"You is Kind"

I recently re-watched the movie "The Help" and the words that Aibileen,who is an African-American maid, tries to teach  to Mae Mobley, the little girl who is entrusted to her care, really made an impression on me. They are simple words but I began to use them as affirmations for myself every day. 

You is kind

You is smart

You is important

I have found that the simplicity of these words have touched my heart. We all try to improve ourselves during our lives but these words make it easy for me to remember and repeat to myself. 

 "Am I kind"? I think that I am. I was brought up to think of others and to put others before myself sometimes to my own detriment. But it lets me sleep at night and feel  good when I can help others. 

"Am I smart" well I get by and especially if I don't get in my own way. 

But the one I slip up on is the "Am I important".  I think that this is a tricky one for a lot of us, we were brought up to look out for others which sometimes put us back down the list. So this is what I will definitely be working on. I am important because life is like a big jigsaw puzzle and we must all be here to make up that puzzle.  Why would my puzzle piece be less important than yours or the piece of somebody else.

So after doing this for awhile I have added  another line to my daily affirmations.  

You is worthy

and aren't we all.

(Thanks to Gayle from www.abeautifulmessinside.com for the above picture which reminded me of the importance of these words)

Soar

Last week I was lucky enough to go to the Stitches and Craft Show. It is exciting to go to places where their are so many creative people. I was in a place where people want to teach you about there products and new techniques and I know that they all wish you would buy their products but they also want to share their knowledge. The ones that end up selling the most are those that still have the excitement in their eyes about what they are doing because they make you feel that same thrill. It goes back to the old adage that if you do what you love you won't work a day in your life.

Over the last year I have learnt the amazing things that can happen when you surround yourself with people who are interested in the same things that you are interested in. From doing online classes with Kelly Rae Roberts, Jane Davenport and most recently being involved with Life Book 2013 and Tam Laporte.
All of these talented ladies share not only their skills but it is the community that comes with them and the moral support that envelopes you that keeps you going in an environment that could be very isolating.

At the show I loved seeing all the new products but can't wait till mid year when the Papercraft show comes around.  I have found a new way to use my art by putting my prints on pendants and I am really excited about making them. So far I love the way they are turning out and can't wait to make one for myself. Will soon have some pictures of finished pieces. Can't wait to share them.

So for now I will leave you with one of my latest paintings that has a message for all of us.  

Don't hold back   Soar......

Say No to Bullying Day

Tomorrow is "Say No to Bullying" Day and we have all been encouraged to wear Orange to show our support and to say NO. I wonder if there is anyone who has never been a victim of Bullying somewhere in their lives. I myself have a few battles with bullies and funnily enough it was never in my childhood. I think it was because I had a good basis in life from my childhood that it didn't affect me then but as I began taking the reins of my own life I let people have too much control over how I felt about myself.

Sometimes you listen to those you work with who have there own agenda. It starts slowly with off handed comments and criticisms that you try not to get upset about but then they see that you react and they know what works against you. Slowly and surely they take away your confidence and eventually you no longer know what is your truth and their truth.

Don't let them do it. Tell someone and either stand up to them or get away because otherwise it sneaks into all areas of your life. I have heard so many stories of this and with my own experiences I know the toll it takes. So tomorrow I will be wearing Orange and I will be thinking of others and my most recent bully and I will show them that they are not in control.

You know the best revenge is to live a "Great Life". Because that is what the bully  is trying to take away from you. This is why I like to make art with positive messages. I want to encourage others on their journeys as I muddle my way through my journey.So tomorrow when you get up and look in your cupboard for something to wear - grab something Orange and show everyone that it is not ok to Bully.

I have been working hard and really loving coming up with some new prints. Something positive for people to put on their wall or desk or to buy for someone they care about. I want people to believe in themselves and have reminders that life is good. I am going through some stuff in life myself and know that positive people, books and messages have helped keep me going. Being creative is really healing so as well as helping myself and trying to make changes for others.

Well a lovely lady by the name of Melanie has done up a button for me that is my word for the year and that is Happiness. I have never been one for New Years resolutions but I liked the idea  when it was suggested that you  pick a word for the year and try to focus on it throughout that year. Many words went through my mind like kindness or belief but I thought if I concentrate on Happiness and looking for it in every situation it will bring only the positive things into my life.( If you would like to see Melanie's website follow the link http://www.onlyabreath.com/2012/12/theyre-here-free-one-word-blog-buttons ) Maybe you might want to choose one word for your year - it is never to late.

So whenever you do set your self a task like Happiness you know it will be tested. And so I have found that I have had to try and keep happy even though I had to leave my job. I started a new job in September but it was not meant for me. It was something that made me unhappy and uneasy. Somehow you have a feeling when you know something is not the right fit for you but you persist for many reasons until you find the toll is too great. The only way to true happiness is to trust your inner voice. So I am now looking for something new and while I am looking I will continue to paint and learn. Here is what has been keeping me busy this last week.

Well I have been missing in action from my Blog but for good reasons. I have been so busy painting and I find it tricky to balance my time between painting and Blogging and putting things on my Etsy shop. There are just not enough hours in a day. I am also doing on-line classes  learning more techniques and using new products which is really exciting. This year has started off a wonderful year will all this movement in the right direction - getting to spend more time with paint on my hands (and my clothes and the table). That is like heaven. So now the challenge is Balance. Anyway I wanted to add some of the works here that I have just completed and put in my Etsy shop. Hope you like them . Also great news I have made my first Etsy sale and a sale of one of my paintings from two lovely people who were kind enough to share my new adventure. Thanks to you both

Well the New Year has started and for me it has many new beginnings. The first and very exciting thing for me, was to join a group of artists to work on a year long project where we get to see what 22 other artists are doing and to learn about their art and practices. It is called "Life Book 2013" and is run by a wonderful Lady who is as generous and caring as you could ever find. Her name is Tam Laporte and you can see her great website at http://willowing.ning.com . I was counting down the days till the 1st of January and I was not disappointed.

Also I have joined a group who are working their way through the book "The Artist's Way " by Julie Cameron. It is a lovely book for anyone who wants to open up there life and get more out of it. You don't have to be an artist - maybe you are a writer or maybe you want to be. Maybe this would unlock what you really want to do, who knows but how exciting would that be to find what you have always been looking for. One of the first Tools you learn is to write 3 pages every morning to get your day started in the right frame of mind and although work makes it hard to always fit it in each  morning I have tried to do it every day. It clears out those cobwebs and is something I think I will always try to do.

All these things have got me going on creating new art and looking at where I will be going this year. I also will be trying to be putting more into my Blog. If only there were more hours in a day. Anyway here is a painting I have been working on and should be soon a print in my Etsy shop.