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

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Reflection

I am willing to create

Quote

Let every man or woman hear, if you never hear me again, remember this, that if you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and with what you are. He who would be great anywhere must first be great in his own Philadelphia...Russel H. Conwell

Scripture

Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you: He will never allow the righeous to be shaken ..Psalm 55:22

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Reflection

Celebrate the new life you will be starting today

Quote

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful

beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who

am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?”

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve

the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel

insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we

unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

---Marianne Williamson

Scripture

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry and He will say 'Here I am'

Isaiah 58:9

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Reflection

We all need somebody to lean on

Quote

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark,

in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet,

the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration

for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your

road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won.

It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours. ---Ayn Rand

Scripture

We all know that God causes all things to work together

for good to those who love God, to those who are

called according to His purpose...Romans 8:28

Friday Feeling - Expect the Unexpected

My motto for next week is - Expect the Unexpected!  I took a moment out to reflect on the week,  quite a few things happened and it's funny that once you start writing about it you realise how much you actually got done.  I was able to take some much needed time out today do some writing, stopped for a cappuccino and this is what I got a giant cup that you had to hold with both hands.... Massimo! 

I saw an unexpected sight around 40 horses being led trotting though a street in Hampstead, we had to pull our cars over and by the time I realised what was happening, thought to myself this would make a great picture and got out my camera, they were passing me and I only caught the backside of them.

This is the third week that I have been posting the 365 days of colour (here is an extra one for you today). Some of my assumptions I had about the project were proved wrong, but it is interesting how we can allow negative thoughts to sway our decisions and our creative outputs.
 

After the first week I had some doubts about what I thought I was doing....  I had few responses to what I was posting and I felt the doubt creeping in - that perhaps I should have made it something else, thoughts raced through my mind....(challenges usually involved other people and if no one was commenting, no one was interested).  As the week went on I started to get a few responses from fellow bloggers, it was a blessing to read their comments of encouragement. 

I had momentarily loss sight of the real reason I started and it was to share my love for colour and flowers, and some of the wonderful quotes and scriptures that have blessed me, if other people commented that was an added blessing.  It was supposed to be about giving and the knowledge that in 365 days someone somewhere around the world will have been touched by an image they have seen or a quote/scripture they have read.  The added benefits are that there will be growth, just as in the many challenges we take part in we hope that part of us takes some learning from it.  I can definitely say that the challenges I have done so far have made an impact on my work and  I look forward to seeing how this personal challenge will impact on me, if only one person is blessed it's worth it.  I will create a badge and your welcome to add it to your site and start sharing some of your flower photographs and if you want to share your favorite quotes and scriptures please do.

I also gave a talk on my experience as a carer to a group doing their MA in social work.  I was also able to show some of the creative tools I use in my work and how simple things like a journal made from recycled materials can enable a carer to start expressing their experience and impact on their health and well-being.

 
If you are interested in further information about art and health I manage a Arts in Health NHS network of resource information and regularly update it with information and events that I come across that relates to this area.

Alan's book launch was a success, It is his second book called EKidz in Cyberspace, published and available from Tate Publishing and Amazon

 
There were lots of interesting questions asked about the process of writing the book.  The message of Internet safety for young people is an important one that Alan tackles.  I will be interviewing him to find out about his motivation and passion for writing and hopefully have a competition to win a copy of his book, in the meantime check out his website

Sekani, our son played piano with a friend called Steve Green a very talented musician but who also designs bespoke jewellery and this is just a small fraction of his talent.  He will be working on his website and you'll be able to see some of his work soon. 
 

We're hoping that Sekani will finish the rest of his songs and make an album here is a snippet of Sekani and Steve playing while there was a refreshment break, (please forgive the zooming in and out and the shaking by yours truly, it gets better half way through)!

My mother enjoyed the event, there were lots of helpful young men who kept mum occupied while I took some of the photographs, this is us on the way back home, Alan is driving!
 

. 
Sekani  finished his exams this week (Yay), he's been doing his GCSEs, like a lot of young people at the moment.  It has been quite a stressful month now we just wait for the exam results - he will be 16 years old this year (doesn't time fly, I still keep thinking back to when he was a cute, hold your hand and smother you with kisses and hugs little boy (he was 3 in this picture and I used to wear my hair short then..... am I getting old!))

This was taken in Barbados

Managed to get a couple of walks in, another one of our local parks which is lovely, there are so many other walkers and joggers, I managed to do 1.4 miles - 2 laps, which I will increase next week... small steps to a fitter me!.
 

