Feel the fear and do it anyway ... Getting lost is how we get found.

So ok I haven't been on here in well ..... Aaages I know and I'm sorry mostly to myself because I doubt that I yet have followers of my ramblings and life musings and I sorely wish that were to change. 

Why hasn't it? Well honestly because I let fear rule me. 

Urghh I know... that yucky old self sabotaging fear that tells you your not right, not ready, not good enough, not pretty enough, not talented enough, not skinny enough , not quite right. Etc etc 

Well it's time to face down that bad boy and give him a serve of "juicy wild woman" how the hell do you know attitude. !! 

I'm trying to (note trying, not loving it but I know it's good for me) to FEEL these yucky emotions and give them space room and acknowledgement. That way I'm not busy keeping distracted and busy whilst hiding from them and playing the avoidance game. Which we all know leads to a deeper sense of blerghhh-ness and a deep uneasiness in our souls where we just don't feel quite right. 

This is the effect it has on me anyway... I put on my happy girl, busy girl mask and think I'm fooling everyone especially myself but in those quiet moments oh dear do I come to realize the truth. 

Dealing with depression already it makes it worse, I find, to hide from my emotions.

It tends to strip all colour from my life (like the photo below) and I realize I'm not fooling anyone. 

So what to do about it?

Well I'm trying a new tact that a lot of self help psychologist types recommend, that is to allow yep you heard it right ALLOW the feelings in even make space for them... Sit with them over tea and let them speak, not unlike an unwelcome houseguest you are polite for ...but listen ... Breathe and listen to the emotions and fears spilling from your soul and give it space to say what it needs to say. 

Then reflect for a time to see if these things really resonate with you ? Do they .? I mean deep down. 

Most of the time you will find your fears are yelling so big and loud they are utterly overwhelming but really if you look closely .... Peer waaaay into that space, you will discover that the voice is coming from a tiny little scared child hiding away inside you. It doesn't need scolding it needs comfort and reassurance. Hold onto it and calm it soothe it ( not unlike a tantrum throwing child ) be firm but loving and take each fear and remind it of its strengths ... Your strengths. Bit by bit one by one you will see that those fears are a magnified out of proportion tiny issue that can be easily worked on or resolved. Strengthened to no longer be a worry or completely removed from the fear file in your head. 

Ok so how about a little transparency? 

What are your fears and are you prepared to acknowledge them to bring them into the light so you can see them for what they truly are and work on transforming them ? 

Mine ... Ok here goes 

1. That I'm not good enough ( um for who for what -even as I type this and bring it into the light I see some of the silliness in it ) 

2. That my art isn't good enough ... Again who for ? 

3. That I can't be a success 

4. That I'm not skinny enough 

5. That I'm not pretty enough 

6. That I'm not good enough to be accepted into my dream course " bachelor of indigenous art" at Qld College of Art (QCA) geeze I've been saying this and secretly wishing for it for I've 6 six years now. Urgh get over it and try. ;) 

My first road block was I hadn't yet proved my indigenous heritage for my certificate of aboriginality 

( that was anotherhuuuuge issue and fear - but I've done it now again after years of wasted fear and doubt ) 

7. That if I try to open an arty business online and at the markets that I won't get customers ... Won't afford the costs to set up, nobody will buy or like my work, I will fail miserably therefore proving everyone who ever doubted me or ESP one ex partner right !!  

8. That I'm not destined for abundance or success 

9. That I will look like a fool or an egotist for thinking I had the right to try ...ESP as I'd love to be an art therapist /life coach and help people heal. To improve to grow to overcome. Who am I to think I'm good enough clever enough etc ... Who would want to listen to me or my advice ... Even blogging ! 

10. That I'm not a good lovable person worthy. that's a big one from my childhood. 

Well there you go it's out there in the daylight ... Ooh it's a vulnerable feeling. It's not entirely comfortable but it's also not as scary as I thought. 

Now will you work on your issues with me ? 

Share if you can .. 

I'd love to help ( no judgements here ) 

Xx much love gypsy Mel 

Poetry and art as a healing mechanism ..

I have moved house and even after being here for 8 months I'm still sorting and unpacking some of my storage stuff. Sorting and rearranging my studio because it just doesn't quite fit how I'd like ...not as user friendly as I'd prefer which means I don't use it as much and that is a sure sign of not being comfortable. 

So this week I am taking time to rearrange and sort more of my stash of bits n bots gems beads bolts driftwood paints tools paper supplies ephemera etc etc etc . .. Do you have a big stash of toys n tools that you love.?

Going through one box that's been in storage for a few years I've come across old notes, scribbled designs, some sketches and some poetry and musings on my life at the time. 

Poetry through the pain... Hmm maybe that should have been my title for this post? Oh well ..

I studied art therapy a few years ago and found it to be a thoroughly fascinating form of therapy and psychology... Utilizing our subconscious minds to tap into our deep seated emotions fears pain passions etc. . To communicate those feelings without sitting in a bleak bland office and "telling" someone about it ,which can be difficult at the best of times, this form of psychotherapy allows things to come about in a far more gentle and supported way without the pressure to dig up what hurts and divulge your deepest darkest secrets.

