Quote Wednesday - Stowe

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and tie that the tide will turn...

Harriet Beecher Stowe

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 - Miller

Problems are only opportunities with thorns on them....Hugh Miller

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 - Dodinsky

Your value is the product of your thoughts.  Do not miscalculate your self-worth by multiplying your insecurities..Dodinsky

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 - Ziglar

Don't be distracted by criticism.  Remember the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you...Zig Ziglar

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 - Nin

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones courage

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 - Gogh

If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced....Vincent Van Gogh

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 - Dickens

There is a wisdom of the head and.....a wisdom of the heart...Charles Dickens

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 - East African Proverb

Wisdom is like the boabab tree; no one individual can embrace it... East African Proverb

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 - St Augustine

Patience is the companion of wisdom....

St Augustine

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 - Huxley

Experience is not what happens to you;  it is what you do with what happens to you.... Aldous Huxley

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 - Unknown

Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't I give myself reasons why I can......Unknown

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 - Alexander Graham Bell

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us...

Alexander Graham Bell

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 - 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

Barbados Trip and Special Giveaway Bonus!

I have just come back from a couple of weeks away in Sunny Barbados, and just getting my body clock back to a workable routine, I will be sharing more about the trip and the opportunity that blessed us next week, but here is a sneak preview of where we stayed.

Inchcape Villa, home for the week

This was our view every morning.....

Beautiful sea views

and I was visited each morning by this tiny little fellow perched on the back of the chair singing sweet songs, and I guess I did spoil it a little with the sunflower seeds..

Morning birdsong greeting me as I spent time in my journal

And he would come back with his or her friend during our stay.

My regular morning visitor

I will be sharing more about all the things that we got done, but for now I thought with all this rainy weather we are experiencing here in the UK I would shine some light.  I must admit on our last day in Barbados it rained cats and dogs, I guess Barbados cried cause we were returning to the UK:) 

Anyway back to this light.

I am giving away Bonus for signing up HERE to the 'My Color is Beautiful Art' course....

Registration is open!

The course is going to be just what you need to start February 2015 off with a creative kick and here are just some of the things you can expect:

• 8 wonderful, creative instructors
• 10 amazing video mixed media main lessons, 1 lesson per week for 10 weeks.  PDF Download of each lesson, provided as well.
• 10 eye opening color challenges and background techniques, videos and/or pdf’s provided.   1 challenge per week for 10 weeks, resulting in 40 AMAZING backgrounds, ideas and techniques. and much MORE!

All this for only $49!  

(classroom content valued at over $400!).

Class begins February 2nd 2015

BONUS GIFT

I am quite a hoarder  collector and I love paper, and making my own painted paper, and I have a love of shiny things with the beads and embellishments that I have been using and applying to some of my work as the piece below shows.

I am really excited to be able to offer a bonus gift for all those who register HERE for the course I have decided to give away a free paper and embellishment pack, filled with lots of goodies for you to use as part of my lesson on the course and for any other creative activity that you might have...

I will include in the pack a selection of:

• Paper ephemera
• Patterned and hand painted papers
• Handmade paper
• Die cuts
• Ribbons
• Stencils
• Beads and embellishments!

Once you have signed up via my link I will arrange to have the kit sent out to you before the course begins.  

If you have already signed up else where for the course and would like to purchase a paper embellishment kit you will be able to do so from the beginning of next week for $7.50 including P&P.

Register here now and receive your free bonus embellishment kit by clicking the button below!

I am so looking forward to having you on the course, here is a sneak preview of one of the paintings that I am currently working on!

Why August is one of the best months!

I think that August is one of the best months there is, I know those born in the 11 other months might have an alternative view, but when you really sit down and think about it you will have to agree that August beats the rest hands down.

Ok I guess I am going to have to clarify my comments, but think about it - with August your in the height of the summer, all the flowers are blooming, it is associated with holidays, the schools are off, you get to spend some quality time with friends and loved ones, the bbq's come out and the air is filled with laughter, Pimms and dogs barking playfully!

What if it were all possible?

I don't really drink Pimms and we don't have a dog, but it is a restful month, one for reflection before you get back into the back end of the year with September.  Another reason, and you probably guessed from the start is that I was born in August, and therefore have a birthday coming up.

It is going to be a big one and I have been reflecting on where I am in my journey, how far I have to go, what twists and turns are coming up, sometimes I feel as if I am one of those people with spinning plates and I have to keep them all going, and you are constantly looking to see if there are anymore plates that will be added.  I don't think I will have anything big, but celebrate with family and friends, something small...thought the 'Kensington Roof Gardens' would have been a lovely venue and is on my wish list!!!  I have restarted my exercise routine, and have promised myself that I will treat me as if I were my best friend rather than taking myself for granted, let alone let anyone else.

