Sweet Limes

Fabulous in the Works

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:36:51 +0000

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.

~Coco Chanel

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Not sure about the classy, but I’m working on the fabulous.

Cheers,

Good Things

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:58:58 +0000

Accept and love WHO and WHERE you are now, and all good things shall find you there.

~unknown

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It would be completely shameful if I missed posting today. I started the day off with a wondrous headache and it’s tapered off to being blue.

Working on a painting though and have shooed the trio in my life off to spend time at someone else’s house.

Let the list start, because headache or not, blue or not, there’s still sunshine.

1. Family movie nights.

2. Music that just hits ya the right way.

3. A friend to laugh with (thanks Duff!)

4. Paint on my hands.

5. Watching my kids grow up (sad but brilliant all in one).

6. Back massages.

7. Space heaters.

8. Paper dolls that come in the mail (thanks Catherine!) click on her name to go take a peek, she’s darling!

That’s it for now, I’m going to go read while I have some quiet time left.

Cheers,

Forget Me Not

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:35:58 +0000

We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it is all about.

~Joseph Campbell

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I’ve been neglecting my watercolour lately. I think I got the message to “forget me not”.

Cheers,

Bleached Out

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:05:04 +0000

You can be better than your technique. You can be better than most of your usual ideas. And this is a whole other category that you can get into.

~Dave Brubeck

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Sometimes there’s no way around the mountain, you need to go over it. Along the hike you realize, the view is beautiful and you’re liking this hiking thing after all. That was me Monday night.

Some times a project is not about creating something beautiful, it’s about learning something new: a technique, a principle of some sort, a habit.

This was one of those projects.

Started off dragging my heels on this project but as I got a little ways in I realized I was enjoying myself. A masterpiece was not created, but I learned more then sitting through a lecture or reading a book would have offered.

Last night I worked on finishing this off and I am here to tell you that cross hatching with bleach is not easy. ”I am better then my technique” for sure, but I am pleased with my finished piece and feel like I am taking steps to being in “a whole other category” to where I have been in the past.

Cheers,

Something New

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:44:12 +0000

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

~Pablo Picasso

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I am such a creature of habit and I like to control things but I’m trying to let go. It’s tough when I see things around my website that aren’t “just so” quite yet, but I’m pretending to be patient. Letting go of control, see, I can do it!

In some areas I’m doing better at that then others. Like my art. I did a whack load of backgrounds the other day that I need to snap some pictures of to show you. They had be trying new things, learning that I like new things, and letting go of control.

And another new thing is what I spent Monday night doing (though the above project isn’t quite done). Getting out of my element. Forcing myself to do things that are totally against my inner hermit. And finding out that I can have a great time doing that. Who would have thought?!

Obviously I need to do this more often.

Cheers,

Another Sunshine List

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:47:57 +0000

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

~Louisa May Alcott

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Thinking is not my strong suit right now, I have a huge headache and it’s getting the best of me. Still, as much as I’m not grateful for that there are plenty of other things I am.

1. Duff got her book and loves it!

2. Fruity gummy bears.

3. My favourite fuzzy blanket is nice and clean and ready to snuggle down in.

4. Play dates. Really hate the term, and this weekly one is more about us mama’s then it is the kids, we need friends too!

5. A clean house.

6. A reason to crawl into bed at 7 pm. (Oi this headache is killing me!)

7. Friends who ask for help or advice. Seriously, I love helping my friends out (like their blogs or algebra homework).

8. Playing music and dancing with my kids.

9. The amazing team that I have to work with my son and I, I really don’t know where we’d be without them.

10. Free wood to paint on.

11. Hummus.

12. Making a mess while painting.

13. Making a mess in the garage (sanding).

14. Hiding in my inlays cold room, eating ice-cream with my niece, and then drawing together after we finished our freezing treats.

15. Watching my kids play with their cousins and two favourite uncles.

16. Family movie outing.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. All I know is I have one seriously amazing life.

Cheers,

Notice Any Changes?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:19:10 +0000

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

~Anatole France

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So things are changing around here, I’m sure you’ve already notice that. I’m so excited though. Alright, I’ll admit, I’m totally freaking out too. I was talking to my husband just tonight about some of this new stuff and what it means and a small part of me wanted to tell him I was just kidding and I don’t want to do this after all.

