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Reflection

Everyone needs someone to lean on even you.

Quote

It is wisdom to believe the heart....George Santayana

Scripture

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken..Psalm 16:8

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Reflection

You have an important job in this world to do that only you can do...

Quote

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal....Ralph Vaull Starr

Scripture

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you...Matthew 7:7

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 42

Reflection

Abundance will flow, go where the peace

Quote

Growth itself has the germ of happiness .....Pearl S. Buck

Scripture

Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble..Psalm 119:165

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Reflection

Learn the lessons your roadblocks will teach you then move past them.

Quote

When we are enthusiastic we are intoxicated with passion rooted in our true selves and it flows into all we do. ---Linda Saccoccio

Scripture

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last...Revelation 22:13

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Reflection

Love is key..forgiveness and love.

Quote

The world speaks to me in colours, my soul answers in music. ---Rabindranath Tagore

Scripture

He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart... Isaiah 40:11

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Reflection

You have an important story to tell.

Quote

To be at peace with ourselves, we need to know ourselves.... Caitlin Matthews

Scripture

Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth... Matthew 5:5

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Reflection

Feel the fear, acknowledge it, name it, understand where it’s coming from,

then move on

Quote

How do you expect to arrive at the end of your own journey if you take the road to another man’s city? .....Thomas Merton

Scripture

 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory...Ephesians 3:20-21

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Reflection

You are loved much more than you realise

Quote

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. ---Seneca

Scripture

The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night... Psalm 121:5-6

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Reflection

Out with the old and in with the new, when it’s time to let go, just let go...

Quote

Conditions for creativity are to be puzzled, to concentrate, to accept conflict and tension, to be born every day, to feel a sense of self..... Erich Fromm

Scripture

....He who began a good work in you will perfect it...Philippians 1:6

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Reflection

Miracles happen when you least expect them

Quote

Creative minds have always been known to survive any

kind of bad training... Anna Freud

Scripture

You shall recieve power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... Acts 1:8

Friday Feeling - Opportunity

The first of the month, what are you hoping for this month? Looking back on the week to see how things can be improved is important for me. There have been a few things that have made me stop and think and the one that has resounded with me is 'opportunity'.

We can talk about all the things we want to do, should have done, goals and dreams that we have/had, but if the opportunity came up would we be ready. What are we doing with our time in order to prepare for those moments? Sometimes the opportunity is not packaged as we want or expect, but being ready means that you are able to step into it, or even consider it and your options.  As an artist, if I don’t paint or do something creative or get on with doing the work I know needs to be done on the business, even some of the boring stuff  -  I won’t be ready when the time comes....I am still expecting the unexpected!  There is the saying 'opportunity knocks once, but failure and doubt lean on the doorbell!' 

In regards to some of the things I did this week, I managed to complete 4 pieces of mixed media work that were at varying stages ..

I was determined to get them done and had to focus on one piece at a time rather than working at all at once - both methods have their benefits for me and my space.  I'll be uploading them on my website and you will be able to buy prints and cards.

My friend Laura had given me an oval frame in one of our weekly creative sessions I started laying down collage material, then the pink paint then the image started to form and this is where I’ve got so far...

I am really enjoying painting this one, and I am using water soluable oils, waiting for it to dry to move onto the next stage.

I’ve also been making my own stamps, out of foam.

I will share how and what I made them from, I’m quite pleased with the results, what's good is that you can make any design you want, and this method was really cheap to do.  I look forward to making some more.

I have also been experimenting with painting on fabrics, got some cheap t-shirts these have still got some designs to be sewed on the front, but here they are so far!

Journalling is something I've always done but stopped for a while, picking it back up and decided to try out the two pages spread 7 day journal so will let you see an example at the beginning of next week. If you want to see some examples by other artists check out Karenika and Judy Wise

Finally I have been reviewing some of the courses I’ve done over the past year and how I’ve applied the learning from them in my work. The last course I did was Soul Restoration 1, back in January. There is another course running on on 26th July so check it out. You go on an amazing journey of discovery. I can’t recommend it enough, there are so many insights and ‘ah ha' moments, you will definitely be blessed. The journey you go on is a love one, you are always dipping in and learning new things about yourself and equipping yourself with the tools you need to unravel and understand those layers we all have. Soul Restoration 2 is also in progress, check out this video about it.

The weeks to come for me are about striving forward, breaking down the barriers, and most importantly doing lots of creative work!....imagine the possibilities!  What are your plans going to look like?

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 31

Reflection

Celebrate the miracles of where you are, where you’ve been and where you are going...

Quote

It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are... E E Cummings

Scripture

...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

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Reflection

Make time to play it is as essential ingredient in your growth

Quote

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal....Ralph Vaull Starr

Scripture

If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 28

Reflection

Your life is precious, there is no one in this world who can do the exact things you do, in exactly the way you can do it, you are unique.

