It All Matters
Every little bit counts. Going back over the year, I am reminded of all...
Inspire Uplift Heal Nature Creativity
Inspire Uplift Heal Nature Creativity
Every little bit counts. Going back over the year, I am reminded of all...
This time of year has in the past been a time of mixed feelings. Xmas...
It’s that time of year again – the silly season has arrived!...
Back in the early 90s I read a book called “Crystal Mission”....
Man oh man – I’ve been going back through the year,...
Thoughts today of swimming through murky waters, polluted, searching for...
Well the house was a flurry of visitors today! From 10am onwards, we had...
I was sitting in a cafe today reading a wonderful book about indigo...
You know when you’ve forgiven someone. You totally and completely...
Often we question life – why me? Why now? But if we lived...
It has been one of the most important things in my life up until this...
Layer upon layer upon layer in between gaps and shapes and on top of...
There’s this lady that bikes past our house. She looks middle age...
It’s lovely waking up in the morning at 5am to chirping birds...
We were out again today capturing kōrero from a koroua about a...
Dear Mum, It was lovely talking to you today. You always remind me of...
No matter how hard you try to go against the flow of life, the wind will...
I was out at Wainui today for a hui and man it was so nice to be by the...
This rock is an extension of yesterday’s rock but instead of being...
I had a deep yearning today to be in other lands, it was only for a few...
A gift to another – it does not take a lifetime for a gift given to...
Teia comes home from school yesterday and I was playing the beautiful...
I’ve been in a state of excitement and tiredness today. Tired...
Tō mātou waimarie kua tae mai ngā reo waiata ataahua kei waenga i a...
You know, some people may be disappointed about a National led govt, I...
At the end of the day – we are all human. We feel, we laugh we cry....
Well I’ve just returned home from a 60th birthday and I’ve...
What matters today, right here, right now? So many things swishing around...
I remember the feeling of selling my first piece of art work, there was...
I love it when I talk to our old people – they are just a big kete...
When you let go of expectation, it’s amazing at how things turn out....
You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free – I was...
Memories of a Crescent Moon… Sitting high in the sky on a crescent...
Green green green! It’s been on my mind all day today! I love green...
We were just talking tonight about learning in mainstream school and...
You know, I really love weeds and just today we pulled all of our weeds...
I painted this rock today directly in front of my eyes – I held it...
Well – one of my lovely friends Jack Gray suggested yesterday that...
Well today I thought I could just come to my blog and start writing my...
Looking back over the past 316 days I’ve come full circle and gone...
It’s been one of those days full of stuff! I don’t know what...
I ngā rangi tata nei, kua rere atu tōku wairua ki tōku kainga i...
Whenever he sung, he sung from his heart. Michael Jackson for me is THE...
It’s important to tell our stories. Looking back over the past 300+...
I haven’t painted a small rock like this for a while but out of all...
So many things floating around in my mind… actually, whizzing around in...
Flying on a plane in the realms of Ranginui today, the bumps and noise and...
I’ve always loved the stars. As a kid we lived in a village away...
The first word that came to mind when I was painting this kohatu was...
I hold the earth in the palm of my hand. I am 100% responsible for my...
Don’t you just love a bloody good laugh! You know that deep belly...
We’ve had heaps of birds around lately including the tui who are out...
I started painting this rock today and then I said to myself, stuff it,...
When I think of red and yellow I remember my assignments I used to do in...
I am always in awe of nature – the rhythms, shapes, colours, sounds,...
Green is one of my favourite colours (with purple) and I don’t know...
I visited the Osteopath today – don’t you just love the...
I’ve been fully aware that ever since I returned from overseas, the...
Listening to my ocean music today, I painted this rock. Hearing the waves,...
So we’ve won the Rugby World Cup which is fantastic – you can...
So this is the day! We’ve just finished pizza and are now getting...
I’ve painted two stones today – one for my darling niece...
We went to the beach today – it was a beautiful day and there were...
I felt like I was in a scene from Finding Nemo when I was painting this...
People are brought into your life for a reason – you may know them...
Teia says to me, that’s not a lot of paint on there and Todd says,...
So many things I could talk about today… The way the kōwhai flowers...
Now I know I’ve got a bit of a challenge posting this rock tonight...
We’ve just got home from Taradale so I’m posting my rock that...
When choosing a photo of a rock that I’ve painted, I don’t...
I thought it was about time for a change of scenery – looking at all...
