Happiness is when a group of people come together to combine their talents to bring smiles to the audience, young and old.
The Perfect Liberty Kappa-Za work tirelessly, and diligently to bring the “Way” of Perfect Liberty to everyone.
Let us also put “Makoto” (sincerity) into everything we do. Make every second count.
Oyashikiri
You kidding me right… nope… black garlic… it is AMAZING, says on the container YuHongYuan peeled black garlic head – ready to eat and cooking. You have to know that I was not going to pass an opportunity to try it out. Delicious.
Got it at the check out aisle of the local T & T Asian grocery store. I do believe T & T has a website, you can likely find their other locations by checking the web. You store it in a cool dry place. room temperature, avoid sunlight. It is a product of China, imported by Uncle T foods, Richmond, BC.
Now.. please allow me to thank everyone who commented on the mixed media book cover, I’ve now finished with the one that I started the other day. At least for now.
It was a learning experience for me. I especially liked the texture and look of the Sludge that I got from DeSerres, you can’t see the reharvested copper cinder, because when it dried, it dried clear, but you can feel the texture when you are touching the various parts of the cover where it was used. The particles are in a professional grade gel medium. Product is TriArt’s reharvested series.
I used two different batches of Sludge, #29211 ( deep forest greens) Batch 27783 is deep purples. Sludge is made from 100% recycled pigments harvested from TriArt’s washing process. Remember if you want to be sure the colours are going to be similar .. use the same batch number, the shades can vary from batch to batch. Again you will find this product at DeSerres.
Crackling acquired by using Distress crackle paint, this is a Rangers product. I used clear rock candy in this project. IMPORTANT, allow the medium to dry on its own. I believe you get better results by being patient.
I’m keen to start another one, but first, I need to catch up on the cards for the church. Hearts and Flowers month will soon be here, and I need to get some special cards done for our PL Card table.
Happy dabbling and playing. When you do something, do it with a happy and joyful intent. Pl Precept # 2 To live is to Express One’s self.
Oyashikiri
La vie de l’homme est une suite d’expressions du soi.
As I pondered my life this morning, my Mother in the hospital, cherished friends in far distant lands, others busy with their lives I reflected on the current project I’m working on.
This is another of the books I collected out of the throw away box. It was published under the direction of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, The church of England, The church of Scotland, the list goes on. It has maps and plans inside, along with the text of course. The cover was rather battered, especially I don’t know how long it had been exposed to the elements or where it had been prior to being thrown away.
I’ve used masking tape to protect the center of the cover and I’m working at giving the rest of the cover some strength and I hope character back.
Our lives are lived pretty much like this book. We are conceived, given birth to, presented to the world, and then…………… who knows where we will go or end up. Each one of us has our own path, destination/goal, and how we achieve or get there.. is our own personal journey.
Facing the possibilities of my Mother’s journey, gives me plenty of time to reflect on my own journey. Which brings me back to friendships. Some friends you have known, have carved a place in your heart that will last forever, yet you may never see them again, for their paths have gone in different directions. Or… the value of the friendship was not balanced, that happens too.
The one person, that is the most important person of all, is yourself. When I’m working doing art projects, or creating, I’m allowing my self-expression to be seen or heard. I may be the only one who sees it, but the act of BEING is…. in fact.. making friends with mySELF.
PL Precept #11 Always be with God.
PL Precept # 15 All is a Mirror
GOD is the constant in our lives. When we are quiet, silent, STILL, we feel and hear from within, not the external machines and noises around us.
PL Precept 20 Live Maintaining Equilibrium between mind and matter
(Vivez en harmonie materielle et spirituelle) this is so important for us to work towards achieving.
PL Precept #1 Life is ART
Oyashikiri
Thanksgiving Service tonight at 7 pm. See you then =^_^=
Good morning everyone. these are a few of the books I’m recycling. A few have been worked on more that others. At this stage, they are really being prepped, or prepared for their days of adventure ahead
Some get collage, on half a page, some a full page, this is a start to revamping them into a collection of ideas, and possibilities. Each page is a new canvas. To work on the pages they have to prepared. By working this way, one gets to see how the media works on the different qualities of paper used by the book maker.
For example, glossy papers are not handled in the same way as pages from a dictionary or an older book that may have faded yellowed pages, that you want to keep, the page still needs to be prepped but you require a product that enhance and preserve the parts of the page you want to keep.
