Tropical Black Sage - In my Creative Garden

Welcome to the garden! I am wearing my creative gardener hat today and we are going to look at my Tropical Black Sage - also known as Varronia curassavica. Its journey developed from a simple plant cutting to a full-grown tree.  I have it growing within a tyre in the garden and whilst I wasn't going to let it grow into a tree by regular pruning - I am glad I did as it has got a really lovely shape to it. 

As the tropical black sage was growing, it encountered various pests that I have had to deal with. One such pest was a small moth with a lilac color that liked to feed on the tip of the shoots and lay its eggs on the undersides of the leaves. At first, I thought they were cute, but soon I realized they were a real problem and have drifted on to other plants.  Over time I tried different natural solutions, such as spraying soapy water and oil, and even made my own neem oil, and the ladybirds also help when they can.    

In addition to dealing with the pests, I have allowed the tropical black sage to grow in different areas of my garden and it seems to love it, I keep them trimmed regularly to reduce their size. The birds are the ones that have dropped the seeds in different areas and depending on where they are growing some of the leaves have been really large in size.  I use the leaves in tea and for cooking and also create smudging sticks.

Check out the video of the Tropical Black Sage Plant above

Another interesting aspect of the tropical black sage is the wood. It's a fairly strong and semi-hardwood that I'm still experimenting with in terms of creative use. I will keep you updated on what I come up with.  

Also check out some of these gardening resources:

The Backyard Homestead 

Medicinal Garden Kit 

Garden Freedom Micro Course

Ready to make some BADASS art? One BADASS Art Journal 2023

 

If you have never taken the One Badass Art Journal workshops here is some background information for you, we hope you join us!  I have the pleasure of joining such a great group of creatives for another year. 

Q: What is the One BADASS Art Journal course?

A: The One BADASS Art Journal course is a workshop that provides 17 mixed media lessons and 16 instructors, designed to inspire and teach individuals to create, learn, feel confident and provide them with the techniques and inspiration to feel BADASS when they make art.  The theme for the One BADASS Art Journal course in 2023 is "CHALLENGE YOUR INNER BADASS."

Q: What kind of lessons will be included in the One BADASS Art Journal course?

A: The One BADASS Art Journal course includes 17 lessons, including a book making lesson, other classes will teach individuals about mixed media techniques, tips and tricks, and techniques that you can take into your creative practice.  

My session looks at challenging ourselves to take time out - think about the things that mean a lot to us - what are your favorite things to do? And try and incorporate this into an art journal and more importantly into our day-to-day lives.

Q: Is there a discount for the One BADASS Art Journal course?

A: Yes, there is a 20% discount available for the One BADASS Art Journal course when you use the code CREATE20 at checkout.

Q: What are the benefits of taking the One BADASS Art Journal course?

A: The benefits of taking the One BADASS Art Journal course include learning mixed media techniques, tips and tricks, and techniques for beautiful color combinations, watercolor, blending and so much more. You will also be infused with confidence, creativity and inspiration, and will have access to a supportive community. Additionally, you will have the chance to play with a variety of tools, adding to your skills and have the opportunity to challenge and step outside your comfort zone.

We hope you join us.  To learn more about the artists - Click HERE

Unlock the Power of Creativity for Healing: Join the Loving-Healing-Creating Summit 2023

 

Are you ready to take your creative healing journey to the next level? Look no further than the Loving-Healing-Creating Summit, where healers and creators come together to share their knowledge and insights on how creativity can impact our health and well-being.  CHECK IT OUT HERE

From February 2-14, 2023, you'll have the opportunity to participate in this FREE online summit, featuring a lineup of 21 amazing presenters, each offering their own unique perspective on healing and creativity.

Whether you're interested in guided meditation painting, collage, writing, art therapy, personal expression through art journaling, creating a self-portrait vision board, or exploring the connection between movement and creativity, there's something for everyone at the Loving-Healing-Creating Summit.

