Dos de los muertos

Frida Kahlo

Today is the second day of the Mexican festival 'Dos de los muertos' - Day of the Dead.  Rather than being as spooky as it sounds, it's actually a time to remember those who have passed on - children on the first day, and adults on the second.  Skulls are a prominent symbol and symbolize both death and life - the Mexicans celebrate by making fantastically colourful shrines and special foods.  You can find out loads about it if you Google it.

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist who used the symbology of skulls and skeletons in her work.  She was an amazing woman and her work is thought-provoking and sometimes brutal, but for me very inspiring too.  So I remember her today, and my grandparents - and also the lovely people who are still with me and bless my life.

Thinking about Death (1943)

Frida's artwork is available to be viewed at sites such as this one and I found the photo of Frida on the Library of Congress website, which looks like a huge resource for all sorts of images.   And click here for what looks to be another good site for art research (it's where I found the self-portrait).  Places to start your research if you so wish!

Don't be afraid to experiment ...

I'm sure I've said before that I've got a lovely new camera, but that I've been rather nervous about learning to use it.  In fact it was my birthday present way back in February, but I didn't really start to use it properly until we went on holiday in September and now I can't stop!

Now how did these gorgeous flowers go un-noticed?  They seemed to have arrived in our garden by magic!  There were so many of these lovely white irises/lillies? that I wanted to share them with you, so rushed off to get my camera.  I still don't know how to get photos to come out right in night-time shots but had a go anyway - obviously I got the settings totally wrong in the first shot - but it turned out to be very interesting visually anyway.

Then I fiddled about with the settings for a few moments and came up with the second shot, which is heading in the right direction.  Unfortunately, the battery power ran out before I could carry on experimenting but at least I know I'm on the right path and so I'll keep on going! 

And it's like that for creativity as well.  Don't wait to paint that picture or open that box of pastels until you're 'good enough'.  Have a go anyway!  You might create something totally unexpected - most of all it gives you the inspiration to go on when you realize what you can do now and what you can go on to create if you keep going.  It's never too late to make a start - start now!!

Moments of stillness and crafty goodness

The other day one of the children cried excitedly that there was something on the roof - being the wonderful mother I am I replied 'oh yes?' in my knowing tone, then had the surprise of my life when I looked up and saw the beautiful lizard you see pictured above, sunning itself on our skylight! So we sat there and did nothing but watch it for 5 minutes, and a blissful 5 minutes they were too, just simply being and enjoying each other's silent company. A good antidote to the rushing about I wrote about in my last blogpost.

I also did get time to do some art in the last week. Tuesday didn't quite pan out as anticipated but I spent the morning planning a doll for a competition I have entered in the mixed media magazine, 'Cloth, Paper, Scissors'. It almost didn't happen for me; this week has been flat out with Christmas activities and it came to the evening before the deadline and I still wasn't finished. Just when I was about to admit defeat my husband pointed me in the direction of my art table and said "just do it!". I did as I was told and lost myself in my inner art world and the feeling on completion was fantastic! Even if my piece doesn't get chosen for the article, I am still immensely proud of myself for completing something I wanted to do, by a deadline. At one point I did give myself a stern talking to - I realized I was making excuses as to why I couldn't complete my project, I was talking myself out of something I really wanted to do! How silly is that? Anyway, my Mother Earth doll is now sitting on my sideboard and the photos have been sent off to Interweave - check out their website, they have all sorts of resources for knitting, crochet, mixed media, quilting, etc. I won't post a picture until I know the results, seems improper to show her off before the magazine has had a chance to see her!

Today is another sweltering day - we gave up looking at the thermometer when it hit 35 degrees at 11 o'clock this morning. Yuck. Time to jump in the pool methinks. At least by that time we'd already been to Spotlight and spent ages choosing fabric - my next project is going to be the divine Emmeline apron - I received the pattern last week and I'm dying to make it. Of course we spent ages in the crafting paradise and had to extracted by the rescue party (hubby). He of course had finished all his Christmas shopping in the same amount of time. Anyway, this apron is very hip and trendy, and looks more like an item of clothing when it's on. I plan to make one from the lovely fabric (at a bargain sale price! Yay!) I bought today, and one from calico which will be my work apron; the decor will increase with time as I keep splodging it with paint.

