Happy Winter Solstice everyone!

I have no idea where this came from as a friend passed it on to me on Facebook....so if anyone knows the originator, please let me know and I'll give it full credit plus any links to their websites etc.

Since writing the above I've done a little research and found out that the poem was written by Isha Arrow-Hawk and this link will take you to the poem. As to who she actually is.....well that still remains a mystery :o)

Sadly, I've just finished designing my cards for this year, but I must keep this in mind for next year.
-

Yuletide Cheer

The chill breath of winter touches us,
As blankets of snow cover the ground.
With the glow of moonlight upon them,...
Its like diamond sparkles all around

Inside the room is cozy and warm,
The scent of evergreen wafts from the fire.
Surrounded with love and family,
I've got all that I could desire.

Sleigh bells jingle from the front porch,
As my coveners decorate outside.
They've no need of blankets
,They have the warmth of love inside.

In my home we all gather round,
And with Pagan carols our voices ring.
Then we settle down to enjoy the tale,
Of the Oaken Lord and the Holly King.

For our holiday is quite different,
Than the covan Christmas night.
We cast our Circle, join together,
And welcome the return of Light.

Then we sit and share the feast,
As we pass bread and wine around.
As blessings from mingled voices..."
Never hunger," "Never thirst" abound.

All too soon the rite is ended,
And we greet the newborn day.
As we clasp hands together,
This wish we send your way....

It's no matter your tradition,
Be you family, friend, or guest.
We wish you joy and peace,
And may your Yule be Blessed!!

However, as a solitary, I'll omit the coven bit I think :o)

Happy Winter Solstice everyone!

Family Matters!

Steve was right! If I had known that within 2 weeks, I was going to strip and decorate a 3 bedroomed house, complete loads of DIY jobs, carpet rooms and move a 3 bedroomed house into another one, especially at our busiest time of the year, I probably would have had an anxiety attack!

My son, daughter-in-law and 20 month old Daisy needed a bigger house in a better location before her baby brother is born in February and as luck would have it, the perfect house became available.

Sadly the house had belonged to a husband and alcoholic wife and was badly neglected and in serious need of some TLC. Apart from the superficial spruce up, there were lots of other jobs to do and it needed to be done before they moved in. My little Grand-daughter came 5 and half weeks early and I was keen for her not to worry and have that blood pressure raised.

Me and my son decorated (which I LOVE!) and Steve built fireplaces and helped where he could. He'd booked a million Craft Fairs which couldn't be cancelled, but he was a great stabiliser when things went wrong. Thankfully, he's laid back and not easily stressed.

The painting was finished in 10 days flat and the wonderful, huge garden which looks out onto fields can wait till the spring.

Last weekend we moved them in. Saturday was set aside for the boxes which we were to move with the cars and then a van and friend were to turn up on the Sunday for the bigger stuff. Unfortunately, the van didn't materialise, through no fault of the driver....so we decided, totally unfazed, to move what we could in 2 Renault Scenics. Thankfully, we had bought my brothers old Scenic as a second car to the Smart Roadster to use for Craft and Wedding Fairs. Can you believe that we moved everything.....and I mean EVERYTHING... 6' fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, cooker and even a double bed in these cars? AMAZING!

The family are happily moved in. Daisy loves her Peppa Pig Bedroom, there's a wonderful Sycamore and Silver Birch in the back garden and the birds are singing. Mo dramas, mo nervous breakdowns and a huge bucket of achievement.....all is well with the world :o)

Take Time To Create Something Every Day

There's nothing so satisfying as creating something....

something from scratch

Whether this act involves making art, crafting, baking a cake, planting seeds, gardening, needlework.....the fact that something is born out of nothing is satisfying in itself.

And, if you are stuck for inspiration, you need look no further

this link will take you to 1001 Simple Gift Tutorials!

In the meantime, I'm batting on with my colourful doodle pieces!

Did you make some time to create something today?

