One has to be oneself...

The creative person not only respects the irrational in himself, but courts the most promising source of novelty in his own thought...

The creative person is both more primitive and more cultured, more destructive and more constructive, crazier and saner, than the average person...

Frank Barron

Could this explain my equal attraction to mud and finery?

I had never considered myself creative, or not creative. I have always been, just me. But I stumbled upon Mr Barron today and, to my utmost surprise, recognised myself...

Yet surely I am the average person. For that is what I've always considered myself to be...

It's Wishcasting Wednesday and Jamie asks us, "How do you wish to Shine?"

So I answer, "Jamie, I just want to shine at being myself. Hopefully, one day that will be enough to offer some glimmer of light to any soul that stumbles across my path." Sounds trite - but it's true.

My blue shutter has received it's final touches. Thank you all for your suggestions...
Egmont, the artist within you has left his mark there... A heartfelt Merci!

And Julie... for my award that helps me to shine,

and your wonderfully creative interpretations of my work!

 Je te remercie infiniment aussi!!

What's your type (face)??

I couldn't help it, I promise. I was planning on writing something inspiring. But, faced with a blank page, I couldn't resist a quick peek first at some other blogs to see what was going on today and I found this quirky test from Pentagram, over at How About Orange? (love that name)

It's not so much that I have an addiction to quizzes. I don't even really like doing the magazine ones on the beach in summer - rather be in swimming! No - it's my unbridled attraction to letters, in keeping with my extreme calligraphic tendencies that piqued my interest in this psychiatrist's analysis of my ...type! 

I'm meant to be a Dot Matrix by the way - but a slip of the mouse made me answer a question wrong and now I'm not sure what TYPE I am ;-) You can only play your answers once and if you try a second time, you are gently reminded that you will become confused about what type you really are if you replay.

That suits me! I need to be all types to suit all those inspirational words that accompany me round in my head! 

What type are you? Dying to know ;-)

Ange

PS - password 'character'

Oh Happy Day!

Jackie at the very London chic blog HOME nominated me for this award the other day! Now awards are a bit of a pass the parcel affair and not always welcomed by bloggers far and wide. But I must tell you that I quite like them (at a rate of one or two per year max!!), for the following reasons: They give us a chance to get to the essential of who we are, tell a few secrets and reveal a little more about the person behind the writing. And for me, they give me a creative challenge. What in heaven's name am I going to write about? Goodness, now I have a theme, how do I approach it and how does it fit in with me and the essence of what I am trying to communicate? And this one is just up my alley I must admit.  So here we go for 10 things that all make me equally happy !

Being alive. I don't think there is one day in my life that I have ever woken up without being full of gratitude for living (Although, nobody knows the trouble I've seen...). This is not due to any particular faith, other than the one that naturally bubbles out of me. I just can't help myself. It seems as natural as getting out of bed in the morning. And can be quite annoying I'm sure but I try not to be too chirpy all the time and let my joy out in my art instead.

Finding new ways of doing things. I love it when a new solution to a problem that has been niggling at me pops up out of the blue. You could call it 'Epiphany' happiness if you like and it runs from finding new ways to talk to my messmonsters through to accidentally discovering the hidden qualities in a calligraphy that I was thinking of ditching. Nothing is quite as rewarding as when the 'AHA' light goes on!

Having a bona fide project that I want to accomplish! I've been mulling over it for 2 years now and just having a project of my own, that is uniquely me, brings me intense happiness - whether I meet my goal or not. It's the journey towards it that brings the joy... Is it not the same for you? These wise words express it better than I ever could (Thankyou Serendipity for the quote):

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” 

santiz Patanjali quotes

Getting older! I am really enjoying not being a kid and having the confidence in myself that comes with approaching 40. I don't feel I have to justify my actions anymore, although I am currently making a bullet proof case for homeschooling my own children as the 'intuition' argument doesn't pass in France AT ALL. And "what will other people think?" is a question that belongs back in my 20s.

My messmonsters. I openly admit that children were not high on my list of things I particularly yearned for when I was younger and I felt, at 28 that I was still far too young to even entertain the thought. Then I had them. Every day since then they have been a source of happiness and wonderment for me. As much for who they are, all 3 individual characters, as for the source of daily challenge they provide to their parents! 

