Hello! Is the start of your week looking all bright and shiny? … Mine feels a little here, there and everywhere so far, but I did enjoy a lovely weekend. Perhaps that’s why it’s taken me until today to write about it. Have I already told you how much I love autumn in Brisbane? The temperature cools, the days are often bright and clear, and it well and truly becomes tights-and-cardigan kind of weather … such bliss.
This Saturday just past was perhaps a little warmer than I expected, but that didn’t stop it from being a stunning day. Kylie and I headed off to the Brisbane launch of Pia Jane Bijkerk‘s beautiful book, ‘my heart wanders‘ … and we were fortunate enough to have our books signed by the lovely Pia herself. I’ve been reading Pia’s blog for a long time now, so it was wonderful to meet her and enjoy a little chit chat. If you’re a dreamer, wanderer and introspective thinker yourself, I dare say you’ll fall in love with ‘my heart wanders‘ too.
After sampling a few afternoon tea treats, the sunshine beckoned us out to lounge upon all that thick green grass – you can see how much our feet enjoyed the grassy goodness. It was the kind of afternoon during which it is all too easy to while away an hour or two without even noticing …
The launch was held at a little hidden sanctuary just outside the bustling city (St Francis Theological College, Milton) … you’d never know it existed from the entrance (in fact we missed the driveway the first time around). Such a beautiful location, complete with the sweetest little chapel and a collection of beautiful sandstone buildings (I have a rather large soft spot for all things sandstone). There is something grand, ancient and earthy about sandstone.
Hosted by the wonderful Kylie Johnson (another of my favourite creatives), the afternoon was a delight to attend and a privilege to be a part of … Brisbane sure knows how to show itself off on days like this. While I often dream of wandering away from this city I call home, sometimes it is a place that is hard to resist.
Are you a wanderer too? (even if it’s only in your dreams). I wander to the most amazing places in my sleep, places which I’m not quite sure actually exist. It surely won’t stop me searching for them though …
🙂 Sounds so fun 🙂 I am loving the afternoon teas and treats over on this side of the world.
Hi Erika – It was a lovely day to be out in the air and the sunshine. I’m so happy to hear how well HK is going for you … it must be wonderful to have finally settled in to an exciting new world.
xx
Yes, I like sandstone too…the look is just so unique
Hi Tammy – Sandstone just feels so wonderful … and I think it reminds me in a romantic way of times now long gone (if that makes sense). 🙂
I love how we both couldn’t resist posting pictures of our feet!
Hi Kylie – Ha! I know … I guess we both showed our shoe photo obsessions! 🙂
This is a wonderful time of year – I used to live next door to Milton (Auchenflower in fact) but don’t know that place – looks wonderful (and I also love sandstone). I wonder everywhere in my dreams – swimming, flying, running – lots of fun – places I know and places I don’t know.
Hi Gabrielle – There’s something I just adore about this time of year, today was another beautiful example of it. It doesn’t surprise me you didn’t know about this place either, it’s really hidden away … a green oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of milton … I really want to go back and have another wander with my camera.
Dreams are fantastical things, I’m glad I’m not the only one who travels to wondrous places within them. 🙂
sometimes I feel like I’m nothing more than only a wanderer 🙂
Hi Sofia – I know what you mean. I think being a wanderer is a lovely way to pass through this world (and the bonus is there is always company on the journey if we wish for it).
xx
I love sandstone! Where I grew up we had a lot of red sandstone; where we’ve now settled there’s a lot of it again, so it feels like coming home 🙂
I also like tights and cardigans, but I can’t quite get my head round autumn when we’re experiencing the start of summer here in the UK!!
Hi Mel – Sandstone is a wonderful material to build from … my Uni was filled with sandstone buildings, they were so beautiful. Red sandstone sounds really pretty … isn’t it funny how life can sometimes travel full circle like that? 🙂
It is funny to know another part of the world is experiencing the exact opposite weather to your part of the world … I hope the start of summer treats you OK. 🙂
tracey
well, i’m quite convinced your heart goes a-wandering…
seriously? have you met up with pia jane bijkerk? amazing… is she sweet in real life? 😉
i’ve deleted your last e-mail by accident. i blame gmail, but there it is. i hope you didn’t ask me anything specific, because now i can’t seem to send you a proper answer… if you feel like wandering through my little renovation land, then you can always click on renovation@64 in my labels. it gives you a backwards chronological development of a tour (de force) long from finished… ahem.
enjoy that heart wandering book though….
n♥
Hi Woolf – You know me so well … I am a wanderer at heart.
