GONG XI FA CAI

Happy Chinese New Year.... even if I'm just on the edge of still being within timings

Year of the Monkey

I would like to live this year without thinking of it as another year, but just living each day - as the only day that will ever count

Its a good habit off course to have goals and to make plans - yes, but to continuously live in that future dream can sometimes distort the realities we are creating in the here and now

More action and more dreams will come true

Cause its up to me and its up to you to go off and take that first step, make that leap of faith - grab each and every opportunity with all you have and make life happen!

Yay - and on that note, wishing you dreams that will start manifesting into your realities
Healthy lives and healthy minds and my any unwellness just keep moving along when they stop at your door
Friendships, love and yes always leave a trail of glittery sparkle wherever you go
Cause you're made of magic and stardust and have the whole universe in the stare of your eye....

Image by me ... tube journeys are so much shorter now I'm creating stuff again

LOVE WHO YOU ARE...

Some of my favorite art and illustrations by the very talented Anahata Katkin... And I just have a few words to say before I end my day, and head off to the land of nod...

'love who you are'  and what does it really mean?  I think self love, and self acceptance is one of the most difficult things for us as a human race to not only accept - but then to practise on a daily basis.  If more of us allowed ourselves to love the true, the real, the raw - not the person we want the outside world to see.... but the real you and the real me that's been buried underneath all the should haves and would haves and maybes and what ifs....

What if there were no what ifs - what if we realise that this is the one and only real life, we don't get a dress rehearsal, we don't get a second chance at life. Because we don't know when the curtains will be drawn and our lives will come to an end.  A couple of weeks ago I got a message from my mum.  My cousin's son was killed in a bike accident and died at the age of 23.  Sadly I never got to know him, we never even met - but one thing I know is that this young man, in the prime of his life - lived a very full life and he touched so many lives with his abundant energy and lust for life, his laughter and his honesty in being true to who he was.  I think its that honesty that has drawn so many people to him, and that had touched so many lives in his very short life.  My heart goes out each and every time I see his sister post a message or his girlfriend or his mother or any of his friends... a true gent, a true gem - he is no longer with us, he has passed through this life, to his eternal life... where I am sure he is shining down on all those who still love him and miss him each and every day.

I cannot imagine the sadness and the loss - but one thing this has made me think about a lot is - how we live our lives, do we embrace each opportunity we have to make someones life more pleasant and happy, do we try and share positivity and light wherever we go?  Do we reach out even when we feel like our energies are so low we are not even functioning on reserves anymore ....

I want to live a grateful life, and I want to share the abundance of wonder and beauty that I stumble upon in the here and now - there is so much sadness and disasters we are faced with on a daily basis, a new crises, or yet another natural disaster - and it's not about turning a blind eye - because I very much understand and appreciate the day and age we are living in.  But I think now more than ever we need to focus on sharing the good news, we need to be encouraging to each other, and we need to live everyday not in fear of death, but in hope and in the knowing that this life we have, and the life we have led - that we have lived it full to the brim - we have explored all that there was in our being, we have lived out our purpose - we have found our gift - and we have shared that gift gracefully and gratefully.

Let us not be ashamed of any part of our humanness but let us celebrate in life, in this one magical, special gift and let us speak our truths and live our truths and let us love who we are, and let us love each other truthfully and abundantly.... peace out, love and light to each and every one of you!

Images via Anahata Katkin 

KEITH NASH FINE ART WATERCOLOURS

Today I'm finding endless calm and inspiration from these beautiful landscapes and seascapes - Keith Nash seems to capture the light breaking through the clouds, the reflections on the waters edge - the stillness of the moment so perfectly.  I am transformed to these coastal scenes - and maybe I want to stay just there in those lush mellow hues and tones, and maybe I just won't want to come back...

For more of his work, check out his website below - and from there you can also purchase some of the work of this super talented artist.  

From his website I quote:  Keith Nash is a professional watercolour artist living in Norfolk, UK.

His work is a blend of contemporary and traditionl styles, capturing the changing light and tones of the East Anglian landscape and marine environments.

Images via keith nash

SOME NEW DESIGNS

Design:  Lindé Davies for An Urban Village

Design:  Lindé Davies for An Urban Village

I've been working on these 2 little designs lately - I promised my mom some note-lets which she can use to write to friends or family ... or even me!  I am not sure if they are a bit too bland?  But I quite like them.  I'd like to come up with one more design - so she'll have 3 sets to choose from for each and every occasion.  I will get them printed via Snapfish - the quality is quite good and as well as being good value for money I find their service all round good too.   Its a shame there isn't a Snapfish or similar in South Africa... or is there now?

