What ways do you show yourself you care about you?
Tuesday 3 January 2012
Unwearable Clothes - Clearing the clutter challenge Day 3
I made the mistake of buying a cheap tracksuit recently, the lining inside is really soft and warm but within 3 days it was covered in bobbles. I used to have a bobble trimmer - a battery operated machine that would cut the bobbles off but that was many moons ago. After deciding to just wear the tracksuit around the house, I found myself dashing out into the light of day to quickly pick something up, and then wondered why people were looking at me oddly. This happened recently here. The task of removing unwearable clothes was slightly easier, although hanging on to something that makes you feel comfortable can be good. Change comes in all shapes and sizes and we need to be treating ourselves with care. If we are seeking comfort perhaps looking at the reasons why these feelings have come up and how we can make sure we address them needs to be the next step.
Monday 2 January 2012
Clothes that don't Fit - Clearing the Clutter Challenge
Why is it that we hold on to clothes that don't fit, with the promise of one day wearing them...or is it just me?
I have told myself over the years that I would slim down and get myself into these clothes again, and I've come to the conclusion that while I am getting fitter and loosing weight something still has to go, and there needs to be a closing date.
When I looked at some of the styles I realized that it was the fabric I liked so rather than keep it as the original item I would re-purpose it. I've been getting quite attached to making journals and book binding, been inspired by Art Journals by other artists. I have made a few on my channel that you can look at HERE
Others clothes I've packed for charity. Looking back on some of the pieces the clothes reminded me of the summers I spent seemingly without a care in the world, not imagining my life years later, or the responsibilities I would have - perhaps I am hankering after that care free life again... perhaps it will come in a different form.
Sunday 1 January 2012
What's in the Bag? - Clearing the Clutter Challenge - Day 1
Thought I would start with clearing out my bag as a challenge, I take my bag/s with me most places and I usually chuck most things in it and end up with a lot of ‘just in case’ items, then have to use move every thing to a bigger bag. These are the three I have been carrying around at the same time, each with a set of different items,
I realised when I really looked at the contents I was also carrying around quite a few non essential items, and that the bags didn't reflect my personality.
I’ve taken to carrying things just in case and I realised it was time for a clear out as I couldn't always find what I wanted.
My son does a very good take of me looking for something in my bag and he always shows me as rummaging with my head down. I realised that alongside what I call my 'hand bag' I was carrying additional bags for those oh so essential items. A clear out came at the right time, I don't think I'll ever be a small bag carrier and will just make a point of carrying what I need in future. When I get to the sorting bags challenge I might have to loose these three. If you carry a bag, what does the contents say about you?
Happy New Year - January 2012 - Try something new
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
With the New Year comes new challenges, goals, dreams desires, and I am really excited to seeing what seeds will bear fruit. This month I will be having a clear out - 30 things in 30 days, I will be going through all my belongings and seeing what can be re-purposed, recycled, given to charity or sold. I love collecting things and have many things that you think 'that will come in handy for something', and then 5 years later you still haven't used it. I find it especially with mixed media, there are so many things that you can use within your creativity that enables you to hold on to different supplies.
Thanks for all the comments and support for my blog over the years, looking forward to new adventures, and making friendships with so many talent artists around the world, it's really a blessing, and I know that there are definitely exciting things ahead for us all as we step out of our comfort zones and have faith that he who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it......
What will you challenge yourself to do for January?
Saturday 31 December 2011
Try Something New - December Update 2011
I have come to the end of my December 'Try Something New for 30 days' Challenge which was to write a minimum of 100 words a day. I have written a combination of 14 stories and poems and a total of 17,177 words approx. I have far exceeded what I thought I would do and feel very blessed to have completed this challenge, its amazing to think of what you can do when you put your mind to it. I think that I will still continue to finish the rest of the stories on the list over the next few months, and I would like to also start working on some illustrations for the stories and will be sharing my efforts over time.
As this year closes I have been not only amazed at how fast the year has gone, but the lessons learnt, the doors that closed as well as the ones that opened. I have learnt this year more so that you get what you put into life, it is meant to be lived to the full - I have always known it but for some reason didn't really 'apply it'. I don't always make the most of my time, and do have my moments of inactivity, but I know that all the things I ever wanted to do can be achieved by just making an effort, however small! It is better that you make an effort than nothing at all... This afternoon I spoke to a cousin who I haven seen for over 10 years, you would think we live on different sides of the world, she lives around 18 miles from me. Our children have grown and don't know each other, I made a promise to myself to make the effort to renew relationships and friendships and especially for Sekani's sake get him to meet up with all the cousins he hasn't seen for a while or even met. So I am saying goodbye to inactivity and hello to making the most of everything and with another challenge under my belt, hello 2012!
Monday 26 December 2011
365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 209 - 215
Day 209
Day 210
Day 211
Day 212
Day 213
Day 214
Day 215
Reflection
Don’t settle
for less than you deserve
Quote
Learn to get in touch
with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a
purpose. ...Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Scripture
For He will
give his angels charge concerning you to guard you in all your ways...Psalm
91:11
Day 210
Reflection
What does God
say about you?
