Jun
16
I rode a horse for the first time in Mongolia!!… and I slept under the clear Mongolian sky…
Jun
16
Say goodbye to the Peoples Republic of China… Mongolia here we come!
Jun
14
A wonderfully diverse day…. Datong to Erenhot
Jun
14
We have started for ‘real’ this time… leaving the Great Wall and on our way to Paris.
Jun
12
Beijing To the Great Wall of China! …..
Jun
09
Three Golden Rules for driving in China!….
Jun
09
“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.” ― Laura Gilpin
The Brisbane river brushed past the small clump of high rise buildings of the CBD, and as we flew over on our way to Singapore I thought about how beautiful the Brisbane River was, on it's meandering route to Moreton Bay.
Water - like major arteries and finer capillaries, spread through the earth beneath me as we flew to Beijing to commence the epic endurance car rally from Peking to Paris. The image out of the double glazed window at 34,000 feet belied the movement and life which flowed across the earth below. The muted flowing marks were deceptive in their stillness. Time seemed to be suspended. The rivers curves were feminine and dynamic. I felt a sense of freedom watching the route taken by the water to the sea.
Rivers have
May
31
Peking to Paris… The Route…
May
31
Not many more sleeps to go now!!!… Peking to Paris Endurance Rally…
May
31
Not taking notice of what is right in front of you… Loss of experience
May
31
She watches the seasons….
and within her she can feel her strength emerging
to be revealed as
the leaves fall
to expose her beauty more clearly."
Julie Stephenson
This is an image from Capitol Reef on a journey to the US in 2011. I learn so much about myself when I am in nature and even after my experiences, I reflect on my photographs and more is revealed to me about where I'm at even now.
May
29
Her Soul sparkled with light and was too…
I had an amazing day skinny dipping in the ocean at a local beach and felt the freedom to experience myself playfully in the surging waves.
I realised some qualities I love about myself and how I have embraced living... and also reflected on fear and how that has limited me. Come on everyone... life is far too short to be fearful. Come with me diving deep into life!
May
23
If I take away….
May
18
Time for change ceremony :) …. smoke… warriors… and ocean
Apr
21
I looked at the trees and heard.. “Julie, dive into language”….
Apr
09
She Glides…
exposing in rawness her strength and beauty
exquisite beneath,
she glides in the stillness
yet she was not truly seen.
Those moments of glimpses are now passed
into memories
and melt
into time.
Mar
28
Preparing Penny for Peking to Paris in June
Mar
06
Getting to Antarctica – by plane then ship…. Not at all easy… and Nature calls the game!
Mar
03
I was the recipient of loving generosity and kindness…
Mar
02
Just a few photos of Antarctica whilst waiting for my flight
Feb
18
I made it !!!! Volcan Osorno… she invited us to be part of her day – and I reached the sky!!!
Pop to this gallery to see Photos..
Oh my goodness… I honestly can’t believe I did it!!!!! After just a couple of hours sleep I heard my alarm go off whilst I was awake at 4 am…. excited about the opportunity to feel what it was like to experience myself in this challenge. When my gentle tinkering alarm sound played… and in the month’s prior; I had absolutely no idea how difficult both physically and emotionally this experience was going to be for me! The Teski hut at the base of Volcan Osorno was snug and homely. The wooden floorboards spoke as we walked gently with our hard soled walking and snow boots; in the dark, early morning. Breakfast was
Feb
09
Made it to South America… Puerto Montt in Chile…. the journey continues !!
Feb
07
Not many sleeps to go now… Osorno Volcano climb and I am ready !
Feb
07
“The Shape of Cold” – Antarctica Book
Feb
02
Bhutan book – “With the Roof Off”…. on it’s way !!!
Feb
01
Subscribe to be notified of Book releases
Jan
23
Shamanic Healing
Jan
23
Healing and Bodywork
Jan
22
Something ‘unseen’ but ‘felt’ within the land…. Dead Horse Gap walk Mt Kosciuszko
Jan
22
Walk to Mt Kosciuszko summit – highest point in Australia !
Jan
18
The day I ‘broke-up’ with normal….. hehehe
I have nearly finished my book on our Bhutan journey (cover is the last thing to do).. and in the introduction I acknowledge that I 'DO' crazy!
In my latest blog post I recognise to be honest and true to myself I need to accept who I am in
Jan
17
Waking up and feeling ‘different’… a new ‘good’… a new ‘better’!!!
Dec
22
A prayer flag flutters in the wind. Which is it that moves? ..
Which is it that moves, the flag or the wind?
Answer: Neither. The Spirit moves them both.
