Some things to remember

 

I love photographing rusty old cars and making art

It's good to try new things - love jen gray - she started the interest in blogging for me - interesting she popped up in an example of videos for this course I am doing at the moment

Make it happen

How to be alone

Typewriter as art

Ironing as art

Are you focussed or easily distracted?

 So many aspects to this photograph 

One of my favourites

Resistance

Been feeling a lot of resistance lately. I have been trying to figure out why it drains me of energy and I can't remember my passion - it disappears. I tend to not plan and feel that this is a huge problem as I drift between all sorts of things and projects during the day, which I now better understand is Resistance. I also tend to want to do too many things and don't choose to sit and complete or work on one for a period of time. They all seem to compete and nothing substantial is done. Possibly something to do with being a Gemini?  I don't like planning and have never really been one - except for practical things - not for creative things ...mmmmm. I find I am writing more lists lately of things to do and that need to be done if I am to move forward creatively and therefore personally. I am enjoying reading The War of Art and finding strategies to become more structured in my creative time. Partly I feel that this is not my "job" and I "should" be doing something more "productive" or helping in our garden etc . not "playing" ....mmm again. I need to rethink my perspective on what I enjoy doing!!

A good thing though is that I did receive my "business" cards, magnets and note pad that i had to work through in a previous post "what is going on?"    I feel the words "business cards" are the wrong words to use at this point - I will remove the word business and just call them cards as they can be given out for a number of reasons - not just "business".

I feel better about this now.

What is going on??

Not sure what's happening right now. Yesterday I decided to create  a business card based around "Are you serious?" with my name, photo, email address and blog address. I thought it would be a good idea as I am meeting different people now I am on long service leave and after talking to them they are often curious about my blog and my book blog and this is a way of networking and letting them have a look at what I do. As I was creating it through www.vistaprint.com I felt my inner critic rise. Who do you think you are? Who is interested in what you do? Who will buy your books? What do you think you are doing? You will be a laughing stock. How pretentious etc.  I sat with the voice and kept going. I have used the picture that is on my blog - the one of me sipping from a bottle of beer. Again the voice rose - what kind of picture is that?  What will people think ..... ongoing. I like that photo. I am not a beer drinker normally but it was a very hot day and I was at the Lexton family fun day and someone took this photo. I don't seem to be photogenic but this side on view intrigues me. I like it. So I continued on and ordered the cards.

Today I went to pick up my master copy of my second book from Cheryl - a hairdresser - who has ordered more than 20 of my books as gifts and she ordered 3 more of "Are you serious?" version 1 and pre-ordered 2 copies of "Are you serious?" version 2 which is still to be printed. Last week I had sold her 2 copies and another friend sold 1 as well.

 

For some reason I am not believing in myself and need to find out why - this will be ongoing - if anyone reads this and can offer any comment or advice I would greatly appreciate it

Trust where life takes me

 

I have now started an online video making class via http://www.viviennemcmaster.com - Montage. I am looking forward to doing something new with all the things I love doing - words, pictures and music but still need to trust in the process that this is what i am meant to be doing and not feeling guilty for getting lost in the pleasure of it all while other areas of my life fall a little behind. Also this does not feel like work so is a kind of guilty pleasure feeling - need to get the perspective right and enjoy doing what I enjoy doing because i get so much pleasure and fun out of it and use my imagination as well .

Rusty cars and steering wheels

 

Two things I am serious about taking photos of -

 

Not sure why

 

Old rusty cars come up beautifully with a little bit of contrast that brings out colours in the rust and makes me feel  surprised and somehow calm .

 

Steering wheels??  

 

Who's driving and where am I headed?   Or - am I waiting for some direction at the moment as I seem to have lost motivation after my week of being ill?

Are you at a standstill or sitting still taking stock?

