WOYWW 191 - Lots going on this week...

Hello fellow WOYWWers!!

Gosh, the days disappear at a frightening rate, don't they?

Here we are at our weekly desk-peek, hosted by the lovely Julia at her Stamping Ground.

As you can see, I'm rather busy, but I haven't painted this week - you can see the old diary I'm practising in, at the bottom of the pile!

On top of the diary, is a wee creation I'm making for Artella's Mystery Muse - I am to send two handmade items to somebody, whose name I'll be given on 1 February. I'll show it, when it's finished :)

Here's a close-up of the card I completed this week, featuring a quote from my box:

Under the card is another wee creation, which I can't show as will be a gift for a friend who reads my blog - sorry :(

Also, on the desk is a 7 Gypsies journal - I was going to add new pages, but someone has run off with my hole-punch... *sigh*

So, I just stuck in an art-piece which I received before xmas...

... it's like a little altarpiece, but sadly, the card isn't strong enough to stand...

... it's still gorgeous, though :)

And I'll round off with a Papaya postcard bearing a favourite quote, which one of you eagle-eyed peekers spotted on my desk last week...

Amen to that!

And I'm sure I'll find lots of amazing creative goings-on to wonder at on every single desk I visit...

May you have a wonder-full week xxx

Focus on Life - Week 4

Another week, another prompt from Sally Russick for the year-long photo challenge to Focus on Life.
This week's prompt is Create Art! which I have been doing for the last couple of weeks...
Last week I let my subconscious do the painting, this week I chose quotes from my quote box...
On Tuesday, I chose this

and painted this in the repurposed diary I shared last week, still playing around with acrylics.

She's bundled up nice and warm as this is how our garden has looked this week...

Then on Thursday, I pulled this quote from the box...

... and decided to make a card ready for next month's Artella Mystery Muse (which is like a Secret Santa but in February...)

So I've made two pieces of art this week, and I can't wait to see what everyone else has been creating this week :)

PS I finally remembered to have a lil' play in Picasa with some of the photos before I posted them. I museum mounted the painting, and vignetted the snowy pics, whatever that means...

xxx

WOYWW 190 - Trying something new...

Well, it's Wednesday again, and we know what that means - a quick peek into the lives of others and what's on their workdesks, and it's all hosted by the lovely Julia over at the Stamping Ground.

Here's my busy desk

I shared on Saturday how I've decided to be brave and try something new - I've never worked with acrylics before, and I really don't what I'm doing with them...

But I've been working in an old diary...

... and gessoing over pages.

This was Saturday's painting - clearly my subconscious was in control as I didn't have anything in mind at all when I started to paint...

Today was different, as I pulled this quote randomly from my box...

... and immediately painted this...

There's no surprise why the figure is so bundled up, as this is the view from my garden...

 

... we've had several inches over the last couple of days.

 

 

I'm still learning what acrylics can and can't do, and I'm still figuring out how to blend them without too much water - they behave nothing like watercolours!!! 

But playing in an old diary is a perfect way to experiment and really not care about the results!

I did like having the quote as a prompt though :)

Can't wait to see what everyone's else has been doing this week...

Focus on Life - Week 3

Can you believe it's already week 3 of Sally Russick's photo challenge?

The prompt this week is to take time - out of busyness... to slow down... and to not feel guilty...

But I have too much time, being disabled and unable to work - as last week's photo essay rather showed :)

What I lack is energy, and impetus.
When getting up, washing and dressing takes so much energy each day, there is little left to actually DO anything...
But I figure it's been over 5 years since the stroke, and my stamina has improved, and I'm determined to try and DO more in this new year...

And one thing I want to do is try and paint...

Last year I practised drawing (my right side is still paralyzed, and so I'm still fairly new to working with my left hand...), and I tried some watercolours...

But I've never tackled acrylics, and I've no idea how to use them!

So, I bought this book with some xmas money...

... and decided today was the day to be brave and to dip into something new!

I took an old diary...

