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Welcome. This is Jeanie. Creative changemaker, experienced admin and community volunteer. Wife, mother and daughter based in New Zealand.

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Tummy Time with My Playmat

Joseph is seen here enjoying some tummy time on a playmat. He lies on his stomach and at times lifts his head to train his spine and muscles to be stronger. Thanks to Theo's parents Jeff and Konny for gifting this playmat to us!

Aug 26, 2024

Taitua Arboretum

Hello friends! This afternoon our little family ventured out to Taitua Arboretum. Joseph was in a Lillebaby carrier. He could see out the side (if only he was awake! ) The photo is showing our very first selfie. Ta da! We were accompanied by resident ducks, cows and roosters. The walk took 90 min and we built up a decent appetite! And here is a social media reel I made from the photos and videos.

Aug 25, 2024

Gift from DL Consulting

Thanks to DL Consulting's adorable gift. Mr. Sloth has become a most excellent companion for baby Joseph.

Aug 16, 2024

The Blue Hat

Joseph's head is kept warm with a cute blue hat. Which happens to snugly fit the head of his 1st friend's Mr. Sloth!

Aug 24, 2024

Music

Here is a playlist we have been listening to. Jeanie started putting it together in preparation for the baby shower. Then it became our sound track for our birthing experience. When I hear 'Heartbeat' I always get a bit emotional - teary eyed. Such as the time we drove from hospital to River Ridge Birth Centre and we went past Anzac Parade. Must be the hormones!

Aug 21, 2024

1 Week

Hello, it’s been a while, how have you all been? Our little family has been adjusting to an eagerly anticipated new addition. On Monday Joseph had his one week check and he is steadily growing. New mum Jeanie is recovering well too and Andrew totally stepped up to the challenge in his role of new dad. Thank you for your well wishes and we hope to venture back into community when we are ready.

Aug 18, 2024

Hello Baby

Baby Joseph Shiangyu 祥宇 Holland born 7.18am Sunday 11th August 2024, weighing 3.28 kg. Birth Announcement

Aug 11, 2024

Reflecting on our fourth wedding anniversary #RiverFlowsInYou

Media trial for Immersion design course: mark making in wax crayon, oil pastel, calligraphy and pro marker. What’s your favourite? #immersion2026

Immersion 2026 surface pattern design course inspiration boards triptych using analogue method. Chinese cultural identity, letter writing in pastel green and teals, and shades of dark blue with shimmery night.#immersion2026 #surfacepatterndesign #inspiration

Immersion inspiration ephemera collection. #surfacepatterndesign #immersion2026 #inspiration

This week I was on annual leave from Shama to work on Multicore World 2026. The conference coincided with Lunar New Year. So on Monday night we spent some time sharing a delicious meal with family.
Tuesday I work remotely at home from time to time. I was able to rest and tidy a bit. It also happened to be Shrove Tuesday. So our little family headed to Church for pancakes.
Joseph woke at 3am, I went to settle him, he tried to lie down, but he was walking around his room so I gave him breakfast by 4.46am then took him for a walk around the neighbourhood.
Wednesday I again spent at my parents’ with Joseph. I played with him at length. There were plans to attend a mum and bubs play group at church but Joseph slept through the timing. Probably because he woke at 3am.
Thursday I continued to remote work to support the conference. I was able to call up a kindy and tour it, finding this one spacious and messy (which I rather like). Joseph doesn’t need daycare yet but we will apply to get on a waitlist.
Today, Friday, I got to clean a few spaces at home and reset for returning to work next week. You can see from the numerous photos that the area I worked on looks different but the same! Housework is a continuous process.
Tomorrow is the Chinese Associations’ new year celebrations. The day after is AGM for the church we attend.
Overall, a very eventful staycation.

In 1996, I crossed oceans from Taiwan to NZ.
A small girl learning new words, new ways, a new place to call home.
We settled in Hamilton — school, growth, becoming.

My mid-teens came my struggles with bipolar disorder.
Some seasons were heavy, but I learned how to keep going.
I graduated university, worked.

I returned to my homeland from time to time,
Always belonging to more than one place.

Covid hit - then love found us.
Dating Andrew, he proposed, we married quietly.

After two goodbyes that came too soon,
our double rainbow baby arrived — Joseph 🌈🌈

Life is good lately.

Thank you for watching.
Happy 30th anniversary in New Zealand

For the mothers carrying too much.