Playing with effects - my lounge

 

How weird not getting Susannah's emails anymore as her e-course has ended - I think I have withdrawals as I so looked forward to receiving them at 5pm weeknights. So many ideas happening that I am finding it difficult to keep any structure in my blog at the moment - I was a bit overwhelmed at everything but think I will just keep going I realise I can restructure anything/everything at any time and also the blog is really for me and to get all "my stuff" into one place and then see where the journey takes me - rather than dictate the journey at the start. - another blog started (really a book but allows me to play a little and watch it unfold) - www.timepassesbut.blogspot.com
I created the second one under/ in my first one using Blogger - not sure how all that works -

 

Been a bit spurred on today - thought I wasn't getting anywhere - no plan - all over the place as in previous post - but have started second blog (mentioned before ) and got my second book of "Are you serious?" on www.blurb.com as an e-book (see side bar)  - Amazon next!!- have let go of the outcome of all that is happening at the moment and just seeing where "it" goes - lovely to see my book on my Ipad ( 2 now) - thanks everyone from the blogging from the heart for your ongoing blog insights into your challenges, triggers, wallowing, rethinking and triumphs that reinforce that how I feel is how a lot of others feel too - yeah to Susannah too for the inspiration

Are you serious books

 

Book number 1 printed some time back

Top book is the one I created as a photo book

Smaller one is the printed version I self-published(100 copies)

 

 

 

 

Book number 2 printed some time back created as a photo book

CD taken to printers to be converted to print book number 2

 

Very exciting!!

I just adore  my wish by Celina Wyss - the course is Montage

The younger me

Looking in my mirror

I’m not sure who I see.

Someone is looking back

could it be me?

 

I look at her face

and into her eyes.

Does she recognize me

or am I a surprise?

 

I look at her deeply

I look at her long.

I know we’re connected

that feeling is strong.

The me on the outside,

the me deep within -

how to connect them,

how to begin?

 

When people connect

with the person that’s me -

what do they relate to -

what is it they see?

Me on the inside

is all over the place.

Who do they relate to

when they look at my face?

 

Anne

        OCT 2001         

 

 

Are you participating or just observing?

I am both participating and observing at the moment while enjoying the course -http://www.susannahconway.com/e-courses/blogging-from-the-heart/. So much is going on in my head. Should I blog, should I design, should I create another one with some of my other ideas? Can't say I've nothing to do just don't know what to do first - need to focus on one thing at a time and finish it. Not an easy thing for a gemini.

Remember

Loving insects - beautiful like works of art 

where can I find these little people and these

some interesting questions

This is the cutest kitten

when imaginations run free

Also

I find myself interested in faceless photos   and

Finding my people cos I know they are out there and

PINTEREST -  me    love this

More seriousness

I am serious about

putting all my creative ideas on blogs to keep them visible and easily accessible and encouraging a friend to do the same

trying different styles for each one

"changing the channel" faster  when I fixate on a problem area in my life  and spending more time on the "my new lifestyle" channel

setting my office up to be more creative and more "me"

finding my community both personally and via the web

trying different styles of photos after doing Susannah's photo meditations

making my bedroom look like this one at Ikea

and spending more time in our new kitchen which looks out in to the back garden

Are you developing new strengths or protecting your weaknesses?

Been tricky today  - thought I would "just" add the links to Susannah's website today using the buttons from her site. The first worked the second didn't. Aaaaaagh    Wasn't sure what I'd done the first time anyway and couldn't work out what I had done the second time.  Thought I was doing the same thing  - obviously not -   I have fiddled around for hours now competing with the internet that keeps closing down as reception in my small town is iffy at the best of times and especially so today!!!!!

But wondering about how everyone else doing the course is going and feeling their strength and purpose all around the world I settled down (a number of times ) and the job is done.

Thanks for the group hug -   keep at it everyone as each baby step is so worth it in so many ways.  I am serious 

Just the best

I am in awe of the blogs we are creating  from   Susannah's e-course 

 

 

We come from all walks of life and many countries.

 

 

 

We are all following a common path

and all creating or re-invigorating blogs at the moment.

We have been given the gift of looking through our own eyes

 and those of others while doing so.  

