"Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly may alight upon you."
Nathaniel Hawthorne
What a beautiful sentiment. I googled happiness quotes this week in preparation for my entry to the Inspiration Avenue challenge on this very theme. There were many that echoed Nathaniel's words. We all need to take time to just sit and take life in sometimes to realise how happy we already are. That constant pursuit of 'If only..' just leads to much distress. However, one thing I have learnt though is that you can't just sit around expecting it to fall in your lap. If you want butterflies, you're not likely to find them lying around in bed. You have to go out and grow the flowers - then sit quietly in the garden you made!
If you want something you work at it. You learn, you practice and hone your skills. It doesn't just land in your lap.
As I posted a couple of days ago - I'm planting some seeds in my garden right now. I wonder when the butterflies will arrive?
Day 5 of Art Every Day. I thought I might as well join the NaBloPoMo gang too - that's blog posting every day month! It's also Happy Friday. So many reasons to post today!!
Our happy book homework from Mistress Ridler this week was to create a time capsule capturing the moment for posterity. The prompt in the book suggests we record a snapshot of our lives for review in years to come.
Well, at least I've done something interesting this week! Biggest achievement this week: Finished the entry for Marketing Team of the Year - will we win?? Hope so!
Book: Last night I finished The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Read it and you'll be carrying garlic in your pockets and never looking at librarians quite the same way again.
House - Untidy.
Artwork - working on a Mexican piece for the Inspiration Avenue challenge.
Blog - 226 followers, pageviews last month 2,717. Current votes in the Dorset Cereals blog of the month competition - 28. Number behind leader 2. If anyone wants to vote for me (pretty please), they can click the link in the sidebar!
Most played tunes on the ipod. Well right now, I'm rather into the rather sexy vocals of Brandon Flowers and his solo album. It's called Flamingo. I wonder if he recorded it while standing on one leg and dressed in pink?
TV - it's all Strictly, X-Factor and the Apprentice. Reality TV all the way baby...
Weight - 65.9kg. Not happy. Need to be back to 59.9kg which is what makes me smile when I step on the scales. Not enough exercise and too much chocolate is the culprit. Himself and I are three weeks into the South Beach Diet. Weight loss to date is virtually negligible. Something wrong here surely - eating the most healthy food, exercising and cutting out carbs and nothing is dropping off.... Too depressing for words. I might have to go buy chocolate to cheer myself up!
Hair style - bob. Who knows, next time I read this it may well be a charlie!
Ability to be serious for any decent length of time - pretty much zero.
I think I'll do this exercise with my son this weekend. He'll love it!
Now I'm off to capture some moments with my camera.
OK, time for some Friday fun with the Happy Book Group. This week we're writing our social media profiles for the year 2015.
[sits back, flexes muscles and grins with anticipatory excitement]
***
I'm 45 - gosh where did those last 5 years go? What's interesting though is that I appear to be looking younger and there are certainly less grey hairs. Must be something to do with my lifestyle.
4 years ago I bought my dream cottage in the countryside, just a mile from the sea and live in cosy abundance with my partner and son. I shall never forget the moment I first wandered up the front path... If the wisteria clinging to the front porch hadn't charmed me then the art studio overlooking the rolling landscape certainly did!
I spend my days indulging in a mixture of art, writing and outdoor pursuits. Who could have predicted that I would develop skills in sport as late in life as in my 40s. I know that the moment I stepped onto the winner's podium at the London Olympics to collect my gold medal in archery, women of a 'certain age' were given the message that anything is possible!
I'll concur with that. When I began blogging and painting again just over 5 years ago it was to satisfy an itch; a niggle that had been pestering at me for years. Now my work is exhibited across the world, my book on Creativity has been in the best seller lists for 3 years and my fiction fantasy trilogy has gone into movie production.
If I had to share a greatest influence it would be all the people who promised that if you write down your goals and ambitions. If you believe. If you have a plan. Then, the Universe will listen.
It did!
***
Wow! That felt good. I could have gone for hours. What a wonderful excuse to cast those dreams on the winds of change. I can highly recommend this activity. Why not join us over at The Next Chapter Happy Book Group. You don't need to buy the book, just do the exercise - but remember, the wisteria covered cottage in the countryside just one mile from the sea with an art studio - that's mine OK?
I took the photograph at Coton Manor in Northamptonshire. The most beautiful gardens and bluebell woods that take your breath away.