So whilst unpacking I found a couple of old poems I thought I'd share with you all.

I was escaping a very treacherous volatile relationship with a fine upstanding pillar of the business world and local community and it had taken its toll over many years... The bruises aren't always visible but believe me they are there. 

Just a warning it may not be "pretty" but it's real raw and passionate and writing it helped me pour out some of the pain onto the paper instead of keeping it secret and bottled up inside.

I have reached the threshold of what I can contain 

Too many bitter comments have pierced and penetrated my brain

I don't meet your stranglehold stringent criteria 

I'm treated like a child,when you abuse me, in a wild hysteria.

Yet my feelings and emotions are valid 

My feelings and emotions are real

If i could escape, have peace and space I'd find that freedom and learn to heal 

A big warm family home to call my own 

The ability to start again, be the me I've always known 

All I want is to be myself and to help others in this world

A place to be, a sanctuary ...where I can be strong valid happy and free

I don't wan to be your whipping boy or indeed your whipping girl

I want to be seen and loved just for me not a piece of useless rubbish, but a unique and valuable pearl

I am not so ruined as you say to be discarded and tossed away, onto a rubbish pile

I'm just a woman who's been torn apart and is broken down inside

I want to be able to breathe again to be excited by life, be happy and to smile

Not the person who cops abuse who hurts so bad she feels no use and wants to curl up and die

I'm torn between starting and believing in my goals and dreams 

To ridding the earth and the universe of my rotten and broken soul, to let my pain my sadness my shame at last become unseen..

Behind the mask and facade of my strength and my happy go lucky smile

Is a woman who shattered like a broken vase a broken little child

I'm trying to recycle that broken glass

To rebuild my splintered soul and shattered heart

Like a teddy bear with its arm ripped of and it's stuffing pulled apart

Part of me (very small indeed) believes I deserve and need a start

No more yelling no more pain no more false accusations and hurtful blame

I want to be a happy free successful me and to be no longer drained.

So there it is poetry through the pain... I'm still healing and sometimes those that have such an emotional stranglehold on us aren't so quick to let the power and control over us go but I'm in an infinitely better place than I was back then.

Even through the massive trauma of surviving that relationship I'm grateful in some ways for the experience though ..... um universe if it's ok with you now I think I've learnt enough about bad relationships abuse betrayal deception neglect abandonment and controlling guys now to last an infinity so let's move on to some happy lessons now please. ;-)

When things aren't right with you or your inner or outer world what do you do ? What is your outlet ? 

Do you paint do you write do you dance do you fight ...what is your outlet ? 

I truly hope you all have one or are able to find a way ... Don't bottle it up inside, please don't do that dear readers because it leads to the inevitable ... A breakdown and that takes years to recover from and in some very sad cases there is no recovery as people feel there is no hope and take their own lives. .. I know I tried. 

So here I am a survivor of sorts who feels that even with the unfortunate heavy ugly "Stigma" still associated with emotional breakdowns ,suicide attempts and mental health issues it's best to be honest and speak openly about these things ... Maybe just maybe by not hiding my experiences it will help someone else. I still carry that guilt and shame but am trying day by day to not let it define me or worry about others judgements of my past, because lets be honest that haven't lived my life or my pain, they haven't lived yours so don't let society define you or box you up and label you as faulty or inferior.

I have found that by expressing my pain through my art I am better able to deal with it...not having family as such or family I've been able to rely on or share my experiences with my art has been my only steadfast ally in life, well that and training at the gym oh and of course let's not forget the delightful serotonin hit of  chocolate ;-)

There seems to be a lot more awareness of emotional and mental health issues today than there were years ago where poor little children were institutionalized in adult psychiatric wards simply for rocking the selves to sleep in orphanages and government homes. 

We have come a long way ... But we still have a way to go in supporting people suffering that silent agonizing ache of depression and speaking openly without shame or fear of job loss or reprisals. 

So if you are experiencing that haunting isolation of depression or traumatic automatic full  HD colour sound replay of painful events in your life through the challenge of  PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) Or in fact any mental health issue I urge you to find a healthy way of expressing your hurts haunts and harrowing experiences maybe through music art singing dancing fitness or meditation... 

If you don't have the support of family or friends and find yourself alone in this world at the moment please know you are never truly alone, trust me others are feeling your pain somewhere out there and if we all  try to connect we can help heal each other.

If you are alone don't let that stop you from reaching out or asking for help as hard as that can be.. try the anonymous ether of the Internet ...there are many helpful websites avail now that can be of benefit....  Google Beyond blue, The black dog institute, Lifeline, Grow.net.au, headspace etc...

A simple type into google of online mental health support rings up a plethora of sites to look into. 

Well dear readers I bid you adieu for now and wish you peace health happiness and abundance.

Grow those wings of yours and fly...

My mixed media art...

