Friday 19 September 2014

The Scottish People Have Spoken


Yes we have, and what did we say:

We said that we are a passionate nation who care deeply about our future
We are a rich nation, and recognise our wealth
We are an intelligent nation and know what is important

It was said that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for independence.   Whilst that may be true for some I believe we are educating a generation that will not stand idly by and let our nation’s education and wealth go unsung.  I still believe that this is a new beginning and not an end.

We may be a little shell shocked and battle weary but we can be proud of the conversations that have been started, the engagement and community that have emerged.

One truth about the Scot’s personalities is that we have a long memory – promises have been made throughout this campaign, and whilst we are in no way surprised by the back-pedalling that had already taken place before the count was complete, we expect promises to be kept.  We have found our way to the polling stations and it won’t be our last visit.

‘Normal’’ if not a new invigorated Service will now resume on my blog page, and the Paisley Yes Badge wil be displayed as a constant reminder of not only what might have been but of a better world to come.

I cannot round off without making comment on Bob Geldof’s ‘follow your head’ argument – a man who has built his popularity through appealing to hearts and emotions – really!!!!!

Enough

Que sera


Catherine 

Thursday 18 September 2014

Today’s the Day....

Art by Richard Richardson

This  day will go down in history – the day of the Scottish Independence Referendum.

For much of my life I have been A-political, not really fussed one way or the other who I voted for because my vote didn’t really make much of a difference.  Today I believe my vote counts – as do so many others.

I am proud to be voting YES – not least because of the positive campaign.  We truly do get more of what we focus on.  And in the months running up to this day we have been focussed on a Scottish Community that cares about our future.

If by some freak of chance the NO vote wins, it will not be an end.  I believe that today is the dawn of a new era for Scotland.  The Scottish people have been given a voice – and once realised – we’re not about to let go of the issues that effect us most.
Never more proud than to be a Scot from Paisley. (A YES Town).

Some Paisley Threads by Me

Namaste


Catherine

Wednesday 10 September 2014

Always Remember

Disney's Tribute - Focus on the Positive

From 'Meh' to Me


You wake up in the morning, your energy levels are low, you're more 'Beyond Help' than 'Beyonce' and your get up and go is nowhere to be seen.  What do you do?

You're initial reaction may be to pull that duvet over your head and hide out. Whilst I fully believe in going with your gut, sometimes it's good to go a little deeper, beyond the surface.   Going back under the duvet doesn't have to mean surrender.  We don't have to make everything a monumental step.  It can be as simple as a step back and taking the opportunity to start again.

Remember that this is your body and this is your day, you can choose to focus on whatever version of 'what is' you like. I'm liking that it's a glorious Autumn morning and I get to choose what I do with the day.  Believe it or not there is always choice.

How are you choosing to face the day?

Namaste


Catherine

Sunday 7 September 2014

Where to Start???

A Recent Pin


There’s a whole lot of starting going on around here right now.  I’m going through the frustration of so many things being half done because everything is tied together.

That’s what happens when you decide to live holistically, you begin to see the connectedness of everything.  It can be pretty overwhelming at times but taking it one step at a time and breathing helps a lot.

How do you decide what to do first when there is so much to do, and it’s all part of the whole picture?

So much to do – that’s my September Issue.  What's yours?

Namaste


Catherine

Sunday 31 August 2014

September Resolutions from the Eternal Student

September is one of my favourite months, I love the change in seasons, the natural change of colours and change in temperature.  I’ve seen September as a time for new beginnings for many years, perhaps why I prefer mid year diaries.

So whilst I’m staying with my Belief in the Magic of 2014, I’m using this month as a well needed time for reviewing what’s going on here in the land of WHEN and with my Creative Abundance Centre.  There may not be a mega amount of physical crafting going on this week, I’ll be crafting a holistic hub, lots of planning, clarifying a vision and getting ready for lots of doing.

