If you are popping over here for the first time to discover that I have completely fizzled with the creativeness factor that was this blog, I still blog at my first love...Slurping Life. Drop by to say hello...but yell over there because the boys are really loud.
Days have passed. I have been trying to decide what I wanted, needed to say. I couldn't even complete my own project of the last two weeks. My apologies. Where has my time gone?
Life is pulling me, turning me, twisting me. Have you ever been there?
My family is quite consuming...there are a variety of special needs at work. There are day-to-day needs to be met. There are normal aspects of life to live.
I also have my passions. One of which is photography. I've been studying, working to truly learn the art.
Lately I am working hard to meet the needs of my family, but also I have discovered my needs and passions. I am not ready to lead here at Wrapped Emotions. Time and energy are limited.
I want to thank each of you for your enthusiasm and creative, emotional sharing. You ladies are inspiring...you truly know how to live with your hearts. Don't stop. Live with your heart...you know how...maybe someday we'll meet here again.
Take care and blessings to you.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Pulling ,Turning, Twisting
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
A Map Of Your Heart
If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful for you to read this post. Thanks for visiting.
To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive. ~ Robert Louis StevensonKnowing what you truly love is the key to loving how you live. A simple way to begin to know what you truly love is to gather beautiful images that speak to your soul. So, let's do just that.
Gather scissors, glue, your favorite magazines and your art journal. Place them all together in a basket or other container and keep it by your bed. At night after the kids are asleep, the day's responsibilities are (hopefully) taken care of and you can devote a few minutes of relaxed down time (stop laughing), crawl up on your bed and flip through the magazines. When you see a picture you love, cut it out and paste it in your art journal. Spend several quiet moments doing this. When finished, put your journal away for another night.
I realize that night may not be your relaxing time or your bed may not be your comfy contemplative place, adjust accordingly. Find your spot.
Now listen to me because this part is very important. Do not over think your choices. You do not need to have a reason why an image speaks to you...it simply must speak to you. Also, do not plan or fret over the arrangement of the images on the page, just paste them on a page one at a time. Let your collages happen, evolve.
Now listen to me again. If you begin this one night and the love is not flowing, drop it. You will know if you are forcing the process. Also, do not feel like you must work on this every night.
At the end of two weeks, (yes, do this for two weeks) crawl onto your bed, snuggle up with your art journal and look at the pages you have created. I expect that you will find colors, patterns, themes, styles, things...something...which reveals loves, hopes, passions you've never realized. Your collages will give you directions where your heart wants to go...a map of your heart.
Try it.
Tell me, where does the map of your heart lead?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are the specifics of weekly participation:
* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight, support, encouragement or comfort.
* A new prompt will be posted each Tuesday.
Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post.
A Map Of Your Heart ~ Mr. Linky
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' prompt, A Map Of Your Heart, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Please note, this prompt is for two weeks.
Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.
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Saturday, January 26, 2008
Negligence Of A Blog
One thing is for certain, when I do something I strive to do it well. Take for instance neglecting this blog...it is a bit past January 1. I apologize, but will not bore you with the reasons why there have been no Wrapped Emotions prompts. It does boil down to me being compassionate with myself, and I know you understand. I trust that during the first month of this new year you have allowed yourself compassion, maybe even hugging yourself a couple of times along the way. Go ahead, give yourself a little squeeze right now...you deserve it.
Now let's talk about WE prompts. The first one of 2008 will be posted on Tuesday, February 5. My most recent plan was to begin this Tuesday, January 29, but then I remembered...Monday - surgery for me...Tuesday - orders to rest...Wednesday - celebrating Wil's tenth birthday (my baby will be in double digits *sniff*) and the restart of Wil and Mac's weekly therapy sessions which include three for Wil and two for Mac...homeschool...this and that. The compassion factor kicked in as I told myself, "Melody, you'd better hold off another week until you have almost gotten back into the swing of life's routine." I replied to myself, "Yeah, good idea."
In the meantime, if you have in the past been a regular participant here at WE and are not on the blogroll...check it out in the sidebar...please drop me an email with your blog title and URL so that I may add you.
If you have happened upon Wrapped Emotions and haven't a clue, this post will fill you in as to what we do here. We would love to have you join us.
I have missed you and sharing how we are living with our hearts. See you on February 5.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Be Compassionate With Yourself
As we face the New Year, my hope for you is that you will be compassionate with yourself. This is the one New Year's resolution I have made.
In being compassionate with myself, I will not think reactively. I will let go of my mistakes and simply begin again...no matter how many times I must begin.
In being compassionate with myself, I will be understanding, loving and giving to others.
In being compassionate with myself, I will honor God.
As women (human beings) we judge ourselves harshly, set standards which are nearly unattainable and beat ourselves up when in our own eyes we fail. Please, be compassionate with yourselves...allow yourself to begin again.
"Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over." ~~F. Scott Fitzgerald
Mid-January we will begin again with the prompts here at Wrapped Emotions. I'm allowing myself time to regroup after the holidays while the family strives to become healthy; we prepare to celebrate two children's birthdays; and I keep several follow-up doctors' appointments. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts during the month of December. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and the love of friends. The camaraderie which has formed between Wrapped Emotions ladies is a blessing to me, and I hope you feel a bond with and encouragement from one another.
