Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Inside my soul, and other tales...


I have been sporadic with my blogging of late. But I must tell you, there has been much going on at my piano and recording studio to show for it! Perhaps excuse me of it?


I have been commissioned to write a song for a retired couple who approached me because they are long term fans of my work, and wanted me to write their funeral song - for whichever of them should pass away first.

What I love about it is that it's not a song of sorrow! It's one of celebration, of love, and life long commitment. The lady of the couple had written a series of three poems which she asked me to write the music for, make into a song which they could then use to express their love for each other, and to share with their friends, family and children, for, and in years to come...

It is all finished now, I have handed over the finished product, been received with rave reviews, cups of coffee, hugs, laughs, tears, and I think, life long gratitude. And perhaps beyond!

A short while afterwards I was told by a friendly passer by that they knew I was 'that singer' and they had downloaded some of my songs from iTunes, and particularly loved the song Anything. I was truly chuffed and encouraged! So thank you dear stranger!

My album, available on iTunes

I feel so terribly blessed to be someone who can translate feelings which are heard through the ears, and seem so often to penetrate straight into the soul.

I seem to spend much of my own thought life {and even physical life} inside my own soul. I have not much developed the skill of disassociation from the spiritual, I like it there!

I am always half in that daydream. Which I believe, is what keeps me wholly happy...

Photo by the Windhover

Songsmith xx

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A friend in me...


It has been a week indeed.

My friend has had the week off since returning from China, and we have taken the chance to do some of the many things we often don't have the chance, to chance upon...


One of which was visiting the National Portrait Gallery for a first, and long overdue explore. Wandering around the Vanity Fair exhibition was delightful and inspiring. And it became apparent to me how emotive it is to look at so many representations of different people, members of our species, from many, and any points in time. It was undeniably confronting, and I also found exciting, fulfilling to look the person - the portrait - in the eye and give them a knowing smile.

We have carted out a new piece of furniture - which had typically met with an untimely demise, and carted in an old one, which is much more delightful {and thrifted from the shearing shed!} to begin a new life...

We have mostly just been at home. Meaning to do more than actually got done. Going to bed too late, and laughing with our children at the table...

But the true untimely demise this week, is that of Michael Jackson.

I still do not believe it. And I hope somehow it's not true.

One of the most gifted artists of our time; a spirit nearly too beautiful and artistic for this world, perhaps can now be free from confusion, and the world's lustful pursuit of his image and his fame. Now perhaps can just be that artistic soul forever, here in the fallen world, and there, in God's perfect Heaven.

I feel slightly relieved. As though his gift, and his life long innocence, can now be an eternal portrait for modern musical history, and humanity.

"You've got a friend in me..."
I give you Ben.
Songsmith xx

Monday, June 22, 2009

How well it is...


...to be walking once more
with my friend.

We walk-
 & talk about the silly & the serious,
about our children,
about ourselves {also children}
Ever aware of the passage of time,
The colour of days
the sound of our songs
the fragility of life
the holding of hands
the sharing of loves-

that is - when one is so & such in love
One has such & much, 
more love to give!

In Love
Songsmith xx

Friday, June 19, 2009

Emergency pumpkins!



Sometimes I look up
and see
an unposed picture
of cottage bliss
in my own kitchen!

How blessed I am to be here!

Shell xx

Sometimes Winter can be
deliciously dreary.

Feel you cannot make the days count
Wish you could skate away-
on a Joni Mitchell song.
Feel you've hit a brick wall.

Realise you're craving sunlight
- a brisk walk...
Realise you're focussing too closely
thinking too locally,
not sharing enough
of those thoughts with your God.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God...

Songsmith xx

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Getting green...


{Phew}

How I needed that feeling.
Of heart pounding, back hurting, hoe swinging...
Breaking up the ground, flinging out the weeds.  My cheeks cold to the touch, but inside, I am warm with satisfaction.

And upon coming inside at the end of the day I find the house is cosier, the tea is hotter, tastes all the better, children are quieter, piano more inviting...  
- and I am strangely craving, for the chance to get out there tomorrow, and do some more?

Songsmith xx

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

In My Living Room...



