Why Palestine, Why Now?
On the 8th of April 2024 I wrote: It’s all connected. I woke up this morning, Saturday, my usual routine wanting to kick in – go and spend money to start the weekend. Buy a coffee, treat myself, to feel alive after the working week. I sat with the feeling, the urge, knowing that its…
Big Feelings & Meditation – Sat Nam
I was speaking with a friend today about the experience of meditating and the bubbling up of the big feelings that often happens and can be deeply unsettling during a moment where you had perhaps hoped or expected to be doing the opposite. As I was driving home after that conversation, I noticed, as I…
The Story of the Book Bag
I have been making book bags. Not because I think this is a product that the world needs. The world doesn’t need any more products. We have enough. I’ve been making book bags because I’ve been coming back into relationship with reading. And beginning to notice what a critical skill it is for my mental health. Those…
New Moon – December 1 2024
Well we are here! The last month of the calendar year and a NEW MOON in Sagittarius. What do you want to begin today? Launch, create, commence or manifest? The new moon will be at exactly 4.21pm. How do you view rejection or failure when you don’t get what you want? What do you…
Dear Young Woman Walking an Alternative Path
Dear Young Woman Walking an Alternative Path… … Some observations I wished someone had shared with me as I stepped off the well trodden way … You are never truly alone … Although your solitude will be your greatest power and truest companion – isolation is a myth created to keep you ever doubting the…
My First Garden
If I could write an almanac of you I would Your timeline and your seasons. I would trace every leaf on the pages of my journal And press your petals between its pages. I would describe the smells and the slow growth The surprises, the planning, the fruit, the jams The weekend ritual. Mowing the…
Collapse and Create
This year, every yoga practice, permaculture principle, friendship, lesson learned, seed planted, ethic formed, prayer made, money saved and life decision has come into play. And what’s even more confronting is that every single person on this planet is going through it at the same time. I haven’t quite known how to capture this year.…
House on the Hill… In the Hill
This weekend took me up a mountain to see a house build into a mountain. The full submersion of the roof appears to have not been completed and the owners were yet to move in, but the pizza oven was fired up and people came to admire, more than anything the views at the top…
Yen Female Art Awards – Gaffa
June 2014 Last weekend I headed up to Sydney for the Staedler Yen Art Awards at Gaffa. It was a great opportunity to see the other finalists work in person and enjoy the celebration of female talent. There was an incredible diversity of work. If you are in Sydney it is worth a look before…
Slow Textiles
I heard a saying this week while listening to a talk by Tim Cope; If you have to rush, rush slowly. It has resonated with me. When I read the phrase ‘Slow Textiles’ recently on social media, my initial reaction was a quick turning of the eyes skyward – another slogan to be added to…
Birds on a Wire – Video Work
Last week I sat down for a morning meditation and looking out the window noticed a group of birds on the electrical wires outside. As they moved about amongst themselves, some coming and some going, they began to resemble the notes on a page of music. I filmed them to later translate their movement into…
Breaking the Artist Block
There’s nothing like a deadline to get the creative juices going! More and more I am finding the ability to sit and be present with the creative process is more important than the technique and application of painting itself. For me, sometimes the sense of forcing to sit and paint is physically painful and yet…
Key Hole Garden
July 2010 Well a weekend of no rain – meant getting the roses pruned and also finishing off preparations for the front key hole garden! I am determined to have produce in it by spring and the soil from the compost and piling cutting is looking great! After seeing the food forest at Southern Cross…
Cabbage Butterfly Trap
Recently at BAAG (Buleen Art and Garden) I learnt that if you tie white plastic bags to sticks the cabbage butterfly take it for another butterfly and will leave the area alone as they are territorial. Mimi has adopted this method with open egg shells which I have implemented.Then yesterday walking the dog – I…
Soil to Soul
Himalayan Institute WOW that was marathon of ideas! Very clear about his position and loved how he integrated the spiritual / political / economical / ecological. From Soil to Soul Video Conferencehttp://vimeo.com/8333632Key topic of this conference include-Value = intrinsic and extrinsic (social/spiritual/psychological and financial)-Custodianship of the land-Returning to ‘basic’ value and realising the potential of…