I look forward to a year of creating, connecting and expressing ourselves together...of living with our hearts.
Blessings to you.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The Gift of Every Moment, Week Four ~ Mr. Linky
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, The Gift Of Every Moment Week Four , please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Gift of Every Moment, Week Three ~ Mr. Linky
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, The Gift Of Every Moment Week Three , please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Mr. Linky ~ The Gift of Every Moment, Week Two
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Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Gift Of Every Moment
If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, this post will tell you more.
In the early morning I sit by candlelight; a Christmas village aglow behind me; a Christmas tree twinkling to my left; a silence surrounding me. Thinking of the people who bless my life and of the blessings my family has received, I make a vow to slow down and be fully in every moment of this Christmas season. Not simply a catalyst or a bystander or a tired, grumpy woman, but to be completely aware of the gift of every moment I live. I want to feel Christmas with the wonder of children, sprinkled with the wisdom of maturity.
During this holiday season this is what I wish for you. Whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, another religious holiday or simply the beauty and goodwill of the season, slow down and be fully in every moment. Perhaps in doing so, the vow will carry over into the New Year; perhaps you'll learn to do less and feel more. Let's try. For the remaining weeks of December this is your prompt.
More specifically, do not plan any special project for Wrapped Emotions. No one needs one more project this time of year. Simply experience and enjoy your life this season and post to your blog as you will. Each week choose your favorite post or photo and link the URL on Mr. Linky ~ The Gift Of Every Moment here at Wrapped Emotions. I'll put up a new Mr. Linky each week (Week One, Two, Three and Four). We'll then visit one another and spread the love.
Wishing for you many beautiful moments this season.
Mr. Linky ~ The Gift of Every Moment, Week One
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, The Gift Of Every Moment, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Comments are always welcome.
Thanks for sharing.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Lucubration
If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, this post will tell you more.
lucubration \loo-kyoo-BRAY-shun; loo-kuh-\ (noun) - 1. The act of studying by candlelight; nocturnal study; meditation. 2 : That which is composed by night; that which is produced by meditation in retirement; hence (loosely) any literary composition.
During the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons the boys and I stop our "formal" homeschooling schedule. We unschool, learning as life leads us. Yesterday was a day full of errands with my boys in tow. We had two doctors appointments and a therapist appointment. We literally ran in and out of several stores exchanging lighted Christmas garlands that failed to work (a yearly haunt for me), clothes that did not fit and picking up a few necessary items. When I awoke Monday morning the day looked like anything but fun or inspiring. How wrong I was.
The hectic day left me full of happiness, love and gratitude. The night found me pondering, meditating over the blessings I had received. I'll share the story along with my Wrapped Emotions project this week.
This week's prompt is "lucubration" with the emphasis being on the following portion of the above definition...
The act of studying by candlelight; nocturnal study; meditation. That which is composed by night; that which is produced by meditation in retirement.
Whether you celebrate Christmas or another religious holiday or no religious holiday at all, you will have to agree that this time of year lends itself to good will, blessings, giving, loving...experiencing miracles small and large...go now and inhale the beauty and gifts of the season. Then one night find your sacred space within your home, light a candle...a hundred candles if you choose...and practice lucubration.
Finally, share your experience with us in whatever creative manner inspires your soul. Don't worry. If you truly slow down and inhale deeply, you will be inspired.
*NOTE: Because I am later in the day than usual posting this week's prompt, you have through midnight EST on Monday, December 3 to share your posted project on Mr. Linky.
~~~~~
Here are the specifics of weekly participation:
* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
* A new prompt will be posted each Tuesday.
Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post.
Mr. Linky ~ Lucubration
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Lucubration, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. As always, thanks for sharing.
Learn more about Wrapped Emotions here.
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Monday, November 26, 2007
Cannot Believe I Have Not Been Here For A Whole Week But Look...I'm Back !
And the new prompt goes up tomorrow.
I'll try to update the blogroll this week. If you are participating at WE and know that you are not on the roll, please leave a comment here and tell me so. Thanks.
Next week, another guest blogger. Watch your emails.
Also, there will be a giveaway posted at Slurping Life today. What is it? A digital camera. Drop by for a chance to win.
I have missed you ladies...a lot!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Life
Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving and a happy life to each and every one of my Wrapped Emotions friends...old and new.
There will be no prompt this week. I am in the midst of planning a menu, grocery shopping and preparing for the arrival of family. I love it.
May the holiday season begin with hearts full of love and blessings for you and your family.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Today I Love...
If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful to read this post first.
With Thanksgiving being next week everyone begins to ask the traditional question..."For what are you thankful?" This week let's put a little twist on that thought.
What do you love today?
For this week's prompt you will need to set aside a small block of uninterrupted time. *gasp* You can do it. You need to do it. Allow whatever amount of time you think it will take to complete the project. Get any art supplies ready ahead of time. Open your art journal to a clean page, date it and begin listing the things you love today...or whatever day you do the project.