Just a few quick pics of some of my art. The first is an acrylic on canvas
( unmounted ) Nurture.
The feeling if being wrapped in a mothers love ( I lost my mum at age two ) so I have an indian spirit filling in for her and her arms are replaced by wings..
To lift us up ? To help us soar ?
What does if make you feel when you envisage yourself in the child's place ?
Next is a great image and quote I was sent by a friend. So hard to make that leap of faith isn't it. ?
When my day was blue and empty yesterday I gave myself timeout. I sat down with a chill out herbal tea mix
of camomile, lavender and three different mints to soothe my sad stressed soul and to try to create and let out some urghh ( lol, technical term for feeling crappy depressed and generally in a funk ).
Well it worked because I decided to use my nice Moroccan table and one of my colorful glasses ( green for new beginnings ). Then sat and started reading/flipping through a great book called "Unfurling, a mixed media workshop by Misty Mawn. " (inspirations and techniques for self expression through art.) what a great title and description.
I've had it in my collection of mixed media books for a while now but today she jumped out at me. To just sit and be inspired if I wasn't up to reading it though and that's exactly what happened. Thanks Misty :) just reading the first few pages then randomly flicking to a page near the back and I was away. Expression for my soul.
I was full of the usual critical judgements of my work and abilities but somehow I got through and finished my girl in just under an hour.
She's quite vibrant and not how I was feeling at all, she was braver and wilder than me, with her exotic tribal feather neck piece replete with rubies I might add. Wild curly reddish hair and butt nekkid under her butterfly chest plate and delicately placed heart.
Be memorable adorns her neck and chest like a tattoo declaring her uninhibited wildness to the world.
Memorable she is there's no doubt about that. ;) she certainly must have read the profound book "Women who run with wolves " byClarissa Pinkola Estes.
It's funny how our subconscious works, I was unable to relate to what I drew and painted at first, then it hit me.. That's the design I'd been thinking of for a new range of necklaces in my jewelry line.
Bold Tribal feather adorned neck pieces, exotic & vibrant with semi-precious stones beaded onto them.
Now to sit and make my necklaces.
Hopefully I'll have some images to post on those soon.

The last image is of an old sketch and poem from a few years back. In an old and not so healthy relationship. Toxic I guess but it had its beauty too.
I'm thinking of revisiting her and the poem by doing an art journal piece where I can add colour and take my time with the handwriting and placement of the poetry.
It's nice to look back on our art .. For me it's like a journal filled with secrets sorrows dreams and loves of long ago.
I used to be so full I needed to just get the images and poems out and not worry about the look. But now I feel better equipped to take those jumbled outpourings and make then sing with a little but more light and expressive colour and creativity.
Well I've been up now since 2:23 am and my morning alarm has just gone of reminding me to get up and go for a run with my puppy Miss Penelope.
Wow 6 am already sheesh I'm going to need a nanna nap today.
So cheers and happy hippy hugs for now until we meet again.
Gypsy Mel x

Back from the brink..

Hi all, sorry to have taken sooo very long between posts. Life just seemed to take over with much stress and business that needed attending that I felt I had no time to post. Well that and my depression being a little to overpowering in the "I feel utterly useless and crap" state.
Hmm not sure how to feel about letting down my mask of ( I'm great life's great and I'm always happy smiling peaceful and full of vigor ).
Vulnerability is a scary place, to think nothing of sharing it with the "interwebby world of forever" complete with our very judgmental society.
I've decided you get to see me warts and all anyway because maybe just maybe I can make a success of myself and in doing so be a beacon of light to others, in the darkness and despair that envelopes you when you live with depression. What if...just what if I could be the fragile but strangely strong, ( juxtaposing conundrum if ever there was one lol ), real me and some of you liked me anyway ? What if my being brutally painfully honest helped others to accept and be themselves ?
To help other hurt souls to express themselves through art and join me on a healing journey.
Well wouldn't that be spectacular ? :)
I'd love to help, to inspire to encourage and to help break the stigma surrounding mental health.
I've been a personal trainer and massage therapist for many years. Concerned mostly with the physical body I've helped others to lose weight, get fit, recover from injury, soothe stressed sore tired aching muscles, relieve pain in seized backs and impinged nerves, achieve goals and to shed kilos of fat ... But what if it was darkness, despair, regret, guilt, pain, trauma, abuse, hurt, loss, torment, self critical thinking and other negative emotions and mental baggage they lost instead ?
A few years ago that's why I started my studies in a remarkable but not often talked about field - Art Therapy.
Practiced by both Jung and Freud and part of psychology practices throughout the eons but still not widely accepted of even heard of socially.
No it's not the study of art and making art or artists happier as is one of many common misconceptions, it is a way of approaching your problems and emotional trauma through the subconscious.
A non threatening non verbal way to communicate your hurts, worries, fears traumas and stresses etc. My most pulling thought was of its myriad uses with abused children and I soon discovered its immense success historically in that field.
One of my senior lecturers uses it to great success in palliative care, mostly with children and their families dealing with terminal illness. The healing that comes about through artistic expression and release is astonishing. You don't need to be an artist or to have any particular skills sets or abilities, just an open and willing heart and mind.
Now I won't delve to much into art therapy and it's practices and uses right now only to say that " art heals "
Anyone can do it .. It doesn't have to be good, great or a masterpiece, it just has to come from your heart. Don't we all need to just let go a little more in this busy stressful hectic crazy world.
Below is a beautiful piece of art I found by Belinda Chlouber from www.tenfingers.com she doesn't discuss art therapy in any way but she does share her inspiration for this painting. It's titled Bones and is based in her mothers poem "An act of memory", here she states her mothers Parathyroid and her father in laws Alzheimer's diseases as compounding her contemplation of memory.
Beautiful work, incredibly moving and tender.
So there it is..art heals even when we aren't deliberately trying to.
We can all express ourselves in creative ways.. Be it dancing, drawing , cooking, singing, silversmithing, writing, painting, beading, building, designing, decorating our homes or any other myriad of ideas
We can all access ways of self expression and it doesn't have to cost a thing .. Turn up the radio and dance in your lounge-room when things get tuff or the bills pile up, make origami from the junk mail in your letterbox, draw, paint or collage on free local newspapers, sure it won't make the problems go away miraculously but it will clear your head so you can better cope with attending to those issues.

