In the News.....Go, arise..... Be the best you!

I hope you are having a great day so far, or if you've just got up due to your time zone that you have made a choice to be more that you were yesterday. 

How many of you have already heard a number of negative words, thoughts since you got up, and just how are you going to hush those voices?  What encouraging words will you be saying to yourself, they say that for every negative word it takes 150 positive words to cancel it out.   

We have all heard, said negative things about ourselves at one point or other and I think that we have to daily remind ourselves about the talents and gifts we have within - our words have power to lift up or to tear down.  We have a responsibility to be our 'best selves' and by that I mean who we were created to be not who 'man' says we should be.

To explore those ideas, try those skills, learn, expand your mind, travel, write, create, sing, climb, never give up on yourself no matter what age you are.  And the more you do it the closer you come to yourself who has a gift to share, a story to tell, an example to be.  Don't give up on the 'you' you can become, will become, if you give yourself some room to grow, step out of the boat, - out of your comfort zone.  Life hasn't finished with you yet, you are not at your destination and someone in the world, could be half way across the world or just round the corner from you needs to hear your voice.  What are you waiting for - go do you!

Mixed Media Art 

As I encourage you, I encourage myself,....And Still I rise...

I will leave you with Maya Angelou's Poem.  I had the fortune to meet her many many years ago when she graced our bookshop - Grassroots that was based in Ladbrook Grove UK. On the night she signed books, read some of her poems and inspired many.

And Still I Rise..

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may tread me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you? 

Why are you beset with gloom? 

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? 

Bowed head and lowered eyes? 

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you? 

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? 

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise

Maya Angelou

Embrace Your Art - Prompt 7 (Tutorial tuesday's)

Last year I was asked by Tiare Smith to be one of the guest artists on the Embrace Your Art a weekly challenge where you are giving a prompt and a challenge supply or technique to use and the sessions are posted each Friday, you can join in as she shows you the techniques that she is using, and it is a great way to give yourself ideas of things to try.  I also find it good for getting you to use different supplies.

Here is my latest one that I did and the video of how I completed the page.   I have also included images of the other pages that I have done so far.

Goals you have and use some stitching

I have been playing along with some of the other weeks as well, and here are my pages from the past few weeks:

Favorite color

Hometown

Names your known by..

What does your name mean/Nickname

As you can see we are creating on round pages, why not join in the fun, you can dip in or out as you want, set yourself a challenge to complete a certain amount of pages, or do the lot.  I would love to see what you create!  

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

29 Faces for February - Week 2 Roundup

On the round up for the second week, you will begin to see a slight theme running through some of these images.  They are part of a mini art journal that I have been working in, it is very simply made and I have really enjoyed painting within it. I will share at the end of the month how it was put together and more of each page.

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

 I decided to do something different for this face, very different

Day 13

Playing around with pen and ink

Day 14

Day 15

Although we are half way through you still have the opportunity to take part - use what you have and have fun creating.

You can check back here next week for the roundup or see each day on my Art Blog and hopefully be inspired to start creating and getting out those supplies!

Retreat Away from Home

When you think about a retreat what first comes to mind for you.  I know I think of pampering, spa sessions, not having to cook, and if it is a creative retreat then one filled with art workshops and spending time with like minded others.

A couple of Saturdays ago my local church held a retreat day for the women, both young and old, the children were also welcome as well, and it was great to see every one take part and share their insights.  I was asked to bring along some art materials.  I took some collage, and mark making material to add to the other creative material available.

Talking art journals

The session lasted 3 hours and it is amazing just what you can fit into the time.  One of women (Lisa) gave a talk on making new beginnings, making that start, and it was a very inspiring talk, that reminded me that I should spend more time journalling and also something I have been enjoying for a while Art journalling.  The other thing that stood out for me was talking about timelines, and noting significant timelines during the course of your life, this is something that you could combine really well with journalling. 

Making paint pallets out of cardboard

I spent some time sharing how to use some of the materials that I brought, such as the collage material, and the tools that can be used to create texture within your art work.

I shared with some of the women on my table how I used bible and dictionary pages along with other ephemera to create a collage.

For this collage I create flowers out of bible pages and a mixed ephemera loosely adding color to the pages

I then spent some time cutting them out and applying to a decorated background and adding additional colors.  3 hours fly when your having fun and we all got an opportunity to share how we were impacted by the whole session.  We were all spiritually fed as well as creatively.  Once I got home, I was still in the flow of creative experimenting and got to add some finishing touches to my two pieces.

Grounded - Mixed Media Art

Here is another one that I completed, and once home added the white detail to the flowers.  The flowers have been inspired by ones that we were shown on a session with Tiare Smith as part of The Journey Within Year long Art Journal Workshop, which was great!

How does your garden grow?

I really enjoyed creating the flowers, it allows you to be so free with your work, they are easy to create and look so pretty.  I also enjoyed every aspect of the Retreat Day, as it allowed us the time to reflect and refocus and look at how we can give ourselves a fresh start.

For a limited time on Tiare's site through to the end of Valentine’s Day get 10% off workshops and bundles (discount good on Tiare Smith Designs hosted workshop only. Does not apply to The Journey Within). In one of the courses she shows you how to make the imagery with the flowers and more.  Just enter code: IAMLOVE at checkout.  

Why not take yourself on an online retreat and take the time to meet with your creative self and grow.