Wishcast Wednesday

Time once again for Wishcast Wednesday, a time to consider and respond to a prompt from Jamie Ridler (of Jamie Ridler Studios)

This week she asks:

What do you wish for your well-being?

As I finish my school year today (a PA Day, no children, planning for next year and tidying up as well), this is a very important question and comes at a good time!

This has been an exhausting year, physically, emotionally and mentally. I have had the most challenging class in 30 years and I feel drained.

I need the next 2 months to:

* recharge all my batteries fully;

* find out what I can do to help my arthritis pain (I can't take anti-inflammatories)

*establish a morning ritual that will will power me through the day (Christine Kane had an excellent article on this!)

*lose weight and get fitter

*create, create, create

*read, read, read

*connect more with family and friends

*say Yes more often!

(take time to stop and smell the flowers!!)

I would like to begin the 2010/11 school year refreshed, positive, organized and healthier!

A big order I know but I must commit to focusing on my well-being this summer - or else!

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit the other wish-casters here.

ABC Wednesday - X is for X of course

This week at ABC Wednesday, we are reaching the end of the alphabet, with one of those "X"tremely challenging letters - the letter X.

When I started to look at words starting with x I knew it would be very difficult. But then I realized - X has its own list of things:

X marks the spot - if you are on a treasure hunt or are a pirate

Xs and Os - both the game (which everyone plays at one time or another) or how we sign a card or letter

X - your signature if you could not read or write.

X - what some teachers love to place in red on students' pages

The one I like the best is:

Camp X- a spy camp in Canada during WWII!!
"During WWII there was a secret agent training camp here called 'Camp X'. It was located right on the shore of Lake Ontario where it could be reached discreetly at night by water from the USA. One of the spy trainees was Bond author Ian Fleming, who went on to create the famous James Bond '007' character using knowledge he acquired here."

Be sure to visit other great participants here.

GPP: Crusade #41 Gridlock

The GPP Challenge this week is Gridlock. This will be my first entry in their challenges. I have visited Michelle Ward's blog several times and tried some of the challenges, but never managed to post my work. This week's challenge really appealed to me .

I had created a number of painted papers using junk mail and acrylic paints for the Artistic Mother group a few weeks ago. I wasn't as happy with the results, but with the instructions to use papers on hand I thought I would use them up.

I had plans to add hearts but originally I was going to use ones from wrapping paper for contrast. I did not like the effect though, so I used another painted paper instead.

There are a number of directions I could go to add to the grid:

- pictures of what I love

-people I love

-strong words

-favourite quotes

For now, I will leave it as is. I enjoyed creating this grid - I can see it would change with whatever material you use. Can't wait to try another one!

Be sure to check out the other participants here.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I posted a Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up! The last one was May 30th.

This past week has been a busy one, with finishing reports and preparing for the end of school this Wednesday. But I have also been busier articstically than I have in a while.:

* creating ATCs for a number of swaps

 

* taking photos

(here's my newest plant)

* working on art postcards

(More on these next week!)

Next week I will return to the ABCs of art with a look at Impressionism.

While visiting blogs this week, I found two challenges which I want to take part in:

1. Madeline Bea has begun "The Sunday Creative", with this prompt : OPEN

My goal for the summer is to return to her "Creativity Boot Camp" and work through her

journal and art prompts in more depth, as well as take part in her Sunday prompts.

2. Michelle Ward hosts GPP and this current challenge is "Gridlock". This will be the first challenge I will try with GPP. It is due by Canada Day (July 1st).

As school finishes I hope to return to several memes I enjoyed over the past several months , then had to stop due to work:

*Weekly Reflections

*Sunday Citar

*Best Shot Monday

*Thankful Thursday

There are other ones I have tried a few times in the past and would like to try once again:

*Skywatch Friday

*Thursday art memes

My goal is to be busy creatively all summer. I am looking forward to having fun with art.

Shadow Shot Sunday

It's time once again to showcase shadow. It used to be that I tried to avoid shadows- now I seek them out.

One of my favourite subjects -Fluffy, our 18 year old cat, enjoying her regular napping place in the sun!

A few shadows around the yard as well.

And our neighbour;s car - I loved their hanging basket.

Be sure to visit the other great shadow-chasers at Hey Harriet, hosted by Tracy.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today at Jamie Ridler Studios, Jamie asks us:

What fun do you wish to have?

Now that is a very easy question to answer! With summer holidays beginning next week i am aiming to have fun and relax and enjoy myself.

I want to create, read, visit, tour, watch movies, sleep-in, laugh, play, take photos, learn, and just do what I want to do for 8 lovely weeks!

There will be time for some must-dos, but I want to plan for days that offer fun and relaxation and time to create!

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Then support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit the other great wish-casters here.

