Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Week 4 - Everything is Possible

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Week 4...

The page reads - Everything is possible, can you believe it?  As we step out and try new things doors open and opportunities arise!

Here is the page once I have noted some of the things that I celebrate and am grateful for....

What is it that you are believing for in your life, and what steps do you need to take to make it a reality?  Blessings for the weekend!

Nurturing - Thought for the week, 52 Weeks of Colour and Inspiration

Thought for the week

Take the time to nurture yourself, and focus on what you can do right now.  What areas can do with some focus and tlc?  Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Quote
You do not have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is necessary. But the stars neither require nor demand it. ...Annie Dillard  

Scripture 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new 2 Corinthians 5:17

Gratitudes and Celebration Journal - Week 3 - Take the time to Enjoy

Gratititudes and Celebration Journal - Week 3....

Take the time to enjoy the little things in your life or you'll miss them reminds me to look carefully at all the things I do and celebrate them.

Here is the page once I have noted some of the things that I celebrate and am grateful for....

What are you grateful for this week, and what one thing can you celebrate about yourself?

Blessings for the weekend

Spirit - Thought for the Week - 52 Weeks of colour and inspiration

Thought for the week

Take time to breath and allow the blank spaces and the silence time to settle, you need to see where you are going - then get ready to let your spirit soar!

Quote
My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon. ... Zen Koan

Scripture 
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Graititudes and Celebration Journal - Week 2 Letting the Love In

Week 2 of my Gratitudes and Celebration Journal.  Letting the love in - sometimes we forget to show ourselves some love.  How are we to love others if we can't love ourselves.

Here is the page once I have noted some of the things that I celebrate and am grateful for....

What are you grateful for this week, and what one thing can you celebrate about yourself?  Blessings!

Artfulness - Thought for the Week - 52 Weeks of Colour

Thought for the Week

Right at this moment you are enough, you are where you need to be, you have got what you need to make a difference.  When you look at things with a new perspective, to see what is working you can begin to make the necessary changes and create a life you can be proud of.  Blessings for the week.

And God understands that part of us which is more than we think we are. ...Madeleine L’Engle

 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you Isaiah 43:2

 

Gratitudes and Celebration Journal - Week 1 - Shine some light!

Here is the first week of my Gratititudes and Celebration Journal.  I really enjoyed creating this page, we don't need a reason to be creative, and I intend to 'shine some light' into all those places that need reviving, restouring, nurturing each and every day.

 Here is the page once I have noted some of the things that I celebrate and am grateful for....

What are you grateful for this week, and what one thing can you celebrate about yourself?

Blessings for the weekend

Gratitudes and celebration Journal - New beginnings

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After a year of writing on a weekly basis those things that I am grateful for I thought I would start creating a gratitude's journal.  It is easier to look back at the months and see those things that I was grateful for alongside a piece of creativity.  We don't have to have a reason to create as it is a form of expression, so all the more reason to do something.  I will create a weekly page and show you the before and after and write something that I am grateful for and something that I am celebrating.  I am showing up on these pages for myself, as a reminder to how precious my life is, and as a reminder that 'All things are possible', we just have to step out each and every day!

I have made the journal from fabric and enclosed a selection of cards all different sizes as signatures, they are quite thick card so will take watercolours and any other mediums.

Cards made into signatures

Here is some of the detail from the journal.  I have used cowrie shells, beads and seed beads and attached them to the different types of material used for the journal.

 It is a chunky journal and I have used a ranged of different types of material and embellishments including buttons and ribbons.

Back view of the Fabric journal

I hope you will join me each Friday and share what you are doing, comment, link your posts and just have fun.

Gratitudes - Living your Life

It has been 2 weeks since my brothers home coming service, it was lovely to see so many people come out and show their love and respect for Robert.  We gave him a really good send off and everyone wore a touch of red which was one of his favourite colours.  It still feels unreal and I think about him non stop and it still feels like he is just a phone call away.  How precious his life was, and he leaves a legacy in his children and family, his love, warmth, passion, determination, peace and strength. 

I have been thinking about my own life, my journey, dreams and desires.  There are many things that I want to accomplish, I have still much growing to do in my walk as an artist - we all still have something to learn or a new technique to try.  I am reminded that I need to step out and ask myself 'what if anything were possible what would you do next, and then what?'  I have been working in the background trying to make sense of things and find my creative spark again.  When I feel sorry for myself I hear the many conversations I had with my brother and he would tell me to 'just go for it!

Well, that's just what I am going to do.  I want to share what I have been doing, in my art, do some videos of some of the processes, give myself some more challenges, write poetry, stories, photography, illustration, and just soar.  As I have said many times, we only have this one life to life, and we may as well live it to our best.  I will also be sharing what inspires me, and the work of other creatives, here on this blog, and on my wordpress writers blog.