Change. Change makes me happy. When things don't change around me, I set about making them change: Country, job, house (no it wasn't me that took a match to the last one), furniture... husb...! To me nothing natural is eternally static, which means a certain amount of ...change. This means I have been known to paint the bathroom a bright shade on a whim because it hadn't changed in a while. Beaker used to leave the house in fear of what he would come back to. The landlord lives in eternal fear that I will calligraph on the walls in electric blue. I have of course reassured him that my rebellious streak and need for change is tempered both by a small element of common sense, a profound respect for other people's property, and a slight matter of good taste... But change definitely makes me happy.

Mud. I love mud. When I am adequately dressed for it of course. Splashing through a large, muddy puddle on my mountain bike is one of the most happy and exhilarating things I can do. It's a thumb your nose at convention way of saying I can be a 'pretty girl' and 'live' too! Mind you - a day spa mud bath is just as good for the soul as a tomboy, wind in your face, mud splashing mountain bike ride. I'm not picky! Both make me equally as happy ;-) 

Photo courtesy of Issy Aventure

Silent Solitude. Because it brings me peace. I never feel bored or alone in my own company. I get an excited sense of happiness when I am all alone in the silence of a house, or outside in a forest. It is the major reason we live in the country other than giving fresh air to the messmonsters. Solitude makes me happy as it brings me balance. I naturally love to be with people and have to force my self not to put other people first all the time. Solitude gives me the inner resources to spend the rest of my time enjoying the company of all my wonderful friends and family. Which brings me to the next point ;-)

Friends and Family. Well, even in her struggle for solitude, a woman is not a hermit! I am blessed with good friends and a family who cares and who I would do well to call more often. Unfortunately, with my tendency to be equally as happy in my own company as in other people's, I tend to forget to phone. Naughty girl.

GIVING. LIke Jackie, I too love to give. More than anything because I am happy making other people happy around me.  And to that end, with no further ado let me give you the winners of my 'give away.' The messmonsters had a great time picking the winners again. I do believe they are getting used to Mum's crazy blog addiction! Girls please stand up and make yourself known!

Sarah at Hyacinths for the Soul, 

Mme Photoblog, aka Elizabeth Avedon. 

And Mme Brismod at Fun and VJs! 

As much as giving makes me happy, I'm always left with a sense of disappointment after a competition in that I can't give something to everyone who participates. All I can say is, luckily I didn't have to choose a favourite quote from the pile or I would still be here deciding! 

I suggest, if you're looking for more Sunday secrets, you visit the Altered Page while I announce the wonderful bloggers I'm sending this HAPPY 101 award on to as a consolation prize. Their blogs are both inspiring and rich, and I personally would love to know 10 things that make each of them happy...

Lisa at The Wright Stuff

Meredith from Count it all Joy

Julie at Being Ruby (Because she sent my very first award to MOI!!)

Faerwillow at Serendipity

Sophia at Blue Chair Diary
Laura at 52 Flea
Leeann at Fabulously French
Kimberly at Mimi Charmante

There's another TOME finished, and now "It's goodnight from her, and it's goodnight from her!" - Once again!!

PS I am normal you know, other things like singing and dancing and eating out and sparkling all make me happy too... But I mean, I had to stop somewhere!!!

Si les hommes n'étaient qu'une bande de frères...

...il ferait si chaud qu'il n'y aurait plus d'hiver!

Par cette journée bien hivernale... 

...pendant que la neige tombe ...

... légère comme une plume...

... et froide comme un frisson...
Je prends le temps de contempler les belles cartes de voeux

fabriquées et offertes avec joie par mes camarades de classe

du cours de calligraphie à Colomiers.

Et quand j'aurai fini de les regarder avec tendresse...

...Ce sera à mon tour de faire une jolie carte de voeux
pour chacune de ses adorables femmes
qui m'apportent autant de chaleureuses attentions.

Et dehors, toujours la neige tombe...

Ce soir...le tirage au sort pour le giveaway

A Challenge of the Utmost Kind...

I love a good challenge don't you??

France has started its 1/2 yearly SALES.

But I am true to my word.

I SAID NO!! NO I WILL NOT GO!

Mind you, my favourite shop in Toulouse

has fair trade, hand sewn Cashmere...

STILL - NO!

there would be too much other temptation

For I have joined the

Dottie Angel Challenge of the UTMOST KIND

And, like Tiff, I shall not falter for 365 days.

