New Canvas!

I started a new canvas today, it's not finished yet, it's taken me most of today with layers and fine painting. I've still got more doodling to do and words to put on, but I've enjoyed the process - I think it's title will be "My heart is blue for you!"

Needle Felting Merino Tops Delivery 5* Service

 Bearing in mind this was ordered yesterday at 12:58pm, it was delivered today at 2:35pm, now that's what I call service from Debbie Cripps! Look at all the lush colours, I'm so going to be able to finish my landscape tomorrow now!

 

Reflecting on 2011

A review of 2011 in words & pictures.

Some of my favourite photos from 2011

A list of what I have learned in 2011

I have learnt that: -

1. I need to accept who I am flaws and all!
2. I can "do it anyway!"
3. I am an artist
4. I can start a new business
5. I should not accept negativity
6. I can lose weight, albeit slowly
7. I can experiment with life & art
8. I have friends who can help me
9. I need to take care of myself as well as others
10. I do not need to say YES to everyone and everything to be liked
11. I should trust my "GUT" Instinct

A list of 11 of my favorite moments, memories etc.

1. Birthday parties (2nd, 4th, 55th, 66th & 80th)
2. Soul Restoration 1
3. She Art Course
4. Family BBQ
5. Brave Girls Club
6. Index Card A Day 2011
7. Mini spa break with DD
8. MacMillan Cooffee Morning on my 55th Birthday
9. In The Sun Art Journal
10. Summer of Colour
11. Planning my holiday to USA to spend time with Nancy

My letter to 2011!

Dearest Pippa, 2011 has been such a year of experiment for you -

1. experimenting with food and food issues.
2. experimenting with art, all different types of art.
3. experimenting with art materials, all different types of media, so many out there!
4. experimenting with blogging regularly (866 posts in the last 12 months an average of 2+ posts per day)
5. experimenting with starting a business as an ARTIST.
6. experimenting with following online courses, some free, some bought, some gifted.
7. experimenting with working with many different artists, some whom I loved, some I liked, some I was "so so" about and some I just did not get!
8. experimenting with relationships - setting boundaries, making new friends, rekindling old friendships and not investing in others.
9. experimenting with planning a long trip to meet BG friends in the flesh (very brave!)
10. experimenting with my relationship with my CPAP Machine I have OSA and must learn to love my life saver.
11. experimenting with the Power of Positive Thought!

All in all a year of "Ups & Downs", but mostly highs and being in the middle some times and being at my lowest very seldom!

Fondest wishes for 2012, I hope you achieve all you set out to and remember to enjoy the ride, but most of all be kind to yourself. XXXXX

#WEverb11 - Day 31 - Foresee

Where do you hope to be 1st January 2013?

I hope to be in good health, happy, financially stable, weigh less and be a more established artist - SIMPLE really LOL!

#Resound11 - Day Thirty One - One Word

Earlier this month, we wrote about our one word to describe 2011. Today, let's write about our one word for 2012. What word do you want to use to describe how you will approach 2012?

 This year's word was EXPERIMENT, the word for 2012 is FOCUS! 

Focusing on health, art & self (HAS) so I will be having focus on what I do in 2012, I am doing lots of art courses which will plot my journey.

Updated Needle Felted Cupcake

My embellished cupcake (beads etc) backed with felt and magnetic strip added!

ATC Challenge for Art Eye Candy Club

 A Triptych Love is Great!

Embroidered felt on canvas from leftovers from needle felting today!

Monthly ATC Swap - January

My ATC for the monthly swap for January celebrates Chinese New Year (23/01/12), this year it is the Year of the Dragon, bearing the elemental sign of water for 2012. I went for a background of water tones with touches of gold

Needle Felted Cupcake

A cute little cupcake, I'm going to back it with felt, embellish it with sparklies and put a magnet on the back so it can go on magnetic noticeboards or on fridges! I'm working on an A4 landscape project at the moment but have had to put it on hold as I don't have the right coloured merino wool tops, oops that would be another order then!

#Resound11 - Day Thirty - Future Self

Today, write a letter to yourself to read on 12/30/12. Write about what you have accomplished. Write about who you are and who you have become. Write a wishlist. Is writing a letter to yourself too cheesy? Write about how you would like your life to be different than it is now at this time next year. Or write about what you would like to have stay the same.

I think today's prompt is my least favourite, and it is indeed cheesy, so I'm not spending any time on it! Suffice to say I have written a post for 1st January about what I'd like for 2012, so watch that space!