I am honored to be a part of this incredible event and can't wait to share my own session with you on using mixed media art and encouraging words to enhance your creative journey. And the best part? Each session will be available for 48 hours from the time of release, giving you the flexibility to participate at your own pace.

But wait, there's more! If you want even more access to the summit, you can purchase the full package for lifetime access to all 21 sessions, as well as access to our supportive community. And, if you act fast and purchase before February 1, 2023, you'll save $50 on the full package.  LEARN MORE

So, mark your calendars and get ready to love, heal, and create together. See you at the Loving-Healing-Creating Summit!

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Art Resource Hub - Check it out

Creating a Recycled Art Journal - Use those Catalogues!

Welcome to my latest art project where we will be creating a recycled art journal using an old catalog. 

This project is quick, easy and affordable, and the best part is that nothing will be wasted!  You get to use some of those store catalogues that you have been collecting and create some wonderful projects.

To start, find yourself an old catalog, like this Tesco's home catalog that I'm using. The first thing you need to do is rip out about half of the pages. This is because we'll be adding collage and texture to the pages, so you want to make sure you have enough space to work with. Go through the catalog and rip out every 2-3 pages.  I save the ripped out pages to use later.

Once you have removed the pages, stick together sets of 2 or 3 pages depending on where you ripped them out. Allow the pages to dry and then reinforce the spine with some masking tape on the inside.  If you are going to be adding paint it stops any bleed through on the other pages.

I also add masking tape to the edge of the pages that I have stuck together This will also make it easy to turn the pages.

With the pages left over, look through them and cut out images or words that speak to you. I select colorful patterns and shapes and these will form part of your collage. This is a great way to still create something without having to have a lot of art supplies or anything fancy. All you need is a catalog, glue, and some basic tools.

Come and join me in the next video, I'll show you how to work on some of your pages, and ideas from other recycled journals that I have created. This art journal will be a space for you to fill up over time, write down your thoughts, and enjoy the creative process. It's all about play, so have fun with it!

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If you would like to take it a step further and make your own stamps and stencils, then check out my FREE online course Recycled Stamps and Stencils where I show you how you can take items that you may have around the home and turn it into something that you can use in your art journals. 

You get a video on how to create the stamps and stencils, a digital download of the stamps and stencils that I created, background papers and more!  Check it out HERE

Gardening Zen in the Tropics

Gardening is a wonderful way to relax and unwind, and today I'm taking some time out to tend to my garden chores. I decided to take a break under the shade of my flamboyant tree, to admire how the garden is looking at the moment. The Flamboyant tree that we are sitting under has lovely red flowers and this tree has grown well in this area.

This flamboyant tree is relatively new, but it is already starting to produce large pods and seeds - I still have to find out more about the properties of this tree - it is used in some countries to line streets.  I have two of them in my garden and will keep them at a particular height, as they can grow quite tall. 

I'm also repairing a hole that my dog Cole made in the Mexican sunflower hedge.  Mexican sunflower needs to be cut back regularly to stay vibrant. When I cut it back, it encourages new growth and keeps the plant healthy. Over the years the cuttings that I have taken have been planted in other parts of my garden. These cuttings will flower in the year that it is planted because has been taken from a mature plant.

Another plant that I'm currently working on is my scaevola. I want to retain the path near my Aloe plants, so I'm cutting it back to a certain height, so it doesn't hang over the path. I'll be using the cuttings as chop and drop in my moringa patch and other parts of the garden.

I've got a lot of other trees to trim and will get to them over the course of the week, including my Shak Shak tree and Clammy cherry tree. I've been documenting my gardening adventures on my Channel, and you can take a look at some of the videos to see how things have grown and changed over time.

Gardening is a great way to take time out and relax. It's an activity that allows you to be present in the moment and focus on the task at hand even if you are doing chores in the garden. Check out the video above to see the work I'm doing in my garden today.  You can also check out my Amazon Gardening Guide for details of some of the plants that I have in the Garden.  Check out my online course which takes lessons inspired by the garden.  You can check it out HERE or click on the image below.