Monday 29 December 2014

Word for the Week - Psalm 23:4



Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

You need not walk in fear for God is with you.  In your darkest moment even though you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, know that it is there.  For today, take one step, gather your thoughts and then take another step and then another.  Before you know it you will be in a different environment.

As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image ask and think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 
What will you do with what you have been given today?

Friday 26 December 2014

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Week 68 - Leadership

Wishing you a Happy Christmas, and I hope you were able to spend the time with those that you love and cherish.

Not one shall be lost......

We all at some point have been in a situtatiion where we have had to take on a leadership role, however small or large it may have been you would have had to think about someone other than yourself in order to complete the task that was at hand.

Journal Page - None shall be lost...

We can all think back and recall those who we encountered in leadership positions who were encouraging and effective compared to those who were particularly discouraging and lacked what it takes and had no passion to inspire.


We have a responsibility to make the most of the gifts that we are sharing with the world, that we take the time to learn and hone our skills, and that we strive for better.  We also have to make the most of passing on what we know so that the next generation can be well equipped, and strive to be better.

We are making an impact on different people at different times, let us be mindful about how our thoughts and words can be healing or be used to tear down, and make a commitment to be part of the solution that encourages growth in the lives of others.
Gratitude's and Celebration Journal page

I celebrate today and I am grateful that I can make an impact on the lives of others in a positive and encouraging way., that I can interact with and be the blessing that they need in their lives.

How will you impact on the life of another today? It is time to take stock

I look forward to the journey and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!



Wednesday 24 December 2014

Quote Wednesday - Thomas A Edison


Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.....Thomas A Edison


Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below.

Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings

Monday 22 December 2014

Material Mondays - The Conversation - Mixed Media Fabric Wall Hanging

Welcome to Material Mondays, it is great to have you come and visit and see what I have been up to in the studio.  I have found over the past year as I am sure that I have said in previous posts, that I have really enjoyed working with fabric.  From painting, sewing, embellishing and seeing not only what you can come up with creatively but where you can take the fabric that you are working on using different mediums and tools to enhance your project.


These fabric pieces have been real projects for me as they take time to complete due to the more intricate work that goes into adding the beads to the pieces.


But the joy is not only in adding the beads but selecting, and sorting.  I have been making many trips to my charity store to see what jewelry and embellishments they have, and have come across some unusual and very pretty finds.


This latest piece is called The Conversation.


 Do let me know what you think, leave a comment and share what you have been working on, does it inspire you to give this a go?  Or even add an element to your creative projects.


Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Sunday 21 December 2014

Word for the Week - Deuteronomy 31:8


The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8


As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image ask and think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 
What will you do with what you have been given today?



Stay blessed and be a blessing


Friday 19 December 2014

Gratitude's and Celebration - Week 67 - Shine Your light

When we switch on the light or lamp we don't try and hide it or put it under cover, we don't put our light under the bed but we use it to illuminate the room.  When we think about all of the lights that are in our home we use them to allow us to see better, to locate those things that are hidden or out of view and to enable us to do other activities as well.  


As this light shines it not only shows us the thing that we are looking for but it also shines on other things as well.  If we wanted to focus the light we might use a torch or spot light, but generally speaking the main light is the one that will brighten the whole room.  There are some things that we don't want in clear sight and we might put them away in draws and wardrobes behind doors that invite a peek or we hide them behind other things.  As a collector of things there comes a point where you have built up layers and layers of things and barriers build up stopping the light from reaching the four corners of the room.

The bible tells us that we are to shine our light and my understanding is that we have to be all that we are created to be, without hangups, doubts, insecurities, and fear, and where these things are present then we have to work at doing something about it.  We have all been given talents, abilities and gifts, some of which we haven't yet seen manifest, we are to make sure that we are using and making the most of them, we shouldn't hide them under stuff or the cares of the world, we can't lock them away and pretend we don't know we have them, carrying them around in your bag or backpack afraid of your potential.  

When we are using our gifts talents and abilities it can impact like the torch on specific areas at a time or as with the main light switch in the room it can impact on many people from different walks of life and in different ways all over the world - look at the many gifted and talented people that have impacted on the world that spring to mind and have inspired you.