HELD.
a calming weekly planner
to soften your week

Notion template for you:
nothing to keep up with
nothing here needs to be perfect

#linkinbio

9km of calm, coastal beauty ❤️
Waikareao Estuary Walkway in Tauranga (just 1.5 hrs from Hamilton!), stroller-friendly, cloudy skies, tranquil waters, bridges, mangroves + pohutukawa … and the sweetest father + son moments. A simple day that felt so special.

This morning, as the quiet summer light rose over Beerescourt, I was reminded of how gentle the world can feel when we slow down enough to notice it. Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere always brings this beautiful paradox — celebration wrapped in sunshine, reflection held in warmth, and hope carried on crisp summer air.

As we move through this season, I hope we each make space to be kind to ourselves. Rest a lot, give ourselves grace. Take time to breathe. Take time to feel. Take time to simply, be.

May we treasure the miraculous gift of being alive — of waking to sunshine, of still being here to love, to learn, and to grow. Whether this year has been joyful, heavy, or simply passed us by, may you find peace, warmth, and a sense of being held.

Wishing you a Christmas full of softness, gratitude, and wonder. Merry Christmas, with love, Jeanie

Sunset is better with you both.
#datenight

Getting an electronic piano as birthday present and the toddler plays with the boxes.

I’ve been struggling with artist’s block, not able to draw much. Here’s me attempting to colour in a mandala with felt tip pens. Happy Diwali everyone!

Before and after tidying up our living space. An annual leave day to go get Joseph immunized, Plunket visit, fold and put away 2 loads of laundry, wash a full bench of dishes. Next up is cleaning, vacuuming, followed by 4.30pm meeting for national council of women (poster comp and meet the candidates planning) and leading contemplative study for church ladies.

Trying to think of a Bible verse before 7.30pm. Any ideas?

#hamiltonnz people, you are invited!

We are planning a #MeetTheCandidates event. 7pm to 8.30pm Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 51 Victoria Street.

I crocheted Joseph booties because it’s winter and he is learning to walk.
I found the pattern through Ravelry. It’s important to work out the gauge. Then I did a practice bootie that was too big despite correct gauge because I thought he was a medium. Turns out he needed the smallest size.
It helps to when doing the cuff, to decrease the stitches to tighten for better grip.

40X40 update: for my 40th year, presenting the list of organisations I have been involved with via paid employment, sole trader/contractor, client, volunteer capacity, and as donor.
I am hoping to highlight around 40 of them for my family and friends to get to know what I have been working on and for my network to support these causes.
#Volunteer #community #service

Joseph is 10 months. Here he is playing with a hand me down kitchenette from his cousins. He is learning to walk and talk.

👁️PERSPECTIVE👁️

My inspiration image 🌺 and colour scheme 🌈 is sourced from a photograph I took at a new mother’s wellness retreat late summer of 2024. I attended 3 day-stays at Houchens after the birth of my son Joseph 👶. This represents new hope amongst existing vibrant life.

My idea is to incorporate floral 🌷 and foliage 🍃botanicals into my design from “my point of view.”

Sharing work for surface design #immersion2025 offered by @bonniechristine

Unboxing of @bonniechristine Surface Design #Immersion course material parcel that arrive this morning. I am so excited to be embarking on this lifelong learning experience to develop more #creative skills.

#patternweek2025 Day 2: Polish in Illustrator

Attending live, I image traced scanned mark making to place in Adobe Illustrator. In pic 1, I am particularly taken with these 3 motifs - the rose, the dragonfly and an additional flower in the lower corner.

In pic 2, screenshot of @bonniechristine and the replay available for 30 days. It's not too late to join!

Pic 3: inspirational images for my pattern week collection - Tirohanga floral botanicals.

Thanks to team Bonnie, On Pattern Week Day 1, I learned "Consistency builds ease" and intend to find my signature style.

I gathered mark making tools in pic no. 1: Pencil, watercolor brush (with ink) and sketch pad.

In pic no. 2, I just started mark making with initial doodles of anything.

In pic no. 3, I noticed a dragonfly motif that looked not bad.

And in pic no. 4, I generated some more dragonfly wings with ink and brush.

Excited to turn botanicals from my photos at a recent new mother's retreat into seamless repeating patterns for surface designs in the next week!

@bonniechristine #patternweek2025

This morning 9am on Thu 7 Nov 2024 I became a Justice of the Peace. Thank you for the support from work and various community organisations in my nomination. Here begins further service to the community.

Tirohanga mother and baby retreat day 1 with #botanical #floral atmosphere.

Thanks for the gift to celebrate the birth of our new son!

Guo Pei exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery.

#couture #fashion #chinese

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