Quote
Listen. Make a way for yourself
inside yourself. Stop looking in the other way of looking.....Rumi
Scripture
I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not
remain in darkness..John 12:46
Day 211
Reflection
Focus on what
you can do right now
Quote
Keep your eyes on the
stars and your feet on the ground...Theodore Roosevelt
Scripture
Peace I
leave with you; My peace I give unto you...let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid...John 14:27
Day 212
Reflection
You deserve
the best for your life
Quote
Every child is an
artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up....Pablo
Picasso
Scripture
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and
His truth endureth to all generations..Psalm 100:5
Day 213
Reflection
When you
think you don’t know or are not sure, listen harder to the messages coming
through
Quote
I wouldn't dream of working on something
that didn't make my gut rumble and my heart want to explode....Kate Winslet
Scripture
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be
quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah
32:17
Day 214
Reflection
Don’t let the
energy drainers into your life, focus on what matters most
Quote
Let go and trust; allow inspiration and
imagination to lead the way… beyond the limitations of what the mind knows. ...Linda Saccoccio
Scripture
...He Himself has said, ‘I
will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’ Hebrews 13:5
Day 215
Reflection
Don’t
settle, make a decision
Quote
Got no check books, got
no banks. Still I’d like to express my thanks - I got the sun in the morning’
And the moon at night....Irving Berlin
Scripture
Ask and ye shall receive,
seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened...Matthew 7:7
Monday 19 December 2011
365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 202 - 208
Day 202
Day 203
Day 204
Day 205
Day 206
Day 207
Day 208
Reflection
You are a
creative person, don’t forget it
Quote
Each one of us
has a fire in our heart for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and to
keep it lit...Mary Lou Retton
Scripture
....the Lord delights in those
who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love...Psalm 147:11
Day 203
Reflection
Trials will
come, but then so will triumphs
Quote
A discovery is
said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind....Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Scripture
For ye are dead, and your
life is hid with Christ in God. When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear with Him in glory...Colossians 3:3-4
Day 204
Reflection
Face your
fear, name it, and then move on
Quote
We will
discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to
our own or to other people’s models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our
natural channel to open....Shakti Gawain
Scripture
The Lord reigns, let
the earth rejoice....Psalm 97:1
Day 205
Reflection
Let go.....
Quote
Sometimes the
most urgent and vital thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest.... Ashleigh
Brilliant
Scripture
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we
eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body
of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory...Philippians
3:20-21
Day 206
Reflection
Your spirit
shines
Quote
Trust in yourself. Your perceptions are
often far more accurate than you are willing to believe...Claudia Black
Scripture
And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is
pleased...Hebrews 13:16
Day 207
Reflection
You are an
amazing soul
Quote
The real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes...Marcel Proust
Scripture
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take
courage; I have overcome the world..John 16:33
Day 208
Reflection
Allow the
blank spaces and the silence time to settle
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 most frightens
us. ...Marianne Williamson
Scripture
Blessed are the
peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God...
Matthew 5:9
Thursday 15 December 2011
Try Something New - December Challenge Update
The first two weeks of my Try Something new challenge has passed.......
Week 1
In the first week of the challenge I began to feel slightly despondent wasn't sure why. It was something I wanted to do, I still got up and wrote a minimum of 100 words, more often than not doing 500+ words, but there was still a feeling of a dark cloud hanging over me and I was dissatisfied. I realised there were a few reasons for these feelings:
- I didn't take stock of the previous challenge in November. I had been doing my walking one and the Art every day month challenge and dove right into another one, and perhaps I needed a break. It's important to really acknowledge for yourself what you are doing and how far you have come.
- I had got a cold the last week of the November so was feeling under the weather and didn't offer myself any tender loving care! Being kind to yourself is the only way you can get through, you have to be flexible!
- I didn't celebrate the achievement of completing the November challenge, it's those little things that keep us going.....Celebrations are key for the end of a challenge, you have to recognise the achievement that you have made, you have to acknowledge it.
- I had assumed that there would be bells and fireworks and massive revelation and deep insight into my life, and whilst I learnt many things, again its the small changes that we make that will give us the long term achievements. Revelation can come in small packages and many of the aha moments can be attributed to outstanding discoveries. Write down what you learn and look back over time.
I recognised where the insecure feelings were coming from and was able to face the feeling and see what really lay behind the tiredness, anxiety or disinterest. I may never write a short story again after this, but at least I know I tried and I can cross another thing off that very long list of things I'd like to try. I went out to write in a different location on Monday and had a pick me up!
Week 2
At the end of the 2nd week I am feeling more confident and enjoying sitting down and putting pen to paper and come up with a story. In the first week I was writing a story a day and managed to do 8000 words! this week some of the stories and becoming longer than I anticipated and I have done in total 12,110 words and I am on my 8th story. Seeing it in print like that really does feel like an achievement as I have far exceeded the 1500 words that it could have been had I stuck to the minimum words, I will stop being so hard on myself and enjoy the process more! I am not going to worry about doing any images yet or editing until I have finish.
I am still walking, I'm not up at 6am but and have fallen into a 'when it suits' routine which provides a good place to break from work and get a fresh perspective.
I am really looking forward to hearing what you have found challenging this month and ways in which you have planned to work it out. With Christmas coming up there are challenges to be had, dealing with the relationships we have and those ones that can be challenging. Brave Girls Club did a few humorous videos on dealing with these difficult situations, you can check it out.
Most importantly, what is on your art supply Christmas wish list?, do you have one?, what is at the top of yours?
Monday 12 December 2011
365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 195 - 201
Day 195
Day 196
Day 197
Day 198
Day 199
Day 201
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
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
Monday 5 December 2011
365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 188 - 194
Day 188
Day 189
Day 190
Day 191
Day 192
Day 193
Day 194
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
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Try Something New for 30 Days December 2011 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.
- 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.
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.
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