Creative Marvelling

You can see my Art Work at Etsy

I’ve been doing a lot of work on my textured art lately, the latest collection I’ve put together incorporating words and embroidery.  As I worked on the above piece I found myself stopping quite a lot as watching its coming together. Which led me to the question:  Does the creative process take longer because we marvel at the work coming together?

This is one closely followed by the beauty of the back of thread work – I’m not the only one that see’s the beauty there, right?

Here’s to a happy weekend.  I’m looking forward spending some time at my local park, Barshaw, giving some love to the overgrown peace garden.  If you’re local why not join us.

Namaste

Catherine x

What’s Your Sma’ Shot?

I recently visited the local museum in my home town of Paisley.  Walking through those high glass doors and up the steps past the room where I used to attend Saturday Morning Art Classes there was a touch of nostalgia reinforced further by Buddy the Lion. The reason for this visit was to see the Story of the Paisley Shawl and the Weaving Gallery.

(he was much scarier and I’m sure much bigger when I used to make weekly visits)

I was born and brought up in Paisley, and spent most of my teenage years planning my escape.  I never truly appreciated the history of this beautiful  town and the many treasures to be found here.  I’ve been working on creating some pieces around the Paisley Pattern and thought a trip to the museum would bring some additional inspiration.  And I was not left disappointed.

The story of the Paisley Pattern, the Paisley Shawl collection and the Weaving Gallery were well worth the visit.  Whilst there was much to learn about the shawls there was a wealth of knowledge to be gained regarding the spirit and resilience of the Paisley People.  Whilst Paisley was a highly industrialised town, I’m sure this was as much a product of the highly skilled and hard working people as the wealthy industrialists that also called the town home.

As you enter the Weaving Gallery there is a short video presentation showing the restoration of the Sma’ Shot Cottages, further instilling a pride in Paisley’s Past and the pride Paisley’s people have in their town.  This is also where I learnt what a ‘Sma’ Shot’ was/is.  Every so often, as weavers wove the cloth on the loom an extra weft was shot through the work in order to add strength to the fabric – this was the “sma’ shot”.

A sma’ shot was a balancing thread strengthening the fabric.  It struck me that the fabric of all our lives can benefit from a sma’ shot.  What do you weave into your life?  Art? Meditation? Journaling?  What’s your sma’ shot?

Namaste

Catherine  

It’s Only A Super Moon

As I journey further along the Mindfulness Path and my belief in the Holistic Approach to life is further reinforced I find myself drawn more and more to each full moon. My ever present cynical self questions the whole concept of the moon’s magic.  And my mindful self surrenders to the fact that it is what it is.

Many holistic and creative practitioners put great emphasis on the power of the moon, offering monthly workshops and creative classes.  My beginner mind on this is embracing the ethos of asking a meaningful question each month and very much trusting in ‘everything I want and need coming to me in the perfect way’.  Don’t get me wrong I’m not really a believer in the law of attraction being I put it on a moon board and it will come to me.  But I do believe that vision boards are powerful conduits, especially for the creatives among us who are very much visual learners.  From an early age I have had a strong belief that if I can imagine something, and I can draw it or write it down then the only person preventing it from truly being is me.  And if I can find pictures that reinforce that dream then I’m on the right path.

Jamie Ridler offers a workshop each month – the message of this month’s moon being “You know what your dreams are.  What’s your gut telling you?”  (If you think you’ve missed this magic window apparently the magic sticks around for 3 days either side of the Full Moon).  Anne Hayman, who many of you may know for her gorgeous ‘Indie Lovely’ magazine, offers an e-course on Full Moon Manifesting and has a Virtual Full Moon Ceremony each month – you can check it out on her FaceBook page.

Whatever your feelings about moon cycles – (I’m sure I’ll come back to that when I finish my current read, recommended by Lissa Rankin; Sarah Drew’s Gaia Codex.) – it is a Natural reminder to check in with your dreams and what you’re doing about living them on a daily basis.  And if you are in any doubt of the magic that's been surrounding this weekend the largest Global synchronised meditation for World Peace took place and I am still feeling the love.

So what are your dreams – and is your gut happy with them?

Namaste

Catherine x

Something Old - Something not so Old

Giving you some old stuff while I'm engaged in creating the new

I’m taking this week out to get some art together and get my Etsy shop up and running again, along with a brand new Society 6 store.  Rather than leave you with another blank week on the old blogosphere I’m revisiting some of my previous posts.

I stumbled on this one – thinking Tuesday and Treasury and returning to Etsy Land and got quite the surprise when I found a whole different type of treasury – look for yourself.

Today is an ideal day...

Namaste

Catherine

Focus - What Do You See?

Hilary Pullen (@Haptree at Craft Blog UK) has a great new book out for all you crafters out there who want to get your real virtual empire together.

Jonathan Fields makes some great points about taking ownership of the process – wish I could go to camp with GLP – maybe next year.

Alisa Burke has been busy decorating her daughter’s room as well as providing some great colour inspiration and prepping for a new workshop with her hubbie – a real family affair.

And as per usual Danielle LaPorte has been handing out some great advice especially the tweetable on underpleasing.

I’ve had a lovely week – hope you have too.

And that there's so much more good stuff to come.

Namaste

Catherine xxx

Using What We Already Have & Know

In the spirit of my label I’ve been checking out my vortex and using what I already have.

I’ve found some amazing stuff – and used some of it to create some downloadable images here.

I found this Guided Meditation in my archives – please give it a listen.  Hopefully it’ll let you find a little peace in this busy life we all live.

What had you forgotten you already know?

Have a great day – you deserve it.

Namaste

Catherine xxx

Been Getting Some Creative/Craft Therapy

With my last post I was committing to writing 3 books by September.  I’d like to say I’ve been off the radar because I’ve been busy writing, I could, but that wouldn’t be entirely true.

Loving my new Clutter Free Space

That’s not to say I’ve not been busy.  I have finally got rid of all my household clutter.  Rebecca McLoughlin posed a question on a recent newsletter asking ‘why do we hang on to the clutter’.  This got me thinking and brought one of those a-ha moments.  I really had reached that stage where if I were to clear away those final pieces, add those finishing touches I would have no more excuses to stop me from following my authentic path.  I have known for quite some time now that the only person stopping me from doing what I want is me.   Knowing and doing something about is are two entirely different things, and two that I have now brought together.  I am loving the spaciousness of my new found clutter free home.

As well as creating this wonderful space I have been spending time in the company of some great creative people.

I visited the Great Tapestry of Scotland when it visited Paisley - some amazing pieces and interesting to know that what is now looked upon as new age mindfulness was already out there way back when history was in the making.

I found my first self help investment, Fiona Harrold's Be Your Own Life Coach, I've been reconnecting with Fiona and revisiting past lessons learnt.

I enjoyed the Transformational Author Experience with Christine Kloser, so many mindfully creative people in one place, so much info and inspiration, and so much good stuff.

I took some time to catch up with all the creative goodness that is Creative Mornings and I think Dallas Clayton is my favourite find so far, his kid lessons were thought provoking enough but his reading at the end is a masterpiece.

And as well as all this I've also been working on my Creative Abundance Centre, it's not quite ready, you can watch it come together by clicking on the tab at the top of the page.

Hope this finds you smiling on the inside and out.

Namaste

Catherine x