Moon Gardening
Moon Gardening I have always wanted to tune into the moon phase and experiment with this method of gardening. Even if there is a sceptic in me (I have no material proof yet) it is a way to organise and plan my next step in the process. Basic Guidelines For Gardening purposes we divide the…
Southern Cross Permaculture Institute
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2010 Southern Cross Permaculture Institute Queens Birthday weekend was spent at the Souther Cross Permaculture Institute taking the tour with Rick. It was fairly overwhelming to stand on the land – knowing that it had been flat grazing land just 16 or so years ago and that every tree planted had been…
CERES
Sunday 1 August 2010 I went to Ceres last Sunday to get some plants and seeds and also to check out thier permaculture design course. Some ideas that I got there included using all of our bricks to build a chimney style pot! I just loved the way it created a little landscape in the…
Toora Heritage Pear Farm – Grafting Day
Toora Heritage Pear Farm – Grafting Day Monday 16 August 2010 Toora Heritage Pear Farm Toora Heritage Pear Farm is a living museum of heritage pear species which are being cared for and propagated by the Friends of the Toora Heritage Pear Farm. This weekend – the Friends hosted a grafting workshop in order to…
David Holmgren – Melliodora Visit
Melliodora Tour – September The tour lead by David Holmgren of his property in Daylesford demonstrated to me that Permaculture is a system of care, attention and connection to the place and the people that inhabit it. Unlike other approaches that I have witnessed where the ‘low maintenance’ and ‘minimum care’ approach to a self-sustaining…
Ashwood Permaculture Project
A visit on the weekend to the Ashwood Permaculture Project Garden highlighted once again the many variations of what a Permaculture garden is. With an emphasis on education and community – this property has evolved from an empty block to a food bowl and outdoor class room for the high school and local volunteers. Because…
Inner Melbourne – Family of Four Vegie Garden Design
October 2010 An example of interplanting a veggie garden in a landscaped Suburban Garden: Notes to a Client For Background Reading on Permaculture Principles: The Essence of Permaculture Zone 1: Quick Pick / Kitchen Cupboard Pots – Lettuce / Coloured Pots of GeraniumHerbs (Rosemary/ Thyme/Parsley)Seedling NurseryChivesOreganoMarigoldsMarjoram Zone 2: Annual Veg Crops (quick pick varieties)Broad BeansSnow PeasClimbing…
Blessed Birthday
Wednesday 13 October 2010 When wisdom comes my way I recognise it as a deep blessing. It come from time which I have yet (and hopefully still) to experience. The gardens that I have tended have brought me this – through two particular women who I would like to thank for their Birthday Blessings.The first…
Permaculture and Spirit
Sunday 17 October 2010 Recently I came across the DVD “Reconnecting to Nature though Spiritual Permaculture”. It documents a conference in Hawaii whose guest speaker was Dr Leonid Sharashkin, translator of Anastasia which I had read a couple of years ago. The DVD has been playing on my mind after watching it.It asks us to re-introduce consciousness…
Upon the Earth
She had entered into the unknown territory. The inner heart she now occupied was strange and beautiful and compelled her forward. –
On Still Life
24 August 2014 I heard a quote today (and I am usually fastidious about referencing all quotes- a habit from University days), but tonight I am content to paraphrase; It is what people make, not what they say or do, that tells you about humanity. Study what they make. I have made a study of…
Fleeting Moments
Today on my daily walk I noticed a Jacaranda tree that had come into its first leaf and immediately pulled my phone out to capture this hint of Spring. I walked on with that image now safely packed away in my handbag amongst all the other paraphernalia. Where did this obsession to document fleeting moments of…
Grafting Success
2011 – Its been just about a month and the grafting has been a success. The objective for grafting came after a visit to Mama Longo’s garden last year. She wanted to have a graft of the plum tree we have here at the Miyoga Garden. Unfortunately by the time the grafting workshop at BAAG…
Fruit Tree Grafting with Graeme George
Graeme George is a National Treasure. His wealth of knowledge is like non other that I have crossed, not am likely to ever come across this life time. We were lucky enough to have him for an afternoon of grafting at the Ballarat Observatory in August. The heritage conservation of fruit trees through grafting is…