I remember when I first started painting kohatu 13 years ago – I...
Oil. Slimy, greasy black pile of fresh cow dung substance, you remind me...
I was low on energy today but was very inspired by a host of wahine Māori...
This is another post I’ve been wanting to share for a while. We live...
Today’s rock is full of things… life’s many...
When opportunity knocks be prepared. I learnt a big lesson tonight, I...
Who do you reckon wins? The teacher of course! I’m totally and...
I started writing today about all the things I remember as a...
I wonder sometimes after I’ve painted a rock – now where did...
I’m coming to the end of my fourth decade – so do the...
It’s one of those days where I’m neither here nor...
I decided to write about today’s rock by looking at the rock, seeing...
It’s a great feeling to achieve something. To finish a project or an...
I’m painting this rock today for Brazil and the Xingu indigenous...
A different kōrero today to what I’ve been posting over the past...
I woke at 4.30am this morning! Great – jet lag is well and truly...
I got off the plane last night here in Gisborne; raining and cold…...
Written while flying from Singapore to Aotearoa – Sun 25th Sept...
Sitting in a quiet space at Changi Airport Singapore. I discovered this...
I just finished painting this rock as the sun rose in Doha – and...
I’m leaving Istanbul in a few hours and I must say I’m feeling...
I’ve lost count how many times people have tried to sell carpets to...
Well I was going to a workshop today only to get there and it had been...
I am totally fascinated by the side streets here in Istanbul –...
Catching up on sleep today. I woke at 10am Istanbul time and went on a bus...
He atua – he tangata He atua – he tangata Those words are...
Today I had more insight into how the Turkish people operate and have come...
I’ve been feeling a little homesick now and then. Yes I am having an...
Such an eventful day – I don’t know where to start! I listened...
Uncontainable – it’s part of the title of our exhibition which...
I am in love with turkish delight. Not the turkish delight I remember as a...
Merhaba – kiaora – so I’ve made it to the heart of...
Someone needs to invent a dictophone thing that can dictate your thoughts...
So I’m up at 6.30am this morning painting my rock because when I get...
Today I began my journey to the other side of the world… as I walked out...
What a day! That’s all I want to say – nah just kidding : )...
Has anyone seen the Bee Movie? Oh my gosh – this is such a COOL...
I had to look back through all 200 and something rocks to see if I had...
Compassion and Love – the two things I believe that have the ability...
How often in a day do we judge? In my quest to be non-judgmental, I learnt...
Today’s kohatu is definitely “me” right now –...
Do you see white or do you see blue? Do you see grey or do you see...
I have a mind map on the wall with a BIG “Mahi To DO” in the...
To be in awe like a child, satisfied with the simplest of things… Oh...
Ahi Kaa – the hot embers glowing remind me of my ancestors crouched...
Tuia i runga Tuia i raro Tuia i roto Tuia i waho Tui tui tuia I remember...
I cast my mind back to Jan 1st 2011. FEAR. Fear was fully there and I...
I love this rock but I didn’t really enjoy painting it to begin with...
This is a pretty fired up rock! It contains all sorts of things –...
I was out in the back yard choosing my rock today and much to my delight,...
I find a rock to paint, choose my paints from an old adidas shoe box,...
Every day before school I would look forward to opening my lunchbox to see...
I came to the end of another book today. The book is called...
Not often do I speak directly about the rock that I have painted, the...
I got home today and sat thinking hmmmm what am I gonna do? Not like I...
Colours of passion and fire and action and balance. I photographed this...
Now and then, I ask myself, how do I do this? It’s nearly Sept and...
I’ve been thinking heaps about what is happening in our world today...
Today I stumbled on lessons – more lessons and answers to...
I’m sending a message today from my dear friend Ilka who is...
I was given these two stones to paint while in Australia a couple of...
I am totally (totally!) convinced now that you can bring forth whatever...
In my tiredness, I’m writing a post about my carbon footprint....
Does anyone else read the newspaper from right to left, from back to...
I sat to paint my rock today and I had all these thoughts in my mind about...
Today’s rock and the three rocks before have all been very small...
Do not hold on to past grudges…unless you want them to hang on like...
Ross Bennett reminded me of an experience we had while I was living in...
E iti noa ana na te aroha. Even though my gift is small, it is given with...
A smooth blue sheet behind a painted textured rock… Texture is bumpy...
Our tamariki these days are so lucky. Many still have their grandparents...