Oh yes, for the avoidance of doubt - the chance of me ever representing GB at the Olympics in any sport, let alone archery (which I don't even do) is a big fat ZERO!
It's been a day where the universe seems to be slipping into alignment. Just as one thought flows through my soul, so someone pops up to affirm it and tells me "Yes, you're doing the right thing". I feel like I'm on the edge of something special today and it feels good.
I lay in bed last night thinking - which itself was something as I was so tired, I thought I'd be more likely to drop into an abyss of sleep! Earlier this week I'd revisited a page in my notebook where I'd written some goals a couple of months ago. I came across them by accident and they seemed suitable distraction from what I was supposed to be doing so I read them through. Something incredible happened. I ticked things off. Yes, I had written goals and achieved them. I hadn't just thought about what they might be or considered writing them. I'd done it and... I'd done it!
I'm going to write some more this weekend - keep adding to that magical list. My current contract at work is shifting slightly so I'll have a bit more time to focus on other aspects of my business. I want to take a bit of risk (time when I'm not directly earning money) to lay down some future investment (when I hope I will be). I'm going to have some faith in myself and listen to my heart before I suddenly wake up one day and realise that I've let opportunity stroll right on by without even being invited in for a cup of a tea and a natter.
I started thinking too about my blog profile - the one where it says "I'm going to be a writer". Lots of people tell me I already am one and deep down of course I know I am. It's how I earn a living for a start! Why then does it exist here as 'future tense'? I resolved to make that change.
This morning I logged on for a breakfast blog browse and what do I find? Jamie Ridler giving out these buttons? Is this not cosmic karma (whatever that means?). It feels like the creative fairies have taken out a billboard ad that's screaming at me - Hey you! Wake up and smell the coffee... Jamie wrote her post for Happy Friday and I'm going to join her with mine. Let's all grab the buttons our hearts tell us we are and wear them proudly!
But that isn't all. I met a friend for lunch about to make career changing decisions. I preached what I don't practice - guiding her to follow her heart and grab opportunity by the neck (never mind inviting in for a cuppa, tie it down and marry it I say!). I realised what I was saying. It's what I know deep down. My heart is calling - very loudly and incredibly insistently...
But it doesn't end there... Oh no.... I bought a book (admitedly on this subject, so this isn't quite the coincidence it might first appear...). Here's the opening quote from Creative Awakenings by Sherri Gaynor which I read for the first time not half an hour ago:
What in your life is calling you?
When all the noise is silenced,
the meetings adjourned,
the lists laid aside,
and the wild iris blooms by itself
in the dark forest,
what still pulls on your soul?
In the silence between your heartbeats
hides a summons.
Do you hear it?
Name it, if you must,
or leave it forever nameless,
but why pretend it is not there?
The Terma Collective, "The Box: Remembering the Gift"
Could there be more? Why yes, and it's not even half past three... Sophia at Blue Chair Diary poured out her heart on her blog today too. I sat here to write this post but got distracted enough to visit her site on my way and just you read what she wrote...
The Universe does indeed work in mysterious ways. Perhaps I should check out my stars for today... Mystic Meg says:
Your mood is determined, your mind focused and you can take control of your future instead of being swept along by events. You can handle fitness plans and get valuable information about the kind of work you want. Tonight is a mix of fun and surprising love developments.
Hmm, interesting, very interesting... Watch this space...
Well, it's Friday and tradition has it that I write a Happy Friday post.
I am sitting here with quite a glow about me. Following on from Wednesday's declaration to start exercising again I am fresh from quite a workout. My joints have been a-creaking and a-groaning but it felt so good. Those muscles sure needed a stretch. I had intended to start on Wednesday but work was a bit too busy to take time out at lunch, then we went out in the evening. Yesterday I left the house at 7.15am and returned at the same time pm and crawled over the doorstep, so no leaping about last night! Excuses I know... I shall have to be stricter with my time management and not allow complete and utter exhaustion to get the better of me! Ha! Some hope...
I remember when Fridays meant wild nights out. These days it's usually a struggle to stay awake past 10 o'clock. I can't even enjoy a glass of wine without it knocking me out.
I'll tell what put a spring in my step this week though. I was thrilled to bits to be featured on Victoria Pettella's art blog - Enchanting the Invisible. She put me in her creative spotlight. I feel quite humbled to be such illustrious company. Victoria (aka Kiki) paints mystical figures and weaves enhanchments with her words.
