Coffee With Oprah!

Want a great read? One that motivates and inspires your sole. 'What I Know For Sure' by Oprah Winfrey is it. Made all the more enjoyable, surrounded by delicious pasties while the snow flutters down here in Whistler. A good book and a cafe - what else does a girl need?

Through her warm authentic style of writing, Oprah shares her thoughts on, Joy, Resilience, Possibility, Gratitude, Clarity and Power. This book reads like a conversation with a close friend - uplifting and memorable. Add a coffee and a blueberry scroll and that's just what you get.

Enjoy your creative life, Jules

A Bloomin' Great Year Ahead!

Yippy! Happy New Year Everyone.

Here we all are at the start of another year. What interesting, creative and surprising adventures await us in 2018? Bring on the big magic.

I'm a planner by nature so I've started mapping out how I'd like to use my time and energy in the 12 months ahead - a sheet of A3 paper and a black maker pen is all you need to get your road map started and plan your new adventures.

I truly hope you have a bloomin' great year. My mantra for 2018 - 'Make It Happen'

Enjoy your creative life, Jules

Going Positive!

I've made a decision. As this year ends and I look to 2018 I've decided it's time to ramp up the positive - beliefs, actions, thoughts and words - and listen more - inwardly and outwardly.

Want to join me?

I've revisited a couple of my favourite books of late, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and Native Wisdom For White Minds by Anne Wilson Schaef. Both books are equally uplifting, inspirational and thought provoking. They've helped me to recalibrate my thinking - something we all need to do from time to time.

"Create whatever cause a revolution in your heart."  Elizabeth Gilbert

"Listen! Or your tongue will make you deaf."  - Cherokee Saying, American Indian - Anne Wilson Schaef

Go positive in 2018 - Happy New Year!

Enjoy your creative life, Jules

Hello Joy!

Joy - happiness and delight! And one of my favourite words. Bring it on.

May you have nothing but joy during this festive and holiday season and loads of laughter with the ones' you love. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Enjoy your creative life, Jules

The Shape Of Things To Come!

Is there a shape or an image that you notice all the time? Some sort of icon that just keeps popping up in your life. Funny hey?

Perhaps it's a dragonfly, unicorn, daisy, rainbow or star.

For me it the shape of a heart. And when I see one, it's like I'm getting a personal "wink" from the universe.

Like this morning when I opened the door to my 6am yoga class. Why does the heart shape make me feel happy? I don't know. Perhaps it's harks back to when I was given a heart shaped locket for by 8th birthday. Memories are long lasting!

I've given and received heart shaped treasures all my life. One of my most loved, 2 heart shaped cake tins my sister gave me. How can I not think of her every time I use them?

Keep an eye out for your own universals "winks" - they're out there - you just have to notice them.

Enjoy your creative life, Jules

With Love From My Kitchen!

Here's one of my all time favourites - Nigella Lawson's Flourless Chocolate Cake With Margarita Cream. And the cream, trust me, is unbelievable. Bake in a heart shaped tin and share the love. Enjoy!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Nigella Lawson's Flourless Chocolate Cake, sprinkled with blueberries an icing sugar

Enjoy your creative life, Jules

Tea and Creativity!

I was desperate to find a tea leaf basket, like the one in the photo below. Somehow the basket for my large teapot went missing. I asked in countless homeware shops only to be told they didn't sell them.

So there I am, sitting in a cafe in Vancouver earlier this year, all rugged up drinking tea. As I chattered with the waitress I asked her if she knew where I could buy a basket, like the one in the teapot she'd just put down in front of me. 

It was a busy morning and she got called away from our conversation to wait on another table. On my way out she passed me a small white paper bag and said, "For you from me. Problem solved. Besides, we have plenty."

She'd given me, not only the basket out of the teapot that had been on my table, but a gorgeous memory. I think of her act of kindness every time I fill that metal basket with tea leaves and use my white teapot.

She wasn't creative in the artistic sense, but creative none the less. Creative in thought and action towards another human being.

Perhaps tea and understanding are magically linked. Maybe making, serving and sharing a cuppa' with someone brings out the best in all of us. I'd like to think so!

Enjoy your creative journey, Jules

The Clutch Is Back!

I've rediscovered the Clutch Bag.

What I need to take when I go out has changed. And so has my bag! Phone, Credit Card, Keys and some Cash is all I require when I want to travel light. Okay, and a lipstick!

I'm leaving my pens, notebook, iPad, copy of a book I'm reading and the other things I tend to accumulate in a much bigger handbag. The clutch is the ultimate grab and go bag!

The clutch in black textures and tones 

Vintage diamante clutch bags

Don't wait for after dark to give a diamante clutch an outing. Try a diamante bag with jeans and a T-shirts for day.

And the great thing about the Clutch Bag, they take up very little storage space. 

Enjoy your creative life, Jules 

Finding A Kinder Tide!

This image of Meryl Streep, which turned up on my Facebook one day, is stuck to the wall beside my desk. If I'm ever having "a moment" as we all do at times, doubting my creative abilities, I read what Meryl had to say on the subject.

These words never fail to encourage me. I will add however, that I think who ever wrote this intended "show less" to be "no less". Still, it's a great message.

Watch out for the rips and deep water in life. We all deserve a kinder tide.

Enjoy your creative life, Jules

The Devil's In The Detail!

These black suede shoes have been my dancing partner at dinners and parties for 20 years. Although I don't wear them anymore, I just can't bear to part with them. Why? Because one of these days I'll give the buckles on these shoes a new home.

I love to get creative remodelling, reusing and recycling any fashion item whenever possible.

Oh' the fun we've had!

I'm always on the lookout for a pair of buttons, earrings, broaches or shoe clips, anything that I can use to change the profile of a shoe.

Pearl earring, diamante broaches, black button and a gold shoe clip

You can use anything you like to take a shoe from "standard" to "statement". 

Plain suede pumps 

A touch of bling!

Patent pumps and a slingback

Glamming up the patent shoe

A shoe with toe detailing is an easy way to give any outfit that extra something.

These little gems are from Zara. The devil's in the detail.

Enjoy your creative life, Jules