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PL Calendar day 7

zentangle card woodless colour sticks

Day 7

Don’t Strain, Don’t Rush, and Don’t be Greedy

When you are doing something, my may rush things to get good results quickly.  Instead relax and enjoy the process (PL, Perfect Liberty)

origami 3.4.18Remember this from yesterday.  I loved the simplicity of it, I wanted to do it.  To make it easier on myself, I asked the minister’s wife if she could please show me how to do it. Being a visual person, I do better when I see something done  (when it is totally foreign to me and origami is)  Her patience at folding the paper, and refolding to ensure that I was seeing where I had to turn the paper, how to fold a crease etc. was calming.

I didn’t know that I was so  hesitant to do it wrong, that I wouldn’t even try until I saw her do it.  The she patiently led me through the steps, one by one.

Me, “miss get it done” was learning something new,  I doubt it is something I will ever excel in, but I did it.  I have an artistic bent as you all know.  The mediums I do best in, are media that work WITH me, for example, my “style” of work, and my need to watch the process develop (I am getting better) finds me working with acrylic and water paints. Oils and I have not clicked over the years.  Yet I do work with mediums that require over night drying…I’ve never taken to oils.

This lesson has a lot to “say” to me. I know that I will do my best to apply myself to practicing the wisdom in this lesson.

I will do my best.. that is all any of us can do.

Have a good day everyone.. LOVE and Blessings.

Oyashikiri

 

 

 

Wednesday

zen tangle mini 3.4.18When we begin, there is only one line, by the time we have done, we are looking at what these  days is called a Zentangle.

I take my time, and use no end in mind, nor do I try to contemplate design, or a theme.  It is relaxation for me, so I simply allow myself to doodle.

zen tangle mini 3.6.18

Last night I began to colour in the various spaces.  Leaning towards greens, I  don’t try for perfection, and I don’t really try to stay within the lines.  I will be interested in seeing IF I finish this “expression”, or will I let it lie on my desk, forgotten, waiting for me to “catch” the “mood” again. If and when it is finished, will it look anything like it started out.  That is the beauty of these doodles. They allow, the mind to wander, and the hands to stray.

Mid week already.  Hope you have all had a good start to the week, and that today, will be a “stunner”  I challenged myself to do something creative every day.  Sunday I tried my hand at Origami

origami 3.4.18Hey, they aren’t perfect, but trying to learn something new and doing something creative every day, for me is relaxing, and by jim-minie  I can do with the R & R

Blessings everyone! Let your light shine through in all you do!

Oyashikiri

 

Enthusiasm

Africa - capetown harbour - seal

Good morning…

Looking at the Harbour Seal, I think… “yea.. that must be nice, a lazy afternoon, baking in the sun.”  Then the little voice in my head blurts out the reality, that I don’t know how to just laze around  and  snooze or “day-dream”

My reality is that I love being on the go and active.  I thrive with multiple tasks to get done, and my sense of accomplishment at the end of the day and reward, is knowing that come early to mid evening, I can settle down to some “internet” time. Quality time with Hubby, and then I like that “melting into sleep” that takes place.

Today’s calendar reads  “Enthusiasm will make things Interesting…”

“When you put your whole heart into what you are doing, you will begin to notice many important details and your creativity will blossom.”

This is so important, I love what I do, and I love the experiences that I live. Yes I make mistakes, and yes, I have done some head slappers.. I wonder, what!!! why!!! and how!!! did I let that happen, or “where” was my head.  That is a wake up.. and realization that it is time to stop and recall my lessons from the past, and work at not repeating them.

Enthusiasm… what a wonderful state of “being”…  Be ENTHUSED today.  Make it count.

Oyashikiri

 

 

dolls – thrift finds

img_0245.jpgI found a YouTube video the other day that showed how to shrink a doll’s head.  It is amazing what one finds on YouTube.  Although I had heard about custom dolls, and I saw finished products on eBay and the like, this was my first “how to” video on how to shrink the dolls head.  How doll artist were taking thrift store finds and recreating them into super models, fashion models, fantasy characters.

IMG_0244

This got me thinking. I knew I had or could have some interesting dolls to play with should I want to try this technique.  However, to shrink a head, I would need a doll with a wider face.

