Quote Wednesday - Flavia Weedn

If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.... Flavia Weedn

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below.

Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings

Word for the Week - Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?   Psalm 27:1

He is my light, he shines through me.  He reminds me how precious I am in his sight and that he loves me.  I need not fear as I step out, for he is always with me.  This week stand firm for he is with you, he will lift you up and shine his light through you!

As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image ask and think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 

What will you do with what you have been given today?

Gratitude's and Celebrations - Week 69 - Knowledge

At what point in your life did you realize that you had a purpose?  That the life that you were leading meant something, if not to yourself, it meant something to someone else.

We often stumble around our lives as if we were insignificant, and didn't matter.  It is not always our fault, but has a lot to do with the circumstances and situations that we find ourselves in.  From the years of neglect, and abuse there are many who have had to live through so many bad experiences that for others they could never come close to imagining how hard or bad the situation could have been.

Yet still some make it through, they have a strength and purpose of who they are called to be, and the life they have been called to lead.  I feel that we all have this calling on our lives to be more that we think we can be.  It first starts with the having the knowledge of who you really are.

Despite the situations and circumstances we all have a deep seated yearning to make a difference to our lives and even if you don't go on to change the life of millions, you could be instrumental in changing the life of just one, who then goes on to impact the millions.

Don't be afraid of knowledge, growth or of your calling and every time you feel afraid, know that even if it is only one person in this world whose life you make a difference to, then you have done something worthwhile.

I am grateful for the life I have been given, and I celebrate those lives who I may impact through the things that I am passionate about.  What can you learn about yourself today that could help someone else tomorrow?

I look forward to hearing about your journey and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!

Word for the Week - Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

You need not walk in fear for God is with you.  In your darkest moment even though you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, know that it is there.  For today, take one step, gather your thoughts and then take another step and then another.  Before you know it you will be in a different environment.

As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image ask and think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 

What will you do with what you have been given today?

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Week 68 - Leadership

Wishing you a Happy Christmas, and I hope you were able to spend the time with those that you love and cherish.

Not one shall be lost......

We all at some point have been in a situtatiion where we have had to take on a leadership role, however small or large it may have been you would have had to think about someone other than yourself in order to complete the task that was at hand.

Journal Page - None shall be lost...

We can all think back and recall those who we encountered in leadership positions who were encouraging and effective compared to those who were particularly discouraging and lacked what it takes and had no passion to inspire.

We have a responsibility to make the most of the gifts that we are sharing with the world, that we take the time to learn and hone our skills, and that we strive for better.  We also have to make the most of passing on what we know so that the next generation can be well equipped, and strive to be better.

We are making an impact on different people at different times, let us be mindful about how our thoughts and words can be healing or be used to tear down, and make a commitment to be part of the solution that encourages growth in the lives of others.

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal page

I celebrate today and I am grateful that I can make an impact on the lives of others in a positive and encouraging way., that I can interact with and be the blessing that they need in their lives.

How will you impact on the life of another today? It is time to take stock

I look forward to the journey and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!

Gratitude and Celebration Journal

Quote Wednesday - Thomas A Edison

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.....Thomas A Edison

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below.

Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings

Material Mondays - The Conversation - Mixed Media Fabric Wall Hanging

Welcome to Material Mondays, it is great to have you come and visit and see what I have been up to in the studio.  I have found over the past year as I am sure that I have said in previous posts, that I have really enjoyed working with fabric.  From painting, sewing, embellishing and seeing not only what you can come up with creatively but where you can take the fabric that you are working on using different mediums and tools to enhance your project.

These fabric pieces have been real projects for me as they take time to complete due to the more intricate work that goes into adding the beads to the pieces.

But the joy is not only in adding the beads but selecting, and sorting.  I have been making many trips to my charity store to see what jewelry and embellishments they have, and have come across some unusual and very pretty finds.

This latest piece is called The Conversation.

 Do let me know what you think, leave a comment and share what you have been working on, does it inspire you to give this a go?  Or even add an element to your creative projects.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Word for the Week - Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image ask and think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 

What will you do with what you have been given today?

Stay blessed and be a blessing

Gratitude's and Celebration - Week 67 - Shine Your light

When we switch on the light or lamp we don't try and hide it or put it under cover, we don't put our light under the bed but we use it to illuminate the room.  When we think about all of the lights that are in our home we use them to allow us to see better, to locate those things that are hidden or out of view and to enable us to do other activities as well.  