I hope to shine my light through my art and my words bringing meaning, wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and also to be effective in helping others to think about what they have been gifted with or to work on those things that they have been yearning to do in their hearts giving them the courage to make that step,  I think we all have that ability to inspire someone else and we can't take it for granted.

As you learn to shine your light and be more than you thought you could be others may try to stop you and those who will want to accompany you for the ride, but more often than not it is the journey that you have to make by yourself discovering your strengths, you have to be willing to do the work and take the necessary steps to get to that place where your insecurities no longer stop you but enable you to soar!

I am grateful and celebrate today the light that I carry within me, one that we all carry and it is our responsibility to use the talents that we have all been given to help others and be a blessing to others. I hope as always that my words carry encouragement and that when you have read this post that you feel encouraged to shine your light, to think about how much more you could get from your life if you turned it up a notch.  What ever has been laid on your heart in a years time you will have wished that you started right now!

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Quote Wednesday - Confucius


The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
Confucius

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life!  Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below.

Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings

Saturday 13 December 2014

I am enough - Journal Page Process Video


I am enough 
Art Journal Page and process



You are the Light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to every one in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.  
Matthew 5:14-16

We can often get lost in worrying about what other people say and think about us.  We grow up having so much spoken about us from very young.  Even if you have grown up with positive reinforcements, as you go into mainstream school there are those whose environment wasn't as encouraging - from other pupils to teachers, and it takes a toll on your self esteem and confidence and you constantly look for approval from those who are just not able to give it to you.


As you get older you can find that a mindless negative comment spoken to you in childhood still shapes how you feel about yourself today, and you unconsciously prevent yourself from moving forward, and I thought I would remind you that there is so much to your life that you have yet to see and experience that right now, right where you are at this very moment you are enough!


As you unravel the negativity, and the cruel words that were spoken over you, start speaking encouraging words over your life.  Recognize the accomplishments that you have made, how you have taken a step forward despite the obstacles, and made it through coming out the other end. 


Think about all the people that you have encouraged, and when you are feeling 'off' remember that you are loved, treasured and you are enough!

You are a light in this world!

Stay blessed and be a blessing!





Friday 12 December 2014

Gratitudes and Celebration - Week 66 - Listen

Well we made it again, we have got to Friday and this is something that we need to be grateful for.   As a carer to my mum I spend a lot of time driving back and forth in looking after her and my own family, and this gives me a bit of time for reflection, to mull over things and even unravel those complicated things that rear their head from time to time to seriously try you!


I have learnt that I need to take time to listen and not just jump in without taking time to consider, contemplate then make an informed decision.  I have found that we can get so caught up in the circumstance that we end up running from one point to the other without feeling if you have actually achieved what you set out to do.

When we listen with the two ears that we have we can see things from many sides and come to a range of conclusions but only one might be the right one for us.  I challenge you to take a moment right now as you read this post to listen to your surroundings, and if you get the chance take a moment and do something else down this list, there is so much that we miss when we rush around.....

Listen - take some time today to listen to your surroundings.  
Listen to your heart beat, 
Listen to your walking the sound of your feet as your shoes hit the ground, is it a squelching sound or a clip, clop of your heals on the sidewalk. 
Listen to the rustle of the wrapping to that thing you are opening is it paper or plastic,
Listen to the sound of the birds, flying over head or on route to warmer climbs
Listen to the wind, as it breezes past your ears, gently moving past your cheeks
Listen to the back ground noise, can you hear people talking or is it a tv in the distance
Listen to the tones, are they raised, or gentle caressing voices
Listen to the sound your car makes when you start it up
Listen to the tap taping as you write on your lap top
Listen to the heating coming on, the noise that the radiators make as they warm up
Listen to the sounds that your home makes, the familiar sounds, the footsteps of someone moving around
Listen to what your heart is saying about your current situation,
Listen to what your head is saying about your current situation
Listen to your creative spirit full of joy that can very often get lost in all the noise when we forget to listen
Listen to your voice


I am grateful and I celebrate the life that I want to live to the full, to the ability to notice so many things around us that we can often take for granted.   Those magical things that appear in the still, small voice, that breaths grace into our daily lives.

