April Reflections

April has come and gone and now a new month is upon us with promises of the unexpected, new opportunities, revelation and understanding.

Looking back on April saw my participation of the A-Z challenge on both of my blog sites. After I had committed to the challenge I wondered just exactly what I was thinking to commit myself to writing 52 posts!  It was a struggle and part way through I wanted to give up, especially when life threw some unexpected curve balls!

Moving onwards, I decided to focus on what I wanted to get out of my participation in the challenge and this included improving and being more consistent in my posts, find interesting creatives and blogs, and most of all I wanted to finish!  I dug deep, kept my eye on the finish line and persevered posting 2 and 3 posts when I fell behind, and appreciated all the comments that I got with my posts.  I have connected with some amazing writers and artists, and feel more confident in my writing and more focused in the things I want to achieve with my creativity.  I also was given award above by Elizabeth 

Since completing the challenge I took a break from blogging and just spent time with family and painting. I have been going for long walks which is especially nice since we have had some lovely weather. 

Took a trip to Regents Park and also used it as an opportunity to take some photographs; it was a sunny but breezy day, when we came back I was exhausted.  I’ve also spent the time creating a supply of handmade books among other things. It’s great to get back to the supplies and reacquaint myself.

If ever there was a challenge needed it's now, we need to shake ourselves up a bit and look outside our window. Outside your front door there are amazing things happening, people getting involved in a range of things some that you would never even imagine. Taking part in challenges allows you to stretch and grow and see your situation and life in ways that you may never have dreamed of. It gets you connecting with people from all walks of life and you come out with a renewed outlook...Whats your next challenge going to be?

Zenith

Zenith.... the highest point; peak; acme: the zenith of someones achievements

I did it! finished, got to the end. 

For the whole of April I have been taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge with over 1000 other bloggers - a big thank you goes out to Arlee Bird and the team.  Our challenge was to blog the letters of the alphabet daily except Sundays.  I chose to give myself the additional challenge of posting to my art blog which meant that I had to do 52 posts altogether.  While doing the challenge I was also grieving the loss of a friend and fellow artist, Barbara Noel, and attend her Home going service.  We are in the process of adding images of her art work to a blog, if you click on her name it will take you straight there to see some of her work, and watch a video about her talking at her degree show in 2010.

After the first few posts I realised I should have done some in advance as life seemed to be getting in the way, but I was determined not to drop out.  I had wanted to develop my writing and my discipline in producing work and being more creative.  It got to a stage where I had to do 3 posts a day, the thoughts of leaving out some letters came to mind but then I felt I would only be cheating myself so I got on with it.  It is a big relief to be at the end but I am also glad that I did take the time, that I did persevere, that I disciplined myself and showed up when I needed to and made it to the end.  I can look back and be proud of myself. 

In anything we do we have to put our all into it, for we don't know who we will be blessing by our words, actions and creativity. 

I hope that my actions have been a blessing in the same way that I have been blessed by many supportive words from people who have commented and those who have signed up to my blogs, and the many blogs that I have been able to visit, and will continue to visit.

You Tube Video

I uploaded a video I created using Stupeflix a video editing online package, it's only a short thing and doesn't contain my newer pieces of work..  It's really useful resource if your ever thinking of creating your own. With anything if you want to do more you will need to pay for one of the other packages.  One more letter to go in the A-Z blogging April Challenge, there is a reflection mega post on Monday to wind everything up and get feedback of bloggers experience.

x-rayography

Came across a really interesting site about the work of artist Albert Koetsier and his use of X-rays in art, whilst not new, it is part of the history of photography that started almost two hundred years ago.  There are some beautiful images in the gallery, definitely worth a look.