A Busy Bee....

As seems to be the common theme these days, it’s been a while since my last post.

I am amazed at how quickly time passes.....it’s quite scary really. One minute it’s Monday morning with a whole week ahead, and then all of a sudden it’s Friday and we are looking forward to the weekend.

I’ve had a busy few weeks which included a holiday and now it seems to be back to reality, catching up on work, seeing friends and just life in general.

However, I have found time to check out some blogs and one of which has really caught my eye. The blog is by an artist called Carol Marine who produces a painting-a-day and has been doing so since October 2006! How about that for dedication and consistency. They are small oil paintings and I have to say that I love them. They have a freshness to them and a spontaneity, which I find appealing, and are of everyday subjects, or places she has visited and each day are put up for sale on ebay with a minimum price of $100.

Here's one of her recent paintings which I love....

http://carolmarine.blogspot.com/

Creating a painting every day must be a real challenge – heaven knows I find it challenging taking a photograph every day. I assume that Carol is an artist and therefore painting is her day job, but what about the days when you are not feeling inspired. When you just want to read or catch up on some sleep, or are busy with the family etc etc. To make the time to paint every day requires a dedication which I can only admire and greatly respect.

I imagine Carol has learned alot in the time she decided to produce a painting every day and I hope she continues this project for as long as she can as not only her paintings, but her dedication is pure inspiration.

One Year On....

This weekend was one which I was kind of dreading. Mainly as on Sunday it was a year since my Dad passed away. I wasn’t sure how I would cope with it or indeed how I would feel.

In the end it turned out to be a lovely weekend because I was surrounded by the people I love.

I had a fun time with the children, we played, we giggled, we made cakes and we spent time just being. I spent quality time with my mum and brother and we remembered Dad.

The tears flowed but they were quickly followed by hugs and reassuring words.

It’s hard losing a loved one, I cannot give advice on how to deal with it, but all I do know is that I am very fortunate to still have people around me who love me. All the lottery wins and materialistic possessions can never replace that.

Most of all, I am lucky to come home to an amazing man who my Dad would have adored.

A few random creative facts about me...

~ I have always been creative, it's at my core and I love it.

~ I have too many art materials

~ I want to experiment with mixed media paintings

~ I admire the work of Chris Forsey (http://www.chrisforsey.com/)

~ I won my first and only art competition at the age of 4 (least that is what my mum says)

~ My favourite colour in my palette is permanent rose

~ I have a sewing machine gathering dust

~ I love buying sketchbooks and am working my way through filling them

~ The first time I attended a life drawing class my tutor made the male model stand legs akimbo infront of me so I could practice - I was completely embarrassed

~ Sitting on the rocks at St Ives painting the sea and beyond was a magical and calming experience

~ I still have my first 'proper' watercolour set which was a Christmas present from my parents when I was 13

~ I have a never-ending list of ideas for paintings, creative stuff and photography in my head

~ I have a bad memory.....

Blessed....

Yesterday I felt overwhelmed....today I feel blessed. What a difference a day makes (and plenty of sleep).

I still have a tonne of things to do in the next two weeks before I head to Grand Bahama (yup - now can you see why I feel blessed)....the first proper beach holiday in my entire 38 and a half years of life!

I can't wait to see a blue sky, feel the sun on my skin, take photographs, fill my moleskin sketchbook up, read some great books and most importantly of all, relax with Jim. Just some us time.

And to give me a little taster, the sun poked out from behind the houses this morning to wish me a great day.

I hope your's is great too!

Overwhelmed!

The weekend just gone was Easter and I spent it with friends in Brighton, with Jim, with children and my family. It was lovely. Four days away from work, four days without commuting into London and four days with people I love.

But one thing is missing....my photo mojo. I am flagging fast and it's worrying, especially as I have committed to do a picture-a-day for a year!

Last night I did some painting - I came up with a design for another children's card...so creativity is there. But I am struggling to get the camera out.

I took some pictures on Saturday but due to building work taking place in Jim's flat, I haven't been able to upload them.

I have a million things to do in the next couple of weeks...I am waking up with my head spinning, I am going to bed thinking about it all.........maybe that is the problem.

If anyone has any tips for getting my mojo back, I would be eager to listen :o/

March highlights and an unfortunate lowlight!

March has been and gone! It is scary how quickly we will the winter to pass (and what a winter it has been) and we are now heading into Spring - I say heading as Scotland and Ireland have had the most awful snow!

Here are some of my highlights and lowlights from the month:

Finding the brilliant Hipstamatic app for the iPhone - this is great and you can get some really cool pictures using it!

Realising just how many art materials I have - finding things I haven't used in ages and admiring all the paints and paper.

St Patricks Day and seeing all the people dressed up as they visit bars in London as I am on my way home from work.

Finding Jim's old ID cards and having a giggle at his 80's hair!

Losing my car in an accident!

I love taking a photo-a-day as it is a photographic diary of your life and sometimes we forget the good and remember the bad. So even though I lost my car, I found loads of art stuff, a new iPhone app, Jims old ID cards and I learned how not to take a picture of random strangers drinking outside a pub!

Have a great Easter everyone and here's to a wonderful April.

Wise words (part 2)....

Following on from my blog Wise Words here are ten more tips for a better life!

• Drink plenty of water
• Try to make at least three people smile each day
• Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
• Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness
• Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment
• Realise that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime
• Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
• Smile and laugh more
• Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others
• Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does

Have a great Friday and a good weekend!