ABC Wednesday - W is for Wishes

It is time once again to focus on the letter of the week at ABC Wednesday.
 

This week's letter is W - W is for Wishes.

We all make wishes - whether it is to:
* wish someone well for a birthday or anniversary,
* wish upon a star,

*share a wishbone and make a wish,


*throw pennies in a wishing well to make wishes or,

* just hope that all will be well.
Wishing always has an element of hope and trust that the best will happen.

A favourite meme of mine, that offers support in the blogging community is "Wishcast Wednesday". Each week a question is posed and all are invited to respond to that question. Then comes the support as other wishcasters offer support of one's wish.



Here are some quotes about wishing:
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mohandas Gandhi
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. Michael Jordan
We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish. Tony Robbins
Be as you wish to seem. Socrates

If you wish to be a writer [or artist for that matter] , write. Epictetus

Be sure to visit the other great participants here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Yesterday while on a class trip to Westfield Heritage Park ( a pioneer village), I was struck by all the shadowy spots around the buildings. I ended up with a few photos before both sets of batteries died! Luckily a parent volunteer took lots of photos of the children and buildings, so I will be able to get some from her! It is pretty bad, when on a trip, it is shadows you notice first! lol

Be sure to visit the other great shadow chasers at Hey Harriet! - a wonderful challenge meme hosted by Tracy. Her mosaics each week are incredible!

Wishcast Wednesday

Today Jamie, of Jamie Ridler Studios, asks us:

What do you wish to nourish?

First and foremost, I need to nourish my health. But more importantly, I need to nourish my soul and my creativity.

There are only two weeks left of school, and as summer holidays approach I need to focus on keeping well and being creative. I want to use those weeks off to further develop my skills and to create for myself a healing routine that I can sustain through the school year.

I want to have fun and laugh and enjoy my time off; to spend time with my husband, family and friends.

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit other wonderful wishcasters here.

ABC Wednesday - V is for Violets

We are nearing the end of Round 6 at ABC Wednesday. Already we are at V! This week I have chosen:

V is for Violets.

I have never had much luck with violets. I don't have much of a green thumb. In fact, my hubby resorted to buying me cut flowers as most plants don't survive my under or over watering - I do both!

Yet this little potted plant has survived a month so far! There is just something so delicate about this little plant. Here's hoping it will continue to thrive (not just survive!)

Be sure to visit the other great participants here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides."

Junichiro Tanizaki

This is why we chase shadows - there is beauty there too. And of course, it is just plain fun!

Here are a few of my shadows for the week.

(This last was from ABC Wednesday - I noticed the shadows after I posted for U is for Unicorn!)

Join in the chase! Be sure to visit the other great shadow chasers at Hey Harriet!

Macro Flowers Saturday

It is such a lovely time of the year - so many flowers are in full bloom. Our gardens are starting to fill out and many of the flowers are blossoming. While getting the newspaper this morning I couldn't help notice 2 of the flowers.

Be sure to visit other great participants here.

Wishcast Wednesday

It is time once again to cast out our wishes. Today Jamie Ridler (of Jamie Ridler Studios) asks us:

What leap do you wish take?

This week began Creativity Boot Camp and one of the first exercises was to define "artist" and to journal about what keeps us from calling ourselves an artists. I skirted around this and wrote about what an artist is, but did not - could not call myself -a true artist. I could call myself a creative soul.

SOOO - I wish to take the huge, giant leap and call myself an artist.

YES! I AM AN ARTIST!

Now I have to act like that and be that!

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Visit the other wonderful wishcasters here.

ABC Wednesday - U is for Unicorn

This week at ABC Wednesday, U is our letter of focus - one of those unusual, unlikely letters, difficult to find a unique idea.

My first thought, though, was unicorn.

Growing up, my daughter collected unicorns. I would buy small statues, stuffed toys, pictures, etc. for her for birthdays and Christmas. I think I probably enjoyed the hunt more than she enjoyed the gift! One of her favourite movies for a long time was "The last Unicorn".

When she moved out, I found a box of many of her unicorns. I ended up keeping a few - a memento of her early years and what she means to me. (Just as I now have a few of my Mom's bunnies as a visual reminder of my Mom).

Be sure to visit the other great participants here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Shadows lurk everywhere - you just have to know where to look! There is a huge following of Tracy's fun meme "Shadow Shot Sunday" - you must join in!

At the flower shop this week, I was able to get a lot of shadows on flowers! Here are a few from this week:

Be sure to visit the other great shadow chasers here.

Macro Flowers Saturday

This past week I had such a fun time shooting pix of flowers at the Zehrs flower centre. There were so many beautiful flowers there. Here are a few (for Macro Flowers Saturday):

Be sure to visit the other participants here.