Creating together.

One of my very favourite things to do is create with my kids.

 It really does bring me a lot of joy.

 Recently I came across a tutorial here that taught how to crochet a simple garland.

Apparently it was very simple and anyone could do it.

As I have never crochet in my life I was a little sceptical.

However, because it looked so simple and pretty I decided to give it a go.

My daughter loves to create so I thought we could learn together.

We bought our supplies (wool and crochet needles)

and after school yesterday we sat down,

watched the tutorial and set out making our first crochet garland.

And I am so glad we did.

It was simple, fun

and relaxing.

It was a bit tricky at first but once we got the hang of it we became addicted.

An hour later Sarah was competing with me

as to who could make

the longest garland.

She won.

But only because I was distracted when Steve arrived home. ;)

What made the whole experience special was 3 fold.

We learnt a new skill,

we were learning
 together

and

we had fun, together.

 xx

                                                                                              

P.S. My 8 yr old son loves the garlands we are making and said he would like one. When I offered to teach him he declined politely and asked me to make him a navy blue one. I reckon I can do that. :)

Procrastination is overrated.

'If you never ask 

you may never know

If you never stretch

you may never grow

If you never take action

you may never go'

~ Jennifer Gayle.

Wise words and ones I often hear myself telling my kids. But do I model it for them?

If I was honest with myself the answer is

sometimes

but not often enough.

For those of you who know the enneagram you will understand when I say I am a 9.

A 9 who finds it very easy to procrastinate.

Instead of doing what I really need to do,

I will do little, less important, things.

I also like to have structure and routine otherwise nothing gets done.

Once I get going it is easy for me to keep going,

but there are times (and sometimes a lot of times)

when I have a hard time getting started.

Unfortunately I can become very critical of myself when I procrastinate

which in turn leads to anxiety and more unproductive time.

A couple of good books teaching on the Enneagram.



Right now my life is very, VERY full.

Busy and full.

And this is not likely to change for some time.

There is certainly no room for procrastination.

No room for unproductive time.

No room for me to get anxious, overwhelmed and worn out.

Don't get me wrong. I am not complaining.

I choose to include all that makes my world full.  

I love being a mum and all that goes with that.

I want to be a nurse and so I chose to finish my degree (albeit slowly).

I desire to create and travel this new creative life.

My question is how do I work with my weaknesses (ie: procrastination, etc.)

and do all that I need to do and desire to do?

After a lovely chat and catch up with Steve late last night I could see some answers.

I can ask.

Whether for help, assistance, a cuddle or a chat.

I can stretch myself.

Letting go of fear and anxiety.

Giving myself small achieveable goals which lead me further down the path I have choosen.

 I can take action.

I can work on being more disciplined, organised and balanced.

Be intentional about what I say yes and no too.

And most importantly

interspersed amongst everything else.

I can stop being so hard on myself and cut myself some slack.

I am OK.

I am loved.
I am cherished.

And so are each of you.  xx

                                                                                                

Inspired

Last weekend my 10 yr old daughter and 8 yr old son spent quite a few hours drawing and colouring.

As a mum it was delightful to hear them chatting and creating together.

But mostly I was inspired by their creativity.

Inspired by their freedom.

Inspired by their choice of colour and design.

 My favourites are the elephant and the lions.

(I have 2 favourites as I can't choose between my 2 kids)

What is your favourite?

xx

       

Change

"Change is the essence of life.

Be willing to surrender what you are

for what you could become"

 ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

The canvas piece below use to look a little different. The butterfly shape was collaged with multi-coloured papers. I wasn't liking where it was going and so it sat on the shelf for months.

Recently I decided it was time to do something with it. However, I was unsure what to do. I laid it on the studio table and over many days kept looking at it, wondering, could I salvage it somehow? After considering many options I eventually settled on keeping the basic butterfly shape but covering up the paper collage. I decided light modelling paste would be perfect to give it texture and a raised effect. As I got my supplies ready I began to doubt my decision. What if I made it worse? Should I cover up all the work I had already put into this piece? 'What if's' were bombarding my thoughts. I walked away from the studio.

The next day as I was going through a box I came across this quote (above) that I had written on a piece of paper a while ago. I instantly knew what it meant. It was time to surrender.

And so I began working on the new butterfly. The texture was just as I had imagined. The colouring with pan pastels and soft pastels was just what I needed to allow the new butterfly to emerge.

This piece is titled 'Awakening'. As I allow change to occur, as I surrender,  my soul awakens and is given freedom to become what it is meant to be. Freedom to emerge.

Happy New Year

Yes I know it is February. Yes I know it is exactly 42 days since we began this new year. But I haven't been here and it feels right to begin my first blog post for 2013 with a Happy New Year.

So again I say Happy New Year to you, my blog readers.

So what have I been up too.

Here in Australia we have just had our 6 week summer holidays. For our family it was a glorious, wonderful time. We went adventuring in Tasmania. Something Steve and I had longed to do. We saw so much, experienced so much and we ate so much. Well not too much. Just lots of yummy Tasmanian goodness. 



 Devonport, Tasmania 

 

Cradle Mountain.

 

Freshly picked raspberries

 

View from our beach shak in Strahan

  

West coast



Dipping our toes into the Great Southern Ocean.



Hobart

 

Lake St Clair



Donaghys Hill



Richmond Bridge



Yummy goodness

 

Tasmania Red Salmon.



Hobart from the top of Mt Wellington.

  

 Swinging Bridge over Hoen River

 

Snow on Mt Wellington.




Pick your own berries at Hillberry Farm.



Sausage from 'Gourmet Farmer'  Matthew Evans.



Cataract Gorge, Launceston.

 



Devonport.

   Creatively I had planned on sketching my way around Tasmania. I packed some art supplies with every intention of sketching and painting as we went. It didn't happen. Instead I took ALOT of photos. Hundreds. Actually no, it was probably more like thousands. It was glorious. I journalled as well. Each day I journalled our adventures, what we saw, what we heard, tasted and felt. I wrote down ideas for art journalling pages and I did rough sketches as ideas for later art projects. Oh and I collected things too. As in rocks, shells, leaves, more rocks, more shells. It was wonderful and inspiring. Did I regret not carrying out my original plan?  Not a bit. It was as it should be and I am very happy with the outcome. I am now wonderfully inspired, my heart is full and my soul has been nurtured. I am ready for all that this new year will bring to my creative journey.

The rest of our summer (when we were at home) was spent swimming, playing, watching/playing cricket and tennis, reading, watching movies, eating, visiting family/friends and hanging out in the studio. It was relaxing, soothing and very comforting for our souls. We had time to be present, to see, to breath and to enjoy one another and the world around us.

The kids are now back in school, Steve is back at work and its time for me to come back to real life. That is always the worst part. After spending so long together and being free and less rushed it is always difficult to say goodbye and to resume real life again.

Having said that, our real life does have room for freedom and space. We don't always rush about. It is just that I have to be much more intentional about it. During the summer it comes easily and naturally whereas during the school/work year I need to be aware of the busyness and the numerous opportunities that present. Opportunities, however good they are, come a knocking more frequently than one would like or need. Busyness sneaks in and before you know it you are barely catching your breath to keep up.

Part of my role is to create boundaries and allow space. Sometimes this can be hard work and in and of itself, exhausting. This is probably why I love the ease at which spaciousness occurs over the holidays.

So, as we begin a new year, I challenge you. How will you make space in your everyday real life for just breathing, for seeing, for creating space? Will you allow the busyness and endless opportunities crowd your life leaving no room for what nurtures your soul? Will you be intentional about what you say yes and no too as you look after your soul?

Remember, your soul matters.