Creative blessings,

Sue x

Take Time To Dream

Take time to dream....

It's Monday again.....already. And some of us are left wondering where the weekend went. Time seems to fly past so quickly these days! Is it any wonder we get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life and it's many challenges.

One of the hardest things for any creative person is finding time. Spare time. Time to just let the mind wander and dream up new ideas.

My Doodle Art pieces were started as a way of relaxing and not focusing on finished, traditional pieces of work that would amount to anything in particular....but I have to admit that they seem to have taken over!

Perhaps that's a good thing....in fact, I'll go as far as to say, it's a brilliant thing! The pressure is off, I'm having a great time and above all and quite unexpectedly they are proving to be a huge success.

Many years ago I read the book Creative Visualisation by Shakti Gawain. A book that taught me how to meditate and visualise, long before I did the Buddhist meditation courses. Creative Visualization teaches readers how to use their imaginations to manifest their deepest desires.

Taking time to dream, even if it's only 15 minutes a day, can make a huge difference in the way you see things and how they manifest in your daily life. This book was written and published long before the secret and it's my guess that 'The Secret' was born from Creative Visualisation.

I suggest this is a book no Creative Person should be without and you will find yourself coming back to it over and over again.

So, why not start now....and Take Time To Dream?

What do you DREAM about?

NEVER give up!

NEVER give up,

never GIVE up,

Never give UP!

Winston Churchill

Probably one of my most favourite quotations!

We've all been there haven't we. At times carrying on seems a struggle too far.

An idea you have been working on

seems to be going nowhere fast.

Life's pace seems to be quickening up

rather than slowing down.

demands on us feel too heavy.

People are demanding 
more and more out of you

and you feel squeezed and pressured.

We have many reasons 
for wanting to 'Give Up'

Ironically and strange though it may seem, these are the very times when you must NOT give up. It's during these times when we learn and grow the most and where ideas and solutions come thick and fast.



When under pressure or stress it can be difficult to see clearly, often referred to as not being able to see the wood for the trees......and no wonder.....the forest in it's thickest can be a dark and threatening place.

Sometimes it helps to distance yourself from a problem. Take a walk in nature, play some music, do something different and shift your focus. It's amazing how stepping away often helps clear the mind of that cotton wool feeling. Just DO whatever it takes.....whatever works for you....


Giving up means never trying again. Admitting you are beaten! And nothing will knock your self esteem more.

Take time off.....
or time out, yes....
but NEVER give up!

This may be your moment for a miracle!

AND.....if you are STILL considering quitting....read this first:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won if he'd stuck it out.

Don't give up, though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup,

And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are -

It may be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Author Unknown

Honest Blogger Award!

So What is The Honest Blogger Award?

Yesterday was 'One of THOSE days!'. I woke after yet another sleepless night and one where when I did sleep I had nightmares. Such terrible nightmares (thank you menopause!). Now I've never been prone to bad dreams, so this is all new to me....and to be perfectly honest they bother me in my waking life....A LOT!

Now, whether all this was the reason, whether it is the forthcoming winter, whether the full moon, planetary fights or just plain mental torture from a past relationship (long since gone) is the reason I have no idea and for once I really can't be bothered to psychoanalyse it either. I just want the dreams to stop and my life to stay on track.

I hate change....change of any sort disturbs me. Why I have no idea. Finally being in a stable relationship with a guy who is so balanced he should be a set of scales, certainly helps and he's great for being supportive and putting things into perspective.

Now, I wasn't going to blog about this. I really prefer to keep things to myself these days. Only those closest to me would know there was anything wrong. I wear my heart on my sleeve and have never been good at hiding things. I think this comes from the good parenting taught as a child that to be honest was the most important thing.

I say I wasn't going to blog about this, especially since I am trying to write articles to boost people up...I mean, what use is a mentor that can't help herself? But, I need to come clean on this and reading a few other peoples blogs it seems that they had a bad day to! And I got to thinking if they can be honest and come right out with it....then I owe it to them to do the same.....instead of commenting in the shadows and writing all sugar coated blog posts as if life is a dream and my life is just perfect.