There you have it, although it's been a very busy week I MADE time to do arty and crafty things, and do you know what, my spirit feels all the better and lighter for it. Art is definitely on my list of self-care activities - put it on yours too!

Here's a doodle drawing I made at the Expo in between talking to people! I decided I wanted to do a 'freeform' doodle, doodling without thinking, covering the sheet with shapes. I started with a treble clef squiggle and made shapes to fit round it - it soon became apparent that it would take days to fill the entire sheet of paper, so I drew my favourite shape and decided to fill that instead. It was purely to keep me amused during the quiet times, but people were quite interested in seeing me create something from doodles and would watch as I sat there in my own little world. It received lots of compliments from its start to the finished product. You never know how your creativity may touch others!

I signed up to an ezine called 'Creativity-Portal' which is edited by Chris Dunmire. It offers snippets of other articles about the creative journey. I found out about the inner wizard from Chris' ezine, there's much of interest to creative spirits so visit the site and sign up! Today there was a lovely quote which I felt fits with my 'just for the sake of creativity' doodle!

“Allow that creation to be a creation. It's not a measure of your talent. It has naught to do with your worth.” — Angi Sullins

Go on, have a look at the website, there's plenty of food for the creative soul!

Embrace your creativity!

I have a new hero - he's called Sir Ken Robinson and he's pretty amazing! I've always personally believed that by the time we are adults our inborn creativity is pretty much squashed out of us. Until recently I've been on a one woman quest to encourage people to embrace their creativity, wondering if anyone else felt the same as I do, or was I in fact a little bit mad. However, more and more people are coming into my life who share the same belief; on 'The 7.30 Report' programme for the past two nights Sir Ken Robinson has been interviewed about his views on education and creativity and what responsibility education has for encouraging and nurturing the innovators of the future. Well, I've been doing a little more research and found lots of information about him and written by him such as the quote below - it really outlines a major problem in the world today:

"We are educating people out of their creativity".

I also love what he has to say on people finding, or not finding, their passion and the difference it makes to their lives and communities in general:

"I'm always struck by how many adults have no idea what their real talents are, or whether they have any at all. Many people just do what they do with no particular passion or commitment to it. I know others who genuinely love what they do; who would probably do it for free if they had to, and can't imagine doing anything else. Understanding what makes the difference is essential for transforming education, business, and communities to meet the real challenges of the twenty-first century."

It's awesome that a man who holds these beliefs about creativity also has so much influence in the wider world. It's certainly motivated me to keep on my journey to help people bring creativity back into their lives. Sir Ken Robinson is much more eloquent than I am on this subject and has written some books as well, so if you would like to read more on his work you will find the link to his website here, a talk and other links on ted.com here, and the blog article with the main quote. It's a fascinating and important subject.

Trying to be as creative as I could I decided to produce tonight's drawing using only the materials I could find in the office pencil pot!

Finding peace amongst the trees

It's been a funny old day - I was going to write about something else tonight but am so very tired and want to do justice to the subject, so I'm going to leave it until tomorrow when I can write competently!

It's been another day of being outside my comfort zone. It's almost tax time here in Australia and we had to go and see the accountant about the family business. Needless to say, I got that old feeling in my head when it hurts and I just can't take in any more information for fear of spontaneous combustion, and I'd only been sitting there for 5 minutes. For a start we were talking about numbers, and if you put a dollar sign in front of them then I'm completely confuddled! Then to top it all I had to do some bookkeeping when I got home, so my head really hurts. No wonder I feel tired! It must have been a very taxing (ha, ha) day for me as I had to have 2 Magnum ice creams to help keep me sane. Oh dear ...

