WOYWW 217 - Still sunny and humid...

But here's my desk as of Tuesday. It was actually too hot to sit in the sun, and the pages of my art journal were blinding, even though they're off-white!

If you enlarge the photo, you'll see a housefly on the bottom right... No idea where they're coming from, but they're pesky and all over the house! We have all windows and doors closed, but still they come...

You can also see the Lionheart magazine I'm offering as a Giveaway :)

I've put a button on my right sidebar, or you can scroll down to the post underneath, or just click on the link above on the word Giveaway. Do leave a comment - just a 'Yes, please' is enough - and I'll put your name in the hat, so matter where in the world you are :)

Looking forward to visiting more desks than I managed last week, so I'm off to the Stamping Ground...

Till next week, when it'll be August
 - eek!!
xxx

Summer Holiday GIVEAWAY!!!

It's 9.02am, and I've just put the numbers 1 to 16 in the random generator thingy...

 

Well done no. 14 - dear Rita Parra, who emailed me 'cos she couldn't remember her google account password (my kinda girl!).

 

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my giveaway, I'm sure I'm be doing another soon :)

I have an extra copy of this lovely magazine to giveaway to celebrate the Summer Hols.

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude to the heat wave, wacky storms and house flies, so a fun giveaway seemed to be good idea :)

It's the brainchild of Helen Martin, and it's 96 pages of full-colour scrumminess - interviews with artists and musicians, delicious photographs and amazing illustrations. All beautifully produced on heavy, matte paper - my favourite kind of non-glossy magazine :)

I will post it anywhere, and depending on the postage costs, I'll add some extra goodies :)

I was so excited to find a UK, independent magazine creator that I bought the full set, even though I already had issue 2, so I'm giving away the pristine, unread extra copy :)

I'll draw the winner randomly from the comment list on Friday 16 August at 9am BST, and hopefully will get it in the mail by 17 August (a big date in my diary - start of the Premier Football season - sad, by true :) )

Good Luck!!

Focus on Life - Week 30

 

 

Gosh, week 30 already!! It'll be 2014 before we know it *gulp*

 

But for now, my focus this week has been to Catch the Sun - very easy, given the UK is still gripped in a heat wave - so, so hot...

 

I am blonde and fair-skinned, so I rarely sit out 'catching the rays', but I did step outside to take this

 

 

 

I was concentrating on capturing the deep shadow of the wooden chair, that I didn't notice at first the flash of light over near the right...

 

It's the sun bouncing off the glass patio door, so actually that flash of white light should be the subject of this week's prompt!

 

Don't you just love it when your photos decide for themselves what is important??

 

I'm curious to see how you all have caught the sun this week, so I'm heading over to Sally's Studio Sublime to find out, with a long, cool drink of iced water in my hand...

 

Till next week xxx

 

PS Just came across this quote, so had to add it :)

 

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

Louisa M. Alcott

 

 





WOYWW 216 - Change of desk...

As my main desk hasn't been touched since last week (the heat has sapped what little strength and creativity I possess), here's my lap desk...

Each day, I'm taking time to read, and make notes on, this book. It's a Lenten retreat book, but it fits so well with the soul work I started in Janet Conner's Check the Box course.

And I'm writing in this beautiful handmade journal made by Sharon of Beauty Bound Books in Edinburgh. She also has an etsy shop, and she offers personalization... Rather than my initials, I requested this to be printed on the spine...

... as I'm using it for my morning meditations :)

Now, I'm hopping over to the Stamping Ground to see if all the creative peeps gathered there managed to be crafty in the heat wave...

Till next week xxx

Focus on Life - Week 29

This week's prompt is Routine.

Ah, the daily routine - good and bad...

The good is definitely my one cup of real, full-roast coffee - there is no finer way to start the day...

My favourite is definitely the chocolate raspberry blend my dear friend sends from Santa Barbara, which I mix with fairtrade Columbian - I like my coffee smooth and delicately flavoured :)

Then, for the rest of the day I drink several pints of this...

The ice is a must, given the heatwave gripping the UK at the moment! It really is soooo refreshing, especially with lemon...

Now, I'm hopping over to Sally's Studio Sublime to learn all your daily routines...

Keep cool till next week xxx

WOYWW 215 - A Full House Again :)

The wanderers have returned...

