Been looking forward to this festival all year. It's always a calendar highlight, with this year's the best so far. I was fortunate enough to be performing with two groups: Fiona Ross Band and Classically Celtic. As well as being involved in the Harp Showcase Concert, Christian College Ceilidh Band and Feis Rois Project. Sure was one busy weekend!

Just to top things off my family band and I were made the 'Face of the Festival' for 2015! Next year just might be even better. 

After nearly a year since my order and 3 years working towards it... my starfish has arrived! It is a wee Scottish clarsach (harp) which I have instantly fallen in love with. 

FedEx was used to 'post' it to me. It took a week, with its journey tracked on my FedEx app: Scotland, London, Menphis, Hawaii, Sydney and finally Melbourne. I was a little worried when it turned up in America.

It took me an hour to get it out of the box and I couldn't help documenting each stage with a photo. 

Family road trip up to Canberra to perform at the National Folk Festival with Fiona Ross. What a great way to spend the Easter holiday and my birthday! 

Joined by Jim Green and Jack Wilson the Fiona Ross band performed at the Terrace, Flute 'n' Fiddle and Marquee. The festival attracts over 50,000 people and is held at Exhibition Park, Canberra. I ended up buying a trolley from Bunnings to help cart my harp around the different venues. Harps always make everything harder!

Found this snap on Instagram. Love the caption.

Playing 'Karla' 36 by Harps and Harps in the Musical Instrument Makers Showcase Concert.

Quick visit to the National Gallery Canberra. Fantastic installation: Skyspace

Classically Celtic kicked off 'Concerts at Coomalie' on Sunday to a sell out audience. This new concert series is held by my grandparent's, Ursula and Brian Blake at their self-built home Coomalie.

'Coomalie was inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright had an affinity for music and would sit at the piano improvising after working all day on his architectural drawings. Coomalie was built with stone from Fryerstown and 100 year old Jarrah and Karrie from Fremantle Wool Store - giving it excellent acoustic qualities for music. Its delightful garden setting beside Badger Creek boarders the Yarra Rangers National Park and is graced entirely with native plants' - Ursula Blake

For the past two months we has been rehearsing and preparing new repertoire for this concert. It's been really fun having a weekly rehearsal, working on new tunes and following this up with Sushi on a Wednesday night! So lovely to see it all come together for the concert and receive great feedback from the audience. 

This wedding season brought back some old favourite locations along with some fantastic new ones. 

To name a few: Darling Gardens, Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, St. Ignatius Richmond, Jack Rabbits Portarlington, Daylesford Lake, Fairfield Boathouse, Point Campbell House Leopold and many more! 

So many weddings and such different locations. Here is a selection of photos.

Second 'Harp & Friends' concert for the year - this time with a Christmas theme. Another great turn out with everyone performing a carol along with their chosen piece. The Christmas theme was very much embraced with performers and guests wearing red, festive hats and mince pies for tea. 

As with the first concert I felt obliged to perform. Always good to feel the same nerves as my students! Also gave me the opportunity to premier an original and drag my family in to accompany. Vivienne caught this set on her mobile and as you can see my little sisters wait patiently until their turn! The night ended with an unrehearsed jam of the 'Shetland Tune' led by my mum Cathy Blake.

Starting to think that I hold concerts just so that I can make flyers!

I was hired to provide background music for an in-store event at Coach Chadstone. Guests received special one-off deals on products along with free food, drink and live music. Another interesting fashion gig.  

Played at a lovely outdoor wedding at Fairfield Boathouse. I use my lighter/smaller harp because there were many stairs and it was an exposed outdoor location. It was quite a different wedding with the ceremony taking place on the river. I played as the guests were helped into row boats and afterwards at the pre-dinner drinks. Such a great day, I'm really happy the weather came through for the couple.