Adventure - 52 Weeks of colour

A thought for the week

It is important to set boundaries so that you know where you are, where you have been and where you are going. There is a whole world out there waiting for you to make your mark, and be part of the adventure! Be proud of the many things you will achieve, whether they be big or small, you are wonderful.

Quote 

I shut my eyes in order to see. ...Paul Gauguin

Scripture

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

The Writing is on the Wall - Creating in Faith

The Writing on the Wall

No refunds available! How plain does the message need to be before you actually realise it is meant for you? How many ways can it be dressed up, short of neon lights and a brass band.  That feeling that you put down to coincidence when it's actually time for you to wake up and smell the coffee!

We miss opportunities and then wonder why we didn't step up, we breeze through our teenage years as if time were of no significance, heading into the adventures of our 20's.  Those roller coaster rides of emotion holding on to out-dated beliefs of ourself given to us in anger, dressed up as a gift.  Stumbling into our 30's we assume those grown up titles and gain responsibilitites, and our expectations are met with disappointments - how the grass seemed so much greener on the other side.

The choices we continue to make are not from wisdom and understanding but on lack and come from a place without substance.  Oh how we wish we could turn back the clocks, do it over and take new roads, dampening our rashness, while encouraging our inquisitiveness.  We turn to a generation younger and at the place we too remember being.  They see our wisdom for nagging, our words fall at their feet full of opportunities finding ourselves repeating the words of a generation before..... 'In my day', and 'when I was your......'. We are caught between two ages a unique generation who see the rise of technological advances, who at every turn reconciles the past with the presence as we launch oursleves in to a future unknown.

The writing is on the wall, it has always been there, we have always known yet chosen not to see.  At the back of our mind lays the questions we should have asked, answers we should have given to the child inside, who once more is trying to find its voice. Aging on the outside, insecurities unchecked on the inside.  We wait in line hoping to get a refund, we look at the signs but choose to ignore and rely only on how we feel.  We do not remember the triumps, the victories that we had, the times that we thought we couldn't possibly do, say, go, but we did it anyway.  Our mind dwells briefly to the times when we allowed ourselves to soar, and really believe that all things are possible.  Our thoughts interupted 'NEXT' the voice shouts...

'I need a refund on the 20 years of my life that haven't been used' you say

'I'm sorry, we don't give refunds'

'No refunds, you mean I threw away all those years worrying, thinking I couldn't, didn't know how, couldn't see clearly, where does that leave me now' you say in desperation, your head is pounding and your chest hurts.

'I'm sorry, it's the policy the only thing I can suggest is an Exchange, you really should have read the signs' with that she points to the large neon sign behind her.  With the lingering smell of coffee present you look up wondering what got you to this point, when did it all become so clear, you had been waiting for so long wanting it to be as easy as picking up a remote and rewinding to the best bits..

the sign says....

Wasted Years - Exchange Policy

How ever long you feel you wasted over the years, or didn't use to the best of your ability there is no refund.  We are each given the same amount of time each day and we are charged with the responsibility to use it wisely.  With this being said, if you have got to this point and this has not been the case there is still an option available to you which is known as an Exchange. (See Appx 1.356 Section B paragraph 2 - L.I.F.E and Section 2 of the Purpose manual paragraph 2013x12)

The Exchange - If you accept the Exchange you agree to:

* No longer let things pass you by, and use the time you have wisely

* You will make better choices and weigh up each and every circumstances

* You will utilise the gifts and talents you possess

* You will agree to live on purpose and take the next 20 years or however long you have wasted and do all the things you ever dreamed of, or have yet to dream of.

* You will no longer hold yourself back or convince yourself that you can't.

* You will remember all the success you ever had and hold on to the memory of them in times of doubt.

* You will promise to learn and see new things and will never take your life for granted as there are no refunds for any circumstances on a wasted life

Living on purpose

If you really require change in your life you have to decide to live on purpose.  Your life does have meaning and as you look back, do so not with regret, but with new understanding.  Shine a new light, and shower yourself with words of encouragement, ministering and nurturing your heart.  Take to time to listen, allowing your heart to heal, and remember you have a beautiful life to live out and an incredible story to tell!

