Denim

I have been thinking about the word DENIM and all it conjours up in my mind this week, in response to the prompt over at the sunday creative.
The opportuity for me to link in this week on her blog directly is now too late, but here is my creative bit in honour of the word: "denim"
Denim.
Jeans,
Comfy,
Casual,
Lazy days, holidays, relaxing days, working days, painting days,
Any days, most days.
Cropped, grunge, baggy, bootleg, bootcut, flares, drainpipe, ripped.
s-t-r-e-t-c-h.
Navy blue, dark blue, light blue, any blue.
White denim, black denim, pink denim, sparkly denim - any denim - I've had them all.
Skinny fit,
Tight fit,
Any fit,
Might fit,
Don't fit,
Won't fit.
Ripped jeans, torn jeans, frayed jeans, worn jeans.
Slouch look,
Grunge look,
Baggy look,
Ridiculous look,
Don't look (builder's bum)
Designer look.
Boyfriend?
That would be nice!
Please look.
Nice jeans, bargain jeans, comfy jeans, well worn jeans, his jeans, worn out jeans. Favourite jeans,
lovely jeans.
Levi, wrangler, high street, my street, your street.
My jeans, your jeans, I love my jeans.
Denim.
Jeans.
Forever in blue jeans.

The Art House Day

Today I went to see my friend Fiona's art at an exhibition held here
I went with my friend and I was thankful it has been such a beautiful day, to be in an open top sports car (even if my hair now has a whole new meaning to the 1980's style of "back-combing" - remember the scene in Bridget Jones?)
We annoyed the sat nav, as one of the anticipated roads was closed and it kept trying to re-route us, asking us to do a legal U-turn and to repeatedly turn left. We ignored it many times, follwed the diversion signs until we got confused with several diversion sign options in differing directions and finally did a big de-tour. Eventually the sat nav said (rather firmly we thought): "go straight ahead until further instruction." We just giggled.
The house was amazing, as was the art and the rather delicious champagne. We were even amazed at the dog who jigged the door handle several times, before cleverly letting himself in. Sadly, the dog was quickly put on a lead and taken back outside and whilst we each chose our favourite top three pieces of art, we didn't actually buy any.
Not today, anyway.

Open

Open.
Whenever I think of this word, I think of being open hearted.

Open doors, offering adventure

and seeing potential windows of opportunity.

What about you?
Have a look at this for more ideas and inspiration.
I did my art creation using black pen for the stone window and oil pastels for the bright colours in the scene in the window.

Creativity Bootcamp Day 6

As I travelled south after work with the wedding cakes, in boxes, within boxes, surrounded by towels to be secure and all lain on a duvet for cushioning to add to the suspension in my car, Creativity Bootcamp Day 6 was well underway.
I had had time to check the prompt for the day: FLUID and snap this shot:

Dreams,
Like clouds,
Watch, wait, stare, hope,gaze,
Come away with me,
Float, soft, fluffy,
Like candy floss,
Escape,
Movement,
Freedom,
No constraints,
Always unique,
Never seen before,
Original clouds,
Never the same.
I love you sky clouds.
Let me dream with you.
I'll come away with you anytime.
Let's do it.
Dream.
Time to Dream.
Perchance to dream,
Again.
Anew.
Afresh.
Breath Life.
My creative soul.

Creativity Bootcamp day 4

Creative Bootcamp is in Day 4. I had been working on the prompts and journalling challenges one day and posting it the next but somehow I woke early this morning to be mulling over the prompt for today all day.
And then didn't post it.
Then reality kicked in with time pressure of needing to finish and pack up the wedding cakes for the wedding last weekend.my life became work and wedding cake.
So, here I am, Saturday, a week after the wedding and finally sitting down to pull together all my journalled and photographed creative thoughts to share with you of the last few days.
Day 4 prompt:"HEAVY METAL"
It has felt a bit like doing the full metal challenge.
Let me explain why:
There has been a lot of soul searching and re-aligning going on in my heart and head with the journalling prompts during this creativity bootcamp. Yesterday, we were thinking about the things that kill and destroy creativity. Today, when I saw the creative prompt HEAVY METAL, I continued with my thoughts of the protection I wear around my heart/head/soul - some of it is good and needed. The extinguishing fiery arrows kind of armour - those negative thoughts, doubt, disbelief, words spoken but also how sometimes we (or I) shield myslef form possibilities and opprotunities.
I need to live and breathe afresh my creativity and throw off the things that hinder.
Welcome to my full metal challenge.
As part of processing this, I went for a walk. Wind, fresh air, sunshine is great for clearing some cobwebs.
The river and my local park, with the question from today's prompt: What inspires me?
Opportunities, the sense of adventure and possibilities.


