Opportunity Knocks

I am very excited by a work opportunity that has come my way.  Its with a company called People Who Do.  Its all about helping creative people (and creative companies) get organised and get stuff done (ha remember the original title of my blog!? - am reminded once again of the quote from Steve Martin's autobiography "You will use everything you have ever known...")

A system for managing stuff and being organised.  Sounds just what I need! I told them that if it works for me I will be able to teach it and sell it from the heart (Hub thought that implying I was deeply disorganised, was not a good thing to be doing at an interview.... I don't think I am deeply disorganised btw, just a creative person who could indeed benefit from a system for being less.......dissipated. 

And its all about finding the time  (to Do What You Love.... )

So, despite telling them I am creative and not already a super organised PA type whizz, I am going along to a training on Thursday (need childcare) and to sit in on (possibly take part in) a session with a client on 15th June.

What is seriously cool about it is. 
1. I will get training in a system to be more organised
2. I understand the need to be more organised and the need for a system and or help to get there
3. I am quick and able to learn
4. It interests me A LOT
5. It will be paid as much as the Supergroup work I do
6. There is the added bonus of being able to generate my own work and get paid a kickback / bonus / share of work that I bring in to the business  = great opportunity to grow and earn.  This actually answers a wish I have been working on - The Supergroup work is great, but I am at its beck and call, I cannot generate the work, which frustrates me.
7. They have a company policy of no one works more than 4 days a week for them
8. Its a small company with great potential for growth and I am being involved at the stage of first expansion (oh I HAVE TO MAKE THIS WORK)
9. They are moving into the area of strategic planning and creative thinking which interests me even more (and were very interested in the Supergroup work I have been doing)
10. At the end of the day, if my ambition is to spend more time doing what I love, I will be able to find the time to PAINT as a result of all this.

OH and there is an option they are working on which is for parents.... I can relate to that one....  

I am flying into the future with all this.  And there may be a case for saying that nothing is so good as seems so before hand.... but I definately have a very very very good feeling about it.  Please Universe, let this be good.  Help me make the most of this.  GO ME!

what does you soul wish for?

Hmm.  I have been listening to the podcast of my first yoga teacher training class, which I missed.  its all about pranayama. and meditation, or mindfulness.  I can't quite let go of the idea of my tutor sounding a bit like Doctor Who in his latest incarnation... And what with all the talk of energy and presence and so on.... yamas and niyamas, gunas and the such like....

I haven't quite gotten around to actually doing the pranayama.  Its lying down, breath awareness.  I like that its lying down.  Should make it easy right?  I am also pondering on the question raised by a MOndo Beyondo interview....

What does your Soul wish for?

I am thinking that my Soul is wishing for more Yoga and more Pranayama and more settling into the stillness and clarity that it is said to bring.  I have a head full of muddle and half formed ideas, too many at once to give any sense or priority to.  And the house, well the living room is quite nice right now, partly because we have not put everything back in it.  The rest of the house is kind of chocca with the rest of the stuff from the sitting room.  And our bedroom is kind of insanely unkempt and full of piles of things all over the shop and everywhere.  I keep meaning to tackle it at night but I don't.  Instead I am wandering aimlessly on twitter and making my head feel even more fuddled.  

OK time to get a grip Missy.  GRIP.

Or.... maybe LET GO. 

Let go of fuddle head. 

Let go of clutter. 

Let go of everything and go to sleep.   And dream of what my soul wishes for....

Today, in the gallery I met a man who is organising an art event to raise money for Africa.  He said  he was interested in commissioning the Polish glass makers he saw in the gallery to make something to contribute to it.  He said it would be on TV and be an international exhibition.  He said that he would want to commission a bird.  I felt kind of funny.  So I told him my work had birds in it, would he be interested in my work?

I then told that I had an ambition to help people in Africa. 

He said that this was Jungian and took my email address. 