Anyway ... I decided I wanted to take a photo of something that makes me feel happy and at peace to post today. I found it when I went to our bedroom and looked out of the window overlooking the backyard (not our courtyard, this 'yard' is behind our house and after you leave the boundary of our house you are straight into the National Forest - it's truly beautiful). One of our friends joked that when they looked us up on Google Earth there are no neighbours behind our house until you get to Sydney. This place is just so vast it's mind boggling at times. Where was I? Oh yes, on looking out the window I saw the sunlight dancing on the branches of the trees and casting this gorgeous, golden glow. It's an effect you only see at certain times of the day and I managed to capture it. Photography is a very creative process; choosing a subject, framing the shot, capturing colour and atmosphere. I'm lucky enough to have a dad and some friends who are very good at doing just that, and are a constant inspiration to me. One day, I'll get a big camera and take really good photos too!

Fabulous Pink

Getting ready for the Pink concert - we've been joined by a little imp!

We've just been to see Pink! What an awesome performance, by an amazing woman! She sang 3 of her songs hanging upside down from a trapeze!! Top marks for creativity and passion. It was my daughter's first concert and she really enjoyed herself, which is really great after her mum worried her by catching the wrong train to get to the concert (oops). Soon sorted out though and we got a top spot by the stage. Some amazing costumes too - I swear her finale costume was just thin bits of ribbon in strategic places, but it looked stunning.

It was just the 3 girls - I felt really honoured to be with the others on their first big concert. A great time was had by all!

Interview with Violette!

Today is the day I publish my interview with the vivacious Violette, who has recently achieved one of her dreams of writing and publishing an art book - "Journal Bliss - Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric", which can be bought online from Amazon. It's really interesting to get an insight into an artist's world, especially someone who loves to encourage people to embrace their natural creativity, a cause close to my own heart. Thanks Violette for taking the time to answer my questions!

LMG: I think this blog tour is a great idea, we are learning so much about you and seeing other people's creativity into the bargain, which is also a goal of yours - to bring creativity to everyone - well done!

V: Thanks Lara..........it is my main goal! To inspire!

LMG: It's been really great to see all the questions asked by the others on the blog tour, but at first I was thinking to myself 'how can I come up with questions as fabulous and thoughtful as these?' I have been known to get others to check out my blog entries to see if they were 'ok' (how embarrassing). I've been caught by the gremlin of negative thought! Violette, How do you silence this inner critic?

V: For me silencing the Gremlin is an ongoing thing. I still have that Gremlin sitting on my shoulder or on my head.....depending on the day. Sometimes he shouts louder than other days.........some days when the critic is so loud i actually return to bed. That's the truth! One thing i try and do when the Critic is on me is to remember all of the things that i have accomplished - for example the magazines my work and writing has appeared in, my book, the workshops i've taught. You may have heard me talk about my "Warm and Fuzzy Drawer"? Well i have a warm and fuzzy drawer which is jam packed with lovely notes, drawings, collages, postcards and greeting cards from people who tell me how talented i am and how much i've inspired them. I look at those items when i feel really down on myself. Another thing to do is to have cheerleaders who are on your team - for example i have Mr. G who is super duper supportive and reminds me of my talent and how i make a difference in people's lives when i have forgotten. You know the saying "Friends are angels who lift you up when you've forgotten you have wings"? Well supportive friends and family are like that - worth their weight in gold! I know your husband is like that for you - a great supporter of your creative journey. How wonderful!

I have considered sewing a Gremlin from cloth (similar to the Gremlin in Journal Bliss) and to actually stuff him in a glass Jar whenever he's getting to me. The only problem is i'd probably feel bad seeing his smushed little face in the jar that i would liberate him. Because i'm so imaginative i'd most likely hear his little muffled cries........"Mmmmfffffffffffttt...........lemme outta here!" Maybe a better idea is to dress the Gremlin up so he looks very funny and colourful - in essence knocking the wind out of him and making me laugh. That might be a better solution.

I understand what you mean though about getting others to check out your blog..........every now and then i get Mr. G to check mine out and i ask "Does this look stupid?" Silly isn't it?

LMG: I love your outlook on life, you're always very encouraging and marvel at everything! How do you stay focussed and motivated, through good times and bad? Does writing the blog help?

