Sunday, 13 April 2014

" Who is Jasmine Winter ?"

A hippy heart,
A coffee smile,
Morning sun,
Through Holland blinds.

Two little kisses,
Running around,
She picks up toys from the ground.

Ticking of the head and heart,
Words on lined paper,
She strums her guitar.

She never wears beige or grey,
They blend,
They fade,
She has something to say.

Loved ones live,
In a angelic place,
It makes her realise that life's, a paragraph on a long page.

The bouncy ball,
That used to follow the words,
Now carefully stops before,
The next sentence is heard,

The ball has turned into a bell,
Breaking the fearful spell,

One day has turned to many nights,
Writing songs to bedroom ears,
She reads a book,
'About a Little Bird'
Who wanted to sing and thought,
 It would  never  be heard.

With her spotty pj's on ,
She writes another heartfelt song.
Her eyes begin to flutter and with a pen in her hand,

She drifts into a melody where she believes she can ,
She is no longer waiting aimlessly and Jasmine Winters born.

Jasmine because of the sweet perfumed flower which spreads contagiously and is difficult to cut down.
Winter because it was the season she was born in to perform.

I hope you enjoy my stories and songs !

Wishing you A million smiles,




Jasmine Winter xxx

 

Sunday, 12 January 2014


Sarah Buxton - Crash Into You

Sometimes you have those days when you just shouldn't have got out of my bed!
Those days can turn into months and even years if you don't just keep going.


I think the word attitude gets a bad wrap and has too many negative connotations.
I am learning everyday that your energy, attitude, vibe can really influence people.
Its only taken a few decades and about twenty or so self help books, the universe and Oprah.

I have also learnt not to be afraid !
If you don't make mistakes, you wont learn and hence grow from the experience.
Yes cliche but true....so too bad.(see attitude)

When your a kid, you just go for it and don't worry about what others think, but unfortunately as we get older we start to judge others and ourselves to sometimes become our own worst enemy.

So this brings me to Sarah.
Sarah Buxton is a singer/songwriter who wrote one of my favourite songs called 'Stupid Boy'.
The song was covered and a huge hit for Keith Urban.

Here is a clip of her singing 'Crash Into You' and unfortunately it doesn't go according to plan.
I will also include her song 'Stupid Boy' just because the song is so so so good !

So I'm starting the new year with attitude, determination and the amazing ability, to laugh at any situation I totally stuff up and Just Keep Going!


If you crash, crash and learn !
Jasmine xxx

Monday, 6 January 2014

When is a Noodle not a Noodle

Truth or Darebin ?

Darebin Songwriters Guild last hoorah until next year!

I prepared three songs to perform, and one of the songs had to mention Christmas in some sort of way.

Oh Jesus, what was I going to sing for that song !

So I borrowed a few books from the library including a Christmas Carols book...but alas the Carols book was wonderful, but most of favourite carols have those dreaded barre chords.

It is my New Year resolution to stop using my wonderful capo friend, and force myself to play barre chords.
I've tried lots of times, but I'm so impatient.

 But that's probably another post....later about barre chords!

We also had to bring something to share...well I always have plans of grandeur.
In the end reality bites ..I asked a friend for her recipe for ' chocolate spiders' .
Not the incy wincy kind but the noodle kind, hence the title of this post.


Well let me tell you I went all out and made dark and milk chocolate spiders.

Then presented them in a Christmas box complete with cellophane and red ribbon.

Thinking I had everything beautifully organised, I was excited about the last Guild and how I had taken tiny little footsteps to finally stop writing and playing for my audience of one and taken my music beyond the bedroom walls.

However it was not all Jingle Bells as I had incorrectly looked at the work roster and was meant to be working my day job. I also  planned a quick getaway from my Mums house who was babysitting but my little boy didn't want me to leave.

So I was feeling incredibly silly about missing work and guilty about leaving my son!
Off I went hesitatingly to sing a couple of my little songs.

Well I finally got there and my performance was okay.....and I added a verse to my song 'Chocolate kisses' to include a Christmas message.