The bird in question is The Raven.  Quite a mythical fellow.  It certainly felt like a magical universe moment.  I like the idea of Ravens.  And if I am not featured, perhaps I can contribute to the exhibtion anyway.  Perhaps Ravens are a very interesting bird for me to paint about.  I will be investigating Ravens...

blast from the past: Dick n Dom do Bogies at triyoga

When I worked at triyoga, the BBC and Dick and Dom (a kids TV show) came and filmed one of their famous 'Bogies' at our studio.  I set it up, so me and the teacher were in on it, everyone else knew that they were being filmed but did not know what was going to happen.  For some reason they cut out the actress who stood up and told them off.....  Anyway, can you spot me?? (I am in the class and can't stop myself from smiling at one point!!)

core values.....life changes

I am thinking about my core values.  what I value.  what really really matters to me.  And what is going to matter to me this year.  What is this year about for you?

I felt, a couple of months ago, this very strong sense that I was about to begin a new chapter in my life.  Thinking back at how life can lead into new directions, and those old lives feel so far away.  once i was a little girl growing up in the Midlands of England.  Then I was a little girl growing up in deepest darkest Suffolk.  I was a teenager in Ipswich drinking cider with the punkies on hippy hill.  I was a student in Brighton.  I was an idealistic hippy in London hanging out with the Big Truth Band, then a young entrepreneur about Portobello.  Then I was a glamourous young lady about town, sipping cocktails in all the best bars, living and shopping in Notting Hill.  Then a married woman with a young babe in arms, back in Brighton, a homeowner....

And what next? There are so many lives still to be lived.  How much has my life changed already - how much it can and will still change.

Its very exciting. 

SO. I had this urge to leap into Mondo Beyondo again... I did it last year, and while I can't say that everything on my list has transpired, I can say that it moved me forward.  Opened me up to possibilities.  And now I have been on an art retreat, I have painted big pictures, I am starting Yoga teacher training.... I have a fringe cut (its not insignificant! check out any lady who has a haircut in a different style and tell me that there are not deeper changes going on....seriously..)

As part of Mondo Beyondo this year, I am thinking about my core values.... Its hard to whittle it down.  Here is my long list

kindness
creative spirit
adventure
force for good in the world
great communicator
human
open hearted
humour
openess and willingness to grow and learn
openminded
inspirational
seeing beauty
real /authentic
love
honesty
spiritual
entrepreneurial go for it ness
belief in magic
friendly
creative play

mondo beyondo 2011

back in for another round...

Do WHat You Love

I am settling back into life again, after the amazing experience of DWYL.  I want to write a blog post about it.  Like a proper one.  OR one that explains it a bit to those who didn't go.  My experience of it.

my room at Devi's  -even had my own bathroom!

It was certainly an adventure.  I even set off on my adventure the day before.  I went by train to Etchingham (very small station deep in the Sussex countryside) to stay overnight chez Devi KK.  She was going to be the (very early) morning yoga teacher at the retreat and was giving me a lift up to Yorkshire. We had friends in common and had been emailing, and we were doing the same class with Flora Bowley.  But we had never met.  I was a bit apprehensive setting out.  About all of it.  About me meeting folk I didn't already know, and whether it would live up to my (very high) expectations.  I had read the blurb.  Magic Happens when you DO WHAT YOU LOVE.  I was up for MAGIC, no less!!

Devi was lovely, as was where she lived! It was in a retreat centre, a proper beautiful one.  Way off the main roads, down a private road, with an amazing view.  I even got a whole dorm to myself, with my own bathroom!

a cool mug to start the adventure

The next day, Devi brought me tea in this mug.  A portent I thought.  And took a photo.  Yes this is what I am off away from hearth and home for.













The drive up was leisurely and easy, no nasty traffic, and even some utterly amazing dairy and sugar free raw chocolate (which reminds me I must pester Devi to get me some, it totally rocked) And Devi introduced me to some new yogic tunes Elephant Power.  Also rocking! (another reminder she said she would burn me the CD....)

