Saturday 22 September 2012

Creating in Faith - Fears



I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears  Psalm 34:4



If you would like to see how I made the pockets check out the post Bookmark Pockets

Come join the group - Creating in Faith, show us how you will be incorporating the words and scriptures in your art. Each week I will be sharing words, reflections, scriptures and the bookmark holder for that week.  Step out and be a blessing and you will also be blessed!



Thursday 20 September 2012

Gratitudes - My Son


My Son
He is thoughtful, humorous and loving.... despite his messy room:)

What are you grateful for this week?

Sunday 16 September 2012

52 Weeks of Colour - Change

Reflection 
You are unique, a miracle – don’t ever compare yourself with anyone else

Quote
Men are not free when they are doing just what they like… Men are only free when they are doing what the deepest self likes. And there is getting down to the deepest self! It takes some diving!  ...D.H. Lawrence

Scripture 
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and comp[lete, not lacking anything. James 1:4



Thursday 13 September 2012

Gratitudes - My Mothers Joy


My Mothers Joy
She still has energy and despite the dementia she has a joy for life that really makes me feel grateful for my own..

What are you grateful for this week?

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Clearing the Clutter Challenge Revisited

  
Since coming back from holiday I have wanted to keep the clutter free environment going and thought it was time to renew my clearing the clutter challenge.  I started it in January this year and there are still quite a few things on the list that needed to be done.  Over the years I’ve collected quite a few products and then bringing stuff back from the holiday I felt a clear out was definitely in order here. When I got everything out it wasn’t as bad as I first thought.  I had recently had a make up clear out and just had the basics in the bag.

I went though the body products, it is always great to try something new and experience different scents, but I ended up having too many to use as I didn't throw away anything.  I cleared out the old products and got the basket below to keep the things I wanted to keep to hand and use more regularly, the other things were stored in a draw.  


I have the regular sized products I use and the smaller travel size for when I’m going away 

Scented candle supplies

After clearing the body products from the draws I found some lovely spa products, lush soaps and fizz bombs that I had brought.  The plan is now to make more fuss of myself and have regular special spa treatments with the products and scented candles. Next on my list to tackle will be my art materials!

 
This has been a great excuse in giving my creative self a little bit of extra TLC that it deserves!!
What is your favourite bath treats?




Tuesday 11 September 2012

Post holiday reflections...

It's been just over 2 weeks since we came back from our holiday jaunts and we were very fortunate to have been to not one but 2 destinations this year - Barbados and Menorca.

In Barbados we spent 3 weeks lapping up the sun, sea and sand and sights.

We visited family and friends and got all the vitamin D, and fresh food we needed.  For those who have had Barbados on their lists of destinations, I definitely recommend you get there if you can it is a lovely island.

Three weeks was just enough time to unwind and go to many places that we missed on previous visits.  The beaches are beautiful and we made visiting the beach and swimming an essential part of our trip.
Miami Beach

Dover Beach
We went along the Fish fry at Oystins - sampling the freshly caught fish and even took part in the Sunday night Karaoke at Dover Beach organised by Mr Mayer's and his wife (another really lovely couple who have a beach cafe there).  Me and Alan did what became one of our signature tunes - Three Little Birds by Bob Marley.

As flowers and plants are my thing I made sure I visited the Andromeda gardens, the Wildlife Reserve


and Flower forest and was able to feast my eyes on some beautiful plants and breath taking views.

I also used the opportunity to catch up with some of the local artists on the island and it was great to see them at work and also visit some galleries as well such as The Bridgetown Gallery at Sheraton Mall and NuEdge Gallery

We came back to England for a week to catch up and then flew out for a week in Menorca.

Ahisha and Malakai came with us and he was a joy to have on holiday - his first!  

We met some amazing people who made our stay even more than the blessing it was and we went on many of the excursions around the island....
Mike our representative from our resort showed us around Mahon and a visit to the local gin distillery where we sampled Pomada and a range of other liqueurs.  We visited Modas leather factory and were treated to a fashion show seeing many of their lovely designs.
Mike and Alan as we relaxed by the port

Mike proved to be a font of knowledge about the island, with his generous nature he went out of his way to ensure everyone had a good time.  We accompanied him on the Es Grau Nature walk, which backed onto a beautiful beach, in which the water was not only shallow but extremely warm.

Malakai enjoyed all the attention he got on holiday
with Uncle Sekani and his mum having a swim with his special ring

As in Barbados, Karaoke is popular, Ahisha and Sekani doing a duet

Alan and Sekani taking it in on the Yellow Catamaran - Mahon
breath taking views at Cala Galdana

A visit to Ciutadella and the caves at Cala Morell and a tour of Cala Galdana on Thursday which was our last day was rounded off by a visit Ferreries to see the Fiestas of Sant Bartomeu and the riders as they rode through the village, it was very exciting and was a lovely end to a fun pack break.
I have felt very fortunate to have been able to go away and my mind is now focused on working hard and developing the many ideas that I have been thinking about with my art, it has been great to be back in my studio.....
and getting acquainted with my supplies.  Over the coming weeks will be sharing what I am doing on the 21 Secrets course and also catch up with my contribution to Creating in Faith over at Motley Soul.


 Sekani is now back at school and attending the 6th form - a new adventure and one that awaits many young people who embark on the next stage of their learning, and for all those who have decided to return to study and our prayers continue to cover them for a sound mind and focus on all they have to do.

Blessings always!