We have a white picket fence at the front of our house. Wikipedia defines...
Just before I wrote this I was having a look back through all the rocks I...
Tonight I heard many stories of past told by Māori from around the...
One of the most stunning things I remember about living in Taranaki are...
We went to Pecha Kucha tonight and I left there feeling so full and...
Be kind, because you never know what a person has experienced in their...
Ko te pū te more te weu te aka te rea te waonui te kune te whe te kore te...
Winter is well and truly here! Right now, I’m picturing my maunga...
I have memories of going into the bush to play alone as a child. I would...
I never know what is going to come out on the rock until after I’ve...
I love the way of light; it’s ability to reflect the essence of...
If the ocean was to disappear, life as we know it would not exist. Water....
I was driving through a community today and it took me right back to when...
It’s the name of a movie I just finished watching. Two woman are in...
Wrapping myself up in a blanket of aroha and warmth, feeling the need to...
“Ko hūpē, ko roimata hei whakamauru noa i te mamae e kai kino nei,...
We had a massive time at Matapuna training centre today. We were there to...
I learnt three things today… 1. Now I see that I must give what I...
We had a lovely whanau come over tonight and bring us some kai (food) as a...
I want to say THANK-YOU to everyone who has stopped by these pages to...
I was reading John’s book today and I laughed so hard, like deep...
Sometimes when I paint a rock, it’s easy. I can paint it in ten...
Gosh, it’s taken me a while to write this post! So I’m just...
This is my mantra for the day that I created this morning as I sat down to...
Leadership has nothing to do with your ability to accumulate riches. If...
I was up early this morning to catch the bus to the airport and as I...
I’m in Auckland for the night performing live with composer and...
I watched a documentary today – a pilgrimage that our whanaunga from...
You know when you’re out somewhere, maybe at an exhibition opening...
Mate atu he tētēkura, hara mai he tētēkura. As one fern frond dies,...
I’ve had three people in the last couple of days say to me that the...
I love stretching… I listen to my body and find places where stress...
We were talking the other day about how cheap it is for kids to buy fizzy...
I want to tell a story today, it is one of many stories that pop up now...
This rock is very definite today; the lines and colours are solid and...
I was walking today, being present in my surroundings and I was amazed at...
I’ve just looked back over the past few days and realised that the...
Why do I paint koru? A friend prompted me to write about this, when she...
I heard this kōrero today from Trevor Moeke – the regional manager...
Marie my osteopath was talking to me about the physical body today and how...
As we head into the second half of the year, I find myself delving deeper...
We watched Operation 8 tonight at the Dome Cinema here in Gisborne. I...
I listen to my heart because this is where my truth lives, and my truth...
It’s one of those times when I’ve got so much to do and I want...
I’ve been prompted today to think about what really...
We’re here at Pungarehu marae beside the Wanganui river and...
In Wanganui at the moment with Todd for his final te reo o Wanganui...
I flew from Gisborne to Auckland, Auckland to Wanganui today. The trip to...
Puanga kai rau – an abundance of food at Puanga… Ngā mihi o...
So I’m home and grounded but I feel like I’m on cloud nine!...
The kahu (hawk) followed me all the way home today. Every corner I turned,...
I was pleasantly surprised when I boarded the plane home today and the guy...
Di gave me The Alchemist by Coelho to read and so it is coming home with...
Cousin Tina picked me up today so it was nice to catch up with her and...
Memories of times gone by, beautiful healing with Di, present moment,...
I woke this morning in the bush, a stunning day and something happened...
In nature – seeing is feeling… the leaves talk to me… I was...
This place is so alive. Floating Land is over and I’ve said goodbye...
Sunday 5th June – today is the last day of Floating Land and the...
Floating Land is nearly over and I’m feeling a little sad to be...
I woke up this morning to birds singing and when I came down to the space...
These two ducks went swimming by today. Well, paddling or swimming,...
There’s this amazing tree in the space beside the lake where I am...
Something shifted in me today. I’ve felt something shift everyday...
I feel so privileged to be working with these natural pigments of the...
I had my first workshop today – it was a stunning day! I woke up...
10am Sat 28th May 2011 I’ve arrived at Boreen Point to feel the...
8.30am At midnight last night (Thurs 26th) after I had packed my bags, I...
I know you fallas know what I’m talking about! Trudy and I were...
I got lost today. It took me three hours to travel from Hamilton to...
