Moving Forward

So, the year 2015 disappeared on me. I have no clue where it went. I did see my daughter marry early in the year, a major event. We shifted out of the house we lived in for 21 years. Now that was trauma. I'm pretty sure I'm still recovering from that. We've downsized which has also taken some adjustments, particularly on hubby's part. But, I am loving my new suburb and home. We now live in the Swan Valley region of Western Australia, which is filled with lovely cafes, restaurants, places to visit and loads of vineyards. Not that I'm a drinker, but there are plenty of places to stop by the road side and pick up cheap table grapes - delicious.

But instead of wasting time on excuses or explaining anything to anyone, I'm just going to move forward. This is a new year and I am going to begin afresh. I've already made a few steps towards making my life different. One of the things I've done is open a couple of online stores to sell my photography. There is a steep learning curve ahead of me. I still need to figure out things like saving my images in several sizes so they can be utilised in several different ways. At the moment I'm using the images from my Instagram account, but please do check out my Society 6 store and also my Redbubble store. I'll be adding more images and the range of products available will develop as I learn more about photos and pixel sizes. I'm also planning to feature some of my artwork when I'm ready.

My word for this year is Ritual. I've found most things happen when you make a ritual of them. This makes them a habit and that is what I want to happen this year. The word for the year is something I didn't think would mean that much to me, but now I know it makes a difference in my year. Last year's word was Brave and I needed to know I was brave in many different situations. So, it ended up being a good word for me last year. Please share your word for the year if you have one.

I've also been setting up a room just for me to use to write, create art and just be. I've made some good steps towards writing my novel, which I've titled Lessons in Appreciation for now. I've been spending a short amount of time on that each day, too. I've been bumping into people who I know will help me and discovering people who have experienced what my characters are going through in the story. So, it's a good sign I'm on the right track.

I hope your year is getting off to a good start, too. I'd love to hear from you and what your plans are for 2016.

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Word for 2015

Ok, well, it's sure been a while since I dropped by. I'm unsure my reasons, to be honest. I just haven't felt up to much revealing of self, if that makes any sense. I suppose when a lot of things in life are confusing, it's a lot more effort to try and avoid showing that to others, than it is to share it, because you are already in a state of confusion and speaking about it will only add to the problem. Like that's any clearer for you.

I doubt it, but have decided not to waste energy on this whole idea. I am just going to blog about the stuff I am currently involved with and let life and art and the words I do share with you speak for themselves.

This whole word of the year thing was about to totally pass me by this time, but wouldn't you know it, a word reached out and grabbed me just when I wasn't expecting it. I came across BRAVE as a word in the Thrive Community challenges group. It was meant as a prompt to begin some art or writing. I clicked on the link for the definition and found myself just loving the meaning of the word. After that it just wouldn't leave me alone, so I gave in and have embraced BRAVE as my word for 2015.

Artwork to follow in the next day or so.

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Cooking Up A Little Soul Food

It never ceases to amaze me the generosity of the art journaling community. As I delve further into artistic pursuits, and also journal writing, I meet more and more talented and inspiring artists who participate in online courses teaching artistic techniques. Sure, these courses cost something, but when you work it out, the cost per lesson is really very reasonable. To get things going and build excitement there is usually some kind of promotion and blog hop with many giving away a place in the course on offer.

Currently you can join in such a blog hop with Heather Santos at her blog Sparrow's Journey to be in with a chance to win a place in the Soul Food 2014 classes. Heather is one of the Head Chefs involved. Discover more by following any of those links, or checking out Community Thrive, which is hosting the online course. Many of the artists have shared their giveaways on their blogs and unfortunately many of these have already selected winners, but there are still some open. You could win a place. So, make sure you take a look and be part of it, or simply sign up and be ready for some artistic fun next year.

One blogger still offering a free spot is the Fairy at Prairie Fairy Studios. Sure, you'll have to do a little work, but I think it's worth the effort. I'm to share one of my artistic dreams if I hope to win a place in Soul Food 2014. I suppose my artistic dream is for my art and writing to have a following. Yeah, to make a living out of it would be excellent, but I'd enjoy a following of people who want to know what I'm doing, who check in and see me as an artist. I want to get to know these people and inspire and encourage them to continue in their artistic endeavours. A big dream considering I've only just come into this in the last few years, and haven't made much out of it yet. I've been keeping up with the NaNoJouMo challenge of spending some time in my art journal every day this month, so perhaps there is hope for my dream after all.

