Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden

"Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden"
5x7 mixed media on canvas. Prints available

The value placed upon saying less, rather than more, as reflected in this proverb, can be traced as far back as the early Egyptians, who recorded one such saying:

'Silence is more profitable than abundance of speech.'

This is where I've been this week, silent and golden! and I have missed all my virtual friends, so sorry I have not popped by. Things have been a little crazy around here. The good news is I'm almost there and raring to get back into creating art and enjoying this BEEEEAUTIFUL weather.



One thing I have managed to give myself time to do, is to submit a "Found Art Friday" piece to the LOVELY and TALENTED Cathy Nichols. This month the theme is GOLDEN. So I thought the title: "Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden" was perfect. If you have not yet had the pleasure of following Cathy's blog, check her out, this month she is in Artful Blogging magazine (SO EXCITED FOR HER), I cannot wait to pick up a copy.

'Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden".'

So take some time today to sit quietly, be silent, BE GOLD. Enjoy your moment of silent contemplation, soak it up, bask in the golden hue.... as once coined by Frost:

'nothing gold can stay'.......

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
-Robert Frost

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Lost & Found

I have to say this week, I've been a little bit LOST.

My 12 year corporate job is near the end and I'm definitely in some kind of holding pattern right now, cant go back, cant move forward. Of course the rest of the world is just whizzing by me and I'm feeling a feeling I really cant describe. Bit like the scene in many movies where you are standing still in a train station and everyone is at speed walking past in a blur.

I cant seem to find equilibrium, peace, balance or focus.

Then I FOUND this quote a friend posted this morning.

"Every progression is followed by a short period of regression, it is basic wave theory and human nature. Do not be discouraged. It merely means you're doing something right. When it happens, recognize what is occurring, pause, and then redirect yourself back in the direction you were moving in. Awareness is the first step"

So today, im going to be kind to myself, be aware and do something for our stranded Brits here in NYC because of that volcano! So most bizarrely will be standing in the middle of Times Square with a bunch of red/white/blue helium balloons tonight at 6pm. Our expat group are going to be the friendly faces to offer support to those who come along.

Tomorrow I hope to be balanced again

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Artfest Day two & three - Ornamental Stories

Oh how I loved learning new techniques for creating jewelery. Nina was a fabulous teacher and it was wonderful to have 2 whole days to learn and create. I had a ball and started four pieces which I am still wearing out and about! I've long admired Ninas gorgeous work and it was such a thrill to be in her class for two whole days.

Friday night was vendor night at Artfest and I saw some great work. Also picked up some old watch pieces which I thought would look fab as one of my jewelry items, I wrapped and connected and made what I think was quite a magical and also witch crafty kind of piece. I'm excited to create some more with these new findings. :-)

Artfest was such a great experience, I posted more photos here of the whole long weekend.

I'm on countdown now! Only 2 weeks until i leave corporate America! Such a great week so far.....my local art group "Hob'art" have acquired a space temporarily on the main street in Hoboken so we have an art opening this Friday, I ran my first art class in New York City and then i found out I got accepted to have my own booth at the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival on Sunday May 2nd!

Have a great week everyone.

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Artfest Day One - Molding Old Memories

What a whirlwind the last few weeks have been. Since my last post, i have been feeling lighter than air, its amazing how the world seems once you make a decision straight from your heart. It wasn't until I read Chrissy's blog post tonight that I actually realized how calm and contented I am at the moment, and contented is such the right word!

I've spent this evening sorting my studio space out, unpacking my goodies from Artfest, remembering the wonderful people I met there and going through my creations from that weekend, that seems like a million miles away now. Its funny how everything is connected or maybe I should say how everything that is meant to be comes round again to tap you on the shoulder and say

"Now It's Time!"

I felt something click into place when I was in the moldmaking 101 class, day one of Artfest this year. Memories of my ceramic design course at university came flooding back...and whooosh! my head starting spinning with a 1001 ideas for moulds, plaster, ceramics and all sorts of other delightful materials....it was quite a bizarre experience (maybe I'd had too much coffee!) but I almost felt like my inner self left my body for a few minutes and I was replaying an old tape and watching myself from 1991 making moulds from plaster and getting all messy, feeling that....