Acknowledgement of the Unseen... of Spirit ... the foundation of a society where the unseen is acknowledged with reverence.
Spirit is that which moves through everything, and that by which everything moves.
Dec
22
The Unseen… Shamanism, Healing… in a modern contemporary world…
Todays post is and introduction... setting the scene..
Dec
19
Shamanism….Animism… Celestial bodies … Alignment…. and more
In this series of fascinating articles, I will be investigating Shamanism, Animism and what the connection with the earth and celestial bodies has to do with healing, ritual and society; culturally over the millennia and into the present day; and my own personal experience of this through my travels and my own experience as a Shaman.
Dec
15
2015… Loss and Grief… and honesty…
Dec
12
There is just something about storms and rain…
Dec
07
A change of Plans.. I missed the clouds in the sky…south instead of north
Journal Categories

🧐 Curious 🎨 Creative 💪🏻 Living Boldly! @idoamazingthings 😁 Content with wool in my hands Artisan weaver of blankets and wraps. Pop to my website
What would I use this basket for?
For 45 years, I’ve loved to feel natural fleece in my hands. There’s something very humbling about recognising where wool originates, and feeling the soft greasy fleece in my hands is very special; and to be able to weave into my blankets some of my own handspun yarn is very gratifying.
I like to rinse the fleece before preparing and spinning it.
I’ve tried several methods and this one suits me best, and the basket is perfect. Allows gentle rinsing without any felting.
Why not save this tip to try, if you can get your hands onto some greasy fleece, and for more come follow along.
#weaving #Handspinning #fleece #fibreart #weaver
2 days ago
This is my top number ONE Pro-tip.
Do you want meaningful work - or empty trash?!
I’m a visual artist and weaver, and this number one tip for meaningful work is for all creatives and your chosen medium!
‘Tell your stories from your own experiences!’
That’s it!
My latest body of work is based on the Mullik Ghat markets in Kolkata India, where we drove our vintage car through India, Bhutan and Myanmar.
For more - Come follow along!
#artisanmade #roadtripindia #weaving #creativetips #protip
4 days ago
The cacophony of fragrance and colour on the backdrop of damp grey fog of the Mullik Ghat Markets Kolkata; was incredible!
I wasn’t expecting this place to leave its mark so deeply, and is the foundation for my current body of work.
The key to creating work with meaning, whether you’re a weaver or using another medium; is to tell your own stories from your lived experience.
Perhaps you could save this tip to try for your next project; and instead of thinking about things like colour or shape; why not think of a memory instead.
Love to know how you go!
For more creative tips - come along and follow!
#creativetips #kolkata #weaving #travelart #madebyhand
5 days ago
Here’s a different kind of pro-tip; and it comes from a lifetime of unexpected surprises!
It’s never just about technique, but it’s all about telling stories from our lived experience.
I wasn’t expecting this place to leave its mark so deeply.
The cacophony of fragrance and colour on the backdrop of damp grey fog of the Mullik Ghat Markets Kolkata, India ; was incredible!
As an artist, the most valuable insight I’ve gained is that meaningful work must come from lived experience.
Technique alone can create pieces, but only lived experience can fill them with meaning.
Whether you are a weaver or a creative working in another medium, the key to creating work with meaning is to tell your personal stories.
Connect with your memory before you even think of colour or shape. Give it a try!
Perhaps you could save, and try this pro-tip for your next project and see how your work evolves with this dedicated intention.
For more - come Follow along.
#artisanmade #roadtrip #interiordesign #protip #weaving
6 days ago
When I begin weaving, I have no idea what it will end up looking like
I never have a plan because I weave intuitively from my memories
Here I’m weaving my memories from the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
As I weave, I roll it, then becomes hidden. It’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets when I unroll it from my loom.
You could try this in your form of art as well. .
Try starting with a memory, and remember the colours of your experiences.
You can save this idea for your next project; and for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio.
Come follow along with me!
#weaving #weavingloom #weavinglife #madebyhand #artisanmade
2 weeks ago
Weaving is “like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
When I begin weaving, I have no idea how it will turn out.
I always start with memories; and I never have a plan.
In my latest Series, I’m weaving my memories from our vintage car roadtrip; and the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
Colour is my thing. I don’t have a colour plan because I weave intuitively, and I don’t remember what colours I’ve used.
As I weave, I roll the fabric onto the back beam, and it then becomes hidden. When I’ve finished the weaving and I unroll my piece from the back beam - it’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets.
Why don’t you try to weave without a plan? You could try this in any creative medium as well.
Start with a memory, and remember the colours of that experience. Then just go for it, and play!
You can save this tip for later; for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio; and for more creative ideas, come follow along.