Edible Garden in the Burbs
I had the pleasure of working on a wonderful example of interplanting edibles with non edibles on this largely native garden. It reminded me that veggie gardens don’t have to stand alone – but can enhance the trees / shrubs already in place. I think this is the feel that the Spiral Bed really needs.…
Retrofitting the Suburbs: Talk David Holmgren 2012
I had the chance today to sit in on David Holmgren’s Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability at The Wheeler Centre. It was very timely. Getting into work – a colleague spoke about how crazy the amount of time it took him to commute into the City given that he lived just North/West of the CBD.…
Farm Stay – with David Arnold at Murnong
The All Season’s Permaculture course has moved into Spring and we celebrated with a Farm Stay at David Arnold’s place Murnong, at Violet Town. Having now visited several Permaculture properties, what struck me about David’s design was its clear Zones and forward thinking. Consideration to succession planning was not obvious at first, but after spending…
EARTH
May the EARTH element nourish you. May you surrender your weight and worries to her. May you honour her in return. This precious home.
Sea of Stars
One morning, he woke up and considered – if everything truly is connected then she was that moon, that star and the earth upon which he hopped. And sitting in that moment, as he fell in love with it all, down to his tail and up to his ears, he relaxed. May the moonlight guide…
Little Deaths
I have recently been using short prose to unlock the unspoken experiences that accompany death.
The Unknown – Upon the Earth
She had entered into the unknown territory. The inner heart she now occupied was strange and beautiful and compelled her forward. –
Upon the Earth – series launched
This weekend was a beautiful Summers day to print the second image for the Upon the Earth series and they are now available exclusively at Segue at Stratford during the Christmas Market and will then become available online. Upon the Earth started with a few simple words. Upon the Earth We Live We…
Upon the Earth Series – ‘On the Wires’
She didn’t look like the others with their long wing span nor could she echo their song. But each time they met on the wires – she puffed out her chest and allowed her heart to gently rock as they landed then lifted off once again.
Ties That Bind
How do we define our sense of belonging? And what happens in those moments when an absence is felt or a new presence enters? The death of my grandfather who blessed me with afternoons spent painting in his shed drew these questions into sharp focus. I suddenly became aware of the preciousness of seemingly mundane…
Breaking the Artist Block
There’s nothing like a deadline to get the creative juices going! More and more I am finding the ability to sit and be present with the creative process is more important than the technique and application of painting itself. For me, sometimes the sense of forcing to sit and paint is physically painful and yet…
Upcoming Exhibition
Moving from Melbourne to Gippsland two years ago in October has altered the way I perceive people, place and the fragility of what we perceive as permanence and the present moment. This exhibition will mark that journey by exploring the threads and ties that bind us through video installation and a series of paintings depicting…
Birds on a Wire
Last week I sat down for a morning meditation and looking out the window noticed a group of birds on the electrical wires outside. As they moved about amongst themselves, some coming and some going, they began to resemble the notes on a page of music. I filmed them to later translate their movement into…
The Nutrition Pod
The Nutrition Pod in Sale is the latest stockist to support locally made, bespoke products from the Lilliane Wilde range. This general store in the main street of Sale offers the old-school service of whole foods, bought in bulk and sold for individual consumption in the tradition of the co-op! What a relief to see…
Silkscreen on Hemp – memories of the Kimberly
The first cold night in the new studio! This design was sketched in the deserts of the Kimberly last year. Unlike painting, silk screening pushes me to condense an object/image into its most concentrated form. Stripped of tones, and shadows in the conventional sense, how do you convey these things to the eye while…
Still Life Set up Sunday
Had a lovely lazy Sunday down at the local bowls club followed by some still life set up time – working with the themes of object, weight and the experience of time and memory. Why do some objects gather soo much value while others we are happy to leave by the side? These kitchen scales…
Slow Textiles – another slogan for the Hipster Dictionary?