Quote

The worst bankruptcy in the world is the person who has

lost his enthusiasm...H.W. Arnold

Scripture

No man hath seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.. 1 John 4:12

Note: I accidently deleted this so this is a replacement for day 28, the reflection is the same, but the scripture and quote different.

Reflection.....Scars

Last week came and went very quickly and while I plan my course of action for this week I think its important for us to think about what we achived with our time looking back on the week that was.  I have been getting up very early to not only spend some time praying and talking God but also tapping into my creativity while the house is still and all are sleeping. It's a wonderful time and on some days I can catch the sun in the garden and hear the birds as they fight over the fat balls and sunflower seeds left for them.

At the beginning of last the week with all the rain brought in the spiders, this one I promise you was massive, and seem to have a weird shaped body!

They seem to gravitate over my creative space in the corner of my kitchen....was this the unexpected I that was coming my way..... a small part, I realised I no longer scream as loud when I see these spiders anymore!

I also managed to visit a garden centre near my mothers in North London,

It is deceptive in size, and houses some beautiful plants, it has a lovely feel and at the back it has a mini pond with fish and water loving plants, it's an oasis and the staff are lovely!

On the way home were the guys prunning the trees back, not sure why they do it in June but I guess they grow quite fast and will be springing back come September.

Or perhaps they forgot to do it in spring and trying to catch up with themselves, I do love trees their welcomed shade in the scorching sun, and hearing the rustling of the leaves in the cool breeze..... What areas of your life still need pruning in order to make room for new growth?

Went on my usual walk, did 2 laps which is 1.54 miles, taking it steady, and increase my efforts this week to 3.08 miles.  They have finally placed the boarders with flowers and they are looking really pretty, as they establish and grow out a bit they will start to fill out the spaces.

Still not eating wheat, feeling so much better, though my son still loves pancakes - the American style ones,  so made a batch one morning.

In trying to get more organised, there are many things that have to change and some things that have to go altogether.  I am trying to look at everything with fresh eyes and ask myself, 'do I really need this or can it go to a better home'?.  What usually comes back is 'ooh you can make something really neat with that, or that would look good in assemblage art', and now everything has potential in being used in mixed media art in some form.  As much as I love trying new things there has to be a limit and you have to be tough on yourself, and maybe ask yourself the reasons you are holding on to stuff (unless of course I can get me a studio and all my supplies can go in there!).  This got me thinking about the things that we hold on to that come from pain, that hurt is usually a scar, we can have many different type of scars. 

When I was 6 years old  I use to walk along the wall in the picture, minus the hedge.  The wall seemed massive to me and I was proud of myself for conquering it -  when your smaller things look bigger. One day I was happilly walking on it as usual and I fell and cut my shin on my left leg in two places.  I cried, felt angry and slightly scared that it would happen everytime I walked on the wall.  The wound on my leg healed, but the scar to this day, over 30 years later still remains.

There are so many experiences that we have as children that we carry as constant reminders, something someone said, or an incident and they can often be carried into adult life and impact how we view the world.  

The experience on the wall didn't stop me from climbing on walls and I never went round with the attitude that all walls are bad, but it did remind me that sometimes we hold on to the emotion of the experience and the way the 6 year old Amanda dealt with it then is very different to the way the adult Amanda needs to deal with situations, it is no longer a huge wall anymore, it is the little wall it is now, holding no power over my future decisions. 

Think about the things that you have been holding on to from way back, that impact on your today, think about the lesson that you can learn and what you can decide to let go of and finally and clear out.

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Reflection

It’s time for change, step into the new life that is waiting, let go of the old habits and confining behaviours, it’s your time

Quote

I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain... Frank Herbert

Scripture

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God...Ephesians 2:8

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Reflection

Listen, can you hear your soul singing

Quote

Works of art are landscapes of the mind. ---Ted Godwin

Scripture

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you  Matthew 6:33

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Reflection

You always have a choice

Quote

All art, whether it pleases us or not, helps to add colour, excitement, joy, or sadness and, most often, a sense of awe to our life’s experience. ---Henry O. Dorman

Scripture

The righteous cry and the Lord hears,

and delivers them out of all their troubles..Psalm 34:17

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Reflection

You are where you need to be at this very moment in time

Quote

Each day comes bearing its gifts.  Untie the ribbons.....Ann Schabacker

Scripture

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword,..able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart... Hebrews 4:12

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Reflection

Start celebrating your new life right now!

Quote

Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession. Do that which is assigned to you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much... Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scripture

Heaven and earth shall pass away; but My words shall not pass away...Mark 13:31