It’s Jetson’s 13th birthday today!
He’s had a great day doing the things he loves most. Lying on the couch. Eating. A big stretch in front of the fireplace heater. Eating. Big snooze.
Add in a birthday cake (salmon pâté) and he is very content.
So grateful for our little rulebreaker, defying the initial prognosis of days, maybe weeks if lucky, back in October. 🖤
No, it’s not a post selling you shoes.
Rather, a small snapshot of a part of my home life that I don’t share as often online these days.
Those who have been around these parts for a bit might recall one of the hats I wear is carer to my mum. I might be wearing my day job hat, or my creative hat, or my personal life hat but this one is always a hat sitting just out of view under those.
A little nesting top-hat. 🎩✨
Burlesque-misconception style.😅
Yesterday that hat came into full view.
My mum is ok, there was no admission. She is however quite unwell with suspected pneumonia and pending further intervention from her respiratory specialist that has already been in the pipeline for several weeks now.
I’m so grateful to the kind staff at Ipswich Hospital for their patience and understanding. Chronic conditions and other complex health backgrounds often make a hospital visit an anxiety-inducing experience. However, the nurses and attending doctor really took the time to listen and verify. Test as much as they could. We were in and out within about 8 hrs (admittedly, some people we were in the waiting area alongside were still there when we left - the public system is at breaking point).
I know not all experiences are like ours but that’s why it’s so important to acknowledge when they are.
Please remember to choose kindness and consideration when you can. It really does make a difference.
Early bird tickets are available until this Saturday 9 May for the next Bombshell’s Ball. Head over to @bombshellburlesque for more details and to book, especially if you want to see some sultry goodness followed by the most hectic cardio routine OF ALL TIME that takes about 5-7 business days to recover from (but I love it @lenore.lenorexo , you genius). 😂🤣🌪️
A @michael_lombardi_art original, inspired by the latest @sherbetbirdie_photography shot I posted.
I’m forever in awe of people who create worlds with their hands.
Thank you so much, Michael.
Last share for now from this shoot. Thank you so much for the truly lovely feedback. It really means a lot, usually so much more than I can adequately express.
I’m not deeply insecure about the body I call home but I do still feel from time to time like a bit of an awkward person in my own skin. I know I’m still a hard nut to crack socially in person but I do always endeavour to be kind. It was one of the reasons I started modelling way back when, in order to get out of my head and flip the script on the internal chatter (and some external chatter too, admittedly). Runway actually used to be my strongest arena when I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and I focused on photographic specifically because I knew it was a weak area.
It’s a wonderful feeling to reflect on the journey and acknowledge my greatest fortune of being able to create interesting things with the help of very talented and beautiful humans. I hope to do so in many different iterations for several years to come.
Also, I can’t praise the world-building skills of the Sherbet Birdie team highly enough. Every little detail is accounted for, right down to the moss covered surrounds and where the hair (not models’ own here 😅) is sitting in each frame (or set, as we do some speed-rounds of shooting throughout).
If you are mulling over doing a scary new thing please remember it feels that way because deep down you’re passionate about it. Allow yourself permission to at least try and then try some more. It might just be the next great adventure you were destined to embark on, forks in the road and all.
Image | @sherbetbirdie_photography
I read that the eve of the Flower Moon in the Southern Hemisphere (tonight) heralds in the changing cooler months, differing from its initial namesake as welcoming Spring time blooms in the Northern Hemisphere.
I think I’ll call it the Persephone moon myself.
Iykyk.
Seems very apt.
🥀🖤
Image | @sherbetbirdie_photography
“The world is changed; I can feel it in the water, I can feel it in the earth, I can smell it in the air.”
- Galadriel
Image | @sherbetbirdie_photography
Exactly 10 weeks to the day from download and on waking up this morning, I deleted the app designed to be deleted.
Is it a grand sign of a success story.
No, it is not.
Was it an eye-opening experience.
Yes, it was.
My key takeaway/advice for those seeking connections of any degree.
Be curious, ask questions. I’m actually stunned this was such a foreign concept to pretty well all I spoke with on Hinge.
I’m honestly just fatigued from trying to initiate and carry interactions.
Basic conversational skills can be learnt and effort is always appreciated, trust me.
Also, if you say you don’t want drama in your profile…
MATE, YOU’RE OSCAR NOMINATED.
🎭😅 *cue wrap-up music*
While I’m admittedly disappointed I never reached a face-to-face meeting with anyone on this long-overdue attempt, I’m relieved to be taking a break, assessing where I could work on relational skills at my end (no one is perfect, least of all me) and focusing to a greater extent on people and hobbies that bring me joy.
First stop: Another day with the best work crew, then The Super Mario Galaxy Movie tonight with my bro and sister-in-law.
Always that nerd and proud of it. 💚
#hinge #unhinged #moderndating #intentionalrelating #choosejoy
I was so fortunate to be part of the coolest show last weekend, assisting for Burlesque Through The Ages: Burlesque Before Time. I had grand plans for a little behind the scenes GRWM video…
Instead, you get this clunky collection of me decimating a cinematic masterpiece because BIG PRE-SHOW MOOD (John Williams please forgive me). 😅😂
If you missed it, check out my 🦖 BTTA highlight reel. It’s not as good as being there (second show can attest 😎) but it’s a teaser that just maybe could convince you to come on down to the cellar next time.
Also, please follow @altevents.au@mara.maraschino.burlesque and the spectacular BTTA: Burlesque Before Time cast:
@hades_torment_@shytello_jadore@ruby_corvette@roxxytocin@inkubus_official@willow.bne
Catch Burlesque Through The Ages in July for their next edition: Mediæval. ✨🖤
I had to sit with this one overnight as I’m honestly just so damn shocked and honoured to be thought of. Seriously just sat open-mouthed for a while last night and surprised I didn’t swallow a fly or two.
As someone who has been a transient burlesque student over the years and only committed seriously last year with ongoing classes and finally achieved a long-held dream of burlesque soloist in August, I know I’m so damn lucky to have crossed anyone’s mind, let alone be nominated by community amongst some absolute upcoming powerhouses (which should be a longer list, let’s be honest).
Thank you to friends old and new for embracing me, the audiences who make it possible and the close family who honestly keep me going when times get tough. An honourable mention to my mama who has forever been my biggest supporter of whatever creative chaos I’m into and suffers through my unhinged ideas on the regular.
I can’t wait to keep being silly, subversive and sexy for such a wonderful scene.
Thank you so much @iconburlesqueawardsqld for the warm and fuzzies you’re providing. 🥰😘
Peoples, please do head over there to see all the nominees and finalists (CONGRATS SUPERSTARS 🤩😍🥳) and for details on the big event in June (poster last slide).
💖💜💛
Remaining soft in a harsh world is a superpower that’s felt rather tenuous of late, to be honest.
Yet we persist.
Please have this lovely visual representation of the multiple tabs open in my head at present.
Image | @daniellemannphotography
