'WELLNESS'
In the words of Ali Edwards "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."
Accepting this challenge, as so many others have done with me, I am going to try to adopt a new word at the beginning of each year and try to live of to it with the fullest of my abilities while, along the way, capturing it's essence and effects on my life. I will do my best to define what that word means to me and to adapt it into all things that I do or as often as I can.
This year, I will examine wellness on many different levels. Mentally, physically and soulfully, I will do my best to transform me into the healthiest that I can be for this time in my life. I will work towards an improved me, hopefully travelling to find the inner beauty within and accepting what is seen on the outside. With this journey, I understand that I will need much patience and understanding from myself. I know that I must be open to people's criticisms and judgements for those who help me do so with love. I must face acknowledge all of the barriers that stand before me on this quest - both internally and externally - as well as everything else from my past that I have allowed to stand in the way of this goal. I will look for guidance from those whom I am blessed to be surrounded by and do my best to take their words to heart, making adjustments and working towards a better me. I will listen to my Momma with an open heart and and open mind and truly - honestly, and truly - and do my best apply all that she advises because there is but one other person who has as much of an invested interest in me than she.
This is an altered canvas that I made for my brother's girlfriend, Cassandra, as a Christmas gift. Thanks to the beauty of photoe diting, I was able to create a better background then use a midnight sepia special application to warm the photo. The two subjects themselves, however, needed no photo editing at all!
Without a doubt, I have to say that Ali Edwards is my favourite scrapper. (Okay - so she is tied with Tim Holtz. I'm sure she doesn't mind sharing this grand honour. ;-} )I seem to always be in awe of all the she creates and, truth be told, her general outlook on life. Through her scrapbooking you get a feeling that she is genuine about her passion for this wonderfully creative art and shares her ideas and creative sense with enthusiasm. Her ability to capture what is real as well as focus on the emotions of life inspire me to attempt to do the same. Scrapbooking is not always about life's big events, but the everyday moments that we often forget to look at and cherish. While perusing her blog many months ago, I came across a mini album she did all about Love, featuring her son, Simon, using what appears to be My Mind's Eye 4x6 transparencies. Inpsired by this, I went ahead and created my own, larger version of her mini album. Through the years, we have been blessed to share the company of many dogs. Too many, I sometimes think, as a few were with us for much to short a time. This mini-album features out beloved furbabies, both past and present. Regardless of their time with us, these beautiful creatures impacted out lives, became a part of our family and left paw prints on our hearts that will remain with us always.
PS - I would love, love, LOVE to have her new book (Life Artist: Scrapbooking Life's Journey) but haven't been able to find it in the Ottawa/Cornwall area. I have looked online but the stores that I found that had it were sold out. If you have seen it, please let me know. ETA: I called the one store I knew of that had it (Scrap en Masse) and they too were sold out. Ack! TIA.
Disclaimer: As the new owner of a Canon Rebel XTi, Ihave yet to master photography even in the auto mode. For some reason, whilst standing in the same position ... at the same distance ... in the same lighting ... on the same table, some of my photos were blurry. What looked clear on the LCD was not actually in reality. Regardless, you get the gist and, either way, thanks for looking. :~)
This is a mixed media canvas I did just before Christmas and was inspired by artwork seen at A Fine Mess. This two inch thick canvas was originally created to hang on the wall in my entrance way right above a new table that I have there. I decided that I liked the way it looked on the table rather than the wall so there it sits to "Welcome" all who enter my home.
I know I am. I have alot to update on my blog. Many projects done before the holidays that I want to share however, the internet and computer SNAFU's kept me from updating and still keep me from doing so. While I can log on from my laptop, anytime I try to hook up to the internet with my desktop, everything freezes. I have no port for my camera's CF card in my laptop which is where my updates are. Hopefully things will work out sooner than later and I can start updating soon as to not have my loyal blog followers (all three of them! lol) stop checking in.
