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simplicity – white

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As we drove along, the winding road seemed to disappear into a wall of fog.  There was a surreal atmosphere of quiet that wrapped itself around the truck.  We paused in our conversation to take notice of our surroundings.

Suddenly ahead we saw flashing lights.  2 men were standing by a truck, the drivers side door was open.  One man wore a bright yellow vest with a big fluorescent red X emblazoned on his back.  As we watched, he helped the other man put ona imiliar vest..  Ahead of the stopped truck was a big lit up panel blocking the way,  It too sported a big red X.

Slowing down, my husband rolled down his window… the one man who was already dressed in the special outfit, walked over to the truck, asking us where we were headed. When told where we were headed, he said, that we could go no further on the road we were on, but needed to take a detour that would be identified  when we turned the truck around.

My husband ever the news-hound, asked for information, and surprisingly we were told that there was a man with a weapon barricaded up ahead, and the whole area was cordoned off…  As we made our way to the detour, we thought about what we had been told.   Here we were out for a leisurely drive, content in our “world” and minutes away, was a very serious scene being played out.  Children were involved, the “suspect” was holed up in an area very close to a school.

This is very serious, we knew it was happening, but there was nothing we could do but proceed with our own “day” and let the “drama” play out as it may.  This was early afternoon, we later heard on the news, that the incident ended shortly after 5, no one was injured.  Maybe not physically, but what kind of “mental” stress was placed on the people who were involved in the incident.

On our way back, the fog had lifted, and the sun was shining.  It brought home for me, how important it is to live each moment with appreciation.  We never know what is around the corner.

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PL Precept # 18   Each Moment is a Turning Point

Oyashikiri

NB* we had a wonderful drive, the detour proved to be a meandering back road that was delightful. WE did get to Montebello, my sister, was able to tick the destination off of her to see list. In life, there is always BALANCE . and as noted, by the time we were heading back, the sun was shining and skies were blue.

Sisters

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Out of the night, the eyes stare down and fix on the emotion and passions of “desire” the colours shout and harmonize to dominate the midnight skies.  Fireworks in the sky …Q

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My sister’s colours, charm and delight with the quiet passion of one who colours from her heart,  bright and cheerful and  full of warmth.  Mother’s Pansies …… V

Oyashikiri

PL Precept # 2       To live is to express One’s Self

2 sisters, two styles,

PL Precept # 1      Life is Art

How we express ourselves, whether on canvas or another form of expression, is us, being true to ourselves.  We are all unique, let us respect and do our best to understand the differences and challenges around us.

We are all ONE.

PL Precept # 11     Always be with GOD

late night visitors

late-nite-fun

Good morning…. Bom dia,  Obviously the playground I posted pictures of the other day, stayed with me.

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Remember this… There is something playful about the design, I’m not usually drawn to bugs and the like.  Yet last night I found myself playing with the liquid acrylics and delighting in watching the shapes take shape.

If asked to do something whimsical, I would be hard pressed to come up with something, I consider myself to be more abstract.

Oh dear am I in a philosophical mood today, let me see.. today is the 14th. hmmm Hearts and Flowers day.  I can show you my totally not dry yet heart, cuz I’m trying a new medium that takes forever to dry, like 72 hours  or more before it is totally dry and finished reacting with itself. Oh dear I can smell it, but don’t see it,  where did I put it..

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Sorry I didn’t crop the picture, just snapped it with the handy iPhone.  That black stuff is something I got yesterday, now I  know why the gal suggested I might prefer clear or a white.  It supposedly contains the liquid medium.  They tell us not to marry  up with your first impression of what you do cuz as it reacts with itself, what you see will change.

There is a mixture that is very liquid, called Vitrail (pebeo)  one that is ceramic, one called Fantasy Moon, and one other in the Fantasy line called Prismo.  When mixed together they all have their own way of interacting with the other.. In theory if you know what you are doing, you can create wonderful fantasy pieces.

I am very new to this product, days if that..  AND no one I know uses it.. so it is a trial and error process.  That black I got yesterday and is called relief outliner.  All this to say, Good Morning, how are you.. I’m doing fine.

Today’s PL calendar (if you need one, contact me) says…      Work Happily with Good Rhythm        can you hear me humming =^_^=

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Here we go, romantic picture, dancing in the Universe, carefree and happy.  I wish each and every one of you, a day filled with love and appreciation.

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Never give up on your dreams, always remember that each moment is a lifetime, live NOW

PL Precept #1   Life is Art

We really are so blessed that we have the creative ability in each and every one of us to be ONE with the Universe…. always & forever…

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Grunge art my way

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Good morning everyone.    For a little while now I have been playing with different media, doing some of this and some of that.  This all started when I began doing handmade cards for our church (Church of Perfect Liberty) (institucion Religiosa perfecta libertad)

The first Precept (1 of 21)   #1  Life is Art    This is not about how you paint or draw, but rather how you use your creative expression to get through the day to day challenges of life.  How you see the opportunities that come your way and in accepting them, being able to grow and channel new found energy into your daily life.


