Courtney <3 Rhys

A couple of months ago I met the deliriously delightful Courtney (otherwise known as FruzzlePuff by those in the know) at the Bobby Flynn concert. She wore giant flowers in her curls, taught the support band how to play harmonica and made friends with us when she came around offering free giant pizza. I think somehow in our glittered cowgirl hats she recognised us as her tribe.



A few days ago I had the ginormous pleasure of photographing her and her lovely love, Rhys, down by the river. I was so enchanted by their love story ~ they had met in their first class of drama in college, and been together for the three years since. They are tenderly young at nineteen, and they touched me with their warmth, love and play. Courtney is vibrant and bodacious, like a rainbow bunch of gerberas and Rhys' love for her shines through his eyes.



When we rocked up to the river, I said to them "Just how wet do you guys want to go today?", eyeing Courtney's white leggings with silk bows and Rhys' ninja cool boots. "We're up for adventure" they replied. And they were! These pair were the most adventurous, open and beautiful models a girl could hope for. Wade across the rocks just to get to a tiny island? Sure, no worries. Crawl through rapids? We are there! Stand fully clothed in the middle of the river? No problems!



They were.so.precious. Leonie hearts them BIG.

Make yourself a delicious cup of tea (maybe vanilla green tea, or dandelion with mint and ginger, or chamomile) and settle in for some lush soul-eye candy...
Allow yourself to ~breathe~ and be swept gently down the river of love...
















my favourite photo of courtney... she looks like an incredible ancient water nymph goddess...








i love the power of this image...



Afterwards we found overselves a rocking stormwater drain for me to crawl down, just to get my stormwater drain kicks (and capture the beautiful light that seeps down them).






so we found this sign...

My greatest hope with my photography is to document the divine in every soul... to show them their own possibilities and beauty. When I look through these photos I see so much of both these things that my heart grows big.





Fruzzle, Rhys ~ you guys are beautiful.
Thank you for the honour of photographing your love and your joyful souls.



Love,
Leonie

~ You can see more photos from the portrait session at Flickr
~ Have a remarkable weekend... trust the beauty and love in you.
I'm off to the farm for three days. Paint, read, drum, bushwalk, riverwalk. Repeat.

Portrait Party with Sarah

My uber spunkyliscious earth~appreciator and creative magnifico friend Sarah Davies (also known as Sezolas) brought a big tub of freshly picked strawberries to meet me at the Portrait Party. Then we ate them using no hands. And then we talked about crystals. And then we took photos of our shadows. And then we laughed. And then we made a campfire. And then we made up new words to Kumbaya and changed music history. And then we laughed. And then we stuffed ourselves with too-crispy marshmallows cooked over the fire. And then I sneezed when I swallowed and got marshmallow up my nose. And then we laughed. And then the marshmallow came out.

And THEN we drew pictures of each other.



I have a total raving crush on the portrait she made for me. This picture oh-so does not do it justice, because it has delicious patterned papers making up the lolling hills and red spotted fabric on my dress and this light peppering of paint all over the sky and this amazing linework and deliciousness... Stylistically, heartfully, colourfully, this has made me fall Head Over Heels. And then over again when I catch sight of my tiny purple crocs in the picture.

*happy sigh*

I think I might just stay at the Portrait Party House forever...

joyfully,
Leonie

(super secret P.S. - the whole marshmallow up my nose thing actually happened. when i was camping, at the clever age of 12. but it was pineapple. do NOT sneeze when you swallow. otherwise you have to just keep sneezing until the pineapple comes out your nose. it's actually kinda awesome, now i think about it... not everyone can say they've sneezed pineapple...)

Prints, prints, glorious prints

Now's the time to indulge that goddess in you... or start shopping for Christmas/Summer-Winter Solstice. I've got only one or two prints left of each artwork in my Goddess of Leonie Etsy store, and I would love for you to be the precious mama-bear of them!

Sale prices remain until sold out of stock - Free shipping on all prints, and second prints receive an additional $5 off. These prints are printed on a delicious A3 size 200gsm paper ~ 11 x 16 inches. (Original artworks are still 20% off also!) This is your chance to purchase prints or artworks from me for the rest of the year, as I'll be shutting up shop once stocks are gone to welcome change and adventures in India. I'm not sure when or if I'll be continuing to offer prints (especially at the A3 size)... so they truly are an exclusive set ;)

~ Aussies and Kiwis please contact me for special exchange rate sale prices ~

Email me at leonie@gmail.com if you'd like to bless yourself with one.

I see vivid, glorious prints, gleaming with Spirit, honouring the Goddess in you and adorning the soulful corners of homes all around the globe.

I see dreams blossoming true and our divinity revealed, dancing before us.

I'm off to dive deep into the day ~ a painting commission to complete, some writing to do and a photo shoot this afternoon by the river! An abundance of blessings in my life. :)

Love, light, joy, abundance,
Leonie

Water Womyn

Water Womyn:
She who comes to me
when I am in the Room of Cleansing, the Room of Bathing.

She is strong, that Water Womyn,
sister to Changing Womyn,
floating me in the liquid arms,
mermaid hair unfurling,
comforting me with her eerie song
that speaks of the old places:
Atlantis, Avalon, Tipi in the Sky.