For as Joel A Barker said “Vision with action can change the world”. (Tweet it out)

In keeping with Monday's blogging Crafting Community I will show a piece of work I've completed this week.

This is HoliStitch, Ive created her for the marketing material I'm compiling for my Creative Abundance Centre.  I'll be using her to promote my Indian Head Massage.



My knee jerk reaction to this title when I wrote it was that I am the Eternal Student because my ‘student years’ were a time where I held a lust for life and where my long term goal in life was to be happy, a yearning for a more mystical time.  But it turns out that I am, by nature, an eternal student.


Namaste
Catherine
xxx

Friday 22 August 2014

The Art of The To Do List


Love them or loathe them we all come across a time when we need a ‘To Do’ List.  To be honest I’ve never really been a fan but as I build my Abundance Centre I find myself with more and more things to do and a need to put them somewhere.

There is a tremendous release in endorphins as we tick that done box and relax in the knowledge that something is done.

The big advantage I am currently finding with my to do list, (I have one Big To Do List, that I add to whenever a ‘To Do’ arises and review on a weekly basis), is that knowing I have added the To Do means I can let it go until it’s time to do something with it.

A great lesson I’ve also learnt is that just because it’s on the list doesn’t mean it has to be done.  I’m finding that there is an additional endorphin release in ‘letting go’.  Could letting go be the new done?

A fun to do list from Pinterest for Friday.

Some Fun From Pinterest

Namaste


Catherine x

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Mind Over Medicine - More a Recommendation than a Review

From My Pinterest Inspiration Art
Anyone who’s read my blog for any length of time will know that I have, in the past struggled with depression.  Struggled with admitting to it’s existence, understanding what it is and with the long and arduous journey out of the depths.  If you know me, at all, you will also know that I am a recovering Self Help Addict. Today’s post is evidence that it’s all a one day at a time journey.  And that helping yourself is a more natural reponse than you might think.

‘Mind over Medicine’ by Dr Lissa Rankin is a book that brings into perspective the shortcomings of the medical professionals and our own responsibility in our recovery and wellbeing.  And whilst I am not affiliated with Dr Rankin or Amazon in any way I highly recommend you get yourself a copy.

Strangely enough, I started reading this not so much on a Self Help kick but as I found myself questioning more and more the authenticity and validity of the medical professionals I was coming into contact with on a daily basis, regarding the treatment of a family member.

Dr Rankin validated my belief that these professionals were not treating the patient, but individual symptoms.  Hence we went through over a year of endless poking and prodding at various hospitals, each time seeing no light at the end of an endless dark tunnel.   Every so often there would be a little glimmer of light from someone who ‘understood how we felt’ , only for it to extinguish as they were blinkered to the Big Picture. But I digress...

Do you know how ingenious your body is?  Do you know what it does best?  It has “the ability to heal itself”.  The ‘Relaxation Response’, a natural function of our body, activates self repair mechanisms, releasing endorphins and other healing chemicals.  And this healing process is very much a by product of what is going on in our minds. Hence the title of ‘Mind Over Medicine.

Whilst there is still a need for Doctors, they are highly qualified and experts in their fields, the need to treat the patient as a whole person is key to the holistic approach and the achievement of the finest healing process.

This book is a breath of fresh air.  It asks the patient ‘what does your body need in order to heal’’, recognises there is courage in taking responsibility for your own healing, “healing yourself is not for the faint of heart” and that we are all entitled to the best level of care.  And that you are a key member ot your care team, there is no ranking, but perhaps for the fact that you have been with your body the longest and thus know it best.

Do what you can to encourage that Relaxation Response to do it’s thing, it’s alter ego the ‘Stress Response’ has the key to the toxic cabinet so don’t let it go there.

Happy reading.
Namaste


Catherine x

Monday 18 August 2014

Drawing With Scissors – I Just Didn’t Get It.

