So, what on earth is the Art Cart?  

Well, given I was forever thinking, 'how am I going to get my work out and about in this region of the countryside, on a regular basis, without incurring a stack of funds for a shop window?'  I thought the best solution for this, was to create an Art Cart that I could use to showcase my upcoming works, as my product gets renewed.  It could travel to where-ever, given the weather is fine and be pulled along by my bicycle.  I needed an avenue that could mutate, as my work evolves and as my product-line becomes more diverse.  I did not want to be restricted by unaffordable, expensive shop rent.  I needed something that would become familiar to one and all.  So the Art Cart was the perfect solution to my needs.

Should I rent or purchase such a cart, it would cost me in the vicinity of $4000~5000 dollars and I just did not want to go down that expensive road - I just didn't have the funds.  So, given I am pretty creative and handy with tools, I thought I would design and whip up my own cart - from start to finish - well almost finished.  It is still missing a canopy, but that's not far away.  My plan was not to release some major know-how on the construction of such creations, but to show you that if you are desperate and have no other avenues at your disposal, you can come up with all sorts of wonderful solutions to resolve a problem.  No, it is not perfect, but I learnt alot; hit my finger a few times; miscalculated a bit - but none-the-less resolved my initial  problem.

From a simple idea, a drawing, a few bits and pieces, and a lot of grunt - reality became a real work of art! The video is a collation of photos that I kept for my own records, as much as for your enjoyment!

LILIWIOFE is not a story, a tale or a novel.  It is a diary.  Some of you will ask, "but why a diary? What possible use could a diary have in anyone's life?"  This diary is far more than just a method for attacking one's goals head on and recording the tasks one needs to do, in order to achieve them.  It represents the act of taking action, in a physical sense.  When an individual writes something down by hand, there is a commitment to oneself and the likelihood of following through with a dream, to make it reality, is far more likely.  The brain switches on because the senses have been initiated.

However, for me this diary represents time - something we all have, but in limited supply.  It is a full year, that we can choose to engage with our dreams or flitter them away on something less meaningful.  And sometimes, it is not just a year.  It could be as much as six years, just gone in an instant and you don't know where those hours, days, minutes have flown.  Time has a funny way of healing one's heart.  You don't plan to lose time or put your life on hold - it just sort of happens without you realising it and before you know it, you have not moved in the direction you set out to or something else has taken its place. 

Since my father's passing, six years ago - life has just up and flown away and with it a great deal of my confidence.  He was the person to whom I discussed my ideas, my plans and creations.  We were very similar, in many ways.  This diary represents a promise - not to waste a minute, an hour or a breath.  It is a commitment that I can physically see on my shelf, see what I have achieved and how long it has taken me to create those dreams I had planned, prior to him being consumed by cancer. 

Dad was a man who was energetic, creative, passionate and had dreams like the rest of us.  We don't know what Mother Nature has in store for us, where we will be, who it will affect, how we will react or how we will claw our way back when the dust settles. 

All I can tell you, is that we should not let 'time' steal our plans for achievement, joy, love or life.  So many times we hear, "oh I'm just killing time; I don't have the time; I lost time; I can't give you my time."  The list goes on.  I'm sure, you could think of your own phrases that you use on a daily basis, as to why 'time' is stealing what you set out to do.  Yet, my point is simple - we don't have time.  It is gone as quickly as you can say the word, 'time'. 

It doesn't matter if some of you don't get what I am saying - that's okay. In 'time', the penny will eventually drop.  But for me, I am on a quest to do as I say and complete what I started six years ago...and on my way, I hope to help a million others to leave their comfort zone, before 'time' up and flies away. Living a life without fear and taking a chance on getting it right, takes a lot of guts.  You have to shelve the voice inside your head that says, 'what if it doesn't work out; what will they say if I fail...' There are so many what if's.  But what if, you get it right?  What an honour that would be to yourself?  What an achievement it would be to be proud of your growth and the person you have become. What an honour it would be to share those milestones, with others who have struggled similarly and overcome the hurdles. 

This is my plan.  You are my witness - help keep me accountable - failure is not an option.
Grab a diary - and join me on Instagram at #liliwiofe

Read more on working your brain...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2018/04/15/neuroscience-explains-why-you-need-to-write-down-your-goals-if-you-actually-want-to-achieve-them/?sh=414a817d7905
​https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-power-of-writing-down_b_12002348
http://neurorelay.com/2013/08/07/how-does-writing-affect-your-brain/

Given that it is Easter and I am confined to barracks - I spent yesterday afternoon, doing up some very yummy sesame seed snaps.  It is a different option for Easter or for that matter, just having fun in the kitchen with the children. 
Happy Easter!  