.....Tap on the Shoulder.

There were only four of us in the class, but Ty Schultz was a fabulous teacher. We learnt silicone molds, block and push molds.....oooh the possibilities were endless and I wanted to learn more, especially when Ty mentioned metal casting! We learnt to mix and cast plastic and silicone....Ty also told us the largest mold he's ever had to make was of a lifesize pig and the smallest was a fruit fly!

My Mind Boggled

I am SOOOO excited as I now have a way to recreate some old ceramics and designs I have been longing to play with and I also created some fabulous embellishments from plastic i plan to use in my artwork. This summer is going to be the summer of discovering old creative tapes to replay in my head and finding new exciting ways to create them with my hands.... yes its very fair to say I am truly feeling contentment right now.

If you like to work with your hands, get messy and want to try something different, I'd highly recommend this class or something similar being taught by Ty, so also check it out for next years Artfest if you can!

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Living my Word of the Year

Photo credit: falafel for the soul

Finally I'm living my Word(s) of the year! Jump/Leap Fearlessly! I finally did it, gave notice at my corporate job (after 12 years) and ill be out there from May 1st leaping heart first into my new life. Yes it is exciting and a little scary too, this unknown space I'm treading into. I have no idea what to expect and no idea what will happen, but I do know that my heart is in it 100% and that the universe and my inner guide (who has been super kind to me of late) will show me the way, send me signs open new possibilities, challenges and so much more that will
nurture my soul and wellbeing.


Growing my creative self and following my passion

is what I aim to do.

Today as I count down, I have also made a promise to myself: to nurture my physical body, both inside and out, embrace my community both locally and in our virtual world (love you guys!), express myself more through meaningful activities, including art, photography and time to enjoy my surroundings and outside space, make time for quiet, sunshine, friends & family, yoga, meditation and myself, just to be good to myself......something that is
so.
overdue.

My "Inspiration Glass Pendants": Going up in the shop this week! Fan me on facebook to find out when!

I cannot begin to describe how I'm feeling right now. A sense of freedom of the time that's yet to come, but also the anxiety and fear that has a danger of creeping in as the time draws closer. I know I'm doing the right thing and those butterflies in my tummy are going to be
dancing for the next few weeks!

How are you all feeling today?
Did you make a Word of the year? Remember how important this is to you,
what small steps can you take? everyday to

Make
it
Happen

D R E A M B I G my lovely friends. Oh and if you have not already taken Mondo Beyondo OMG. It really helped me get to where I am now, the stories, reflections and support to realize we can live our passion, follow our dreams.

Next session is due to start on May 17th, check it out

Don't make excuses, make it happen!

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Blooming Marvelous

I am loving Portland. Such a relaxed, creative, happy and green city... yesterday we walked for 5 hours (calf muscles are feeling it today) exploring the gorgeous sidewalks, amazing spaces (want to buy one of those wrap around porch houses- lovely!)


AND Breathing in the
cool fragrant air
in Washington Park.

Portland is known as the City of Roses, so we drank rose tea in the rose garden where i bumped into the lovely Karen and her daughter from New Zealand who I met at Artfest

How ROSY and LOVELY is that?

So many trees and people blooming around us at the moment.


Two beautiful friends are blooming creatively also.

My talented Artful Journey sisters Mindy and Danielle are two creative souls I want you all to know. Mindy was featured on Etsy this week and has the most gorgeous characters over at her Tim's Sally site. Shes also been commissioned to do some artwork for a local folk band - go Mindy! And Danielle (when i saw her wearing her peacock feathered earrings at AAJ I knew we were destined to know each other!) just launched her Etsy store this week and has been selling her fabulous paintings where colour and words collide.

I am SOOOO excited for you both.

Today theres a spot of rain so am off to explore Powells Bookstore (the largest independent bookstore in America) Thanks Tinniegirl for the recommendation. :-)
AND checking out this place...how can you not go into a creative store that has huge
happy creations
on the side of it.

Have a happy creative day all.

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