After a while...

I stumbled upon an inspiring blog a few months back by a beautiful and creative mind and soul. Her name is Aida Azlin and you can find her at aidaazlin.com she always has something to say that touches my heart, just like this which I found on her site:

"After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul and you learn love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't always mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't always promises and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers and you learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong and you really do have worth and you learn. With every good-bye you learn"

Easter sunday!

Happy Easter! It's been over three months since I last posted and I can't think of a
better day than today to start writing again. Resurrection Sunday! I had a wonderful time at church with the family giving thanks and praises to our saviour Jesus for all that he has done and continues to do in our lifes. I am so thankful!
The last three months have somehow appeared to pass me by at lightning speed! Although I have not been as busy as the previous three months before these, I still feel that somehow they have been snatched away from me.
My start to this year has been a lot less directed but I really felt that I had to let go and stop trying to control every aspect of my life trying to fill it with things to do, people to see, courses to take and decisions to make! So after making a few hasty wrong turns last year I decided to just go with the flow of life and see where it takes me. To 'let God lead' me in my life's journey.
Although I have times of struggles and confusion there are also moments of clarity and joy. I'm choosing to focus on these and to stay positive and hopeful!

Love & Blessings

Charlene

Happy New Year 2011!!!

Another year is upon us and I pray that it will be filled with Gods grace and blessings!

Educating Charlene cont...

So, now I'm at the point where I'm having to write four assignments for one of my courses and to say its a bit of a struggle would be a huge understatement! I have quite a bit to do and I'm trying to stay optimistic and positive but my gosh is it hard! I know I can do this, I mean its hardly brain surgery! but I always struggle where written work is concerned, thankfully I always get it done in the end but not without some angst and fretting at the beginning, which is occuring right now! Thank the lord I have a few days of holiday off from work to focus and get everything done. I'm just praying I can hold it together and produce some really good work! X

Educating Charlene...

I said to myself at the beginning of the year, that this would be my year of learning and I'm so glad that I have stuck to this statement and started getting my life back into motion! I still have a long way to go but at least I have begun and set the wheels rolling. I'm so busy at the moment but It's so good to stretch yourself and see how much you are really capable of achieving in a limited space of time. Life is good! I'm giving thanks to God for each and every day! x

O.M.G!!!

O.M.Gosh!!! It's 2010 and this is my first post of the year, I feel so ashamed!
I'm really enjoying this year, I feel like I've learnt so much more in these past 7 months than I have in the last 4 or 5 years. I have a lot of catching up to do but I'm loving every minute!!!!

It's Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful day. Eat ,drink and be merry!!!

Carry on...

I've caught a bit of a cold from my little nieces. They are so lovely and sweet but both unwell with chest and ear infections.

On the creative front I've come to a bit of a stand still. I'm trying not to do what I always do and give up, thinking everything I've done is rubbish and useless, but it's hard!

I met up with Cristina today. Its always a pleasure to see C! she really inspires me and makes me feel that bit more optomistic than I felt before I'd seen her.

I just need to keep strong, carry on... and get rid of this cold!

Emotions...

The last couple of days have been quite emotional for various reasons. I've been thinking back over this and the previous year, a bit of a walk along memory lane really.

On the creative front I'm not giving up, and taking baby steps but none the less steps to get out the art work that is locked inside of me and kicking to get out in some form or another! One way that I relieve some of this is by singing. I don't yet, have the courage or inclination to let anyone hear me unless on the rare occassion I get to do a bit of karaoke. But I'm working on building my confidence in this area as I love to sing and enjoy how it makes me feel.

I have this wooden rubber stamp set which has various words, mostly in french relating to posting letters and parcels. At the moment I've been stamping onto air mail envelopes and postage tags that I have distressed by crushing and creasing them to create an old and used look to them. I love the whole nostalgic element of it all.
At a time when everyone is sending e-mails and text messages I love the old fashioned notion of this form of communication and the whole aesthetics of it all. You can't touch, hold or smell! an e-mail or text message, to me there is a lack of real emotion and connection to it all, unlike a handwritten letter which can contain so much more emotion and feeling.

Memory, nostalgia, touch and texture have always been strong and important factors in my work, they are like the DNA of it!

