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
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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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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Mr. Linky ~ Enjoy Your Family
Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Enjoy Your Family, 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.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Enjoy Your Family
If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful to read this post first.
I am warmed and uplifted by your outpouring of love and encouragement through Flowers for Melody. Thank you, Jenny...really, thank you. Each of you who gave me flowers, I'm not certain you will ever understand just how much it meant to me. My family and I thank you.
This week's prompt is simple. Go, spend time with your family. Do one little bitty special thing with your children or your spouse or your mother or your sibling or your pet. Even if it's just a great big extra squishy hug...do it.
Enjoy your family in some small, yet tremendous moment. Then post a few words, a photo...whatever symbolizes the little joy you shared. I'll put up Mr. Linky later today. It's late (early) and I'm off to catch a few winks.
Remember...simply enjoy your family and share it here at Wrapped Emotions.
~~~
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. Questions about what to have for dinner, anything...just ask. I love it when you talk to me.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Flowers For Me
I have said this before...do not ever tell me that my bloggy friends are not real. Jenny has reached out with the most touching gesture, Flowers for Melody. The beautiful bouquet of friends I have gathered through blogging here at Wrapped Emotions have gathered bouquets for me...to show love and support for me. I honestly don't have adequate words right now, just "thank you".
The day is trying so far and I have to get the boys to appointments. I began trying to view my flowers, but issues here require my complete attention. I will be visiting tonight when the boys sleep. In the serenity of a quiet home, I will inhale the visual beauty of love and support each of you have offered me.
Again, thank you...with lots of love....
Melody
Monday, September 3, 2007
Welcome To Wrapped Emotions
Welcome to Wrapped Emotions, a place to create, connect and express yourself. I'm Melody.
First, at huge thank you to Rebecca of Just a little bit of something extra creations for my blog design. I love it!
Now, why I'm here...
Recently I read an artist's writings, my apologies for not recalling who, and one of her statements resonated with me. "We live in a world where people live without their hearts and don't even miss them."
That statement was powerful to me. She was speaking to the fact that the majority of us do not take time to connect with our emotions on any creative level. She was not talking about making things for others to have and cherish. She was referring to creations meant to connect ourselves to our own emotions. She meant creations that reveal a person to themselves. I don't want to live without my heart and not miss it. I want to be fully connected with my emotions and the creativity housed within me.
So I created this blog to hold myself accountable to spend more time expressing myself creatively...connecting with my heart...creating with emotion. I want to encourage you to do the same. There is no better way to do this than working with your hands, your mind...connecting them with your heart. This blog's purpose is to encourage you and me to do just that and share it with others.
Sitting at home in a not-particularly-good mood one night, I began to play with a paper wrapper. I carefully tore it open, smoothed it flat, grabbed a pencil and began to doodle on the clean white paper of the underside. As I doodled, my mood began to improve...the tension in my shoulders lessened. A smile curved my lips. Being completely focused on the task of doodling, I had released stressed, expressed my emotions and reconnected myself. I was creating mini works of art. It was play, being a kid all over again, and it felt really good. Any artist will tell you this is how they create...with emotion. But most of us would never dare refer to ourselves as artists, and so we deprive ourselves of this gratifying channel of expression. We dare not allow ourselves to create works of art with the wild abandon of a child.
Then I began to think. Seems many of our emotions are linked to wrappers, packages, bindings...whether tangible or metaphoric. Think of the candy bars and bags of chips consumed during the depression of a broken relationship...the ice cream consumed on a day when the kids pushed every button...the three martini happy hour after the boss got in your face just one more time. Foods and drinks come with wrappers, in packages and containers (yes, that vodka comes in a container). Can you remember your emotions while in the throes of consumptions similar to those above? But not only food, any item we purchase or consume in some manner can call forth our emotions. Sometimes simply using an item causes an emotional reaction. Gifts wrapped in pretty paper invoke emotions when we see them and as we tear them open. Our emotions are enveloped by a myriad of wrappers...tangible and metaphoric. How many times have we hesitated to undertake a new venture because we were wrapped with fear? The connections and comparisons are endless.
This blog is my attempt to encourage each of you, including myself, to create...connect...express yourself. The creative ways to use wrappers, or the perception of emotional wrappers, to create and express ourselves through art is limitless. And all the better when we share our creations to encourage and inspire one another. Here is the premise...
Each week I will post a prompt. The prompt will be based on emotion(s) associated with a wrapper, real or perceived. I may post an emotion to pursue and/or instructions to use a specific art form. Some examples are paper, paint, clay, photography, and writing. Sometimes a type of wrapper may be the prompt with you expressing the emotions it brings forth, either presently or from memories. Other times the wrappers may be purely figurative, bindings we feel. The prompts and processes will be varied with the possibilities almost endless. Don't worry, you'll understand better as prompts are presented and as we play each week.
I am not talking expensive art supplies you need to go out and purchase, but rather things you will most likely find around your home or that can be purchased inexpensively. Many of you moms have simple art supplies around the house for the kids which will be great to use. If you are an artist, a crafter or if you scrapbook, you already have tons of fantastic supplies on hand. These creations are not to be high-dollar works of art, but imaginative endeavors to get those creative juices flowing, express and connect with our emotions, then share with others. An art journal is a suggested to house your completed WE projects.
Think of each project as your play time. You can spend as little or as much time as you choose working on each one. If some days you need to entertain the kids while you play, or just want to include them, give them some supplies and allow them to create along side you. But ultimately this is your time, your creation. There is no pressure...this is to be fun, relaxing. It's not as involved or complicated as it may sound. There are no right or wrong results.
Each week the prompts will be posted on Tuesday. You will have through Sunday of each week to participate. Please do not think of this as a chore, but as useful time spent recapturing a playful part of yourself...tapping into your creativity....connecting with your emotions. Everyone is creative...some of you just haven't realized it.
Oh, did I mention that you will have opportunities as guest blogger at Wrapped Emotions? Or that there will be links to your blog? I know we can inspire, encourage and support one another while having a lot of fun...laughing and maybe even crying along the way.
Until then, would you please take moment to leave your thoughts or questions in the comments?
