Start the Week Positively!

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.  

Author unknown

Coastal wildflowers necklace from Gildinglilies

There are times when we just can't make things right. When we have to accept that things are the way they are and we just have to work around it.

What we CAN change, however, is our attitude and our behaviour.

We could be angry about the person who pushed in front of us to get onto the train. Or we could accept that it happened and just let it go, choosing not to let it spoil our day.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years ago, and whilst I still sometimes have an "it's not fair" rant against the world, I made a decision at the time that I would not let it ruin my life.

I have had to make adjustments. I've changed the focus of my business so that I no longer visit clients at home. I've become increasingly grateful for the world we live in now, with internet ordering and communications, without which I'd be truly cut off in my rural location.

I adjusted my sails to suit the wind.

Lots of love

Lois

xxx

 

Positive Monday with hide and seek challenge!

Of all the things you wear, 

your expression is the most important.  

Janet Lane

Handmade porcelain bracelet by team member monalina

What does a smile cost? 

Wouldn't we all rather have laughter lines, rather than frown lines?

 Sharing a smile with a stranger can be one of the most rewarding things you can do - the majority of people will smile back, and those that don't......well perhaps your simple smile may have made a terrible day just that little bit brighter.

Go ahead - share a smile.

And, as per last week, we're adding a Hide and Seek challenge to this little post.

We thought it would be fun for you to interpret the quote for the week with an item from one of the team members shop!

To participate in this FUN "Hide and Seek Challenge", take a look around our Positivity Team member's shops to find an item that makes you think of the quote. There are no right or wrong answers, it's YOUR interpretation! Copy and paste the listing in the comments section. 

It will be fun to see everyone's interpretations 

Love and stuff

Lois

xxx

 

Team Contest Reminder

Just a small reminder that we still have a contest challenge running, on the theme of Bubbles.

Disappointingly there haven't been many (if any) entries yet - isn't anyone inspired by "Bubbles"????/


Here's the link to the contest page - team-contest

xxxx

Positivity Quote/Hide and Seek Challenge

Are you ready for a new twist on the Positive Quote for the week?! 

We thought it would be fun for you to interpret the quote for the week with an item from one of the team members shop!

To participate in this FUN "Hide and Seek Challenge", take a look around our Positivity Team member's shops to find an item that makes you think of the quote. There are no right or wrong answers, it's YOUR interpretation! Copy and paste the listing in the comments section. 

It will be fun to see everyone's interpretations :)

"If you want to be happy, be."  ~ Leo Tolstoy

I LOVE the beach and sun...so this photograph just makes me happy :)

"Feeling the Sun with Barefeet" by galleryoncentral

xo Nickole 

Valentine's Day

Traditional Arts - Chinese Paper Cutting

 

Valentine's Day reminds us of love, romance and weddings. I could list the number of weddings I've attended on two hands, but have been lucky enough to attend a mix traditional, modern, religious, cross cultural and registry office weddings.

Most recently was a semi traditional Chinese wedding in Hong Kong. Amongst the many ceremonies and dresses (there were four!) were a number of unassuming but culturally important paper cuts. I was awestruck by the wonderful paper decorations that adorned each of the ceremonies, so delicate and detailed and amazing to think these traditional designs have lasted centuries along with the art of cutting the images onto paper. 

 

 

 

This was the first time I had seen authentic Chinese paper cuts. We made snowflakes at Christmas and paperchain men out of newspapers regularly during my childhood, but this was the first time I was really able to appreciate the skill of a professional paper cutter.

 

The art of paper cutting peaked in popularity between 1368 and 1911 and was at one point was seen an essential skill for a girl to be considered marriage material. Paper had been invented by the Chinese some 1200 years earlier but was reserved for the emperor for many decades. When production methods improved and paper became more affordable, paper cutters started making paper cuts as offerings to family ancestors and then as decorations for the home and good luck charms at ceremonies like weddings and Chinese New Year. Crafters had previously practiced on thin silk and gold leaf as well as tree leaves.

 

 

 

 

Next time before you recycle your newspaper you could practice your paper cutting skills, a snowflake, a paper chain of people or maybe some Chinese inspired designs. 

 

 

 

Guest author - Claire of Bluegiraffeshop

Helping Hearts

This is an event currently being run through Etsy, on behalf of a member who has recently suffered a huge personal tragedy. Christina and a number of other Etsy members have banded together to set up a bigcartel shop, with the aim being to raise funds to help Cindy and her family rebuild their lives.


I'll let Christina explain it all

" Helping Hearts was started to help Cindy Boardman (DesignedByLucinda) and her family. Cindy is a very talented jewelry artist and a long-time member of the Etsy community.


On Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 an accidental fire took her home, pets, and claimed the life of her 11-year-old son, Kevin. No words can convey the shock and sadness we feel, Cindy is an active and valued member of our community and we share in her grief during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts, prayers and most profound sympathies are with Cindy and her family. "
  
How to Help
 
Helping Hearts features a wide array of talented artisans who have graciously donated their work in order to help the Boardman family recover during this very difficult time. All of the money from this shop will be donated to the Boardman family.

Each item bought will be shipped by the artist listed.

helpinghearts shop

If you would like to help with a donation, however small, please follow these instructions

how-to-donate

Can you help?

Lois
xxx

My Crafting Space - SusanWilliamsDesigns

Welcome to a new feature on our blog, where we take a sneaky peek around each other's crafting spaces, admiring the ingenuity required to fit all those supplies in, ooh-ing and aah-ing in envy at someone's marvelous space and taking off our hats to the creativity required to live and work in the same space.

What we want to show is how we REALLY work. No tidying up and straightening things. This is to be the real deal, and it's all the better for that. 

Our very first beautiful volunteer to let us into her work space is Susan, of Susanwilliamsdesigns. Susan is a regular on our forum, and makes the most amazing jewellery from guitar picks - take a look at her shop HERE.

Lets start off with Susan's crafting table.

She uses a revolving storage frame for beads and other small items, which is a

fantastic idea, especially when you have a lot of small items. I can think of many other

artists in our team who could find this suggestion very useful, myself included.

This station is mainly used for shipping, so Susan has all her boxes and slips organised and ready to go. The printer is also located close by, so that she can grab her order sheets and despatch notes as she goes.

A general desk for administration and keeping a close eye on Etsy for all those orders!

And there we have it, a speedy tour around Susan's bright studio. 

Now.......who's next?

I'll be emailing people to ask them to participate in this feature every so often, but if you'd like to volunteer to have yours on the blog, please get in touch with me either on the comments below or via an Etsy convo.

We miss you! :)

{SMILE mini painting on canvas by polkadotscloud}

Hello, teammates!

If you haven't posted on our team thread for awhile, or are a bit confused about where to post, come on over to the team chat thread on Etsy! We'd LOVE to see you, especially if it's been awhile.

Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/teams/6120/positivity-team/discuss/6768154/page/1

You can also find the monthly team chat thread by clicking "Community" through Etsy, then clicking on "Teams". The Positivity Team should pop up. Click there, and it will take you to the Team homepage. From there, just look for the monthly thread.

Come on in for some good chatting that's sure to lift your spirits!

Here's to POSITIVITY! :)