We’re slipping into the pace of the place (not that we were in need of much deceleration, having been on the road for 18 months, but…). This is a special part of the country, from Gisborne via Loisel’s Beach and Maraehako to Ohiwa Beach. In hindsight, it feels like there’s a point somewhere around the … Continue reading East Cape
And then there was Maraehako. …Strange I had almost forgotten about it, a marvel of a place we just happened to stop at to stay for a couple of nights. I am wondering if New Zealand is full of these places you just happen to stumble across by chance. This was one of my favourite, … Continue reading Maraehako
A little over a year ago, we visited Gisborne. A true & easy start into the summer, it was already hot in October. Gisborne was great. What an awesome camp spot close to the beach, and an awesome view over the bay. Sunsets, waves, and BARBED WIRE! The beach was our constant companion here. Afternoon ice … Continue reading Gisborne
Hi everyone, it’s strange how things seem to fall apart at the moment. US elections, NZ earthquakes, only a fool would see a connection! I’m sitting here fixing my vagrant installation via a CLI, and at the same time checking earthquake updates on RNZ and GeoNet. Feeling a bit weird. A bit torn, like the … Continue reading Te Awanga
Hello, I noticed the last post sounded a bit final. We do still have a few posts up our sleeves that we’d like to share, so you don’t miss out on some special places we have been to. Opoutere, on the West coast of the Coromandel peninsula, is one of those jewels we have found … Continue reading Opoutere is in the air
As we’re nearing our end of the trip I have trouble comprehending how it has almost been two years that we’ve called Liberty the Great our home. We have been ‘on the road’ for two friggin’ years – but what does that actually mean? Our lives just continue, and we lead a pretty ordinary existence; … Continue reading The road home
The distance to family is one big drawback of living down here, so I was very grateful to be able to partly reconcile this fact when my mum, sister and niece came for a visit eight months ago. Talking, writing, skyping is never enough to truly explain your life down here. We went for a … Continue reading Family family family and Tora Tora Tora
A quick update: We were just having a little one week holiday, in Ohiwa. With a beautiful setting next to Ohiwa Domain, and an ocean beach and a huge tidal inlet right outside the door, this must be one of the nicest campgrounds we’ve been to. But maybe it was just that we actually took … Continue reading Ohiwa holiday
A few people have asked me what it is like to be in the bus in winter. To be honest, it can be a struggle and feel like waiting out the dark and cold days. But it also has it’s perks, like chopping firewood, and being warm and cozy inside when it’s howling outside. That … Continue reading What we did last winter
We’re on the road for one and a half years now. Living in New Zealand full time again, I notice how easy it is to get used to its amazing countryside. When ‘the nature’, as the Germans say, ceases to blow you away on a daily basis, it’s crucial to treasure the small things. It’s meaningful … Continue reading The beauty of small things
At the moment we are parked in a campground with just a little stream separating the bus from the beach. The boys spend their days casting buckets and unbaited hooks (we’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that there are not, and will never be, fish in that meter-wide trickle of water) from the little bridge … Continue reading River adventures
Ok, just one more. We’re parked up in our home-on-the-road, Liberty the Great, in Te Awanga in the Bay of Plenty. It’s an awesome campground, right on the beach, and we’re loving the feeling of impending summer. There’s a legend in these parts of a beautiful woman called Pania who lived in the ocean, and fell in … Continue reading Bonus Drawing # 101, Pania of the reef
SO here it is, drawing #100. It’s taken me 231 days to get here, as opposed to my proposed 100, but I’ve stuck at it and made it through to the end. I’m good at having ideas and starting things, but not that awesome at getting them finished, so I’m pretty proud of myself. Some … Continue reading Day 100: The deepest sleep
Mr Mermaid, his tail sweeping through the air, whacking the ball out of the court, accidentally looks uncannily like my husband.
Last year I did some quick t-shirt designs for Thomas’ beach volleyball team in Hamburg. They’ve asked me to come up with a design again this year, and I’ve had fun coming up with designs for king and queen of the beach.
I’m doing an online class at the moment – it’s for aspiring artists and illustrators is described by teacher, Amy Ng as: A 6-week, fully online class, available instantly anytime 24/7, anywhere to everyone around the world. We’ll teach you how to differentiate yourself from the sea of other talents out there, how to build your … Continue reading Day 97: Me, 10 years old
A friend got in touch recently to ask if I could do some lettering for a teatowel to be given out at a family gathering. She wanted a casual calligraphic look, which I managed to put together within a tight timeframe and budget. It was an interesting process working on a handlettered piece with this … Continue reading Day 96: Bounty
Feeling inspired by the flip in seasons, I thought I’d have a go at a repeat pattern. Very simple – not terribly well planned or executed, it was still fun. Another thing to add to my list of stuff I’d like to learn more about!
I’m not sure how accurate this portrait is, but I really enjoyed chatting with Brian, so thought I’d give it a go drawing a picture of him once I got home from Hamburg.
The conference was set in an historic church in Hamburg, MC’d by a guy dressed as a monk… drinking a beer, operating a Mac.