Thankfully I didn’t say that. Things, changes, are still going forward. Me and my site aren’t going to look the same soon. This is all part of my ride this year, my theme of “no hands!”

It may take some time to really get the fully monty up and running and there may be some bumps and hiccups along the way so if you find something off, or not working, please give me a shout, a heads up makes things way easier on our end. You can always mail me at limes.sweet(at)gmail.com.

Cheers,

And the Survey Says…

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:23:54 +0000

Tenderness and kindness are not signs on weakness and despair but manifestations of strength and resolution.

~Kahlil Gibran

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She loves it!

My little creation has made it home.

At the start of this year I was talking with a friend and fellow blogger Duff about what 2012 held for us and this little email discussion led to our pact to make the year one where we could look back with awe at what we did. 2012 is the year things are happening for us.

I told her my plans, “Each and every opportunity that is presented to me I am going to jump on it. Not just that though, I plan on making opportunities for myself.” and she decided to jump too, right on board with me (read her thoughts on it here).

We decided our journey was going to be like the two of us going on a bike ride together, because let’s face it, a bike ride is much more fun with company. But once in a while during our ride we plan on letting go, throwing our hands up in the air and shouting, “no hands!”

It’s great to be on a ride where someone else is joining you. Just yesterday I was listening to an inspirational speaker who said she had a couple good friends (whom she did not live by) who kept one another accountable and gave a little push when needed, and lots of encouragement and support.

Duff has already been that to me. She’s one of the great cheerleaders I’ve been blessed with in my life, and though we’re not even quite through the first month of January we’ve already talked tons about our plans, goals, and kept each other on our toes. Without even meaning to we’ve become accountability friends. Someone who we can give an email and say, “are you doing _________?” and “YAY!” or “why not?” or whatever else we need.

And so, “no hands!” was very much on the forefront of my mind when I started working on this little journal and it became the theme for it. It fell into place and close to the end of it I just knew I needed to send it to her, a way to say thanks, a way for her to record our bike ride together this year.

This theme has really found a place to root in my heart and has already served me well. I’ve done things that scared me, with Duff by my side reminding me of how great it would be, and dove into things head first, because I know the pool is deep.

This year is going to be amazing, and I’m thankful I’ve got Duff beside me.

Cheers,

Simple Math

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:04:48 +0000

Another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.

~Stan Laurel

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Here’s a simple equation I should memorize:

me+something messy+loud music=fun

Last night I went to a friends house and brought home 3 chunks of scrap wood that I planned to sand and gesso so I could paint on it. I had thought of dumpster diving and seeing what was in the bin at our new place but I just wasn’t in the mood for climbing in and out of a bin and I knew my husband wouldn’t humour me (I know, what’s his deal right?).

Bringing home the wood wasn’t good enough though, no no, I had to bring home a sander too. I call it a palm sander for lack of a better word in my head, but if it’s a palm sander I’m a water nymph. This thing rocks though!

I’m plowing through the first board and my husband comes out to give me a funny look which I wave off and go back to my intense work at hand. Who knew sanding something could be so much fun?! Even when the bag fell off and a puff of sawdust came blowing through the back end my excitement didn’t wain. Oh no, maybe having my heavy duty heater pointed on me helped.

You shouldn’t be shocked that I came away covered in dust, it proves the theory I have tried to explain to my kids, that sometimes you have to make a mess to have fun. Even better was the three boards that I primed with a couple quick coats of gesso, the same three that happen to be waiting for me downstairs. Maybe they’ll want to play tonight.

Cheers,

She Believed…yes I really do…

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:10:02 +0000

Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it.

~David Joseph Schwartz

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The other day I learned a lesson. Something doesn’t have to be good, beautiful, or even meh. I am allowed to make things I just don’t care for, things that don’t speak to me.

This peace creates a struggle in me when I see it, I love everything about it except for the girl. Her I am not happy with, but that’s okay.

I will paint things I don’t like. And sooner then later I will paint things that scream me. Things that I love.

But first there is a learning curve. And it’s okay that I’m there because,

I believe in who I’m becoming.

Cheers,