... gessoed a page (look at me using 'gesso' like I've used it all my life! But I'm a gesso, aswell as an acrylic, virgin and I had NO idea what I was doing!)

And with no preconceived idea of what I was going to paint, and Flora Bowley's words repeating in my head like a mantra...

Let go of your need to paint something pleasing or beautiful.

Nobody needs to see this but you.

Paint quickly and passionately. Explore. Be daring.

I painted this

Surprise, surprise (not!)

Talk about my subconscious taking over...

WOYWW 189 - Such fun!!

Sorry, but as a Miranda fan, I had to use Penny's catch phrase for today's post title!

But when you see what's on my desk, how can you not join in??

This is the splendid stash of doodly bird goodies the lovely Lynn sent me (I offered to send snail mail, and she sent me this!!)
The envie has a doodlybird, there's a magnet, a card, postcards to send and an original ATC in the centre...
Three more cards are ribboned together and that's where Lynn wrote a lovely chatty letter... Aren't I a lucky girl??

And the fun doesn't stop on my desk - oh no!

I can now reveal my wonderful (belated!) Xmas gift from my hubbie, which arrived last Friday...
{drum roll}

Ta da!!!

I have been wanting a set of these drawers for THE longest time, and now I have my very own, and I am sooooo happy!!

I haven't got them all full or organized yet, but I've made a start...

So what other fun goodies are there on your desks???

I'm popping over to Juia's Stamping Ground to find out...

SUCH FUN indeed!!!

PS If you'd like some real snail mail, do drop me an email at claire[dot]sauer[at]ntlworld[dot]com with your mailing address and I promise to send you a note/card/letter you can actually hold in your hand :o)

PPS A BIG thank you to my new followers - so lovely to e-meet you! - and an even BIGGER thank you to everyone who visits - apparently I've passed 25,000 page views in total. WOW!!

PPPS Nearly forgot - today's quote from my quote box:

With time and patience, the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.

Chinese proverb

Focus on Life - Week 2

Here we are for Week 2 of Sally Russick's Focusing on Life photo challenge, and the theme is Your Word for 2013...

I have already written about how I chose my word for the year here, so I won't repeat myself...

My word/phrase is BE A VESSEL, and I am really excited to experience its unfolding!

To celebrate it, I bought a sweet, little bowl from UK potter Kerry's etsy shop

I just love its scratched exterior as it reminds me of a nest, and the pale green interior is the perfect colour of Spring and shiny new growth...

I decided to make an ice mandala in my new little vessel to photograph for this post. 

An ice mandala is simple - you sit and meditate and watch the magical transformation of a solid to a liquid...

Five chunky cubes fitted snuggly in my nest-bowl.

I didn't consciously choose 5, but there happens to be 5 inhabitants of our home - my hubbie, my son, my daughter, our cat and me :o)

Then, I settled down to watch and photograph, and ponder on this new year, and what it may mean for me to be a vessel...

I didn't have any mighty revelations particularly, but I was struck by the fact that each cube melted at its own rate - each had its own alloted cube lifespan...

... and as it melted, it seemed that the other cubes moved to fill the space it left behind, until finally, there was no ice, but instead a cup of refreshing cold water...

... which I drank toasting to the New Year - to a year where I am to be a vessel, a receptacle, a bowl in which to receive blessings, and  also to offer them up...

WOYWW 188 - Where do the days go???



How on earth can it be a whole week since the last WOYWW??

 

But as you can see, a lot can change in a week!

 

How do you like the new-look blog with the amazing header created by Mary Anne using the xmas gift I showed last week? I am in awe of what she could do - and so quickly!

It just makes me smile every time I see it ;o)

 

And how can it already be the 9th of January??

 

But here's the proof - a cute, vintage lil calendar I found on ebay...

 

... and here's its place on my desk

 

As you can see, I'm keeping to my New Year intention (I don't do guilt-inducing resolutions) of writing more snail mail...

So if any of you lovely WOYWWers would like a REAL card/note/letter in the post, just drop me an email (claire[dot]sauer[at]ntlworld.com) with your mailing address...