My post for Creating in Faith this week looks at regret, the realisation of wasted time and things you can do about it. How quickly time passes and before you know it your back seems to hurt a little bit more than it use to a few years ago, or something you stopped yourself from doing actually is easier than you thought, and you wonder why you didn't do it sooner.  I thought it was going to be a poem, or short story, but it's something that I hope we can relate to, let me know what you think. I encourage you to live your life to the full and on purpose!  Stay blessed and be a blessing.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Making time for Art

I have been busy in my studio space of 8 months, and doing a happy dance every time I remember how far I have come from the edge of my kitchen table.  With that aside I have neglected sharing some of the larger pieces art work I have done.  I have been working regularly in my Art journal, not really doing much writing in the journal which I leave to my 'morning pages', but using the journal to explore techniques and smaller pieces of work.

I am also working on submitting work for an exhibition entitled: Art and Healing The deadline for sending in your applications is 15th February, so you will need to get a move on!  I have been wanting more and more for my work to tell a story and be encouraging, whether it has the words of encouragement weaved within the paint layers or open to interpretation by the viewer.  The work I'm working on for submission combines some of the writing that I share about my role as a carer last year.

Here are snippets of some of my most recent pieces to see the full image check out my mixed media art site

Getting your wings

In thought

Working through the midst

Home from home

I hope you are able to spend time being creative this weekend!  Blessings

Gratitudes - Inktense Pencils

 Inktense pencils have the vibrancy to them and I recieved them as a gift from my sister.  I really enjoy using them - they work on so many surfaces.

What are you grateful for this week?

Reflections - January Challenges

 

It has been a month full of posts as part of the Ultimate Blog challenge, and I hope you have found some thing to inspire you.  It is always great to come to the end of a challenge and as you look back at your journey, you are able to see areas that you might like to pursue.  I managed to fit in two challenges in the same month and also took part in Motley Souls 21 day challenge and produced a series of Art Cards.  It has also been great doing this as I have been able to experiment with different materials.

Sharing the inspiring websites I come across and celebrating the work of the lovely creatives who follow this blog each week will continue.  I enjoy reading, so will review and post - If you are a writer I would love to hear from you and you can share your journey on my wordpress site.

 

A challenge certainly stretches you and enables you to learn new things about yourself.  As well as my own post it has been lovely to visit new blogs and make new acquaintances which I am sure will continue. If you are contemplating starting or joining a challenge I really do recommend it, you will come out the other end with new insights and purpose!  Let me know if you come across any interesting challenges, or perhaps you too are just completing one!

Delight - 52 Weeks of Colour

A thought for the week....

Know your worth!  Do you constantly find yourself settling or playing it safe because you have always done it that way? For today, take a moment to delight in all that you have and what you could achieve in your life. Do not worry about how you will get there the main thing is that you make a start, having a good support network around you is key, especially when you feel like quitting.

Quote

This human being is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.  A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honourably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. ...Rumi

 Scripture 

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." 1John 5:14........

Childlike - Creating in Faith

We often hear the term childlike/childish being used in a negative context with the offending party is deemed to be acting like a child when an adult response is required.

As artists on the flip side we encourage tapping into your creativity the way a child would.  Children often approach creativity with a 'can do' attitude without the baggage and fear that can come over you when you start to tell yourself your not good enough or talented enough.  Fear of anything other than loud noises and falling is a learn behaviour that starts when our children are young and like sponges they soak up the fear of spiders, lack of confidence, or being good enough.  When taking my son to school when he was little you would hear how the children talked to one another, imitating conversations they had heard from parents and some learnt from an early age how to undervalue themselves.

Deep rooted insecurity 
The negativity embeds itself deep in to their minds and I'm sure we can all think of a throw away comment made by someone when we were young that had quite an impact on us even though many years have passed.