 I did the outer route

In closing, as I  reflect on the week I have a strong desire to get things finished, a few things in the air and there needs to be closure in order to move on to the next experience, opportunity and adventure.  Perhaps it's time to have a clear out... you never know when something totally unexpected will happen.  Stay blessed!

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Reflection

I have not yet reached my destination....

Quote

We shall find peace. We shall hear angels.

We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds....Anton Chekhov

Scripture

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

Philippians 4:13

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Reflection

As I listen to my creativity I am lead to God

Quote

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile

can be the source of your joy. ---Thich Nhat Hanh

Scripture

Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do.... John 14:13

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Reflection

Through the use of a few simple tools, my creativity will flourish

Quote

Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy;

they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom....Marcel Proust

Scripture

He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he who sows

bountifully shall also reap bountifully...11 Corinthians 9:6

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Reflection

My creativity heals myself and others

Quote

Use your health even to the point of wearing it out. That is what it is for

George Bernard Shaw

Scripture

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me

Psalm 23:4

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Reflection

My creativity always leads me to truth and love

Quote

Come to the edge. We can’t, we’re afraid.

Come to the edge. We can’t. We’ll fall!

Come to the edge. And they came.

And he pushed them. And they flew.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Scripture

The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever...Psalm 121:8

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Reflection

Think about a family member you could honor

Quote

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ---Mark Twain

Scripture

...we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us...Romans 8:37

Friday Feeling...

I have been thinking back over the past few weeks at what I've managed to do creatively, I seem to be in that in-between stage of deciding what the direction should be for a number of things....  I'm sure as I dwell and reflect and pray the answers will come.

I have continued to sketch and journal, as doing something every day is essential to your health and wellbeing! I met up with a friend and we spent a couple of hours painting, it was great to work in the same room as someone else as I usually work on my own.  We are going to try and make this a regular feature to our week.....

I spent a lot of time at the computer connecting with other artists, there is always something interesting to see creatively online by all the talented artists out there.  This week I was inspired by Karenika, she seems to fit an amazing amount of creativity into her day - very inspiring!

Drove up to Bedford to the The Birds of Prey Centre with Alan and Sekani (I had given them a flying and handling experience for Christmas)  It was lovely to get out of London for a few hours and see some of those beautiful birds.

I managed to miss the deadline for the sketchbook challenge on my Art blog, but I will still write up what I did for the post, and then start this months suggestion.  I have also been preparing for a series of talks for Social Workers which look at the experience of the carer.  Whillst my mother continues to deteriorate with the dementia, she is holding on to her humour, laughter and zest for life!  To help me cope with the role I developed a memory book and other tools which look at different aspects of her life and means that whatever setting she is in others are able to interact and  help her talk about her memories and things that she has done with the family over the years.  I am still putting them together and will be sharing these over the next few weeks.

The 365 days of colour that you have been seeing posted is primarily to enable me to share the images of some of the wonderful flowers I had photographed that I see on my travels or plant in the garden, I also come across a number of quotes and scriptures that inspire me, I hope they do the same for you. Honeysuckle and Jasmine are two of my favorite plants and I finally got round to buying a couple, they are steadily establishing themselves in the garden. 

I also managed to get out the last of the seeds that I had in my collection which will hopefully produce some pretty flowers mid August/September.

With the wet weather we have been having it has brought an increase in the slugs and snail population, these ones here are the prettiest in the garden, making acquaintances!

and the spiders seem to be trying to find refuge in the house!

....this one was massive (honest).... the picture doesn't do it justice!

As I have also been trying to get more exercise, I started walking again with a group of women once a week, it helped me motivate myself knowing that there were going to be others taking part, and that this time was just for me! I managed to do 6 laps round the field, and planning to increase the amount each week:) This morning I went to my local park and walked 1.4 miles!  It's been a fine morning and it's amazing how many other people young and old were doing exactly the same thing (some were moving quite bit faster than I was and these were the elderly ones!)

Tomorrow, Saturday 11th June  is the launch of Alan's book eKidz in Cyberspace, The address is EEC Centre, 9 - 23 Marsham Street, Westminster, WC1P 3DW UK if your anywhere near your most welcome to come along.  It starts at 6.30pm until 9.30pm.  There will be refeshments served at the start of the event.

