I'm Back ! ! ! ...

My sincere apologies for being awol for the last two weeks.  My internet connection was disabled and it has taken this long to get it going again.  sooooo frustrating! But its GREAT TO BACK online.
A new blog that my good friend, Marie, informed me about is: happiness-project.com
So inspiring.  It is the blog of Gretchen Rubin, author of THE HAPPINESS PROJECT.  She has a new book due to hit the shelves soon. Go take a peek.

Today I am sharing  a painting I did for a very special friend to celebrate her new home:

This painting is mixed media on canvass.  She chose the quote.  O, there really is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

Best wishes to all my readers for a wonderful week.  And remember:

'THERE IS NO DARKNESS SO GREAT THAT HIS LIGHT CANNOT PENETRATE IT."
-Stormie Omartian-

                                          (my home)

Meet a Special Friend of Mine...

This is my artist/designer friend, Astrid (left) and that's her partner in design, Karen Emma, her sister.
Astrid is a very talented artist and a very BRAVE  young lady.  You can view their designs on www.schwarzie-designs.com and from there take the link to view Astrid's blog.

This is a tiny painting 15cm x 15cm, that I did recently.  Mixed-media on canvass.  (Hope you enjoy this one Astrid!!)

These are two fabric paintings I did ages ago that are still (patiently) waiting to be made into cushions.

Lazy Sunday...

"Guide me in your TRUTH and teach me, for You are God my  saviour, and my HOPE is in You all day long."       Psalm 25:5

A tiny bunch of snopdrops in my garden that blooms faithfully every winter to remind me that spring is just around the corner.
"IF WINTER COMES , CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND?"   (anon)

I found this picture on a blogspot somewhere and just had to share it with you.  Aren't dogs God's greatest creations?  I am a "dog person".  I dont think that I could ever live without the company of these intelligent, loyal, loving, fascinating creatures in my life!

Here are my three beautiful 4-legged children:

Shadow (Dobberman X   1 year old)

Tweak  (Pitbull  3 years old)

Bonny (Maltese X   5yrs old)

DID YOU KNOW:
that you can donate R10 to the GUIDE DOGS OF SOUTH AFRICA FUND by sms-ing "Guide Dogs" to 38051   ?    For more info  visit  their website at :  www.guidedog.org.za

It's Weekend Again...

Time to bake cookies to fill up the cookie jar.  I got lazy and made crunchies instead. soooo much easier. And I love the crunchy chewiness of them.  Also, because they have oats in them, I can con myself  that they are healthy for me (lol).

My Recipe:

tsp salt
1/3 cup golden syrup
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups cake flour
2 cups oats
2 cups desc. coconut
250ml Stork Bake margarine (or butter)

Mix all dry ingredients in bowl. Add syrup and melted margarine.
Mix well.
Press into lined or greased baking tray.
Bake at 180 C for 30 mins.
Cut into squares while hot.
Leave in baking tray to cool.
Remove and store in airtight container.

 In between the baking and gardening I was  making handmade greetings cards for a local gift shop. That's what I call "CREATIVE CHAOS" !

And this is my "evenings in front of the tv" project.  A crochet blanket done in masculine colours (way out of my comfort zone).

Last weekend's quickie craft project.  I was very envious of  some "country" cushions I saw on a blogsite and decided : "hey I can do that"!  So I sewed these up in a morning.  They add a  new look to my bedroom and they have a  vintage and nostalgic feel to them.
WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROJECT FOR THE WEEKEND? I would love to hear from you.

"THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN ORDINARY DAY"   (Anon)

A Touch of Whimsey...

a whimsical little painting I did recently . mixed media on canvass.

One of my favourite things to paint is trees.  I am a real tree-hugger.  This is also mixed-media on canvass. Below is a close up of the texture detail where I used tissue paper and gauze.

And these little recycled cans (baked beans, sweetcorn etc) that I have been having great fun making, were inspired by Lisa Kaus's "tinnies".  You can view her beautiful tinnies on her blog: www.lisakaus.blogspot.com

My tinnies are made with fabric, lace and ribbons, with large wooden beads for feet. Just wish I had more hours in a day to do up all the tins I have collected.

I hope that you will have a wonderful creative weekend.  LIVE  LAUGH  LOVE.

'HOW MANY CHARMING TALENTS HAVE BEEN SPOILED BY THE INSTILLED DESIRE TO DO "IMPORTANT" WORK.  SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN TO LIFT HEAVY WEIGHTS.  SOME ARE BORN TO JUGGLE WITH GOLDEN BALLS." 
-Max Beerholm-

A Little Bit of Sillyness...

Throughout my life CRAFTING has literally kept me sane (my family would disagree with that statement- they wouldnt describe me as sane!) Because of that I loved this saying so much that I decided to embroider it onto a cushion.   It also reminds me to stop taking everything so SERIOUSLY!  (In 50 years it'll all just be history).

"MIX A LITTLE FOOLISHNESS WITH YOUR SERIOUS PLANS".  (Anon)

I made this little sign for a patch in my garden that just wont conform to my "serious plan".

Books to REALLY inspire you...

I thought I'd mention a few of my favourite books today.
Kelly Rae Roberts' TAKING FLIGHT is a book I bought in 2009 and I must have read it about 20 times by now. Plus I have surely referred to it uncountable times for help with techniques etc.  It's one of those books that changes your life.  It's one of my favourite  treasures. (Available from www.kalahari.com in SA)

Another great book I purchased recently is Brene Brown's THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION.  If you struggle with perfectionism or you are very fearful to try new things - read this book. (Also available from www.kalahari.com in SA).

Thirdly, I love Stormie Omartian's new book THE PRAYER THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. This is a book that will encourage you and give you new hope.  A must read if you are feeling despondent, sick, depressed or are struggling with doubt, grief or even financial challenges.

Below is a photo of one of my paintings which was inspired by Kelly Rae's book:

"YES, I AM IMPERFECT AND VULNERABLE AND SOMETIMES AFRAID, BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE TRUTH THAT I AM ALSO BRAVE AND WORTHY OF LOVE AND BELONGING."
-Brene Brown-

to dream again...

I found this little poem on the internet recently.  I cannot remember the name of the author unfortunately.
But this simple little poem really inspired to me to revive my dreams and to start wishing and planning and imagining again. Because lately I had given up on all those things.

"If we let our dreams die, a part of us dies too.
If we give up wishing, we give up our hopes.
If we stop planning, we stop living.
If we lose our creativity, we lose our imagination."
(anon)

In order to revive some forgotten/neglected dreams I have started up an art journal which I try to add to at least every 2nd or 3rd day .   Here are some of my artistic "adventures" into art journalling:

I must at this stage appologise for the quality of my photos.  this will , I'm sure, improve with time .

more about that as the adventure progresses.  Go ahead and take ONE small step towards your dream today!

"DONT ASK WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS.  ASK WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE, AND GO DO IT. BECAUSE WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS IS PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME ALIVE."
-Howard Thurman-

Hello from a very cold Dundee

This is my first attempt at blogging.  I am battling to get my header right but suppose that I still have time to change that.  Yesterday I signed up for a creative e-course (my first) with Regina Lord at Creative Kismet.
I am sooooo excited !  It starts 6 August 2012.  Go check it out at www.creativekismet.com