It took me awhile to begin working with recycled books, I was always taught to treasure a book. When I saw so many that were simply discarded, slowly my thinking changed. One of the books in the little grouping was an old library book with the little piece of paper in the back where it would have been stamped in and out by the library staff, and a small pocket for what used to hold the library card info.
The content pages of the book were all detached from the binding, some pages so faded and old they couldn’t be read or handled that much. When asked what would be done with the book, I was told it would be junked (garbage) It was a copy of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Black Arrow. It had been published in London,W1 by Bancroft Classics, original sale price $1.25
Sorry friends, I bought it and came home with my prize. I’ve put aside the original text from the books, and reused the cover and spine, adding different card stocks and Kraft papers to build a new body for it. Not sure yet what I will do with the text pages, but I can use them .. and eventually I will.
When I am working on these books, I get to read the pages, and see where the book falls open to.. meaning the previous owner had looked at these pages often, and by the highlighting, they wanted to retain, and learn the lessons, this book provided them.
That quote by Thomas Paine is “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
The Sophocles quote ” One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is Love”
Life is for living, sharing and enjoying. Where a discard book is recycled, it once more shares “itself” with the world.
Oyashikiri
PL Precept #1 Life is Art
After a meeting at the church, a friend and I went out to lunch, after all Chinese New Year is happening, and the Mandarin on Hunt Club was having a special Chinese New Year Buffet, offering dim sum, and other special dishes. for the celebration. Having indulged ourselves in the many dishes, and the array of desserts offered, we headed back to the church so my friend could get her car.
A stop along the way, was for me a small bonanza of free books. Now that I’m happily working on recycling books, into my own personal versions of “junk journals” I picked out books by size and age. I was not interested in the content but rather the size .. quality of paper was also important but I was going to be using gesso or acrylic paints to change them anyway.
I was particularly drawn to this little 4x 6 book, it was nicely bound and had enough pages for me to get “junk” look to go with my other projects. I had no intention of doing any work on the books when I got home, I planned on just putting them aside for another day.
PL Precept #7 Everything exists in Relativity
PL Precept #15 All is a Mirror
When I got in, the little book fell to the floor, I bent down to retrieve it and saw handwriting in it. I glanced at the writing and realized that it was someone’s journal. The pages were highlighted, small pencil notations were on almost every second page. Someone had read and re read the book from cover to cover. In the back I saw that this particular book was one obtained at a conference on the theme of the book. There was a page with the 12 steps (12 step program) and a few other pages, with goals and objectives etc.
Needless to say, it was like looking into someone’s private, very private thoughts. The person had even identified the book, in case of loss, name and address labels were prominent on both back and front covers. The book was not current. I wondered how it had come to be in a pile of books being given away, left out as garbage at a thrift shop.
Without further thought, I found myself searching for papers, cuttings and colours to depersonalize the book, I removed the labels and then began to paint and glue.
Pl Precept # 19 Begin Once you Perceive
The transformation will not happen overnight, these journals take sometimes years to complete. IF EVER….. that is just the nature of the journals. Unless you are doing a particular theme for a give away, or to share .. They are ongoing projects, and become part of your “personal” inventory of treasures
When I told my friend about the find, she asked if the person had achieved their goal.. I didn’t have the answer, it would have meant that I would have had to read her/his thoughts and try to know his/her mind. Some artistic expressions are to share, others… are for one’s own pleasure.
There are printed pages of the book, that I will leave as is, there are thoughts in there that I can reflect on when I visit the journal from time to time. Like sharing with a friend.
I love sharing with a friend, and today I made a new one. how beautiful is that.
Oyashikiri
What happens when suddenly you realize it is Thursday! Wow, like how did this happen, it came at me right out of the blue.
Like the seasons, was it just yesterday I sat and watched the birds fly by on the horizon, couldn’t have been, when I look out side now, the world is white, we’ve had snow. Lots of it, although, it was so mild yesterday, temperatures went up to 40 degrees F. Today is going to be another mild day.
I had thought of going to New York city for the Perfect Liberty Thanksgiving service this month. The thought of seeing NY again, I’ve been away from some time, actually a LONG time, so close to the Chinese New Year, a side trip down to Chinatown would have been a real treat.
If you saw my blog the other day on Chinese New Year, and took the time to watch the video on the foods prepared for the special celebration, you would have seen a lot of colour, especially reds.