As this light shines it not only shows us the thing that we are looking for but it also shines on other things as well.  If we wanted to focus the light we might use a torch or spot light, but generally speaking the main light is the one that will brighten the whole room.  There are some things that we don't want in clear sight and we might put them away in draws and wardrobes behind doors that invite a peek or we hide them behind other things.  As a collector of things there comes a point where you have built up layers and layers of things and barriers build up stopping the light from reaching the four corners of the room.

The bible tells us that we are to shine our light and my understanding is that we have to be all that we are created to be, without hangups, doubts, insecurities, and fear, and where these things are present then we have to work at doing something about it.  We have all been given talents, abilities and gifts, some of which we haven't yet seen manifest, we are to make sure that we are using and making the most of them, we shouldn't hide them under stuff or the cares of the world, we can't lock them away and pretend we don't know we have them, carrying them around in your bag or backpack afraid of your potential.  

When we are using our gifts talents and abilities it can impact like the torch on specific areas at a time or as with the main light switch in the room it can impact on many people from different walks of life and in different ways all over the world - look at the many gifted and talented people that have impacted on the world that spring to mind and have inspired you.

I hope to shine my light through my art and my words bringing meaning, wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and also to be effective in helping others to think about what they have been gifted with or to work on those things that they have been yearning to do in their hearts giving them the courage to make that step,  I think we all have that ability to inspire someone else and we can't take it for granted.

As you learn to shine your light and be more than you thought you could be others may try to stop you and those who will want to accompany you for the ride, but more often than not it is the journey that you have to make by yourself discovering your strengths, you have to be willing to do the work and take the necessary steps to get to that place where your insecurities no longer stop you but enable you to soar!

I am grateful and celebrate today the light that I carry within me, one that we all carry and it is our responsibility to use the talents that we have all been given to help others and be a blessing to others. I hope as always that my words carry encouragement and that when you have read this post that you feel encouraged to shine your light, to think about how much more you could get from your life if you turned it up a notch.  What ever has been laid on your heart in a years time you will have wished that you started right now!

Quote Wednesday - Confucius

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

Confucius

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life!  Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below.

Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings

I am enough - Journal Page Process Video

I am enough 

Art Journal Page and process

You are the Light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to every one in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.  

Matthew 5:14-16

We can often get lost in worrying about what other people say and think about us.  We grow up having so much spoken about us from very young.  Even if you have grown up with positive reinforcements, as you go into mainstream school there are those whose environment wasn't as encouraging - from other pupils to teachers, and it takes a toll on your self esteem and confidence and you constantly look for approval from those who are just not able to give it to you.

As you get older you can find that a mindless negative comment spoken to you in childhood still shapes how you feel about yourself today, and you unconsciously prevent yourself from moving forward, and I thought I would remind you that there is so much to your life that you have yet to see and experience that right now, right where you are at this very moment you are enough!

As you unravel the negativity, and the cruel words that were spoken over you, start speaking encouraging words over your life.  Recognize the accomplishments that you have made, how you have taken a step forward despite the obstacles, and made it through coming out the other end. 

Think about all the people that you have encouraged, and when you are feeling 'off' remember that you are loved, treasured and you are enough!

You are a light in this world!

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Gratitudes and Celebration - Week 66 - Listen

Well we made it again, we have got to Friday and this is something that we need to be grateful for.   As a carer to my mum I spend a lot of time driving back and forth in looking after her and my own family, and this gives me a bit of time for reflection, to mull over things and even unravel those complicated things that rear their head from time to time to seriously try you!

I have learnt that I need to take time to listen and not just jump in without taking time to consider, contemplate then make an informed decision.  I have found that we can get so caught up in the circumstance that we end up running from one point to the other without feeling if you have actually achieved what you set out to do.

When we listen with the two ears that we have we can see things from many sides and come to a range of conclusions but only one might be the right one for us.  I challenge you to take a moment right now as you read this post to listen to your surroundings, and if you get the chance take a moment and do something else down this list, there is so much that we miss when we rush around.....

Listen - take some time today to listen to your surroundings.  

Listen to your heart beat, 

Listen to your walking the sound of your feet as your shoes hit the ground, is it a squelching sound or a clip, clop of your heals on the sidewalk. 