When the introduction of hand sanitiser became available to the world; it was said it would solve all our unseen germ problems and the world would definitely be a safer place.

​Over the years, the selection of products have grown, each purporting the ability to knock those little nasties on the head, and then the family could sleep easier.

But gradually over time, we have come to know they are not all they were cracked up to be -  some with nothing more than water and no alcohol content what-so-ever.  And no, they can’t resolve all our problems.  Now with the new CoVID19 lurking around every corner, good old soap and water appears to be winning hands down (excuse the pun)on this war against this lecherous virus, or at least preventing it from staying around too long. 

​Although this might be the case, it is our duty to make sure we are on the right track in selecting the right cleaning products and hand sanitisers.  Keeping the home and family safe has never been more important and the practise of thorough hygiene, imperative.  So, how does one get rid of buggy blighters and how can you be sure they work?

For me, I have a few favourites that have stood the test of time.  They suit my needs and so far so good.  All are well known reliable brands, have all the stated ingredients to stop bugs in their tracks and at the end of the day, will be there when you need them most.  I don’t get sponsored by any of these companies, but I am cool with sharing what works for me.

​Dettol is a biggie for me.  It has been around forever and has kept its bargain producing top of the range medical products and hand sanitisers for global use.  I use it as a pocket/handbag go to after all sensitive interactions, if I can’t wash my hands.  I have used it for years, while in Korea during other similar epidemics and I hope it keeps me equally as safe.

Palmolive has moved from bar soap to liquid over the years, but the product and its effectiveness is much the same – great!  I also pick up glycerine soap from the Body Shop – one’s face can be particularly delicate. 

When it comes to bathrooms, toilets, floors etc, I have two.  Glen 20 and one I always come back to and that is good, old-fashioned bleach – in hospital grade strength.  For the latter, it doesn’t matter what label, just so long as it is bleach. 

​Well,  they’re some of my tricks of the trade for home and family maintenance.  What about you guys – do you have any favourites that work wonders for you? 

​Stay safe and keep smiling! :)

A weekend filled with glassing, framing, matting with the odd coffee or two, proved to be quite successful this October. Time seems to have got away over the years and catching up on the odd, artistic job that should have and could have been done years ago, was on my list of things to do.

I don’t tend to outsource any of these jobs, as many of you realise; keeping a firm hand on quality control until the very end is important. Especially, if the the job is close to one’s heart and has significant meaning.

I grew up being part of the framing process, when my Dad was alive. He would mat and frame all sorts of things - from greyhound prints to wedding and informal photographic prints that seemed to forever multiply on the workshop bench. As a young kid, there was always something for me to do - glueing or measuring- being careful to line-up all the markings to just right spot.

Dad was a perfectionist and a great teacher, and I guess over the years of me being a great watcher - for all things ‘workshop’, I would like to think I became a great disciple.

Dad was a great tinker and could put his hands to just about anything and miraculously, it would be fixed or made into something one would never expect. Yes, it was a great privilege being an observer in my father’s workshop - filled with magic. There was always something to learn from those gnarled, skilled and caring hands.

I am all in for re-vamping old things that have stood the test of time and have served one well over the years.  Sometimes, they are really hard to replace because they are particularly unique or just because they remind us of things that have occurred in ones life, or they mark a turning point in our lives.  Either way, giving them a major overhaul keeps the cherished item in one's home, but allows it to continue being memorable, but also useful.

So out came the screws, off came the seat - with a bit of grunt and grind - and away I tossed the inner dead foam to reveal a tired old piece of hardboard.  What to do with it was a challenge and how was I not going to waste, but not going to buy anything new...?   

I wanted to make the covers washable and I also needed to still protect the board.  I had a few old cushions lying around and decided to clip them into a new round shape by removing the white piping and zipper.  Yes, I need to put the zipper back again, once I changed the shape and had to  insert the new foam from the original square cushions.   

The board I re-glued, sanded back and covered with mounting board because I had surplus of that lying around.  Then, I edged the circumference with good-looking, but used braid that I had collected over the years.  

Once I finished the seating, I repainted the chairs with gold enamel paint and the job was done!  Yes, it did take a couple of days, some sewing and a bit of clever thinking, but now I have a brand new setting that will last me - quite a while longer.