 

. I love life, I love being alive, and the sense of wonder I get from even what most could consider a mundane moment.  Death is a by-product of life.  It happens.  When you lose someone who has been a part of your life, there is a sadness and a feeling of loss. However, if you have lived loving and cherishing the person, there are no regrets.  You live forming honest interactions – always – some people you connect with instantly  and with others..  it can take a long time, or… it just never happens.

Important here, is to be true to yourself, not someone else’s expectations, or how other’s want you to act or do something.  This is a concept not everyone understands, or appreciates.  Again, we all have  to live with our SELVES…  To do something we like means to follow one’s instincts and do and use whatever makes it happen.

The above picture is a card that I did for ME.  Not to put in the collection of cards at the church for sale, but for ME.  My wise little sister once said.. remember you are making cards to sell, that means you have to make cards that people will want and like.  Not her exact wording, but you get the drift.  She was right.  Handmade cards or any other craft, where you put your personal time and energy into creating or making something is a balancing act.

The “Artisan” “Craft” person can spend hours even months making something creating a piece they love, yet find that putting a “retail” value on it, is very difficult.  Many people simply do not want to pay for something that they feel they can get at a dollar store.. the fact that what they are getting in these places is manufactured and basically are made in the 1000s, doesn’t matter.  -” To each his/her own”

Because we are a throw away society, what is IN now , may not be in a couple of months or years..  I digress…oh dear… bottom line… we will skip the rest of this for now.. I’m sure it will crop up again =^_^=

Back to the picture.  I hadn’t picked up a paint brush in years. I mean yearS.  When I did, I found that I didn’t want to put it down.  I have been trying for a distressed look on the cards, using inks, pencils and markers… but never felt I got the results I really wanted. At times not even close.

I had my own idea, or image in my head, it just wasn’t happening with the tools I had.. BUT when I took brush in hand, and some inexpensive water colours I found on sale.. POP, SHZAMMMM, I loved what I was seeing.  Best of all the cartoon characters that I discovered in a shop in Montreal, Scrapbook Centrale, made me smile.. It was a new line for me, PaperArtsy.. you can find more about them at http://www.paperartsy.co.uk

I am letting go of what I think other’s may want, and maintaining my own sense of wacky, wild and wonderful.. I got up this morning and tweaked the card some more. It is fun fun fun.

PL Precept # 2    To Live Is to Express One’s Self

Oyashikiri

Artist Loft 4 n1 brush – Michaels ** multi functional great value

Cardstock – watercolour 130 lb. Strathmore

Artist Loft – basic 24 colour pallet – Michaels

Prang – oval 16           DeSerres

Yasuyomo – mettalics (16)     DeSerres

chop suey Tuesday

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Blue skies, dazzling sunshine, a fresh crispness in the air, it was time for a day trip. We are fortunate that we can just pick up and go, if the spirit moves us.  The landscapes look so different when they are blanketed with snow and the trees are bare of their leaves.

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Notice the happy shadows, at the time of my visit, they are free of critter tracks, but I’m sure had I ventured in further, I would have found evidence of the abundant life within the little woodland patch.

1-30-17-aI was content to simply peak silently into the little world I’d come across. Hoping that by standing very still, I’d catch a glimpse of another wandering nomad, or furry critter going about its day.

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The simplicity of the moment, the beauty of the shadow a silver-gray on the textured snow brings tranquility and beauty to my tired eyes. The natural sunlight, the fresh air, background noises of the woodland and the cars in the distance, all blend to harmonize into my moment of communion with Nature.

It takes but a second to connect, to allow God to colour our day with a joy of recognition, that it isn’t man-made news that is important, rather the essence of happiness lies within.  Life IS.

To achieve peace and happiness, we must find it first within ourselves.  Peace is a by-product of LOVE.

PL Precept # 10   Love Yourself and Others

PL Precept # 11  Always be with God

cloud-and-sky

optical artistry

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voici le moment

au fond de moi, j’en suis certaine

at this moment

I am certain

from deep within

my spirits stirs

I feel the warmth

of recognition

the comfort of knowing

a new day has begun

somewhere near

the sun is bright

even tho’

I am here in the night

God is everywhere

day and night

we are ONE

Oyashikiri

Wordless Wednesday -almost=^_^=

kappa-za

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

-black garlic and..

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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.

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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.book-cover-another-view

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.

making friends

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.

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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 =^_^=

“Art” books

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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.

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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

 

 

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