The other information I got was on how to take off all the make up that was  factory applied.  That meant I could redo their faces into any other kind of face that appealed to me when I started to reconstruct the doll.  These artist not only redo the face, they change the whole makeup from head to toe.

The doll on the far left will be a good candidate because her leg is broken at the knee.  She needs a new leg, someone had tried unsuccessfully to perhaps undress her and snapped her knee at the ball joint, it is ruined, unless I can dig out the broken stem.  If I replace the leg and totally repaint her, the different skin tones won’t matter.

IMG_0243

The Monster High Dolls, I love their faces,  so doubt I would play around with them, I have a collection of these little ladies that are just waiting for me to get to them to clean them up.

The two dolls on the end of the middle picture, I don’t know them, when you move their bent arm, they talk.  Actually the three of them, are not of too much interest to me, only the one I want to “change”.  Sometimes it is not till you get them home and have a good look them, that attraction either holds or it doesn’t.

Isn’t that what life is like too.  We think we want something, and we go in search of, and find what we think we want, only to discover when we have had time to be with the “object” or in the situation we thought we would enjoy… that we go.. “What!!!”

Time is a factor in all of this.. In 24 hours your mind can go through many warren holes and different doors.  Seen and taken in, sights and sounds, it hadn’t known when your first impulse came .. or an idea formed.

On the other hand, when you act on the spur of the moment, you can find that ..  “wow, that was a wasted effort”  That is what makes life so interesting, it can be so unpredictable, and if you say.. ” life is the same, day in and day out”  then my friend, you need a new viewer.

The only constant in life is change.  Think carefully, you are not the same person, from one day to the other.  The change might be miniscule, but change there is.

Oyashikiri

ink-drawing.jpg

From me to you… have a great day.. be kind to one another, share a smile, say hello!

death and dying

For me, mixed media 4.18.17

I was chatting with friend the other day,  since cancer is now factored into my life, we were discussing how people react to the word. It was interesting to note, that when I said that cancer was much like being told you are diabetic.  She did not agree.  Her reasoning was that cancer usually  meant death.  I understood that she felt that being diabetic your chances were much better. Diabetes is known as the silent killer.

We are born to die.  Death is something we all face.  A perfectly healthy person, can drop dead without warning.  Perhaps they were borderline.. high blood pressure, maybe it was cholesterol, or like my husband, out of nowhere, after living a lifetime with his heart, and never having a problem,  he was told, he  had an irregular heart beat and it was problamatic to his cancer treatments ?

I fail to see why cancer gets top billing, and why because someone gets the cancer card, it is deemed gloom and doom.  Sure there are difficult times, but someone with a gall bladder issue, will be driven almost insane with the pain that they endure till something is done about it.  A kidney stone,  is not a joking matter either.  And ladies, how about that 9th month party of labour pain and the utter joy of the delivery room.

Cancer is a wicked surprise, and it is a challenge, however, we still go to bed each night and wake every morning.  How we choose to make use of our time while we are awake and greeting the day, is our choice.  The love of life, and the understanding that this is not the time to squander our moments, means that life is full.  Love continues to grow and shine it’s light into our activities.

There is an appreciation of the blessings that we have been able to share, and continue to share.

There is no escaping death, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we are alive, and we will continue to live until the day/night comes when we go beyond what is here and now.  Then, we will be forever/always.

No more, no less.

 

Oyashikiri

 

crossing the road

Africa - Leopard tortoise

leopard  tortoise meandering along on his/her way, likely oblivious to the spectators following his journey.  It’s intent is to get to where it is going.

In the pouring rain today, sirens could be heard coming from different directions as I made my way across the city.  It was a constant downpour, so I wasn’t hurrying. I simply pointed myself in the direction I was headed, and followed the traffic in front of me, mindful of the speed limits and the traffic lights.

From the news this evening, I learned that in the early part of the day, there had been a lot of accidents with cars, trucks school buses going off the road and highways  due to the slippery conditions.  The usual pictures of vehicles in the ditch and the complaining that the darn weather was the cause of everything that happened.

I, like the tortoise accept that we live on this beautiful multi-facetted planet.. .. we are responsible for our actions. When one foot goes in front of the other, or a direction is taken, we are moving, it is me, myself and I  making the choices that move me through the day.