Up late.
Finished watching Carole King's In My Living Room concert.
Put the {go on have one more} kettle on,
Settle in to write some poetry -
turns of phrase, deeper than {everyday} thoughts,
already were swirling around my head,
But now such clarity-
In the {all four children asleep}
section of my day {night}
I come wholly alive.
As a creative spirit.

Handmade songs spun here.

Songsmith xx

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Sunday Morning Tea...


For one.
Is contemplative, and warming,
Silent and still,
Ever so slightly lonely,
However patience & time
will see me back with my friend again-
Before long.

Shell xx

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Warm loves...


Yesterday was the coldest day on record for Canberra.  Ever.  The mercury got no further than to 4˚C.

Low cloud and fog prevented the sun from shining all day long.  And being an Australian, I'm not used to sunshine deprivation - even for one, small, day!

So I went out immediately and bought some pineapple to make myself feel Summery, it tasted delicious and almost felt like a slight on the weather to do such tropical thing in such temperatures!

I brought home some fresh lillies to brighten up the sun room...

And some eighties delicious red leg warmers to lift my core temperature, and my spirits!

Determined to enjoy the rest of this Australian mild winter am I!  Enjoying plenty of hot tea, baked delights, homemade soups, woolen shawls, long walks, good books & warm loves.

Dinner time!

Songsmith xx

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Question Time!


I was pleased to be 'tagged' by the lovely Emily, to participate in this little questionnaire...  I don't think I've answered one of these things since the internet first began!  But here goes...

What is your current obsession(s)?
Recording new music in my little lovely studio, Tara's new vintage look winter coat {Size 2!} Raspberry Chilli Jam from Jamworks.  Note:  Raspberry Chilli Jam is more of a lifetime rather than current obsession!



What was the most interesting thing you did today?
I got my hair cut, I bought Tara a coat {above}, and I lost my two sisters - in - law in the Canberra City for about an hour and a half - which needless to say was, interesting...

What are you wearing today?
Well, if you must know, this...


What's for dinner?
Roast {Free Range} Chicken; Home grown Pumpkin, potatoes and every good thing!

What would you eat for your last meal?
Perhaps, the above!  Or this...


What's the last thing you bought?
Some marked down fruit salad at the fruit & veg shop {while looking for my sisters - in - law!}  Oh, no, that's not right - it was in fact the new Tori album!

What are you listening to right now?
I can hear the oven cooking dinner, and I am soon to be listening to my new Tori Amos album.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
Emily?  A breath of fresh air, a vessel of energy, vibrancy and creativity, a true artist, an honest heart, a kindred.


If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
I think it would be, where already I be...  I am blessed to live in a beautiful place with, and near so much of my beloved family.  So the answer to that question is, at Hillview.


If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Perhaps to England, to walk in the fields like Jane Austen...  Set up picnic, and pick English strawberries.

Which language would you like to learn?
German, French or Arabic, like my ancestors...

What is your favourite colour?
Red, purple, burnt orange, and green.  But, every colour under the sun has it's place and it's beauty to me really.

What is your favourite piece of clothing from your own wardrobe?
I think, my purple dress, or my indian shawls, or my red coat.

What is your dream job?
What I do now really {perhaps just with more money involved!}  Make music from home, be chosen to write the soundtrack for a cool art film!  Do special and important live performances with The Tullys.

What is your favourite fabric?
I think Marino Wool {when made into a bright orange shawl.}

If you had $100 what would you spend it on?
A pair of red suede {or red sequin} winter boots {if only there was such a thing!}

Describe your personal style?
Colourful, cardiganed, swishy skirted dresses, wooden beads, Indian shawls, red shoes, big earrings.  


What are you going to do after this?
Have a cup of tea with my family.

What are your favourite films?
I am not the amazing, eclectic film buff I feel I probably ought to be, however love "Once", "Vertigo", Persuasion", "Sense & Sensibility", "Dear Frankie", "Chocolat"

Favourite fruit?
Pineapple, raspberries.  Is fruit salad a fruit?! - that's my favourite!

What inspires you?
God's creation.  Vivid colour, random acts of kindness, a smile from a stranger, beautiful gardens, brilliant musicians, anything to do with pianos.  Pure honesty.

