She is..

this photo was snapped about a year ago and it's one of my absolute favourites of Miss Moo. up until now though - i wasn't sure what to do with it - (or the yellow and blue paper with roses on it that i was given ...) and by accident i teamed up these papers and i think they actually work really well! so she's not only radish, she's sunshine as well... X me

a radish and a jewel...

now this doesn't mean i don't think my gorgeous girl isn't a jewel either - it's just that you have to capture the essence of the photo - don't you agree? and when i found the little radish button - coupled with the quirky face, i just couldn't resist! and the other one? well - it speaks for itself really - this is a moment - a memory of such great importance - a jewel amongst all others that i never want to forget...

i think i may have invented a new affirmation word - "oh hey i love that painting - it's sooo radish!"

hope you're day is radish too, X me

some friends and a fairy...

so idecided to put the plant and little birdie on the left hand side - what do you think? i'm really happy with it and must say it's one of my faves. what i love most about painting these wonderful women is not nowing what they will look like when i start out - not knowing

what type of personality will be there when it's finished. they seem to come alive of their own accord on the canvas - it's quite thrilling!

my fairy godmother is great too - don't you think? perhaps she needs big gold hoop earrings though - she does seem to say'gypsie' to me - a sort of gypsie fairy godmother fairy... i hope you're dreaming big and believing big today. i am...

X me

WATCH THIS!!!

this is so funny and so true. i'm gonna watch it ten more times...

calling all tribe members!

so - one of the reasons why i want to put my paintings on my blog is for feedback. and not just the tickle-my-ears type - you know? it is always good to get a fresh perspective - someone with fresh eyes - someone who doesn't know me at all - purely objective...

i've repainted the background on this one about three times and it's getting to the point where i'm almost happy with it. here's where my indescision lies - do you think i should add anything to the left side - the negative space? i won't even mention what my thoughts are there as i don't want to taint your ideas. anything would be great - i think all suggestions/critique is helpful - so please - let me know what you reckon!

have a wonderful day - hope you're finding time to be creative! X me

how to climb a mountain

i found this little ray of sunshine today. just a little one - but have you ever noticed how even the tiniest light in a dark room can make all the difference? lately i am in the midst of trying to climb my own mountain and this beautiful piece of poetry sums it all up perfectly at the moment. i have so much to say, so much i could say about the way, but the words are just a jumbled mess. so rather than listening to my dribbling litany of life at the moment, read this instead. this is perfect...

how to climb a mountain

Make no mistake. This will be an exercise in staying vertical.
Yes, there will be a view, later, a wide swath of open sky,
but in the meantime: tree and stone. If you're lucky, a hawk will
coast overhead, scanning the forest floor. If you're lucky,
a set of wildflowers will keep you cheerful. Mostly, though,
a steady sweat, your heart fluttering indelicately, a solid ache
perforating your calves. This is called work, what you will come to know,
eventually and simply, as movement, as all the evidence you need to make
your way. Forget where you were. That story is no longer true.
Level your gaze to the trail you're on, and even the dark won't stop you.

By Maya Stein

i did manage to read the whole poem, although i must say, the first line jagged me. i read it over and over - it is so true. i'm really just trying to stay vertical - but trying to believe also that the dark wont be able to stop me either. are you struggling up a mountain today? i hope this gives words to your experience and brings a little ray of sunshine onto your path as well. Thankyou Maya.

Tree Time

i can hardly believe that it's been raining here all day... now for those of you in the northern hemisphere - you may not realise just how dry it's getting down here. this has been the dryest month on record i believe and i can truly only remember about two or three days where it's rained on and off all day long, in over a year. you can actually hear the earth sigh...

yesterday i took the kids for a drive to a little town north of here for a picnic. it was such a lovely day and we found this gorgeous tree at the park which the kids were actually able to climb in relative safety. there were about twenty sections of trunk all growing from ground level and twisting up into a low type tree - so much fun.

i hope you're having a happy day wherever you are. thanks for stopping by for a while, x me

my cave experience

i got to paint on saturday, all day, and this is what i came up with ...

to be able to create , on my own, all day. to not have to make lunches, do dishes, listen and talk all day long, or be the crown control...ahhhh t'was such bliss!

how was your weekend? good i hope. thanks for stopping by, x me

press in...

here she is! i stayed up late last night and worked away on her face - i just love seeing the personality unfold. i love doing the face. this one too was created on clayboard - such a great medium. she measures 12 x 16 " and was a good size for me when it comes to painting the face. if it's too small, i find blending hard - probably 'coz i'm such a novice lol!

The words say 'press in' 'embrace the spikes' and 'move on' i'm sure there would be many of you who may find all or some of these words true. i've been thinking alot lately about the whole notion of leaning into the hard parts of life, rather than recoiling away from them (the natural reaction). it's a difficult challenge. possibly the most difficult.

i mean i'm not real keen on embracing the spiky painful bits, but it seems to me through reading and listening to others who have braved the spikes and come out the other side that it's the best way to go. because once you have conquered something, a fear or a failure or a great big dismal looking valley, and walked out the other side intact, then there is really nothing you can't do. and i suspect that with that 'thing' behind you - one can walk away and not have to deal with it ever again. so here's to being brave. here's to being strong and facing life's challenges head on. here's to all the people who have come out the other side - i feel your collective encouragement - thankyou!

X Me

45 Life lessons (25, 31 and 40)

rather than giving you the link to this i just had to have it posted here - i hope that's ok. full credit to the author - Regina Brett (see endnote for more details) i like these little kick-up-the-bum kind of articles. which one's speak mostly to your heart?

45 life lessons and 5 to grow on

by Regina Brett

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here’s an update:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
   
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
   
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
   
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
   
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
   
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
   
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
   
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
   
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
   
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
    
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
    
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
    
13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
    
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
    
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
    
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
    
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
    
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
    
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
    
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
    
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
    
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
    
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
    
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
    
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
    
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
    
27. Always choose life.
    
28. Forgive everyone everything.
    
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
    
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
    
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
    
32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
    
33. Believe in miracles.
    
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
    
35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
    
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
    
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
    
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
    
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
    
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
    
41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
    
42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
    
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
    
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
    
45. The best is yet to come.
    
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
    
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
    
48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
    
49. Yield.
    
50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

About Regina

Regina Brett is a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. Her column runs on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Recently, Regina was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. She was also a finalist in the same category in 2008.

A Sneek Peek and a Revamp...

Here's a piece I'm working on now - I may even finishe her off tonight but just thought i'd post a pic of it in is middle stage. i bought a couple of clayboards online and love them. i haven't actually used them to their potential - you can scratch out paint and sand your work back - a whole heap of techniques apparently, but i just love the hard surface they provide for doing mixed media on. previously i was buying thick blocks of pine, but they were sooooo heavy! obviously not conducive to posting off across the country if need be - or puttin gon a high shelf. so these are the perfect combination of being light, durable and a great hard surface to work on. in think i got these from Dick Blick - such a great online art store... and this is one i've posted recently, but i reworked her hair today to fall over her eyes. those bug eyes were really bugging me! so now she has a more sultry look. i don't think that wierd art is really were i'm at atm - that's not to say it wont resurface in the future - but for now i'm feeling a little safe! but i love love love the Luminart paints - so shiny - if you like that metallic look and thick and creamy and rough too - if you've ever seen a traditional aboriginal painting done in ochre - the texture on the surface is not dissimilar - yummy!
have a fantastic day wherever you are.

X Me