Mark and Movement

23/09/2025

I've got a couple of spots left in tomorrows online workshop.

Thread, paper, and found textures — this is a peek at the kind of process we’ll be exploring in my Stitched Collage Online Workshop.

These photos are from past in-person sessions, but the beauty of this workshop is that you can create all of this from home. ✨

What you’ll need: a few natural items (like leaves or bark), some paper, pencils, glue, and needle & thread. That’s it.

Together online, we’ll explore:

⇒ Frottage (rubbing textures from nature)
⇒ Intuitive collage & hand-stitching
⇒ A grounding creative process; presence over outcome

This is your last chance to join — I won’t be running this workshop again this year.

📅 Thu 25 Sept | 8:00–9:30pm AEST
🎟️ $10 - $25AUD | Online via Zoom
Timezones:
3:30PM IST | 6:00PM AWST | 6:00PM HKT | 11:00AM BST | 12:00PM CEST | 10:00PM NZST | 6:00AM EDT
👉 Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stitched-collage-workshop-registration-1613325021569?aff=oddtdtcreator

Let’s stitch, play, and ground ourselves together — wherever you are in the world.

17/09/2025

What are you carrying?

We've all got an unpacked suitcase stuffed with things that we're not ready to deal with; in real life and metaphorically.

It's invisible but it's heavy.
It takes up space.

It's with you in every conversation, decision and relationship.

You might even forget you are carrying it: "I'm so exhausted all the time. I have no idea why."

What if you could put it down for a moment?

Drop your shoulders, release your gripping fingers and feel the sensation of empty hands, release of shoulder tension...

It's not that you necessarily have to open it up and let the contents spill out; that might be too overwhelming.

But having space to consciously put it down for a moment builds resilience and motivation to start to move towards seeing what's really inside.

Therapy is a gentle space to explore this; with gentleness, curiosity and compassion.

Each time we make space for ourselves to put down the *suitcase*; life becomes a little lighter. Even if only for a moment.

I've just opened a brand new timeslot for online art therapy sessions. If you looking to put down your heavy suitcase for a while, this is a space to explore that.

Book a free 15 min discovery call to have a chat about how we can work together to start putting down the heavy things utilising creative processes. DM to find out more

15/09/2025

Just for fun, guessing competition!

Guess how many paper thingys are on the table 🤔

Prizes: other than bragging rights you can win...

✂️ Free ticket to my upcoming online workshop
Or
🎨 Unqiue creative prompt, just for you

Winner(s) can choose their prize.

I don't know how many thingys are on the table yet. I've bundled them up ready to count once the competition ends, which is on 21st September. I'll be keeping an eye on them to make sure no tampering occurs.

Go on take your best guess, I'll announce the winner on the 22nd Sept.

One guess only 😊

14/09/2025

Join us for a day of fun, connection and creativity at Reginald Murphy Community Centre Open Day.

Located in the heart of Kings Cross, Reginald Murphy Community Centre is alive with creativity: singing, acting, DIY, exercise classes and so much more.

I've had the absolute joy of being part of this open day for the past two years offering a drop-in slow stitching leave workshop. Guess what, you've invited, come a long and get a taste of what's on offer and explore the space.

I'll be offer a drop-in style Slow Stitching Leaves Workshop from 11:30am - 1:30pm. There a range of activities and performances on offer during this time as well sausage sizzle and drinks available. Sit down, stitch a leaf, listen in and connect with the wonderful community on offer.

Free to attend, check out the full schedule and book your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/reginald-murphy-community-centre-open-day-tickets-1685876896179

11/09/2025

Thanks to the creatives who join me last week for intro to gel plate printing workshop Georges River Libraries

Theres so much magic in this experimental & playful style of print making.

Seeking soft impressions; application of pressure and lifting away to reveal whats underneath is a process of letting go of control and inviting curiousity.

I’ll be running another intro session at Hurstville library.

10/09/2025

🖼️ Rip, tear and stick

Join me for Abstract Collage Landscape workshop at Hurstville Muesum & Gallery.

In these one hour workshop, I will guide you through the process of creating your own postcard-sized abstract landscape collage. You’ll explore key visual elements like colour, shape, form and composition, while using accessible techniques that invite you to reimagine the natural world in your own unique style and have fun while doing it.

Saturday 11 October 2025
Session 1: 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Session 2: 2.30pm - 3.30pm
These are repeat sessions, you only need to sign up for one.

Cost: $8.50
Adults 16+

Register: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1451621

These workshops are beginner friendly, no experience required.

