I'm going back....

I've started a new blog for my new journey back to Italy in 2014...

Flowrsinitalytake2

My first blogpost is up!

Hugs!

Dreaming of Orvieto 2014

 

I love this piece and I think it's one of my favourite pieces of this year.  I love Orvieto in the background and with her eyes closed it looks like she's dreaming about that magical place... dreaming of going back there one day.  Reminiscing about her incredible Journey there already...

 

Bill and Kristi announced that Misty will be going back to teach in Orvieto in 2014.  I went a few days after that announcement and opened up a Savings Account and called it "Italy".  And I have started saving already.  Do I dare to dream again to go back to this incredible place to paint with incredible people... I am encouraged by the people that came back for a second time this year.

 

I am hoping to expand my dream this time to include my family.  Courteney will be taking art to Grade 12 and in two years time she will be 16 so maybe this will be an incredible journey for her to do at this time.  As for Kitty - she loves history and what a perfect place to discover and learn and fill her mind with incredible stories of years gone past...

SelfPortrait

Happy Heart tonight!!!

Homework...

 

Facing my fears... working on some selfportrait pieces... our Italy homework from Misty before she left... I will keep you posted on my journey!

Little reminders...

When I was in Italy, Misty generously gave me two original pieces that were her demo's in the classroom and she gave us all 2 postcards of her artwork in our packs. All of which are just so beautiful... and honestly a real treat for me.  The chances of me ever being able to get an original of Misty's work - well who knows.  I love the prints she gave us too.  Sharon also gave us all a postcard of one of her artworks. Renee gave us all a little art gift in a little brown bag that had one of her pieces of art on it.  I had ordered one of Jenny's print before I headed to Italy and she brought me an extra print of her previous work.  Jenny also gave each of us a postcard size print of one of her paintings.  Now I have a small Misty and Jenny Collection happening.  All these lovely pieces together with 3 of my own original pieces were framed and ready to go up this weekend, in my diningroom. This area is mainly blue and white so I had been collecting white frames.  I had a general idea of what I wanted for this wall... It was lovely to see it coming together.  I would still love to add John, Lorraine and Dot's artwork to this collection! But for now I have little reminders of Italy and the beautiful people I met there... every day!

 

 

This picture doesn't completely do it justice but it's the best I could get.  This wall has completely transformed my diningroom.

 

Home Sweet Home...

38.5 hours after leaving the Monastery – I landed in Cape Town.

 

Man, it had never felt so good to get home and be welcomed back by my sweet little family, as it did on this day.  I was shattered.  It was the longest time I had ever been away from them and it wasn't something I found easy to do.  I will never forget their kindness and grace in giving me this time and space to do this. In many ways, I feel they were as brave as me to let me venture across the world to paint. I think they journeyed every step and every moment with me through Skype and Facetime, with my pictures and stories.  This was huge for us as a family, I think it's one of the most amazing and positive moments that have happened to us as a family in a long time.

 

Maybe somewhere in us living life, surviving things {really difficult things, at times} and moving swiftly through the child-raising years... we forgot to dream... Dream out loud, dream impossible dreams.  And sometimes, when we give ourselves permission to do this seemingly frivilous thing, just sometimes they come together and they become real gifts. Stolen moments in time.  Precious and cherished memories.

 

 

This trip meant so many things to me and I know I will spend months unwrapping this incredible gift that I received.  But I love what it showed my girls about following their dreams and following the call on their lives.  I love that it showed them, that sometimes I am more than just their mum and if nothing else, I know I have made them so proud of me!!

Last quiet moments in Orvieto...

I was the last one to leave Orvieto so I got to see everyone leave... One by one everyone started leaving for their long journey’s home… Misty was the first to head out and left in the early hours of Saturday morning, then John by mid-morning and then Dot and Jenny headed off in the afternoon. Saying goodbye to beautiful people is never easy.  Lorraine, Renee, Sharon and I spent most of Saturday in the studio, after a beautiful walk around the market and Orvieto.  Again, we worked late into the night painting in the studio... I cherished these final moments together.

On Sunday, Sharon and I got to spend another full day together in the studio and it was lovely having quality time with her and sharing our life stories,  practicing our new skills and learning new things from Sharon.  She too, is a wonderful teacher in her own right.  Again, Monday was full of goodbyes... I was a bit emotional about saying goodbye to my new friends but I spent my last full day in Orvieto painting quietly outside  and I also spent final moments walking the cobbles, visiting churches and taking more beautiful pictures.  Knowing I was staying a bit longer than Bill and Kristi, made me so nervous because I knew if something went wrong, I had no "go to" plan.  I had no one to phone in the case of emergency because everyone else would already be on their planes and I would be all alone in Italy.  It made me feel rather vulnerable.

 

Coming down to the Refectory on this final morning, I knew I would be dining alone.  At first I was overwhelmed by the empty room and the silence.  But after a while, the silence became beautiful to me and I so appreciated this quiet time.  I was all packed and I was ready to face my extremely long  journey home.  I knew I needed one more visit to the Blue Bar for my final cappuccino and a final Facetime chat with my hubby.  I also needed one more beautiful lingering walk around Orvieto before I headed out.  I loved all the walking we did in Italy.  I said my goodbyes to the locals who had become our friends for the week and got my bags and headed to catch my bus to the funicular…  After each accomplished step in my journey home, I let my family and Jenny know where I was.  This made me feel less alone and more connected.