Art Class At Mister Jones

Don't you love the name - Mister Jones? So...funky!

Today was our first art class at Mister Jones in Bermagui. The kids had a great time making funky clay bottles. Matt, the artist and class facilitator - I'm happy to not say 'teacher' on purpose as Matt was far from the stereotypical role of a teacher that we all know. For unschoolers like us Matt was perfect! His manner with the kids was exactly what unschoolers would want for their kids to flourish and be inspired. He was at their level - down there, on the floor, doing the clay work along side them, showing them and then working with them.

He had funky music playing and a funky little tortoise shell kitten roaming around, relaxed and chilled out in the sunny, funky studio space. I can't get away from that word. Funky, funky, funky! The bottles the kids made were pure FUNKY! Each one was individual and totally unique. The kids were entranced by Matt's class and focused and enthused and excited. Lewi turned to me a couple of times and said: "this is so much fun, mum!"

Here's some photos of the funky, Matt-Jones-at Mister-Jones fun we had today.

Thanks so much, Matt. Can't wait until next term:)

Here's a link to Matt's website. Enjoy! http://misterjones.bermagui.net/

Gypsy

Right now I'm singing...

The gypsy rover went over the hill

down to the valley so shady

He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang

And he won the heart of a laaady
Ah de do ah de do da day

Ah de do ah de da de
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang

And he won the heart of a laaady

I hope I've got the words right....Oh the days of primary school and Singing And Listening time! I loved that part of school. I still have some of the old Singing and Listening books. The Gypsy Rover was one of the songs I remember singing away to...the crackling audio recording from Singing and Listening blaring, rebounding off our classroom walls.

Whenever I see photos of gypsy caravans, I'm reminded of these days and this song. Cosy memories. Cosy nests.

I love these Boho gems. Wouldn't you love one of these gypsy caravans in your garden? I know exactly where I'd put mine. They are so beautiful and so luxurious. Keeping them dust free and clean would be stressful, I'm sure. How they do it, I don't know. Only someone like me would be concerned about that, I'm sure. OCD?????

What a wonderful visitors accommodation or nook in the garden. They'd be lovely as a kids cubby or sleep out. You could probably even use them as paying accommodation. Now that's got me thinking....So many ideas.

The boho look is a little deceptive. It looks so relaxed and easy and 'thrown together' but have you ever tried it? It's quite tricky. It's especially tricky for a neat freak like me. I struggle with going against order and clean lines. I'm working am working on it though. I have plans for my bedroom change around. The walls are very dark purple - Dulux Midnight Secret. Someone described my bedroom as 'womb-like'. I don't quite know about that but it is very cosy and inviting and I love being in that room. I plan to add a funky, boho, vintagey green to the equation. I have a gorgeous old green trunk that my lovely aunty gave to me which I intend on adding to the room. I've been madly looking online for a funky green coverlet for my bed. The pink has got to go! So hard to find exactly what I want but I'm persistent;)

If you like the boho look and would love a gypsy caravan of your own then I think you'll love these photos. Enjoy!

Nooks

Everyone needs a nook. A special little corner of your nest or garden where you can curl up, chill out, be still and let the world go by. A cup of tea, a piece of chocolate (or two!) and a good book to while away some blissful moments in the quiet and cosiness of your corner of the world are all the extras you'll need.

Everyone can make a nook for themselves. Whether your nest is large or small, rented or owned, renovated or not -a nook only needs to have a few essential items to make it special. Combine these three elements and I promise you many, many special times of rest, relaxation and recharge.

What Every Nook Needs:

1. Somewhere to sit. You might have a favourite chair or cushion, a bean bag or daybed; maybe even a rug on the floor. Anything that is comfortable and cosy and begs you to sit.

2. Something pretty. We all have things that we own which we love to look at and be surrounded by. An old vase with a bunch of flowers picked from the garden; a photo of someone we love; an ornament or nik nak, a candle....anything that gives us visual pleasure and conjures up feelings of cosiness and contentment.

3. Somewhere to put your cup of tea and chocolate. A table, an old stool, a tea chest, a wooden box, a pile of old books, an upturned metal bucket...anything that will be stable enough to hold your comfort supplies is all you need.

Here are some ideas to get your creative nook-making juices flowing. Now, where else can I make a nook in my nest?......