 But the chocolate spiders were the chart topping hit!

The Guildians loved them.

The moral of the story is that " Chocolate will always save the day".

So I will sign off from this post!

The Amazing spider-woman,

Jasmine xxx



This is meant to be a blog about chasing your dreams and my musical adventures, however I have included the link to the recipe for the chocolate spiders, as everybody loves a happy ending and lets face it chasing your dreams makes you hungry!
http://www.changs.com/recipes/chocolate-spiders/







Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Woo or Wow !

This is a new series of posts where I think something is amazing and inspiring!

I have always loved the song 'Eye of the Tiger' and thought I might try to mash it with Katy Perry's 'Roar'.

 I searched You tube to try and work out how to play it, and found Tomi.

Wow......

Truth or Darebin ?

I pick Truth and Darebin !


Yep oops I did it again and not Brittany style either I actually sang!

I picked up my faithful friend and sometimes foe, my guitar and drove to Bar 303 again, but this time I had  some roadies, my Dad who has never seen me perform before and Uncle came for the battle....

I do like the word battle !

But it actually wasn't really a battle. It is with a lovely group of songwriters who share their stories in song. The energy in the room feels  a little magical as you wait for the next performer to play their songs.Their stories, experiences and passion for writing  captivates  me and even inspired my Dad to start writing.

Every chance I get to perform I try to reflect and learn.
I was a little nervous and speedy on the guitar, but I'm delighted to be out there writing, singing and playing. If people get or feel something when they hear my songs I am happy,

The song I performed is a thank you note to my Grandmother for her sacrifices to ensure future generations  of her family have a better life....hence Amilia smiles.






A Story and a Song


How is my little polka dot girl going ?


Its been three weeks now , and my little marsh mellow song has turned into rocky road!

Last week the teacher in the class questioned my favourite line of the whole song .

Which is "She will battle you with her wit and leave you tongue tied upside down"

The teacher explained that battled isn't a word and I should rethink what I was trying to say!
Arrgh....

So it got me thinking about lyrics that you like in songs, or lines in songs that you just love and you sing them over and over again.

So these series of posts I will call " Love that Lyric" , now typically there will be posts at a further date that will be called "Loathe that Lyric" but I'm a glass is half full kinda chick so lets be positive first!

So I think Passenger is amazing and Mike Rosenberg is a amazing writer,
The song 'Hole' is a favourite and the line that I love is She said the wolf's just a puppy and the door's double locked why you gotta worry me for.....

Yeah In other words relax....Enjoy the rest of the lyrics and I will attach a link to the song!

"Holes"

I know a man with nothing in his hands, nothing but a rolling stone
He told me about when his house burnt down, he lost everything he owned
He lay asleep for six whole weeks, they were gonna ask his mother to choose
When he woke up with nothing he said I'll tell you something
When you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose

Now I've got a hole in my pocket, a hole in my shirt, a whole lot of trouble, he said
But now the money is gone, life carries on and I miss it like a hole in the head

I know a woman with kids around her ankles and a baby on her lap
She said one day her husband went to get a paper and the mother fucker never came back
Mortgage to pay and four kids to raise, keeping the wolf from the door
She said the wolf's just a puppy and the door's double locked hy you gotta worry me for

Now he left a in hole in my heart a hole in a promise a hole on the side of my bed
Oh now that he's gone well life carries on and I miss him like a hole in the head
Well sometimes you can't change and you can't choose
And sometimes it seems you gain less than you lose
Now we've got holes in our hearts, yeah we've got holes in our lives
Where we've got holes, we've got holes but we carry on

Where we've got holes in our hearts, yeah we've got holes in our lives
Where we've got holes, we've got holes but we carry on
Said we've got holes in our hearts, yeah we've got holes in our lives
Where we've got holes, we've got holes but we carry on

Said we've got holes in our hearts, we've got holes in our lives
We've got holes, we've got holes but we carry on
Said we've got holes in our hearts, we've got holes in our lives
We've got holes, we've got holes but we carry on

Said we've got holes in our hearts, yeah we've got holes in our lives
Where we've got holes, we've got holes but we carry on


 

Friday, 23 August 2013

A Story and a Song !