Listen to the rustle of the wrapping to that thing you are opening is it paper or plastic,

Listen to the sound of the birds, flying over head or on route to warmer climbs

Listen to the wind, as it breezes past your ears, gently moving past your cheeks

Listen to the back ground noise, can you hear people talking or is it a tv in the distance

Listen to the tones, are they raised, or gentle caressing voices

Listen to the sound your car makes when you start it up

Listen to the tap taping as you write on your lap top

Listen to the heating coming on, the noise that the radiators make as they warm up

Listen to the sounds that your home makes, the familiar sounds, the footsteps of someone moving around

Listen to what your heart is saying about your current situation,

Listen to what your head is saying about your current situation

Listen to your creative spirit full of joy that can very often get lost in all the noise when we forget to listen

Listen to your voice

I am grateful and I celebrate the life that I want to live to the full, to the ability to notice so many things around us that we can often take for granted.   Those magical things that appear in the still, small voice, that breaths grace into our daily lives.

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Listen

What can you hear when you listen?  Stop for a moment and take in your surroundings

I look forward to the journey and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!

Gratitude and Celebration Journal

In The News - Paper and Embellishment Kit - My Color is Beautiful Art, Gifts, Fairs and Birthdays!

Well the paper packs are finally ready to send out, and are finding their way to some special homes.  I was glad I have been able to offer them as a gift for signing up to My Color is Beautiful Art Course.  As part of my lesson we will be working on a canvas, and some of the things in the pack will come in handy.

You will also be able to make other things with the materials in the Kit and each week on a Tuesday I will be showing you just how far the resources will stretch and what you can make.

Included in the pack a selection of:

Paper ephemera

Patterned and hand painted papers

Handmade paper

Die cuts

Ribbons

Findings

Handmade Stencils

Beads and embellishments and much more!

CLICK HERE to sign up for the course and receive your 

FREE PAPER AND EMBELLISHMENT KIT

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THE COURSE DON'T WORRY!

I created another kit, with many of the items above but a whole lot more that you can purchase for $9.99 or £6.41 aprox which will include postage and packaging!

The packs are waiting to find creative homes - it could be yours, and there is so much you can do with them! Check out the tutorials I will be doing on Tuesday!

Click on the buy now button to purchase 

Other things to report this week is the EEC Christmas Fair, I had a stall there and it was great to see so many people come out and support.  It was a lovely family event that they put on each year, and lot of preparation and hard work is done by Angie Ng and her team.

I have been working on some mini wall hangings which you will get to see closer over the weekend and they make great gifts.

My stall at the Christmas Fair

We had quite a number of people sign up to win..

 Crafting with Nature in a Weekend: Over Twenty-five Inspirational Projects 

and we have picked out a winner who should get their book next week.

Best thing above all is that we still have our mum here with us and she sees another birthday.  We take a moment to remember our loved ones who are not with us and the gift of life that we have alongside the opportunity we have to make a difference each and every day.  Everyone came round to mums along with the grandchildren who helped her celebrate, catch up and eat cake!

Mum making the most of life.....

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Fly - Art Journal Page and Video

Here is some inspiration for today. A while back I shared this page that I had done in my art journal.  

I have just got around to editing the video for it and thought you might like to see the process I used to create it.  I hope you enjoy it and are blessed.  This is my first video of this kind:)

Here is the finished painting, thanks for watching!

Material Mondays - Embrace Me - Mixed Media Wall Hanging

I have been hooked on creating these wall hangings for quite a while, and haven't lost my zeal for creating them.  I have a few more ideas that I want to try out and because of the time it takes to complete need to make room for them.

I started this one about a month ago, laying down the initial colours and adding the machine stitching.

It is called 'Embrace Me' measuring approximately 4"x8" and the majority of my work that I create is about relationships. 

The relationships that we have with others and the one that we have with ourselves, how we encourage and support our selves, being gentle with our hearts.

The thing that takes time is the embellishing but it is such a therapeutic activity that you can get lost in.  It is also an activity that you can do while sitting with the family and not feel as if you have shut yourself away in the studio, again these wall hangings remind me about the relationships that I have with others.

   

Thanks for stopping by Material Mondays where I share a project that involves either working with fabric in some way or crochet.  If you want to learn how to crochet or work with fabric and a number of other courses, then check out Craftsy.  For all new subscribers they have a selection of free online classes, and are always running a special offer on some of their fee paid classes

Check out some of their courses!