Have you read 'Garden Spells' by Sarah Addison Allen? I really think you should... It's quite magical - just remember never to eat any of those apples though! I've had my nose immersed in it all week just before bedtime. I could probably have finished it much sooner, but I was enjoying my nightly excursion to Bascom so much that I wanted to prolong my little holiday for as long as possible. Can anyone recommend anything similar?
I posted a giveaway yesterday to spread my happy, so do join in if you are interested. I'm inviting for you to share one (or more!) of your favourite artists to help feed my voracious appetite for inspiration and creative loveliness.
I took this picture last summer, but it seemed perfect for this post - I added a few spells in photoshop :)
A busy week but I'm still smiling which is surely a good thing and therefore worthy of a Happy Friday post. And why not I say, why not?
Happy taste buds (not so happy waistline)
I've just eaten my fourth of these cupcakes. Not in one go, I hasten to add although I did eat three yesterday. What can I say? There were there... They were tasty... They called to me... Hosted an employee event at work and these were part of the refreshments. My excuses for consuming three in the space of a few short hours was a) naturally it was essential that I tested then to make sure they were suitable for general consumption; and b) there was a great deal of manual labour involved with lugging chairs, tables, bottles, glasses and general bits and pieces, so clearly I worke them off!
***
Happy mail
Earlier in the week I answered the door to the postie to find a neat little package all for me! I was so lucky to win a giveaway on Claire Barone's Curious Emporium blog. This cute little bunny girl and a fancy brooch. You must check out her artwork which is adorable. Hers is one of those blogs I recently stumbled upon (but haven't a clue how I found her!), but now make regular visits. She has an Etsy shop too.
***
Happy art
Although the back end of this week has been a little dry in terms of artistic output, last weekend certainly made up for it and the warm feelings of so much productivity persist! Here's another fairy! She was the sketchbook try out for what eventually became my Butterfly girl.
Now, I've written before about how so often I'll find mermaids appearing on the page when they were never intended, well from next week they can splash their way into my art as often as they desire for I shall be partaking of Suzi Blu's Sirens course. Week one will see us working on colour matching. My pencils are itching to get started. My bank balance is crying (for some new paint seemed entirely necessary). Watch this space for scales, tails and mermaid wails!
I haven't written a Happy Friday post for a few weeks - mainly because I've not exactly been my usual bouncing self. My writing this week has reflected the downturn in mood which swings with a temperamental wind. That's not really a great excuse is it? Makes me sound rather sulky!
I am, however, here writing for Happy Friday this week. I haven't exactly reversed completely out of the gloom but I have come to realise and appreciate just what I do have. When I wrote a post earlier this week sharing my feelings of overwhelm I was reminded just how valuable this wonderful online community is that I am a part of - the words of encouragement and support given by my fellow bloggers were just the lift I needed. I felt a part of a tribe and that's always a good, safe place to be. So let me just use this opportunity to say a heartfelt "Thank You" to you all.
Not only that but I have a loving family, I earn (just about!) enough and have time to play with my art. My life is full and happy.
Moving on, let's just share another little Friday Happy. I've just been dipping fresh bread cut from a loaf into egg yolk. Simple food. Simple pleasures. Rich egg yolk is one of the most comforting foods in existence - a life giver in every sense. Oh, and should I mention there was sizzling bacon on the plate too... and baked beans... all washed down with a nice cup of tea!
I have been so creative this week. I have become surgically attached to my coloured pencils and sketch book. I can't get enough. I work hard all day only to come alive at dusk when the graphite scrapes across the paper and faces appear to me from the white pages urging me to listen to their stories.
The last year has been the most creatively prolific of my life. I'm like a woman possessed. I am not sure that I have ever been so dedicated to a cause or maybe the word should be 'addicted'. Is it a high I am experiencing? A rush of endorphins dancing through my veins into my creative soul? Whatever, I love it. It makes me happy and gives me such a giddy rush.
It's a shame I didn't feel like this while studying art for A Level back in my youth. Why did I allow the bare minimum to be enough? Where was my passion then? My drive, my fire? Was it the lack of inspiration from my teachers, or was inspiration missing?
Well, let's take those as two questions.
1. My art teachers were pretty rubbish. This week Suzi Blu has been teaching me. No contest. The woman is my hero.
2. Inspiration. Again. No contest. How lucky the youth of today are to have an entire world at their fingertips. I can reach out from everyone from the great Masters to new arty friends I met through blogging in seconds. I can type a simple keyword and be bombarded with colours, textures and dreamscapes. It is the most incredible thing and I love it as I love my new friends and this wonderful tribe of creatives I have become a part of.