Beth and the sky

Arrival at the retreat, 6 hours later, I was struck by how exactly alike to the promotional photos it looked.  Bearing in mind this is England and also the North, the likelihood of scuttling cotton wool clouds and a bright blue sky and dales bathed in sunshine, this was impressive.  And gave me the uncanny feeling that I truly had stepped into the dreams I had of the place.  Also meeting Beth, whose image I had seen before... And the first other retreatee (bar Devi) being Lisa, who looked decidedly familiar.... stepping out of the car after a long journey into cups of tea and scones and OMIGOD we are really here, this is it this is really happening, was quite disconcerting at first.... after a period of not knowing quite what to do with myself, and being torn between seeing the lodges and having a rest and staying at reception to check out who else was arriving... eventually we were lead down to see our lodges. .....down being the operative word..... a very steep, rather rugged, path.  No wonder they said to bring torches.....

no street lights here

The eco lodges were, as described, luxurious....

There was also a hamper, some wine (I added to the collection!) some bread, jam, biscuits.  Milk and cheese in the fridge, and a little welcome goody bag with handwritten notes, and presents and a little notebook (I love notebooks) ooooh this was lovely already...

I can't actually remember what happened after that... well until dinner anyway.  i think I had a hot bath and a headache tablet, and a wee lie down...

Dinner was in the tipi.  A most impressive one.  In fact it could seat 60 for dinner.  How about that! And it had a fire in the middle.  I think there was actually an issue with not opening the 'chimney flaps' the first night, but I really liked that we all wandered back down the hill to the wine and bonfire reception smelling of woodsmoke.  WE had sparklers. And wine. And a bonfire.  It was all lovely.

inside the tipi,  queueing for dinner (waiting in line as the American's say)

The next day I actually woke up at 6.30am.  I think I was so excited! I had told Devi that I was going to miss the first yoga session as I was so tired.  But I woke up, thought. May as well go!  THe sun was shining, bunnies were hopping everywhere and the trump up the rocky path amidst the amazing smell of the abundant gorse flowers was invigorating.

Devi teaches Kundalini Yoga, which I have never tried.  It was outside too, which was a little breezy, but just fantastic.  Hearing the birds and feeling the sunshine, made it very special.  Kundalini yoga is not like other yoga and focuses on the energy centres and raising up your energy, in a spiritual way.  Its also set to music which I loved.  I felt pretty good afterwards.  especially that I had managed to do it!!  Breakfast in the tipi - yummy.  And then - OK I am missing bits here, possibly the group photo shoot?? ach anyway... onto the CLASS.  Which in a term used by Flora, Definately ROCKED MY WORLD.

We began by yoga moves and stretches, outisde.  And we listened to music.  And we all got rid of the white canvas - dramatically - dripping and swirling and finger painting with our eyes closed to music....

Oh how can I describe the class? It was just such fun! mark making, using colour, using foam brushes and fingers and every now and again getting instructions to 'do something drastic' or 'OK lets stop and do some stretches now' or 'we are going to dance with our eyes closed now'  or some such.  I just got IMMERSED in it.  I made a beautiful mess! I dabbed and swirled and scrawled and made etchings in the paint.. ... a whole load of techniques to get paint and variation.  And all in a keep it loose, don;t think, feel it sort of way.... I just had the best time.

And even things like at lunch, we had prompts to talk about our creative journey, which was  - great. And everyone at the table was so interesting.  everyone!!

That evening before dinner was a creative enterprise session with Beth and Louise Gale, about blogging - at least I think this was the one.  OR maybe it was the one that was about progressing your creative journey.... or perhaps it was both!! phew! I told  you it was a LOT!  after dinner (new people to speak to, ALL interesting!!  - in fact made a connection with a lady which might be a whole other new chapter to my life and secret desire to be a social entrepreneur / someone who does some good in the world / charitable me.... watch this space...
 
And then there was Matt Stinchcombe from Etsy and Hannah Nunn who makes beautiful lamps and sells them in her shop.  Talking about creative business - and a lot more besides.  SO interesting to me, and so fascinating.....

At the end of the first day I realised I had been doing things I loved from 6.45am to 11pm NON STOP.   Being creative, talking about life, creativity, the universe, entrepreneurship, blogging, connecting, eating, drinking tea, painting (new love!), dancing, making friends.................

see its all going to be a looooooong post.