The new and improved me is really the raw honest quirky arty hippy gypsy girl with a few broken feathers in my wings.
I can still fly if I try but it may not look as good. ;) and I've let the dust accumulate for far far too long.
Hmmm time to dance ?? :)

ONE PERSON's TRASH .... My Treasure

How are we all this week ?

Im Great having spent the weekend mostly with my soul sister Nique and my little munchkin kidlet nieces and nephew.

I've been busy revamping some fabulous treasures from Garage sales ( yard sales for my American friends ), these crochet cushion covers below I picked up for $1.00 and a great little tired timber bookcase for $4.00 (photos of the bookcase re-vamp will be posted by friday) as well as a collection of lace and crocheted doiles for under a few dollars.

I love re-vamping and renewing old odd's and ends, seeing in them the potential for a new life, it brings me great joy to reuse redo revamp and renovate especially when I've picked them up for free or next to nothing.

I will endeavour to show you more of what I do and how I do it, or maybe even why for those of you who think junk is junk and should be left to rot on a scrap heap somewhere, :) oh boy the treasures I've found though along the way just by using a bit of creative thhinking or elbow grease on somebodys discarded once loved belongings.

So how many of you have old flat waaaay past it pillows that no longer offer any support let alone comfort

I know I do but couldnt thrown them out because I knew they'd be re used somehow and boy am I glad because I've found a great way to upcycle them into stuffing for my fabulous new bargain vintage cushion covers..sweet :)

Simply tear or cut open the old pillows and remove the stuffing, I like to do this outside so I can sun the stuffing for an hour or so to get rid of any impurities and because I pull the stuffing apart to re fluff i, I then like to spray each handful of now fluffy stuffing with a lovely linen spray( I use both Verbena and Lavender from the store Dusk) you can quite easily make up your own essential oil spray

 

How To: Make Your Own Linen Spray

Linen spray is a bit of an indulgence but I love it especially lavender scented sprays for sheets and laundry

:

Use an empty spray bottle or rinse out an old bottle with hot water. In a small bowl, mix lavender oil and vodka together. The alcohol works as an emulsifier, allowing the oil and water to mix evenly. Ingredients

1/4 cup unflavored vodka

3 1/2 cups filtered water

1 tsp. lavender essential oil

Pour the lavender-vodka mix into the spray bottle, add the 3 1/2 cups filtered water, and shake. Make sure to shake well before each use.

More Tips:

For an alcohol-free mixture omit the vodka, but make sure to shake rigorously before spraying, since the oil and water will separate.

Put a few drops of lavender into ironing water to make clothes smell great.

For more recipes using essential oils, check out aromaweb they have some great ideas and recipes.

Here is the Dusk Brand Linen spray I love

 

My funky $1.00 vintage cushion covers all fluffy and smelling great. Simple easy and funky recycling.

I've also fallen in Love all over again with the funky little zine BESPOKE ..go check them out and enter your email address to get their wonderful weekly and daily crafty updates and inspiration straight to your inbox. They feature all sorts of great talent from blogs and sites all over the world but also have a heavy Australian content yay.Below is the link to todays crafty article...how to make your own customized stamp

http://bespokezine.com

http://www.theprettyblog.com/2012/07/make-your-own-stamp-diy/

sorry for some reason I cant make these HYPERLINKS :(

 

Ok well thats it from me for today but I shall catch up with you all on WED afternoon, until then keep smiling and be good to each other,much arty love and happiness Gypsy Mel x ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Art Journalling and vintage nudes

Loving working in my Journal of late, creating backgrounds and prepping pages for future sketches and artworks. Esp with my antique vintage arty nude postcards like the one above, back when women were curvy, sensual and voluptuous rather than concerned with being skinny.

I've been layering old book pages from a tarot paperback I picked up at a garage sale recently for .50cents. ( yard sale for my American readers ). I stick them down with Gel Medium and once that's dry I start to add layers of Distress Ink from my collection of Tim Holtz inks and stamp pad range, then intuitively add other paints or dyes building up a grungy worn texture.

