Stoked

6:56 a.m.

My "stoked" happy face after my swim...

Stoked: adjective - excited or euphoric 

13.7 degrees sea temperature...

What makes you happy? 

Shirley xx 

Let go..

I have been away on a holiday to visit my Mom, friends and family in Durban.

It's always good to go back and visit old friends and spend time with my Mom who is so frail at the moment. But what I realised when I was away were all the things I missed! The things that I value. The things that are so meaningful in my life. 

This gave me perspective on my life...and it was such a good thing! 

This tidal pool that I have been swimming in everyday for the past 6 months is one of the things I missed the most! 

It is so good to be home. 

We live in paradise..

Hold on to what matters. Let go of the rest. 

Sea temperature: 13.4 degrees ( it felt so much colder ) 

What do you value in your life?

What makes your life meaningful? 

Have a wonderful Monday 

Shirley xx 

Swimming and my Blooming Business!

Wow! SO much has happened since I last posted.

This is the exciting story so far...

I made a jug during the school holidays and because my passion is birds and flowers I put a little Gorgeous Bushrike on the top (in sculptural form) and in detail on the front.

After the final glaze firing, I posted a picture on Instagram and my personal Facebook page. From that one vintage jug - I got so many orders that it has turned into a little business!

I am so excited to share my journey on my blog!

I have added many more pieces to my range and created a website. You can go take a look at my work at shirleyceramics.com

I have posted all over South Africa and to Australia and France! So exciting! I have just got an order from a friend in Spain.

I want to blog my progress to share my love and passion for birds and flowers and also the slow but wonderful craft of clay and handmade and handpainted.

My pictures and thoughts will also be of my daily life as I swim everyday in a beautiful Tidal Pool just 15 minutes from my house.

I am also  a full time Mom to two teenage girls which is wonderful but it can be very overwhelming and stressful at times.

I hope you enjoy coming on this journey with me as I share my thoughts and pictures of life as a Mom and potter.

Please comment and share your thoughts about motherhood, creativity for the soul or even just to say "Hi"

This is Dalebrook pool - where I go every morning to swim! It ismy "happy place" and absolute  bliss!! 

My work and some of my orders ready to "fly " to their new homes! 

These are my little bowls with pressed ferns and local fynbos from Cape Town, South Africa 

I use the Roberts bird book to get accurate detail and colours when painting the birds. 

The Gorgeous Bushrike and King Protea Butter Dish 

One of my favourite orders for a customer is this Kingfisher jug. 

It is the beautiful blue Malachite Kingfisher and the stunning Pied Kingfisher 

Have a wonderful day! 

Shirley xx 

Follow your curiosity

This is my hexagon blanket I have been busy making 

for my new little nephew who was born in March. 

I am so happy with the way it has turned out and already have plans to 

start a new one! I love the colours and how they work so well together.

My favourite yarn to use is Moya Yarn. It is 100% organic cotton, hand dyed

and so lovely and soft to work with. I am selling this yarn so if you are interested

just send me an email.The catalogue of colours is amazing! 

Sweet hexagon dreams. 

Footprints in our hearts.

I have been scrapbooking the sunsrise and sunsets in April.

This photo was taken at our favourite beach which is a few minutes away from us.

The weather at this time of year has been amazing! 

 Beautiful Fish Hoek beach! 

We were so blessed to go away a few weeks ago for the weekend 

to Franschoek. We went to Haute Cabriere which is a stunning wine farm 

with breathtking views.

 On the weekend  we decided to hike up Lions Head. It was a tough climb up boulders

and up ladders but the view from the top was so worth 

all the effort! 

On top of the world! Magical Cape Town!

I was so happy to spend some time with my "big" sister who was 

visiting Cape Town for a few days! 

Have an awesome week! 

xx

Hello January 2016

 We ended off  December 2015 with a celebration lunch with our friends and family! It was such a wonderful time to chat and laugh and look back at an amazing 2015! I give thanks for the dream of travelling to Paris and also spending Christmas with my family and also catching up with friends! Grateful beyond words!  I made a little embroidered hoop for each of my family and friends just to say "Thank You" for their love and friendship! 

This little bunny has found a very loving home with my daughters sweet friend. She loves her bunny! 

These little hexagons are growing very slowly! This is a baby blanket for my niece who is expecting her first baby at the end of March! I need to make time to finish this blanket soon!!

The hippo is probably my favourite little animal to crochet! The little hippo and monkey are for an order and will be travelling overseas to Canada! 

The animals all wrapped and ready to deliver!

Christmas in Durban 2015! 

We had such an amazing time staying with my brother over Christmas! We had time to relax by the pool, read and have many swims! The heat and humidity in Durban is extreme at this time of year! 

Emma is my brothers beautiful Newfoundland! She even gets into the pool on those humid summer days! 

Durban beachfront is a beautiful place to run, cycle, walk! We spent many hours down at the sea, swimming in the warm ocean and cooling off!! My favourite place to be in Durban! It brought back such wonderful memories of my time on the beach with friends when I was growing up! There is a lovely restaurant to have breakfast too!! 

These are the largest chelsea buns I have ever seen! You don't get these in Cape Town! Guess what? We had many of these!! 

The beautiful warm ocean of Durban! We had so many lovely swims and  such fun being tossed about by the strong waves! My favourite place to be! 

Back home in Cape Town now and we are getting ready for the school year to start tomorrow! 

There is nothing quite like coming home to your own bed, my dogs who I missed so much and realising how spoilt we are to live in Cape Town! The most beautiful city!! 

 

The sun only sets after 8 p.m. and so we often take a picnic supper down to the beach and then have a swim! The water is not as warm as Durban but very refreshing! 

There is always time for an ice cream!! Chocolate in a sugar cone! 

 We took a trip into Cape Town to have lunch with my husband at an interesting place filled with art and beautiful decor and restaurants! Along the way we discovered some street art!! I absolutely love street art!! 

 2016 is going to be amazing!! Go and have a ridiculously amazing week! 

Shirley xx