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Listen

What can you hear when you listen?  Stop for a moment and take in your surroundings

I look forward to the journey and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!

Thursday 11 December 2014

In The News - Paper and Embellishment Kit - My Color is Beautiful Art, Gifts, Fairs and Birthdays!

In the News!

Well the paper packs are finally ready to send out, and are finding their way to some special homes.  I was glad I have been able to offer them as a gift for signing up to My Color is Beautiful Art Course.  As part of my lesson we will be working on a canvas, and some of the things in the pack will come in handy.

You will also be able to make other things with the materials in the Kit and each week on a Tuesday I will be showing you just how far the resources will stretch and what you can make.


Included in the pack a selection of:

Paper ephemera
Patterned and hand painted papers
Handmade paper
Die cuts
Ribbons
Findings
Handmade Stencils
Beads and embellishments and much more!


CLICK HERE to sign up for the course and receive your 
FREE PAPER AND EMBELLISHMENT KIT



IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THE COURSE DON'T WORRY!

I created another kit, with many of the items above but a whole lot more that you can purchase for $9.99 or £6.41 aprox which will include postage and packaging!



The packs are waiting to find creative homes - it could be yours, and there is so much you can do with them! Check out the tutorials I will be doing on Tuesday!



Click on the buy now button to purchase 


Other things to report this week is the EEC Christmas Fair, I had a stall there and it was great to see so many people come out and support.  It was a lovely family event that they put on each year, and lot of preparation and hard work is done by Angie Ng and her team.

I have been working on some mini wall hangings which you will get to see closer over the weekend and they make great gifts.

My stall at the Christmas Fair

We had quite a number of people sign up to win..


and we have picked out a winner who should get their book next week.




Best thing above all is that we still have our mum here with us and she sees another birthday.  We take a moment to remember our loved ones who are not with us and the gift of life that we have alongside the opportunity we have to make a difference each and every day.  Everyone came round to mums along with the grandchildren who helped her celebrate, catch up and eat cake!

Mum making the most of life.....
Stay blessed and be a blessing!



Wednesday 10 December 2014

Fly - Art Journal Page and Video

Here is some inspiration for today. A while back I shared this page that I had done in my art journal.  


I have just got around to editing the video for it and thought you might like to see the process I used to create it.  I hope you enjoy it and are blessed.  This is my first video of this kind:)


Here is the finished painting, thanks for watching!



Monday 8 December 2014

Material Mondays - Embrace Me - Mixed Media Wall Hanging

I have been hooked on creating these wall hangings for quite a while, and haven't lost my zeal for creating them.  I have a few more ideas that I want to try out and because of the time it takes to complete need to make room for them.



I started this one about a month ago, laying down the initial colours and adding the machine stitching.




It is called 'Embrace Me' measuring approximately 4"x8" and the majority of my work that I create is about relationships. 


The relationships that we have with others and the one that we have with ourselves, how we encourage and support our selves, being gentle with our hearts.




The thing that takes time is the embellishing but it is such a therapeutic activity that you can get lost in.  It is also an activity that you can do while sitting with the family and not feel as if you have shut yourself away in the studio, again these wall hangings remind me about the relationships that I have with others.


   
Thanks for stopping by Material Mondays where I share a project that involves either working with fabric in some way or crochet.  If you want to learn how to crochet or work with fabric and a number of other courses, then check out Craftsy.  For all new subscribers they have a selection of free online classes, and are always running a special offer on some of their fee paid classes

Craftsy.com
Check out some of their courses!

Friday 5 December 2014

Gratitude and Celebrations Journal - Week 65 Nurture

Nurture

Welcome to today's post for Gratitude and Celebration.  I have a lot to be grateful for and many things to celebrate that I have been sharing here on the blog over the past few weeks.  So much has happened that I had missed a couple of weeks of posting on Fridays and now will be playing catch up.
Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Nurture
It is fitting that today the theme is nurture and I have had to remind myself that I need to make sure that I spend time on activities that will not only nurture and nourish my health, but also my spirit and creativity.