Colour and fun.

Life and vibrancy and gentleness and peace found in a garden.


I love being inspired, don't you?
I also took a few pictures of some HEAVY METAL for my scrapbook pages.




I visited my local hobby carft, treated myslef to these beautiful scrapbook papers to use. One a bit grungy, reminding me of the heaviness, the cacophany of sound of heavy metal music with the beautiful contrast of the coordinating flowers of creativity and inspiration. I found them inspiring and can't wait to use them.

What inspires you?

Creativity Bootcamp Day 3

I said it was complicated.
MULTILAYERED was the word prompt for day 3.
I immediately thought of the film shrek and donkey chattering on about us all being like onions as we all have layers.
How true.
I am multilayered. Complicated, even.
As I am wrestling with peeling back the layers to reveal my true creative self, I am also aware of the layers I have added of protection, the negative thoughts, words that cause me to doubt or false protect.
Hmm.
The following quotes were given as part of our journalling prompts:
"Conformity is the jailor of freedom and the enemy of growth." John F Kennedy.
We have been challenged to think about the things that kill our creativity: negative thoughts, doubt can do it for me.
Inspiration comes quickly buzzing, bzz, bzz, thwap. dud.
Silence.
as I think: Nah, I could never do that.
Creativity dead right there.
I wrote in my journal a reminder to take every thought captive and a note to self to extinguish those fiery arrows that come to wound my creative heart and soul.
As I took some multilayered photos, I thought that perhaps I ought to turn the word MULTILAYERED into MULTIFACETED.




The many talents of Luci. The artist.
I will stick to one layer at a time, for now.
In the meantime, these are the funky striped, layered scrapbook papers I will use.

I have nearly finished all the prep for day 4!

Creativity Bootcamp Day 2

The prompt word for day 2 was "PICNIC" over at Creativity Bootcamp
I immediately thought of red and white checked tablecloths and baskets, summertime, romance, relaxing, buttercups and daisy chains.
I found these scrapbooking papers from my stash: daisy paper, orange red and white check and a dark green and thought: perfect.

I grabbed my picnic blanket from my car, some apples and some sparkly bubbly and took a few photos.



Simple.
Fun.
That warm, glowing feeling.
Still dreaming of Summer, I set about the journalling part.
The challenge: to start calling myself an artist.
What?
No way!
suddenly Life was no Picnic at all, with this statement.
Me? An artist? Nooo.
I am just one sandwich short of the picnic, there.
I have friends who are artists and I immediately put myself waaay out of their league.
I always think of an artist as someone who is proven to be one, known as, others say, qualifications, good at what they do.
Then there is me.
Told I am creative, artistic perhaps, learned a few artistic skills, described as quite arty, imaginative, bold, flexible.
I would describe myself as a bit artistic and one who enjoys being in touch with my creative side...
I obediently wrote in my journal, as asked, the words:
Luci is an artist.
I felt numb and went "pah!" in disbelief...
yet actually having a bit of a dream, to fan into flame the creativity, the yearnings for that creative flair and outlet, to fan into flame the gifts that God has given me. As small and as insignificant as I might feel it is. My wee talent of a mish mash of bits of creativity.
Doubts, negative thoughts, failings, words spoken, comparisons all flooding around, crashing, more than the belief in myself.
Help me more, lord to cancel out the negative words, the put downs, disbelief and limitations and to breathe life in the creative artistic parts of Luci.
To flourish.
This was my prayer.
It is a hard process for me.
One of the quotes given was this: " Most people are much more unusual and complicated and eccentric and playful and creative than they have time to express." When I let my creativity go, I have millions of ideas and sooo little time to do things. It would be great to really embrace my creative soul, as battered and tight as a wee bud it is, perhaps.
Apparently the word artist in Webster means: one who creates objects of beauty.
See now that doesn't sound so bad, does it?
Day 3 has the word: MULTILAYERED, which I have been working on today.
Let's just say, it's complicated...

Pastels and Pancakes.

Today is day 2 of my half term break.
Loving It!
Met up for lunch and shopping with my friend Canev, who came to see me today.
We did afternoon tea too.
I re-confirmed my suspicions that the reason I like vanilla slice is because of the layer of icing on the top.
I did eat all of it, just to make sure!

