Word for the week - Matthew 7:7

Ask and you shall receive,

Seek and you shall find

Knock and the door will be open..

Matthew 7:7

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 - The Journey - Week 80

It has been a while since I posted in my Gratitude's and Celebrations journal my last post about travel, not that I didn't have anything to be grateful for but there were so many changes taking place, I was finding it had to get mostly the things I wanted to get done.

For those of you who read my blog and have seen the Barbados posts you will know that we are making preparations to travel and relocate for part of the year.  I had started another blog specifically to talk about the journey and our experiences, but again there were so many things to do that it slipped, but I will start sharing more about it soon.

The Journey - Gratitude's and Celebration Journal

Many can relate to changes, some for the good and some a lot more challenging.  Today I celebrate and I am grateful for the changes that come and give us a new perspective on life.  

I hope for those of you who find yourself in a season where change brings those type of challenges that seem to turn your world upside down that within the change you find peace

I am on a creative journey in my journal 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 - Sickle Cell Awareness - Josh and Ahisha's Story

I wanted to share this video that my stepdaughter Ahisha made to explain just how blood disorder Sickle Cell affects lives. Her husband Josh suffers from it and is in and out of hospital. It can be quite a stressful experience that a crisis can put on the whole family. They have a 3 year old and often when Josh is taken to hospital Ahisha shoulders the responsibility of keeping the family going, as well as running back and forth from the hospital.

In support for those with Sickle Cell that affects mostly the Afro Caribbean community, Ahisha started a sponsorship page to give blood and more - (she is terrified of needles), and there needs to be more people coming forward to give blood, you never know when you might need it yourself.  It is important that we all do our part regardless of our race, so step out today!

If you can't give blood, you can support Ahisha and sponsor her, read a bit about her story on 'Ahisha gives blood'. 

Why Donate to this cause?

They will be using the donations to buy staple foods and health supplements to give directly to patients in Hammersmith Hospital hematology department.

They will receive things to help them deal with the long term effects of the medications they need to take; especially whilst in hospital on poor quality hospital meals.

Ok, so what you waiting for! hop along to Ahisha's page and donate so that others who are suffering can be helped, go along to your nearest hospital or blood drive and give blood yourself, you could be saving someones life.

Stay blessed as you are a blessing!

Quote Wednesday - Ray Bradbury

Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds.  See the world.  It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories...

Ray Bradbury

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

Quote Wednesday - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Happiness

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always beyond your grasp, but which , if you will sit down quietly may alight upon you.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

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!

Mixed Media Art Dolls - 'Red'

As part of Material Mondays I am continuing to share my mixed media art dolls and I completed a couple more dolls that add to the collection of mini dolls in the series.  I am beginning to find my feet in terms of the design and how I want them to look.  I find that there are so many different techniques I want to do, It is just to find the time necessary to get them to the point where I am ready to let go and see it as complete.

I decided that I didn't want to create art dolls that looked 'perfect' but ones that reflected our imperfections and differences, and who as in our own lives need to be proud of who we are, making the best of our lives.

Red comes in a full length red and gold coat with white and gold buttons down the front.  Her blue floor length dress is finished off with a jeweled broach.

The way that I have been approaching making the dolls is in the same way that I would do a painting, and thinking about the layers, and the stories that I want to come out, and as you look into the eyes you can relate to some part of her story.

Red - Mixed media Art Doll

Hope you like her, 

Doodling Fun

Messing about with pen and ink and just playing with what ever will come out onto the paper.   I find that (and I am sure I have said this before) doodling is a great way to take your mind of things, or even work through them when the need takes.

This one started out as a few lines 

I then started adding some shapes and patterns elsewhere on the page

I haven't quite completed it, but decided that I would dip in and out when I felt like it and see where it takes me.  It is sometimes nice coming to a page that already has something on that you can if you wish do something

What are you doodling at the moment, do you like starting with a fresh page or will you add to a piece in progress?

Quote Wednesday - Michael John Bobak

All Progress takes place outside the comfort zone!

Michael John Bobak

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 - Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours

Mark 11:24

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?

Repurpose and recycle - Time to create!

Creating sculptures with recycled materials 

Having got the bug for creating figures I am experimenting a bit more with materials to enable me to use more recycled materials.

The basis for these figures is clay and once I have got the posture I set about working on dressing the figure.

It is great when you can find materials and a style that you enjoy working with, and unlike drawing a character you get a better sense of the story that comes with the completed figure.

I found a gentleness and calmness about this particular figure, but also a strength.  

She is finished with bronze effect paint and sequins for decoration.  I hope you are inspired to experiment as well, and see where it takes you!  Blessings

Quote Wednesday - Frederick Terral

You may not be a Picasso or Mozart but you don't have to be.  Just create to create.

Create to remind yourself you're still alive.  Make stuff to inspire others to make something too.  

Create to learn a bit more about yourself - 

Frederick Terral

This quote is currently one of my favorites - that we should create to inspire others to create has been something that I hope I achieve when I post here on my blog.

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!

Quote Wednesday - Marc Chagall

'If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.'

Marc Chagall

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 - Sculpture Figures 1

Allowing myself loose on working with clay has led me to try some more complex pieces, and experimenting with other materials such as powertex which is a fabric hardener.  I have been able to use several different mediums to create this sculpture.  I really love the way the fabric gathers and holds its shape.

I have also incorporated jewelry, gems, and flowers which helps with the overall effect.

