Transformation Friday - Art Journal Work

Greetings and good morning and afternoon to all.  I know I probably keep saying this but hasn't the week flown by!  So many things to share, as I begin to write one I am in the midst of another and before you know it a whole month has passed.  I say to myself if I can just put things on pause I can catch up, then I am dazed like a deer in headlights wondering what to share first, then do nothing.  Does anyone else have this problem?

Transformation Friday - Before and After

It is not only that but I guess I have been going through my own stuff as well that started me questioning what I was doing and why, especially when it came to the blog.  I found that I didn't want to share my voice, wondering who if anyone heard it, but realize that if only one person is blessed then at least it has helped someone.  The effort is worth it!

The Critic, came in like a baby but had a vicious side when things didn't go its way

I want to share with you something I have painted today, each morning I try and do at least half hour work in my art journal on a random page, no agenda, no right or wrong, just express through whatever is available.

Change takes time

It started out as just colors on the page, then I thought I saw something coming through.  For me each character on the page has a story, I just didn't know what it was.  I have joined the class - The Storytellers Art  - with Robin Laws and its funny how I now realize that I can tell and share their stories, where they are coming from, and sometimes they relate to the story that my own heart is wanting to tell.

Working on those hard places

The characters come from a variety of backgrounds

Wanting to give up

Sometimes they come just to remind me of something, or share something meant for someone else.

Realizing that you have a story

Other times, they are bringing a message meant for me, that I need to pay attention to, I am learning to listen especially to the still small voice that can come at any time.

Your story matters

There are times when they remind me to follow my dreams, stop comparing yourself, and really allow yourself to soar and be who you were meant to be.

Things can be different

They appear in one form and transform into another.  Like this young lady in the picture.  She shared her story to me of self neglect, and allowing the critic to have the final say in everything.  When you looked at her you only saw the critic who didn't want her true beauty to shine through.

It begins with love

Once she had made the decision to care and nurture herself, love herself the way that she truly desired to be loved her beauty came through and the transformation began.

No matter how you feel

She realized that she had to stop hiding, and putting herself down, as her playing small achieved nothing, and the very lives that she was to impact on missed out on the opportunity of renewed life.

It is a decision

She made that decision that she would love herself the way that she knew God loved her and see herself the way God sees her with so much potential, and abundant gifts and talents to give and be a blessing.

Change the things you can and bless the rest

She made the decision to step out and shake those critics, those demons that haunted her off, and live a transformed life.

Today is your day for transformation - take a look at the 'before' and what do you want the 'after' to look like? what area of your life needs a new lease, a new light, hope and opportunity?  Join me on Fridays as I creatively look at transformation.  Work in your journal or what ever you feel you want to chart your journey, and take that step to change.  I will give you more details as the week unfolds.

Blessings to you and yours for the weekend.  

Word for the Week - Psalm 23:4

Welcome to the word for the week, this weeks word comes from Psalm 23:4 and reads:

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

Life can be filled with many bumps in the road, not every thing will go smoothly.  When I look back on my life and see the many changes that have taken place, the losses of those close to me, times when I thought I couldn't take another breath because the pain of loosing those loved ones seemed so great.

Word for the Week

I came through, I lived another day, I breathed again.  I truly believe that the experiences we go through have gems of wisdom within them.  We have to face them head on at some point in time and look at how we can use these times to impact on the lives of others.

Word for the Week

I feel in my situation that sharing my journey has helped others, talking about the days I wanted to run away as I dealt with the dementia my mother lives with speaks to others who are going through it themselves, we are to share our stories and bless someone else, for we are not alone.

Word for the Week - Photograph and scripture

As we share our stories we grow, others grow, others see that they are not alone - that we are all connected.  

Open your heart, for your story is the lifeline to another, just as you are blessed by the quotes, scriptures or writings of others.  Let your voice be heard and shine your light into the hearts and minds of those who need to hear you around the world

Have a blessed week, I have lots to share this coming week, with some of the events and activities that I have been involved with so do come back, stay blessed and be a blessing.

