Curate Your Space

Curate²
kjʊ(ə)ˈreɪt/
verb verb: curate; 3rd person present: curates; past tense: curated; past participle: curated; gerund or present participle: curating

select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition). "both exhibitions are curated by the Centre's director"
- select the performers or performances that will feature in (an arts event or programme). "in past years the festival has been curated by the likes of David Bowie"
- select, organize, and present (online content, merchandise, information, etc.), typically using professional or expert knowledge.

This week I had an enlightening conversation with a university friend. We were catching up on life, self-discovery and "curating your space". I thought it was a brilliant concept. Each of us, taking the time to select, organise & look after the items in our space. And by space I don't just mean our physical space. We also need to select what we let into our minds and who we let into our hearts.

As for me, I am working to surround myself with books, beautiful energies & art. One of the artists that I'm currently in love with is Michelle Robinson from CREATE.TURE. I'm not sure how I stumbled across her on Instagram, but I now have a wall covered with her prints and am hoping one day to have an original piece of her work.

I love the detailed backgrounds, the colours and the strength and sensuality of the women that she paints.

Dai by Michelle Robinson
I was inspired to make a cake, using the two images above. The cake itself has two layers of white chocolate sponge (click here for the recipe) and one red velvet layer (click here for a recipe), with caramel buttercream icing (click here for a recipe).

I recreated the painting using fondant shapes, cut individually. To say it took a while would be an understatement, but it was worth it to have the woman herself show her appreciation on Instagram. Maybe one day I'll get to bake for her in person!

Let me leave you with these wise words from the beautiful Meryl Streep who seems to have it figured out...
"I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I've become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me. I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretence, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition (the quality of showing great knowledge or learning), nor academic arrogance... I believe in a world of opposites and that's why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty with those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience" Meryl Streep
Peace & Love xx