I had no reason to feel down. I wanted to cry, I wanted to shut up the studio and never return...I mean, who wants this stuff anyway? I create my little heart out, I'd love to take an income from, what sometimes feels like my own madness....that's all. I don't expect to make a fortune and be able to retire in 3 years time. But sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder why I bother. Why was I not born 'normal' someone who could actually earn a living from a conventional job and be satisfied with my lot?

Thoughts of

whats the use?

Why bother?

Who cares?

Why am I doing this?

One thing is for sure....when I'm 'on one' or should that be 'In one', NOTHING will drag me away from it. I just have to ride the storm and see it through. Ironically, probably going to bed would probably solve the issue.....but at the studio this is not an option.

Today I feel ok!....Yes I'd like to put it down to the weather.....but the weather is the same..... bleak, dull, wet, dreary day it was yesterday....so why the change?

Ah yes....Menopause.....often called THE CHANGE....and as I said earlier...I HATE CHANGE!

So for now, I have spilled. All illusions of me being some sort of Guru have been dispelled.....but at least I have been honest, and that's why I created The Honest Blogger Award.

NOW... I am going to offer this award to the people who made me strong enough today to speak out loud and share my dark side....after all.....we are only human! And without the down days, how would we celebrate and enjoy the good. Without the rain, would we really enjoy the sunshine?

So for Kim Tillier at Witchmountain

and Thinking Too Hard.

I should also mention the wonderful Scarlelt Blue here for her most hilarious posts I offer you and all other honest bloggers out there

The Honest Blogger Award.

Please feel free to add this emblem to your blog or pass it on, in celebration of all those non sugar coated posts, that make us humans feel more human.

REMEMBER: Nothing last forever.....and tomorrow is another day xxx

This Time Of Year

Steve and I probably had as good a time as all the kids that came to the door at Halloween.... and he proved he's not opposed to dressing up either. Mind you, I should have known that through his rock band days...

The Witch as usual loved dressing as he alter-ego and Morag (top left) joined in the celebrations, as she does every year....in fact she's a permanent fixture in the Pixies home. And I'm sure you'll agree, Steve made a great Gandalf and didn't even need a mask...


The change comes thick and fast this time of year. I love the colours of Autumn, which make great inspiration for art. The last of the hot colours will soon fade to a murky brown and grey. Winter is definitely not my favourite season....in fact I just about manage to 'Get through it' having suffered from S.A.D. for years. At best I tolerate it and try to focus on Spring.

And then there's bonfire night. Last year Daisy was only 9 months old and a little bit oblivious to what was going on. We were wondering how she would cope. But after the initial first bang.....she loved it!

However, the attention span for watching the fireworks was short lived as she had heard the music blasting out from the live radio show. Her and her little friend Erin were then more interested in disco danging.....oh blimey....hard to believe that in only 16 or so years away, we'll be watching her like a hawk and telling her that she's not going out clubbing 'dressed like that!'. Then it will be her dads time to worry.....as I did with him :o)

The years pass so quickly!

It's THAT time of year again....where we reflect on the year past and make plans for the year ahead. All the harvest crops of seeds we sowed have been gathered and it's time to look ahead and make new plans and sow new seeds....this year will be over far too soon.

I've planted over 100 bulbs already, in anticipation of the Spring. It's important for me to get through the S.A.D. and have something to look forward to.

Just 2 weeks before Daisy's second birthday, we expect a new addition to the family.....this time a boy. A baby brother for Daisy and another Grandchild for us......well that's definitely worth looking forward to :o)

Have you made new plans for the coming year?

Go A Little *WILD* Sometimes!