Painting this rock was the first thing I did today. I had a million and...
I want to talk about this photo today. It reminds me of being “rough...
I’m on the road again soon, on a journey to another land, to...
I was reminded today that it is really important to pay attention to our...
I’ve always been fascinated by how peas grow all in a row in a pod!...
Our Māori language is so beautiful. It is conceptual and meaningful and...
I’m planning my last session with art students tomorrow and...
It’s been a while since I’ve painted a simple koru, so decided...
There’s a heap of political stuff happening at the moment. And...
The last two days, I’ve really tried to be present with everything...
I watched a daddy long legs spider do something very interesting today....
I really thought I wasn’t going to be posting this rock today! I...
We are a society of followers following the leader. There is so much...
I’ve always been of the mind that we shouldn’t shape artists,...
Yesterday I heard a version of the waiata ‘Totara Tree’...
To make it right. One of our pahake told me, this is what ‘ka tika...
I was having a conversation with a friend via email and she asked me about...
I was watching this koroua on Māori TV tonight and he was sharing his...
I’ve been asked recently, “where do you find your inspiration...
I’m amazed at all the wonderful comments that I get with the rocks...
When I went outside today to hang the washing out, the ground was still...
I remember when I was living on the mountain in Taranaki, I had a pink...
Life is so fluid sometimes isn’t it? – well my life is anyway!...
It’s the day after returning home from being on the road. Driving...
We came home to Gisborne today. It’s so nice to be home and grounded...
On our way through Waverley today, we stopped off at a glass studio. It...
Tūngia te ururua kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te...
I’m looking out the window at the harakeke and tī-rākau swaying in...
Hokia ki tō maunga kia purea ai koe e ngā hau a Tāwhirimātea Return to...
Today in Aotearoa it is ANZAC day – a day to remember all those...
I’ve never really been one to celebrate Easter. When I was going to...
I never know how these rocks are going to turn out until I’ve...
I’m still on the theme of breath today…I spent a good hour...
I had a wonderful conversation with a good friend in Oz today. We always...
It’s a funny title for a post but have you sat and watched ants in...
Doesn’t it feel great to finish something? You know when you are...
I’m in one of those breathe in breathe out moods where my wick is a...
I remember as a child listening to the sea inside a shell. I thought it...
Am sending Papatūānuku peace and calm right now just after hearing of a...
This is the third time that I’ve painted black on to a rock and I...
I love uku and the works of art that are fashioned from Papatūānuku....
I believe in collective consciousness. I believe that as a global...
It was a real challenge to paint this rock today. Layer upon layer upon...
It’s been one of those days where I’ve just felt like curling...
Six Pixels of Separation – It’s the title of a book I’ve...
I was inspired today by a kōrero from an Irish woman who had been blind...
We have some lovely Māori kupu and pāua is one of them! pāua – A...
This is the first day that I’ve really felt the cold! I’m...
I don’t think we play enough! We take life too seriously sometimes...
Yesterday’s new moon has prompted me into another ‘getting...
I have no words today and will let my rock speak for me…...
GDP = Gross Domestic Product Why are we so concerned about gross domestic...
We went to a traditional dyeing wananga today and saw the most beautiful...
I spoke to my Mum and Dad today. Mum in Rotorua and Dad in Te Puke....
I’m still on the orange earthy theme – just can’t help...
One of the many colours in this rock is called manuka honey. It is a...
I started painting this rock a while back. I can’t remember exactly...
I watched a video today on Facebook – Te Whānau ā Apanui and...
The earth is shedding some skin, letting go of those things that no longer...
I got a call from a research company tonight and was really annoyed that...
Today is Day 84! Wow! 84 days ago I decided that I would paint a rock a...
I flew home to Gisborne from Taranaki today and captured some wonderful...
Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to stop, relax and listen to whats...
“Until something is raised to consciousness you really can’t...
I’m not really into painting flowers on rocks but when miss Teia...
I’ve been listening to stories today that I recorded in the Taranaki...
I’m watching the night sky tonight, not because everyone is saying...
There was a memorial today for the recent Otautahi (Chch) earthquake and...
Todd comes home today and tells me that he bumped into a woman downtown...
All I want to say today is...
Have you ever sat and observed a praying mantis? I’ve been doing...
There are a lot of videos on the internet showing the devastation of the...
This rock is full of a whole lot of stuff! So many thoughts going around...