This is my Friday Happy post for the Happy Book Group. Yesterday, our tribal leader Jamie wrote an interesting piece on how even little nibbles on the creative delicacies can be so good for our souls. It had me leaping around in my seat with agreement. Now I am off to paint some more. For now, I'll you with a work in progress, a finished mermaid (prompted by so many positive comments on my original post last week and originally inspired by artistic blog hopping) and a little sketching experimentation...
An artistic prompt on Freedom... Hmmm... my mind wandered to revolutions and liberty. My voice sang along with George Michael and my heart soared with the words of Martin Luther King. That's where the problem began. I read his most famous speech and I felt so humbled, so overwhelmed. This was the freedom I wanted to paint. But wow, how do you paint that passion? How do you get inside that ring of freedom and bring it to life?
My paintbrush just sat there laughing at me. Sometimes it is so easy to respond to these creative prompts. This week though my mind was overflowing plus I was so busy with ... well ... life that I didn't have the freedom to create.
I gave up in the end and decided to just give myself the freedom to create whatever I fancied. I just let the Muse take over. She was clearly in a strange mood... But thinking about it, why shouldn't we just paint whatever we like. Why do we need to be focused on what other people might think. This painting was not going to be for sale. Yes, it would be placed on t'internet for all and sundry to gawp at, but should I care what people think about my art? I think I grew up believing that art should be realistic. I carefully painted flowers and landscapes to match their natural counterparts. Now, at last, I am letting myself go. Art for me now isn't just about delicate watercolours. Now it is about experimentation, collage, texture, feeling and, yes, Freedom!
So, this is my post this week for Inspiration Avenue, but also I'll stick it in the Happy Friday category too. Creativity is what makes me happy and between the day job and the small grabbed moments of messy play this week, it has been a good one!
It seems I am a writer? Scratch that... Am I? Well, writing sure made me happy this week. And what did I do at work all week? Write... Quite a lot... What do I do most weeks... Write. When someone is having trouble getting their wording right or want a fresh take on a piece of work, who do they turn to? Well, me.
When I'm at home of an evening and have a moment to myself. Do I watch TV? Nope, I make art or ... I write.
When a friend asks for help with some wording for a marketing idea, do I say no? Course not. I leap in with enthusiasm for I am doing what I love. Take right now for instance. The kettle has boiled; coffee could be made. It could indeed, but I am having far too much fun doing this. My thirst can be quenched later.
My writing makes me happy. It also appears to make other people happy too. Why do I find it so hard to admit to myself that I might be good at it? Why does the thought of writing a book seem such an unwieldy challenge? Why are there so many questions in this blog post?
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and given me praise this week. You have made me very happy. You know who you are. Big smiles.
Pop along and see what is making everyone else happy this week in the Happy Book Group... and stay tuned because I have a cunning plan on that subject...
I also made my first foray into the world of Twittery Tweets this week. Now, those of you who know me might wonder how I am coping condensing my thoughts down to just a measly 140 characters. It's tough I tell you. I have however managed to suss it out. What you do is write a really long blog post then just announce it on Twitter. Problemo solved!
It is so exciting to be English at the moment! Why? Well, because we're going to win the World Cup of course! Everywhere you go the flags are flying, t-shirts shout of messages of support and even sausage rolls have England football branding on them. We are England!
The thrill of anticipation is building to fever pitch as we prepare to shout the boys to victory tomorrow against those Yankie upstarts*. I was surprised to realise this morning that this... FOOTBALL... is making me happy! Wow, I never thought I was this much of a fan, but I can't wait for the match. I've got the beers in, the crisps and dips. I've downloaded the music and danced around the kitchen to Dizzee Rascal. I would have been yelling "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" had I not got a sore throat. I will save my voice for tomorrow in anticipation of shouting at the referee when I suddenly become a football pundit.
* with apologies to my 'Yankee' friends and readers!!
Thinking about it, this does tend to happen to me every four years or so. It would have been two years had England not managed to fail to qualify for the Euros... Shame on you boys... Shame....
I remember back in my student days... Italia '90. I lived in a house with three boys and two other girls. Worried there might be fights over the TV, the one of the lads borrowed an extra telly so we could watch girlie flicks upstairs while the boys tended to important matters. But he needn't have bothered. We were all glued to every game. Our house became the place to watch the matches with bodies crammed onto sofas and squished into gaps on the carpet. Beer was spilt, crisps trodden into the carpet but no one noticed. All eyes on the game...