I am going to start summarising.  Day 2 and Day 3were much the same, but different and more.  I did get a bit of an early night one of those nights.  And one night we got to go in an sneak a peak at the other workshops.....and on the last night we had a gallery night where all the work was displayed.  And some of us (most of the tutors and a few other brave souls!!) had our wares out to show and sell.  I sold a few art cards and a lavender bag.  I gave away a portrait of Beth to Beth and a lavender heard to FLora.  And then I spent all the money I had taken on buying others stuff!

I can't write any more. 

the amazing gorse

It was so packed full.  And at the end of it I had painted 3 paintings that I wasn't expecting to paint.   That was the emotional and amazing thing for me.  ONe of the amazing things.  there are more, truly it was a lot... I haven't even told you about How I had already met Lisa (via Experimental ARt meet up) or How Louise is going to coach me. OR the whole charity go to Amsterdam thing...

But the painting, the painting.  I am left most of all by the painting.  FLora's teaching is kind of intuitive, you paint intuitively, like seeing shapes in clouds, you draw out a painting so it kind of comes from deep within you.  And everyone's was so unique and personal.

Now more than ever I want a studio space. To paint.  OH and the kit list, was a little on the large side... which means I have a LOT of paint left over..... see, its a sign!

am going to just post this and come back and put the links and the photos in soon.  ha ha! I promise!! I will!!

Love you.  And go.   next year.  Its on!!

mondo beyondo

I kind of really really want to do this again this year.  At the moment its a tad late, but I believe we can sneak on as a 2 for 1.  Anyone else want to do that with me? 

am still fired up from DWYL.  Things are definately moving moving moving around here.  xxx

two bits, one a thanks and one a request to the universe

OK its still not the story of the retreat.  I just can't seem to condense it into anything anyone would want to read.... I will post it one day.  However I just had to pop by to let you know of one of those Universe giving you signs things. 

Ages ago, and often in my head I have wondered and asked and made my brain ache because I would love to know how to turn what I do at Supergroups (creative brainstorming basically) into some sort of work that I can generate for myself, get paid for..... I meet people who seem to do this kind of thing and I am jealous and I wonder, how did they get into it, how did it happen for them? How can I do that? One of these people is Curtis James from People Who Do.  He organises Likemind Bri with others, all of whom do really cool things, check out Hunter Gatherers (cool name!)  I really liked the sound of his business and this kind of business. (The ultimate would be Li Edelkort  by the way, Universe as I do know you are listening) But how to get into it? How?

So today I was at Likemind (brighton) and met some one who does training for leadership via bodywork (interesting, yes isn't it mad and cool what careers people have!) and someone else who is writing a book about buying a boat.  And then Curtis, who I hardly ever get to talk to at these things, for some reason.  But today I asked him about his business and he told me it was good, so good in fact that they had too much work on and needed to hire more folk in to help them..... er ME ME ME! Part time (perfect) and I will be trained to facilitate groups....  COOOOOOL.  I am actually extremely excited.  Its like a proper grown up (well paid) sort of thing.  Or, OK it could be.  Have no idea at the present.  But it could be.  Better paid than childminding or running a playgroup or probably working in a gallery.... and fun, and challenging and I am really excited by this opportunity. 

Second thing  

Dear Universe, I have to say you are working absolute wonders with my life these days.  I am extremely and utterly grateful for the things like Do What You Love that you have brought my way.  And the gallery job and the portrait commissions and the PAINTING..... love love love.  I was wondering if you wouldn't mind finding me a studio space?  I don't need much room, a wall and a few feet of space in front of it.  Ideally in a shared space with other really lovely creative and brilliant fun folks.  And either in walking distance or somewhere I can park the car.  An inspiring environs. Where I can continue my painting journey.  I feel so inspired with it, and just loved getting immersed in the process.  Oh and where I can sometimes play my music, or other folk play great music too.  Thanks that would ROCK. 

being scared of more interesting things

Do What You Love For Life

I don't know if you have had a look at my 'pages' lately.  Or ever.  I am amassing a whole load of quotes and words that I feel very inspired by. Really enjoying them.  Definately working for me.  Today I found this making the time to be scared of more interesting things its interesting isn't it?  Its about being bigger than you are used to, finding the space in your life to grow and seek out the new to explore.  I love it.  I am working in the gallery tomorrow and hope to write a post about the whole DWYL trip. or maybe I will do it now? Though having said that Tara Leaver, a brilliant artist from Brighton (yes we live in the same town, so cool!) is doing an amazing job at this...... see her blog here.