Last Wednesday I attended my first lesson of a five week songwriting course!
I was so excited to meet new Songwriters and listen to there stories as well as share writing techniques.

The first story transported me to a different time.It was a story about her family and the Second World War,the tears,tragedies and fate.

The other songwriter had a different type of survival.It was more about survival in the concrete jungle and the political war that can occur in the workplace!

My story was more light hearted called'Polkadot girl'.I have previously mentioned  the song before in my blog, but just cant seem to give the idea the impact it deserves!

My definition of a 'Polkadot girl' is a girl/woman who is not afraid to be extraordinarily different!

Surprisingly during the course of the evening my little fluffy song turned into more of a women's anthem about the right to be different!

Our homework was to write our stories and add a melody!

So I'm rewriting again! (I am determined to get it right!)

 I learnt that night that 'Everybody has a story to tell' and if everyone took time to listen,the world would be a more empathetic, peaceful and beautiful place to live!

Pen and paper in my hand I will smile and fall asleep dreaming polka dot dreams!

Jasmine xxx




 

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

Chocolate kisses

I wrote this song while I was trying to write a lullaby!

This song pretty much describes my kaotic life at the moment.

Don't you think it would be great as the background music for a Huggies or Bonds commercial!

I WISH !

Hope you enjoy my first video....

Better go can hear those three little words.................Mum........................

Chocolate kisses


Friday, 12 July 2013

Truth or Darebin!


I was looking for a place to play, when I was told about the 'Darebin Songwriters Guild'.
I checked out there face book page and decided to play at there next gig.

Guild sounds a little medieval !

So with a microphone stand and my guitar as my suit of armour I decided to 'sing'




The battle was to begin, not in the rolling hills and dense evergreen forest but a unique almost endless street where a creature that carries survivors through a grey road, called a tram makes its way through colorful shops, bars and cafes.

Dreadlocks,undercuts and the sound of the high 'e' string being tuned.

Black velvet curtains with scars of previous battles and the smell of beer and wine saturated the well worn lounges.

I feel strangely comfortable even though I had never performed at the venue before.






Friday, 28 June 2013

What is Art ?



So What is Art?


I was washing the dishes when I glanced back at  the dish rack and noticed a colourful formation of plastic cups the kids drink with, white sparkling plates striped from the reminisce of last nights saucy Dolmio pasta bake and  a shiny sauce pan, quietly stacked on the top of the pile showing its prominence as having  been used to heat the sleeping magic white cow juice that soothes and fills my dynamic duos bellies.

I thought ' how weirdly beautiful', maybe I was just happy to be finished with the washing up or high on the' Morning fresh'!



Which brings me to this great show Ive been watching, produced by Sarah Jessica Parker of 'Sex and the City fame' . Click on the link below.
http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art
So I have decided 'Art' is something that is personal and makes you feel some type of emotion.

So my dish rack was Art to me .....ha ha

Also took these pics today after watching 'Work of Art' even my husband had a go....
Art is contagious... and fun !


The view from my kitchen window!



Tree song




Sunday, 23 June 2013




Too many ideas for my Polka dot brain !

I have been working on a song originally called ' Polka dot girl brain", but brain just doesn't sound right.So Ive changed it to ' Polka dot girl'. The idea is to celebrate those of us who think outside the box!
Love to share a few verses and a Chorus with you !
Each Chorus the lyrics slightly change but here is one Chorus;

Shes a polka dot girl,
Doesn't think in black and white,
Wears lipstick to bed at night,
Shes a polka dot girl.

She wears a coat in summer,
And shorts in the fall,
In Spring she wears flowers in her hair,
There blooming beautiful.

Shes a polka dot girl,
She never wears matching socks,
Cause her left foots left and rights all right,
Shes a polka dot girl.

Please check out this Ellies folio......and click on link

This just snap shot of the song thinking of playing the spoons in the bridge!