I heard a saying this week while listening to a talk by Tim Cope; If you have to rush, rush slowly. It has resonated with me. When I read the phrase ‘Slow Textiles’ recently on social media, my initial reaction was a quick turning of the eyes skyward – another slogan to be added to…
1920s inspired Shirt Design
A sneak peek of a new shirt design that is just about at completion! The inspiration for the silhouette of this design came from the female fashion of the 1920s, when women were exploring a freedom of expression that, for me represents strength and femininity combined.This top is constructed with fabric from my vintage collection,…
On Still Life
I heard a quote today (and I am usually fastidious about referencing all quotes- a habit from University days), but tonight I am content to paraphrase; It is what people make, not what they say or do, that tells you about humanity. Study what they make. I have made a study of what people make…
Vintage Patchwork, Silk Screen Denim + Accessories = all my favourite things
Silk screened denim, patch-work pieced vintage wool and velvet, a sampling of hessian and a vintage button to fasten these lined purses brings together all that is delicious is the world of textiles. Available in three sizes, clutch, case and purse at Etsy.
Yen Art Award at Gaffa
Last weekend I headed up to Sydney for the Staedler Yen Art Awards at Gaffa. It was a great opportunity to see the other finalists work in person and enjoy the celebration of female talent. There was an incredible diversity of work. If you are in Sydney it is worth a look before it closes…
Peasant Top – Variation on a Theme
With much delight I have noticed the Peasant top making a come back. This variation was made with B4686 Butterick (A). I strayed from the pattern slightly and found the instruction for the collar useless. To create the contrasts, I reversed the front inlay to make a feature of it (see detail photos below)…
House on the Hill … in the Hill
This weekend took me up a mountain to see a house build into a mountain. The full submersion of the roof appears to have not been completed and the owners were yet to move in, but the pizza oven was fired up and people came to admire, more than anything the views at the top…
Footpath rescue project: Re-Webbing Made Easy
When you see a chair on the side of the road such as this – how can you leave it to get rained on? Quite simply you can’t! This is not the first rescued piece of furniture that has made its way into my car boot! It is one of…
Underpainting – Still Life
At this stage I’ve completed most of the shadow work and under-painting, with some detail started on the camera, string and bowl. This camera was inherited from a collection that my Grandfather had build over many years. The collection moved from shelves inside his house to needing its very own outhouse at the back of…
Silk Screen for Quilts
I recently combined the Bunny and Moon Silk Screen Design on two quilts. One for a full size single and the other a Baby Quilt. The hill that the bunny is sitting on provided the perfect space to embroider a blessing for bub. I combined Vintage Fabrics with a collection of Kimono scraps from Made…
2014 Yen Art Award Finalists
Very excited to have been selected as one of the 2014 Yen Art Award Finalists. For a full list of the finalists see: 2014 Staedtler Yen Art Award Finalists
Made for Maffra
Available from next week! Take a road trip to this gorgeous small town in Gippsland.