Now ...  Any ideas for the 3rd design?  Maybe something bright and bold and crazy!

Designs are both by me

THIS IS ART: JEFFREY VANHOUTTE AND NORVELL JEFFERSON Friesland Kievit Creamer Campaign

Something a little bit more creative to get your weekend juices going!  Sure did for me, and excited that by looking at these images and the making of video - one thing is certain - art will never die!  Respect to all the creatives out there who inspire by sharing their work and talents with the world.  

Stunning images capturing moments and motion so beautifully!  Original and sparse.  Belgian Photographer, Jeffrey Vanhoutte working with creative agency Norvell Jefferson... more below

Words by Journal Du Design - translated via Google:

Artist Belgian photographer, Jeffrey Vanhoutte worked with creative agency Norvell Jefferson to create this photo series on behalf of Friesland Campina Kievit, where he captures dancers playing with powdered milk.

Clouds created by the launch of powdered milk to combine beautifully graceful dancers' bodies that bind the incredible setting poses a real relationship between them and the white clouds and giving them an appearance of angels ... Video of the making of below.

To learn more about Jeffrey Vanhoutte, click here and Norvell Jefferson, click here .
Photos: © Jeffrey Vanhoutte

Have an inspiring weekend everybody! xx

Images via:  JournalDuDesign

BEAUTIFUL WATERCOLOURS BY SATSUKI SHIBUYA

SIMPLEXITY

ALTITUDE

OCEANICA

JUPITER

ALPAMAYO

EVAPORATE

PINNACLE

SENTIENCE

Inspiring works of art and inspiration 

And I quote

"S A T S U K I   S H I B U Y A  is a painter, artist and spiritual thinker, living and working in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Her work is based upon intuition, energy and spirit, exploring the realms of the unknown to bridge the gaps between the traditionally tangible and the unseen. Through watercolors, visualizations of universal metaphysics appear with a focus on themes such as nature, energies and aspects of everyday life. Each piece created embarks us on an unique and personal journey into our own souls in hopes that we emerge not only inspired about peace and harmony, but also with enlightened appreciations for this world in which we all live and share."

Have a beautiful and inspired week everyone - and make something beautiful of today!

Images via SATSUKI SHIBUYA

2015 MOON PHASES CALENDAR

These beautiful and original moon phase calendars by A Little Lark are available on Etsy

This is what they say ....  
"Simple, scientific, modern and beautiful. Make a statement in your house with this gorgeous art print!

Make year 2015 a year were you keep track of full and new moons, plus also know the day of the week. These large wall calendars are hand printed on sturdy 22" x 30" Stonehenge paper. Paper is machine-made in the USA of 100% cotton neutral pH two natural deckles and two cut edges. Print looks great both pinned up or framed. There is a 1.75" border around printed area, so paper can be cut down to desired size if needed. Each piece is signed on lower right in pencil by the artist, Christy Nyboer. 

* We designed this poster so you can cut the lower half off after the year is through and enjoy the upper square portion as a stunning print of the moon."

I'm torn between the gold on black or the copper on black - which do you like most?



First spotted via Pinterest

Images via A Little Lark

COFFEE ANYONE?

Beautiful artwork by Robert Lindstrom who is also co-founder of North Kingdom
Originally designed as wallpaper.

Definitely a 'lots of cups of coffee' kind of day!

Have a great week!
http://cargocollective.com/designchapel/En-kopp-kaffe-remake-2011

HAPPY WEEKEND YOU ALL

Here kitty kitty...... grrrr miaow! !!

In a rather mischievous mood this afternoon, and this poster kindof aptly captures just it!

Not sure who the creative force behind my wild and wonderful kitty cat is, but I vow to search and update and credit accordingly

Have a fun and fabulous weekend you all.

Don't take life too seriously

Don't over think

Just go and be the most awesome crazy wonderful you you've ever imagined of being

xx

Ps this is also a note to my fine self that oh so regularly over thinks and over analyse

I say 'No More'!

And I say Yes to be free of the mind and to live fully in the present

Image via Pinterest

Update:  The creative force behind this image is Welsh Artist and Designer Rhys Owens and he has a cool web-shop called Hidden Moves where you can purchase his prints and designs.  Do check it out!

FEATHER

Lindé Davies:  Feather 1

Lindé Davies:  Feather 2

Lindé Davies:  Feather 3

Lindé Davies:  Feather 4

Found some great new feather brushes - and been having a little play.  

Which is your favourite?

ARTIST LOUI JOVER

Amazingly talented Australian artist Loui Jover - I'm totally in love with these ink drawings on vintage sheets of paper.

First spotted via Pinterest.

Images via Saatchionline