V: Thank you Lara. Well you may have swung by my blog on days when i could not muster the energy to be positive - when i've been down or overwhelmed or on empty. Generally speaking though knowing that people are checking in helps keep me motivated. When i feel like i've helped others it helps me. You know it's like Volunteering - it enables you get out of yourself and do something for others - to uplift them. You cannot help but have that positivity rub off on you! Another thing i believe in is that we are all divinely guided in some way - it's like some unseen force is there helping lift me up with a poke so i'll notice something wonderful or a whisper that everything is going to be alright. The unseen force has me noticing the most bizarre things and helps me see things that most others do not.....for example the other day the large tub of Cayenne pepper was turned toward the tub of Tumeric and they were having a conversation. I just can't help it.....i see humour in so many things......i do believe i am guided by unseen forces - call it God/the Universe/Spirit guides........whatever... so i can smile. That doesn't necesarrily make me focus but it helps me make it through the bad times. And of course simply drawing and painting my feelings is very freeing and liberating. A deadline such as a book deadline is a good motivating factor for me too! Sometimes i set up artificial deadlines so i'll get work done! That works!

LMG: We all get them, the scourge of the creative community - CREATIVE BLOCKS! How do you overcome them?

V: Well i don't really get blocks anymore......i used to.......about 12 or so years ago.....and then i found the TAO (which is a philosophy of living - go with the flow). The Tao taught me to move through my blocks by simply going with the flow (don't push the river). I ended up painting a walking stick in multiple colours and patterns and that was the end of the creative block which i kept whining about forever! I surround myself with paper arts magazines, art books, inspirational notes on the wall and on the bathroom mirror - Mr. G leaves me messages everyday which i put up. And i also surf the net for inspiration.........i'm over flowing with ideas - they end up in several books - one of them being my "idea factory" so that i capture them and they're not totally lost forever. I can't remember where i read it but one of the most important determining factors of creativity is one's belief that they are creative. Well since 12 or so years ago i believed i was creative (in part because my Bohemian tribe believed in me and my art) and the most interesting thing is - that the BELIEF is the driving force which enables me to be creative every day! It's like a miracle............believe that you are and you are!

LMG: When people see my creations, or come to one of my creativity classes, one of my major obstacles is to convince them that they are creative too. I believe like you that it's important for people to embrace their natural creativity, and not to be stopped by fear. What would you say to people who feel they aren't creative?

V: I would encourage folks to broaden their view of the term "creative". We are creative in our everyday lives like when we plant a garden, arrange flowers, make soup from scratch, design and create our childrens Halloween costumes etc. We don't give ourselves enough credit. It's important to realize that creativity shows up differently for everyone....it's debilitating (and i know i do this from time to time) when we compare ourselves to others who are seemingly "better than us". They have a different way of showing up in the world than we do - why don't we appreciate their art and then appreciate ourselves and the manner in which we create? We are all creative, we simply need to give ourselves permission to express it. When you do that you just never know what will appear. For example by embracing your creativity you may discover an ability to create your own lettering. You couple that with an innate ability to write inspirational prose and voila!!!!! You are creating beautiful illustrations on colourful backgrounds of your lettering and prose. Do you see what i mean? It's like magic.......you begin creating and then your soul begins to speak to you in different ways. You may be moved towards making dolls and can express yourself creatively there. The Creative world truly is your Oyster! Just give yourself Permission!

LMG: Now Violette, I love to collect inspiring quotes - one of your favourite quotes is "Follow your bliss" - do you have another quote you would like to share with us?

V: Oh.......here is one of my favourites (next to follow your bliss) it's by Antoine de St. Exupery:

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."

Thanks so very much Lara for this fabulous interview. I loved your line of questioning. I'm so happy to share with your readers!

Thank you Violette - it's always a pleasure to talk with you and hear your take on life and our natural creativity. Yet again you've been inspiring - I'm getting an idea for a cloth Gremlin doll myself that I can sit on my desk and tell to go away if negativity strikes. Of course he will be cute ...