I feel for those in Japan right now. The media presents sometimes a...
Silence… I enjoyed the silence as I painted this rock, relaxing...
I had my first class today teaching art students about the business of...
When I picked up this rock from outside it was full of water. It had been...
Teia came home from school yesterday with a crown that she had made and...
I was reading a post yesterday from Ray – a Vipassana meditation...
I love this rock I’ve painted today. It’s one of my favorite...
My art is not defined by another person. It is personal, intuitive and has...
I love Autumn. It’s in between summer and winter, not too hot, not...
Feeling like sending lots and lots of aroha today to everyone wherever you...
I’ve always been a risk taker. When we were young, we were not...
An understanding… te ao mārama – the world of light, life,...
I had written a whole post about another kaupapa (topic) before I wrote...
A short post from me today but an important one about community. I’m...
I’ve been trying to think of a way of describing my kohatu and the...
This rock took me ten minutes to paint. It just came out and before I knew...
It’s two days after the earthquake and I can’t help but base...
It is the day after the earthquake and I’ve seen so many things...
I don’t know what to say other than much aroha and thoughts of hope...
This rock is for my niece Robyn Erana who turned 19 today!! Her and my...
I decided to title this post “evolution” because this rock...
It’s Day 50 – yay!! I think that my rock of the day kaupapa is...
Day 2 of Te Matatini is over! Another wonderful day to be taking in some...
Kua pou te hau! I’m writing this late at night, very tired after a...
Day 46 – Te Hunga Ririki Today’s rock is for Kiana who turns 5...
This is the first rock ever that I have used black paint on. Nearly 13...
It’s my mother’s birthday today and she is 75! This rock is...
The BIG P! I want to write about this because I’ve been kind of...
Passion is doing what I love, not just some of the time but all of the...
I couldn’t stop painting this rock…I actually started painting...
Day 41 I’m detoxing right now and although its the first day, I can...
Yay – a bit of rain today! I’m really appreciating the cooler...
I was swimming out at Makorori beach today and had this overwhelming sense...
Ko Rangi Ko Papa Ka puta ko Rongo, Ko Tane Mahuta Ko Tangaroa Ko...
So it is Waitangi Day today and many people all over the country and the...
Just a short post from me today as I’m struggling to stay awake...
I’m mindful that this weekend is Waitangi weekend and is an...
I feel like I’ve been racing around like a maniac over these past...
We went to Onukutaipari (Back beach) today and there was this interesting...
Today, we went and watched a movie called Water Whisperers here in New...
Wow – this rock just came out in a burst! Like an erupting mountain...
So our SCANZ art residency is officially over and it seems like only...
This is the third white rock in a row that I have painted (well actually...
I was having conversation today about the importance of one’s...
Day 27 – so what will I speak about today? (Btw, it is now Day 28...
Well I was thinking I’ve probably run out of things to talk about...
Jan 25th = rock no. 25! I’m looking at today’s rock and asking...
Day 24 – It has been a long day and I am posting these rocks after...
I had a lovely time with whanau today. Spent some time with Dad, Uncles,...
Today’s rock is pretty massive, I have to hold it in two hands! But...
Had a wonderful day yesterday. (yes! this is yesterday’s rock!!) We...
I have the urge to speak about aroha today – perhaps its because I...
So many interesting conversations over the past couple of days, it has me...
It’s nearly midnight as I write this – a red rock again! There...
I’m writing this post, tired after a LONG drive! I finally made it...
I’m having a bit of an interlude post today, doing a bit of venting...
So I’ve made it to Day 15! Sometimes we journey through life without...
Freedom is a word that I love because it describes for me a feeling of...
I received some lovely words of appreciation today and am so grateful for...
I’ve been so busy all day and have been keeping an eye on the...
I woke up this morning thinking about problem solving (yes) and it was all...
I think I’ve still got some remnants from Day 9′s painting...
This rock is inspired by the moon and contains the new moon, the full moon...
I don’t know where that title came from but I’m the first to...
I’m writing this post as I run out the door to see a friend who I...
Day 6 – wow! I made it to Day 6! I’ve been thinking how...
Thought I would paint my rock this morning as one of the first things I do...
Today I’ve connected with a few people on the other side of the...
I was listening to a kōrero on TED this afternoon and a woman was talking...
I’m having a bit of a giggle to myself because I’m trying to...
My first hand painted koru rock for 2011! 364 more to go!! This rock was...