07T18:54:00.003+10:00

Well I just had to share with you this beautiful post from a lovely blog called Being Ruby. I just want to thank her so much for her kind words.... She has a wonderful give-away going at the moment so drop by and have a look, I can promise you it is worth it....

sick little girl!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-03T18:39:00.002+10:00

Well my little girl got tonsillitis again last Friday and is still very sick....She has so much on at the moment(awards night tomorrow night where she needs to speak) I feel so sorry for her !!! I just wanted to share with you these photos which are part of her major art work for the end of the year.....I think they are truly amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Proud - New School Captain

2009-10-28T22:42:00.003+10:00

Well this week has been an emotional roller coaster.... Over the last month or so Kirstie has been in the process of becoming school captain for 2010. I know I am biased but she is an amazing young girl and this week all her dreams come true she became school captain and to make it even better 3 of her dear, dear friends will make up a team of 2 girls and 2 boys....She is a little scared but also so excited.... What a wonderful exciting last year of school she has ahead of her....
I am so, so sorry for the lack of appearance here lately...my head is definitely on fast forward with the shop getting closer and closer.....I want to do a review on a couple of my favourite books in the next couple of days...Just need to take some photos of my favourite pages to share with you.....I must say I miss you all and I hope you get a chance to drop by and say Hi!!!! I can't wait to get a few spare minutes to go and have a look at all your beautiful blogs too.......

Sorry I have been so slack!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-10-06T19:28:00.005+10:00

Well my friends it just feels like so long since I have been here so I must apologise. So much going on and then school break which was so nice to have the kids home. Anyway we are getting pretty close to the shop being opened now and in one of my mad idea moments I decided it would be cool to have Kirstie's sleigh bed in the shop as a display for our gorgeous Petit Coterie cushions which just arrived from the US from dear sweet Michelle... So Kirstie and I went shopping and we fell in love with this bed...I so wish I could get better photos of her room but the light is really hard in there but this will give you an idea....She chose basically everything herself...She has lovely taste.....Hope you like it......Drop by and say hi I would love to hear from you all.....

My little boy turns 13 tomorrow

2009-09-19T21:11:00.008+10:00

Well I loved looking back through photos tonight....He was such a cutie...He is now nearly 5 ft 10 inches tall and he turns 13 tomorrow...He was always my cuddly boy and the one who would always talk to anyone when he was tiny...He would make friends with strangers in the park and was such an easy baby.....Loved information books from when he was little and would throw all the hardest questions at us on road trips..... He had a D and M about girls with me this morning - Wow he is growing up so fast....Love you my sweet boy Happy 13th Birthday!!!!!!!

a little spring cleaning

2009-09-12T20:43:00.005+10:00

Well this week I had a bit of a decent clean up of my bedroom as I know in about 6 weeks from now there isn't going to be many spare moments while we get settled into the new shop..... So I thought I would share a few photos....Our old club lounge that we got recovered with beautiful raw linen. My powder blue iron bed....and some of my charms that have tarnished a little tied to a sweet little pillow that my friend made sitting on an old ironstone plate on my dressing table.....

Not a exactly a competition!!!!!!!!

2009-09-08T09:31:00.002+10:00

Well I was just sitting here thinking of all these ideas for the shop as I do most mornings lately so I thought it would be a cool idea to give away the lastest gorgeous Spring Issue of Country Style (the cover is very pretty and colourful)... Ok all you have to do to be in the draw is to tell me words or short sayings they inspire you....A dear friend Andy used this one the other night when in conversation with me on facebook about our kids "embrace the butterflies". I am going to use it on a new charm.....Apparently it was a quote from a movie!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to hear what inspires everyone else......

Cleaning up and playing around!!!!

2009-09-05T14:36:00.006+10:00

Well as you can imagine (and I have told you on numerous occasions before) I often need to have a decent clean up in my little studio room...It is a tiny little sun room at the end of our house were I play all day and all night!!!! Sometimes I have clippings of paper from one end of the room to the other so last night I cleaned up properly (well sort of) and it felt much nicer to walk in here this morning!!!!!!!!! Here are just a few photos I took...I think they came out pretty nice... I must tell you that the gorgeous ear rings in the first photo were made by my dearest friend Paige and I am keeping them to wear on the first day our shop opens because I so wish she was here to share it with me.....

My love of Cloches!!! PLEASE NEED HELP!!!

2009-08-28T22:04:00.006+10:00

Well as we slowly try to track down things for the shop some are just sooooooo difficult to find and glass cloches are one of the things we really want and can't seem to find a wholesaler here in Australia....I so want to use them for display and for sale if I can.....Please if there is anyone out there in blogland that could help I would be so, so grateful.... All shapes and sizes would be wonderful lol.....Wish I lived in europe as they have so many over there - just gorgeous!!!!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend....Heading for very high temperatures here in Queensland and Summer is not quite over yet.....We so need rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace comes from feelings of satisfaction when working with joy, living with hope, loving with abandonment...