 

 

 

It is so much fun and uplifting :)

  

 

I wish we could all sit down together - how fantastic would that be?

Are you thinking - how did I get here or where could I go now?



inspiration

 inspirational ideas for photo days

I am serious about

 www.mymodernnet.com because of  this  ................ and this ...................and

 Standing in Awe at the World We Live In              and other such inspiring ideas,

leaving my current job and following a path I feel would be inspiring for me - more details as I take the steps,

getting my brain working again and pick the brain motivation helps

pursuing happiness as always    ..................and

coming to terms with my son joining the army - he's the one on the left -

How are you feeling?

Are you hurt, angry, disappointed, fearful

or pretending to be OK?



More of what I am serious about

What an interesting week .........I am serious about ..........only using uniball signo blue pens 0.7 for writing both at home and work........getting my teeth sorted , one and a half hours with my mouth wide open in the dentist's chair to rebuild a tooth ........eyes tested and all good - still no glasses yes!!!! .........learning more about blogging and sorting out what my message is...........taking photographs and finding new ideas and concepts..........www.mymodernmet.com .............apps - love colour splash app for my ipad ......

 

and new storage for my study - was supposed to be outside but looks much better here 

My niece is serious about her coffee!!

What are you serious about??

Serious

S.        Sustained

E.        Effort

R.        Resulting

I.          In

O.         Outstanding

U.         Uplifting

S.          Success

Are you.............?

Are you aware
that you can
seize the day at any time
...............or not?

What am I serious about?

I woke up this morning with some ideas in my head. Before sleeping I ask the universe to help me put some of my thoughts, ideas and questions together in a meaningful way for my blog and for me and anyone else who is interested. This morning it was the question - "What am I serious about?". At first I didn't come up with very much and was feeling very uncomfortable about this. But as the day has continued I am coming up with more answers. They are not the answers I was necessarily looking for but they are enlightening me as to who I am and what I am interested in.

I am serious about -
my cats, being responsible for my finances - paying bills, having savings and paying my mortgage.
looking at and enjoying images, being aware and delighted by all the creativity in the world as seen  here especially. Growing vegetables initially for fun but now for more self sufficiency and health.
understanding the differences between real conversations and interactions that inflame. I am serious about following   www.susannahconway.com as I find Susannah's site inspiring and delicious to ponder over. I am serious about enjoying technology that allows me to have fun with photos and words. It amazes me how I will  persist to get it working but have trouble using the cappuccino maker. I am serious about my son and daughter and am available to them as much as possible as I so enjoy their company. I am serious about decorating our home with quirky things and then re-decorating and moving things around. I am serious now about orange which I have avoided all my life.

The list is now ongoing and it will be interesting to see how it pans out over the next few days as I add to it. It is not taking me where I originally intended it go to but I am intrigued by what is coming to mind and unfolding.

Serious frost.

Bring on Spring

The poem that started it all

A fairy should wave

Her special, magic wand

And make my whole life better

An idea, of which I’m fond

But this doesn’t ever happen

I’ve realised you see

This fairy that I’m waiting for

Is really, really me

 Anne  Holloway  - 23/8/99

Well I was serious about trying to add text from my book to my photos and if anyone can tell me an easier way than photoshop elements 9 I would be very grateful. This is one of a collection of questions I regulalrly ask myself around "are you serious?" and currently I am on the way/lookout for new directions to be. Application in for a new job, and just generally looking for opportunities.

Not looking quite how I imagined  as I can't read the writing on the photo but I will keep looking to find a better way.

Text on photo reads

Are you where you are supposed to be or have you lost direction?

 

 

 

 

Are you serious or not?

Well am I?

I have joined the Autumn break on www.susannahconway.com because I am learning such a lot from Susannah and am wanting to get some of my ideas around the question I feel is fundamental to everything we do - "Are you serious???"   out into the world.

I will post some photos and sayings from my first published book and see what others think or feel

Looking forward to my challenge to myself - Am I serious?

Here goes!!!!