Sam's safely back from Slovakia, and Esther had her Duke of Edinburgh expedition Friday--Sunday. For two days and nights we were true empty-nesters, fun while it lasted, but I much prefer a full house :)

So thank you sooooo much for all the lovely comments, prayers and good wishes last week - they really lifted my spirits!! And Sam had a wonderful, albeit exhausting, time cycling the hills of Slovakia :)

And here's my desk as of Tuesday evening...

The UK's in the middle of a mega-heat-wave, so I can only sit at my desk for short spells, before my right hand and foot swell up...

So, throughout yesterday, I tore pages out of last year's We'Moon diary. The artwork, poetry and articles are so thought-provoking and uplifting, they are perfect to use in my art journal!

I'll show what I make of them next week :)

Bless all you dear, dear WOYWWers gathered over at St Julia's Stamping Ground xxx

I'll leave you with a few pics of Sam's adventures, taken with his old phone, so they're not the best quality...

(Zvolen - the start point)

(view from a hostel)

 

(cycling through a cloud!)

Focus on Life - Week 28

This week's prompt Pretty Patterns had me stumped for a while...

And then my issue of Papercrafter came in the post, with its pull-out section of designer A4 size papers...

These are two favourites close up

And two more...

I especially love the boats...

... reminds me of Cornwall - and of course, I just love the wee moggy perched on the stern :)

All the other pretty patterns are gathered over at Sally Studio Sublime - do pop over for a look...

Till next week xxx

PS Please indulge me in a Proud Mama moment...

Yesterday, our daughter won this award at school for art and design - she scored 97% in her end of year assessment!!

WOYWW 214 - More journalling...

What a week!!

Our gorgeous boy is in Slovakia on a trip organized by Rotary International - his first time travelling solo...

He missed his flight on Friday, so we had a second 2am start on Saturday! We haven't heard from him since he arrived in Zvolen, exhausted but happy.

We trust he is safe, well and having fun. He's on a cycling camp with 20 teenagers from 20 countries - an amazing opportunity!

Meanwhile, I am endeavouring to keep calm and busy, reading, journalling...

Here's my desk as of Tuesday afternoon

Today's entry is from this fascinating book, and I printed out this quote from the preface:

A Strong Woman vs A Woman of Strength

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape…

but a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything…

but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of fear.

A strong woman won’t let anyone get the better of her…

but a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future…

but a woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be unexpected blessings, and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman wears a look of confidence on her face…

but a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey…

but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

(Author unknown)

I know this is a great dry-run for empty-nest time (our kids are 17 and 15), but I am experiencing that 'missing limb' feeling, which other mothers have described, and I don't like it... not one little bit...

So, I'm planning to visit as many desks as possible over at the Stamping Ground, as I'm sure that'll cheer me up no end...

Till next week, when he'll he safely home :)

 

 

 

 

Focus on Life - Week 27

I missed last week - lots going on with my Check the Box course, which finished earlier this week. And without a prompt from Sally, I confess I just didn't have the energy/creativity to come up with my own.

But this week's Texture prompt was nice and easy...

I see this exquisite artwork every time I look up from the sofa

It's by Anca Bonner, an artist and a dear friend, whose work graces my blog header, which was a surprise gift from Anca last Christmas :)

I knew I had to buy it, as soon as I saw it earlier this year. Here's a close-up

(click on the photo to enlarge and experience all the textures!)

Anca has used tea-stained book pages, egg shells, lace leaves, newspaper print, as well as paint and ink. Her pieces are full of texture and prove anything can be used to create beautiful art!

I adore texture in artworks - one reason I rarely buy prints! - as it adds interest and depth and often reveals the artist's inventive imagination...

Looking forward to seeing your textured takes on this week's prompt over in Sally's Studio Sublime.

Till next week xxx

WOYWW 213 - Address Box bargain

No art stuff going on Tuesday evening, just me filling in address cards for my new address box.

It's from East of India, and I've coveted one for so long, but they sell for £25 - eek!!

Then, last week I 'won' this one on ebay for £7 - brand new!! I was soooo happy!

Here's a close-up of the cute cards, that match the box, with my faithful lil angel holding them down, so I can record the names and addresses of friends and family.

It's hard work - I've only got to M so far... but it'll be wonderful when they're all done. I've never liked address books, where you have to cross out the address when someone moves. This way, I just throw away the card and fill out a new one :)

Now, what's happening on your desk this week? Ms Julia knows over on her Stamping Ground :)

Have a great week xxx