I did indeed have the opportunity to meet and chat with Pia … she is every bit as sweet and lovely as you’d imagine she would be.
No bother about the deleted email … I’m sure it was nothing all that important or anything that can’t be thought of again … sometimes gmail does strange things to our inboxes.
Thanks for your renovation tag … I’ve been enjoying a little wander through your renovation back catalogue, and I have to say I’m seriously impressed. You’ve done a lot of work on your place … and even though you’re not quite finished, I’m sure the progress feels rewarding. 🙂
Looks like a lovely day! Oslo have been a bit warmer than expected lately as well – Summer already in May is pretty much unheard of this far north 🙂
Hi Signe – It was a delightful day outside! I’m happy to hear that Oslo has been a little warmer for you … I’m sure it’s a welcome change from your seriously cold weather. Sometimes the world can surprise us with those little weather treats. xx
I’m a wanderer and a lover of autumn days too.
Hi Gracia – I think autumn may just be the best season for wanderers such as us.
xx
I love Pia too. I have her ‘Amsterdam made by hand’ book, I must order ‘my heart wanders too’.
I’m not a big autumn fan. I love all the colors, I love the temperature, but the days start to shorten, and you can’t go to the beach anymore. There are wonderful clear days, but you know how much i love running around on a beach half naked, and you can’t do that in autumn anymore.
Hi Bobbi – Pia is an inspiration with her beautiful work and words … but I’m also a little jealous of her lovely wanderings. I’m sure you’ll love ‘my heart wanders’ too … I really must order her other beautiful books, I’ve been tempted by them for long enough that’s for sure.
I think the Australian autumn is rather kinder than what you experience in Europe … I know how blah it can be when there aren’t enough daylight hours in the day (I used to get a bit sick of that when I lived in a more southerly state). At least the bonus of autumn is that you know soon enough spring and summer will eventually return.
🙂
Oh how lovely! Where are you located? It could be Sydney…? All that sandstone and the autumnal weather…?
Hi Sam – I wish more days could be spent like this … I’m based in Brisbane, so you weren’t too far wrong! 🙂
Autumn is one of the best seasons Tracey…mind you I love them all… and it sounds like you had a perfect weekend….hope this one turns out to be just as spectacular…
Hi Debby – While autumn holds a special place in my heart, I’m like you – each of the seasons offer their own special charms (although I could do without summer with all it’s horrible heat and humidity). The weekend has been beautiful so far … I hope you have a similarly lovely time ahead of you. xx
autumn is stunning in australia,
add a book from pia and some tea treats with a friend…bliss indeed.
Hi Kristi – It is a beautiful season, that’s for sure. And honestly what fortuitous timing to be able to curl up with a beautiful book by Pia. The afternoon tea treats were delicious (I adore lemon tarts).
i think i’m definitely a wanderer…and lounging on the grass in the sun sounds amazing right now (glances over to the rain pouring outside the window) 🙂
Hi Krystal – Yes, wandering the world and following my heart where it wishes to be is one of my ultimate dreams. It seems many of us share a similar ideal.
I hope the weather today finds you a little better than that wet and rainy day (perhaps the sunshine has returned?).
xx
sounds like a fun and peaceful afternoon!
hey, i got the seeds in the mail the other day ~ thanks so much! i love the little jar and the packaging, all very beautiful!
will get a photo and post it soon 🙂
xx
Hi Belinda – It was a fantastic way to spend a bright and sunny Saturday in Brisbane.
Oh I’m so glad your seeds arrived safe and sound … I hope it helps your little gardeners with a new project.
You are so sweet Belinda.
xx
I browsed through this book at a bookstore last weekend and I was very tempted to buy – it is stunning.
Hi Rel – Oh it is a beautiful book indeed … you must be very strong indeed to have seen it and not made a copy your very own! 🙂
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