Prairie Fairy Studios

I hope you have a chance to give a bit of time to your art journal or simply to write in your journal today. I know how much good it does me, so be sure to discover that for yourself. And good luck if you are trying to win a place like me.

A canvas from the MADE course I won

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I've Got It MADE

Yeah. I've been quiet again. There are a lot of things happening at home. These are too personal to go into, but I am coping with prayer and because I was blessed to win a place in the Made e-course. I have to say it's been so wonderful to create from a spiritual and Godly perspective. I've been inviting Jesus to help me and the results have been incredibly healing. The pages I've made perhaps reflect this, but I hope you enjoy seeing some of the art I've made so far.

Lesson 3

How I see safety

Beautiful writing with a Sweetling

Lesson 5

Scripture Doodles

The Sweetling was a combination of a bonus lesson from Effy Wild's Book of Days 2014, which I was able to join because of a pay-what-you-can sale, and a blessing received from a good friend. I hope you are inspired to spend some time writing or making colour and images in your journals, too.

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MADE and a great giveaway

I suppose I should say it's about time, but it might seem a bit rude. But, finally, a group of Christian creatives have made an art journal eCourse for other Christian creatives. As a born-again believer I sometimes need to steer clear of otherwise well-meaning instructors and classes, simply because their course content does not glorify Jesus or is simply outright against my views. 

That's why I was excited to learn about MADE - for those “who are interested in exploring God-centered creativity within an online community of artsistic believers.” If this sounds like you, why not check it out and join others who want to explore their creativity in a way that reflects their Christian world view.

While I'd love to join in, and the cost is very reasonable, I am in a tough financial position at present and am unable to pay for a place. Perhaps, like me, you'd love to win a spot. The very generous BethMorey is giving away three places in the MADE eCourse. Check out her blog Beauty from Ashes to find out how you could win.

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The True Secret

Yesterday while visiting the library I came across another book by Natalie Goldberg; The True Secret of Writing: Connecting Life with Language. I found her book Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, 2nd Edition an inspiration to get into writing, as a practice.

Now, I don't advocate everything Natalie Goldberg believes, but I'm hoping to gain similar inspiration from reading this book. There really is something in writing regularly, just doing it, that leads to other writing, that leads to learning about yourself and what you want to write. It need never lead to being published or becoming a novelist, but just that regular moment each day that you sit and write can lead to a richer experience in life.

I'm more of a Judy Reeves A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life fan. Her style is less spiritual, but the basic idea is the same. Just sit down and write, each day, and reap the rewards of regular writing practice.

Do you have a favourite book on writing, journal writing or creativity that inspires you? Please feel free to share in the comments below and encourage other writers with books you've found helpful.

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An August Blogalong - No Excuses

I've been way too quiet with my blogging habits lately. So to remedy that I'm joining in a blogalong with Effie Wild. For the entire month of August I will try to write five entries a week. That works out to be Monday through Friday of each week. I'm taking the weekends off. Hope that's cool with you, too. I'm hoping to spend the month of August helping people get into, or back into, this journal keeping habit.

Journal keeping is a great adventure. If you don't already write a journal today is a great time to begin. People tell me they don't have time to keep a journal or that they end up writing the same things every day. You can spend as long or as short as you like on writing in your journal. Honestly, 20 minutes is about my regular entry time, but you could still write a lot in just ten minutes. In my opinion the benefit in keeping a journal is more about the quality of what you write than how long you spend doing it.

There are plenty of things we all waste time doing. Using the internet is one of them. I'll bet you're just as guilty as me of wasting time doing meaningless stuff. Find 10-15 minutes, open a journal to any page and begin. No excuses.

