Cloud Appreciation.....

I've been doing a lot of cloud watching and navel gazing this week.

Sometimes you need to just get out into nature and experience it.

Feel the sun on your face (being careful not to burn it).

It becomes so easy to forget how beautiful the place where you live is.

Focus on the good stuff.

Focus on the small stuff....look at the amazing rock formation going on here

Focus on the fun

See the journal? Way over there?

(Wreck This Journal)

Focus on the things that make you happy.

Tony Plant

I've been doing my bit for art and philanthropy  this week, as well as my regular donations to various charities and my Kiva donations, I've pledged the artist Tony Plant some money to help him get some important equipment to assist him in producing more amazing works like the one above.

Please go and check out his work here and if you like what you see go pledge some money here.

Go on.....it'll make you feel good...I promise...

xxx

Sunshine......

....my only sunshine..

I know, typically British to talk about the weather, but how nice is it to feel the warmth of the sun???

It just makes such a difference to the mood.

I've actually done some crafting in between smiling at the sun. 

Some glass beads from Ikea

Became a beaded tealight holder...just need to finish it off

This was part of a art/craft gift swap I signed up for.

I got a jar of yummy chilli jam in return

This morning I woke up to sunshine and Grandmother Moon

So I stood there and watched her for a while, whilst Hula-Hooping I may add, listening to the birds

The birds were loud and proud today!!

I believe this little chap may have been responsible for a lot of birdsong today


In typical Explorer style, I set out for an adventure....






Primroses have taken over the garden this year

Finding a home in the most unusual of places

The beautiful old conker tree, just stating to burst in to live (we were beginning to worry that it wasn't going to recover from the brutal hacking it received during the winter from the local electricity board..that's a whole other ranty blog post to come)

And the swallows have returned, a sure sign that summer is coming!!!

Get out in the sunshine and enjoy

xxx

To mull.....

"To think about; to consider; to ruminate about"

Still doing a lot of that this week.

Hmmmm....maybe someone is trying to tell me something??


I've been listening to my Yoga of Work CDs this week
and then doing some pondering and ruminating. I'm sure I'll elaborate more once I've considered it.

I've had some crafty time:

A Turquoise Fairy

Not a planned thing, just something that I woke up needing to do. I've become more aware of the pleasure I get when I am creating. It's a kind of meditation process, I lose myself in the moment, before I know it 4 hours have passed by, I am freezing cold and starving, but I am content.

It wasn't long before she got a friend

I made time for tea with a friend this week.

Little bit of people watching

Sometimes you need to make space in your life for tea, putting the world to rights and making plans.

I also seem to have made a "new friend". Those of you who know me well, know about my bird phobia....my screaming, running, flailing arms and legs phobia of birds.
So, to find that this little fella appears to have taken a liking to my bedroom window has displeased me. It's like I'm being stalked!!!

"I'm watching you"

He spends his waking hours tapping on the window....not so good at 6am!!

Maybe I need to face my fear??

xxx

Working.....

Still working on myself really.

Did a bit of crafting

A New Home card for a work colleague

Been drinking herbal tea, a huge new thing for me. I'm more of a PG Tips, milk and 2 sugars kinda person

My tea of choice this week (thanks to Vics for recommending it)

Listening to "The Yoga of Work" by Rick Jarrow

This has given me a lot to think about

Treated myself to a little Indian Head massage in my lunch break. A bit decadent, but actually just what I needed. I'm stating to focus on what my body is telling me. Thank you to Karen at Little Green Shoot and Luciana at Infinite Choice

I've finally added the Charm Bracelet to Folksy, I've been a little bit lax in that department recently, but there are a few ideas bubbling up.

I think I'm going to do a bit more Craftism. The last piece I did really focused me and I got a great sense of achievement out of it. Keep a look out for a mini protest banner coming to a place near you soon!!

Things I'm going to do more of this week:

xxx

Creating....

it would seem that life isn't about creating art right now, 

it's more about creating a good life.

Sometimes, the world has a way of reminding you that some people are shady and actually not very nice, but that's ok.

It's a reminder to choose more carefully the people you let into your circle and for you to be more aware of the energy vampires that surround us (FYI, they don't sparkle!!).

On the happier side of life.....

I've been hula hooping more, I'm not very good, but it's fun and that is all that matters!!

I'm hoping to be as good as this one day!!

I also had an amazing Crystal/Reiki session from Luciana at Infinite Choice.

It's all about the self care at the moment, nurturing the mind, soul and body.

Yes, I am a fully paid up member of the

 club

And to quote a bunch of amazing women....

Namaste Bitches!!

xxxx

Options, decisions, choices.....

That is what these last few weeks have been about.....

Not much arting or crafting going on, lots of reading and thinking instead.

Somehow, my 9-5 work took over my "real life" and I lost myself in slobbing on the sofa and crappy TV (instead of doing the real work)

But with the start of Spring (hilarious I know with the weather we've been having), I feel I may have turned a corner, trying to stay focused on the small things and see the beauty in the everyday.....

An Andy Goldsworthy style frost shadow

Beautiful sunsets

Finding beauty on a work day

Brightly coloured pheasant wandering across the garden

Keri Smith Daring Dice of Transformation

The theme of purposefully keeps cropping up

There was a little time for crafting in between watching episodes of Real Housewife's and Geordie Shore  (don't judge me people!!!!)

The sunlight hitting my desk at work


Keep a look out for the small stuff people...it's where the magic is...

Aaaaaaatishoooo......

This week has been mainly about this....

Sneezy, runny noses. (Photo is from the curtains at this place, worth a visit!!) 

There has been time for a little crafting however...

A secret gift for a friend.....

I invoked my inner child for this years Mother's day card

Got a bit more grown up for Mother-in-Laws card....

made a new Charm Bracelet...to be added to my Folksy Shop

And got a bit more colourful with my hair....

Lots of lurve....