Prior to the remark that embeds itself in a child where they think they 'can’t' or worry about what others 'might think' there is a freedom in the way they approach things, an inquisitiveness and a sense of awe and adventure.  Watching how babies explore their surroundings and learn to walk, if they held onto the impact of their first fall they would never walk again.  But they get up time and time again, strengthening their muscles until they take their first unaided steps.

Letting go of the critic
As adults we try to gain that sense of being back to when we were children.  As we approach our creativity our critic often says ‘who do you think you are’ and we stop in our tracks beginning to doubt just who we thought we were. But we have to face it head on, let go of the critical comments and allow ourselves to soar!

When God encourages us to come to him like a child it is so that we come without the baggage and the fears and doubts that can often surround us, wondering if we really are good enough, he says ‘come’ with his outstretched arms with no motive or calculated plan, just the desire to show love.

What areas of your life can you put a different spotlight on approach in a different way?  What possible  results do you think you can get?  I'd love to hear your views.....

Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...Matthew 11:28

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16

Come join the group - Creating in Faith, show us how you will be incorporating the words and scriptures and reflections in your art this week.  Step out and be a blessing and you will also be blessed!

Blog love - sharing the love

I come across so many inspiring and encouraging blogs I wanted to share what they are doing

Check out the following sites for inspiration this week:

1. Tonya - Bringing some sunshine on a cold day at Momma's Sunshine - she recently did some really cute crochet phone cases, check them out.
2. Adriano is an amazing illustrator, for inspiration go to his blog Adriano Manzanares
3. Chandra shows us how to create a stylish pom pom beanie on her site A stylish little lady 
4. Jo - always includes a delicious recipe in her posts at Jo on Food, my travels and a scent of chocolate
5. I would also recommend you take a look at the A-Z challenge blog, and consider taking part in the challenge that will start in April.  It is definitely well worth taking part, this will be my third year.

If you have come across any interesting blogs please share, and leave some blog love. 

 Join me every day this month for the   Ultimate blog challenge

Gratitudes - Hugs

A hug can sooth away the pain, provide comfort and help you see things in a different light. 

What are you grateful for this week?

Needing that spark

It's either your spark plugs or your head gasket the Greenflag driver informed me - I had set out earlier to drive to my mums only to find the car wouldn’t start.

An hour and a half prior to that Alan and Sekani had pushed me in the car down the road hoping to push start it, and when that failed to jump-start it but to no avail.  The car stood in the driveway of an unknown neighbour. I knocked on their door, they opened ready to tell me that they were not interested in what I was selling, relieved when I told them about the car, they were happy for it to stay until I got some assistance.

I thought of all the things I had planned to do at my mums had I got their earlier and the impact that not having a car over the next few days would mean especially in this snow. I like things to be organised especially when it comes to my mum – I have accepted that now, to have things crop up wasn’t in my plans for the coming week, nor was the call out fee of £108 as the breakdown cover I had didn’t include home start. I had been feeling a bit off, trying to get into the swing of things but wanting so badly for the first time just to sit and be creative, but I could feel all my plans unravelling as the additional burdens arranged themselves like cheerleaders at the side of the road along with the general feeling of malaise - I knew I should have got the car serviced but decided to leave it for another year.

How like our cars do we unexpectedly stop functioning, out of the blue an unexpected ache and pain, or that numbness you were feeling in your hands suddenly gets worse.  When was the last time you gave your body and over haul?  We can become too rundown from the day to day trials of life that can invariably wear us down and making sure we look after our health and well-being is the thing that will prevent those unexpected visits to the doctors.

Take time as we come to the end of the month to re-evaluate your health, what your putting into your body, and are you getting enough nourishment from the foods you are currently eating? There is no time like the present, and you want to ensure you have more than enough energy to work on your dreams, unlike our cars this is the one body that we have, so we need to look after it!  Blessings

How are you going to look after yourself this year?

Join me every day this month for the   Ultimate blog challenge