I came home and had fun with my new pack of pastels.

Remember my thoughts on Sunday, Valentines Day?
the line from a hymn, If with His love He befriend me has been tumbling through my mind and heart these last few days.
So I did this.

Then I made and ate pancakes!
With lemon and sugar.

I suppose, tomorrow will bring my next challenge.
What to give up for Lent?

Whoop for Half Term!

Yep I did it!
I survived a whole half term in my new job - loving it, bit tired in the evenings it has to be said - but it is a great milestone to reach for me, nonetheless.
So now, to celebrate this milestone, I have a whole week off!
Today, there was lots of time for lazing in bed for ages with coffee and my book!
Lunch out with my big sister at a lovely cafe in my city. We both chose eggs florentine. Sisters! Delicious!
Then back home for some creative arty farty painting fun.

I did this to celebrate Chinese New Year - 2010 is the Year of the Tiger and the celebrations for the next few days began yesterday on Valentines Day, so I sneaked in a few red and gold hearts into my painting! I painted in acrylic and added the gold with a gold marker pen for the finishing touches.
I even did some ironing too!
A great day!
More of the same or similar, tomorrow I think.

Snowy Art

Here is my artwork for Make some Art Monday!

Yes I know it is Tuesday, but yesterdays plan was waaaaay tooo complicated to get finished. I wanted to do a collage, but it was too fiddly to cut out with the scissors... so I ended up doing it as a pen and ink. Done. Simple. Satisfied. Aah.
I was inspired by the starck contrasts of the wintry trees in my local park and the crunchy almost perfect snow.

Thought that I really should capture the memory of our 2 snow days in this last week in some art.
I love the art by Klimt and particularly his tree of life painting, so did my artwork inspired by this:

I hope you like my make some art monday piece for my snowy art.
You can see some more art over at chrissies blog here.
Thanks Chrissie for your inspiration to help me grow in being in touch with my creative side.

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas!

I love Christmas for all the right reasons: sparkle, cinnamon, lots of ooh ahhs, friends, family, giving and receiving gifts and Jesus coming as Immanuel God with us.
The challenge comes with all the preparations. I have given a lot of thought into the gifts I am going to make, but I am way behind this year with some stuff.
Christmas cards.
Oops!
I usually make all my own cards, usually lots of crafty stamping and fun with glitter, card, glue and embossing stuff.
I then usually send everyone a newsletter with some photos in the envelope.
This year, I have made ONE design and sent it to a company with what I want to say on the back. It will be postcard size. I have ordered a hundred and it comes with the picture in grey on the backside. I hope it works. It has saved me weeks of time in making all my cards, this year. I had loads of fun doing my design!Have fun making or printing or just writing your cards to those you know and love, far and wide this year. x
You can find the company I used here.

Remember to be thankful for Lists!

I have mixed feelings when it comes to lists. As a child, my Mum would write lists for everything. She would send me shopping with a list. Sometimes the list would read:butter. I never knew if the list was for me of for her and never felt that I should ask. Now I make lists often because I have soooo many things to do and am worried that I might forget something. The list usually seems so overwhelming! However, my favourite part is when I cross things off!
As part of Make Some Art Monday that I am doing, Chrissie is asking us to join in the blog fun by compiling a list of things to do before our next birthday.... that is the number of items corresponding to the number in years you will be next year!
That is 46 things!
My head has been spinning with ideas, fun things and all the actual things I really need to do.
I added a few things in for fun too!
This week, with a little help from Tudur, I made my list and my art:

This is My Wish Upon A Star Artwork: covered in 46 post it notes! I will peel them off as I complete each thing, to reveal the stars and some words of affirmation hidden underneath!

My 46 things for Luci to do(before my next Birthday)... my own Wish Upon A Star list
(I need lots of Fairy Dust!)