I used to be so afraid of layering, always worried that I would ruin what I lay down underneath and that the final result wouldn't be as good as the original layer of papers and ephemera,somehow disrespecting those old papers and vintage finds. I've challenged myself to overcome that now but it is always there nagging in the far dusty reaches of my mind, if I really like the original background before I grunge it up I will then take a good quality photo of it for use in photoshop later on at some stage ( read: when I buy it and learn how to use it ) ;) lol

If I think I'll be using charcoal on the final background surface I tend to go over the background with some transparent gesso to give it more tooth for the charcoal to grab onto, or alternately I'll mix white gesso and transparent in a 3/4 mix to get some more coverage but not completely cover the background I've built up.

I'm slowly learning to let go more with my art and not be too precious because after all there are no mistakes only happy accidents to play around with.

 

With this particular background I even played around with nail polish splats and splashes.

So very happy to have the latest copy of one of my all time favourite mixed media magazines. "Cloth Paper Scissors" and take time out at my local Coffee Club Redcliffe with my art Journaling supplies and peruse the latest edition ( trying hard not to drool and the artwork and new supplies they show) over a lovely pot of Chai Tea.

This is a little illustration I did recently on an old perfume test paper ...I've called her Princess Poppet. What do you think of her ? Do you know I used to be so terribly afraid of ruining art supplies and being wasteful because I wasn't good enough that I only used to paint sketch and draw on scraps, seriously I used to only paint on the inside of the cardboard from wheetbix boxes or other breakfast cereal boxes or scraps of paper I found laying around. If I had anew journal I would get utter art stage fright and not be able to do anything in it ... Except stick in art I did on rubbish and scraps...I still struggle today but at least I can put pen or paint to paper a little more now in my journals ...the upside of this is I have a great supply of old blank journals to now use ;)

Now for those wondering how my "3 Months Without Sugar Challenge" Is going I'm happy to tell you my body has happily adjusted and I'm doing fine, there has been some trimming and toning happening as I continue with my regular gym sessions and the lack of sugary treats or toxins in my diet. I was even able to withstand my nieces and nephew eating ice cream and mini pancakes in front of me without the slightest temptation or desire to distract them while i pinched a few lol.. So I'd say that's a great sign of success :)

Not the highest quality resolution photo I'm afraid but its a start... I'm getting better at downloading pics to my iPad dudad ;) Ok so this guy I just drew again on scrap paper the other day whilst sitting on the couch reading and researching blogs so I can improve and personalize mine a lot more, with the weird scratchy pen/ pointer thingy that came with my iPad cover ( Gekko brand ) so not a fine art pen my any means but I just had the overwhelming feeling to start drawing and this is what came out. I've not had that creative rush for some time now so when the urge hit I just let go and went with it, it's funny just relaxing the judgement and planning parts of your mind and drawing intuitively like this and seeing the end result.

He's kind of sad and solemn but also resolute, though the rain clouds are all but drowning him he is still able to protect his heart and keep her from the torrents of rain washing away her Spirit and shine. I like that the cloud is blue rather than the traditional dark black clouds of the black dog of Depression, I hope that's a sign of healing,I will endeavor to upload another shot of him finding solace in the rain that's a bit clearer.

There's so much for me to learn yet... Adding hyperlinks to other pages I love and admire from fellow bloggers, artisans and friends... Video content ?...and then sheesh how do I tag ... What is tagging?labels ? Is that what is discussed in my blog ..where does that go .. Does that make it easier for strangers to find my blog out there in the big void of technomologimacal ether ( yes I make up weird words and am ware this is not a real word or correct spelling... Yet another of my weird quirks :) )

Hmm still not the same quality as on my iPhone ....I swear I'll get techno geeked soon and be all shiny sparkly and new but with still the same weirdness and quirks ;)

Well that's me done for today ..I'm off to get ready for another gym session woo hoo .. Much love abundance and juicy happiness to you all.

GYPSY XXX

 

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Our story's ....

 Good Morning all, sorry it's been a while since my last blog, I've been busy spending time with my nieces to pieces and munchkin of a nephew who I adore.

This morning I find myself sitting at the hustling bustling local coffee club here in Redcliffe, Brisbane, watching the throng of morning customers as they come and go in little groups.

So many families and friends catching up, chatting happily between bites and sips of their chosen beverage, I so love people watching, there's the young family beside me trying to teach their very independent little toddler how to cut his own toast (oh the frustration on his chubby cheeked little face).

The three young fashionistas giggling and discussing relationships and clothes while playing with their hair, on the cusp of trying to be women but still showing the unconscious traits of their innocence and youth. The couples that sit in companionable silence with out the slightest hint of tension or discomfort, expressing so much simply through looks nods and silent gestures that mean so much to them but are indecipherable to outsiders. The retirees sitting in small groups of couples with so much wisdom etched on their collective faces, hinting at vibrant well lived lives, such comfort and companionship amongst them it almost feels like another form of family. The post exercise collective, or possibly just trendy labeled sports fashion addicts, Lorna Jane seems to be the label de jour with an assortment of brightly coloured Nike free sneakers, gossiping and whispering in secret knowing (are they discussing the literary qualities of 50 shades of Grey). ;)

It's all here a rich tapestry of unique and wonderful individuals from all walks of life and varying life experiencs coming together over the traditional ritualistic morning gathering of food and beverage known as breakfast, or brunch for those recovering from a languorous late morning lie in, quite possibly having followed through from a Dionysian or debaucherous night on the town. Those are easy to identify as they sport large dark glasses and a hat of some sort to hold their disheveled tresses at bay.