Using the different materials gives you different textures, which then show through when you apply paint

I am really pleased with how she turned out, she stands around 12 inches tall.

She comes bearing flowers and is looking for a good home so if you are interested in purchasing I will be putting her up in my Etsy store

Word for the Week - Psalm 86:17

Give me a sign of your goodness that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.  Psalm 86:17

I posted this image and scripture before, but felt someone needed a reminder, even me..... Our Lord is with us even when we sleep and slumber.

We are all going through changes of some sort and very often the changes can be difficult, we want to return to the ways that we knew.  Press on, keep going for just around the corner you will see the benefits of making the changes, of being uncomfortable for a season, and you will realize that all the difficulties are actually lessons along the way to be embraced.

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?

Doodle play - a bit of time out - Insight

Doodle, a way of taking time out, filling in time, just allowing your thoughts to flow or not as you wish, as you draw each line, without a specific plan or purpose, then you take a step back and look at the journey you have taken through your mind.

I think the doodling reveals something about us, our thoughts maybe a way of working through things, who knows.  I enjoy it.

Insight - Doodling

When you get a chance, get out a piece of paper and pen and just allow your creativity to flow and play with shapes, lines, without any restrictions or preconceived ideas - enjoy!

Gratitidute's and Celebrations - Week 79 - Travel

Arriving in Barbados

It has been over a week since we got back from Barbados, still in the throws of making plans for a potential move there, my ideal is to be able to spend 6 months in both locations getting away from the cold of the UK.  While I work towards the potential of that I spent time trying to get fitter, walking and when we could get to the beach spend some time in the sea, the sunshine like a healing tonic, helping my body to get the much needed vitamin D.

Spending time on the Beach

While I was away all the work that I said I was going to do on my blog and other areas was put on hold and I decided that having too many things to try and do just didn't work, taking a step back and re-evaluating was what was needed, and I did. 

Early morning walking

Working in my art journal

Art Journal Page - the Journey into paradise

It is hard to believe that time has flown so quickly and nearly 7 months have passed since we did the program about what it would be like to live in Barbados, and we have been working on putting things in place that would facilitate a move.

Last day in Barbados - off to a concert!

Right now I am grateful for being able to travel to see new places and experience different communities and environments.  I celebrate the changes that are to come and embrace the new adventures that await.

Gratitude's and celebrations

I am on a creative journey in my journal 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

Tutorial Tuesday - Clay Birds with character

Yet another bird came to town, this time in the form of 'Hortense'.  I think that she is a duck, well my Grandson stated quite clearly that he thought it was a duck - who am I to disagree!  

Doing something different with the clay

She is not the final bird I will be making but I thought it would be a good idea to get on the road to finishing the many projects that I have laying around and that are bursting to be completed.

I think that I have finally convinced myself that I like working with clay and sculpting and my sculpture pinterest board is building up some amazing pieces of work by very talented artists who are also an inspiration.

I would really encourage you to give it a try, there are loads of courses, tutorials and videos that will show you the ropes, all you have to do is get some clay and start to play and don't worry what your first piece looks like, as you progress you will be surprised at the results.  Working with clay also has some therapeutic benefits that are worth exploring.

This bird was fun to make especially adding the accessories

Selection of the birds I have made so far

I will have some more art dolls to share and some larger pieces at the end of the week, and I am super excited by these pieces and can't wait to show you them along with some other paintings that I have been doing.  Until then stay blessed and be a blessing!

Material Mondays - Music Shakers

For the past couple of years my mum – who has dementia has been finding textures quite fascinating especially the kitchen table which has a tiled effect – being smooth and cold to the touch.  I realised that texture is important to her and I am in the process of putting a few things together that will not only be stimulating but provide some therapeutic benefit for her as well, so while she is not able to communicate how it feels she can express it in other ways with a smile of remembering what she used a particular material for or just go with the experience.

I have found that music is also something that she really enjoys, and made these shakers, because music therapy is something that can have a great impact on those who are dealing with dementia.  These shakers are made from a variety of materials and I will see which one/s she prefers holding.

 

Shakers filled with pulses and covered with a variety of materials

I made them because sound and music can have such a positive effect on our health.   While I have been caring for mum for over 15 years I am still learning about dementia, how it has affected her and how it continues to affect her as her health declines.  Loneliness and isolation is something that many elderly go through, even those who are carers can find the role goes hand in hand with isolation.  I have found that until you have experienced dementia, or know someone who has you really don’t have any idea of the impact it has on lives and the once simple things that you took for granted can no longer been seen in the same light.

Duct tape shaker

I know that it has changed me in so many ways, and talking about the experience helps others to understand from another perspective.  I have shared much in this blog and you can find a link HERE and sharing is a good thing, even those hard to express parts knowing that you are not along in the walk can make such a difference.

Washi tape shaker

I made these shakers very easily with paper towel rolls and toilet roll tube.  You can fill them with a variety of materials, pulses, dried pasta, lentils, or a mixture.  

Fabric tape shaker

It is good to experiment cause they make different sounds depending on the size, you can cover them with whatever material you desire, and I have used duct tape, washi tape, fabric tape and chamois leather.  

Chamois leather shaker - painted using stencils

My favorite is the leather because of the scent as well, and I am looking forward to seeing which one becomes mums favorite and will let you know how she gets on with them.

Do share what you create and how you use it, remember as you are a blessing you will be blessed.