Space are limited, book your spot via

08/09/2025

Looking forward to participating in this panel this Wednesday night. We'll be sharing stories about our creative pathways.
Free to attend, kicks off at 6pm 🎤

Join Georges River Libraries and Sydney Fringe Festival for a night of storytelling from diverse creative practitioners including art therapist 🎨 Mary-Helen Daly; DJ and music producer 💿 Neil Ismail; and paranormal investigator 👻 Peta Banks about their successes, failures and key insights in the world of creative entrepreneurship. Free, but bookings essential. Get in and get inspired to start your own creative career!

📅 Wednesday, 10 September. 6-7:30pm
📍 Hurstville Library
💰 Free
💟 Ages 16+ and everyone is welcome.

Click through to register: https://sydneyfringe.com/events/storyshare-creative-industries/

04/09/2025

Circling around

02/09/2025

I welcome you to join me for a gentle 90-minute online workshop exploring Stitched Collage. This is a process I return to again and again as a grounding practice — a way to connect with myself, slow down, and find presence through my hands.

With my online workshops, the process begins before you even log on to Zoom. It starts with stepping outside for a slow wander, feeling the air on your skin as you collect leaves and natural textures. You’ll choose papers, pencils, and threads, gather your stitching supplies, and arrange them thoughtfully in a place of your choosing in your home. This simple ritual turns your table into a creative portal — a soft, welcoming space that helps you leave the noise of the day behind and arrive gently into presence.

If you find traditional meditation difficult — sitting still, quietening your thoughts, not talking — this workshop might offer a different way in. Through texture, rhythm, and intuition, you’ll discover a mindful and almost meditative way to connect with yourself, letting your hands lead you into inner stillness therapeutic art making.

My online workshops intentionally not recorded. I value holding a contained, live space where we can show up together, without distraction, and bring our full presence to the process.

📅 Thu, 25 Sept 2025
🕗 8:00–9:30 PM AEST
💲 Investment: $25 AUD (concession tickets available if cost is a barrier)
💛 Early Bird: $5 off until Sept 9
🔗 Register your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stitched-collage-workshop-registration-1613325021569?aff=oddtdtcreator

General Timezone conversions, Eventbrite will show your local time:
3:30PM IST | 6:00PM AWST | 6:00PM HKT | 11:00AM BST | 12:00PM CEST | 10:00PM NZST

This is an invitation to reconnect with yourself, create in a safe, supportive space, and leave feeling refreshed, restored, and grounded.

02/09/2025

Two years after I thought I had graduated from my Diploma of Visual Arts, an envelope finally arrived with my official TAFE certificate inside.

When I opened it, I felt… flat. I don't what I was excepting.

For the past four years, I’ve been working as an artist — developing and delivery workshops, creating, sharing, showing up for in community. A piece of paper wasn’t what made me an artist.

When I qualified as a Transpersonal Art Therapist in 2021, I realised I’d been living as a “shadow artist” — hanging around arty stuff, holding space for others creative explorations but not fully claiming my own creative arts practice. There was artist trapped inside of me. It was screaming to come out and be seen and heard. So, I chose to study visual arts as both a treat and commitment to my inner artist. I did this without adding an pressure to my artist: No big plans, no career goals — just an opportunity to explore my own creative art practice, to put my energy where I wanted it to go, and to enjoy the process.

And I did. I followed my nose, let my art guide me, and this year I reached one of my goals: securing an artist residency.

So when the certificate arrived — words printed neatly on beautiful card stock — it didn’t look quite right to me. It didn't show my journey. So I stitched it, added the words, sparkles, scraps of fabrics left over from workshops. Ah, so much better!

For me, the certificate is not validation (although my whooping student loan sort of is 😅) — the work, the exploration, the courage to take up space as an artist, that is the real achievement.

And I couldn’t have planned it better. My inner artist is very content.

✨ A Reflection for you if you made it this far: Where have you already proven yourself (to yourself) — through the doing, the living, the learning-by-heart — even if you’ve never had a piece of paper to “prove it”?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments — share the ways you’ve honoured carving your own path, instead of following someone else’s.

P.s. Thanks to all my TAFE teachers who inspired, shared their skills and knowledge (and put up with my never-ending art angst.)

01/09/2025

Someone's been hacking up my favourite tree again.

I've posted about this tree before and how people seem to enjoy taking sharp objects to its lower trunk; carving initials, making slashes & stabs marks. But this tree can handle it, it wears its scars with pride. Every mark holds a story.

Got me wondering; what parts of myself been away by my own and others actions...

Wandering off I notice freesias are blossoming sporatically across blankets of green grass.

Ah yes, spring has arrived; I wonder what parts of me are blossoming... will they be appreciated, ripped out or carelessly stomped on.

Either way, I'll blossom regardless.

🌸