It doesn't matter who we are, how much money we have or where we live....there are times when life can get a little stressful and fraught and it's hard to see life in a positive way.
I'm fortunate that I belong to quite a large bunch of friends that are not afraid to 'Go A Little Wild Sometimes'. Playful antics can turn into grown up nuttiness all with very little encouragement! I call these friends my 'Child Spirits'. We have sledged down hills, made life sized potato guns, rolled down the same hills and generally connected with out child within....much to the disgust and embarrassment of our off spring!

I wonder when we decide that we are too old to 'act' like that? While children we are often told to 'Grow up' and 'Act our age'....like hell I say!

Welcome to the world of adulthood.....over my dead body!

Having Grandchildren is certainly a bonus. It gives you a chance to show them what fun life can be. I love having Daisy around and I'm sure she thinks Grandma is quite mad....but oh how she loves to do daft dancing with Grandma and I can wait to take her camping with us...into Grandma's magic tepee of course.

Just the other day I showed her how high Grandma could go on the swings and I could tell she was impressed. My younger brother has video evidence to prove this....apparently. (I thought he was taking photos!). AND I even got my sister-in-law to join in too. I can't quite remember the ground been quite that far away as a child though :o)

The other mothers watched in amazement at my athletic feat!....or was that disgust? I'm not very good at being paranoid.

Thankfully, this Pixie has no shame, no embarrassment and no boundaries when it comes to the child spirit that wants to come out to play....especially when times are rough. I'm sure it's my built in coping mechanism.

Anyway, put on that loud and funky music (Daisy recommends Lady Ga Ga), lock the doors, close the curtains and GO A LITTLE WILD SOMETIMES.....you may be very glad you did!

With love and creative blessings,

Sue xxx

PS: Can I just add, that no child were ever hurt during the hill rolling incidents (no names mentioned!).....however there was a slight mishap with a bed of nettles once....Health and Safety would be mortified! :o)

MOO Business Cards Rock! - 10% OFF link!

They arrived....and I'm delighted with them!

Let's face it business cards can be a little bit boring,

these cards are wonderful for showing off your work.

Someone even tried to buy one off me thinking they were for sale!

The box they come in doubles as a display stand too.

So easy to transport around.




The photos I added were of a mixture of both formal calligraphy

and contemporary Lettering Art



My cards, snippets of work and concertina books.....

Little vignettes of work and full pieces....

But the backs of the cards are all the same. I added both my Inspired by Script and my North Yorkshire Weddings websites,

facebook page, my Etsy Shop, and full contact details

And some I created with pictures just for my Wedding Stationery.

Here's the full collection. Definitely an attention grabber :o)

If you would like to get cards or stickers of your own,

visit the MOO Website where you will get

many more inspirational ideas!

Can I just say here....If you are needing some business cards, don't even think of going to Vista Print, their sales pitch stinks, their card is inferior and cheap and as for the 100 card for £5....maybe so, but they whack up the postage costs! If you want cheap cards make them yourself on the PC.....they will probably look better. There are plenty of templates on Publisher and the like.

IF HOWEVER you want your cards to represent your work

and make an impression of the care,

quality and preciousness of your work....

Go to MOO! You will be pleased with the outcome :o)

Can I just say, I made these cards before I started on the Motivational Doodle phase and I can't wait to order some more with my NEW work on!

Click this personal friend link and get 10% Discount!

Shoot For The Moon

Shoot For The Moon,

Even If You Miss,

You'll Land Among The Stars

Les Brown

I love this quote. If I've done it once I've done it a thousand times.....well, ok, so I exaggerate a little. But I have written this a LOT of times!
How often we aim low, so as to avoid disappointment, as a result of fear of failure and because we don't Believe in ourselves.


Sometimes the fears lie deep inside us and can even come from way back in our childhoods. We must look at these fears....Is it not better to take a risk and fail, than never try at all. What's the worst that can happen?