As to writing the same things each day, I say, well... you don't have to. I tell people there are no rules in keeping a journal. There should only be the rules you feel are necessary. So, make that one rule for yourself, if you need to; I will not write the same things every day. Use journal prompts or purposefully stay away from the mundane grind of daily life. Find ways to begin your entry that are not the same old same old. And, anyway, you don't even have to write. You can collage, paint, draw, or whatever feels like expressing what is going on with you, is perfectly fine.

The internet is groaning with suggested journal prompts and other ways to get started, so you really have no excuse. You can also check out any of my older blog entries for other ideas and clues on how to get started in keeping a journal.

I hope you will join me in this adventure during August and begin or refresh your journal keeping habit once again.

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The Food Journal Story

I've been wanting to share my weight loss story for some time, but felt I needed to wait for the right time. It feels like that time about now.

Near the end of 2009 I was feeling quite unwell in general. My cholesterol was fine, blood sugars not a worry, blood pressure excellent, but I was overweight, obese even. I still managed to do a lot in a regular day, though, and am surprised when I look back now at just how much I did manage, considering I was carrying at least 60 more kilograms than I am now.

The last few days of that year, 2009, had me suffering an horrific bout of vomiting and painful diarrhoea, with an ache in my upper right belly. The illness passed, but I made a decision to lessen the amount of fats and sugars in my diet, reduce my portion size and make sure I was active every day. I decided that I lived at a new address as far as my health was concerned and began to keep a food journal to help document my input.

Me with my youngest brother at the end of 2009

The food journal really helped. I found myself experiencing more bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea, but more often the pain in my upper right tummy. I began to track and work out what foods were making me feel so sick and which caused the pain. I had lost some weight, but had no idea how much I weighed, just that my clothes were getting looser. About March 2010 I tried to donate blood but my iron was extremely low and they refused, later sending me a letter to present to my doctor, etc. At the blood clinic I had weighed in at 127.6kg. 

Beading meet up May 2010

By the time the doctor investigated what was up with me and sent me to have my gallbladder removed, in May 2010, I was down to 97kg. I continued to experience trouble with certain foods, though, so the food diary was still valuable in locating culprits. I found foods high in fats and many dairy products caused painful gas, headaches and often diarrhoea. I didn't enjoy this at all, so began to avoid certain foods and felt much better for my efforts.

Mother's Day 2011

By early 2011 I weighed 67kg, thereabouts and have maintained this loss over the time since, averaging 65kg with a weigh in once a fortnight. I went from size 24-26 to 8-10 and feel so much better I could go on all day. But I feel the pictures tell the story and hope you are inspired to also begin a food journal to help track your weight loss journey.

Me Sunday 21st October

Heather

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Almost a year since I blogged

I couldn't believe it when I saw it's been almost a year since I posted an entry in this blog. While I haven't been blogging much I have been writing, quite a lot. I've also been busy looking after my unwell hubby and caring for my little boy, working and all the other stuff mums do in life.

Just this month, though, I've joined in a challenge with fellow blogger Chantelle from Fat Mum Slim. She holds a monthly photo a day challenge, which I enjoyed following from several of my Facebook friends. I figured taking a photo a day couldn't be too difficult. Besides, seeing the other photos is so inspiring. Many of those images would make great journal prompts, too.

Here are my entries for the last three days:

Day 1: You, Now
Me, it's no more complicated than that.

Day 2: Father
The father of my three children.

Day 3: Far Away
Summer seems so far away on days like this.

Heather
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Stencil 101

Free Workshop

I found this cool little workshop yesterday on Balzer Designs, which I thought would be a little bit of fun. I picked up a couple of stencils at the recent WA Craft, Quilt & Stitch Show. I've done a few pages using them, but felt some inspiration in the form of a workshop and mingling with other crafty, arty types might be just what I needed right now. Hope you'll join in, too.

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Heather

Exploring Presence

Since deciding on a word for this year I've tried to daily incorporate presence into my life. I've worked at enjoying the presence of my family, friends, my mother and other people I know. I've concentrated on the presence of God while in church. I've been present as much as I can with doing things for other people who need me. I've also tried to keep a regular presence in the online communities where I'm a member.