So much energy and inspiration abounds if we but only slow ourselves to take it all in, to let our minds slow and imagination take over begging you to wonder ...where did that group go last night that they look so worn but happy this morning, were they out dancing, at a fancy dress birthday party , a concert , were they at the local pub engaging in a trivia competition and regained their lead in the local championship ? So many possibilities.

Life for each of us is the same in that we too can write and rewrite the stories of our lives, we can include romance, adventure, whimsy, daring and intrigue. It's up to us as to how our life reads and how interesting we make it, what adventures we go on what moments of stillness and reflection we take. What does your story say about you so far, if it was a book would you want to keep reading ? What changes to the script or storyline would you make ? If you had to narrow the cast down who would you keep in your story and who would you creatively retire ? Who would you cast in the lead roles beside you and do they serve to enhance your story or weigh it down ? What message would you like your story to tell, is it a story of perseverance and success, of struggle and lonleliness, is it a daring adventure, are you the hero of your own story or are you under the control of some malevolent villain, rogue or scoundrel ?

It's is never ever too late to re write your next chapter or to change the scenery or cast of characters, that's the great thing about life we can create as we go, we wake up each day with a fresh canvas, a blank pad, an empty screen upon which to craft and construct our new experiences.

I hope that whatever your story has been or currently is that the main theme running throughout from now on is one of abundant happiness. One in which you realize your own inner goddess or god, your strength and beauty, your abilities and passions and where you live happily ever after.

Much love and creative juiciness as always,

Gypsy Mel













 

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Creativity we all have it.

Creativity is like looking through an old fashioned Kaleidoscope... Through it you see the same elements as everyone else but your own unique inventive and intuitive sense of self rearranges those particles and elements into a personal manifestation of endless creative possibilities.

"If you work with your hands andyour mind you're a craftsman,
If you work with your hands your mind and your heart your an artist."
Saint Francis of Assisi

I love that quote.. There really can be no wrong in art if you pour your heart might mind and soul into it.
It may not please everyone's taste but that doesn't make it or you wrong.
The world needs more creative people thinking freely and openly, solving problems in ways yet unimagined and living fearlessly.. Explorers if you will.
Everyone is creative, everyone has talent and ability.
Whether you are an artist, a musician, a scientist, a doctor, a writer, an inventor, a parent, a poet doesn't matter .... I guarantee you at some stage you've been creative, you've problem solved and come up with some far out or unique idea to improve a situation in your life, get out of trouble or had wild dreams of what you'd do if you ran the country, state, world. :)

The trouble is we grow up and stop recognizing or acknowledging our creative thoughts.
We try to fit in to avoid possible judgement, conflict and ridicule.
What would happen if you decided today to start acknowledging your clever unique self just as you are, if you decided to start listening to and pursuing some of those wild outlandish ideas you've been harboring and reflecting on in those quiet moments.. What if you decided today you were going to try your hand at something new, something scary, something you've always wanted to try or learn or do ... Go on .. Permission granted!
Live the life of your dreams (so long as those dreams don't harm anyone of course).

THE CAVE YOU FEAR TO ENTER HOLDS THE TREASURE YOU SEEK.

Don't wait till someday, someday comes too late.
Here's a secret .. There is no perfect time, there will always be obstacles, challenges and hiccups to overcome but you can do it... I always wanted someone to truly believe in me .. A parent to give me permission, to show me unconditional love and support.. Instead I grew up as what I term a pass the parcel child .. Nobody's true responsibility just a commodity passed from home to home with no stability and lots of well let's call them " challenges " that nobody should have to experience.
Even living in a lifeline bin, ( charity drop off bin for those who don't know ) at one stage, my life was certainly colorful but Jeez did I grow up fast and learn to rely on myself and discover strengths I probably wouldn't have if I'd had a loving family.
I've come to realize nobody is going to do those things for me.
I have to give myself permission, I have to believe in myself unconditionally, I have to be my biggest supporter.
I see so many people struggling with inner turmoil and doubt and I'd love to be the one to hold up the mirror to their beautiful uniqueness, their talents and amazing qualities.

I believe we all have to power and ability to shine and live passionate and creative lives.

What makes you doubt ?
What holds you back ?
What is your fear ?

What would help you overcome those limitations and are they mostly self imposed ?