DWYL retreat part 2

I do have so much to tell you about the DWYL retreat.  I still can't begin! 

OK.  I will start with a bit of art.  As you may know I did a class with Flora Bowley.  And I loved it.  We spent 3 days painting with her.  Her way of painting and teaching is to keep fluid and intuitive and is all about the PROCESS.  So we started and indeed spent a day covering our canvases with layers and layers of dots, stripes, swirls, sometimes with eyes closed, sometimes with brushes, sometimes making thumb or finger prints, using lots of colours to create....... a sort of base to start to draw out a painting.  Its as if the painting begins to appear and you act and paint instinctively.   

So to give you some images here is one of my canvases at various points through out the process.  (Actually I may be wrong and it may have been another canvas, they changed so much as the days went by!)

I think this is at the end of the first day...

and this is somewhere during the second day

and this is the final (or very nearly final) version

 

a list

Its late and I am more tired than I think I am. However brimming with ideas and need to get a short todo list out of my head and onto....

get some good photos done
do some more examples
get on Not On the High St
arrange and exhibition
do another painting
get a studio
do my yoga practice every day in some way
upload all my DWYL photos
talk to my mum
sort the sitting room (ceiling fell down, has been totally taken down and replaced, house covered in plaster dust! argh sitting room needs painting.  everything needs washing)
clean the bed room
go to bed NOW

back. and blown away.

The Do What You Love Retreat was A M A Z I N G.  I am totally exhausted and totally fired up and my world has definately been ROCKED.  I don't even really quite know where to begin.  Other that it was so so so utterly worth it.  More than worth it. 

I painted.  I PAINTED 3 pictures.  BIG ones.  It was the perfect class for me, intuitive, messy, playful and surprising.  see.  bit speechless.  I have lots of photos and they will help.  And I have only just got back in so a whole huge post is just not possible right now. 

And it was full on.  I started each day with a yoga class at 6.45am!!!!! And generally ended around 11pm.  Painting, enterprise lessons, making new friends, sharing ideas, resources, contacts, skills, knowledge, laughter and tears.  yes. tears.  I cried.  I painted a picture and I was so happy I cried.  I can paint.  I am a painter.  I painted and I loved it and I want so much to paint more.  LOVED IT.  Definately doing what I love!!

It was fabulous to meet so many of the people I have only known virtually for so long.  And Beth did a stupendous job bringing her dream to life so that we could live ours.  Hats off to her and the team they worked so hard to make even the logistics and tiniest touches a special occasion.  So thought out, so personal.  And there were fantastic enterprise sessions and no holds barred Q&A with Flora, and one of the chaps who RUNS etsy (he was delightful and funny, and now I totally want to go to the etsy event in Berlin in September......)  Oh. so much to tell.....

Well, I was told my painting told stories.  And they do say  picture tells a thousand words.  I think I will have the thousand words as well to go with it!   I think I might have to break it down into sections.

But know this people.  A door has been opened for me.  Its a whole new world!  xxx Lots of Lovexxx

dreams can come true....

MAGIC HAPPENS WHEN YOU FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

I can hardly believe I am getting ready to go on the Flora Bowley Bloom True painting workshop at the Do What You Love retreat.  NEXT WEEK!!  Back in January I put out a plea to the Universe to help me.  (Read this post to see exactly what I wrote back then).  I wanted to go on this retreat, but it seemed difficult, too far, too expensive.  But I really really really wanted to go.  And you know what, I decided to pay the deposit and FIND the money.  And that very week, a job I had been turned down for, called me up at the last minute and got me in.  And I earnt the money there and then.  It wasn't quite that simple, because it was still a lot of money and now that my 3 year old son is at preschool, I am contributing to the household income and it was still a lot to be spending on myself.  But since January I have consistenly got work, and good work too.  More of the 'supergroups' product development stuff that pays really well, more of the work in the gallery, more childminding and more portrait commissions.  The UNIVERSE answered me! And next week.  I am going to GO!!!! WOO HOOO


I have been packing up my kit list.  Phew, its a lot.  I have got my shed loads of paint (bought a job lot on ebay!) and shed load of brushes.  I have even got some rags and some mark making stuff like old pencils and bottle tops.  I have got a load of acrylic medium and a palette block.  And a water sprayer. 

