Wednesday 17th November 2010.
I can see it's been 10months since I last made an entry. What a year it has been so far. My beautiful Mum's health deteriorated and she passed away on the 12th June 2010. Before and after her passing has been very difficult for me. Mum and Henry are my 2 best friends, watching one of your best friends deteriorate and then pass away is harddddd.
On a happy note my Magpie project has been picked up again.... yeh... I have finished the first of 4 magpies and she looks wonderful. I am creating many more projects and will have a web page soon to show and sell my projects.
The fudge business has come to a stand still, just at the moment. I am still making it for gifts, but not to sell yet.
someone, anyone ...talk to me. love J-Mxxxxx

Hi all there in 'e' world,
It's 28th January 2010. It has been a while since my last entry, one month and one day to be precise.
So much has been happening, but sad to say nothing on the magpie or fudge front. Been on holidays, lots of reading, swam lots and a little embroidery.
Now getting back into the swing of life back in Melbourne. Start back at Eliza's Craft & Wool in Mt Eliza next week teaching embroidery, looking forward to that.

I must say I have been in a state of confusion re my private embroidery teaching, seem to be getting doors closed in my face.... not sure why, maybe at the moment I need to concentrate on my time at Eliza's and the items I create for them and put my own teaching on the back burner and wait and see what my higher power has instore for me. 'When one door closes another one opens' I just have to keep reminding myself of that...it's also 'progress not perfection'.

I had a bad night sleep last night and woke up at 3.45am (must have been all that chocolate I ate yesterday to make me feel better) I'm still awake its now 11am, but I have been quite productive. I finished one of my knitting projects (working on a few 3hr embroidery/knitting projects for a retreat in June for Eliza's) and wrote the instruction sheet for it..mummm very impressed with myself. It's amazing what you can do when pushed by adversity.
Coming up with embroidery ideas with insects..I love embroidering insects - dragonflies, ladybirds, snails, bees, butterflies and the occassional spider all of this before 9am actually.
Two more projects to finish today, then I will get back to my 'Magpie' project.

As far as the fudge goes, at the moment it looks like it will stay as a hobby, making it for friends and family as gifts. Too hard basket to get our kitchen altered etc to establish a registered kitchen for health dept. It's only on hold not eliminated. So if anyone out there can give me any idea's.... let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in Love and Creativity xx J-M

Hi everyone.
Well it's my 56th birthday today and I have had a sensational day.

Henry and I started with breakfast in Port Melbourne on Station Pier at Campari with Lucas my step son, Sunny his girlfriend, Bev, Don, Sunny's parents and Rod Sunny's brother. It was beautiful sitting on the decking overlooking the water, a mild morning.

Had dinner out last night also for my birthday with Shirley my sister-in-law, Wally brother-in-law, Elsa mother-in-law and of course Henry.

I have received some amazing presents, but the one I want to talk about is to do with my original inspiration to write this blog. At High Tea this afternoon with my Mum, sister Sue and best friend Ellen her husband Craig and Henry I received the cook books by Julia Child "Mastering the art of French Cooking" How amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will also revisit the movie for further inspiration.
I love cooking and I will now endevour to cook as much from these books as possible.

The movie and of course the cook books were my inspiration to get active and write this blog and to follow my dreams and make them a reality.

My Fudge adventures have been progressing rather slowly. I have been trying to source a kitchen to be able to set up for my fudge making adventure, but all toooo expensive. I may just have to do some cahnges here in our home.

I have been making so much fudge for christmas gifts, and it has been accepted with much pleasure from the recipients which spures me on even more to get into production.

I have also progressed a little with my 'Magpie' embroidery project, it is looking great.

I certainly feel very fortunate. Along with my gifts from here my o/s best friend Teresa sent me some beautiful earings...two pairs one for christmas another for my birthday plus other things for Christmas.... how fortunate am I to have such special friends in my life.

Enough for today I'd better sign off and go and talk to that wonderful husband of mine, who has made this day so special. xx love to all J-M

Welcome, seems like I deleated my opening comments...hopefully I will get use to using this technology.
I will try and remember how I started.
I was watching the movie Julie & Julia a few days ago and was inspired by there passion. Julia for her passion for cooking and writing a cook book and Julie for setting a time limit and achieving her goal, plus entering her endevours on a blog.
I also love the movie Chocolate for her passion for chocolate, making it and selling it to people for their sheer enjoyment and to totally indulge themselves.
The third movie I love is Field of Dreams. The line I love the most that inspires me is "If you build it he will come".
So I thought I would write a blog about my Creative Life and what inspires me..
I am passionate about hand embroidery and making chocolate fudge. I am also passionate about other area's of my life, but this blog is about my creative journey.
You will see and read about my current embroidery project, you will be able to follow its growth. 'The Magpie' this is a thread painting of a magpie I have been feeding for years. I take so many pictures of her and thought it's about time to embroider her and sell the finished project.
I am also starting a new business venture, making my yummy and very popular chocolate fudge.
I have been making this for family and friends for years and have been encouraged to make it to sell. So here I go................. you will be able to read how this is progressing, my highlights and hopefully not too many lowlights.
in loving creative spirit Jan-Maree

Hi, back again.
that wonderful husband of mine just helped me attach my photo. I'm ok with computers, but he is great.
Going off to the women's prison in Deer Park called the Dame Phillyis Frost Centre. I go there once every 6 weeks on a roster to do some voluntary work with women wanting to recover from alcohol related issues. Very rewarding.
Very excited to have my blog up and running, you will not only see my embroidery but alot of my activities also. Have a great day, it is actually Sunday but as this blog site originates in the USA it is on there time. xx love J-M