If you don't believe in you right now that's ok because I do ... I'm sure many others do to.. Grant yourself permission or accept mine :)
Do something every week that challenges you or scares you ..something that leads you to grow and bloom into that amazing unique and wonderful person you are ( but hide or can't yet see )

We are all creative artist beings ..
I draw, sketch, paint,sculpt and do lots of arty expressive things because that's what makes me come alive.
Numbers or anything mathematical .. Eeeeek nope not my calling, but I have great admiration for those that can solve problems and equations and help me convert currency while traveling ;)

What is it that makes you come alive ?
What are your special talents and qualities ?

Write them down and look at them regularly ... There is no one out there like you, there are similarities but you are unique.
Embrace those amazing abilities and qualities and start taking steps toward living the abundantly happy creative and passionate life you are here for.

Feel free to share if you'd like and if ever you need a smile or friendly support or encouragement please feel free to talk to me on Pinterest Gypsy Mel or on Facebook.

Till next time take care and live Juicy.

For those following my 3months without sugar, I'm currently 5 days in and have had a few headaches on day 3 and cravings like mad on day 4 after some stressful news but I've stuck to my guns and am powering on :)

Keep you posted

Hugs Gypsy

My 3 Months without sugar .... Day 1 on the path to a cleaner healthier life.

My love hate relationship with sugar is about to brought to its knees as I'm
Starting my 3 months without sugar today.
I had an interesting childhood to say the least and as a part of that legacy I have a sugar attachment that needs to be brought under control.
I was apparently fed cream buns and jelly beans for most of my first two years on this earth, so much so that the lady that raised me from age two onwards had huge problems weaning me off it over the next few years as apparently it was the only thing that stopped me from crying or that I would eat.
I'm an emotional eater so when stressed or depressed I reach for my comfort food chocolate, ( ditched the lolly's for chocolate in my mid 20's).
Makes sense when I look back at it as I was seeking love in a troubled relationship at the time and they say it is a love substitute because eating chocolate makes you happy,it contains phenylephylamine - the same hormone the brain triggers when you fall in love.
No wonder we girls get addicted to the stuff.

Now don't get me wrong I don't smoke,I very rarely drink, ( a few times a year at most and even then I'm a cadburys girl, eg glass and a half and I'm giggly ), I'm quite healthy in my eating.. No chips or junk food other than the not quite occasional enough stress chocolates.
Ok there have been occasional KFC munchies but that's it. I'm just not a savory junk food /fast food girl.
I'm just very aware that the sugar I do consume is not good for me, a slow toxic poison that I really don't need in my life and that I don't think I really have under control.
So having watched a program on the longterm toxic nature and addictiveness of sugar on 60 mins here in Australia featuring renowned Australian TV and Magazine journalist Sarah Wilson and listening to her experience of quitting sugar and the subsequent book she wrote about it -
I QUIT SUGAR &
I QUIT SUGAR COOKBOOK both by Sarah Wilson.
I decided to try it myself that means no chocolates, no maple syrup on my cereal in the morning and no mochas in fact no coffee either ( herbal tea, water, milk and protein shakes from here on in ).
Most of all No packaged foods !
Just healthy fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry and fish with the odd steak for a treat.
There is so much hidden sugar in all our pre packaged foods that we don't even realize its there.
Here are just some of the names used for sugar added to processed and packaged foods:

Agave nectar
Barbados Sugar
Barley malt
Beet sugar
Blackstrap molasses
Brown sugar
Buttered syrup
Cane crystals
Cane juice crystals
Cane sugar
Caramel
Carob syrup
Castor sugar
Confectioner’s sugar
Corn syrup
Corn sweetener
Corn syrup solids
Crystalline fructose
Date sugar
Demerara Sugar
Dextrin
Dextran
Dextrose
Diastatic malt
Diatase
D-mannose
Evaporated cane juice
Ethyl maltol
Florida Chrystals
Free Flowing
Fructose
Fruit juice
Fruit juice concentrate
Galactose
Glucose Glucose solids
Golden sugar
Golden syrup
Granulated sugar
Grape sugar
Grape juice concentrate
HFCS
High-fructose corn Syrup
Honey
Icing sugar
Invert sugar
Lactose
Malt syrup
Maltodextrin
Maltose
Mannitol
Maple syrup
Molasses
Muscovado sugar
Organic raw sugar
Panocha
Powdered sugar
Raw sugar
Refiner’s syrup
Rice Syrup
Sorbitol
Sorghum syrup
Sucrose
Sugar
Syrup Syrup
Table sugar
Treacle
Turbinado sugar
Yellow sugar

Then there are the artificial substitutes:

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal)
Saccharin (Sweet'N Low, SugarTwin)
Acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One)
Sucralose (Splenda)

That's just an example of how we can unconsciously consume extra sugar in our diets without really knowing.

So what's my goal you may ask ?
Well first of all I'd like to see if I can and to see what if any effects I experience from cleaning up my nutrition and removing sugar from my life... A tricky breakup if ever there was one.. No comfort chocolate or Tim Tams Eeeeekkkk.
Being a very headstrong woman I know I will take up the challenge with gusto but what will I experience ?

Will there be weight loss ? (Few pesky last kilos we never seem to lose.)
Will I suffer withdrawals ?
Will my skin improve as suggested?
Will I feel more energetic and lighter in mood as has been another suggestion?
I think there can only be improvement by removing sugar from my diet even if temporarily (3 months).