It was not to be. In the Japanese Church of Perfect Liberty, we use a word, Kamuwaza, it basically means, “God’s Act” or through no other reason, but that “something” just doesn’t happen, due to many different circumstances. In this case, all the signs were not pointing towards a good productive trip, my pushing the envelope to go anyway, would mean that, my desire, my wishes, were “mine” and not necessarily were they going to happen.
The TAO. also addresses this, there are times when we simply need to listen to the “signs” around us, and STOP pushing forward. It is time to STOP, reflect, and regroup.
Noooooo I’m not bummed about it, a tad disappointed maybe, but I have learned, that everything has a reason, (season) and by staying tuned in .. PL Precept # 11 Always be with God.
PL Precept #17 Grasp what is essential AND
PL Precept # 20 Live maintaining Equilibrium between Mind and Matter.. Things will progress and develop (PL Precept # 16)
Life is beautiful when you live the PL WAY … every day, in every way.
Oyashikiri
January 27 New Year’s Eve – most shops will close by afternoon, everyone is in full preparation mode.
January 28 New Year’s Day – at midnight a barrage of fireworks with more in the morning and evening. Children are given red envelopes. (and seniors)
January 29,30, 31, February 1, 2 On these days, it is all about family, friends, Chinese New Year clip.. on travel for the lunar new year and relatives. The festive season, ends on February 1, on February 2, the 7th day of the celebrations, many go back to work. Some shops, companies and office will reopen on this day because 6 is a lucky number in Chinese culture.
February 3 – 11 the return travel begins, as everyone heads back to the towns, cities where they work.
The Lantern Festival, is on month 1, day 15… this year February 11. Some business may decide to only reopen on Feb. 15 (day 8) as 8 is also a lucky number. The non superstitious may reopen on day 7 (Feb.14)
Chinese New Year 2017, Jan 28/29…. will welcome in the year of the Rooster.
There is something to be said about a cold sunny day, when you can see the shimmering bling of the icicles as they hang from the roof edge. I have been trying to listen to the good advice from friends, “stay in, stay out of the cold, REST”, I think I’m soon going to be able to say, its been 4 weeks now! cough, cough, splutter, sneeze, wheeze and darn I’m tired.
This is a much better shot of the beautiful sculptured ice. The sky was the beckoning blue that makes me want to be outside. I don’t care it is cold, I’m happy outside, I layer up and I’m toasty warm.. the air is so fresh, crisp and deliciously brisk.
Thanks for the great feedback on the Sludge project, thought I’d show you a sneak peek.
.
This is a piece of a cover that I was very taken with. I liked it so much I kept the magazine for ages. Doing these “Art” journals has given me a new way to display and keep the pictures I like, without keeping a whole magazine. Eventually some time in the future, I will add to the pages.. this is the fun of it all.. there is no rush, no deadlines, just a great way to have quality time with myself doing “stuff” I like.
PL Precept #1 Life is Art
PL Precept # 18 Each Moment is a Turning Point
Make each moment count, enjoy being alive, be grateful, and appreciate that God is in your life…
PL Precept #11 Always be with God
When we live with love in our hearts…it is so much easier to express ourselves.
PL Precept #2 To live is to Express One’s Self.
Oyashikiri
May the joy of sharing
the gifts of appreciation
love, good health
and happiness
Bless your world
with friendships and experiences
that bring ever lasting
harmony
filling your days and nights
with heart-felt
peace for everyone
Ompah is in Ontario, a little out-of-the-way, but not so far one can’t get to it. The seasons change, right now I’m sure it doesn’t look like this. It will be snow-covered, and likely there will be a chill in the air.
My body has a cold right now. Notice I’ve disengaged myself from the body that is wanting to sneeze, wheeze and be a total drain on my energy.
I envision this wonderful location, patiently waiting for the cold to have its day and disappear.
Such is life, sometimes, Nature has its own agenda, time for me to settle down, find a cave and hibernate for a while. =^_^=
I’ll do that after Hubby takes me out for our anniversary dinner…..International Buffet.. yum.. what is it, you feed a cold or starve a cold?? later, I’ll dwell on it later… =^_^=
Oyashikiri
I know… I will own my decision to go out, when I should be tucked in bed… I will not complain if/when my body does not take kindly to my actions.
Pl Principle #2 the last part….. ” I will always be creative and will look for shortcomings in my OWN thinking and ACTIONS”
dymoonblog 