new home . .

I moved . . .

Please visit me at http://homeofcreativity.co.za/christina

Thank you and kind regards . . .

where to find peace and quiet . . .

Let go, find peace and quiet where brief but deep moments of joy reside that man have forfeited within the stress and noisy rat race . . .


more detail


Find the inspiration for this painting in John 15 - I am the vine, you are the branches . . .

visit http://homeofcreativity.co.za/christina for more information of this painting

new adverture

a little arts and crafts shop
opened it's doors in our little town

trinkets (tokkemolletjies)

anneke and i
share a little nook


to show case our hand mades
watercolours and paintings . . .

playing around with . . .

watercolors and cars . . .

ink and bottles . . .

pink teddie or . . .

for Mia . . . two years old
to decide . . .
a teddie or a what you want it to be . . .
in pink . . . toddler's favourite play pall

the color orange

"Orange is a power color.

It is one of the healing colors.

It also stimulates enthusiasm and creativity.


Orange means vitality with endurance.

People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere".

(for more orange facts visit http://crystal-cure.com)

winter colour

winter cold and rain . . .
winter colour . . .
pinned onto paper
delicate and soft
with brush and watercolours
in pointsettia flowers

each morning to school
the pointsettia tree
claims the attention
with colour and dance
in wind and rain or sunshine

thirteen . . .

girl sitting on her legs . . .
frustrated . . .
soon to be thirteen . . .
independent . . .
but needs mom and dad . . .
to show the way . . .
sometimes under provocation . . .
sometimes under duress . . .
but always carried by careful love.

drawing in charcoal on white watercolour paper

domesticated alley cat

"He goes on the prowl each night
like an alley cat
Lookin' for some new delight
like an alley cat"
(now he's lying flat)

"She can't trust him out of sight
there's no doubt of that
He just don't know wrong from right
like an alley cat"
(does she smell a rat?)

a crochet cat ?
a purr-fect first - with wool left overs
not sure if it should look like this
but a cute cuddly soft toy
who stole a girl's heart . . .

Workshop - using oils with gesso

I attended a workshop held by the Drakenstein Art Society
Elsa Spamer (du Plessis) was the artist showing us
how to use gesso and paint on the gesso with thin oils

I decided to try Cape Fynbos with this technique;
the gesso for this protea was done by Else
and I did the painting . . .


At home I decided to explore the skills I've acquired
and painted this pincushion . . .

winter wrist warmers

a quick knit . . .
to keep the wrists warm . . .

and fingertips traversing text
in search of words' meanings
for a school assignment . . .

time to go to bed . . .

Passover in the Cedarberg Mountains

Something we wanted to do for quite a while now
spending a weekend in the Cedarberg Mountains . . .

Through Bainskloof Pass - not too early in the morning though . . .

to our destination at Kromrivier - a working farm . . .
farming with sheep and horses . . .
an annatolic sheepdog as shephard . . .
hoarding the sheep to the kraal each evening as leopards roam the area . . .

our cottage for a few days - with only the bare essentials - and a hot shower . . .

some winter colours in the veld . . .

the mountains - it's like entering a prehistoric world, partly preserved . . .






heading home again . . . the road less traveled . . .

a land of . . . plenty

contrasts and colour . . .

ek is . . . / I am . . .

An Afrikaans poem by 12 year old Lize.

Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig
Ek wonder oor hoe hulle op die maan kom
Ek hoor voêls en dennebome wat praat in die wind
Ek sien my as 'n suksesvolle vrou eendag met 5 kinders
Ek wil graag gelukkig wees en vry wees om God te dien
Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig

Ek verbeel my ek lê op bloekombloeisels en slaap elke nag
Ek voel altyd hartseer as diere seerkry
Ek raak aan die Eifeltoring (Parys)
Ek bekommer my oor aardbewings
Ek huil as ek raas kry
Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig

Ek verstaan dat alle mense belangrik is
Ek sê dat God almagtig is
Ek droom om 'n professionele tennisspeler te wees
Ek probeer om altyd Net Die Beste te gee
Ek hoop dat rassisme in ons land sal stop
Ek is gelukkig en kort humeurig

Image title : Reflections

knitting for old and young

she went with me to the yarn shop yesterday afternoon
she was amazed and surprised at a young girl buying yarn
she thought knitting is only for mothers, grannies and old ladies . .
the outcome : she knits . . .
she says it is a scarf . . .
her first project . . .


tealeaves cardigan completed . . .


first top to bottom knit for me

the dying of a season

Early autumn falling leave-hearts
clinging, falling, crumbling . . .
to be re-invigorated
in spring . . .

our favourite yoghurt

We recently bought this yoghurt and really enjoy the rich creamy taste.

Every time we read the script on the bucket our hearts warm towards the cows roaming the green grass veld : (I think we envy them their luxury living)

Why our cows are happy healthy "faircape free range" cows?

* they live in super comfort in spacious surroundings

* they can choose between basking in the sun of lazing in the shade

* they eat only natural feeds with no animal by-products

* no artificial hormones added

* the receive daily health check-ups and medical care is always available

* at fair cape we're serious about keeping the environment in tip top shape

By this I do not intend to render my services for the advertising of Fair Cape's finished product's - only to admire their cows' leisurely country life . . .

Turning of the season

Originally March was the first month of the year for the Romans.

We are well away in the third month - the year literally marching on . . .
We enjoy the most delicious fruit in the season
Mangos, peaches, grapes . . . even the local cultivar from own home-grown vine on the pergola

We had a spree of hot waves for two / three weeks
Everyone finding the most confortable coolest place to lie down and chill

And last night a fresh cool breez at last . . .
Today we feel the season is changing . . .
Autumn is on its way . . .
Wooly knits / crochet items are taken out of the cupboards . . .
Winter wear is being aired out . . .

the flute player

music is to the soul . . .
what food is to the body . . .

12 years old and a lover of music

and she wants white towels with crochet flowers to dry herself . . .

The month of February is on the move . . .

February is named after a feast of religious purification (Februa) in ancient Rome.

The following photo is that of the Colosseum, the place of many festivities during that time.

(photo retrieved from the internet)

February to me is the month

of learning new skills

- like crochet

can you pick it up at the top of the window?

and painting a green pear . . .

where has january gone ? ? ?

January is named after the two faced Roman god Janus.

Janus is the god of beginning and end (alpha and omega).

He looks back on the passed year and he looks forward to the new year.

We look back with memories and melancholy and happiness at the past year

We look forward to 2011 with hope and expectations . . .

Our school holidays are over

Visitors have gone home

We are busing trying to earn a living

Bathroom water pipes are / were leaking

- a new bathroom is in the making

In between knitting is done

(an Astor for anticipated winter warming)

and a pear becomes a painting

(could it be the fruit of paradise?)