January 2020

So here I am on 1st January 2020.  The last year flashed past in the blink of an eye - especially the last couple of weeks. I have hardly had time to catch breath let alone come up with a list of new year resolutions.

I have a new calendar of Dutch Masters floral painters, a new diary and a wheel of the year card to celebrate the seasons.

I have wanted a wheel of the year card for ages as a reminder to appreciate each coming season.

Beautifully painted flowers in my calendar imagery.  The dark backgrounds really make them stand out.  Can you see the water droplets, tiny ants and snail in the picture?

First week in my diary.  I hope to fill it with places to go and visit.

Back page of the diary.  It really is a lovely book with lots of lovely art work and writing.

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy 2020

Blinging a Ring to Spring

Happy New Year!!!  Being that my word for 2016 is Advance - I really am advancing forward and looking to the next season on the calendar!  I am not wishing away the next few months of winter but just being proactive in the dreary months when I can get a foothold on my jewellery making and catching up with other things too!

I have been making these stretchy rings that are such fun to put together.  My focus has shifted from the darker earthy tones to the bright and zesty colours of the spring and summer time.

I am not going to let this year pass me by without squeezing every drop of productivity that I can get out of it.  I feel that last year was lived through a haze vicariously through others.  This year is mine for the taking!

Happy New Paints

I was very fortunate to receive a set of Japanese watercolour paints for Christmas.  I already have pans of Cotman watercolour paints in the traditional colour palette but wanted to try some new vibrant colours.  There is a beautiful turquoise shade and a wedgewood blue colour and even four metallic!

It seems such a shame to use them but I believe that they are the catalyst I need to get painting!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year full of creative opportunities x

Farewell 2013

Yes.  Farewell to 2013.  I nearly failed to capture you as the sun set for the last time this year.  The sun has been hiding for so many days now that it was a shock when he put in an appearance for a few minutes to enable me to capture a photo.

2013 was quite an uneventful year and for that I am grateful.  I didn't really have any plans for 2013 so I am going to make sure that I don't let 2014 slide away from me without 'doing' anything. So in 2014 I propose to:

• make the most delightful herbal sleep pillows with my own recipe herbal mix

• take up lino cutting/printing with the set I was given for Christmas

• visit the Chelsea Physic Garden for ideas and inspiration

• make high end jewellery using silver and semi-precious gemstones

• return to my water colour painting (not done this for a couple of years now).

• bake my own bread

• make soap and other cosmetic preparations

• plant a herb garden

• start job hunting (if I have any time left to do so!)

So there it is.  A list of intentions for the coming year.  I doubt I will do them all, but I will try.

*Happy New Year to all the folks that drop by to this space in blog land.  See you next year.*

New

A brand new diary to be filled over the coming months.

A major birthday coming up in March entering into my 5th decade.

My 25th (Silver) Wedding Anniversary coming up in June.

The first grape harvest due at the vineyard at the end of summer.

A year of celebration.

A year of sunshine (OK, I made that one up but it would be nice!)

Happy New Year!

Evolve

Christmas 2012 came and went in the blink of an eye.  I am glad it is over.  Enforced merriment is not my cup of tea.  The unrelenting grey sky has been hanging over me for days on end.  My lad tells me that it is known as global dimming.

I am looking forward to 2013. I always look forward to a fresh start.  A clean page. Over the past few years I have given myself a word to focus on.  These words have included Create, Nurture and Action.  My word choice for 2013 is Evolve.

For almost a decade I feel as though I have stagnated.  I have turned down opportunities due to a lack of confidence.  I always err on the side of caution.  I think it is about time that I grew up and evolved into a much more responsible adult that faced life head on rather than always reaching for the comfort blanket.

Evolve.  I like the sound of that word.  Would you care to evolve with me?

Crafting is my Passion!

I am happiest when I am making things. Crafting is my hobby, my passion. I enjoy creating things from all sorts of mixed media and my enthusiasm for it never wanes.

I like putting things together so they are pleasing to the eye.

I like working with colour and different layouts.

I especially like adding cats to my crafts!

I am going to spend a lot of 2011 pursuing the things I love to do. Crafting is at the top of the list. What's your passion?

Happy New Year!

Wishing You a Positive New Year

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." Bill Vaughn

A pessimist by nature, I am going to make a big effort to turn my negative thoughts into positive ones this coming year. No matter what life throws at me I am going to turn the tables and make sure that I view things with a much more positive attitude.

Most of my pessimism is borne out of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the known. I am going to face up to my fears and fight back!!!

I wish all of you a year full of positive things, and if they are not positive then lets make them so.

Blank Pages

Well, here we are at the edge of a new year. I see the new year as a book of blank pages ready to be filled, a blank canvas, a fresh start.

I look forward slightly apprehensive and yet excited for the months ahead.

This year is going to be a year of doing rather than dreaming for me. A year of action!

I hope to fill the pages ahead with learning new skills, growing more things in the garden, getting closer to nature and continuing to explore my creative side.

What do you aim to put in your book in 2010?