Word for the Week - John 1:14

Welcome to today's scripture which is from John 1:14 and reads;

 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and Truth

You seek answers, explanations and reasons and signs, the proof is there but you ask the wrong questions.  Everything has been illuminated - a light shining in the darkness, do you really want to know, for the answers may not appear as we think they should....then what will you do?

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?

Word for the week - Matthew 6:26

Welcome to Word for the Week which has been taken from Matthew 6:26 and reads:

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?

Sometimes we choose to worry about the wrong things, we spend our times tearing our hair out at how everything will work, what we should have and where we should be rather than taking note of the value we bring with the gifts we have within.  When we worry we focus our attention on the negative.   When we focus on what we can be thankful for the answers we seek are in the midst.

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?

Word for the Week - Matthew 5:14

Welcome to this weeks Word for the week,  We are fast approaching the last week of the month and when you look back, think about the things that you have done this week to make a difference.

I am the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden  I will let my light shine before men, that they may see my good deeds and praise my Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14

Think about the things you can do, however small that can make the difference in the life of someone else.  To them you are a walking miracle and you inspire them.  Take a look in the mirror for the moment, and recognize the light that you carry within...

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?

In the News.....Go, arise..... Be the best you!

I hope you are having a great day so far, or if you've just got up due to your time zone that you have made a choice to be more that you were yesterday. 

How many of you have already heard a number of negative words, thoughts since you got up, and just how are you going to hush those voices?  What encouraging words will you be saying to yourself, they say that for every negative word it takes 150 positive words to cancel it out.   

We have all heard, said negative things about ourselves at one point or other and I think that we have to daily remind ourselves about the talents and gifts we have within - our words have power to lift up or to tear down.  We have a responsibility to be our 'best selves' and by that I mean who we were created to be not who 'man' says we should be.

To explore those ideas, try those skills, learn, expand your mind, travel, write, create, sing, climb, never give up on yourself no matter what age you are.  And the more you do it the closer you come to yourself who has a gift to share, a story to tell, an example to be.  Don't give up on the 'you' you can become, will become, if you give yourself some room to grow, step out of the boat, - out of your comfort zone.  Life hasn't finished with you yet, you are not at your destination and someone in the world, could be half way across the world or just round the corner from you needs to hear your voice.  What are you waiting for - go do you!

Mixed Media Art 

As I encourage you, I encourage myself,....And Still I rise...

I will leave you with Maya Angelou's Poem.  I had the fortune to meet her many many years ago when she graced our bookshop - Grassroots that was based in Ladbrook Grove UK. On the night she signed books, read some of her poems and inspired many.

And Still I Rise..

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may tread me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you? 

Why are you beset with gloom? 

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? 

Bowed head and lowered eyes? 

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you? 

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? 

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise

Maya Angelou

Embrace Your Art - Prompt 7 (Tutorial tuesday's)

Last year I was asked by Tiare Smith to be one of the guest artists on the Embrace Your Art a weekly challenge where you are giving a prompt and a challenge supply or technique to use and the sessions are posted each Friday, you can join in as she shows you the techniques that she is using, and it is a great way to give yourself ideas of things to try.  I also find it good for getting you to use different supplies.

Here is my latest one that I did and the video of how I completed the page.   I have also included images of the other pages that I have done so far.

Goals you have and use some stitching

I have been playing along with some of the other weeks as well, and here are my pages from the past few weeks:

Favorite color

Hometown

Names your known by..

What does your name mean/Nickname

As you can see we are creating on round pages, why not join in the fun, you can dip in or out as you want, set yourself a challenge to complete a certain amount of pages, or do the lot.  I would love to see what you create!  

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

29 Faces for February - Week 2 Roundup

On the round up for the second week, you will begin to see a slight theme running through some of these images.  They are part of a mini art journal that I have been working in, it is very simply made and I have really enjoyed painting within it. I will share at the end of the month how it was put together and more of each page.

