Last Affirmation - Z

This week ends my weekly look at positive affirmations. Today my focus was Z - for zeal which is especially appropriate for this week before Christmas week.


I chose though, to create zentangles for the journal page. I now have a real zeal for these fantastic doodles (as I used to call them), until I learned there were definite names for different designs. Many other people have got the zentangle bug.
I find it relaxing and you never know where the design will take you.

I will take a break for a few weeks to start another challenge. Come January I plan an art/artist alphabet challenge. Each week I will focus on a different medium or artist and create artwork related to that letter. This will be a whole year project as there are so many choices for some letters. This will also be a learning project as well - a chance to explore different artists and different techniques. I am really looking forward to it. I will post monthly what I plan to focus on and I invite you to join my project. We can learn and have fun together.
Sundays I will post what I have been working on the week before -Sun. Jan. 3 will be the first posting with the focus on Abstract Art.

Another project for the year will be the 52 Books in 52 weeks which I described here. If you love reading you might want to take part!

Have a great week!

Affirmation for the Week - X

This week's affirmation letter is X and I decided to focus on eXplore!

I was playing with papers and paperweaving - enjoying the eXploring.

There is so much to explore and discover - this week I want to start December with creating a wish list of creative, spiritual, physical, social and intellectual eXplorations for 2010.

A new decade, a new outlook.

I will turn 58 in early January and as I near the 60 mark (yikes!), I know I will need a lot of positive eXplorations to keep me focused and creative.

This coming month I should also reach the 200th post for my blog for which I want to plan something special! Stay tuned.

ATCs

I am so enjoying the creating of ATCs for ATCsforAll. The swaps are fun and I have received such wonderful cards in return.

This week I have finished the Christmas cards.

I am also working on funky birds. My first one is below! (My first real critic - my husband thought it was a fish! lol)

I have signed up for quite a few more swaps - that will keep me challenged and busy!

This is also the First day of Advent -Hope .

May we all have a joyous holiday season filled with hope, joy and love!

AEDM - almost! and an affirmation

Creating every day this month was my goal and until this past week I was achieving it, even though I usually only posted once a week at AEDM.

This past week I read blogs, got ideas and did planning - in my breaks from marking and report cards! At least I was thinking art!

I have finally sketched out my next project after I finish my ABCs of affirmations (W for this week).

I have seen several bloggers who focus on different artists and use their style to create journal pages. What a great idea. I plan to start an Alphabet of Art and Artists starting in January. Each week will be a focus on different techniques and/or artists. Should be fun and a learning curve for me!


W  Affirmation

W is for watch and wait and so many things that I couldn't settle on just one! So the collage grew from one word to many words and pictures. I needed to just play today and I did. This week though the word I will focus on will be WRITE . I need to get back to the morning papers and journalling daily.
I am still working on ATC challenges through ATCsforAll - a great site for those who enjoy swaps. It is like Christmas every time I receive a new package of cards. I am presently working on a Christmas Tree swap. Not sure yet how I will decorate the trees butI had fun with different styles of trees and backgrounds.

Affirmation and ATCs

This week I am focusing on V - for visualize.

It also stands for Vitality, vim and vigour and vanquish! All great actions and positive affirmations.

My aim is to visualize where I would like to be health wise in 6 months. The measuring tape is a good motivator and symbol of change.

My husband and I have joined Weight Watchers and already I have lost 6 pounds! Woohoo!

This week I need to keep my goal clearly visualized!

I read an article by Alicia Snell in Zoomer magazine. She has lost over 170 pounds and runs marathons. There is an excellent article on her top 10 checklist to eating better. Check it out here.

AEDM

We are midway through AEDM - Art Every Day Month for November, through Leah of Creative Every Day.

I have not been creating as much this week although I had fun again with some ATCs.

I finished one set on Ancient Egypt.

I am working on several other sets. They are fairly quick and fun themes.

Photography is always fun - there are so many different memes to try your hand at - ABC Wednesday and Shadow Shot Sunday are two that I still participate in. I hope to return to several more as time permits!

Right now though, it is report card time. Assessments, marking and the writing ( actually all the report cards are done online!) take up a big chunk of time. Then it will be parent-teacher interviews.

Soon though it will be Christmas vacation - 2 weeks to unwind and enjoy the season.

Creating and Playing

November 1st began "Creative Every Day November". Just committing to it encouraged me to create every day and I actually did!