Out of our pain and loss we have gained new insight into the life of those we love, those we have love and lost and the very meaning and purpose of our own existence.  It won't be easy and there might be some days where we feel like curling up and crying our eyes out, that's OK, its all part of our life that we acknowledge.  We don't have all the answers, but maybe I have a few that might be useful for someone else.   I refuse to hide and pretend that everything is OK or to brush anything under the carpet - that is not being real, I am greatful for each and everyday I get another chance to make a difference.  You will feel my story through my creativity and words, as I share we will go on a journey of uncovering together, sometimes you will get it, sometimes it could take a while or not at all, we all have our own 'stuff' to deal with.  What is most important though is that you show up ready to 'step out', accept the challenge, grow, laugh some days, cry if you want to, be inspired and be real to yourself.  What are you planning to do with your tomorrow?

Gratitudes - Giving Thanks

A year ago I saw a video about Ann Voskamp and her book 1000 gifts.  It prompted me to do a year long celebration of all the things that I was grateful for.  They ranged from the big things to all the little things that we often take for granted in our busy lifestyles.  I am thankful for the opportunity to have been able to share and hope that you too have been able to look at your life a bit differently to make the most of what you are grateful for.  I plan to continue and create a gratitudes journal and share inspiring and encouraging images.  I hope you come along for this journey and create one of your own.

Gratitudes - The Summer

The sun as it beats down, relaxing in the garden, the sound of the birds, the summer holidays, children laughing, picnic in the park and a game of rounders, warm summer evenings, watching the sun set and blowing out the garden candle looking forward for tomorrow.  I am grateful!

Willingness - Thought for the Week - 52 weeks of Colour

Thought for the week

Do not hold on to negativity, instead shine a new positive light in your life,  Nothing can compare to the gifts you have to bless the world are you willing to let your light shine?

Quote

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. ...Sally Berger 

Scripture 

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Gratitudes - Art Journals

Art Journals - my visual adventure.  I try out new techniques, play, gain understanding, support and encourage myself to be the creative person I feel I have been called to be.  I am grateful that my art journal doesn't judge or remind me of my areas of immaturity but encourages me to be my true self and enjoy the journey!  What are you grateful for today?

Connection - Thought for the Week - 52 Weeks of Colour

Thought for the Week

Let your light shine, you have so much beauty within you, so many talents some hidden, and others ready to burst forth.  You have to step out of your comfort zone and let go of your fears and make those connections.

Quote 

 I had to get over my fear of running through the world naked and learn to say, “Take me or leave me.” ...Steven Spielberg  

Scripture 

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.  Proverbs 18:10

 

Warmth - Creating in Faith

Many of you have been praying for my brother Robert who was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and last week I wrote about prayer and how powerful it is.  Your prayers have been a source of comfort, and please continue to lift up the family.  My brother breathed his last breath and passed to be with the Lord on Sunday 2nd June 2013 at 10pm.  We are taking each day at a time to come to terms with the loss and the pain.  It sometimes seems as if time has stood still and he is in another room.  Many of you can understand the shock of loosing someone close, there is nothing that can prepare you for any of it.

I take comfort in knowing that I got to tell him over and over how much I loved him, that we were all there for him, sometimes thinking I tired him out with my chatter.  We warmly remembered our youth and our days of adventures, on our bikes, scooters and riding up to Hampstead Heath.  I also talked about when he got better, watching the kids grow up, walking his daughters down the aisle, like he did for me when I got married as our dad had passed, seeing his grandchildren and more. 

Today, we pick up the pieces, looking at his life and our own, seeing how fragile it can be.  I never imagined that we would get to this day, but know for many of us it will come again.  What it continues to show me is that we can't wait for illness to strike before we let someone know that we love them, or to value the relationships that we have taken for granted thinking that we will always be around.  How many people have you promised to get in contact with but let the cares of the day get in the way and before you know it 6 months or longer have passed?  How many promises have you made to your own health, things that you will start to do in an attempt to get fitter, but have allowed lethargy to take over?

We only have one life to live this side of heaven, and we need to make sure that we do the best we can, we get a chance everyday to find new ways to be present in this life, let yours count for something today!  Have a blessed week.

Please note: for those of you who are considering sending flowers, please instead make a donation to Myeloma UK - via Robert's Just Giving page, Cancer Research UK or Macmillan Cancer Support

Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations; Thou didst establish the earth and it stands....Psalm 119:90

Wisdom and power are His.  He changes times and seasons... He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. ...Daniel 2:20-21

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant

Psalm 25:10