SISTERS ... We have just had my sister, Di, and her husband stay for a few days. We had a great time and I'm a little sad today that they have left. She has always been there for me.Isn't this photo of us hysterical, in our flowerpot hats and ballet poses - neither the hats nor the ballet survived. It was taken in our backyard in Mt Waverley, Victoria - a long time ago! She left a little Angel Affirmation box for me and this is the,very fitting, card I randomly selected: Angels exist but sometimes, since they don't all have wings,we call them friends. xx

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL YOU ROMANTICS ... even if it's just to take the time to have a great coffee with a great friend. Enjoy. xxx

WE ARE ALL PART OF THE BIG PICTURE, BUT STILL INDIVIDUALS. Stop, look and listen to each other. Please don't put others into a presumed 'box'. There is sure to be so much more to them than you might surmise.

NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY (www.noosaregionalgallery.org) EXHIBITION: VOLUNTEERS SHOWCASE.
Official Opening: Friday 04 February, 6pm.
Exhibition runs: January 27 - March 13.I have my photo on canvas on display. 'Life Tilts' is an image of the waterspoons at (the once beautiful/it will be again) South Bank Water Park.Rather poignant now as they made me think of how life, with all its ups, downs and inbalances, can be upended so easily. And yet can right itself once again. Would love you to visit the exhibition and give me your feedback. Julie

SCRAPBOOKING FRAME: We have an addition to our Peg Frame range, thanks to a customer who is also a keen scrapbooker - is that a word? Anyway, with the help of Sally, our Scrapbooking frame allows your new page to be on display before you assign it to an album, or for a gift you can insert your page about (example) the family Christmas before presenting it to Grandma. What a great idea!! Lightweight, can hang or prop, shabby-chic timber with a top peg wire and a middle balance wire. Contact us for any orders or queries (Greg 0418108299) : Price $35 retail(+postage) or visit us at Wednesday's Eumundi Market (top terraces). Wholesale queries welcome.

QUEENSLAND is known for its stoic people and if we are ever going to need to be stoic it's now. The image in my post below shows South Bank (Brisbane) - this is no longer, the riverside pool and waterpark deluged, the surrounding streets under water. I feel like posting lots of South Bank images before this happened to remind us what was and will be again. But perhaps that comes later. Take strength from this internet image of a frog hitching a ride on the back of a snake - like animals that help each other, so will we. Julie x

Mother Nature is a powerful woman, and often relentless as has been seen with the current Queensland floods. There are no quips, no humorous asides for this disaster - only anguish, heartache and fear.Here in Noosa we were spared, but my heart and thoughts go out to all those affected. Please keep strong for the onslaught in Brisbane today and tomorrow as the water rises. My image here (taken a few months back)shows South Bank, its tranquil pool leading to the Brisbane river with the CBD beyond. Beautiful. xxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE ... may 2011 be all you want it to be and that you fulfil all your dreams.Do you make new year resolutions? I don't but I do have a little word to myself about how to improve my life, my outlook, to increase my help to others and to reach some goals along the way. To complete one of the many books begun - so many ideas that to focus on one will be the challenge. But as they say "There is a certain buzz that comes from daring to begin". Cheers.

HO HO HO ... Well Christmas is nearly here and I have a couple of messages for you all. Firstly THANK YOU to all the Hearts and Minds Art supporters out there who have spread the word, bought the product and visited the stall. Appreciate it! Secondly MERRY CHRISTMAS and a safe holiday break. Give all your loved ones a big hug and kiss. My gorgeous boys are in Melbourne but I'm thinking of them every minute. Love Julie X

DREAM - BELIEVE - INSPIRE. May your minutes be full of trust, your hours full of wonder, your months full of joy. Your years full of laughter. A lifetime of fulfilment and love.

Okay, so it's still November, but Hearts and Minds Art has started its festive season. Check out our marquee at South Bank Lifestyle Markets (Brisbane) each Friday night, Saturday and Sunday as well as Eumundi market on a Wednesday. We have lots of new images, peg frames, movable art photo jewellery, magnets and brooches (fantastic for Kris Kringle or stocking fillers at only $4.95 each!). I also have an expanded range of my inspirational Tree of Hearts frames - thank you to Harry R. for purchasing one of these on the weekend for all his nurses, and I hope you are feeling AI again very soon, and ready to return to Goondiwindi. HO HO HO!