It's Good To Be Back

After a couple of emotionally demanding weeks, I'm beginning to feel the creative flow start up again.  I've missed my old friend! 


I hadn't realised before now, but over the past six months being creative has become such a big part of my life.  In fact, being creative has become the place in my heart where I connect with something fun, unexpected, unpredictable and, free-flowing.  It's also the place where I connect with like-minded souls here at my blog.  In all honesty, I've missed you. 

A couple of weeks ago, when life asked me to put my attention elsewhere, I did as I was asked and dealt with things that needed dealing with.  It's so hard on a family when someone you love is taken ill so seriously and so dramatically.  It's hard to watch the people you care about so much, suffering and worrying and trying to work out how to deal with something so difficult.  Understandably, I didn't much feel like knitting, making jewellery or sewing.


But then my mum (she's a wonderful woman) gave me a Kath Kidston book called "Sew!".  And I lost myself in dreams of making things again.


So today, I am having a day of getting back to being creative.  I'm reorganising my creative room.  Having a clear out.  Bringing in fresh things.  And when I've done that, I'm getting out the needles, the swatches and the Kath Kidston book, and I'm going to start getting creative again.


Yay!

Hello

Hello.

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a couple of weeks.  My Significant Other's brother was taken seriously ill a couple of weeks ago.  And in all honesty, I haven't felt very creative.   

In fact, I've been feeling a bit...  Erm...  What's the technical term?  Oh, yes...  Pooh.

I wanted to say hello though, and post a quote that a good friend of mind gave to me recently.  She means a lot to me, and it meant a lot to me that she printed out this quote for me to pin to my wall near the desk where I'm writing this now.

It's a quote by Marianne Williamson from her book "A Return to Love". 

It's strange the way things work.  I found this book in a small English Language book shop in Tokyo in 1995, and since then, have read it several times.  Each time I read it, I love it more.  I remember reading this quote for the first time in Tokyo, and not really taking it in.  Then in 2004 another friend gave me this quote to write in my "Quotes Notebook" (I like to collect inspiring quotes and write them in a wee notebook I have).  It sank in a bit more then.

But about a month ago, my good friend gave me this quote, printed on a piece of card for me to slap close to my desk, so that I'll look at it everyday.  She obviously felt I needed to be reading it.  Hmmmm.

I wanted to share it with you today.

I don't feel uncomfortable with the references to God in this quote.  I'm a convent educated gal.  (Oh, the stories I could tell...  and probably will in this blog...)  But I'm aware that some readers may not feel the same way.  If that's the case, thinking in terms of "The Universe" or "A Higher Power" might make a difference.

Our Greatest Fear

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our greatest Fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of

God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

As we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

 permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

(Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love.)



I've thought about, and read, this quote a lot over the past couple of weeks when I've been daydreaming at my desk.  I think it's finally beginning to sink in.

Sending smiles, and hoping you're having a fantastic weekend.

 

A Few Things About Me.

I've been writing this blog for six months now.  And it's time to tell you a bit about myself.  That isn't specifically linked with being creative.

So here are 25 things that say something about who I am.

1.  I love my Significant Other. He makes me laugh 'til I think I'm going to pop a rib.  He sees who I really am.  And helps me feel gorgeous, even when I'm festering in my dressing gown, and animals are bedding down for the night in my hair. 

2.  I think sausage sandwiches are sent from heaven.

3.  I love vintage clothes and jewellery because every piece has a story to tell about the person who wore it first.  I like to daydream about who they were and what they did.

I bought this postcard when I was a student.

Isn't she beautiful?

4.  My favourite season is Spring.

5.  I don't mind taking the plunge even when I'm scared stiff. Sometimes I need to do what I'm most afraid of to have peace of mind.

6.  I love 1950's sequins, beads and silks. A girl can never have too much glamour.

7.  I know that God gives me everything I need, even when I think it's not what I want.

8.  I love high-heeled red shoes, and have to try them on each time I see a pair, even though I can't walk in them.

 

The red shoes I love but never wear

because I can't walk in them!

9.  I think roses and peonies are completely beautiful.

10.  I have a big ole crush on Johnny Depp.

 

11.  I have a secret crush on Niles Crane from "Frasier".

 

12.  I think Tokyo is the most fantastic city in the world. I lived there for five years and totally loved it.

13.  My favourite smell is my cats' fur. It smells like warm biscuits.

 

Eric and Ernie chillin' on their cushion.

14.  I have always wanted to be able to play the piano.

 

15.  I started learning ballet when I was four. I stopped dancing when I was 28. When I was standing on pointes I felt weightless.

 

Picture courtesy of www.harrymmiller.com

16.  I used to dream in Japanese when I was living in Japan and couldn't remember how to say any of it once I woke up.

 

17.  I'm most proud of the fact that I travelled the world alone, but know now that home is the best place to be.

 

18.  When my Significant Other, hugs me, I know how it feels to be loved.

19.  I always put insects that come into my house out into the garden, as I wouldn't like someone squashing me with a tissue.

20.  I'm really quick to laugh but find crying harder to do.

 

21.  I don't know what I would do without books.

22.  I write all the time but find it hard to show people what I've written. (That's changing since starting to write my blog...) 

23.  I talk to my car when I'm driving.

 

24.  I think babies with moptops are gorgeous. They make me smile.

25.  Although I occasionally go through the odd broody mood, I never really wanted children. I like my own company too much.

Meet Emma

A big, slightly over-excited, hello, wave and welcome. I'm genuinely happy you're here.

My name is Emma and I love drawing, painting and writing.

I also have a passion for learning how to make life beautiful. How to fill my days with glitter and light.  

Here's what I believe...

I believe in the power of dreams and imagination to change our lives.

I believe that creativity opens our hearts and heals our hurts.

I believe in the messiness of life and the beauty of it all.

I believe in Love.

I believe in angels and their quiet words across our hearts.

I believe it’s possible to have a life filled with beauty and light even when it doesn’t look exactly how we expected it to look.

Here's a bit about why...

Everything Changes.

After building a career as a teacher and lecturer, and having a huge life-long love affair with ballet and dance, I was diagnosed with M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) also sometimes referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Life changed. I was forced to stop. Step back. Look inwards.

I was faced with having to learn how to live a different kind of life.

It was painful and, for a while, I fought the changes.

Coming face-to-face with myself was challenging. But, feeling afraid and alone, I realised something very important.

It's in our deepest vulnerability that our deepest beauty lies.

I decided to embrace my vulnerability, be gentle with myself. I started living life in the moment. Finding beauty in the every-day. And joy in the small, quiet places I hadn't previously looked.

I began to set myself gentle, affirming, creative challenges, so that my life would be about creating light and beauty, rather than being defined by living with an illness.

Over time, these creative tasks have become a way for me to express what's in my heart. Something I used to do through dance, but that I now do through drawing and painting.

And my perception has changed. When I got quiet, and stepped nervously into the silent, peaceful place inside myself...

... I found something much bigger than me.

Thank you for being here. 

I hope that you find something here at Mimi and Tilly that gives you some joy, and makes you smile.

♥