Love and Win a Clare Haxby Print!

*UPDATE*: Scroll down to see the winning entry from Sassy Mama reader Lisa O’Toole, we certainly found it heart-warming!

You know we Sassy Mamas are big fans of Clare Haxby, a contemporary mixed media artist well known across Singapore for her stunning collection of Fine Art Prints, all of which she creates from her studio in a Black and White Bungalow on Malcolm Road!

Clare’s work has been embraced by ambassadors and VIPs in Singapore – gracing the walls of embassies, clubs, and some of the island’s most elegant homes – and her Limited Edition prints have become the best take-home gift for loved ones abroad.

Now you can join this elite company, mamas: this Valentine’s Day we want to give YOU the chance to win a Limited Edition Clare Haxby print, “Tropical Heat of the Ginger Lily Garden”! Valued at $450 and personally selected by Clare, this gorgeous picture perfectly embodies all that is lovely about living here in the Little Red Dot.

“One of my favourite places to walk in Singapore is the Botanic Gardens and ever since I moved here eight years ago, the gardens are where I have drawn much inspiration for my collection of Singapore Landmarks and Botanical themed paintings”, says Clare.

“My absolute favourite flower is the Ginger Lily in the Ginger Garden there; the coral pink colour of these show-off tropical blooms has captivated me and led to a whole series of paintings and prints that I’m currently exhibiting at The American Club. This print is inspired by the tropical heat and humidity of Singapore, as well as these statement pink blooms of the tropics.”

The print is absolutely stunning, and just looking at its luscious pink and red hues makes us feel all warm and fuzzy for V-Day.

‘Postcard from Singapore’, Clare’s solo exhibition is on at The American Club until 26 February 2015 www.clarehaxby.com

When did you know you truly loved your partner? by Lisa O’Toole

At 26 I chose to have a baby. Finding myself pregnant and not in a relationship, my decision, in a heartbeat, was to keep and raise my child alone.

Being a single parent is much like being any other sort of parent except the buck stops with you alone and that can be challenging. The hardest part for me wasn’t the tiredness and logistics of working full time, it was not having someone to share my child with, no one to share the first smile, first accurate wee in the potty, etc. I knew if I were to be with anyone, they would have to want to be with my child as much as they wanted to be with me – we were a package deal!

I liked Gerry the first time I caught sight of him in a meeting. I got to know him a bit but on visiting his home I saw he had white sofas, what bachelor has white sofas? Obviously he was in a relationship! He liked me, but out of work I turned up everywhere with a toddler – I was in a relationship too! After a bit of detective work, we established we were both “free” and started a fast, intense and joyful relationship.

On a most unromantic shopping mall date with a toddler in tow, we split up to run errands, Gerry took my daughter with him, and we arranged to meet for coffee later. Arriving early I looked up to see Gerry carrying my daughter in one arm and shopping in the other. As they came down the escalator, they caught sight of me, turned to look at each other and smiled. In that moment, looking at them both enjoying each other’s company, I knew I loved this man. Love can jump out at you in the most unexpected of situations!

As they reached me, I announced, “I want to marry you”. We’d been seeing each other for two weeks and possibly this was his cue to pass me back my child and run!

We married six months later, and three days after that we told our daughter we were going on a “big long holiday”, and left for Malaysia to start our expat life.

20 years of marriage and 2 further children later, we’re still on that “big long holiday” and Gerry’s still very much my Valentine.

Terms
*The A1 print is a Limited Edition “Tropical Heat of the Ginger Lily Garden”- supplied in a gift tube (not framed), valued at $450
*Clare Haxby Studio will choose the winner based on the stories in response to supplied prompt
*The winner needs to be based in Singapore to collect the print from Clare Haxby Studio 
*Acceptance of the Print: By accepting the print, the winner automatically agrees to be photographed as a winner and to allow usage of the photograph on CH social media websites and promotional materials