Sunday 9 September 2012

52 Weeks of Colour - Growth

Reflection
Do not accept other people’s definition of happiness; carve out your own truth.

Quote
What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul. ...Jewish Proverb


Scripture
"God is not a man, that He should lie". Has He said, and will He not do it? Numbers 23:19.......

Thursday 6 September 2012

Gratitudes - Laughter


Laughter
Laughter can be infectious and can lighten and lift your mood...

What are you grateful for this week?

Thursday 30 August 2012

Gratitudes - Weeding



Weeding
Weeding in the garden can be quite therapeutic - making room for new shoots, that burst of colour and wildlife is really fulfilling.....

Thursday 23 August 2012

Gratitudes - Artist Community


Artist community
I have met some lovely people online who share my passion and excitement for creativity, looking forward to future collaborations.....

Thursday 16 August 2012

Gratitudes - Relationships



Relationships
No man is an island and maintaining relationships is important, so too is renewing old acquaintances...




Sunday 12 August 2012

52 Weeks of Colour - Shine

Reflection 
Let your light shine 

Quote
The most important thing is that you love what you are doing, and the second that you are not afraid of where your next idea will lead..... Charles Eames

Scripture
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.  Isaiah 32:17

Thursday 9 August 2012

Gratitudes - Books


I love to read, sometimes there doesn’t seem like there is enough time to fit in all the books, I often end up reading more than one book at a time..

Sunday 5 August 2012

52 Weeks of Colour - Passion


Reflection
Passion - Look out for the miracles today

Quote
Work of sight is done. Now do heart work on the pictures within you. ....R.M. Rilke

Scripture
For He will give his angels charge concerning you to guard you in all your ways...Psalm 91:11

Saturday 4 August 2012

Creating in Faith - Faith


Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.





If you would like to see how I made the pockets check out the post Bookmark Pockets

Come join the group - Creating in Faith, show us how you will be incorporating the words and scriptures in your art this week. Each week I will be sharing words, reflections, scriptures and the bookmark holder.  Step out and be a blessing and you will also be blessed!


Thursday 2 August 2012

Gratitudes - Piano


Piano – my son is very talented though doesn’t realise how much, when he plays it can be a very soothing and healing experience.

Sunday 29 July 2012

52 Weeks of Colour - Tranquility


Reflection
Take the time you need to work on you.

Quote
There will be times in life when impossibility is felt, but then there are dreams - and dreams allow us possibility.....Jeffrey David Lang


Scripture

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


Hello from Barbados!

As I write this I am relaxing in the sunnier climbs of Barbados.
Came away with family and friends to enjoy a few weeks in the sun, though in London at the moment I hear they are experiencing a heat wave.  We had a few days of thunder storms but those who know the rainy season in the Caribbean, one minute it pours then the sun comes right back out and its hot again.  We have been touring around, after hiring a car which just makes it so much easier, though the local transport buses are quite frequent depending on where you are going on the island.  Barbados is approx 22 miles at its length and 14 miles at its widest point and some of the beaches are spectacular.  
 
I have been taking lots of pictures and also can't resist photographs of my favourite subjects - flowers and plants, which are definitely a feast for the eyes.  One of my favourite flowers is the Frangipang (which is my current blog photograph), comes in a variety of colours and has a beautiful aroma. 
As this isn't our first time to the island we are trying to do some of the visits that we didn't catch when we were here a couple of years ago at Christmas - which was a lovely time to come by the way!  We have found lots of activities that are easy on the pocket and really informative. 

I have been slacking a bit with my art even though I brought some equipment with me, I'm still trying to get some sketches done...I have no excuse really as there are so many lovely subjects around me.  I've met up with a few artists and visited a couple of galleries which I will share in another post, so that has been great.  


Amongst some of the places we have visited are the Flower forest, Lime Grove - which has the more 'expensive' shops and boutiques among its mix, it also has some lovely courtyards and an art gallery called NuEdge, my favourite piece of work was by an artist called Terrance Piggott - check him out on the NuEdge site to see some of his recent work. Sekani took time out to play the piano, it would be lovely for him to regularly play on one of these!  This particular piano can also be programmed to play on its own!
 
We finished our day at Dover Beach for a swim and something to eat and met up again with a lovely man called Mr Mayers who has a food eatery near the beach and  is very hospitable.  When we visited Barbados on our last trip he very generously invited us and a few other guests into his home for lunch and his wife put on a lovely spread, her cooking is amazing! 

Friday was Fish Fry at Oistins and after catching up with some of my husbands family we went there to enjoy the freshly caught local fish and take in the cool breeze and entertaining music.  Sekani is enjoying his time in the water, and I am sure that he will grow another inch at least while we are here. 
 
Lots more adventures to be had in the coming week.  August marks the main Crop Over Celebrations, though there have been activities taking place from the start of July and people from all over Barbados and the rest of the world come down to celebrate.  We have been keeping ourselves updated with the Olympics and the teething problems with the roads taking place in London, we pick up coverage around 8 hours later here in Barbados.

It is another hot day today so I think a trip to the beach is on the cards, after I get some work done!  I have some mini videos to share, until then....Blessings.......

Thursday 26 July 2012

Gratitudes - Birdsong


Bird song – it sometimes seems as if the birds come out for me, chirping away, just when I need to hear them, makes me feel free and thankful for Gods miracles

Sunday 22 July 2012

52 Weeks of Colour - Progress


Reflection 
Live life to the full every day, don’t take anything for granted 

Quote
Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us....Roy Adzak

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