I would urge everyone to take a look at Violette's blog and also the links to the other blogs on this tour - there is just so much creativity out there, and each person has their own unique way of being creative. It's very inspirational and encouraging. (You could be sitting at the computer for a while though, so don't forget your cup of tea ... if anyone asks what you are doing, tell them it's research)

You can buy Violette's book online at Amazon.
You can go straight to Violette's blog from here!

All images in this post copyright of Violette.

Inspiring artists

As a prelude to my interview with Violette on Wednesday, I wanted to show you a couple of pictures inspired by her art activities she posts on her blog for anyone to try. The pink canvas is celebrating the year I took part in the WA art festival 'Artopia' (alas, it is no more ...) and the yellow canvas is one I created at my classes last year. The common theme is the little half sphere in the corner which I made everyone incorporate in some manner into their artwork! Violette called her work "I'm going to Pluto ..." which I thought was awesome. The sphere in my Artopia picture is all my arty ideas floating in the ethereal realms waiting to be fully realized. All good fun - check out the website if you feel inspired, and look under the 'art tips' link on the menu.

It's funny what little things make you happy. Today I saw in my 'blog following' window that Dooflinky Dolls had written a post after an absence of a few months. I went straight to her site to check out what creation she was writing about. This site is about dolls made from felting and the work is just so lovely, I wish I could felt like that! It really is worth a look; I love the way 'Dooflinky' is so honest and all her work is from the heart. Genuine creativity, beautiful. It was lovely to hear from her again in the blogosphere!

Taking time out ...

Eastern Beach in Auckland - we used to walk along here every day to take the kids to school.


This hill is just amazing - like someone carved it. Too beautiful. (Raglan)


Must be because I'm English, but I just love clouds! (Raglan)

It's a Sunday, but with my 'writing every day in May' challenge (couldn't resist naming the challenge - too much rhyming to miss it!) I have to write on my usual day off. So, what have I been up to on this lovely autumnal Sunday? I've been sitting in the back yard drawing over 400 little hexagons onto quilting fabric with my cardboard template. Seriously. My husband was a little worried, but I actually found it very meditative and was away in my own little world for hours, until the magic was broken at twilight by a mozzie trying to have me for tea!

I've also found time to browse some of the blogs I follow, and today I was looking at the work of the unique and talented Alisa Burke. Take a look at her website - I love her work because it's so vivid and original. It has a real feeling of freedom, and makes me think that she has had the courage to step forward and follow her dream of making art with passion. Her whole attitude is inspirational to me - take a look for yourself.

As it is supposed to be a day of rest (ha, ha!) I've included some more photos of our New Zealand holiday. Still trying to maintain that lovely, relaxed feeling of not being obliged to do anything by any deadline - fading rapidly, but I'll cling to it for as long as I can!

A day of dreaming about angels ...

I did a little happy dance today because the temperature was a whole 10 degrees lower at 27 degrees! Yay! I felt human again, it has been absolute bliss. We even ventured outside and went to the park.

The other day at the library I picked up the book "Messages from Your Angels" by Doreen Virtue. I have heard of her work but for some reason thought she might be a little too 'out there' for me, but I saw this book and it had a picture of a pretty angel on the front that attracted me to it, and I thought, 'why not'. However, I simply haven't put the book down! It is speaking to me loud and clear in so many ways; the main message I am getting is that whatever you do in life, be it your work, relationships, inner work, do it all from love and you can't go far wrong. It has even inspired a couple of art pieces in my mind, on the theme of love of course, and I will hopefully be able to complete them over the next few days and post pictures of them here. I was so surprised that the book has been able to clarify a couple of personal issues that I didn't know needed clarifying until I read the chapters this morning. At first I grieved, then felt a tremendous sense of peace. Books are amazing and can hold the most intense wisdom, so if you feel drawn to a book for any reason, check it out, it may surprise you, inspire you, even heal you.

Hope you like the pictures of the bobtail lizard. I could hear a scraping by my bedroom window this morning and when I looked outside, this little fellow was there looking back at me. I do love the bobtails, they have a blue tongue which this one moved too fast for me to capture on film, and I have been told they can give you quite a nip if you annoy them! Luckily they tend to hiss at you in warning first. Usually I see them when gardening - after I've leapt 5 feet into the air because I thought I was seeing a snake. They look to me as if they have the cares of the world on their shoulders, as if they know much more about life than we do, old souls. They are so beautiful though, just look at all the scales, even the tiny ones on their legs, so perfect.