But wait one minute....what if it succeeds? There's a 50/50 chance that you will win. Surely it's worth a gamble, providing it's not life or death that is :o)

Everything we do in life involves some risk. Sometimes you will win and sometimes you will not. I hate the word FAIL, I think it should be banished from the dictionary.....FOREVER! In my book there is no such thing as FAIL....for what's a failure anyway? Something that wasn't as successful as you or maybe someone else believed it SHOULD have been...there's another word I cannot stand 'Should'....SHOULD means 'COULD!'.

Think about it.

Someone says:

You SHOULD put that over there,

You SHOULD try it this way,

you SHOULD have handled it better,

You SHOULD....Need I go on?

You Answer:

Yes I COULD have put it over there,

Yes I COULD try it that way,

Yes I COULD have handled it differently,

Yes I COULD!!!

But I chose to do it MY way!

And better I aimed at the moon,

and landed among the stars,

than never even got off the ground!

SHOULD is telling someone what to do.

COULD is suggesting a solution.

The decision is up to them/you.

So let's eradicate FAIL and SHOULD

and turn them into WIN and COULD

Care to join me?

If you find this post interesting, encouraging or think it would be of value to someone else right now, please share using the share links below.

Feel free to add your comments
or share your wisdom on this topic
by clicking the 'comment' button below,
alternatively feel free to comment on my Facebook page.

Thank you and Creative Blessings,

Sue x

Items featured on my blog can be found in my Etsy Shop

Start Small, Think Big!

Welcome to the first in what I hope will be a long series of Motivational posts, aimed at artists and creators, makers and shakers of all kinds....but I'm sure others will get value from these posts too.

Four very powerful words,
to get you started when you feel stuck

START: It doesn't matter, how, what, why or where....the operative thing here is to start. Start right now. There are no wrong ways and You are the only barrier to starting.

SMALL: There's nothing wrong with small. Everything, even in nature starts small. From little acorns do great oak trees grow. Small keeps us grounded and less fearful of taking huge risks. It gives us the courage to at least 'have a go'.

START SMALL: There's nothing wrong with starting small. Most companies and big ideas start small. Starting big would be foolish....better by far to take baby steps and feel your way through.

THINK: Never underestimate your thinking time. Thinking encourages planning and vision. Without thinking nothing would get done. Thinking brings about your creative side. But be careful not to think too much and talk yourself out of it!

BIG: Now, here's a word. Big is your focus and vision. It's where you would like to be....sometime in the future. Where the particular road you are travelling down could end up. Stay focused on that vision.

THINK BIG: Oh yes! Definitely THINK BIG! If you think big thoughts and dream big dreams you never know where you will end up.

The art of Start Small, Think Big

Start very simply.

On a piece of paper rule 3 columns.

At the head of the columns write Short,

Medium and Long Term Goals.

SHORT TERM: The immediate problem, idea or focus. The 'Getting Started' bit.

MEDIUM TERM: Give yourself a year. Decided where you want to be after one year is up....again, commit to your sub conscious mind by writing this down.

LONG TERM: This can be any time scale. I tend to look as long term at around 3 years. By setting the long term goals and looking at the short term ones, things will become clearer as to how to get from A-C....The B section (Medium term) will give you your plan of action.

Above all never forget these 4 powerful words:

START SMALL, THINK BIG

If you find this post interesting, encouraging or think it would be of value to someone else right now, please share using the share links below.

Feel free to add your comments

or share your wisdom on this topic

by clicking the 'comment' button below,

alternatively feel free to comment on my Facebook page.

Thank you and Creative Blessings,

Sue x

If you would like this quote in print form:

click on this link to my Etsy Shop :o)

Some hand made books

As most of you know, making books is a great passion of mine. Before I leave for the weekend I thought I would share a couple of the books I’ve made in the past….so here they are.


Above - The first page of a book before the calligraphy which will read 'Two hearts connected by one thread
The front page has a pastel heart wit little triangle windows cut out of the corners.


Page 2 of the same book has a cut out heart. Page 3 and 4 also have cut out hearts and a gold thread is sewn from page 1 to 4 making sense of the quotation.


