At Home With Nature

“When you are truly home, something grabs hold of your heart; certain beautiful comforting memories and what is part of you deep inside. Home doesn’t mean just the structure you live in but more what is part of you, for example an urban city area or the country “ - Mary Gotsi

I had a wonderful chat with Melbourne based actress Kate Elizabeth Jean about her love for what is truly home… amongst nature.

Me: Hello Kate, it is so lovely to be out here in the country. What does nature mean to you? 

Kate: I feel very connected to nature. I grew up on a deer farm and love dirt roads. I have been surrounded by nature every since I was two years old therefore it is a big part of me. I adore open spaces and love the colors after it rains.

Me: If you had to choose an area to go for a walk. Where would you choose?

Kate: I would definitely choose nature. It is where I feel the most myself. Creatively things naturally flow (especially by the ocean), and that is where I practice scripts or dabble in song writing. Lots of ideas come to me compared to walking in the city, where everything is more noisy and closed in. Nature connects us to everything.

Me: We are standing in the most beautiful flower field. You look so comfortable and beautiful here. What is it about flowers that you like?

Kate: Flowers, I love the scent. Naturally it is comforting, calming and soothing. If you receive flowers they smell amazing

Me: As you know I have a love for polka dots.  I just adore your dress!

Kate: Thank you.

Me: I am dying to know which website I can log on and buy it instantly? :-)

Kate: No website:-) I bought it from a vintage store about 10 years ago.  I love things from another era. It reminds me of the seventies and the femininity from that time.  I gravitate towards old things and particularly love textures.

Me: Oh damn! :-) Now, on to another subject…I am curious what color do you see Melbourne as?

Kate: The centre of the city feels grey to me (concrete jungle). Once you get out, it is like a misty blue or green. The reason I connect to nature so much is the colors.

Me: Finally I have to ask about your choice of beverage, coffee or tea?

Kate: I prefer tea.

Me: I am shocked! :-) That is not very Melbournian. This city is known for its coffee obsession.

Kate: (Laughs!) My love for tea overtakes being part of the coffee movement.

Me: Naughty Melbournian! :-) Thank you for the beautiful inspiring chat Kate.

Kate: So lovely being out here, thank you.

Xo

Photography and words by Mary Gotsi

Location photographed : https://kabloom.com.au

Dress Kate wearing: Vintage

I won't clap until it is perfect...

I have to admit I am drawn to perfectionists. Not because I am a perfectionist or anything, I am far too easy going for it:-) My casualness most likely has something to do with being Australian. We generally grow up with teachers and parents encouraging no matter what. It does not matter if that drawing passed off as art was a blob of little crap. The powers to be will always say “Oh, great. You got a C for that project. Well you tried and that is the main thing”. So we Aussie kids grow up sometimes with a false sense of confidence with what we are doing is so perfect and “We gave it a go! That is the main thing”.

Often what happens as what happened with me… you decide that you want to achieve something but don’t put all the work in to make it exceptional and the best it can possibly can be…because giving something merely a go is confused with perfect! It’s great, no matter what the outcome. 

Is it a good or bad thing? I am not so sure.

It is great to be carefree as that trait allows for creative ideas to flow and go outside the box...however sometimes I think I could learn from perfectionists.

 For example the barista that makes my coffee in Melbourne, Australia is of Japanese heritage and the coffee is always exceptionally made. If not, he frowns as if all is not ok...then starts the coffee again. For him, it would be substandard to serve mediocre and I get the feeling he would be ashamed to serve anything but the best well made coffee.  

I delved into this deeper and I discovered that behind the scenes this particular barista was obsessed with coffee evident by how much he practiced, went out and visited other cafes every time he had a day off. He studies the art of making coffee. Down to exploring every type of coffee to make by practicing, reading books and visiting other baristas. Making it again, again and again until perfection.

Then there is the graphic designer who helped design the pamphlets for my street diaries exhibition. She was a perfectionist that I could see…evident by her questions and perfectly placed pen with her notebook she had close to her in our initial meetings.  She asked a lot of questions and had a lot of well-prepared notes about the project.  Of course when she was hired for the job, that perfectionism came out when she was designing my vision she did not accept just anything. She wanted the best, in terms of graphic design.  That served me well and I was happy.

An amazing yoga teacher where I attend classes is absolutely perfect at yoga and teaching. So great in fact I became curious...how? Well I delved into it deeper and I learnt from our conversation after class that she is constantly practicing, training and never sitting still on her achievements. She seems to be striving for better and better. Of course we students benefit. We get to learn from the best. 