It was a beautiful sunny day in Paisley, one of many throughout this summer, and I felt I was taking a trip to see some ‘grown up ‘ art.  And as such, I should appreciate it.  This was a timely reminder in why I don’t do ‘shoulds’.  Because I just didn’t get it.



Before I visited the Matisse Exhibition, Drawing With Scissors, at Paisley Museum and Art Galleries  I had been reeled in by Matise’s words, ‘the paper cut-out allows me to draw in the colour’.  Iwas intrigued and I was on my way.

I’m not sure what I was expecting to see.  Perhaps my expectations had been heightened by pieces I’d recently added to my pinterest boards.

Now that's what I call 'Drawing with Scissors'!


I found the whole exhibition to be pretty basic and disappointing.  Allowances may perhaps be made for the fact that these works were completed by Matisse as he lay in his sick bed toward the end of his life, 1950-54. (Matisse died in 1954).  Not wishing to be too harsh but I’m sure many an art project of a similair style may have been put together by a child home from school and needing some entertainment to soothe the boredom.  I’m not sure what it is about this exhibition that has stayed with me.  Perhaps the vibrancy of the colours or my wonder at the stark simplicity of the pieces, who knows – perhaps you should see it for yourself to find out.

Your visit would be enhanced further by the ever present Paisley Pattern and Weaving Galleries and by the currentGeneration’Exhibition, tracing the development of Contemporary Art over the last 25 years.  Now some of these pieces were starkly simple but I got the point. 

This is more of a what other people made Hand Made Monday piece, all the same I'm off to see what everyone else has been up to, it's been a while...

The Matisse Exhibition remains at the Galleries until 28 September, with Generation running till 5 October, finishing just before we get to see some more Lego Brilliance with Brick Wonders opening 11 October.

Namaste

Catherine x


Thursday 14 August 2014

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

Sunday 10 August 2014

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

Monday 4 August 2014

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

Thursday 24 July 2014

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


Thursday 17 July 2014

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

Sunday 13 July 2014

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

Sunday 11 May 2014

Look What I Made – A Commitment to Craft

If you read my post on Wednesday you would have seen me make my commitment to completing 3 books by September .


This is part of an all encompassing plan for my Freestyle Life. The resources available via the World Wide Web (apparently the typing of  www dot is no longer necessary) are pretty amazing.  I’ve realised that you don’t have to spend a fortune setting up a web site, nor do you need to be an expert in the craft in order to produce a good looking site and have it do some snazzy extras.  Just some extra reading , or watching a You Tube video.  I recommend this one by Tyler Moore I used a different Responsive Theme but all in all it made the whole journey a lot less daunting.

I have, until now, resisted the urge to create a “list” (an email list for marketing/promotional  purposes) mainly due to the niggly feeling of the whole “hard sell” vibe to them.   Which I think goes along with my muddled feelings about money.  Perhaps it also goes with my afore felt self doubt. Not imagining that a “list” of people would be interested in my creative journey.  Who am I to expect people to want hear what I have to say?  Slowly, I have come to know the truth of Marianne Williamson’s often mentioned quote “....As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  Always worth Tweeting.

 Whilst I have admired many lifestyle coaches over the years I have found myself turning away from them as they seem to enjoy more commercial success.  I’ve seen it as a kind of selling out.  Lissa Rankin highlighted a talk on facebook this week by Sera Beak which in a way went along with my feelings on the subject.  However as I have moved along my own creative and sharing path I have found a new point of focus.  In order to maintain this creative and enriching life it is necessary to create an income.  Surely the ideal way to create this income would encompass the sharing of this creative knowledge.  Back to Marianne And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” In order to shine times are a changing and it may be necessary to go ‘a little’ commercial.

And so I am creating a list in order to share the light and share my journey along this creative path, the first stage being the 3 books.  You can add your name to my list, firstly I’m planning on sending out a more detailed update of the writing process that will only be available here.