Do you collect anything?
Strings of wildly coloured beads, cardigans and big earrings.

What are you currently reading?
At the moment I am finding lots of new & beautiful, inspiring blogs.

What makes you follow a blog?
Finding something beautiful, written with honesty, an original point of view, beaming with encouraging words, beautiful photography...

What society would you most like to join?
I would not belong to any group that would have me as a member!  *smirk*

What is one thing you did as a child that you miss doing now?
Playing music, {uninterrupted by children or general responsibility} for hours at a time...

What album changed your life?
Tori Amos - Pretty Good Year

What colour are your eyes?
Green.

I must admit to feeling a little light headed now after finally finishing this!  But I have enjoyed, and I hope you will enjoy it too.  I can see the merit in doing such a thing, already I have befriended a new beautiful blogging soul through this questionnaire, and I hope to meet more.  Bless you bloggers, and thank you for the delight and honour of your friendship!

Songsmith xx

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

As promised...


...I have posted my very newest ditty onto the little music player

{left of your screen}...


It is just a little spur of inspiration I had on Monday, a consideration of youth, fragility, and vulnerability ...as promised, it was recorded 

last night in hope that you might take a listen.


Nervous...

Mechelle Tully 

Nervous, habits in the morning, before,

I am getting on the train,

To see, to see you again, I hope I can,

keep it together, not be too -

nervous,

is strokes of colour like, 

Purple & Blue…

And I’m chewing on my pen,

And I’m drawing in the sand,

And I’m holding out my hand -

To you.


I am making it available as a free MP3 download from Reverbnation

so you may listen at your leisure and tell me what you think!


Songsmith xx


Tuesday, June 9, 2009

I am song...



Its a little ditty really.  But I wrote it last night, and have had it in my head all morning.  I shall go to my studio a little later today and see if I can capture it.  I am thinking of posting it here for you all to hear - as sort of a preview of what I have been writing/recording over the past months.

I wish it was like a picture, 
that I could paint and sell,
I project, a portrait,
a necessity, a revolution!
But it's not.
It's just my heart, for sale.
Or perhaps pieces of it,
Given out in sonic,
waves of poetry, memories, 
With pieces of brilliance!
and others that just mean a lot to me,
In any event - they are (and so too am I),
Yours.

Songsmith xx

Monday, June 8, 2009

It has been...


...a wonderful Queen's Birthday long weekend.  It has been a special, restful few days of family, slow food, hot tea, long breakfasts...

Looking out of the window; and for the first time in a long time - it has been raining, with small bursts of sun - rather than the reverse.

It has been fireworks on a freezing night, outside with the children, celebrating for the Queen with sparklers and laughter.

For me it has also been an inspiring weekend.  I have written one song, and recorded two others.  Always I feel so purposeful when I have been keeping up with my music - not just my washing pile and stack of dishes...  And I find one creative act, always leads to another...  Whether it's a memory, a snippet of a thought, a click of my camera, I am all of a sudden rushing to a piano, or scribbling words in my little brown Moleskin book.  To me, this is me on form, doing what I do.  I have come to a place where I am content to just make my music and not expect worldly acceptance, acknowledgment or even money.  I thirst only for clarity of heart, spirit and mind.  And it clears my head, to create.  

To me this is success, doing the art that I do, feeling purposeful in it, and sharing it with my beloveds.  

Shell xx

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Can-Do-Ness list!


How one's outlook can change after consuming the above...
Suddenly there is an incredible surge of can-do-ness in the air!
Today my Can-Do-Ness list may include:

(not necessarily in order of importance but rather of preference!)

  • Doing a little more recording;
  • Attempting to invent a Parsnip, Potato, Rosemary & Onion soup;
  • Take more photos of the (still occurring) rain;
  • Be purple;
  • Check the PO Box;
  • Buy Milk;
  • Pick up all the crayons Tara has thrown on the floor;
  • Do some weights & sit-ups;
  • Ignore the ironing.
Followed by yet more tea & dark dark chocolate to fill & feel wintery warm!

What plans have you?

Shell xx