Last night the Fremantle Arts Centre had their staff Christmas party. It was great to be able to catch up with some of the tutors (who are all also practising artists).  There were loads of people, the arts centre over the past few years have really expanded.  I am involved in the learning program, but there is music – classical music and contemporary bands, exhibitions and the gift shop which has beautiful handmade textiles , jewelry, ceramics etc.
It really is a great community of people and I’m happy to be a part of it.  http://fac.org.au
This Christmas I am going to the Lavender and Berry Farm in Pemberton  and so is all my family. It is owned by my sister and her husband.  I am one of five children, and we all now have partners and some of us have kids, plus our parents, and uncle…….its going to be big. After Christmas, I am hoping to steal some quiet moments among the trees, working in my sketch book.  This may be difficult.
I often draw in my sketch book and take photos while I’m down there its nice to get away from your usual surroundings and create a space to think about art.  The tree in this picture is from the gardens at the Lavender and Berry Farm, obviously nothing else in the picture is except perhaps the idea of contemplation.

So if you want to see what it’s really like down there, go to http://www.lavenderberryfarm.com/ they have four rammed earth cottages, a gift shop and a cafe set in beautiful gardens with a lake. The gardens back onto state forest.  There is a 1 hour walk through a bush track directly from the Lavender and Berry farm to the Gloucester Tree,  I might do that again this year, when you climb to the top it feels amazing to look out over the tree tops.
Thank you to anyone who is reading this, have an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas – I’ll write to you again in the new year.