It has been a real learning curve simply getting my kit together!  I am not a painter (yet!?!) and was initially scared and baffled by the long list of things to get.  e.g. 4oz minimum of 4 colours you really love.... all tubes in this country are like 60ml or 120ml what is 4oz?.  Should it be fluid or not? And even what appears simple, like 'colours you like', freaked me out as I am not familiar with the names of the colours! What is pthalo blue or cerulean or burnt umber.  And why are some paints £16 and some £3? And did it matter?  Luckily Beth had organised a Yahoo group for all attendees and I was able to chat with others who knew what they were talking about.  And I learnt.  I learnt that Goldens are the best acrylics but that System 3 would be fine. I went to the shops and I looked at colours on tubes and wrote down the names of the ones I liked.  I bought a colour wheel and found out what medium glaze is used for.  I even know where to go and get the foam brushes  - and yes you can get them in 'hardware stores', just not B&Q.


I am getting a lift up to Yorkshire (or 'Orkshire', as Bub has taken to calling it.... "you are going to Orkshire to do painting...) with a lass who lives near me, who it turns out is a brilliant painter herself and also a friend of a friend.  And a yoga teacher too.  We have been in email contact since the lift arranging and she has been really helpful and supportive throughout my kit purchasing panics!  In fact any contact with any of the others has been really supportive, friendly and generally mutually excited about the whole event.

I am absolutely over the moon about it.  I feel SO LUCKY to be going.  It's like a dream come true, it really is.  I am almost having to pinch myself that next Wednesday I will be travelling all the way up to 'Orkshire' to spend 4 nights in a LUXURY eco lodge, eating meals prepared for me,  in like minded creative company and PAINTING PAINTING PAINTING for 3 whole days!  Seriously I am the luckiest lady alive.  I have to say BIG THANKS TO THE UNIVERSE on this one.

And I am now working on stuff that I am taking for my wee stall on Saturday night.  Its all so very last minute,  but inspired my my last minute portrait commission, in which I did some  mixed media portraits I was very happy with, I am in the midst of creating portraits of a few of the bloggers and art bods who I know are going.  Beth Nichols, the organiser of Do What You Love (it is such a cool name isn't it?)  is getting one, and its my plan to have these on display at the event so folk can see my work and order portraits of themselves or of their loved ones, if they want to.  SO more Merry Creative Mayhem in my house tonight and for the next two days...... Oh and I need to decide which clothes are going to be my painting clothes...... hmmmm.

xxx merry blessings to you and to the universe xxxx

merry creative mayhem

 just finished two portrait commissions.  creating a right merry mess on the way.  totally loved it. xx!!

to do update and onwards

Had a productive day.  I got my hair cut (see previous post for picture) it was wonderful to actually go to a good salon, have a chat about it, trust the chap who was going to cut my hair and enjoy the massages and general hair attention.  I do have the sleekest shiniest head of hair today.  Long may this salon head last!

I put some FFF money in the bank.  I currently have a jar and the rule is to put something in it every day, even if it is just 1p.  When its full I count it up and bank it.  I do still need to open an account for it specifially.

I DID do 30 mins of Yoga this evening, on the back of doing several drawings of Gabi.  Am not totally convinced of them yet, but am keeping going.