There are a few more weeks to go and I will be doing something special online during that week here on my blog, so do come back.  I have been playing with supplies and have made this journal, quite a playful journal will see me write my dreams and visions and hopes for the future within its pages..

Celebration playful Journal

It has a piece cut out of the front cover and I drew and pasted a picture there. It is a ring bound journal and the flowers and butterflies are made from fimo clay and it has fluffy wool and wooden beads decorating it!

Inside is a mixture of watercolour paper and decorated paper to use as the mood takes me.

The bird at the back is a reminder to let go of those things that you have no control over and focus on shining that light, and asking that question...'What if it were all possible'!....yes August is one of the best months cause I was born..Blessings to all, and what ever month you were born in you are pretty special as well!

Creating....the process

I love looking at the process photos of how a painting comes into being, and every now and then share with you here.  I wanted to show you this particular painting that I had done recently and how it started out and what the finished result looked like.

I have over the past few months been attempting to paint a few more male portraits, it was something I was quite used to doing with graphite, but never attempted many paintings

After using my gelli plate to create a background this young man came to visit and I was able to capture him in charcoal.

Starting out using gelli print and charcoal to sketch the image

with each application of paint, he reveals a bit more of himself..

Image continues to emerge

he shares his dreams of travelling, and I wondered if they would remain just dreams or if he would be able to have some adventures of his own.

It had taken quite a bit of thought, planning and convincing that he was able too venture forth

He had already begun, he was living his adventure, travelling around the world, meeting new people and finding himself..

He knew who he was, where his talents and opportunities lay and he set out to share them with the world.

Valiant - Mixed Media Art on Watercolour 

Change

Change

I have been talking about change a bit over the year here on my blog, not trying to be someone else, but who you were really called to be.  More recently if you have glanced over my recent posts you would have seen the health changes that I have been pursuing.

I have been pressing in on my creativity, painting and doing something that makes another step, learning, trying to grow to be the artist that I want to become.  An artist that can through their work be a blessings, and through words inspire.  I still have a way to go, but wanted to share this piece I did recently.

 I love the colors and the vibrancy of this piece, she is full of life and excited about her tomorrow.  She has a strength and a purpose, knowing who she is and not being afraid to be all that she has been called to be.

 I hope to develop more of this style of work, but will continue to press in and explore techniques and materials.

Change - Mixed media on watercolor paper

If you would like to purchase a print I will be adding it to my other work on Society 6.  Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Gratitude's and Celebration - Week 44 - Listen to the stillness

Gratitude's and Celebrations - the beginning.....

Allow the blank spaces and the silence time to settle....

Sometimes you need to be quite, to stop and listen.  Listen to the silence uncomfortable at times but necessary, listen to your heartbeat, your breath, the ticking of the clock.  Listen to your mind as it tries to make sense of the world, as the wind soars past your window frame and makes a sound as it seeps into the panes of glass, to the tweeting of the birds in your garden.  

Gratitudes and Celebrations - Listen as the page begins to take shape

Listen to your thoughts, as you go about your day, what are you saying to yourself, what words of encouragement or discouragement do you utter in a moment of testing?  Listen to your cries of your heart, what is it you really want? often what is not said speaks volumes.

Listen - sometimes it takes time to make sense....

Listen to your voice, do you support yourself in your endeavors?  Are you spending time in your creativity, do you listen to the little girl inside you shouting to be heard, or do you brush her aside and miss your calling?

Listen - don't be afraid to stand out....

Listen to your heart as you give space to those friendships, the bonds of love, nurtured, supportive, and forgiving, those that are near and sometimes far.  Listen to the word....

I am grateful today for the opportunity to listen, to listen to my heart and celebrate the stillness that will bring peace.
What do you need to listen to this week?

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal

Have a blessed weekend! If you want to see how I made the journal (click here) Blessings!

Experiments in Collage

I have been part of the course run by Randal Plowman called 'Experiments in Collage', which has sadly come to an end.  I have learnt quite a few new collage techniques that I will take forward within my own work.  Here are some of the collages that I did on the course.

Seeing the world through fresh eyes

We spent 6 weeks looking at different approaches to collage,

Essential Play

Trying different techniques and seeing what we liked the best.

It's a Mans world

 I really enjoyed adding painting effects and drawings within my collages,

Admit One

 And using images printed on tracing paper.

The Secret

 Trying to step out of that which feels comfortable to being outside of my comfort zone, and then bringing it all together.  

As the course has finished around 16 of the participants from around the world decided to make and send 5"x7" collages to each other, I am still working on my set to send out and should complete them over the next couple of weeks - I'll post the collages when I have done them and let you have a peek .  I will also be able to show you some of the collages that I receive from the group.

No place like home

I thoroughly recommend this class, why not do something different that will take you out of your comfort zone. Check out Randal's website to see when the next one is running, and do remember to share what you get up to!