January Gratitude ... #GratitudeCircle #MicroblogMondays #MondayMusings #openslather

January has flown by so quickly. It's been a good month and there are many things to be grateful for.

This year I chose nice surprises as my words for the year. I am grateful for the many nice surprises that came my way. But that's a post for another day.

I am grateful for 4 weeks of rest and relaxation. I enjoyed my holidays though I did not go anywhere. It was good to chill at home with the family, good to laze around, wake up late, do some artwork and crafting, read, and watch TV. And it was also good to catch up with friends.

Grateful to my mother for knitting a baby cardigan for a workmate's new born baby. My mum is awesome at knitting. It's her hobby. She also knits for the hospital neo natal intensive care unit and donates her knitted work to them via our local community centre.

pattern my mum is knitting

still a work in progress but should be finished in a couple of days.

and here is the finished product

And last but not least, today I am grateful for the cooler weather. It has been so hot, we've been melting.

Hope your January has been awesome. Share some of your special moments.

Linking to:
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#MicroblogMondays
#MondayMusings
#openslather


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Like A Cat ... #PASC0118 #MicroblogMondays #MondayMusings #FridayReflections

2017 went by so fast. I had to face many challenges and my creative interests took a back seat.

This year I hope I will not be missing out on these.  I am also hoping to take part in some arts and crafts challenges and to start off here is the first one:

This is the pick a stick ATC challenge for January 2018 hosted by Shel C. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Mk4CqFkBg for details. This is the first time I'm taking part in an art / crafts challenge.

Steps to create the ATC (artist trading card)
1. grimy
2. cat
3. pad
wildcard: curl
colour: white

So here goes:

Step 0 - prepared the background using gelatos and glad (plastic) wrap.

This is a technique I enjoy doing.

Step 1: added some paint to make it look a little grimy                    

Step 2: drew the cat - a challenge but it didn't turn out too bad      

Step 3a: added the frond as curls. didn't turn out as I wanted but ..

Step 3b: inked the borders with a blue ink pad

Final step: add some text                                 

colour white - frond and the labels                  

"Tread softly like a cat" is something I tell myself each day when I am walking around at work. Some people walk around so noisily It also reminds me of my karate days when my instructor would say to us - land softly like a cat.

Hope you enjoyed this.

Have an awesome week.

Linking to:
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#FridayReflections prompt "missing"


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Nice Surprises #WOTY #MicroblogMonday #MondayMusings

Usually by the end of the year a word just pops into my head that I take as my word for the next year.

No such luck this time. I tossed up many words but they did not resonate.

Then while reading a post and commenting, the words Nice Surprises popped in. So this year instead of a word I am going for a phrase.

Nice Surprises has a positive ring to it and a bit of mystery too.  I didn't want to put any boundaries to my word as I know words are powerful. My word for 2017 Andante certainly proved to be true. My blogging was at Andante pace and I regret that. But Nice Surprises feels open and boundless.

So I am looking forward to the Nice Surprises coming my way and hope that you will have some Nice Surprises too.

our Christmas surprises

If you've chosen a word or phrase, please share in the comments below. Or if you have written a post, leave your link in the comment and I'll drop by read yours.

On a side note I've been decluttering. And I hope that when I donate to the Salvation Army, someone else will get a Nice Surprise too.  Check out my decluttering post on my photo blog.

Have a wonderful week.

Written for:
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#MicroblogMonday
#OpenSlather

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2018 Is Here At Last ... #MondayMusings #MicroblogMondays

2017 is finally over. Thank goodness.

The year was a mixed bag for me, some memorable moments and many challenges. I am glad to see the end of it and looking forward to 2018.

At the start of the year I chose the word Andante and blogging certainly and unfortunately went at the andante pace which I regret.  Words are so powerful.

So do I have a word for 2018?  Haven't decided on one yet but tossing up a few ideas ... write, achieve, create, learn, enjoy, fun ... will see if anything else unfolds or if one of these jumps out at me.

Have you chosen a word or have some new year resolutions? Please share and tell me a little about it.

Wish you all a fun filled 2018. Happy New Year

Auckland Sky Tower - 1 Jan 2018

Written for:
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