Am not going to do a long to do list tonight.  The not complaining thing seems to be going OK.  Life is good.  xx

FRINGE

Ok its not actually headline news..... but to me it is!! I went to a proper hairdressers for the first time in several years and came out with a dramatically different hair do. . Well, a fringe.  I have to say, so far, while the hairdresser's blow dry, straighteners and product are still in there, i am loving it!

action update and more todos

Yesterdays list of TODOs
be consious of my thoughts around money
make choices that are supportive of my financial success (and all success!)
create a FFF
be more rigourous in allocating funds according to the 'rules'
15 mins of yoga every day
BIG TODO  = portraits.  ENJOY them

Well, I felt I didn't complain about anything.  Sometimes I guess it might be so habitual that it slips in.  I had a lovely day.  In the morning I mainly tidied, attempted to make lentil patties / burgers without using bread crumbs (moderate success) went to Sainsburies and bought lots of nice food, mainly veg, but also some tuna steaks and some greek yoghurt with coconut = both seriously yummy treats. After a yummy lunch of prawn fajitas, Bub and I used the new blue car to go to Stanmer Park and hang out with a friend and her son, who is the same age as Bub  - they get on really well.  It was lovely, we chatted and they  ran about being funny!

We ate the tuna for dinner and it was very tasty.  I FORGOT TOTALLY about my Monday night yoga class.  ARGH! So need to step up with the Yoga. 

Oh and other news, is that while I was away on Saturday, the ceiling fell in in the sitting room!  Well, you know, the plaster fell down. Luckily no one was hurt and nothing was damaged, but we now have a comedy 'broken down old house' front room.   Of course its not on the emergency insurance, so we are going to have to wait until tomorrow to even start getting the house insurance ball rolling.  I am not too upset about it though because we needed to get the ceiling re done anyway so now we can get it done on the insurance!! its kind of a blessing in disguise!

Last night I sorted through my paints and I really do have enough to go to the course with.  I could buy a few of colours I really love and I still need to get a lot of foam brushes.  I went to the 'hardware store' (B&Q) but they did not have foam brushes.  I am not sure that they are stocked in 'hardware stores' as Flora mentions.   Perhaps it is a US thing.  Perhaps B&Q are not really a 'hardware store'?  Anyway wil need to get these together this week as the RETREAT IS NEXT WEEK!!!!!!! WOW!!!  This is like a dream and next week it will be a DREAM COME TRUE!!

TODOS for tomorrow
15 mins yoga
call insurers  - get ceiling sorted
go to bank with big bag of change
go to RBS and get them to set up my ISA txfr
pop into art shop to look at paint / brushes
take Bub to his first YOGA class (aw SWEET!)
more portaits (I have started on the commission, and I am quite pleased with it so far!)

to do list

get hold of N's raves reviews of E's portrait and upload onto my website and FB page somehow.
be consious of my thoughts around money
make choices that are supportive of my financial success (and all success!)
create a FFF
be more rigourous in allocating funds according to the 'rules'
15 mins of yoga every day
BIG TODO  = portraits.  ENJOY them

after a LONG search for said quotes, all I could find was:

Grandparents are delighted
Talented lady
So Tender
Captures the character which is so hard to do

Creating WEALTH is important to me, because I want to travel a lot and visit my friends and I want to HOST my friends.  I want to go on art retreats and I want to support myself and my family.  I want to donate to the community and be a patron of the arts.  I want to wear beautiful clothes.  I want to be able to pay for a cleaner. I want to be able to either homeschool or send Bub to a school that suits him.  I want independence and freedom.  I want a studio and to paint and create.  I want to convert a horsebox into a beautiful living space and travelling studio.  I want to be more eco friendly and do up houses so that they are both beautiful and energy efficient.  I want to support good causes and have plenty of space so that Hub can have an office and I can have a studio and we can have a big garden to grow vegetables in.  Mostly its the being independent.  Being able to make my own decsions and not be reliant.  I want to own my time better.  I want to carry on being free when I am really old.  I would like my hair done more often.  I would like to use the best materials in my work. It facilitates and I want to facilitate.  I want to be happy and feel as if I am fulfilling my potential.  I want to be able to give back to my parents.  Creating wealth is part of creating my life.  I do not want to waste money or splash it around being flashy.  I want enjoy it and spend it wisely sharing good things and good times.  I want to be an inspiration to others.  I want to be that woman who tells her story of success so that others can do it too.  I want to be empowered in the world. I want to go to France with a big van and buy delicious things from French Flea markets and bring it back and sell it here and in the USA and create a living for myself and my family, doing fabulous things like that!! I want to use wealth to help educate Bub to the best of my ability.  To bring him with me as I travel, to help get the best tutors and experiences. I want to help the women who struggle in Africa.  I want to go on holiday to Ibiza again and again. I want to pay my bills on time and do my house up properly. 