#handweaving #madebyhand #arttips #roadtripindia #weaver
2 weeks ago
Are you floundering with making a project meaningful?
As an artist for most of my life, who has meandered and searched for meaning within my own work; I have a couple of tips for you.
If you don’t know where to start, think of an experience that is meaningful to you. Recall the colours.
Just start there!
Tip 1. Remember the colours.
Tip 2. Use ONLY those colours.
A meaningful experience for me was our journey to Kolkata and the Mullik Ghat Flower Markets, and is the inspiration for my handwoven blankets.
You can save these tips for future reference for your next project. Let me know how you go!
For more, come Follow along.
#artisanmade #handweaving #madebyhand #artisttips #visualstorytelling
3 weeks ago
Want one secret tip for visual storytelling? There is an art to visual storytelling.
As an artist, there are some very important things which contribute to making a work meaningful and an expression of it’s intention.
Here I'm using the memory of my journey to Kolkata Mullik Ghat markets as the source material for my handwoven blankets.
One secret (not so secret hehehe) is to
1. Remember the colours of an experience or scene which is the subject matter of your project; and use ONLY those colours.
Perhaps save this for your future reference, and give it a go for your next project.
For more, come Follow along.
3 weeks ago
Curious, Creative, Living Boldly - That was my tagline I put on the footer of my emails 30 years ago; well before Instagram came into being.
It was not known to me then how important ‘curiosity’ was to be for me.
Being curious, and creative; has helped me navigate my life’s challenges; to heal; and provided the pathway for me to experience the richness of living - despite these challenges.
Curiosity is the intrinsic desire to learn, explore and understand.
I am an artist. My work has included conceptual photography & video; multimedia installations; and textiles. Working with my hands is important to me. I am a weaver. I weave my stories into blankets.
I wanted to express my experiences of Kolkata, but didn’t know how to share with others the magic I felt in this city of extremes. Poverty and wealth. Colour and darkness. I didn’t know where to start.
I was curious about how to express my stories of Kolkata. What I did was to just start. Experiment and play. I let my inner voice and memories guide my colour choices. I had no idea whether my handwoven blankets would ‘turn out’... but I was curious and felt the most incredible gratitude and joy weaving these blankets which hold my memories and stories.
Why don’t you try becoming friends with your curiosity? What a lifelong friendship that will be; and hopefully that friend will remind you every single day, despite everything; to keep holding on to, and never let go of being curious.
For more on my journey, follow along.
For those interested, I’m using a 48”/120cm @ashford_wheels_looms Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom.
#curiousity #createeveryday #creativelife #weaving #selfdiscovery
3 weeks ago

🧐 Curious 🎨 Creative 💪🏻 Living Boldly! @idoamazingthings 😁 Content with wool in my hands Artisan weaver of blankets and wraps. Pop to my website
What would I use this basket for?
For 45 years, I’ve loved to feel natural fleece in my hands. There’s something very humbling about recognising where wool originates, and feeling the soft greasy fleece in my hands is very special; and to be able to weave into my blankets some of my own handspun yarn is very gratifying.
I like to rinse the fleece before preparing and spinning it.
I’ve tried several methods and this one suits me best, and the basket is perfect. Allows gentle rinsing without any felting.
Why not save this tip to try, if you can get your hands onto some greasy fleece, and for more come follow along.
#weaving #Handspinning #fleece #fibreart #weaver
2 days ago
This is my top number ONE Pro-tip.
Do you want meaningful work - or empty trash?!
I’m a visual artist and weaver, and this number one tip for meaningful work is for all creatives and your chosen medium!
‘Tell your stories from your own experiences!’
That’s it!
My latest body of work is based on the Mullik Ghat markets in Kolkata India, where we drove our vintage car through India, Bhutan and Myanmar.
For more - Come follow along!
#artisanmade #roadtripindia #weaving #creativetips #protip
4 days ago
The cacophony of fragrance and colour on the backdrop of damp grey fog of the Mullik Ghat Markets Kolkata; was incredible!
I wasn’t expecting this place to leave its mark so deeply, and is the foundation for my current body of work.
The key to creating work with meaning, whether you’re a weaver or using another medium; is to tell your own stories from your lived experience.
Perhaps you could save this tip to try for your next project; and instead of thinking about things like colour or shape; why not think of a memory instead.
Love to know how you go!
For more creative tips - come along and follow!
#creativetips #kolkata #weaving #travelart #madebyhand
5 days ago
Here’s a different kind of pro-tip; and it comes from a lifetime of unexpected surprises!
It’s never just about technique, but it’s all about telling stories from our lived experience.
I wasn’t expecting this place to leave its mark so deeply.