#WEverb11 - Day 30 - Meditate

Were you happy with who you were in 2011? Who do you want to be in 2012 and beyond?

I was not happy with who I was in January of this year, but by the time I got to the end of February I was more at peace for certain but still unsure of who or what I was! By the end of summer I was considerably happier and much more settled, sadly since November that feeling has subsided and I have let the nagging doubts and uncertainty creep back in, which is why for 2012 my word is FOCUS. I want to FOCUS on my Health, my Art & my Self!

My First Two Needle Felting Projects

 Blues - 3D heart with appliqued patterns, felted both sides and stuffed, I felted the sides together rather than stitch, I thought for next Christmas I would make decorations as gifts.

Pink polka flat heart, onto pink felt, will make into a brooch by sewing a fitment to the reverse.

Now To Start Needle Felting!

All my lovely coloured wools, my needle felting mat and my 2 needle felting tools, I've done wet felting before but not dry using this process so I'm off to have a play!

YES, Gorgeous Grab Bag Arrives

 Look at all the lovelies I got from Kristen in my $10 grab bag, a card, a gorgeous print, a peacock stencil, a pendant & a button! Thank You Kristen!

Needle Felting - Bring It On!

My other needle felting stuff arrived today, great news, I'll post a big piccy of all my kit when I get back from the sales
 later today!

#WEverb11 - Day 29 - Gush

Begin to create a plan for "My friends day out 2012" - tell us what you envision.

Planning a "Day Out With Friends" - very exciting! This might well be when I'm with Nancy in Oregon in June 2012, we are planning a get together of Brave Girls who met online during 2011. It will probably include loads of talking, drinking, eating & creating and maybe even a sleepover!

#Resound11 - Day Twenty Nine - Letting Go

Letting go can be hard. We get comfortable in our current situation. We have a tendency to repeat the same behaviours and patterns even when we know they are not in our best interest. Sometimes we hold on to relationships, dreams, feelings, or stuff just because we can't let go. But letting go sometimes is what we need to do.

Letting go is very hard to do, I let go of the binging this year! Since September 2010 I've been working very hard on having a better relationship with food in general, not demonising certain food (like bread) as it then becomes even more desirable (for me at any rate). It's difficult because I know bread is a trigger food for me, but now I know it's the trigger I can do something about it, knowing is half the battle I think. The other thing that has been important is letting go of impatience, I want to weigh less NOW, I know that's not possible, it's just hard to come to terms with. The thing I need to let go of in 2012 is self criticism, I beat myself up when I falter and that's not good, I expect to fail and so I do and when I do I hate myself for failing - but I'm actually setting out to fail so I'm just fulfilling my own prophecy.

#Resound11 - Day Twenty Eight - 5 Things

Take today to jot down five memories that you would like to never forget about 2011.

1. Teresa, a Brave Girl - who sadly lost her battle with cancer in May, very traumatic, she sent me an amazing care package before she died and gifted me a place on an online course. Every time I use the stamps she sent me I think of her. Every day I place my cup of tea on one of her cup mats, pink and with pictures of antique cups & saucers on them (which I used to collect!)

 

2. My visit to the Hospital in November to see the consultant specialist and psychologist, suffice to say it wasn't a happy occasion, spent most of the time crying but decided on a more positive note that I don't want to be in the same situation at my next appointment.

3. The decision to join the Brave Girl's Forum and enrol in Soul Restoration 1. I completed the 6 week course and transformed into a different person, able to cope with life more readily and I discovered my inner artist.

4. Declaring to the world that I AM AN ARTIST and starting my own business, registering with the taxman as an ARTIST and earning money as an ARTIST by selling my work in local galleries.

5. Deciding that I would take the plunge and go to the USA next May/June for 3 weeks on my own to stay with another Brave Girl, Nancy and to meet up with as many other BG's as I could whilst there!

Book of Days, Inner Cover (part 2)

 Two page spread! I used spray inks, gold paint, doodling, stamps, tissue paper, serendipity papers from ephemera stock, I made an envelope from handmade paper and coloured it with sprays using stencils. I painted using Gold paint with a very fine brush.

 Last year's word - EXPERIMENT + envelope containing letter to 2011

This years word - FOCUS and secret pocket for letter of 2012 about hopes & dreams.