Posting every day though, just did not work this week. We were away from home for 2 days, and a lot was going on. So, here is a summary of some of the things I am working on:

1. Sketching - with Breeder's Cup this past weekend, I had fun trying to sketch horses. Each day I sketched different poses - I will continue with this for a while!

2. I worked on more ATCs for swaps at ATCsfor All. The Matisse-style collage were so fun and colourful. This may be my new favourite.

 

3. I had more fun with Zentangles - working on a larger piece.

4. More photography - shadows, skies, trees.

I did not read the Chapter for "The Joy Diet" on Play, but I did visit many bloggers who did. I loved Lawendula's description of working on this book as a "buffet" - just pick and chose what works for you!

The affirmation letter for this week is U - for understanding.

No collage yet.

Have a great week!

Creative Every Day for November begins!

November is "Create Every Day" at Leah's Creative Every Day.

I awoke this morning charged up to create! I spent several hours working on ATCs for several swaps I am involved with. It was a real treat to play and create and just enjoy the chance to have a large block of time to create.

Autumn colours - using a weave technique.

 

Hallowe'een was a fun time - all 5 grandchildren arrived with their costumes and we got lots of pictures.

The Day of the Dead blog fest yesterday showcased great artwork. Be sure to check out Mother Henna (and my blog about it as well!)

This week's affirmation letter is T - and I decided to continue with the treats from The Joy Diet. (See my entry here.)

I am looking forward to a very creative month. I am involved in quite a few ATC swaps and am really enjoying the challenge and the community.

I am also planning a new project for this month - more later!

Have fun creating this month!

Affirmation and Sunday Sitar

As I was thinking about the letter for the affirmation of the week, I was visiting Sema's blog Affirmart and saw her entry for Sunday Sitar. I have taken part a few times in this meme - it was only because of time restrictions that I stopped.

But I realized that this was the perfect vehicle for the affirmation letter this week - Q.

Q is for question.

To question is to learn and to look deeper. Questions are necessary to discovery what you need to know.

Here are some quotes on questioning:

One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. Chinese proverb

Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?" I dream of things that never were and say, "Why not?" George Bernard Shaw

Computers are useless. They can only give you answers. Picasso

To be on a quest is nothing more or less than to become an asker of questions. Sam Keen

Judge others by their questions rather than by their answers. Voltaire

Be sure to check out the other Sunday Sitar participants here.

Happy thanksgiving and New Affirmation

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. For all who celebrate

-Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated yesterday with my husband's 3 children and their families and with my son and his girlfriend. (15 people in all) It was a great evening of food, fellowship and laughter.

We ended the evening with my son, his girlfriend and my husband and I playing Scattegories after everyone else left. Like old times!

Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, kohlrabi, squash - what a feast. Then of course there had to be pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Today we have the best meal - all of the leftovers, but none of the work!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The new affirmations for this week are based on the letter P:

Pray and Play

Following both brings balance, along with equal doses of work and love. We do need both as we journey through life.

New Affirmation - O is for Open

My new affirmation word for this week is OPEN:

Be open to new things.

Open up to others.

Open wide my arms and embrace what ever comes my way.

New Affirmation, ATCs, Inspiration

This week the letter N nudged me! Yes, N is for Nudge. I had other thoughts but this one would not go away.

I know personally I do not do well with demands. I do work better under pressure, but that is my choice!

Give me a nudge, let me think about it and generally I take off with it.

So, I am nudging myself to:

sleep better

exercise

love and laugh

think
create

Gentle reminders that good health is possible and desired.

I finished the last of the ATCs for the swaps which I signed up for at ATCs For All. The zentanlges are addictive I must admit. IF I happen to see another swap I just might sign up for it!

As we come to the end of September (hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by!), the next theme at Creative Every Day has been announced - Connect.

This past month the theme of Inspiration has been important. Many people and things have inspired me, not only in September, but throughout this past year. The whole journey of blogging, of taking part in challenges, book clubs, and meeting new people has been inspirational.

I have posted over 110 posts - something I never would have thought possible 6 months ago. I look forward to another 6 months of growing and challenging myself and meeting more people -especially as I take part in the Joy Diet Book Club.

Thanks everyone!

New Affirmation + New challenge

This week the affirmation begins with M.

I chose Move.

I have been watching the new Dr. Oz health show and I am struck by how much I need to get going and take care of my health better. I have tried all summer - and many of my Wishcast wishes have been related to health. But for whatever reason, I have not embraced exercise!

