Quote Wednesday - Nin

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones courage

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

Material Mondays - Fabric Wall Hangings - Love is the Key

It has been a while since I make one of these as they are quite detailed and there are so many different directions that I love working in as a mixed media artist.  I think that these satisfy the side of me that likes order, my left brain side that wants things organised and put in its place.

With each one I make I learn and experiment that much more in an attempt to encourage the tools to do what I am visioning in my mind.

Sourcing the embellishments and jewelry to use are also great fun, and then the placement of each is equally as important as selecting the colours to use in the overall composition.

The colours and the textures blending together all with a purpose, a story, thought or memory as the backdrop to the piece.

I have several more that I am working on that will be part of the 'Piece of Me' exhibition next year, and I look forward to telling you more about it soon.  

Next week I will be sharing with you ways in which you can use Chamois leather in your creative projects!

If your interested in learning new techniques check out Craftsy below.

  

Crochet, Knitting and much more! Every Monday on Material Mondays 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.

Word for the Week - Psalm 71:5

For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth..Psalm 71:5

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?

Gratitudes and Celebrations - Week 75 - Travel

I had quite a few of weeks break from the Gratitudes and Celebrations post, not because there wasn't anything that I could think of for being grateful, but I had spent a few weeks away seeing family and friends in the States.  

The trip away made me realize even more that each and every day is a gift to be treasured and not taken for granted. We got our first taste of bad weather and snow when we landed in New York on route to Richmond, Virginia, the flight was a bit hairy as we had to circle the airport for about an hour waiting for a spot to land and the runway to be cleared of snow.  As fast as they removed the snow more fell, and the skid of the final landing which was felt by many made us appreciate the skill and the composure of the pilot and crew on the plane.

Sometimes being away from your every day routine also shines fresh light on your life, and whether you can take a two week break as we did or if you can only get away for a few hours, it is something you should do on a regular basis.  Going away to a colder than UK environment was strange for us but we were excited to see folks and make use of our snow boots and see if the rest of the world copes better than the UK when it comes to snow, rain and leaves on the train lines.

The trip reminded me of the book that I brought my son when he was little - 'The Relatives Came' it is a lovely book about a family driving to see their relatives for the summer in Virginia, how every one mucks in and makes room for each other, the kids play the adults share memories until it is time to pack up and go back home.  It was something that we would do when we were kids seeing cousins and having adventures.  It was funny that the story had them travelling to Virginia and it was where we were going to visit as well.

Whilst in Virginia the weather picked up and we had some sunny days enabling us to get small doses of vitamin D, and we heard that folks in the UK had some lovely weather as well.  And it's funny that many a time we have gone away seeking the sunshine and the UK has a heat wave!  but you have to see the funny side of things.  The main thing about venturing to new environments is to get a different perspective or understanding, and you only get that by stepping out, doing something new, something different.

While visiting the states we took tours in Washington, Richmond and in our final destination New York with my cousin.  Travelling around we hopped on the metro (which is such value for money!) and we saw much of New York and the surrounding areas, and we have come back to the UK hitting the ground running trying to shake the jet lag and get ourselves organised. 

I am grateful and celebrate being able to travel to see different parts of the world, meeting people from different walks of life and coming back home safely.

I am on a 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!

Mini Wall Hangings

Mini Wall Hangings and Art on display

As part of my stall last year at the EEC Christmas Fair weekend I had created some mini wall hangings, that proved to be very popular.  I had made a range of them, finding it quite relaxing to put them together.  They can be given as an accompaniment to a gift or on its own wrapped in tissue and presented in their own bags.

Here are some of the selection, they can be made with messages or words that mean something specific to you

  

I played around with beads and embellishments to change the look and the feel of each of the wall hangings

You can add additional personal messages at the back of the wall hangings. They are really easy to make and look so effective.

  

I will be sharing next week a tutorial on how to make them so do come back and have a go yourself, you will be surprised to know that you probably have all of the materials that you need.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Quote Wednesday - Gogh

If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced....Vincent Van Gogh

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

Tutorial Tuesday - Doodles

After coming back from the States and the cold but sunny weather I am getting back into the swing of things and have a quick little exercise to share.  Its organised doodling, it is a great way to get started in a creative activity, taking time out or just creating on a small scale.

I did a little video for you, and hope you enjoy, why not get your pens out and start to doodle, share what you do, or use it as the basis for another piece of art, attach it to card and send it to a friend!