Day 8 - so far so good!

Apart from food and essential items

I too have resolved to buy only products

made by hand or recycled for at least the next year!

Probably forever.

Mind you - does organic, hand picked food count too???

This is of course a guilt-free and very cheeky way

for me to SPLURGE in the vide greniers and brocantes

this coming spring.

And to support all those wonderfully crafty artists and creators out there!

And to remain resolutely CREATIVE.

(Anyone got a recipe for fabric ink? I have some fabric ideas brewing)

And heavens! Maybe I could even make a small impact on this beautiful Earth of ours!

Now Chickpea who is nearly 11, has sprouted like a bean

and I must get her some jeans.

As I have as much creative ability with a needle as a hippo,

I imagine I shall be hitting Etsy, Big Cartel...

and the thrift shops in the next few days!

In the mean time - don't forget I'm drawing the

 giveaway competition this evening.

6 little mitts will be delving into a big box to pull out 3 lucky papers

graced with inspiring words

There is still time until 7pm in Toulouse that is!

A tout à l'heure ...

Winter inspiration for a Wednesday

What inspires? For me, it's virtually everything I can hear, see, touch, smell or taste - at some time or other and depending on what I am tuned into. I guess that makes me like 90% of the world's population, or at least the world's artists.

For the moment Toulouse is having a rainy, grey winter which dims the natural light inside my little farm house at La Rivière, making painting and fine calligraphy work a tad more of a challenge.

That makes it the best time for 'bricolage' (sitting inside wiring up my lights, made from the bits and pieces of 'junk' I find through out the year), and lots of blogging READING!

Flicking through my numerous books of calligraphers from around the globe and drinking in their style, precision, compostion and colour, is one of my favourite rainy day activities aside from running or mountain biking ;-) This little bijou of a book is my most recent acquisition and a constant reminder for me to look more deeply into shape and shadow, form and counter form, and composition - my personal bête noire!

Click on the image above and you will see the lettering that forms the intricate, twig-like pattern more closely.  It reminds me of the bare winter branches of the oak trees that pepper our grounds.

Doesn't it make you feel peaceful and zen?

The photo below is the back cover of her book ... Sand (read BEACH), now that's an inspirational idea for these cold wintery days. Recreate with ink the spotty texture of sand patterns. Now - how can I recreate a bit of sunshine and warmth using nothing but some astutely arranged splashes of ink? I may have to study this book a bit longer for that so don't hold your collective breath - the best I can do is offer my customary splash of ORANGE!

Denise Lach is a well known European calligrapher (to those of us who love calligraphy at least ;-), and teacher of lettering design and screenprinting at the Basel School of Design. She has a sharp eye for rhythm and balance, especially in nature, that I would love to capture by some form of telepathic osmosis, as well as the amazing talent of being able to replicate it with inks and various types of tools including plastic forks, medicine droppers and cola pens, over and above the usual nibs and brushes. Practice Ange, practice!!

Go on - you want to know what a cola pen is don't you???

Well, once again it's past 1am and I should think seriously about taking my new wee book, available on Amazon, to the quiet confines of my feather doona. I'll be back later to add a piece on Wishcasting Wednesday and Change the World Wednesday!

I can just tell it's going to be an inspirational day!!

Hope yours is too!

Ange

P.S.Don't forget!

 I still have my 'inspirational giveaway' going on here until Jan 9th

when the lucky winners will be announced!

Trames et Empreintes ...

... Exposition de Calligraphie

de deux amies : ma prof de Calligraphie adorée, Anne Sacramento et Patricia Paillaugue une grande amie d'un talent énorme qu'il mériterait de montrer au monde entier.

Anne ne se dévoilera qu'a la dernière minute C'est le suspens... J'adore ça! Mais vous pouvez voir son travail sur son site Web.

Patricia a bien voulu expliquer pour nous sa démarche et ses sensations en ce qui concerne la peinture et l'art de la calligraphie :

"Quand je peins, je pars à l’aventure dans la toile. Je suis comme un pèlerin qui part en voyage sans connaître sa destination finale.

Quelques outils dans son bagage et l’aventure commence.

Pendant ce voyage comme le marcheur, je rencontre les difficultés et passe par bien des sentiments mais il y a toujours une profonde volonté de continuer et d’aboutir.