I have made a start on the list of 46 things, since my birthday was at the beginning of October :-)

1. Visit hummingbird bakery
I would love to see and taste these amazing cakes in one of their stores.

2. Sort out photos for scrapbooking.
The last few years photos are in a huge box in a mess.

3. Sort stuff in Trunk. Big mess.

4. Memory Box
My own keepsakes, need sorting through since they came out of storage.

5. Start Scrapbooking - Done! (started on Saturday. I had such fun!) :-)

6. Paint Bathroom

7. Sort and throw out old statements
I only need to keep the last 5 years.

8. Increase my working hours - Done! (was offered and accepted another part time job temporary on Friday!) I start in 2 weeks time. yippee! :-)

9. Find new and fulfilling job.
Need to find something new, as current jobs are temporary contracts.

10. Start A Blog - Done! (started in October and loving it!) :-)

11. Mum and Dad Artwork.
I have a selection of some of my parents artwork. It is in a pile of sketchbooks and pieces, which i want to put together in one memory book of the artwork I have.

12. Make blind for Kitchen.

13. Tidy paperwork on desk.
I have "adopted" my Dad's stack system: piles of paperwork.
Have realised that piles = mess. Need to have order on my desk.

14.Sort Teaching box into files and chuck out the unwanted paper for recycling.

15.Investigate loft/attic conversion.
Next door have done it, but need to find out building regulations, cost, planning permission, staircase, window, architect, builder etc. I would love a separate workroom / office space.

16. Make some leaf Art.
Need to hurry to do this, before all the leaves turn to slush with all the rain we keep having here.

17. Do a course.

18. Visit friends in Scotland.

19. Write child/youth curriculum.
Started this pre-teen curriculum years ago, when I was in YWAM, but would love to continue it, with the next 2 booklets.

20. Scrapbook existing photos.
Old albums done with the old peel adhessive, which are falling to pieces.

21. Put nice photos in photo frames.

22. Wear a nice dress to a nice occassion.

23. Start swimming again.
havent been this year as had post viral fatigue. I miss it.

24. Girly Shopping Day in a lovely city.

25. Jump in some Puddles. (in my wellies)

26. Get a dog. (maybe)

27. Eat in a lovely Restaurant.

28. Discover more about my family roots.

29. Sort, recycle, file child and youth box of stuff.

30. Go for a picnic - at the zoo!

31. Go and see a play.

32. Go and see some live music.

33. Write messy church Stuff down, maybe as a blog?
Need to chat with minister and see how is best to pas on the creative ways we have been doing all age services each month.

34. New Relationships.

35. Travel somewhere on a plane.

36. Write down storytelling/circle time stuff done in the last few years and is in notes.

37. Ditch Denby and buy new china I like. Done! Sent old denby to china search last month and new stuff arrived today! Joy! :-)

38. Holiday

39. Sort through Memorabilia of Mum and Dad.
Need to do this with my sister. It is a work in progress.

40. Play in the snow

41. Have a Spa Day - facial, nails - relax.

42. Direction for this new season.
Last year, the Lord said to me change. I am praying about what is next for me.

43. Have a Massage.

44. Explore possibilities - the word the lord gave me was enlarge - house, ministry, friends, family... what does this mean for me and how.

45. 6 x boxes of Junk. Clear out, throw out, give away, keep a little.

46. New system for craft stuff. Tidy and organise, or I can't find what I need/want.

Phew!
Now to tackle the other 42 things on the list....

Remember to be thankful for Monday!

So, over the weekend I found a new and inspiring blog - in His Grace - chrissiegrace.blogspot.com. Chrissie is asking others who are arty and creative, or who would like to have a go at finding and developing their creative gifts to join her in "Make some Art Monday!" series. It looked really fun, with some amazing and creative people already taking part. Some seem to be professional!
It started a few weeks ago, it seems, so I am a bit behind! She has given people ideas for what to do each week or just to do anything you like. People then send a link to their blogs with their art for the week I haven't done much art at all for ages, but have often thought of getting my creative arty farty creative juices going again, especially after being ill with post viral fatigue - but it has taken me a while to get my energy levels and inspiration to connect!
Thanks, Chrissie, for your blog and for the inspiration to join in.
The theme for this week, is artists. Well, I had my idea of what I wanted to do first, which was Poppies because they are quite close to my heart as it is Remembrance week this week, so I then found an artist who painted poppies - Lexi Sundell, who has done some amazing poppies - and found lots of further inspiration for my own poppies creation for today.

I did a wax relief watercolour wash as a background and then had fun painting some poppies with acrylic paint and made some out of paper, a mixture of crepe paper and coloured glittery card that I tore out. I stuck these on to the watercolour background and then stuck on black buttons for the funky centres. So,join us on a Monday and make some art!
Look at Chrissie's blog for details and let me know how you get on!
I have really enjoyed it, especially after going to an interview today!
Thank you Chrissie!