Remember when David Platt scored in the last minute of extra time in the 4th round against Belgium taking our boys through to the quarter finals? The entire room lifted into the air in an eruption of unbridalled joy. It was like being in a mosh pit. Victory was ours for the taking and we took it. As one, around 25 drunk patriots headed over the road to the pub to have some more beer!
And here's what has been putting me in the mood this week. Second time I've shared it on my blog... Well, why not I say? Why not? As much as it's a song for the footie, I think it's also an unashamed celebration of being English - something we don't do enough of in this country!
"Shout" by Dizzee Rascal and James Corden DIZZEE: Come on England we need to sort it out, Put the champs down, Pull your finger out, Leave the wags alone, Set aside your ego, We're tired of bragging about 40 odd years ago, We need a victory, quick, fast, Tired of getting a kick - oi!, World cup 2010, Don't wanna see ya slip past, Think about the future, Surely it's the right time, I wanna see you win it in my lifetime, 1966 Bobby Moore and that Geogg Hurst put it to the turf - we applauded that, There was no ignoring that, Nobody could stop him, I gotta myself an England shirt I'm gonna rock it, Cos there's so much to play for, But we've got to come together [Ay oh, ay oh, ay oh, ay oh], You know we've got to come together now [Ay oh, ay oh, ay oh, ay oh], 1... 2... 3... Everybody sing
JAMES AND ENGLAND: Shout, Shout, let it all out, Come on England!!! These are the things I could do without, Come on, I'm talking to you - come on, Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough! Ay oh, ay oh, ay oh, ay oh And all the people sing Ay oh, ay oh, ay oh, ay oh Come on England!!!
DIZZEE: Pull your socks up let's get physical, We need team work - we don't need a miracle, We need Rooney iin tip top condition, Aaron Lennon down the wing like he's on a mission, It ain't no superstition, its not a luck thing, Rio Ferdinand nobody can !@$% With him!, Hope we get stuck in, on't get caught out, And stop trying to hog the ball, Knock the ball about, So much to play for But we've got to come together [Ay oh, ay oh, ay oh, ay oh], 1... 2... 3... Everybody sing
JAMES AND ENGLAND: Shout, Shout, let it all out, Come on England!!! These are the things I could do without, Come on, I'm talking to you - come on, Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!
(COMMENTARY: Steven Gerrard with the shot, It's in the net for England, Well there's been some doubts, But those doubts have been swept away now And England are heading for South Africa.)
JAMES: Shout, shout, let it all out, These are the things I could do without, Come on, I'm talking to you - come on [England... England... England... England... ] Come and have a go if you thing you're hard enough!
JAMES AND ENGLAND: Shout, shout, let it all out, [Ay oh, ay oh, ay oh, ay oh] Come on England!!! [Ay oh, ay oh, ay oh, ay oh] These are the things I could do without Come on, I'm talking to you - come on Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough! En-ger-land!!! En-ger-land!!! En-ger-land!!!
Seeing as I haven't blogged for days and remain stumped for words, I thought I would share my favourite silly news stories of the week for Happy Friday.
Sailing off into the sunset
A Kent man was rescued by the coastguard after his motor cruiser ran out of fuel on his way to Southampton. The foolish sailor, had only just bought the boat and was using a roadmap for navigation. As if this wasn't embarrassing enough, he was also rather bemused to discover that he had only travelled a few miles from his starting location despite travelling for the entire day. His cunning plan of keeping the coast on this right might have worked had he not set his starting point at the tiny Isle of Sheppey. It is not known how many times he circumnavigated the island but Sammy the Seal says he saw him sail past his rock at least 15 times...
I vote for playtime
A six-year-old boy from Devon was mistakenly sent a polling card for next week's election. All the major political parties are keen to win his vote but Ciaran says he wants more tipper trucks on the roads and longer playtimes and I'm not sure that appears in any manifesto.
Is my mic off?
Like something from a sit-com, Gordon Brown showed us this week that he is what we all thought he was anyway - a bit of a misery guts. After doing his smiling rounds of potential voters he climbed into his (getaway) car and, forgetting his microphone was still attached, proceeded to have a good old moan about the woman he had just been forced to have an amiable chat with. Little did she realise that her '15 minutes of fame' would be centred around the Prime Minister calling her a Bigot. Guess she won't be voting labour any time soon then!