Mostly, I've been finding time to be in the presence of creativity. I've left my art journals open on a desk in the study. Any time I pass by I splash a bit of paint around, paste something in, colour with a watercolour crayon or pencil, drip or mist water or even rubbing alcohol, trickle inks, doodle and draw with all kinds of media. I'm having a great time.

For me the key to actually getting any of this done is to leave the play things where I will play with them. Just seeing them out on the desk, with all the supplies on hand, is a lure to my senses. While showering my little boy I can sit for a total of three or four minutes. It's surprising just how much you can get done in those few moments.

An added bonus is that my little boy is only too happy to join me whenever I pull out my art supplies and journal at the park or in a café. Although I love playing alone, he is a very pleasant companion and we share supplies often. Here's the page I began with him last Saturday and finished over the last couple of days at home. I started this page using only my little boy's colour pencils and crayons.



Click on the links for some close ups.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3303.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3304.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3305.jpg


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Journal Stamps

For ages and ages, well a long time at least, I've wanted to own a set of Teesha Moore's unusual, yet totally practical journal stamps. I've lost count of the number of times I've put them into the cart on her Land of Odd website, but sadly removed them again once I saw the total cost with shipping.

But when I received a newsletter with the wonderful news about free shipping until March 15, well, I knew my time had come. I snapped up a set and then waited and waited for them to arrive. Yesterday my journal stamps came in the mail. Yay!

I've been too busy to play with them so far, but I'm setting aside a date next week to cut them out and ink them up. Why don't you grab something you've been longing for while the free shipping offer lasts?

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Journal Spilling

So, I've been playing and sketching in my journal every day. Perhaps I've missed a couple of Sundays, but most days I write in my handwritten journal and sketch something or someone, usually several someones. But I finally had a chance to read the book that arrived just before Christmas, Journal Spilling by Diana Trout.

Well, I've got to say, you can't possibly read this book and feel uninspired. I just itched to pull out a page a play with paint. So, I did one of the exercises in the book. I grabbed some collage images and words, tore them out, glued them down without thinking about where they went. I spread paint about the place and, yeah, just played. It was fun and I even did this with the family around. They chatted with me while I played and I still felt relaxed at the end of it.

I let the page dry and did some more to finish off the following morning. I can highly recommend you do the same. The image above is the end result.





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Generosity

A sketch from my own journal

If there is a word for the art journal community this year, it has to be generosity. I'm sitting here overwhelmed with the free stuff you can learn and be part of just by having a computer connection. Take a look at the Strathmore Visual Journal online course. With Pam Carriker kicking things off in the first month, Linda Blinn in the second month and Roz Stendahl covering March, there's plenty to keep you busy.

If you fancy something every day, there's Millande with her fun Art Journal January 2011. Prompts and videos every day, and the fun community to join in with even if you don't create anything each day.

Or check out the Sketchbook Challenge, with a monthly theme and randomly selected prize winners for each theme if you share you pages on the flickr group.

I don't know about you, but I think that's incredible. I won't even bother to mention the loads of other people who share their talents, time and tutorials with anyone with a youtube or ustream account. Seriously, you couldn't be stuck for inspiration or ideas this year. So, go to it. Create, journal and share about it if you do.


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Word for 2011

Yeah, I'm probably a bit slow when it comes to beginning things others do all the time. But perhaps I haven't been ready for choosing a word for my year until this year. I've been reading Christine Kane's blog. Whilst reading the list provided in Resolution Revolution the word presence leapt out at me. I finished reading the list, in case another word did the same, but, no, presence let me know I needed to chose that word for this year.

I downloaded the Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool and plan on having a journal session about the word presence, hopefully this afternoon. But right off the top of my head I feel perhaps the word is appropriate for me because I haven't exactly been present in recent years. There's been a lot happening and one of my coping mechanisms is to withdraw and retreat. While this isn't a bad thing, I feel perhaps it's time I came back out and allowed my presence to do what I know is in my heart.

By nature I am an encourager. I love nothing more than to help people discover things I have also found to inspire and help my own artistic endeavours; be that writing, art, jewellery design, or whatever it is I'm currently creating. I know that I need to bring my presence back to where it will be felt. Look for more on this in the next couple of days.