And an Egg Box Book....Very simple and effective


A close up of the book

Squares of paper folded into 4 and then folded the opposite way to form a type of cup that are then glued back to back and concertina up when they are closed.

This post is from waaaaay back and I found it in my Drafts box when I was having a good clear out of the last 5 years of my posts.
I will, sometimes soon give full details and instructions on making thus book, Stay tuned and happy creating :o)

Journal Keeping for Calligraphers, Artists and Oth...

While looking over old posts.....wondering what to keep and what to discard....I came across this, which I think is worth reposting. Click on the hyperlink to read the whole post and see some pictures.....
The Creative Spirit: Journal Keeping for Calligraphers, Artists and Oth...: Ideas come and go. Inspiration strikes at the most inopportune moments. Keeping a journal is a purely personal matter, but journals can take...

It's not a hot flush.....it's the sparks that are flying!

Well, what can I say! I've been thinking a lot recently about the menopause and why is should be called 'The Change'.
there's one helluva lot of synchronicity happening around me right now and we must learn to go with the flow.
this blog is about to undergo MAJOR changes....driven on by many factors, but mainly a deep need inside to make it somewhere for people to come and

BE Inspired, BE Motivated and BE Creative!

I've been working on many projects and the universe has given me a good hard shove in a direction that I have procrastinated about for years.

It's all about working to your strengths.

Where this started and how this come about is any ones guess. I've tried to work back on a time-line to pin point the exact moment when this 'Change' happened in me....but I can't! That's another symptom of the menopause.....FORGETFULNESS!

At the moment I'm working on mini-art pieces....quite unlike the formal calligraphy I have been taught. Driven on by my dear friend Melissa Dinwiddie and her idea of creating some art EVERY DAY. Melissa herself has been though some big changes too, you can read all about her on her blog.

Reading and connecting with her has probably been the catalyst for the biggest changes in me and what I am doing at the moment.....but there are others who have been a big part of this synchronicity, energy shift, universe kicking up the arse thing that's happened to me and I'll write about then very soon.

For now, the blog needs a revamp. BIG TIME revamp and it's all in hand. Articles are being written and the old posts, no longer relevant are being removed.

I did wonder whether to start a new blog and delete this one altogether, but I have many followers both on Blogger, Email and Facebook it would be a shame to loose them.....beside which....I LOVE the name and it very fitting for my new blog.

Am I excited?

Oh YES, I most certainly AM!

I will be back very soon....in the meantime.....

BE Inspired,

BE Motivated and most of all

BE creative!

While I busy myself in the background

and make those changes....

MENOPAUSE ROCKS!

It's not a hot flush.....it's the sparks that are flying!

Did anyone else feel this way when they hit menopause?

you hear so many bad things about this stage of life....I'm interested in hearing YOUR story....either leave a comment, write on your blog and leave a link in my comments box or email me inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk

I'd love to hear others exciting experiences

TRUST ME GIRLS....It's not all bad! :o)

Bright, hot blessings,

Sue x

Inspired by Script on FLICKR

Just a quick post.....
Here's the link to my FLICKR PAGE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30445846@N06/
Sadly, adding it to my side bar just didn't work.....
so make sure you bookmark it won't you?
Enjoy! :o)

We're off to a Wedding.....

We're off to a Wedding..... and it's a chance to be girly! :o)
Although Ian is my late husbands cousin, he was only 6 when I got married and around 7 and 1/2 when I had my son, so he's more like a nephew than a cousin.

I've done the Invites, Table Names, Seating Plan and Place Cards as their present....and as an extra surprise I've made them a Wedding Post Box.

Their theme was Ivy....

And the colour was green....

The lettering was foiled in silver to give it some pizazz...

And here's a close up of the cut-out Ivy....

It's a great chance to meet up

with the 'other side' of the family....

some of which I haven't seen

since my own wedding 32 years ago.

