From my church book

I have been drawing and sketching in church for quite some time. I find that church is very conducive to feeling the creative presence. And it also helps me listen to the sermon, scripture, etc.

Today I have included some of these Zentangles. Drawing is such a meditative process. Or it can be. I encourage you to take a small piece of paper. Draw a leaf shape or a circle. Dissect it a couple of times, and fill in the remaining openings with geometric patterns. As you can ssee from my drawings, it can be as simple as straight lines following the curve of the shape. It can be dots. It can be repetitive same or different size circles.

Try a little meditative drawing. It will help you focus in anything else you do.

p.s. Can you see some Quilting Patterns?! I do!

Quilting? Zentangles? Where is the connection?

As I began creating this blog, it was mainly about quilting. So why the addition of Zentangles? Well, I began "zentangling" 2 years again, when I read a fellow quilters blog who zentangled. She is from New Hampshire. I had been drawing and sketching already for several years. I used the continuous sketching to help my quilting, as I am a long-arm quilter. My specialty is freestyle quilting which is a continuous line drawing on quilts. I love to do this. By using the Zentangle technique I am able to enhance my style, skills and design possiblities when I am quilting. It is a natural spill-over.

This quilt is an excellent example of how I use many of the different styles and line drawing I practice while Zentangling. The heading of my blog, is another example of this drawing.

As I draw, I realise so many areas where art is helpful in my daily life. Mental Health is an important topic and interest of mine. I hope to use this art form to help others increase their self-esteem and encourage others to be the Creative Being that God has called us to be - in all aspects of our lives. Draw On!

Zentangle Examples

Onward to share what I've been working on! Yes here are some photos of my vacations.

Here are some items that I have been working on while my ankle has been sore. There must have been a reason I got that?!!!

I look forward to sharing more. And I look forward to teaching after I get certified in May!

Zentangle, CZT

Greetings, I have been busy - but not on this site! Besides a trip to Vermont skiing, another trip to Mexico, sunbathing, and putting together two pieces for entering into shows... i've sprained my ankle, and did my first presentation on Zentangles.

Zentangles. A great inspirational, relaxing and creative pastime hitting the creativity world. It is a phenominal new method of drawing. By completing small pieces of art with simple strokes, you both relax, and release creativity.

In May I will become a Certified Zentangle Teacher. and I will be able to teach this fabulous technique to many different types of people. Please see the Zentangle site: http://www.zentangle.com/ for more information. I want to bring this to arts and crafts people but also health and community members. It is meant to encourage new creative expression, but also helpful in enhancing the mental health of all. I look forward to bringing you examples of this helpful skill.
Blessings. and Draw on.

Some More Photos

Greetings,
here are some more photos of the quilts that were put together at the Quilt retreat.

This piece began as a play time to do something with those colourful kaffe fassett fabrics; Hence why they all come together so well. The colours used with each other just make the leafs pop. As is my style, I just thought, "oh this would look nice" and started cutting, and then appliqued. Then thought "oh, there needs to be some focus..." It turned out well, despite my lack of planning. And as always, it is great to get feedback and support from fellow quilters.

This past weekend, I was away again, for a visit and hockey tournement attendance in London, Ontario. My quilting buddy, Beth; took us to some amazing fabric shops in the outskirts of London. Needless to say, my other quilting buddy, Carolyn, and I were in awe with the different fabrics. Two shops and we were done for. Our eyes and brain swimming with ideas and overload with colourful fabrics. And of course our wallets empty. Thanks Beth for a great visit. We will have to come again.

And the Hockey? well, it was great that our midget boys, ended there single A hockey career making it to the Semi-Finals. One of the best hockey games I have seen. There is nothing like just playing the game for the fun of it.

See you soon!

Finally Quilt photos!

Yea, Yea, this is a quilting blog. not just a reflections blog.

So here you have it. I am posting some photos from the recent quilting retreat I went on.


In the beginning I was grumbling about packing all my stuff up to go away. Why can't I just retreat to my own corner and have time to myself? Then i won't have to cart all this fabric and thread and ... you know stuff to some place else. I was not looking forward to it.


But all you quilters know, that life gets in the way, and often we fail to dedicate ourselves to what we want to do most. Most of us are puritanical hardworkers, who feel guilty for doing something we enjoy so much. So protestant ethics aside, I packed my goods and headed off to a weekend with my fabric and machine, and fellow quilters.

Despite falling ill, I was able to focus and complete a few tops that have been mulling about in my head. These are experiments in colour and creative play. Now I just need to dedicate time to quilting them.
!

Enjoy the photos

Life philosophy for me

A course in miracles. Have you read this? Heard of it? I began reading the "chapters and verses" but on push from some friends, we have begun reading the Lessons. I have not kept up to read the appropriate lesson for each day (we began with lesson 1 on January 1), but the process is extremely rewarding none the less.

This book promotes rethinking how we view the world, in a way to bring real salvation to us. Don't let the "salvation" word scare you. We have so much history, baggage and perceptions that we bring to everything that we see, do, and interrelate. The course in miracles attempts to heal us from these preconceived ideas and open us up to real life and wellness in mind, body and spirit.

As an artist, this is a very rewarding process. It helps me see and experience life in a more open and awe-inspiring way. This in turn helps me create. Which to me, is what we are here on earth for. To create alongside the most unbelieveable creator.

See something new today. See something a-fresh.