I love the textures of fabrics and patterns in cushions and coverlets. The layers give a cosy feeling of warmth and are a sure invitation to come and rest. I love the rustic timber of this desk. Rustic, honey-coloured timber, for me is delightful. It's my favourite timber colour. I'd love this window seat in my nest. It was something I had planned for in the design of our nest but, unfortunately, financial constraints at the time prevented it from being built. One day....

This is one of Sue Southam's (from Foxglove Spires, Tilba) favourite nooks in her garden. A gorgeous old gypsy-style caravan than she's given a boho make over. Doesn't it look inviting?

A canopy over head definitely adds to a nook. Feeling protected and cosy in a filmy womb would certainly be a bonus!

I can't go past a green chair and simple bunch of sweet peas. This spells wintry colour for me.

A cosy corner. Corners make the best nooks. The walls give an instant sense of enclosure. A comfy chair surrounded by pretty visuals; a lamp and a window to view the outdoors. The logs in a basket hint that winter is nearby. Cosy fires. Yum!

What child wouldn't love their very own tee pee nook? How cute is this tee pee and tea set? I'd love one of these in my garden. I'm sure Lewi would too! They can also be set up inside in your child's bedroom or a living space to create that special little place for your child to curl up and wind down.

This is Lewi's cubby. Unfortunately it didn't seem to give him the special nook I was hoping it would. I have learnt much about making cubbies as nooks for children. The main thing being: spending alot of money does not guarantee a good nook! Thankfully though, the smaller visitors and family do enjoy the cubby and use it as a nook away from home. I'm thinking that one day this cubby will become a chook nook....

This is my verandah nook. It's a lovely sunny spot in winter and shady place in summer. I love having birds around me at the moment, hence the mossy green one on the little table.

This is a nook in my garden that I don't actually sit in but look at from another nook (under the shade of a box elder). I guess you could call this: a view from a nook:) I love this red ladder. My Dad gave it to me and I treasure it's presence in my garden. My Dad also made the little purple bird house for my old garden in Mecklenberg St. I think it looks just as at home here, in my new place. The angel statue was also given to me by my Dad and Jo Anne for my birthday one year. This is a little nook that reminds me of my family and in particular, my Dad. I love it. As the garden grows and ages I'm sure the love will continue to grow.

Storage

There are so many ways to store our precious possessions. Built-ins are the modern way and extremely practical. They suit so many people, particularly builders of new nests. They are not the only option, however. Have a look at these lovely storage ideas. I love the old cupboards that have been converted into practical solutions for thematic storage. I’m drooling!

Suitcases and containers can be transformed into gorgeous storage spaces. I love this idea. Portable too! I have lots of suitcases that I use as part of my feathering but many of them are empty. When I see this creative use of a suitcase I am inspired to utilise mine to their full potential.

Bright and bold. Funky storage;)

The use of blackboard paint has become very popular, particularly in kitchen areas. Kids love to be able to draw in spaces other than designated ‘craft’ areas. I love the idea of being able to leave messages for family members and shopping lists for the week on these doors. The only trouble for me would be the dust factor. Dustless chalk would be good!

How cute is this? This has a very Swedish feel to it. I love those red crosses. Although this is actually a child’s bedroom, this cabinet could quite easily become the First Aid space for your nest. Like a little sick-bay corner that you can retreat to when you need it;)

This is actually Martha Stewart’s kitchen china cabinet. That’s a lot of beige plates!

How pretty! I love the soft pink and blue. My friend, Rae, would love this;)

This looks like a little converted medicine cabinet to me. What a great idea for a study or office space or even a rumpus area for the kids to have all of their bits and pieces safely and decoratively stored. We’d always be able to find a sharpener here! (Do you have that issue in your house…the disappearing pencil sharpener?).

This is such an organised way of storing kitchen ware. It’s almost like a mini kitchen on it’s own!

I love pigeon hole storage. This would be a lovely idea for my son, Lewi’s collection of fossils, skeletons and rocks. I imagine it could also be a jewellery makers heaven too.

I love seeing ribbons and paper stored as part of the feathering of a nest. Red, blue and white looks so feminine here. How lovely would it be to have a set-up like this just for wrapping gifts and storing all those bits and pieces we keep for birthdays and Christmas?

These days we have so many things...perhaps too many? But while we're debating and mulling over consumerism and trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid, of we need somewhere for it all to go....hence the importance of storage. There are so many funky storage ideas out there: trunks, suitcases, armoirs, shelves, built-ins, cabinets, tins, jars, boxes and so much more.

These are some storage ideas that I love. I hope some of them might give you some inspiration too;)