Some nights, the Water Womyn
teaches me through visions.
Some nights, she stands to the left and centre of me,
whispering in my ear
who I am and why I am here.

May your day be blessed with light,
Leonie

~ More Turquoise Journey here.
~ More Self Portrait Challenges here.

Art Circle Dreaming

We had our first artists circle a few weeks ago ~
a precious afternoon painting with our feet,
releasing expectations,
having instant photo shoots in the compost heap,
drinking tea, picnicking,
not so much MAKING art but PLAYING art ~
and I think that's the important thing.

Here's some delish photos from the day ~
you can see more at the Flickr set here.


josha+kayles=lovahs


photo by the beautiful kaylia


the lovely angel


princess firelight


lile, supermodel extraordinaire


our masterpiece
or:
just one of the side effects of our masterpiece:
the true masterpiece is creating.

may your days be filled with the masterpiece of the moment,
leonie

~ p.s. i've been interviewed over at the lovely colored sprinkles blog :) thank you patty!

Portrait Partying with Pixie

The Goddess Pixie Campbell met up with me in the Portrait Party room for chocolates, drumming and the usual Goddess fare.

I dig that Pixie woman, even from across the oceans in the land of Not-Met-Yet.
I honour who she is, her bravery, honesty and true-ness.
I honour the way she cultivates the earth, grows with her chillun and nourishes her own Self.
I honour Goddess Pixie just as she is.

I am completely spellbound with the portrait she created of me - you can see it over on her blog.
Wise open (I meant to write wide open, but it came out that way) and laughing... inside my spirit she looks. I feel so very honoured by her creation.

My gosh, this Portrait Partying is pretty much the most fun ever.

One day we will circle, Pixie,
Leonie

What To Do In Parking Lots

Make Super Model photo shoot.


"Levels: work Levels babe!"


"We iz suburban grunge"


"We iz modern dance"

Taken approximately five hours before we danced in front of Bobby Flynn wearing angel wings and cowgirl hats.

We were just warming up.

What do you do in parking lots?

My challenge to you this weekend is to go out and make parking lot art. Make those concrete jungles a place for beauty and creativity to bloom. (post a link in the comments if you do it)

:)
blessings,
Leonie

Sacred Sounds

Saturday afternoon was birthed clear and blue, shining and new.
What to create on a day such as this?

Dream this:

Souls driving out of the city
and into the southern alpine fields that kiss the feet of tender purple mountains.

A Sacred Sounds Concert on a healing retreat ~
friends, lovers, families, dear ones to celebrate sacred sounds.

Imagine making music because that's what calls you,
that's what frees you, that's what makes community.
There are no mistakes, there is only sound, and there is only laughter,
as you make music together.



Imagine a circle of souls:
of healers, children, teachers, musicians, shamans, filipino tribal chiefs, artists, fairies and farmers
holding hands in one circle, in oneness,
in an old circlular cow shed
singing ohm together
until the sacred sound swirls around them
and dances up through the roof
making spirits creak and souls soar.



Imagine dancing like an eagle,
in a circle of dancing eagles,
with a goddess child in your arms.



Imagine a couple who love each other
tenderly, honestly and genuinely.
Who love this Earth and its people so much that they open their hearts and their land
to make a healing retreat and hold gatherings to come home to.



the entirely beautiful peter and gini



Imagine an incredible band who don't make just music:
they make spirit and magic and dreams play harmony in the air.


Gorgeous George and their sublime drummer

Imagine the Andi and George band that make music that is your soul home.
Imagine them and then buy every single album they own,
because they deserve it and you deserve them.
You deserve their tilting, dancing, miraculous ocean music beauty in your heart.


Goddess Andi

Imagine bare feet
aching to tell
their story
in movement.



Imagine your friends, your circle sisters
swirling together into light and song and dance
there in the cow shed with you.


Angel and Freya


Goddess Kaylia

Imagine a gathering of souls and music
where dogs are just as much a part of the gathering
as anybody else.



Imagine a beautiful man who loves you
so deeply, unconditionally and acceptingly,
always gently watching from the corner,
always watching you fly.

Imagine a man who is a lake of reflection,
soaking it all into his depths,
letting the singing bowl and the didjeridoo
make their music inside him.



Imagine walking by the lake,
coming home to yourself and to the Earth,
strung in a necklace of Goddesses
who have become your tribe.



Imagine finding a woman who is like a twin to you.
Imagine her. She is coming. She has arrived.



Imagine reclaiming the Dance:
the Dance of Freedom, the Dance that makes you Glad,
the Dance your body longs to dance.
Imagine the Dance that isn't about judgements or others,
it is the Dance of Being Alive and Barefoot and Grateful.

All I need to dance now
is hands beating drums
and the dirt floor of a cow shed.



All I need to dance now
is Mother Earth
kissing my bare feet



and Father Sun's light
kissing my bare face and arms



and the sacred sound of our own hearts beating.




All we need is the sacred sound of our own hearts beating.




Imagine it... so it may be...

In brilliance,
Leonie