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A Sample of My Art Journal Pages

Well, life likes to throw stuff at you just when you aren't expecting it, at all. A couple of weeks ago I took my husband into emergency at our hospital. His back pain had become completely out of hand. He was dragging his foot through the pressure and pain in his back. Enough was enough and we went and sat and waited for him to be seen. It's times like this I'm glad we have some kind of a health system at all. Anyway, they decided on surgery, but now he'll be in hospital, yeah, I different one to where I took him originally, but in hospital for anything up to six months.

So, that's the short version of a rather long tale. For now, I will simply say I'm really glad for the extreme journal course I've been doing. It has given me something to focus on instead of thinking about how bad things seem right now. I've been sketching, painting, drawing, and immersing myself in visual mixed media. It's been rewarding and just plain fun. Most importantly it has given me a wonderful distraction and a place to put all my angst.

Juliana Coles has a great way of getting me to loosen up and just create art. I love it, because I often get caught up and frozen from anticipating that this must be great, somehow. Creating visual journal pages is very theraputic, which is clearly what I need at the moment.

Anyway, I've decided to share just a few of the pages I've created because of the course.

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How Excitement

Well, I'm fully into this art journalling since starting the course I won with Juliana Coles. It's like a switch flipped and now I just want to draw and make art, again. There's something that excites the little kid in me when it comes to art. I can always remember the sheer joy of splashing paint around and seeing the way it stained the page. It's something I always treasure, yet forget to go back to until I'm prompted. Like winning the course. I was given a massive shove back towards art. It's like coming home.

So, whenever I come across something good I like to share. In my recent art journal adventures I've met Willowing, who is a lovely and generous artist living in the UK. I've been hanging out on her ning website, watching her youtube videos and enjoyiing her whimsy. She also sells art journal workshops, which look very cool, and DVDs. But right now you can join Willowing, otherwise known as Tam, as she gives a free online art journal course called The Heart of Art.

The course runs for four weeks, has videos to download and lots more fun to enjoy with other people from all over the world, but the best thing is, it's free. Of course, you may donate money to her for offering this course, but if you can't pay anything, please share with others about the free course. I've signed up. The course officially begins on October 18th, but there is a full description of the course and a supply list available to download once you join the group.

I'm sure it will be loads of fun. I hope to see some of my regular readers joining in and creating art, too.

Heather

Art Journal Fun

Since winning a lovely little prize from Creativity Classes on Extreme Journaling with Juliana Coles I've been getting into my art supplies, old and new. It was time to pull out the stuff I haven't used in ages and to build up my supplies with some fun new things. I added paint pens to my stash, those are fun. I also purchased some lovely washi masking tape from a place on etsy called washimatta. I only just ordered those, so I'll give you an update once they arrive.

While reading iHanna's blog today I noticed she had an entry on washi tape, too. It always pays to read the comments on blog entries. So I was pleased to find a link left by another crafty blogger, Julie K, on how to make your own faux washi tape, which I will be giving a go at some point, too.

Anyway, I've been filling pages in my art journal with gesso, getting them ready for the art I have yet to create. Also, I'm collecting things to stick in my journal, like menus from Fast Eddy's and whatever else appeals to me at the moment. I'll keep you updated on more about my adventures into art journals soon.

I had been waiting on approval to use some photos from other people, but this is my own photo taken just a little while ago, of my washi stash. I just can't wait to play.

Heather
Photo my own
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Hey, I Won!

How lucky can I get? I won the prize for yesterday's draw on Creativity Classes. I'm really rapt, too. The prize is a class with Juliana Coles called Field Notes: A Book of Reminders! It looks to be an exciting change of pace for me, as I've gotten out of touch with all my visual journalling habits. I'm sure this will be one way to excite those skills again. You can check out some of Juliana's artwork on her etsy store Me & Pete's Land of Enchantment Outpost.

Heather - photo used with permission from stock.xchng
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Cool Journal Course to Win

I've been entering the draw each day just lately to win cool creativity classes from the new website Creativity Classes. You should check out the classes on offer, but don't forget to enter in the draw for prizes, too. Looks like loads of fun.

Heather - Photo used with permission from stock.xchng
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