Sometimes concentrating on absolute perfectionism with a thing or achieving can turn into an obsession. A person won’t be happy or clap himself / herself for any achievement whatsoever. That striving and obsession for perfectionism has overtaken.

I had a great conversation with a talented photographic artist friend of mine who has this problem with trying to achieve being the best at his art that he forgets to pause, stop and breathe. He is really obsessed with being perfect and he does not acknowledge anything he does. Of course from my point of view…he does amazing things and has amazing achievements. Two degrees and publications in his chosen profession should deserve a clap.

Sometimes, the best work comes out of that perfectionist attitude as well. Lets face it… most people who are consistently successful at what they do (I am not talking about one hit wonders) are a little obsessed with perfectionism.  This ranges from photographers, artists, writers, chefs, barista’s, hairdressers, graphic designers, fashion designers, business owners etc.

They all seem to have something in common, that striving for absolute perfectionism in what ever their chosen field is.  Usually they are passionate about what they do therefore want to be absolutely perfect at it. To be perfect at something; anything…takes practice, study and acceptance that you can see any flaws. Once you do; correct the flaws as they appear to make it perfect, that passion.

So will I clap about this blog? Well... it is not perfect;-) 

However, I will clap if you are here reading.  Why not;-) as you and I dear reader merged = I see that as a perfect combination!  Thank you, it’s my passion to write to you. 

xo 

Blue Door

If you have made it here on my page… hello;-) Welcome to my first blog post!

Why did I start this little blog? It is the perfect way to convey and share my experiences and inspirations with you.  Write, photograph or create what I am passionate about, on any given day…without rules. I am not bound by anything and will talk about things that are honestly passionate about or part of the story. That is what blogs are, just what ever a person wants it to be :-)

A little about me; I live in Melbourne, Australia in a little 1940’s built semi-detached house with a blue door.  There is something about having a blue door that reminds me of the old doors in Europe. Here in Australia the architecture tends to be more modern. Therefore when I come across something a little old looking…I become interested and inspired by the essence being little different to the modern. It perhaps has history and not necessarily perfect shiny clean expected lines.

Every time I open the door… it feels like I am walking out into a little journey.  I could be in Europe, even though very quickly I realise I am not, by how much space we have in Australia; wide roads, tree lined streets and Aussie accents:-)

Blue is the colour of calm and as I open the door entry… I feel like that is presentation and entry into my calm little oasis, home.

The door was not blue when I moved here to my little home. It was an off white. The style was a little bland and the same types of doors were in most of my street.  Because of my love for old doors and the need to not be like everyone else, not having a big budget to just find and purchase a dream like amazing vintage European or Moroccan door…I decided to use a little imagination. For some reason as I looked at the bland white I could imagine Europe by painting it blue. So I painted the door and added a silver old looking round big door handle.  The results = I loved!  It was turned into a beautiful door that made the house look a little unique and charming.  

Yes, I sort of copied the style you may see in Paris but with my own Australian mark and imagination. Besides blue being the color of calm, it is also one of the prominent colors of the sea and Australia is very beach orientated. We can access nature and do that easily as part of our weekends.

There is a great quote I read that I read from the talented Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto…

“Start copying what you love. Copy, copy, copy, copy, copy.  At the end of the copy you will find yourself.”

That’s what I felt when I was inspired by the style of the European old doors. I copied but in the end I found my own self with the style. So I call it “ A European inspired door that resides in an typical Australian suburban street “. Perfect for Melbourne, as we have many different cultures living here. It gave a sense of intermix paired with the typical Australian brick home.

So what do I do when I open the blue door and leave my house? Besides going to work (I make a living doing arts administration)…I love doing street photography. I see that type of genre of photography as a little dance with storytelling. The city I live in…Melbourne; is so fascinating and beautifully multicultural. I love photographing different street scenes organically as it is presented and more often than not, it is like a silent poem.

I am also passionate about feminine pretty things like skincare, fashion, flowers and various experiences that may range from having a perfect well-made coffee or a yum meal made at a restaurant where the chef is passionate about what is created on the plate. Finally…I love art, books and of course travel.  Therefore you may see my posts are about various subjects. In summary, I write what ever inspires me at the time and share it with you dear reader.

My first inspiration is that blue door.

xo

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