Customised Meditaiton Cushions
This lovely pair of meditation cushions were custom made with fabric sent to me by my customer. I added the handle from my collection. When creating any item, an important part of the process for me is having the person who will be using it in mind. My motivation for making something out of nothing…
Hemp Tea Towel – at Stratford on Avon
The town of Stratford on the river Avon is home to the Stratford Courthouse and Segue Art Cafe where you can find a small vegetable garden, theatre, coffee and arts/crafts Cafe. You can also now purchase the Patch range of Hemp Tea Towels here. For more information about the Courthouse Theatre see: http://www.stratfordcourthouse.com.au/index.html
Raised Vegetable Garden for Renters
Gardening for renters can be a fruitful experience with a little planning and some open discussion with your agent. With a series of heat waves and all of my transplanted plants already showing the stress of being uprooted I was looking for an alternative to slowly dying pot plants. When I constructed this raised veggie…
India Flint
I first discovered India Flint while browsing the Hard Backs at my local Bookstore, when it still existed! Her book ‘Eco Colour’, once picked up could not be put down. India Flint is the Australian Guru of Natural Dying Fabrics. There is no better Coffee Table Companion for the textile enthusiast. Except perhaps, her more…
The Beauty of Buckwheat
You may have heard of Buckwheat, perhaps in a Japanese Restaurant while ordering a plate of Soba noodles. Buckwheat hulls are dark outer shell of the buckwheat husk and are ideal as a weight bearing cushion filler due to their durability and strength. It is also noted that due to the amount of air circulating…
Still Life Set Up Process
Most of the work in a still life is getting the right set up. I have recently been working with objects as narrative and wanted to share the set up process. I start with a collection of objects and usually put too many together and slowly take them away until the right combination comes about.…
Hemp Fabric
Why Hemp The choice of Hemp and Hemp/Cotton blends for the Lilliane Wilde tea towel range was both practical (it is a top quality, anti-bacterial, hardy fabric) and ethical (Hemp plants can be grown quickly, without the need for pesticides and without the need for as much water as cotton alone). The use of Hemp…
Who is Lilliane Wilde?
The business Lilliane Wilde has evolved over many years from a passion towards arts, craft, the environment and the power of relationship with the objects we use everyday to our sense of well-being.I recently moved to Gippsland to slow down and have more time to create. When I told my family, my Mum shared the…
Grafting Wtih Graeme George
Graeme George is a National Treasure. His wealth of knowledge is like non other that I have crossed, not am likely to ever come across this life time. We were lucky enough to have him for an afternoon of grafting at the Ballarat Observatory in August. The heritage conservation of fruit trees through grafting is…
Farm Stay at David Arnold’s Murnong Permaculture Property
The All Season’s Permaculture course has moved into Spring and we celebrated with a Farm Stay at David Arnold’s place Murnong, at Violet Town. Having now visited several Permaculture properties, what struck me about David’s design was its clear Zones and forward thinking. Consideration to succession planning was not obvious at first, but after spending…
Retrofitting the Burbs
I had the chance today to sit in on David Holmgren’s Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability at The Wheeler Centre. It was very timely. Getting into work – a colleague spoke about how crazy the amount of time it took him to commute into the City given that he lived just North/West of the CBD.…
The easiest Compost Pile Technique
I saw this technique on gardening Australia. Two stakes – either side, and alternate dry / wet piled high. I supported the pile by putting a narrow baboo stake through the centre. I added thistle and comfrey to assist the break down. Lets see… time will tell!
Cauliflower
About three weeks ago I was weeding around the plum tree and thought what a shame that the Cabbages I had planted beneath had bolted. My efficient-self was eager to pull them out and add them to the compost bin. Another quiter-self said, not now. Lucky they didn’t get the yank… as I got a…
Linda Eldredge on Radio National
Today while listening to the bush Telegraph on Radio National – Linda Eldredge’s description of working the land while referencing her apps via her iphone and making the paddock her office got the host and in turn myself very excited. Although determined not to be online 24/7 and therefore holding off the temptations from my…
Grafting Success
Its been just about a month and the grafting has been a success. The objective for grafting came after a visit to Mama Longo’s garden last year. She wanted to have a graft of the plum tree we have here at the Miyoga Garden. Unfortunately by the time the grafting workshop at BAAG was organised…
Tips for Breastfeeding Mothers
One: Have the right Chair Arm rests on both sides Straight backed chair Not too deep The right height so that the feet can be flat on the ground Lift the feet on a rest so that the knees are parallel to the the hips or slightly above Two: Cushion for Mum and a Cushion…
Grafting Workshop
Well this weekend I put a Doc Hog onto a Granny Smith. Sounds like the promo of a British Crime TV series. But no, I was grafting. Having learned the basics with Neil last year at the Toora Heritage Pear and Apple Farm it was time to weild a grafting knife myself. The workshop was…
Winter 2011
Last Days of Winter! This week I have potted up some Raspberry sticks – and got a bit ambitious and a wee bit eager for Spring/Summer by purchasing some Eggplant Seedlings – but just couldn’t resist. The Kale seeds from last year have produced some hardy little seedlings. I’m hoping they don’t bolt too quickly…
Carding Wool
Having purchased some carding brushes I have looked to the women of the world to show me how to wield these simple brushes of golden goodness. This is my favourite video – I feel so blessed to be able to sit in my lounge room sharing this woman’s domestic space. Truly the wonder of technology.