Pictures - visual inspiration

Thought you might like to see the 'birth' of a painting ... this one is about longing, and is the painting I referred to several times last month. It still isn't finished, and it sits by my seat at the dining table so I see it all the time. It's almost taunting me, 'what is this longing that you can't bear to look at?' I will finish it soon though, I think it will be therapeutic for me. Anyway, I covered the canvas in a pink wash, because sometimes I find the white almost overwhelming in its brightness and it doesn't help the mood of the painting. Why pink? Think it was almost an intuitive thing; I do know I want to paint a sunset, and will be putting a yellow glaze and blue glaze over some parts of the painting to get my evening setting sun colours. Acrylics are brilliant for glazes (like a watery wash of colour) - you can put the colours one over the other as the paint dries for a very ethereal effect.

Yesterday I didn't write in my paper journal as planned if I wasn't blogging. Instead I sat and sorted a pile of old magazines and cut out pictures for my scrapbook. An activity reminiscent of childhood, but also one I enjoy because it's future inspiration for paintings and craftworks. I collect pictures whose colours I enjoy, fashions with unusual detail, pictures of antiques or vintage clothes, and house and gardens inspire me. Suppose I'm making a catalogue of sorts. It's very relaxing, and I'm getting rid of all those old magazines and becoming uncluttered. A very worthwhile past-time!

Baking hot day ...

Don't know what came over me today - baked a loaf of bread (in breadmaker), made a quiche and some meringues with the leftover egg whites. All on a 40 degree day! I must be mad, the house was like an oven by the time I'd finished. However, must be something in the creative process of baking because as I was rolling out the pastry I had an idea for a new art doll. Hopefully, I will get it finished before the week is out. I have a cardboard torso (sounds bad, but it's just a blank canvas really!) which I would like to paint. Thinking of painting it in pastel colours, but putting some very strong messages to myself on it, all about the awesome-ness of being a woman!! I know that some people look down on women that choose to stay at home and look after their children full-time, but I think I'm rather good at being a wife and mum, so I'm going to paint my doll to celebrate that fact!

5 Minute Challenge

This is the result of a little challenge I set myself earlier. I was panicking about having nothing to write about - I usually spend time throughout the day at least thinking about what I would like to write about, or noticing something that is going on around me that I can describe. However, I've been rushing around today as it's the last day of the school term and completely forgot to observe! Then I hit on the idea of trying to draw something in my art journal in as short a time as possible that I could post on this blog. I was so pleased with the result I've decided to add another 'label' to the blog on '5 minute challenges' - should exercise the old creativity muscles!

Technical details - I just drew the outline with pencil and went over the top with a fineliner when I was happy with it. The dress bodice/heart was coloured in using Derwent Metallic pencils, which come in a great range of colours and are lovely and soft to use.

The inspiration for this one came from my Moon Diary for 2009 which I picked up yesterday. It's full of lovely line drawings and I thought I could do my own for the festive season, and this angel just popped into my head. I like the idea of the 5 minute challenge because it will focus me on my creativity, and I'll have the guideline of 'no thinking', I'll put on the page whatever comes into my head and we'll see what is produced. I'm quite excited by the concept. It will also help me to reflect on the day and see what inspired me.

Commitment and creativity

End of the week, and I seem to be getting myself busier but no more time to do the jobs in! Nearly disappeared off to bed without posting, but I am very committed to my goal of blogging every day until the end of December, want to prove I can stick at something! One of my friends said the other day that she admires me because I say I'm going to do something, and then I do it. Which is really funny, because my perception is just opposite!

Anyway, here is a quote I found which I would like to share, it's actually from a book called 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron, she uses the quotes in the margins to inspire! It's funny because I haven't picked the book up for ages but felt drawn to it tonight for some reason, maybe it's time to read it?

"Why should we all use our creative power ...? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money." -Brenda Ueland (Quite a good one just before Christmas when we all get caught in the consmerist Christmas trap!!)

