Written from a writing prompt - inspired by Ukraine

Something a little different from me today, inspired by the heart-renching situation in the Ukraine. One month in from the Ukraine/Russian conflict.  I have never been to Russia or the Ukraine, so the few photos I share today are from other parts of Europe in a happier time.  I really enjoyed taking photos of balconies on our trip to Spain, Malta & Italy in 2018.

This piece I wrote the other day from my writer's group home writing prompt - 

No-one answered the door, so Tina took her mobile phone out of her pocket.

With only a backpack hastily stuffed with a change of clothes and her passport, Tina had travelled all day and all night to get here. First by train, almost empty of other passengers, then hitched a ride in the back of a truck, the weary men looking askance at her. Lastly on foot through the ravaged countryside and deserted streets, hardly recognising her surroundings since her visit last spring.

How could it be that at the end of her journey no-one was here to meet her? Tina looked again at the text message from her sister asking her to come quickly…or was it pleading? She had tried to call her sister several times since leaving home, but couldn’t get through. With each kilometre she had grown more anxious.

Tina stepped back from the heavy wooden door and looked up. Above was an iron balcony and an open door with lace curtains wafting gently in and out. She glanced up and down the street. No-one was out at this early hour but she didn’t want to draw attention to herself by calling out. A lone dog snuffled around a rubbish bin.

Tina blew her warm breath into her hands and then reached for the ornate brass door knocker. The thud echoed dully within. She waited but no-one came.

She pushed on the door and it creaked slowly open. Dry leaves scattered around her feet. Stepping cautiously inside Tina scanned the deserted courtyard strewn with dying plants and broken furniture.

A cat slunk away through an open doorway. She followed and was shocked by the disarray inside. Broken tiles and debris littered the floor and plaster hung limply from the exposed roof beams.

On the gilt framed mirror on the opposite wall was one word scrawled in lipstick or was it blood – “run”

I hope you and yours are doing well. I pray for a peaceful resolution in the Ukraine, and cry for the children and families who are suffering. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Tree Street Art Safari 2022

 Hi everyone. How are you? 

The last couple of years I have exhibited at the Tree Street Art Safari market - so named because artists are hosted in the beautiful heritage style homes of the Tree Street area in Bunbury. This year due to Covid concerns for home owners, the safari was moved to Forrest Park. I wasn't sure how it would work, as I had a much smaller area than the beautiful space I have had the last few years in Banksia Street, however it ended up being a fabulous day for me. I had botanical eco-prints (also called contact printing) and photography on offer. Lots of people stopped by my stall to either purchase from me, talk to me about my work, or just say hi. It was a very busy day! 

Here is a pic of me at the Art Safari wearing a top I made out of an old upcycled sheet - first eco-printed with eucalypt leaves and then cut and sewed by me only last week! It was really cool, lightweight, and comfy and I enjoyed wearing it. 

I didn't have a chance to walk around and visit the other nearly 50 artists or take pics, but here are a few from the Tree Street Art Safari facebook page. 

A few of my eco-prints on paper, embellished with paint made from bark and ochre. 

tote bags - on upcycled cotton or hemp/cotton with calico lining - sewn by me

and upcycled tops - mostly printed with eucalypt leaves 

Wool and silk scarves - this one on the left below is kangaroo paw leaves on silk, and the orange one is eucalypt karri leaves on wool. The one below the group photo is one of the red flowering eucalypts on silk. 

Greeting cards on paper

And a few of my cushions printed with my photography

Now I need to get printing some more scarves, totes and tops for the next art market in June. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you and yours are doing well and that you forgive me for blantant self promotion today. 

I have many people to thank for their inspiration and guidance on this botanical eco-print journey..... Jane, India, Maria, Penny, Helen, Nicola, Linda, Rita, Bozena and many others including botanical print groups on Facebook. Thankyou!   

The war in Ukraine continues and the country and its people are being destroyed. I pray for an end to the bloodshed. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

March flowering trees Western Australia

 Hi everyone, just a quick post from me today as I am getting ready for an Art market this weekend. 

I have always said that there is always something flowering in the Western Australian bush. And so today a share a few flowering trees from late February and early March. 

If you click on the links you can go to where I have blogged about them individually before - Clockwise from top left - Eucalyptus grandis - Flooded gum, Corymbia calophylla sub species "rosea" - Pink Marri,  Corymbia calophylla - Marri , Myrtaceae - lillypilly (in my garden - I make jam from them!), Casuarina - Sheoak, and Eucalyptus erythrocorys - red capped gum 

These red capped gums are stunning this time of year - such a bright burst of colour. The red caps fall off to reveal the flower. 

Interestingly the marri was previously classified as a Eucalyptus species but in 1995 was reclassified as Corymbia.

It is a busy busy week for me. Here are some of the eco-print works I am getting ready for the Art market this weekend. 

And a few of my cushions with my photography. Lots of flowers of course! 

That's it from me today. I hope you and yours are well. I continued to be devestated by the news coming out of the Ukraine. And pray for a resolution. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.