For Me Made May ’14 this week I wore a piece of my Ribbon Jewellery each day.  It’s bringing up lots of ideas for new pieces and helping me find what works and does not, in a way this is bringing in the market research I never really done first time round. 
May 5-10 Me-Made-May'14
Looking at what others have been doing (great Pinterest pics here) I am feeling the urge to make an outfit before the end of May.    Off to check blogisphere for other creative magic making this week over at Handmade Harbour and Jamie Ridler’s Studio.

Namaste

Catherine

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Show Your Work - Focus on What You Want the World to See

'Show Your Work' by Austin Kleon
“Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon, I had this on my Amazon Wish List for quite some time and devoured it in one sitting when it arrived after the publish date.  I saved writing about it till today for a number  of reasons.

The Process for the 'New Header'
Firstly, today I start my weekly Wednesday blog thread, the main theme for this is ‘The Spectrum of Mindful Living.’  (The banner shown is a mock up because the final one isn’t quite ready.)  I’m following Austin’s advice here and ‘sharing the process’ because waiting till you’re ready kind of leads to nothing getting done.

“Show Your Work” is a book written by a man who ‘walks the walk’.  I felt like I had followed this work through it’s not ready stage, it’s development and it’s final release into the world and enjoyed every step. 

This is a book of “10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered”.  And each way commends the virtues of showing your work whether you think it’s ready to go “out there” or not.  In fact it brings a whole new meaning to the concept of “ready”.  And as much as your work may be your life it is about sharing your work not your life, sharing processes, and unashamedly tooting your own trumpet.  Tooting your own trumpet by sharing your love for what you do, not by hitting the ‘hard sell’’ option.

I loved the concept of ‘the Vampire Test’, summarised in the quote from Derek Sivers “Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.”  It's a Tweetable

This was such an easy and  enjoyable read full of great stuff, some of it you already knew but  a gentle reminder is always worth having, and some you knew but hadn’t quite thought of it ‘that way’.

Like “Steal Like An Artist”, “Show Your Work” ends with a plan to take forward and my reason for not writing this post before now.  There’s a page to show your work on.  I’ve now filled mine in and ‘show’ it here:
Puting it out there for some accountability
The mindful bit about today’s piece: Focusing on doing what you love makes more of it – and I’m committing to completing 3 books for September: 3 ways of telling one story – a novel about a girl finding her focus, a ‘non-fiction’ about finding your focus and a craft book of mixed medium art with ‘how-tos’ and lots of lovely pics.
All with a Focus on Mindful Living.

Remember We really do ‘get more of what we focus on’.

Namaste

Catherine

Sunday 4 May 2014

Imperfect Perfectification

When I say ‘look what I made’ this week, my ‘mades’ have been around for a while.  In keeping with my pledge to wear a fashion garment or accessory made or transformed  by me throughout May.  This week I chose to wear some of my ribbon jewellery; Thursday I wore a cream necklace and bracelet; Friday I wore one of my favourite creations a black and brown chunky link necklace; yesterday I wore my multi-coloured link bracelet and Sunday I had a lazy day and stayed with my jammies so no garments or accessories for Sunday.  I’m looking forward to cracking out some different pieces this week.

My first few days of Me Made May '14
In uncovering these pieces I was conscious of having had them in my Etsy Shop for quite some time – and without an Etsy sale.  I closed my Etsy shop toward the end of last year.  There were a number of reasons for this, not least of all the lack of sales.  The reason for my lack of sales?  I’m not really sure. This MeMadeMay journey has already brought some answers and given me some modifications I can make both in products and marketing as I move forward.

What I do know to be true is that everything happens for a reason.  And as my print says – mine is not to question this truth but to believe and grow.


 I have surrendered to this truth and got on with the growing, and look forward to revealing just how much here on Wednesday as I introduce my new, using what I’ve got and adding texture, venture.

Until then I’ll be checking out all you creative folks participating in Me Made May and checking in at Handmade Harbour and JamieRidler’s Studio to see what Craft Therapy you have all been indulging in.

Namaste


Catherine

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