I have so much to share with you, new courses, videos, artwork, supplies and artwork from friends far and wide, you will need to come back as I share some of these on the blog.

For now, stay blessed and be a blessing!

Word for the Week - Psalm 86:17

Give me a sign of your goodness that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.  Psalm 86:17

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?

Quote Wednesday - Dickens

There is a wisdom of the head and.....a wisdom of the heart...Charles Dickens

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

Greetings from the US of A and Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all mothers around the world!

I have taken some time away from my schedules in the UK to take a trip to Virginia and New York

Snowed in at the Airport

We are thankful that the snow is on the melt, when we flew into New York last week on route to Virginia we were snowed in as flights came to a stand still in New York. Thankfully Virgin put us up in a hotel for the night so we didn't have to stay at the airport waiting for the next flight the following day.

On our way to Virginia at last!

While in Virginia, we drove down to Washington with Alan's Sister Yvonne and Sekani and did a 6 hour tour with Signature Tours (I thoroughly recommend!) which enabled us to get a snapshot taste of the city.  You really have to spend longer in the city, so it is on my list for next time!

Tour stopping outside the White House

We got to see the White House up close and personal, they forgot we were coming so we didn't get an invite in!

Also took in a stroll to the monument on arrival to Washington

Spent some time with Alan's sister Yvonne and later that week her son and daughter joined us, it was great catching up with them.

When we got back to Williamsburg, Virginia I got an opportunity to see my friend and fellow Artist Mika from Motley Soul.  We got so caught up in chatting and looking round her studio and getting to know her beautiful family that we forgot to take a picture together.  I left for New York and arrived yesterday to see my cousin and his family and see some of the sites here in New York -  we are also enjoying the brisk weather.

I will be posting more on my return and have a few things to show you this week that I had been working on, and some of the great supplies that Mika passed on to me on my visit. Here is something that I have been working on with the supplies I managed to buy on my trip to Virginia.

It is the beginning background stages, so when I get a chance will be adding more and hopefully completing it. Also working on a few pen and ink drawings that I will be sharing along with some more photographs when I get the chance to post.....

What have you been up to and in what way are you spending time with family this week.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Word for the Week - Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet....Proverbs 3:24

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?

Quote Wednesday - East African Proverb

Wisdom is like the boabab tree; no one individual can embrace it... East African Proverb

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

Word for the Week - Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper;  I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?'  Hebrews 13:6

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?

Quote Wednesday - St Augustine

Patience is the companion of wisdom....

St Augustine

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

Art Journal Page - I can move mountains - Page and video process

This Journal page was great to do.  It is nice once in a while to work with a limited palette and really stretch yourself once in a while, and every now and then I like to work like this as we can sometimes take what we have for granted.

Working in an art journal enables me to work through ideas, try new techniques and see what works, and there is some pages that I will take a step further and work on canvas with them.

Here is the completed page, check out the video to see the work in progress, leave a comment, let me know what you think, what are you working on and how do you challenge yourself in your work?

I can move mountains

BBC - Wanted in Paradise - Trip to Barbados

Wanted in Paradise - Me, Alan and Sekani as we visit one of 3 properties on the island

Wanted in Paradise - Our accomodation

Last year we had the opportunity to take a trip to Barbados with the BBC to see what it would be like to live there. You can see the post I wrote HERE 

The Wanted in Paradise series follows 8 families around to see what goes into the decision to relocating to another country, and we went to sunny Barbados.  We explored the heartache and soul searching that goes into making a decision in a search for a better quality of life.

You can see our program HERE

Wanted in Paradise

We met lots of people and found out lots of information to help us inform our decision. For those of you that are familiar with my blog and my story as a carer you will know that I look after my mother who is suffering from dementia, so thoughts of relocation will have to be thought through with great care.

I have always thought my ideal will be the ability to stay in both places when the weather is at its' best - 6 months in the UK and 6 months in Barbados, obviously my work - art and creativity have to be able to be flexible and in an ideal world I will have an gorgeous studio like the artist I met - Janice Silvia Brock

The program aired on Thursday and there were lots that we filmed that wasn't included, people we had talked to and family members who had given their point of view.  I guess that there is a limit in an hour to what can be included and you would probably need a whole new show to fit every thing in!

Overall I felt that it gave a flavor of the decisions that we had to make the difficulty of the very thought of leaving family and friends behind to embark on a new place to call home.  Take a look and see how difficult the decision was and what we eventually decide.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!