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Hello !

I hope you all had a Valentine’s day filled with Love.

Sometimes though, I feel like I don’t belong anywhere, that people do not like me (and/or what I create), that all is just a giant facade we are all part of. And the darkness begins to make her way inside, again.
With time, I realized that fighting it is vain. Tiring. But going with the flow with the will not to be drowned helps to keep this sensation short. For me, at least. It was a huge lesson I learned the hard way because I used to let the darkness win.

Acceptance, again and again. It IS hard, isn’t it ?

Do not feel guilty for having negative thoughts running through you, because your thoughts are not necessarily you. And it happens to all of us.

You will think you landed in Fluffy Bunny land but I do feel that Love, self-love especially, is the answer. Love yourself and people will love you. I thought it was just a nice quote before experiencing it myself. I don’t say this is easy, because this is not. When it comes to body image and how afraid I am of what people may think of me, it is a permanent struggle. But it does get better.

Painting and art journaling is my way of pulling out everything. And I am currently in needs of working on my Dark Side. So this is the first thing that came out, and it is also the fourth painting for our 52 paintings in 52 weeks challenge (i love this so much !).

I will post a picture as soon as I can, I am currently experiencing internet issue on my laptop, where all my stuff is located.

Here is the video:

I hope you enjoyed (it is not the best quality and I am sorry about that. Dealing with Vancouver cloudy weather).

Hello !

I know i didn’t post last week, so i am fixing it by sharing with you the two last paintings for this creative challenge.

I am not very very happy about them, but anyway it is part of the processus I guess. Learned a lot.

This is painting numero dos, titled I am the Light:

The two elephant-ish figures imposed themselves when I thought it was done. What are they doing here ? No idea.

The painting number 3 is titled I believe in possibilities:

I like this one better. I loved doodling the black clouds with india ink and a nib pen. And this new colour combo is really pleasing to my eyes !

They are both made on 11″x14″ canvas panel. So storing them is easier (way easier). And it is flat.

Look at what Jeanette creating during this creative challenge: Jeanette House
And Kira blogpost about our first week: The magic of Community

I wish you a wonderful week-end !

Gratitude Friday is a weekly ritual I started in order to focus on all the small and big positive things that happened during my week. I invite you to join me, you’ll see how much being thankful can change your life. If you want to know more about it, read my introduction post.

Here in Vancouver we are still Friday, so I am not that late for publishing my Gratitude Frtiday blogpost !

I admit that this post was this close from not being written. But talking with my dear friend Anu, I took the time to sit and write this now.
If you did write a Gratitude Friday blogpost, please, share the link here. I love seeing the circle forming every week, even if it is one or two persons only.

But before going there, I must confess you something. It’s been two or three times since the beginning of the year that i just do not feel the pleasure in writing my weekly Gratitude Friday articles. I don’t know where it comes from, or why. Maybe I just go too far in personal details in these specific posts ?

Don’t worry, I will not give up on this. This ritual is way too important to me to be put aside. But the answer may be in writing shorter.

This week, I am grateful for:

• The book “The Replacement” Lindsay kindly sent to me, for free. Because she had two copies in hands.
• I received three things in the boxmail: a wonderful card handmade by my friend Aurore, the Girls received cards too, and my friend Paola sent Grenouille a book about Origami !
• I received my first custom order for a journal ! If my client agrees, i’ll share pics with you.
• The appointment with our bank councellor went well. Slow but steady is our mojo, praying that the Universe will send us what we need.

If you wrote your Gratitude Friday on your blog, don’t forget to enter your NAME and URL below so I’m notified and can come to read you (you can also join by commenting this post):
[linkme]

Hello !

We are back from our 2day getaway in Seattle, under a terrifying rain but safe and sound. Kind of felt like I was in a book of Stephen King :p I was able to find new supply to keep going binding books (that will end up in my soon-to-be shop).

I am currently obsessed with creating art journals. So I am learning “new to me” binding techniques. One person i really like is LK Ludwig. And I finally decided to sign up for her $15 three book bindings techniques class. Worth the money for sure. This one is easy and quick. I am about to try an alternative one as soon as this blogpost is published.
This one is faaaaaaaaar from being perfect. Really. And you can notice that I just picked what I had on hand and the colours are not that pretty together. But still, I had lot of fun doing it.

This is a view of the spine. I really like the fact that we can see the binding (of course, we could hide it if wanted).

And after all, why looking for perfection when a little girl jumps on the journal to make it her own ? My Koala (nearly 4yo) argued with her sister about who will get this new journal and won. She got it this morning and already created in several pages. It is not a fat journal so it will be filled quickly. It seems to be special to her, so it makes me even happier. I love being around her when she is drawing because she is telling her stories out loud while she is drawing, it is like i have the privilege to have the behind the scenes stories. It is purely magical. Just see:

Now, I have to create a red one for Grenouille (my older daughter) :p

Gratitude Friday is a weekly ritual I started in order to focus on all the small and big positive things that happened during my week. I invite you to join me, you’ll see how much being thankful can change your life. If you want to know more about it, read my introduction post.

Hello !

I am sorry I didn’t write my Gratitude Friday last week, I hope it didn’t stop you to do yours, online or privately. After all, I see myself only as the starter point, the tackle to make you begin and keep you going.

This week, I was showered by signs of friendship. Yes, I am shaking things to meet people here in Vancouver. It is hard for me because I am shy, I hate to be “the newcomer” in a group because i always have this bad sensation to bother people. But we arrived two years ago, and I still don’t really have girlfriends around you know (i have friends, don’t worry too much about me).

Thank you to my big soul sista Samantha Kira, to put me under her wing, to tell me face to face what I have to hear to keep moving forward, even if sometimes it is hard, so I can stay true to myself no matter what. She is my inspiration for perseverance, dedication and hard work. Just have a look at her new blog and website to see how passionate she is about what she does. It speaks for itself.

Thank you to Connie for making me see things differently to make sure I know what all my options are before taking a decision.

Thank you Paola for taking time in her busy schedule to talk with me.

Thank you Sophie for the messages she left me here and there, you’re in my heart every single day.

Thank you Cocotte for the comment on Facebook, it went straight to my heart.

Thank you Alice, for showing to the World that we should never give up on our Dreams. And for the frigtastic Skype moment. Can’t wait for her visit next month !

Thank you to my wonderful husband, for supporting me moraly and physically when the world seems to collapse around me. Showing me that love and optimism are the best responses to stressful moments.

Thank you to my wonder-Mamounette, who I miss terribly (can’t wait for Winter), for the everlasting cheer-ups, for being the first one to try my fabric journal too :p

Thank you to Jo Anna for the article she wrote in her new website “The Big Sparkly Life” titled The art of Nolwenn Petitbois.

Thank you Anu for the Valentine’s card. It is the first I receive !!!

Tell me, what were the fantastic highlight moments of your week ? What made you smile ? What made you happy to be alive ?

Oh I won’t be there this week-end, we are heading to explore Seattle before our “visit permit” expires. Excitiiiiing.

If you wrote your Gratitude Friday on your blog, don’t forget to enter your NAME and URL below so I’m notified and can come to read you (you can also join by commenting this post):
[linkme]