SO BUSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-24T18:00:00.002+10:00

Well what a hot day we had in Queensland....It is still suppose to be winter and it was in the 30's today!!!! What is going on!!!! Not nice soldering weather but I must say these charms in this photo were one of my all time favourite ranges I have ever created....You can see them at the wonderful store Lily-G in Brisbane!!!! Well it looks like Simple Things Small Joys the Store will be opening at the end of October which is pretty exciting and I have a feeling by then it will have a bit of a christmas theme....YAY can't wait to decorate!!!! I am so sorry I have been so slack with my posts but it is all about the shop at the moment...Please drop by and say Hi I love reading your comments....

Happy 16th my sweetest girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-11T20:02:00.003+10:00

Well my little girl turns 16 tomorrow!!!!! What can I truly say about her....The song "a little ray of sunshine has come into the world....a little ray of sunshine in the shape of a girl, really says it all.....She is bright, joyous, loving, someone who notices the small details of life, a loyal friend and girl friend, my best friend and the sweetest girl on earth... Happy Birthday sweetie...xxxxx

And the winner is.....??????

2009-08-10T05:22:00.002+10:00

And the WINNER of the latest Country Style magazine is Vosges Paris.............

Well it was a pretty quiet weekend as my boys headed off to our family farm...We had pre-birthday celebrations for my nearly 16 year old.... She went to the movies with friends Friday night then her best friend slept over and then a date night with her boyfriend Saturday night. I took her to our favourite coffee shop for morning tea yesterday and then she went to Corey's soccer game..I wish I could say I got a lot of work done but I will this week....The shop is getting so close now and still so much to do!!!!!! I hope everyone has a great week....

Give Away!!!!

2009-07-31T19:00:00.003+10:00

Well it has been a hard and busy couple of weeks and I have been neglecting blogging a little so thought I would do something nice for you all....Drop by and tell me the top 3 things you like to shop for and I will put you in the draw to win the lastest copy of Australian Country Style magazine....I love the front cover image......so nice ......I will draw it this time next week....

In my life!!!

2009-07-27T10:14:00.003+10:00

Well Kirstie is back to school now and Andrew is still home with his mum for a few more days...He is in great spirits and enjoying his time at home a bit too much lol!!! Just wanted to let you know I will soon be closing my Cathy Penton Designs Shoppe blog and trying to put heaps of effort into my new Shoppe blog Simple things small joys....I just put a few more charms on there to tempt you with so go and have a look...I have changed my business name now to Simple things small joys so I hope that isn't too confusing for everyone.... The building process still hasn't started but will keep you up to date...My business partners hubby made this gorgeous table for display in the shop and I can't wait to share it with you all..... Might have a give away in the next few days so keep an eye out.....

A bit of a scary week!!!!

2009-07-22T21:09:00.003+10:00

Well these are my precious kids and some weeks the universe just reminds you again how quickly things can happen!!!! Late Sunday afternoon my son Andrew was out riding his bike when a car accidentally hit the back of his bike, luckily a friend was driving past and came and got me. He was a little battered and bruised and had a very sore knee and couldn't walk very well but he was OK!!!! so, so lucky....Then the same afternoon Kirstie came home from seeing Harry Potter and had tonsillitis again and then the next day had uncontrollable vomiting which she needed an injection to stop and is still slowly recovering.... and you know what I feel.....I feel grateful to be their mum, grateful to be there for them no matter what, grateful to see their smiles, give them hugs and watch them grow....

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

DETAILS

2009-07-13T21:41:00.005+10:00

Well the kids go back to school tomorrow and I always get a little sad as I love having them home and it all seems to go so fast....Yesterday I went to my favourite rose farm and bought 2 gorgeous bunches of roses just to make the house feel a little pretty...I am also starting a collection of white framed photos to put above my blue table in my lounge....I would like to slowly cover the wall with white frames....I noticed today that there has been dirt moved where the shop will be built so I would think maybe the slab this week - maybe !!!! All a little scary really!!!!!!!!!!!! but I can't wait to fit the shop out just need to get a lot of stock made....

Back Home again!!!

2009-06-30T17:04:00.005+10:00

Well I am back in my little studio room, which I love....Looking at this gorgeous photo of the ocean ....Kirstie and I spent 2 hours walking yesterday afternoon (about 12 kilometres) and we had so much fun chatting and giggling and taking photos and having our last gelato at our favourite little italian shop... The boys were out fishing and all was good in the world...Back to reality now though and heaps and heaps of charms to be soldered and orders to be filled...I am not ever very motivated when the kids are on school holidays as I just want to spend time with them lol!!!! but only 8 - 12 weeks now till the shop opens so I need to get a little more motivated.....