I'm disappointed that in this election run up there haven't been more of these gaffes. It's all gone far too smoothly so far. I'm waiting with baited breath for "ugly babies" and "stinking voters" next week. Come on Dave and Nick... don't let us down!
And finally...
Scentastic
Scientists have developed a spray that can make men more affectionate. Just a puff or two of the cuddle chemical will make the most macho of men show their feminine side and express a desire to watch soppy movies.
Let me tell you what's been making me happy this week - for is it not Happy Friday? I've been reliving my creative splurging activities from my Wreck this Journal summer. My new art e-course has had us doodling, staining and splatting with merry abandon. My art output had slowed down for the last few weeks - a mixture of not enough time and an attitude that every piece had to be a proper work of art, something that took hours... So back to frivilous fun is a welcome change.
Picture above comes from my journal. It started as wonderful splats from a soggy teabag dropped at height, then I flicked dark and rich coffee at it. In a nostalgic return to childhood I carved up some potatoes to make the TEA stamps. I wanted to add some collage and flicked through magazines for inspiration. This lady waved at me and yelled "pick me, pick me", so on she went. I loved the summery pattern on her dress so took that as inspiration for the rest of the piece and doodled these big flowers. A bit of fun with some inktense pencils and water and it was complete!
I'd forgotten that it's just as much fun and food for the soul to play with art too. And play I have. Unfortunately I also forgot that my VAT return is due (panic to get all the paperwork for that sorted out the weekend ahead of visit to the accountant!).
On another happy note (forgetting about the looming presence of the tax man for a while), this weekend I am planning a trip to Mexico. I bought my ticket yesterday and stocked up on all the goodies I will need this morning. I'll be there this evening when I tuck into Queso Fundido with the family, then tomorrow we'll be enjoying Chicken & Chorizo in an Almond Mole - washed down with a zingy Margarita...
OK, so the 'ticket' was actually only a cookbook but hey, with the right music, the promised sunshine and the proper mood we really could be dancing in that colourful country!
I listened to a weather expert yesterday. He told me that wherever you go in the UK this weekend you will get rained on. Well, who cares? We need a bit of the old wet stuff to keep us going after all. It's Spring! It's Easter!
This weekend I intend to paint, love, cuddle, relax and think (and possibly eat chocolate). I've already managed to get covered in paint once already today (making Easter cards with my boy) and then we went on a magical adventure with the delightful Nanny McPhee (small c; big P). She's gone now to find some more naughty children who need her help but don't necessarily want it...
I've had a grand week. Nice and busy with work and some successes to show for it. Small boy brought home a football trophy yesterday - Player of the Month - perhaps he will be playing for the Mighty Arsenal in about 12 years and I can retire. (There is a very good reason why I have chosen this football team - eh Sweetheart?). He also won the prize for finding the most Easter Eggs. Really not too much of a surprise that one.
Oh yes, and the Easter Bunny came early. I was lying in bed last night when I heard this tap tapping at the window. The little furry fella was down on the lawn chucking stones. "Let me in", he whispered... Ordinarily, I would do no such thing. I mean everyone knows that you don't let strange rabbits in your house in the middle of the night and still expect to find carrots left in the morning. However, he did at least come with the right credentials (special Bunny ID and a large stash of chocolate). We are still finding little eggs now. He hid them under cushions, in car transporters and art boxes, on top of things, round the back of things and in so many unexpected places. He also left tiny muddy footprints all over the carpet... Hmm...
I booked a holiday this week... Yup, that picture up top is where I am a goin'.
My friends at Inspiration Avenue and I are planning a blog party - more on this next week. Hope you all can some. It will be so much fun.
I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to the dear friends I may have tricked with my post yesterday. You see it was April Fool's Day and well... I just couldn't resist... Please forgive me!
When Botticelli woke up the morning after he had finished painting Venus, I wonder how he felt. Do you think he looked and thought... "Yes, Sandro. You've done it. A Masterpiece." Had he any inkling that it would become one of the most famous paintings in the world hundreds of years after he applied that final stroke to canvas? Do you think he woke with a smile? Was he happy? Was he proud of himself?
Well, I'm proud of myself! I sat down tonight for a quick sketch for 10 minutes or so. I'm planning a canvas of my own featuring the lady herself. I thought I'd try a quick graphite practice before I applied her features over my layers of collage on my big canvas.