I promise to be a faithful (but not weekly!) pen pal :o)

I've covered the addresses with these thought-filled quotes...

... which I keep in a driftwood box on the window sill to the left of the desk

As I go over to my desk every day to change the date, I pull out a quote for the day... here's today's:

Just remain in the centre, watching,

And then forget that you are there.

Lao Tzu

Well, today I shall be sitting in the centre visiting as many of you wonderfully creative people as possible listed over at Julia's Stamping Ground...

And if you have a mo, drop down to Monday's post and see another new challenge I've set myself - it's going to be fun!!

Enjoy xxx

Focus on Life - Week 1

Good morning!!
I'm trying something new...
Following the lead of Lesley over at The Gossiping Goddess, I'm doing this Focusing on Life challenge hosted by Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime.
I figure I can manage a photo a week...
Week 1's challenge is a self-portrait... YUCK!
Like many, I HATE having my photo taken, but in the interest of 'art' (*cough*), here's the most recent - taken last year...

Very shiney and very smiley...
A fair assessment of me, I guess :o)

WOYWW 187 - Happy New Year!

Well, here we are in 2013, dear WOYWWers!
Isn't it great to meet again?
I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and are looking forward to the new year...
Here are a couple of presents on my desk...
First, a lil gift I bought for myself from Sonia

It seemed an appropriate New Year pressie - and hope is the thing with feathers according to Miss Dickinson :o)

And a very precious surprise Xmas gift from my dear friend, Anca - how special is this???

I won't take it out of the wrapping until I find the perfect frame...

Does anybody know how I can incorporate this into my blog head, as I'd really like to use Anca's beautiful artwork in some way...

I'm looking forward to visiting your desks as often as possible in this new year, and a BIG thankyou to Julia for hosting this brilliant get-together over at her Stamping Ground!!

Wishing you everything good for 2013

xxxx

PS Feel free to scroll down is see my word for 2013... I think you'll be seeing and hearing lots more about this throughout the year...

Welcome 2013!

 

Blue skies greet the new year in my part of the UK

Well, a new day and a new year! HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

I'm not a great one for resolutions - Life tends to get in the way...

But for the past few years, I have taken a short online retreat with Christine at Abbey of the Arts to 'choose' a word for the New Year.

I say 'choose', but usually the word chooses you!

Christine gives different ways to find a word/phrase, and recommends sitting with it for a few days... Sometimes, something you read or hear just strikes you, and it feels right... Other times, you have to sit a while in the quiet and open yourself up to your word...

This year, as I sat with the Nativity story each day throughout December, spending time with the main characters, as often is the case, I identified with Mary...

(Well, 15 years ago I was heavily pregnant with E, who entered the world (eventually!) on 29 December)

... and I pondered the depth of her faith to accept what the angel told her - faith way beyond her tender years...

At first, I thought my word was 'Becoming' - as in becoming a mother, becoming the woman Mary and I are called to be...

But as the days passed, it didn't quite sit right...

Then, one morning, I woke up with these words quietly repeating in my head

BE A VESSEL

And as I sat with this phrase, over the next few days, I realized how many things this could mean...

Yes, Mary as the divine receptacle, showing us how we ALL carry a spark of the Divine within us...

Any bowl, pitcher, cup is a vessel to be filled and emptied, to be USED to feed and quench...

And, of course, a vessel can be a boat, a ship - a floating bowl! - carrying its precious cargo across the seas...

And I know, from past experience, as the days of this new year pass, my word/phrase for the year will unfold and mean many more things...

So, I will leave you on this new day of the new year with some pictures of the beginnings of life I saw on my scooter-walk the other day - clearly, the poor plants don't know it's supposed to be winter!

And our beloved Queen Molly - much calmer today after a rather fraught New Year's Eve full of loud, scary fireworks!!!

And a further link to all the other wonderful words for 2013 over at Abbey of the Arts...

Enjoy!!!