Last days of Winter in Melbourne
This weekend was about seeking out the old in the new on a cold sunny winters day – I LOVE MELBOURNE in Winter
Soylent Green
I recently came across the Sci-Fi Classic Soylent Green. This movie came to my attention in an introduction by Thomas Fischbacher for the transcript of Bill Mollison’s PDC Course (see below). Set in 2022 and made in 1973 it got me thinking about our own 50 year vision. What do we imagine the year 2061…
Landline Biological Farming
Watching Landline this weekend I was really happy to hear the average Aussie farmer embracing the concept that there is life in our soil that needs respecting – a turn about which has occurred since the increased price in petrol and fertilizers … but also was rather amused that we have to hear it from…
William Kamkwamba on building a windmill | Video on TED.com
Another use for a bike! William Kamkwamba on building a windmill | Video on TED.com
Pressing Olives
The Olive season crept up on me this year. Was it really one year ago that I was up the ladder in the Olive tree? This year – Mimi found an article in Vasili’s Good Gardening for Pressing Olives and this is the method I’m working on (See Good Gardening Magazine p. 75). It is…
I’ll Meet You There by Rumi
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn’t make any sense. Rumi
Inspirational Edible Garden
I had the pleasure of working on a wonderful example of interplanting edibles with non edibles on this largely native garden. It reminded me that veggie gardens don’t have to stand alone – but can enhance the trees / shrubs already in place. I think this is the feel that the Spiral Bed really needs.…
Mama Longos Garden
For several years we have received beans at the Yoga Centre. Just writing this evokes images of Giants and Bean Stalks!! Well the origin of our Beans is just as magical as the tale goes … Mama Longo! Joe’s mum has grown these beans for many years and this weekend I was very lucky to…
Borage And Bees
Borage Borago officinalis Fam: Boraginaceae Well as Summer draws to an end – the fruiting season may be over – but the Autumn Harvest is just beginning!!! First crop of the season … Borage Seedlings. We had two Borage Plants which have sprung a family of seedlings in the Buffalo grass – so before I…
Potato Crop
What a crop of Potatoes … this plot was built up with grass clippings / weed waste and then heavily planted with potatoes … the soil is now prime for veg. I have just put a cucumber plant in here – late in the season but will see. Have planted them around various parts of…
Design Ideas from Ceres
Structure is what makes the large space of Ceres such a success – it was an incredibly hot day to be there – but provided the perfect day to appreciate just how important design is in maintaining a friendly relationship with the elements! Some design features: Particularly like the use of rustic with good quality…
Overcoming the Cabbage Butterfly and Companion Planting
Well I couldn’t stand it any longer and have re-installed the cabbage butterfly traps – They have had a great munch on the Sunflower leaves – so at least those aren’t edible!! I had to completely cut down my native passionfruit vine due to their infestation – that was it war was declared – here…
Summer 2011
Today was the first day in some while I have made it into my own garden!! What I found is over whelming – produce just as galore as the weeds. The tomatoes are going off – however – so too are the caterpillars – I have gotten slack with the white butterfly traps and watch…
Soil to Stars 