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

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

heartmade life...

With my birthday just past, it finally seemed like a good time

to start this blog, something I have been thinking about

doing for a long time, without actually getting

down to writing the first words!

I am an artist, writer, designer, cook (and baker),

lover of nature and green things - a bit of a hippy and a 

definite work in progress! On these pages I hope to share

some of the whimsical artwork I create -and especially

my hand lettering and illustration. I am totally besotted with

handmade journals and scrapbooks, which is why

most of my work is done in that style, using both watercolors and pen.

My love of nature and herbal traditions also led me to study 

herbalism, natural skincare products, flower essences

and aromatherapy. 

The picture shows a little book I recently created and self-published,

entitled 'Heartmade Herbal'. It is 36 pages of recipes and

ideas for natural health and beauty, completed handwritten

and illustrated by me - printed on recycled paper with a color cover.

I am hoping to one day be able to interest a
publisher in a larger book on this theme, complete with
full color illustrations, and more!

This book is available to order from me - click on the

'books and things' page for more information.

I hope to share my journey with you - it's been a difficult few

years of loss and trauma, but I am finding my way

on a new and hopefully beautiful path - and I believe that

grace and joy are right there, in every day,

for each one of us, we just have to open our hearts and souls!

Blessings

Gail

xoxox