I have had the opportunity to go away get some sunshine and get the rest that I needed physically, and with all that we were doing in Barbados, I spent time away from my role as a carer and writing online on my blog, although I wrote in my journal.  

Whilst I missed and at times felt guilty for not doing something on my blog, I felt that time was needed for reflection and just taking time to notice my surroundings, which was very beautiful.  We all know how you can take for granted those things that you see around you on a regular basis, or most of the time in your rushing around and not stay in touch with your senses - when last did you feel the breeze on your skin?


Spending time in my journal helps to focus on what matters

In nurturing my soul I spend time in the word of God, allowing my heart to be healed, my mind to be renewed and taking another step into the adventure of life.

How will you spend time nurturing the different aspects of your life?  It is time to take stock and if you can take time out and refresh those parts that need to shaken up, before you begin again.

I look forward to the journey and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!


Thursday 4 December 2014

Wanted in Paradise!

It has been nearly 2 weeks since we have been back from Barbados, and it feels like longer, and a million miles away.  I thought I would share some of the pictures to warm up your cold December evening, and share some of the good news that accompanied the trip.

It wasn't a trip that we had planned, having been on holiday 2 months before, we were settling into our day to day routine, then came the call...

The BBC were putting together a series about people who had been considering returning to sunnier climbs and we were chosen to visit Barbados again to see if would be something that we considered doing.  The program 'Wanted in Paradise' is loosly based on the 'Wanted Down Under' series.

We were blown away by the opportunity to really see what it would be like living in Barbados, which allowed us to escape London for a week to see what things that we would need to think about and put into place.  This was an emotional journey as it meant having to think about those things that you take for granted, like being around family and friends, making your home in an unfamiliar environment and the ups and downs that goes with it.





We stayed in a really lovely beachfront apartment called Inchscape, and the week was spent meeting a range of different people and getting a side to the island that you don't usually think about when on holiday. 

Sekani got to visit the University of Barbados, and spoke with the Dean, and Alan met two head teachers and took his e-safety and cyber bullying program and ran a session in two primary schools.  It was an eye opener to find out how much they knew about e-safety and the work that is being done in schools at the moment. 

I got to meet the  Pamelia Brereton, the President of the Barbados Alzheimer's Association  and found out about the work that they are doing, and how I could possibly use some of the experience that I have gained from working with the Arts and Healthcare.  It was great to talk to Pamelia, who was able to relate to my situation with my mother as a carer, and gave some great advice.


President - Pamelia Brereton
I also got to spend the afternoon with English Born artist and author Janice Sylvia Brock, who spends half the year here in the UK and the rest in Barbados.  


She had a beautiful studio and home and it was great getting to talk to her about her work and what inspires her, living abroad, as well as sharing with her some of my own art work.  

Entrance to Studio
Janice's studio which also serves as a gallery space is so light an airy with some great sea views, I would love to have a creative space like this!....one day!

To see more click on this image

As we shared our love for the arts, it was great to hear about some of the ways in which she supports some of the different charities on the island.

We viewed 3 properties to see what kind of budget we would need to purchase a home, and made a comparison between the cost of living in the UK and Barbados to be able to judge objectively whether it was cheaper home or abroad.

Other highlights on the trip included spending time with Alan's cousin Mike and his wife Denise, they are a great couple who run Value Vacations travel agents in Barbados, and they are doing their bit giving back to the community with a variety of different ventures.


Alan with his cousin Mike and Denise

Sekani turned 19 years old in Barbados and we spent time with family and friends, it was his first birthday away from home, and we missed family and friends in the UK.


I have a lot of thinking to do, in order to make a decision, with no direct family in Barbados, and looking after my mum a priority, I have many tough decisions to make that will effect many people and can't be made lightly. 


Sea views

 Barbados has so much going for it, and a great environment, to inspire creativity and we have met a lot of lovely people!

Sunsets are beautiful!

The program will air in February 2015, to find out what we eventually decide you have to watch the program!, I will give you a heads up when it is on.

For now, stay blessed and be a blessing!
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