Comme le pèlerin, j’ai rencontré au fil du temps : des lieux, des hommes, des levers et des couchers de soleil, le vent, la pluie, la mer, les fleurs, les arbres… 

Avec  ces deux  disciplines, peinture et calligraphie, je construis mes tableaux.

J’essaye de faire chanter ces mots grâce à différents outils : la plume, le colapen, la cagette, le pinceau, l’automatic pen.

Ils m’aident à traduire les émotions que je ressens, grâce à leurs différentes traces et empreintes.

Chaque tableau est un vêtement différent.

 

De grandes lettres viennent ponctuer mes toiles… énergie d’un instant… énergie de  l’âme !

 Chacune de ces rencontres laissent en moi une empreinte de joie, de compassion, d’amour, de force et de lumière, d’émerveillement.

J’essaie de traduire tout cela en écrivant sur la toile.

Au fil des jours, quand j’écris, j’ai le sentiment de créer un tissu ; les mots les couleurs les matières diverses en sont les fils de chaîne et de trame. 

Je recherche le vêtement de mon âme… il est fait de toutes le couleurs qui vont bien avec mon cœur. 

Quand la signature s’impose sur la toile, le voyage est terminé !!"

Bravo les artistes! J'ai hâte de venir voir de plus près.

Vous pouvez aussi voir l'exposition d'Anne et de Patricia 

ainsi que deux autres artistes très reconnus ici:
Galerie La Mozaïque

Saint Jean 

(Toulouse Nord)

05 au 21 janvier 2010

A demain ... en Anglais

Ooooh J'ai failli oublier !

 J'ai lancé une petite compétition à mon 'post' du 31 décembre. Allez-y voir et si vous avez besoin d'un coup de main pour traduire de l'anglais - n'hésitez pas à me laisser un message

 auquel je répondrai vite vite!

Progressing confidently towards the dream... the transformation of a shutter

She was greying and unkempt

when I first noticed her.

She had been left to wither in an old barn in the Ariège,

at the foothills of the Pyrénées.

Her big sisters (huge old wooden doors)

were still protecting her

to the extent that I nearly didn't notice her there;

so well was she hidden

by shadows and cobwebs!

She seemed so folorn that I wanted to bring her colour.

I sang to her, read to her...

From the beginning; it was always Thoreau (my favourite)

There was never any question about that...

His wisdom can inspire the most greying of spirits

We shared secrets, she and I.

She told me she had never seen the sea.

So I dressed her in the Bleu de L'Ile d'Yeu.

She pleaded for some embellishment,
so I dressed her with a page of history from her region.

Petit à petit we have built her a new life together

Like me, she now feels equally comfortable

with tradition and progress.

 And in her we have reconciled the two.

.

But there's more to discover in the old girl yet

She hasn't had her final say...
Maybe later today I will give her the final touches.

Maybe it will be tomorrow when the mess monsters go back to school

that we shall chat over coffee and gesso!

In the mean time I'm off for some inspiration
at Seth's Secret Sunday

2010: Action-Packed with Pink!

It's pink Saturday over at "Beverly's How Sweet the Sound." Well it will be tomorrow but I won't be home in time. So I said to myself, 'Ange, your first New Year's goal is going to be writing a pink post. EARLY.' Pink, to me, being the quintessiential colour of optimism and hope, and therefore a great way to start the year. Me voilà!

Funny though. It's only the first day of the new year and already it feels like time is flying... literally slipping through my fingers. Honestly, where did the day go??? It is nearly time to go and fetch the messmonsters from their grandparents' house, a five hour drive from where I live in Toulouse. But I just had to meet the first goal I set myself for this year - just to set the record straight that 2010 is going to be a year to reach those goals!

 

By the sound of the following definitions which I've just found here, Pink might even be just the colour we all need to launch ourselves with bright abandon into a very promising new year. Here are a few reasons why...

Pink is said to:

Stimulate energy

Increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate

Encourage action and confidence

The time has come and I have to be on my way. Excuse me while I race off to slip into something a  little more pink that will boost my energy levels for the long drive ahead! Hmm - Maybe I have just the time to paint the inside of the car a bright fuschia before we go!

Blessings and may all your projects in 2010 packed pink with action and confidence!

Oops, nearly forgot! Don't forget to enter into my give away at my last post. 

It's open to all - darling followers or not!