A couple of quotes:

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying". Michael Jordan

"victory belongs to the most persevering." Napoleon Bonaparte

Two weeks notice!

Again another year is almost over, how time seems to fly by. I hate looking back and thinking of time wasted and missed opportunities.

I have two weeks of time to myself! A friend said to me when I told him: 'two weeks away from this place is a beautiful thing'. It kind of stuck in my head.

I really need to tap back into my creative side, I know its still there because I have this restless energy, gnawing and nagging away at me to get it together and do something, anything but nothing.

I met a lovely woman last week who really gave me food for thought and was so inspiring!
So now I'm thinking that anything is better than nothing, a start is something and time waits for no man, or woman in my case!

A few quotes that I found this morning:

" The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it." W.M. Lewis

" We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough." Helen Keller

" The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." Allan K. Chalmers

Here's to new beginnings!

Just a slightly early happy new year's wish to everyone!! I hope 2009 is a happy, successful and enjoyable year to you all! x

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you are all having a wonderful time on this special day!

But lets try and remember the true meaning of christmas and spare a thought for the less fortunate out there who are not having such a great time. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone especially those experiencing hardships .x.

California Dreaming...

It's been a while since I've been back from my holiday and I've settled back pretty quickly into the hustle and bustle of london life, much to my surprise! The US was great and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go there. I'm hoping the next time I'll be visiting the big apple and doing some serious shopping, but considering the rising strength of the dollar and the pound rapidly losing its value maybe not so much spending and a bit more sight seeing. But either way I cant wait!

Before I forget, Las Vegas was great! We did a tiny bit of gambling, a lot of drinking and hardly any sleeping! It was such a laugh.

Disney Land was so much fun!! I really did not expect to enjoy myself so much! Some of the rides were a massive adrenalin rush and others had me laughing like a kid, it was all great.

Stay posted for the photos!

Leaving the U.S.A!

I can't believe my holiday to the U.S is almost over! I've had thirteen days of relaxation and fun! My suitcase is packed and we're almost ready to leave for LAX airport. I'm really not ready for cold, dark and dreary England but I'm sure I'll get used to it again in no time, it's the norm for us Brits unfortunatley! Well I'd better go as It would be such a shame if I missed my flight! I'll be back with all the info on Las Vegas and Disney Land and hopefully lots of photos! .x.

From Laguna Beach to Las Vegas!!!

Yesterday I was at Laguna Beach and I had a wonderful time! The sea was really cold so we only dipped our toes in, but climbed onto rocks and took lots of photos. The sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze but it wasn't hot or cold, it was just right, a lovely day to walk on a lovely beach. This evening we are driving down to Las Vegas! Its going to take about three hours to get there, I cant wait!! x

HOLLYWOOD!

Today I did some sightseeing! I saw the Hollywood Hills but I'm a bit disappointed that I did'nt get a good picture of it, as my camera zoom is not that great. we walked along Sunset Boulevard, saw the Hollywood stars names on the pavement, saw the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are held and also went to The Universal strip, which is just outside universal studios and has a load of shops and restaurants. Next destination: Disneyland!!! .x.

Greetings from the US!

I'm in the USA! Still cant believe I'm actually here, its great! I'm loving the sunshine, the american accents everything. Today I did a bit of shopping and tonight we're going to a halloween party. Unlike the UK the Americans make a very big deal out of it and I've seen loads of people dressed up and houses decorated too. When I get back I'll post some photos up! .x.

It's official!

I'm going to LA!! tickets booked and everything! I'm so looking forward to having a holiday, relaxing, thinking, no everyday stresses and worries. Just having some well earnt fun! x

USA??!!

I'm starting to get a bit excited as I might be going abroad! For some reason, since I was younger I've always wanted to go to America and now, twenty odd years later looks like I might just get the chance! I'll keep you posted! x

I'm still here!

Ok... so its been a while but I'm still here! I've recently turned another year older, got a new job taken up a few new hobbies... but there is still more I want and need to do! Maybe I'll take a holiday on my own in the next couple of weeks??? I dont know, not sure if I'm ready to venture abroad on my own yet but I'll keep you posted and hopefully it wont take me another 9months!! x