365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 195 - 201

Day 195

Reflection

There is so much to be thankful for, make a list of 5 things you appreciate in your life.

Quote

All of our dreams can come true- if we have the courage to pursue them.....Walt Disney

Scripture

By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy...Hebrews 10:14

Day 196

Reflection

We make choices all the time, which ones will you make about your life today

Quote

I am only one.  But still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I still I can do something.  I will not refuse to do the something that I can do...Helen Keller

Scripture

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting...1 Chronicles 16:34

Day 197

Reflection

Life is what you make it Every day

Quote

Enthusiasm is a kind of faith that has been set afire....George Matthew Adams

Scripture

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him...Proverbs 30:5

Day 198

Reflection

The sun came out just for you today

Quote

One of the first things to do is learn to accept, and to expect this Power to flow through everything we do....Ernest Holmes

Scripture

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angles without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2

Day 199

Reflection

What are you hoping for today, how can you work towards it?

Quote

You can’t erase a dream, you can only wake me up....Peter Frampton

Scripture

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe...Proverbs  18:10

Day 200

Reflection

You are a work in progress

Quote

Why should we all use our creative power? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money... Brenda Ueland

Scripture

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...Ephesians 1:3

Day 201

Reflection

It’s time to take action

Quote

This we know: all things are connected, like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.  Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself....Chief Seattle  

Scripture

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us...1 John 5:14

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 188 - 194

Day 188

Reflection

Treat yourself like the treasure that you are.

Quote

Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul...

W. Somerset Maugham

Scripture

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us...1 John 5:14

Day 189

Reflection

Let go and shine, like the star you are becoming

Quote

I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.  ....Dawna Markova

Scripture

..the Lord delights in those who far Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love...Psalm 147:11

Day 190

Reflection

Take the time to sit back and really enjoy the blessings in your life

Quote

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.” ..

The Talmud

Scripture

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice..Psalm 97:1

Day 191

Reflection

Love is the key, how will you show yourself that love

Quote

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive...

Harold Whitman

Scripture

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased..Hebrews 13:16

Day 192

Reflection

It’s your time to let love in for you

Quote

All is procession. The universe is a procession with measured and beautiful motion...

Walt Whitman

Scripture

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God...Matthew 5:9

Day 193

Reflection

Amazing blessings will start to unfold into your life

Quote

I believe the lasting revolution comes from deep changes in ourselves which influence our collective life.  ....Anais Nin

Scripture

For He will give His angels charge concerning

Day 194

Reflection

Bless yourself with honesty, be gentle

Quote

The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel...Piet Mondrian

Scripture

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways...

Psalm 91:11

Try Something New for 30 Days December 2011 Challenge

December sees a new month and new challenges to be had!  I really want to make changes to every aspect of my life and starting out with small changes will eventually become bigger changes.  You can see how I got on with the November walking challenge.

The challenge I have set myself this month will be to write a minimum of 100 words a day.  The overall aim is to write a selection of childrens short stories combined with my mixed media art work in it. This is something I have always wanted to do, and thought why not for one month - again giving myself small chunks a day at a time see how I get on, I might find that I absolutely love it, or find that it was great for a month and its not something I want to continue. 

One of my favourite childrens books is by Ezra Jack Keats I still have a copy of The Snowy Day, he used a combination of gouache with collage in his work.

I was inspired back in 2010 to look at how I could combine my work into stories in a similar way.  This is how my decision to write started out....never took off and changed direction slightly:

• In 2004 I decided that I wanted to write childrens books, I never did, all I did was write a list of 45 possible titles, not sure why, but felt compelled to, I was determined to write......

• 2006 - I updated the book in January and promised myself that I would start at the end of the month.....
• 2007 saw me reviewing my goals ....and
• 2010 February after looking at why I hadn't started I realised I didn't want to write childrens books but childrens short stories and combine my love for mixed media.

So in December 2011 I have been nervous about committing myself, but you have to jump sometime!  I worked out that even doing my morning pages I write close to 1000 words if not more on occasions. So I will start, the main aim being not to complete the 45 story titles but to enjoy the process of writing and creating the art. If you don't start now when will you start, there is no time like the present!

If you would like to join in and give yourself a challenge this month leave your link below so that we can visit your blog and give you support and encouragment.  I will be leaving update posts each week to share how I have been getting on and look forward to visiting your blogs to see how you have been getting on.

Update - Week 1 and 2

Art Every Day Month (AEDM) and Try Something New Challenge Week 4 Update

Today sees the end of two challenges that I have been doing, the Art Every Day Month (AEDM) in my Mixed Media Art blog and Try Something New for 30 days here on this blog. With the AEDM the main thing was to do something creative every day and  I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part. 

Spending time with our creativity takes practice and discipline and over the course of time you see the value of spending getting to know yourself and how you work even if it is for only 5 minutes.   I still plan to visit the other artists that took part over the month there is so much inspiring work out there and a big thanks goes out to Leah Piken Kolidas for hosting AEDM as well as other challenges.

Making time for 'me' and and achieving goals were the reasons why I wanted to start the challenge Try something new, I realised there are so many things we say we are 'going to do' but the time passes and before we know it the years have passed us by.  It feels like yesterday that I committed myself to walking 20 minutes a day but it was 30 days ago, that's how fast time is flying....

...we have no guarantees about tomorrow, what are you going to do with your today?

I now know how easy it is to get myself up and out and enjoy walking, I have also found ways to be flexible and fit around my schedule and though we have come to the end of the month it is something  I will keep up, alongside creating daily.

For December I have decided to do another challenge for 30 days, something that I've always said I would do but didn't find the time.  I will be glad for others to join in.  What have you always said you wanted to do?  Make it a realistic challenge that you can stick to, break it down and set yourself up to look back at the end of December and see that the challenge is completed!

You will be able to leave your blog link details in the main section so that we can visit you and give you support and encouragement during the month.  Would love to hear your thoughts on challenges that you have done!