It is not the weather that had me leave the house without an umbrella, it was a choice I made to leave without one.  If I am walking along the road and it is so wet that the puddles are like small lakes, I have to know that a car could go by and I will be drenched.  It is not the car’s fault if I do get splashed.  That’s life.

Does that sound callous, I don’t mean to, it is just that life is what it is, and wet weather is part of living on this earth.  Winter in some countries means, snow, cooler weather, and slippery roads.  It is life.  If you know you have to deal with such things, why is it a surprise when winter weather  does what it does. If you have lived here for a lifetime, then, it happens every year.  It is not something new.

Happiness is a state of mind we choose to live in.  If you decide that negativity is all you see around you, then perhaps you need to re-evaluate  what you do with the positives that come your way.   Because positives are out there.

When we are able to have a thankful attitude, when we appreciate what we have and not dwell on what we don’t have, our perspective on life will change.  We will grow as individuals.  Our lives will move in a positive direction.

The 21st of each month, is Thanksgiving in PL (Perfect Liberty) – Let us be thankful for all the blessings we have received this past month.  Giving thanks, and showing appreciation, we move forward into tomorrow. Hearts open to unconditional love.

Oyashikiri

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackass Penguins

Africa -jackass penguins

February in South Africa and the Jackass Penguins are enjoying a day on the beach.  Isn’t that always the way, someone is enjoying sunshine while we are experiencing gray skies and rain.  No matter, what is important that in our day-to-day living, no matter the weather, or situation, we do our best.

PL Calendar #16   Don’t hold anything back; Give it your all

“Always approach things with full enthusiasm and energy.  Then, things will develop in a new direction.

Every day is a new day, a new canvas, a new beginning.  Let us celebrate today, share a smile, wave hello, and send love!

Oyashikiri

 

 

 

 

 

Lunar Dog Year

Year 2018 —— Dog (earth )

Dogs are capable and knowledgeable, and it is not unusual to see Dog people in high demand in the job market.  Dogs like to work at whatever career they choose.  Prince William, Elvis, Cher, George Gershwin, Mother Teresa, were born in Dog years

As a partner Dogs are extremely loyal  although they think they know best, it is fortunate that they are usually open-minded. and will be open to advice. Generally speaking with their sensitive and compassionate heart, they do well in occupations or careers that “serve” or work in the best interest of others. ie. teachers, charity workers, doctors etc.

Unlike other Dog years the Earth Dog is less idealistic than most Dogs, the Earth element makes them practical enough they don’t lose sight of reality.

In China dogs are usually associated with justice and compassion.

We are living at a time, when the plus, positive characteristics of the Dog, could stand us in good staid.

  HAVE A HAPPY START TO THE NEW YEAR.  BLESSINGS, GOOD HEALTH, AND PROSPERITY always.

Oyashikiri

Rust on Canvas

rust on canvas 2.5.18

rust on canvas

1930’s

mixed media

abstract, acrylic, paste, recycled canvas, mega art stones, paint roller, textured Catalyst brushes by Princeton, layering, natural dry,

rust products by Art extra vagance, (Finnabair) made in Hungary

mega art stones -Finnabairn (art ingredients)

In the past I have used sludge from  DeSerres (Tri Art)  I spilled my last jar and have yet to replace it, so the above was done using alternate products found in my inventory.

rust supplies

To achieve a result, often requires more than one product, and when one  ingredient is not available, if we are determined to get the result we are hoping for, we explore what is available, or easy access, and we experiment.  It doesn’t matter if we succeed exactly as we had wanted what matters is that we do our best .. and try.

*** and *** that you are happy and cheerful while you are creating. Happiness is a state of mind. It is the journey that counts. When we are not open to every possibility around us at any given time, it could be a missed opportunity.

Seize the day, make it yours.  Have a great start to a brand new week.  Each day is a new canvas…Play, Explore, Live, take the initiative, be the first to smile and say hello.

Oyashikiri

 

 

 

 

Feb.2.2018

roller skates - Archie

PL 2 (calendar) The world is constantly in motion and never rests.  Keep your senses sharp and be ready to adapt to the ever-changing world.  BE FOREVER YOUNG AND SEEK NEW CHALLENGES.

Focus, don’t have an Oops day….

Oyashikiri

 

cartoon found on Pintrest

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