Several hours later I put pencils down... It may be far removed from the work of a genius but this was, for me, a labour of love. I am not sure I ever enjoyed creating anything so much. I don't care if no one else thinks it is good apart from me and picks up on the mis-matched slightly wonky eyes. This was only ever meant to be a quick 10 minute sketch to get the feel for her. I just couldn't stop. I'm cold from sitting still so long and have a bit of backache from bending over my sketchbook. I had a soundtrack of just three songs playing on repeat keeping my Muse flowing. I daredn't change them for fear of scaring her off. My iTunes shows rather a large number of plays for Hayley Westenra this evening. I am so pleased with this piece.
Oh, and before I go to bed... One more thing. Look at that nose! I did it. I actually drew a nose I'm happy with. Well... I did have some guidance from a Master. Thanks Sandro!
The scan is a bit of a disappointment with some colours going awry and losing the blue background entirely, but you get the gist. And the original has some red blob on it because I was just using up a slightly damaged page in my sketchbook! Typical!
This seems the perfect post to share with Jamie Ridler's Happy Group this week as it certainly put a smile on my face :). It is also my first entry for the Following the Masters group - inspired as it is by the topic this month - the Italian Renaissance.
I've been picking glue out of my fingernails all week. Well you know how I love to get sticky. I found another little hobby to play with. Paper bead making. Now how easy is this? You just get an old magazine, newspaper or some scrapbook paper, make a long thin triange, roll it up around a cocktail stick, stick it with some glue et voila - one bead. Then you like that so much that make another - two beads - and other and another, all the while experimenting with sizes and shapes until suddenly you realise you've got enough for a full set of jewellery. Well, nearly!
I do feel I might get bored of this hobby fairly quickly, but for this week it has been fun and strangely soothing so I will share as my Happy Friday post.
The beads in the picture aren't 'ones I made earlier'. I figured that 'borrowing' someone else's picture may be easier and quicker than trying to photograph mine (and they have made a few more) - I'm on a hectic schedule today. In fact, if you like the look, but can't be doing with all that fiddly stickiness, then you might like to buy these to support women in Uganda. Here's the link to where I found the picture.
Before I go, a quick reminder that the Inspiration Avenue art auction for the Angel Faces charity ends on Sunday. Don't miss your chance to buy something pretty and help disfigured girls.
For my happy sharing this week, I am cheating slightly and borrowing the talents of others. I'd love to direct you to some wonderful postings that made me smile and clap with joy.
First, have a read of Amelia's musing on what art can teach us about life.
Do you believe in fairies? Read this post and watch the YouTube link set within (be sure to view it all now), then tell me you don't believe...
Finally, more YouTube magic. Have a listen and let the dance vibe invade your soul.
It's Friday. It has been a grand week. I've been working, painting and my kitchen ceiling has finally been repaired! Not only that but I finally managed to choose which colour to paint the walls. It was a tough call between Willow Tree (which is actually blue, rather than the green you expect it to be) and Melon Sorbet. The fruity concoction won, the decorator will be here on Wednesday.
All this talk of melons leads me nicely onto my next subject - fruit! (I should have been a tv or radio presenter with link lines like that, don't you think?).
I'm hosting the Inspiration Avenue fruit challenge this week and as I wish to be the hostess with the mostest I hurried down to the greengrocers to stock up on fruity delights. As I flitted between the bananas and pineapples my mind was a blur and my mouth a salivation. What treats would my guests most desire? Sweet cherries or plump grapes? A moist mango, a palatable pear, or the nectar of an orange. I couldn't decide so I bought the lot.
Now, this greengrocer takes his reputation most seriously and being 'green' does not provide his customers with plastic carrier bags. Being a forgetful soul, I had omitted to bring anything with which to carry home my purchases so....
I put them on my head!
The spirit of this post is one of great joy and frivolity and, being a Friday and all, it fits rather snugly into Jamie Ridler's Happy Friday group too. Why not pop along there and share what made you happy this week. Well, I think you may have guessed that for me the 'cherry on top' was definitely getting fruity with my painting!
I am a writer, an artist and a dreamer, a Creativity Coach and maker of meaning. I am on a journey following my heart. It promises to take me to some incredibly exciting places. Won't you join me?
I am a writer, an artist and a dreamer, a Creativity Coach and maker of meaning. I am on a journey following my heart. It promises to take me to some incredibly exciting places. Won't you join me?