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

 I decided to do something different for this face, very different

Day 13

Playing around with pen and ink

Day 14

Day 15

Although we are half way through you still have the opportunity to take part - use what you have and have fun creating.

You can check back here next week for the roundup or see each day on my Art Blog and hopefully be inspired to start creating and getting out those supplies!

Retreat Away from Home

When you think about a retreat what first comes to mind for you.  I know I think of pampering, spa sessions, not having to cook, and if it is a creative retreat then one filled with art workshops and spending time with like minded others.

A couple of Saturdays ago my local church held a retreat day for the women, both young and old, the children were also welcome as well, and it was great to see every one take part and share their insights.  I was asked to bring along some art materials.  I took some collage, and mark making material to add to the other creative material available.

Talking art journals

The session lasted 3 hours and it is amazing just what you can fit into the time.  One of women (Lisa) gave a talk on making new beginnings, making that start, and it was a very inspiring talk, that reminded me that I should spend more time journalling and also something I have been enjoying for a while Art journalling.  The other thing that stood out for me was talking about timelines, and noting significant timelines during the course of your life, this is something that you could combine really well with journalling. 

Making paint pallets out of cardboard

I spent some time sharing how to use some of the materials that I brought, such as the collage material, and the tools that can be used to create texture within your art work.

I shared with some of the women on my table how I used bible and dictionary pages along with other ephemera to create a collage.

For this collage I create flowers out of bible pages and a mixed ephemera loosely adding color to the pages

I then spent some time cutting them out and applying to a decorated background and adding additional colors.  3 hours fly when your having fun and we all got an opportunity to share how we were impacted by the whole session.  We were all spiritually fed as well as creatively.  Once I got home, I was still in the flow of creative experimenting and got to add some finishing touches to my two pieces.

Grounded - Mixed Media Art

Here is another one that I completed, and once home added the white detail to the flowers.  The flowers have been inspired by ones that we were shown on a session with Tiare Smith as part of The Journey Within Year long Art Journal Workshop, which was great!

How does your garden grow?

I really enjoyed creating the flowers, it allows you to be so free with your work, they are easy to create and look so pretty.  I also enjoyed every aspect of the Retreat Day, as it allowed us the time to reflect and refocus and look at how we can give ourselves a fresh start.

For a limited time on Tiare's site through to the end of Valentine’s Day get 10% off workshops and bundles (discount good on Tiare Smith Designs hosted workshop only. Does not apply to The Journey Within). In one of the courses she shows you how to make the imagery with the flowers and more.  Just enter code: IAMLOVE at checkout.  

Why not take yourself on an online retreat and take the time to meet with your creative self and grow.

Word for the Week - Ephesians 5:19

Thank you for joining me for the word for the week, taken from Ephesians 5:19 and reads:

I will speak to others in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  I will sing and make music in my heart to the Lord and always give thanks to God the father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

We know that words have power, power to totally crush another persons self esteem, or build them up.  While we are making an effort to talk and treat others respectfully we also have to check how we are speaking to and about ourselves.  Take some time today to see how much positive or negative chatter you actually speak over your own life.

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?

29 Faces for February 2016 - Week 1 Round up

I thought that I would share some of the faces that I have been doing for the challenge 29 Faces hosted by Ayala Art.  I have found it a great way to get back into creating faces, and I am making the most of supplies that had been neglected for one reason or another.  I am showing them each day on my Art Blog, and then doing a round up here for the week.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

It is still not too late to take part, you might surprise yourself, by the end of the month it is great to see the progress that you can make, or the fun in just creating, or using your supplies.  I have used it so that I can make the most of some neglected supplies, try new techniques, which enables you to have a rich experience, alongside seeing the amazing work of others who are taking part as well.

You can check back here next week for the roundup or see each day on my Art Blog and hopefully be inspired to start creating and getting out those supplies!