Shell designs ...

Do you find after reading Dr Seuss your brain tries to make you rhyme?  My brain tries, but doesn't succeed.  I have hardly any original creativity in my body so as much as I can hear the brain crunching gears in my head, there is no rhyming gear!

Perhaps due to lacking talent of my own, I totally gravitate to creative people, which explains why I love reading your blogs.  I feel so ashamed sometimes of my lack of anything interesting to add to the creative pool in the blogosphere but I do enjoy what you have to offer.  So I don't participate in sew-alongs or sending creative gifts around but I do so enjoy seeing what you are all up to.

Therefore, it is no surprise that one of my closest friends is a talented artist and graphic designer.  Shell has finally stepped through into our blog realm and is showcasing her talents: Shell Designs.  Please check her out! 

Here are some examples of her talents that she's blogged:

Pop over there and perhaps you might like to 'follow' her too.  I think Shell is a chickie going places.

Hanging out with creative people is so much fun and I am blessed to have clever friends!

x's

Inspiration: A Brave & New Life

I am very inspired by other people.  Take for instance my friend/relative Sharon (we're related by a few double-beds removed as someone I know used to say!).  I saw Sharon on Christmas day and had to double-take her.  She looked different . . . she'd lost weight, a significant amount but that wasn't the only difference.  Sharon had an amazing 'presence' about her- a new self confidence, a new take on life?  I don't know, I had only met her once before.  But she was different and radiant.  As we got chatting she began telling me what she had been up to since I had last seen her some 7 or so months ago.  She had quit her business of 7 years and has begun cake decorating and a new business!  I was stunned!  The first time I had met Sharon was at her daughter's engagement party where she made a very yummy cheese cake that was meticulously piped in tiny cream swirls forming a heart.

Me: "Hey Sharon, nice cake, how long have you been cake decorating for?"
Sharon: "Never done it before, this is the first time"
Me: incredulously exclaiming (I am a gusher afterall) "You're kidding?!  That is beautiful.  You know, you should really get into cake decorating".

Only a couple of months later, Sharon made this cake for her daughter's wedding. 


Sensational.  And now she is working on her other daughter's wedding cake.  I am soooo inspired by Sharon.  Look what she has been doing since!

Sharon has been teaching herself this new skill from a book and online tutorials.  Sharon is living a Brave & New life!

I don't take credit for Sharon getting into cake decorating, but I do believe I am a feather that helped pushed her over the edge to do it.  When I showed Sharon this post (to make sure she wasn't embarrassed by it), she said "you can take credit for the push as you planted the seed in the ol brain".  People tell me I am a gusher but you know, some people need to hear praise, affirmation and encouragement. I do and I will not stop gushing over other people!

Do you know someone living a Brave & New life?  Are you making changes in your life, doing things you have put off for years or are you needing a little encouragement?  Tell me, I'd love to hear from you (and encourage you)!

xxx BNF

PS I couldn't end this post without a then & now of our lovely Sharon.  Well done!!





Then (12 months ago)



Now!