Money is extremely important in areas in which it works and extremely unimportant in areas in which it doesn't......

For the next 7 days I am not going to complain.  ABOUT ANYTHING.  I am going to focus on the good stuff.  And I am going to report back on how my life is going because of it.  Obviously for the next 7 days its all going to be good. BUT just how good? Will marvels occur??

celebrating each step

With thanks to Glittering Shards and Louise Gale.  I am hereby going to celebrate last months achievements and list my aims for May and some ways I am going to celebrate it all!


April seemed to fly by.  Gosh.  What even happened!  Well,

• I got a commission for a portrait from someone I DON"T KNOW.  Which is like a big hurdle thing.  It means my work is out there being seen and speaking for itself.  I am delighted.  Its two children and she loves the mixed media version I did of a friends daughter.  So I am happy.  I want to do more like this, move in this direction.
• We bought a car.  (though am struggling with the celebrating this!  niggled by lies by the dealer, and generally thinking we could have spent the money better elsewhere, I need to overcome all this and get on with my life and appreciate it as, well, its a done deed now.  Selling it would be a massive waste.  Job =  to make good use of the crazy little blue beastie)
• I drove up to London yesterday in our new car, with Bub and was lucky to last minute hook up with my old flatmate, C and have lunch. An added extra lovely surprise was that E was over from Vancouver so she had lunch with us too.  We ate on the outside terrace of Portobello Pizzeria in Notting Hill and it was like being on holiday in Italy.  YUM.  We were joined by C's other ex flatmate who sells amazingly beautiful rare breed sheepskins, and she brought the one I ordered with her.  OOOOH.  Totally fabulous and lovely. 
• I bought a load of paints off ebay for a good price (I think)
• I earnt £575 (not as much as other months, but am still going to celebrate it)
• I have been asked to contribute cards and some drawings to an open house (all the benefit none of the hassle)
• I got on to the Yoga Teacher Training (or was that March? whatever, it still needs BIG CELEBRATING
• Hub is eating lots of vegetables.  Really, this is good.  Its like his mindset has changed.  I am delighted! He now sees a big plate of vegetables as a "feast".  Big change.  And actually, he has been vegetarian for most of April.  Also seriously a big change.
• Bub had his last set of immunisation jabs.  Not a pleasant experience but now done and dusted.

I am going to celebrate April by.... well I think I did that yesterday with the drive up to London for a girlie lunch followed by going over to J's house for dinner and to stay the night.  Bub got to play with F (who is just  7, so you can imagine a big hero to a 3.5 yr old) he had SO MUCH FUN.  And I got to hang out and drink prosecco with J, Bub's godmother and and very dear friend of mine.


I don't recall any challenges, maybe Bub's immunisation and subsequent illness.

Your intentions and focus for the next month - OK

May is going to be BIG BIG BIG.  My intentions are.

• To experience PAINTING.  To dive into the medium and learn how to manipulate and play with it.  
• To let magic happen (because magic happens when you DO WHAT YOU LOVE!)  It is the Do What You Love retreat and I feel SO LUCKY to be going on it.  I just feel I am going to make so many new friends doing this.  Meet some of my tribe!  I feel its a massive and wonderful step into me being an artist/
• To DIVE into my Yoga and my Yoga Teacher Training.  Likewise, I think this is going to be life changing and I will meet a whole bunch of new friends and learn so much and grow so much.  
• To successfully complete the portrait commissions I have.  And to generate more!!  Take steps towards finding my studio (why has this been so on hold for so long?) and do the things I say I am going to do re being an artist, growing my business and ALL OF THAT.
• lastly,  I want to get our finances back on track somehow.  Its not that they are bad, its just lost its purpose somehow.  lots of spending.  not and idea of what we have coming in or out
• oh, and lose some weight.  and support Hub in his dieting!