I could make many excuses - no time, sore knees and feet, etc.

But really, it comes down to - do I want a quality life or not?

So, I plan to get out my dance tapes and have fun. I used to love dancing - just put on the music and dance for 30-45 min. several times a week. Now I will be lucky if I can manage 5-10 minutes!!

So, move I will !

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amanda of Persistent Green just posted a new challenge! And it is one that struck a cord with me!

"September 23rd will mark the beginning of the last 100 days of 2009. Anything that jumpstarts creativity--and KEEPS it going strong--is a winner in my book. So why not leap into the next 100 days with a fresh project?
What about you? Are you contemplating any over-the-top goals? Let's hear 'em." (Amaanda)

I am jumping on the wagon!
(Sept. is inspiration month at Creative Every Day!)

My project will be related to health:

100 days to a healthier me!

100 days to bringing more joy into my life.

Jamie Ridler's Next Chapter Book Club has begun and the book we will be reading is
"The Joy Diet" by Martha Beck.

Winners! and Affirmations

WINNERS!

Congratulations to the 3 winners from my 100th post draw!

The lucky winners whose names I drew yesterday are ....... (tah-dah..)

* Hybrid J

*Leone of Naturesbrushstrokes

*Grammy of The Empty Nester and Wrecking Sisters Reunited.

I will be sending an email and requesting your address so I can send you your prize - an ATC created by me.

Thank you so much to all those people who took the time to comment and leave such kind, supportive comments. It is because of you people who make blogging so enjoyable!

AFFIRMATIONS:

This week L is the letter of the week. There can be only one way I could respond - and that is with my favourite L phrase:

Live Love Laugh

If we could all remember to experience and live these words, how much better a place it would be!

100th Post!!!! Giveaway, New Affirmations and ATCs

I can't believe it - this is my 100th post (from 2 blogs)! Almost 6 months have passed since I started this blog and this 100th post has snuck up on me!

The past months have been liberating for me and more creative than in as many years! I have learned much and enjoyed so much - blogs, challenges, art, classes, book clubs. So much here to explore and people to meet!

Thank you everyone who has visited here and been so supportive to my explorations. Thank you too, to the people who have given so much - through their thoughts and words and honesty!

My affirmation for last week was Improve - I created a journal page but it was written and filled with my goals, so I chose not to share it.

This week my affirmation is Juggle and as I begin teaching again tomorrow, I know juggling will be in earnest, not just for this week, but the whole year. Now that I have gotten more involved in blogging, this will be one more piece to add to the mix.

I have been working on more ATCs this past week. The challenge swaps at ATCsforAll have been fun. I have 2 more sets I am working on, then I will take a break for a while to finish my own Atc card set!

Lighthouses and Tea for Two

and Apples!

I would like to hold another Giveaway on this the occasion of my 100th post!

So - if you would like to win one of three ATC cards created by myself, then please leave a comment on this blog post, with your email address and answer this question:

Why is blogging special to you?

3 winners will be drawn at random on Sat. Sept. 12 and will be notified by email.

Best of luck!

Weekly Affirmation - H is for Health

Up until this week, my affirmation words have been verbs. The focus has been on doing - an action.

This week I knew I needed to refocus on health. Hence H is for health.



The first week of living healthier went well - even lost 2 pounds!. Last week did not go as well. I did not lose any weight and I craved some things I knew I shouldn't have (and then had them!)!


This week I am trying to get back the momentum of week 1. I know what the keys to good health are; I know what I should and should not eat. But, tiredness and emotions play havoc with good intentions.


So this week, I am adding journalling about food and exercise - to keep track of what I am eating and doing movement wise. Keeping track for myself will make it more concrete.

G is for Give and Visualizing One's Dreams

This week the affirmation letter is G. It took me  awhile to settle on GIVE, but that action fit in well with the visualizing course I am taking through True North.

This week I came across so many interesting places and would like to share ("give") you some of these sites:

"Each day, a gift" . Patti Digh

What a beautiful way to describe our day.

I had heard about Patti Digh's book "Life is a Verb" (which sort-of lead me to the affirmations - one of the catalyst's anyway - even though I haven't read it - yet).

I ended up at her website "37 Days" and discovered the book and the reason behind the title "37 Days".

Quite moving and makes you realize just how precious life is.

For those who had great fun taking part in "Wreck That Journal", Grammy has started a new blog "Wrecking Sisters Reunited"! Sounds like it will be a great way to reconnect and have fun creating.


