a heartmade journal...

I love journalling - to me and many others it

is a soul companion, a place to grow emotionally and to

allow oneself to simply be, without fear or censure.

A while ago I created a small, handmade journal

to stand along my book, 'Living a Simply 

Art-Full Life' - but now I have decided to redo it

in a larger, full colour format. I have also

renamed it 'The Heartmade Journal', as I

realised that a number of people have already

created books and the like with variations of

'Art-Full' in the title!

(These images are from the original book I created -

the journal is still a work in progress, but

will have quotes, thoughts, artwork and

plenty of space for your own thoughts and ideas!)

So, I will be busy in 2019 - I hope -

and also hope that all the readers of this blog

find their own heartmade lives... joy,

creativity and growth in this new year we are

privileged to be given.

Offered with love and good wishes...

Gail

xoxox

eat cake!...

Just another quick post... as some of you may know, I worked

as a needlework designer for many years, and still

love to create stitched projects, although I haven't been doing them

as much lately. Just the other day, digging for something

in the old wooden chest where I store my creative supplies, I

found this little stitched piece!

Quite cute, and pretty much sums up a happy (and healthy!)

attitude to life!

Offered with love

Gail xoxox

precious life...

A new post for a new week, and this illustrated quote,

which I did for a recent book project, has to be one of my favorites,

written by the amazing poet Mary Oliver.

(I also love one of her other quotes, 'tell me, are you

breathing just a little, and calling it a life?')

So powerful..and often so true!

Offered with love...

Gail xoxox

feeling a little wabi sabi today...

Feeling a little wabi sabi today - less than perfect,

tired and stressed, and unsure of what the future may hold!

We've all been there...I keep on working and

creating art, but sometimes I wonder if anyone actually likes it...

all part of the creative process I guess!

I saw my wabi sabi bird early today, singing his heart out,

with ruffled feathers and wonky leg.

He reminded of how perfect we all are, in our

imperfection - that all is as it should be, and will be

well - as long as we keep on believing in ourselves, 

and building our foundations on hope, not fear.

Offered with love

Gail xoxox

song in my heart...

I love birds...always have and always will.

For me they represent the essence of nature - simple,

pure, open and brave.

I think we can learn a lot from them...

I know I do, just by sitting on my deck and watching

them flying around in the trees that

surround my cabin.

So I also love using them in my art -

which is why I started keeping a small artist's journal

of favourite quotes and thoughts...

together with whimsical imges of birds,

owls, chickens, seagulls...and more!

And.. hopefully, one day this little journal

will be published as a book! 

A gift from my heart... and from the birds.

Offered with love...

Gail 

xoxox