New Year- More Me

Believe in The Magic

First Wednesday of the 2014, first post and a plan for the year ahead.

I am so glad to see the shift in approach to the New Year.  Thanks to the works of Danielle La Porte and lots of other thought provoking women out there many of us seem to be shifting from those self sabotaging resolutions to finding a purpose and a way of being for the year - and for life.  After all “we” are for life not, just the holiday season.

I spent quite a lot of time in December with such women, Molly Mahar on her Holiday Council, letting go of the old and not only figuring out how I want 2014 to feel for me but how I can make that happen.  And sharing the Winter Solstice with the lovely Amy Ahlers, Shiloh Sophia and Christine Arylo was lots of fun, and a reinforcement of the whole heart and mind over matter way of living.  I like to think that I'm creating some new meaningful traditions for myself.  Letting go of the old and destructive and recognising what's important and sticking with it.

I must admit that I'm not sorry to see 2013 go.  It was a hell of a year.  The most amazing lessons, lows and highs really came from the same source.  Finally unwrapping the gift of Aspergers has brought a whole new perspective on life.  We do so get so much more of what we focus on so, I'm focusing on the highlights:

Favourite TED Talks : Top Spot has to go to Logan LaPlante . 

Winning designs - The Embroidery Piece that led me to the Holiday Council and my August Calendar

Favourite Book - Mind Over Medicine by Lissa Rankin MD

Favourite moment - a walk in the park and the beauty of ENOUGH

The word for 2013 was True and it definitely was a TRUE year

And so I let go of all the old baggage I've been carrying around for what seems like forever and pack light for my travels ahead in 2014 and beyond.

My theme for 2014 is to Believe in the Magic : Using what I already Have; Finding and Nurturing the Texture; and Surrendering to the Magic. I intend to have a great year.  As of next week I’ll be blogging regularly on Wednesdays (Wishcasting Thoughtful Threads - Sharing some good mojo), Fridays (The Spectrum of Mindful Living - Helping find the way through the minefield of mindful health info out there), Sundays(Usual Weekly BS - a curation of good stuff from the WWW for the week) and Mondays(Craft Therapy),  as well as getting my freelance mojo on over at my soon to be New Web Site (more about that very soon).

Buckle up it's going to be a spectacular ride.......

Keep Believing

Catherine

xxx

Diving Into the Seasonal Magic

And Opting out of the Holiday Madness

I'm setting out a new tradition, one that suits our truly authentic life.  I chose my word for this year back in January (in this post), True.  And 2013 had brought with it life challenges that have highlighted just how true my life needs to be.

I'm looking forward to spending the next 3 weeks with a community of Creative women.  And upgrading my lessons from 2013 in order to take this new truth forward to 2014.

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Chilling out for Christmas

For those who have stuck with me through this year, Thank You.  As you may know 2013 has been a challenge in so many ways. So, I've decided to to take December out - focusing on my own Handmade Christmas and prepping for 2014 and beyond.

For my prep I'm delighted to be able to put my prize from Molly Mahar (for my Pinterest Quote)  to good use and will be taking part in the Holiday Council.  I  am so looking forward to spending December with a community of creative women - definitely just what I need.

So, I'm off to get my Christmas Card design for this year done - so far it looks a bit like this...

The background is a canvas I had in our old kitchen I'm planning on painting it a cloudy midnight blue.  I just have to add some words to my embroidery work.  Having spent the afternoon chilling out watching Craft Wars I'm feeling inspired and getting ready to dust up some of that Christmas Sparkle.

Namaste and Happy Holidays

Catherine

xxxxx

Making - Never Done

A Thing of Beauty

I really enjoyed putting this piece together.  

One of the things I love about it is that it's not meant to be finished. And it led me to thinking about how we are never done - there is always space for change, for improvement for rethinking, yet there is a beauty in the unfinished.  I've already got so many ideas for other similar unfinished/finished pieces.

I particularly love the hanging thread and the possibility of more and the beauty of enough.

My new branding is still a work in progress - and it is progressing.  Texture, things being unfinished, words... all will be revealed very shortly.

In the meantime I'm off to check out what everyone's been up to over at Handmade Monday and to post this piece on Pinterest. 

The words are by Molly Mahar and this piece was originally made for entry into her Pinterest Competition at Stratejoy.

Hope everyone has a creative and fulfilling week.

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Thursday's Thoughtful Thread

Catherine@WhenatTheMacsX

In keeping with the redesign – and my one day at a time deal – I’ve decided to make Thursday the day of the Thoughtful Thread.  Mainly because I want to combine my love of words and creativity and create some inspirational canvases.

Today’s piece, inspired by my chosen word for the year, is a bit of a cheat as I’ve pc’d it together – for next week I will create a needlework piece.  In fact I might well pop over to Molly Mahar’ssite and kill two birds with one stone, create my entry for her PinterestContest.  Combining my love or words, needlework and Pinterest – how much more inspirational can it get.

Time to get busy...

Catherine

xxx