Brene Brown's blog "Ordinary Courage" has much to offer as well. She believes in authenticity and being your true self.

I had fun discovering which part of the day I was! I am Sunrise. As I read the list many of the items, it hit a chord.


" You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life.
You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary.
You are a person of reflection and meditation.
You start and end every day by looking inward.
Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy.
You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts.
All in all, you know how to love life for what it is
- not for how it should be. "

Check out the "What Time of Day are you ?" Quiz.



(And if someone can tell me how I can post this type of copy in my blog I would be grateful! I tried and could not get it to post here. I also wanted to post the you tube video of the "JK Wedding Entrance Dance - you have to see that one! I am learning my way around the net slowly - but my kids aren't home anymore and they were the ones to help out - even when they rolled their eyes at me! Thanks!)






I have been taking a Vision Journalling Workshop through TrueNorth (with Collage Diva), and have been really enjoying it. I have been working through many exercises to help focus on my dreams.



As I completed this collage tonight, the images and words I chose related to Health, Family and Friends, and Creativity. These are all issues that have come up through the Moon Dreamboards and Wishcast Wednesday as well.



The longer I focus on them, the more I can internalize them!

New Affirmations

This past week I did not have time to post the collage I created for "E". But I did follow its direction!

E is for Enjoy!

Life is a journey to be savoured and appreciated.

Life is to be lived fully.

How often to we let our "must do's" and "shoulds" take over. I am guilty of that. I make my lists of things to do and don't take the time I should to enjoy life.

This week my husband and I were on holiday and I tried to leave the lists at home and enjoy our days together. We did travel, we ate (Lots) and we laughed and had fun. We both needed it.

I hope we can continue with focusing on the present and not let worries prevent us from enjoying our journey.

This week I have chosen to continue with this theme.

F is for Feel !

I need to take the time to feel, not just with the tactile, but with my heart and soul and mind.

"Feelin' alive" says it all!

A to D Cards, Watermelon Award

Last night was another night when sleep wouldn't come easily. So I got up and ended up creating - much better than eating!!

I decided to create postcard size affirmation cards to go with the journal pages. I even added a second "D" card as I needed a reminder that I need to dance!

 

Watermelon 10 Award

The lovely Angie, from Angie's Art Time, has bestowed on me the Watermelon 10 Award. I had seen it on numerous blogs but had not really known too much about it.

Angie, a fellow teacher, really made my day with her wonderfully kind words about me and my blog. Thanks Angie!

I believe that it is for people who share their creative spirit through their blog.

I pass this award along - in the spirit of "no obligation blogging" - to all the WTJ participants - for their joyous wrecking of their journals. It has been such a pleasure to journey with them on this wrecking journey of discovery and fun. (And only a week left!!!)

So ladies, grab the watermelon and post on your blogs - you all deserve it!!

Words to Inspire, to Guide Me

Late last night when I could not sleep, I pulled out my journal and wrote 3 words - ACT, BELIEVE, CREATE.

I had been thinking about a post I read yesterday on Affirmart by Sema about her Power Words. The whole idea of using words to guide you has resonated with me for some time. I started this year with "BELIEVE" as my one word intention for 2009.

Sema has been working through the alphabet and choosing a word for the week as an affirmation.

I have been doing the ABC Wednesday challenge and really enjoying it. There the focus is more on photos and then describing what you have chosen.

I realized last night that we are about half way through the year, with just less than 26 weeks til 2010.

As I am working through "The Artist's Way" through the On the Wing ning group, I am realizing that belief in one's self and one's art is paramount. That it is the process of creating, of showing up on the page that matters - not the end result.

Then this morning Violette, who created the Bliss Journal, sent a set of Creative Play cards to download and use. Talk about synchronicity. These small, colourful action words act like affirmations as well.

So I am starting my own challenge to create my own 26 affirmation cards, that will help me focus each week on an action I need to take.

I will use the first three letters to set the overall tone for the second half of this year. All else will develop from these 3 actions:

ACT

- BELIEVE

-CREATE.

I will post Sundays, from now on, as I journey through the 12 weeks of "The Artist's Way" and other positive books.

This is Wishcast Wednesday and I realize that by creating my affirmations I am also making a statement. I wish that my ABC's of Act-Believe-Create will carry me through , not only the rest of 2009 but throughout my life, and as I internalize them my creativity will grow.