Doesn't time fly?

Now.....if I can only stop fighting

with my fascinator,we'll be on our way!

UPDATE: Realised it wasn't a good idea posting this as we were about to leave the house unattended all day.....well you never know who's reading this blog. So, I'm posting it AFTER the event.....and a good time was had by all. Great to see the family, although sad that their numbers have now dwindled drastically since my own wedding 32 years ago, but wonderful to see, that although we may have matured in age....the years simply fell away as we reminisced about times gone by.

Although many are no longer with us, they were definitely alive and well today.

Proud Grandmother? You bet the hell I am :o)

I've removed the video as it's slowing up my page so much....but here's the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZTt1gPA9ds&feature=player_embedded

The great news is that Daisy Doodles is going to have a baby Brother....due 2 weeks before her second birthday and Grandma and Gramps are sooooo looking forward to having another little, happy soul to spoil and play with :o)

Mini-Doodles....more Doodle Fun!

Inspired by Script: Mini-Doodles....more Doodle Fun!: After posting about these doodles I thought I would also share some mini doodles in the hope that it would spur others on to have a go. ....to see more of this post click HERE

Believe in Yourself

And here's another little colour, affirmation doodle, to serve as a gentle reminder to:

Believe in Yourself

This is probably one of the hardest things to learn. I remember from way back, reading a book on Self Awareness, when I was told that it's far easier to remember the bad things people say about us than the good.

No wonder then, as adults the difficulty and struggle we have with this one. At times you may feel it's rather arrogant to 'Believe In Yourself'......But wait a moment....if you have no belief in yourself it's very unlikely anyone else will believe in you too.

Damaged self esteem can take years to repair. Starting is that hardest thing.....but once you do, you will find that it makes such a difference, you will never want to go back.

Start by making a list of all the things you are good at. However small you think that achievement is. Add to it daily....very soon you will build a list bigger than you ever thought possible.

Read this list on a daily basis. Repeat the list starting with the words:

I am good at.......
I am great at......
I am successful at......
I am brilliant at......

It will be hard at first....but once over the initial self doubt you will find that these daily affirmations will become more and more powerful and heal those long and deep ingrained beliefs.

REMEMBER TO: Stop judging yourself and being so harsh on your soul....treat it as a little child who lives within.
You would not speak to others the way you speak to that child within now would you? So make it your mission to STOP right now and pull yourself up when you catch yourself doing it.

You will exchange the negative destructive beliefs for positive creative beliefs and YOU WILL notice a difference.

Repeat after me (and shout this out loud)

I BELIEVE IN MYSELF!

Give this a try and let me know how you get on :o)

Follow your Heart!

I don't mind admitting it....I've got the bug! The bug for these little doodles!
Planning a workshop is never easy. You have to think from start to finish or rather how you will get the students from learning a basic technique and then running it through to a finished item.

People have different levels of experience and learn at different rates. The advanced students have to be held back, while the beginner students seem sometimes to be fast tracked..

It was while I was preparing this lettering workshop, that I got the bug for these colourful doodles.

For the advanced students my fear is that they will find it.....shall we say 'Kitsch' while I worry that the beginners will not grasp that the playful lettering is a different thing altogether than the formal lettering they are used to. Contemporary calligraphy can only come from a solid foundation and with experience of of formal lettering....no matter how easy it looks.

After, writing and rewritings my class plan, I've decided to 'Follow My Heart' and run with this idea. It will not suit everybody and it will appeal to some more than others. However, I have decided to take my own advice for once.

By following your heart you can be sure of one thing, you are being true to yourself, and from this comes enthusiasm which hopefully you can pass on to your students

So often we hold back through fear. When the head takes over and all sense or reason flies out of the window and the seeds of doubt creep in. Don't let your head rule your decision making. Just go wit the flow and 'Follow Your Heart', your most basic core instinct!

How will you 'Follow Your Heart' today?