#WEverb11 - Day 28 - Pay It Forward

Describe a random act of kindness that you benefited from in 2011. How will you pay it forward in 2012?

A dear friend Teresa (sadly no longer with us!) gifted me an online course this year called "She Had 3 Hearts", I paid it forward twice - to two lovely ladies. I "paid it forward" a number of times this year whenever I could, mostly anonymously as I have been the recipient of a number of kind gestures in my life!

#WEverb11 - Day 27 - Spend

Where did your money go this year? Where do you want it to go in 2012?

My money went on a number of things in 2011

• Helping out friends & family when I could
• Paying bills
• Online Art courses
• Art supplies
• Art supplies
• Did I mention Art supplies!
• Oh and starting a business Pippa's Pieces

In 2012, I'd like to continue to spend it on important things like

• Paying bills
• Art supplies
• Helping friends & family!
• Oh and Art supplies!

My little Popjes

She's a little rough around the edges but kind of cute!

Picture Matrix

Made with Picture Matrix - really cool

#Resound11 - Day Twenty Seven - Everything is Going To Be OK

What is one thing, a sign if you will, that has shown you that things will be just fine in 2012?

I'm not sure there's been any sign that things will be just fine in 2012, I'm hoping that things will be fine in 2012, I have lots to look forward to, many online courses (Life Book 2012, Book of Days & Doodles Unleashed) and a trip to see Nancy in the USA. As long as I can keep busy and FOCUS I will be fine!

Friend Matrix on Facebook

Interesting who's on this, only people who comment on my posts and who I interact with I suppose, great to see Nancy, Maisy, Sarah, Bernice & Liz - sad not to see Effy & Maggie. Made with Friend Matrix

Christmas Presents

Some of my lovely Christmas Presents, I also had money, chocolates, some other smellies, marmite items & framed school photo of one of my grandsons.

#Resound11 - Day Twenty Six - Outro

Earlier this month we revealed our theme song. Today, share with us the song you would like to be remembered by. Share with us your exit song.

Is that a little too personal or deep for you? Why not share with us the song that helps you leave 2011 behind and ring in the new year?
 

My outro song would be Barbers Adagio for Strings as mentioned here on my blog in an earlier post. My song for 2011 would be Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" as also mentioned in an earlier blog post.

#Resound11 - Day Twenty Five - All Is Love

Who do you love unconditionally? Who loves you unconditionally? Who do you love despite their flaws? All is love.

I love my daughter and my grandsons unconditionally, I love my DH despite his flaws (but we both have flaws LOL!) I'm not sure who loves me unconditionally - I hope it's the same people I love!

52Q, Week 52 -What magical thing happened to you this year?

I became a Brave Girl, Restored My Soul, started to take care of myself and discovered I was an Artist!

#WEverb11 - Day 26 - Revive

Share a favorite photo from the past year. What was happening behind the scenes? What were you thinking or feeling? What could you smell, taste, see, hear at that moment?

The family day out started at Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary, not often we get all 4 of them together. We then went off for a trip on Seaton Tram and then DD & I were off to The Riviera Hotel for afternoon tea!

#WEverb11 - Day 25 - Celebrate

What did you celebrate in 2011? Are you looking forward to any celebrations in 2012?

We celebrated lots of things in 2011, an 80th, a 55th, a 4th & a 2nd birthday, DD passing her exams and getting a job, a family get together, 2 births & new friends found.

#Resound11 - Day Twenty Four - Try

What is one thing (activity, food, career, event, travel, etc.) that you'd like to try in 2012? Why haven't you tried it yet? What makes 2012 the year to try it?

I'd like to try needle felting, haven't had time as yet!

#WEverb11 - Day 24 - Control

What did you finally let go of in 2011? What will you let go of in 2012

In 2011, I let go of negativity and embraced positvity - in 2012 I will be letting go of food issues and focusing on healthy eating.

More Art Work

 Where are you?

Imagine!

#Resound11 - Day Twenty Three - Today is All You Have!

It's true, today is all you have, so why not make the most of it? Describe your perfect day, one that you've had this year or one that you'd like to have next year. What makes it perfect for you?

Perfect day or days, there's a few to mention I think, usually spent with family!

 

1. Relaxing day with my DD at a local spa
2. Family BBQ
3. McMillan Coffee Morning on my 55th birthday
4. Gorilla hunting & afternoon tea with my DD
5. Family day out in the summer
6. Scrap-A-Mia 2011