I look forward to sharing my experiences as I progress through this sugarless journey and hmmm how will it effect my art ?
Can I sit at my favourite local coffee club and ignore all the tempting sweets , cakes and cookies oh my goodness I just remembered the cookies ... Noooooo hmm not to late to back out is it .. Ok no I'm strong I can have arty cafe time with herbal tea and and and well um ... Toast ? Eeeep this may be a bit of a struggle in the first few weeks as I adjust my habits but well worth it I'm sure.

If I start posting photos of ladies with lollipops in my paintings, sketches or photographs you'll know I'm struggling lol...
If anyone would like to join me on my sugarless journey please feel free to write to me and share your experiences I'd love company on this little test of wills. ;)

Wish me luck, much love and healthiness in life love and art
Gypsy Mel xo
















Also worth a look;
SWEET POISON,
WHY SUGAR MAKES US FAT &
THE SWEET POISON QUIT PLAN
All by David Gillespie

Sometimes I wonder

Sometimes I wonder do I have anything of importance to say, to share with the world in this online land. My friends think I do and are supportive and encouraging of me finding my voice on here,one dear and very sweet special friend recently accepted my unusual request to write on my toilet wall ...(yes I sketch on my wall and write quotes and musings on life)...well he took up the challenge and left me a wonderful message,he wrote "you are the bringer of joy", how beautiful is that. If I haven't said it before yes I am a little "Quirky & Unique",I think I always have been but have found it hard to let myself shine in my own special way, allowing other opinions and judgements to alter the way I express myself in public. Living down doesn't benefit anyone,least of all you but it also has a flow on effect on those around you...when you shine and stand up tall and true being the beautiful unique you,you unconsciously give permission to others to also stand up and shine. I want to live up to that title..."Bringer of Joy, seeker of light'n love". I want to trust and help others to trust in their own unique inner Wisdom and Intuition. I want to be and help others to be, the best versions of themselves they always dreamed of as children,teens,midlife mothers~fathers and others. When we thought anything was possible and life was there within our grasp to mould how we wanted. Oh where have those passions and bold dreams gone ? How I would love to be the sort of brave strong woman who could help others find their way again, rediscovering old passions and dreams left lying upon the someday~Maybe~I'll get round to it shelves we all have in our minds and our homes. To be someone people could look up to and who made a positive impact on others lives, Ive not ever really had the confidence to be that woman, I long for her and her carefee attitude complete with disney princess wardrobe and love life :) or rather more of a Nora Ephron strong female lead ;)...oh if life were so simple. Hey it was worth a try right ? giggle How serendipitous to recieve a message on Viber from my great mate Damo,"your blog is going to be wonderful n things n stuff because you are amazingly talented and passionate about art, creativity and helping others to find their creativity and overcome the challenges of life. " Thanks Damien just what I needed to brighten my day. Well time to leave you out there in this blogosphere again but let me leave you with some thoughts to Ponder,Journal or to create on ........ *Make a beautiful Mess... *Listen to your heart... *Dare to be different.... *Escape reality... *Create the world you want to see... Until next time much Love and Juicy wild creative living XX Gypsy

My First Blog and Favourite artists to follow so far...

Well where does one start when beginning a new blog ? I'm rather new to this idea and though i consider myself to be kinda nerdy I'm still not up to date with the mulitiude of possibilities when it comes to blogs,fonts,adding photos etc esp as I'm still learning me new baby (Iliza IPad). So please bear with me in these first few months. :) I hope to be taking an online course from fabulous UK Blogger/author/online teacher and all round great gal and muse SUSANNAH CONWAY (susannnahconwway.com). Starting with her classes "Blogging from the heart"and "Photo Meditation's then I hoope to go onto her course "Unravelling- the E course". So stay tuned to see how I go and what wonderful new tips and tricks I leasrn from her. It must be a season of learning for me as I will also be signing up with the brilliant and effervescent JANE DAVENPORT from beautiful Byron Bay, here in Australia. Jane is one of my all time favourite artists and teaches her style of illustration and journallngg in such a fun and easy to follow way, helping you discover your own inner artist and muse. ( www.janedavenport.com ) Jane is an award winning international artist and photographer,(her macro insects and still life shots are uber incredible),her jaunty elegant and sometimes quirky girls all have such individual personalities and emotions coming through. First up im joining her "Draw Happy" happy revolution where as Jane says we will leave the words "I cant draw in the dust". (sounds good to me) And at only $35.00 Australian dollars how can you go wrong. Then onto her famous "supplies me" course where Jane shows us her secret art supply favourites and how best to use them...are you addicted to art supplies but not quite sure what to do with them all...what is Gesso and why do I need it ? and how do i create fabulous mixed media art ? Janes class answers all this and more in a fun online self guided study group on private network with feedback from Jane herself. Well thats all from me for now, I look forward to chatting again soon in the meantime please go have a wander around those two art diva's websites and fall in love with them as I have. Big live juicy hugs, Gyspy Mel xoox