Finally, I have been messing around with photoshop and have managed to teach myself some new techniques.  I wanted to be able to incorporate some of my photographs with my art work, and I am getting the hang of things.  I've got Susan Tuttles book which is handy as the techniques use photoshop elements.  I am quite pleased with my attempt, and know that with practice I will get better at using all the functions.  Hope you have a blessed weekend, and looking forward to seeing and hearing what you will be getting upto for next week!

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Reflection

I am allowed to nurture my artist

Quote/Poem 

A man travelling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him. Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man then saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted. ---Zen poem

Scripture

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy...Matthew 5:7

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Reflection

I am willing to use my creative talents

Quote

Happiness is to take up the struggle in the midst of the raging storm,

and not to pluck the lute in the moonlight or recite poetry

among the blossoms......Ding Ling, Chinese Author

  

Scripture

The steps of a man are establised by the Lord; and he delights in his way

..Psalm 37:23

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Reflection

Be in charge of your words and your deeds

Quote

Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane

every night of our lives.....Charles William Dement

Scripture

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthly and growing and full of love...Ephesians 4:16

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Reflection

Beauty can blossom in the most unexpected places...

Quote

The world is but the vastness of the soul. The soul is nothing more than love, limitless, endless, all that moves us towards knowing what is true....Amy Tan

Scripture

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others..Proverbs 12:15

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There’s no inner landscape in the invisible world of our souls and hearts but is full of the most melodious and nourishing and wild freedom. And everyone should go there, to the wild place, where there are no cages, where there are no tight rooms without windows and without doors. Everyone should go to the free clearance places in their own hearts.   John O’Donohue

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Reflection

How much of yourself have you given away?

Get a life in which you are generous. Look around at the azaleas in the suburban neighbourhood where you grew up; look at a full moon hanging silver in a black, black sky on a cold night. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money…and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a Big Brother or Sister. .. You wnt to do well, but if you do not do good too, then doing well will never be enough. 

....Anna Quindlen

Blessings in the post

I wanted to say a big thank you to two very special artists for their generosity.  I recently recieved two gifts in the post.  The first was from Diane Salter who sent me a copy of her Zine, Creativie Snippets - finding tiny inspirations.  It's a lovely little book and has got some great ideas.  She also sent a couple of ATC's based on Red Riding Hood.

The second was from Cynthia of Prayer notes who sent me a collection of book marks, and fridge magnet from a giveaway she was running.

With the rise in technology and the internet, it is always great to connect with each other by 'snail mail' the anticipation of hearing the post falling through the door, seeing the envelopes and postmarks from far-away-lands:) and the excitement as you open them up and see the contents! 

When you get a chance check out the links and have a look at both Diane's and Cynthias work, you will be blessed and inspired.

Taking time to Listen

Met an elderly man in the hardware store recently, he was about 85 years old. We were both looking for something they didn’t have, as we both stared at the shelves in worlds of our own he apologised for being in my way. I laughed and said it was alright and that started us chatting. His wife had died 6 years earlier and he shared how much he missed her, how he like ‘most men’ and these were his own words, didn’t appreciate what he had when she was around. He signed, as he stated that she spoiled him and would do everything for him ‘oh how I miss her he said’.....the old saying ‘you never know what you got till it’s gone came spilling out my mouth and he laughed, ‘yes your right’ he said.

He asked me what I had been looking for I told him I was picking up a few bits for my mother who I look after. We talked for around half an hour dodging the other customers that walked past us, time was irrelevant we were in the moment. I learnt of his past, fighting for justice, a rebel with a cause in South Africa, fleeing to London, and talked about his childhood sweetheart he was forbidden to see and every now and then since his wife had died he wonders how she is and whether he should get in touch with her.

He then turned to me and told me I was a treasure, and how lucky my husband must be....would you like to get a cup of coffee in the cafe next door? I rain-checked and promised the next time that I saw him we would sit and chat.

How much time do we give to others to listen to what they have to say?  He hadn’t spoke to anyone for a whole week, people just didn’t have the time and I was for him a breath of fresh air, just as he was for me – I was on automatic as I got on with the chores of the day until I met him!  Being called a treasure reminded me of the light we all carry around with us that we can choose to let shine or turn it off as we get burdened with the pressures of life.

Making the most of every opportunity and relationships that come our way we need to seize life with both hands and live it to the full. When I get to 80 or 90 years old I want to be able to look back with fondness at all those memories, and those times that I stopped what I was doing and listened.