No typing on the computer and printing words. It should be done in your handwriting. Make it neat, make it sloppy, make it uniquely yours. Doodle the words, fine line print, bold line print, scribble. Write horizontally, diagonally, backwards, upside down. Give the page some color and pop...paint the page first...collage the page first...color the page with marker. Do not be limited by these suggestions. But WRITE the lists...no typing and printing. What is important is that you know what you love today.
One more twist...in a creative way include a wrapper from one of the things you love today (or the day you do this). Remember, if a week's project is not completed on an actual journal page, take the time to lovingly place each one into your art journal.
So...What do you love today?
~~~
Here are the specifics of weekly participation:
* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
* A new prompt will be posted each Tuesday.
Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post
Mr. Linky ~ Today I Love...
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Today I Love..., please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. As always, thanks for sharing.
Learn more about Wrapped Emotions here.
View More Wrapped Emotions Participants
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Monday, November 12, 2007
Souful, Beautiful Ladies
All I want to say about last week's project is...Ladies, you are soulful and beautiful.
The winner of the luck of the draw this week, and the last one for at least a little while, is Leanne of Phoenix The Blogging Mama. Leanne, email me to claim your HP Photo Book.
Anyone that has won and not received your gift from me, I apologize for the delay. Everything I am suppose to mail out goes out tomorrow...as long as I have your address...and the sky doesn't fall...and the dog doesn't need to go back to the vet...and the kids don't relapse with bronchitis...and the doctor says I don't really need arthroscopic knee surgery...and the car keys turn up...and *exits smiling a goofy, confused smile*
I realize there are some of you new to WE that have not been added to the blogroll. After you participate in two WE projects I add your blog. If you should be on the roll and are not, let me know. I will be working during the week to update the blogroll.
By the way, a random draw from participants to choose the next guest blogger at Wrapped Emotions is coming soon.
Tomorrow ladies, our new prompt.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Re-Create Your Face
No, we are not going to meet up for group plastic surgery. Although in a couple of years you can give me a call and we'll talk about it.
We are going to get more comfortable with ourselves. We are going to get to know our own face, appreciate it, recognize it and love it. Whoa, get back here! Don't run away from this prompt screaming "Nooooo!!!" I'm in it with you and my face has seen better years.
Hold your camera at arm's length and shoot a photo of your face. Oh hush up, yes, get that close. Don't expect it to look good, unless you're twenty years old it will probably look horrible. But we're all here together. Just face it, this is what everyone is looking at so breath deeply and take it.
Upload the photo to your computer and with whatever photo editing software you are using de-saturate it, convert it to black and white. Lighten the image if necessary, make sure the image isn't too dark. Print a copy. Oh horrors! I know.
Now take your pencil and trace over it...over and over and over. Every feature, every curve and line...trace over it. This is you.
After working with your printed image, scan it into your computer and upload it into your Wrapped Emotions' post. Be sure to paste it into you art journal. Talk about the emotions experienced while doing this. Work at accepting and loving your face. Talk about the experience. Above all remember, if you cannot love yourself, how will others love you? How will you love others without self-love?
If it helps, the luck of the draw for this week will win a 5x7 HP Photo Book.
Also, have a glass of wine if necessary to get through this one.
~~~
Here are the specifics of weekly participation:
* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE. I will be drawing for the weekly gift from comments.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
* Check back each Monday to see if you won the previous week's gift, which will be chosen by random.org from the comments.
* The weekly prompt will be posted each Tuesday.
Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post
Mr. Linky ~ Re-Create Your Face
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Re-Create Your Face, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. As always, thanks for sharing.
Learn more about Wrapped Emotions here.
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Monday, November 5, 2007
Beautiful Family Moments
Ladies, you made me smile by sharing your special, squishy family moments from last week. Thank you. Hold on to the good feeling and remember to say yes to your children, husband or other family members when at all possible. You never know what precious moments await.
Now this week's luck of the draw (random.org) goes to Jenn of All Natural Mommies. This was Jenn's first week joining Wrapped Emotions, but she is a long time reader of my other blog, Slurping Life. Jenn, email me with the snail mail address and I'll send you a little gift.
I've been thinking...yeah, my husband laughs when I begin a sentence with that phrase...that I will discontinue the weekly drawing for a gift. Honestly, getting people to donate prizes has not been my top priority and for me to remember to purchase gifts each week is taxing my brain. You know, the one more thing I don't need to have to remember...bet you understand that, huh? I believe everyone who participates in our weekly prompts is doing so for the fun, creative endeavor, as well as connecting with self and others...not for whatever little gift I have to give. Don't you?
I do have a great little gift for next week, so check back, but at least until after the holiday season that will be the last drawing for weekly prizes. However, should someone or some company say "hey, take our stuff and give it away" I will so grab the opportunity and share it with my WE friends.
As always, thank you for sharing my journey to rekindle the creative juices and unwrap my emotions. You are inspiring me more than you will ever know, and your posts tell me that you are truly taking much more than works of art from your weekly projects.
Tomorrow, a new prompt. See you then.