Doodles

Here's some doodling from a quiet moment today. It's funny how different people can like different things in the same drawing. My son really loved the eye, he thought it was very expressive! I like the curvy lines, and think I may include them in a painting sometime. It's interesting to see what comes to fruition when you're just armed with a pen and paper and no agenda.

After my marathon post yesterday, I will keep today's entry short and sweet! I just remembered something else though about my painting which was the result of our bush walk meditation. My friend looked at the painting and said she could see the symbol of the dove in the feathery gold and purple I'd done at the base of the 'figure'. She felt that I had come to peace over some of my issues. I hadn't intended that at all, but on looking again I could see what she meant. I just love hearing other people's perspectives - it keeps life interesting!

It's all a matter of perspective

No photo today, I'm a bit over it after trying to upload the pomegranate treasure masterpiece about 20 times yesterday and it still ending the wrong way up, even though it was the right way up at the start - if you see what I mean. So it's just words today, but good ones at that.

Yesterday, colours predominated my day, today it is words. I went with my daughter to the hairdressers and read a lovely magazine while she was having her hair cut. It was called 'Heritage' magazine and had lots of articles about the UK, basically to do with its history and genealogy and such like. Anyway, I was drawn to the articles about Carmarthen which is a large town in Wales, near where I went to university; about Haworth, home of the Brontes which I used to visit with my mum and dad as a child, absolutely loved it; and the small township of Fowey in Cornwall which gave such inspiration to the wonderful writer Daphne du Maurier. After first reading them, my initial thoughts were 'why am I putting myself through this torture?', these were all places that were very meaningful to me as I was growing up, and I felt a great sadness at missing them. Then I decided to change direction and look at it from a different perspective. I realized that I have been blessed to have had so many experiences and lived in such a wonderful place steeped in history and inspiration. I'm living life in a different country, which is giving me different experiences which will in turn give me inspiration for other different projects. As it is, thinking over my life as a child has given me a heap of inspiration for art projects, and I have a lovely long list of works I wish to produce, much better than having writer's block! I just felt much better after changing my perspective!

Pinch, punch, it's the first of the month

Firstly, where did that saying come from? The house was full of excitement tonight as we freed the Christmas tree from its 'prison' and festooned it with baubles, lights and tinsel. There always seems to be more tinsel on the floor than on the tree when we've finished though. It's our little joint act of creativity. You can tell the children are growing up - they actually asked if we could put less on the tree, and agreed to one colour of tinsel. In previous years every decoration we owned would be put lovingly on the branches, this year we've gone for the 'less is more' look.

I started 'that' painting last night. Won't have time to do any today, but I'm hoping to set aside an hour to finish it tomorrow. It won't be technically stunning, but it's more of an art therapy piece, it just needs to get out onto the canvas. I was talking to my daughter about it today and asking her advice on the proportions of the face. It's great to have a fellow artist in the house with whom I can swap ideas and tips.

Going dotty

Ah, what a lovely Sunday - sitting in the sunny outdoors, sipping wine and talking about life, the universe and everything. A good way to spend the afternoon, especially as we'd both planned to be doing a whole list of chores, much better! Anyway, as I was contemplating the meaning of life I looked at our dead Ponga tree trunk for about the millionth time and realized that it is covered in a spotty pattern. It's beautiful, don't know if you can see it properly in the photo - I was trying to talk to a friend on the phone whilst taking the picture one handed! I've toyed with the idea of making it into a kind of totem pole, it's just calling out for some creative re-working, but now I want to do something with those delicious dots. Will have to get my thinking cap on. You see, inspiration is everywhere.

I'm also putting out my intention to paint this painting I keep mentioning to everyone who will listen. It's been stuck in my head for ages and I need to get it on canvas. So if I say here that I will be painting it this week, it will happen, and then I can blog about it.

Also in my picture is my beloved purple windmill. I bought it last Christmas and after a year in the garden in all weathers it's looking a bit sorry for itself, all its shiny bits have fallen off, need to get my glitter out and 'bling' it up!