The cacophony of fragrance and colour on the backdrop of damp grey fog of the Mullik Ghat Markets Kolkata, India ; was incredible!
As an artist, the most valuable insight I’ve gained is that meaningful work must come from lived experience.
Technique alone can create pieces, but only lived experience can fill them with meaning.
Whether you are a weaver or a creative working in another medium, the key to creating work with meaning is to tell your personal stories.
Connect with your memory before you even think of colour or shape. Give it a try!
Perhaps you could save, and try this pro-tip for your next project and see how your work evolves with this dedicated intention.
For more - come Follow along.
#artisanmade #roadtrip #interiordesign #protip #weaving
6 days ago
When I begin weaving, I have no idea what it will end up looking like
I never have a plan because I weave intuitively from my memories
Here I’m weaving my memories from the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
As I weave, I roll it, then becomes hidden. It’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets when I unroll it from my loom.
You could try this in your form of art as well. .
Try starting with a memory, and remember the colours of your experiences.
You can save this idea for your next project; and for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio.
Come follow along with me!
#weaving #weavingloom #weavinglife #madebyhand #artisanmade
2 weeks ago
Weaving is “like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
When I begin weaving, I have no idea how it will turn out.
I always start with memories; and I never have a plan.
In my latest Series, I’m weaving my memories from our vintage car roadtrip; and the Mullik Ghat flower markets in Kolkata, India.
Colour is my thing. I don’t have a colour plan because I weave intuitively, and I don’t remember what colours I’ve used.
As I weave, I roll the fabric onto the back beam, and it then becomes hidden. When I’ve finished the weaving and I unroll my piece from the back beam - it’s always such a surprise to see my stories revealed in my blankets.
Why don’t you try to weave without a plan? You could try this in any creative medium as well.
Start with a memory, and remember the colours of that experience. Then just go for it, and play!
You can save this tip for later; for my journal notes on inspiration for this series - Kolkata; pop to my link in Bio; and for more creative ideas, come follow along.
#handweaving #madebyhand #arttips #roadtripindia #weaver
2 weeks ago
Are you floundering with making a project meaningful?
As an artist for most of my life, who has meandered and searched for meaning within my own work; I have a couple of tips for you.
If you don’t know where to start, think of an experience that is meaningful to you. Recall the colours.
Just start there!
Tip 1. Remember the colours.
Tip 2. Use ONLY those colours.
A meaningful experience for me was our journey to Kolkata and the Mullik Ghat Flower Markets, and is the inspiration for my handwoven blankets.
You can save these tips for future reference for your next project. Let me know how you go!
For more, come Follow along.
#artisanmade #handweaving #madebyhand #artisttips #visualstorytelling
3 weeks ago
Want one secret tip for visual storytelling? There is an art to visual storytelling.
As an artist, there are some very important things which contribute to making a work meaningful and an expression of it’s intention.
Here I'm using the memory of my journey to Kolkata Mullik Ghat markets as the source material for my handwoven blankets.
One secret (not so secret hehehe) is to
1. Remember the colours of an experience or scene which is the subject matter of your project; and use ONLY those colours.
Perhaps save this for your future reference, and give it a go for your next project.
For more, come Follow along.
3 weeks ago
Curious, Creative, Living Boldly - That was my tagline I put on the footer of my emails 30 years ago; well before Instagram came into being.
It was not known to me then how important ‘curiosity’ was to be for me.
Being curious, and creative; has helped me navigate my life’s challenges; to heal; and provided the pathway for me to experience the richness of living - despite these challenges.
Curiosity is the intrinsic desire to learn, explore and understand.
I am an artist. My work has included conceptual photography & video; multimedia installations; and textiles. Working with my hands is important to me. I am a weaver. I weave my stories into blankets.
I wanted to express my experiences of Kolkata, but didn’t know how to share with others the magic I felt in this city of extremes. Poverty and wealth. Colour and darkness. I didn’t know where to start.
I was curious about how to express my stories of Kolkata. What I did was to just start. Experiment and play. I let my inner voice and memories guide my colour choices. I had no idea whether my handwoven blankets would ‘turn out’... but I was curious and felt the most incredible gratitude and joy weaving these blankets which hold my memories and stories.
Why don’t you try becoming friends with your curiosity? What a lifelong friendship that will be; and hopefully that friend will remind you every single day, despite everything; to keep holding on to, and never let go of being curious.
For more on my journey, follow along.
For those interested, I’m using a 48”/120cm @ashford_wheels_looms Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom.
#curiousity #createeveryday #creativelife #weaving #selfdiscovery
3 weeks ago








