Fascinating Faces.

My classes have finished for this year and I am taking some much needed time just to do the things I love... art art and more art. I have been making some Soulcollages and while I have been browsing through some old magazines that I have been keeping I came across these photos which I thought were absolutely stunning. I went on line to search for John Kenny and I was completely side tracked with his amazing photography, I just had to share this with you.

Don't you just love the head dress they are all wearing... very creative.  I am not sure that I would like to be scared with hot pokers or what ever it is that they use to make these marks.
I am not sure why I stopped doing my SoulCollages when I saw these... what was the message? Perhaps something as simple as being really blessed to have been born in Africa. My paternal grandparents were Scottish but my father was born in China, maturnal grandparents were English but my mother was born in India. I was born in Africa and have been very blessed to have travelled the whole of Southern Africa from Zambia to Cape Town. There is not much of the country I haven't seen including South West, Namibia and Windhoek, Swaziland, Lesotho. I know why I stopped when I found these photo's... I am truly blessed.

Obi Balls

I have posted pictures of obi balls before, but since all my artist friends are making lovely things for Christmas I thought I would post them again. If you would like to know how to make them, please leave me a comment and I will give you the instructions.
Obi balls are Japanese friendship balls. One is supposed to make them and give them to friends to collect.
If you are interested in making one of these Obi Balls you can find the instructions here.

Oh So Boho

The world I would like to live in is so far removed from where I am right now. Perhaps you might ask... what stops you from living the life of your dreams? I am not sure, perhaps being conditioned by parents, then husbands and now my children. When will I step into my own reality.

I couldn't live with such strong colours all around me I would find it hard to be quiet and peaceful, but I LOVE it. I could however wear what she is wearing and chop my hair off once and for all.

I could invite my real friends over and sip cocktails and listen to awesome music and talk nonsence for hours on end.. and paint.

I would collect hats and shoes and wear them all the time and I would make chunky jewellery and I wouldn't care what people think.

SO EXCITED.

Oh my how faithful God really is. Something wonderful is about to happen. I have waited so long for this answer to prayer that it is finally coming to pass. Trusting in God is not always easy. Faith in the evidence of things unseen. There have been many times in my life when I doubted that the Lord was even listening. But time and time again He has been faithful to the end. There are many more unanswered prayers, yet, but this one is so huge that I cannot contain my excitement. I cannot mention anything just yet but trust me I will be sharing this wonderful news shortly.
I am not sure why the Lord keeps us waiting sometimes. Is it to strengthen our faith, or is He busy manoeuvring things so that He can answer those prayers. Or is it just that He sometimes says NO it is in our best interest for a prayer not to be answered in the way that we want it to? Which ever way it turns out, He is always faithful.

Crochet tree

Google the word Crochet Tree's and you will be amazed at what they look like. Some people have the most amazing imagination. You can also see some here.

Nespoon

Aren't these crochet dream catchers just exquisite. I would love to have one in my garden, infact I just might do that. I have big dreams so I need a big dream catcher. Google the artist Nespoon and you can see more of her work.

                                                      Oh WOW... look I caught one.

Terra Sheridan

Terra Sheridan

THERE IS NO PLACE U CAN GO 2 HIDE FROM THE THOUGHTS THAT KEEP U CONTEMPLATING OVER & OVER INSIDE YOUR MIND...THERE IS NO PLACE U CAN VENTURE WHERE YOUR TRUE EMOTIONS WILL BE CONCEALED & THE SECRETS OF YOUR HEART WILL NOT SHOW- THERE IS NO PLACE IN THIS WHOLE WORLD U CAN TRAVEL 2 WHERE YOUR SPIRIT DOES NOT DIRECT OR GUIDE YOU TOWARDS YOUR DESTINY... YOU MUST NOT TRY 2 SHADOW YOURSELF, BUT EXPRESS YOURSELF... (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

Terra is an amazing artist why don't you pay her a visit... just click on her name. 

My secret place

Step into my world

There are places that I go when I meditate, I have never shared this before, but as I am walking through the journey of healing would you like to join me on this one. YOU ARE INVITED

Goddess

I love sharing links with people who follow my blog. Since I am on the subject of healing I had to share this blog with you Healing Woman. I have always loved the idea that there is a Goddess with in all women. I am also very keen to try sculpture and would love to do my grandchildren, am I biting off too much do you think? Scroll through this blog there are some lovely things to see and read.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

For the next few weeks I will be posting issues to deal with PTS on this site as well as the other blog ABUSE IS NO EXCUSE, link because we are coming to that time of the year when we are dealing with the issues of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. PTS can be the result of any trauma, but I am relating it to DV.

If you are struggling with insomnia please go to this website. On virtually every program that I have been watching lately, Dr. Phil, Oprah, 3 Talk, Final Justice, CI and various magazines, they are all covering Domestic Violence. It may be boring, depressing for those who have never worn those shoes, but it is far worse for those who have, or are still there. Please be patient, we are all trying our best to bring awareness to this global problem and find some solutions.

I am sharing my own experience on the other blog, please go there if you struggle with lack of sleep and nightmares.

HEALING IN MEDITATION

Many Christians are against the idea of practising Yoga. I remember many years ago being taught in my church that we are not to practice any Eastern religious practices. I don't see yoga as anything more than a wonderful form of exercise and meditation practice. The bible does speak of, 'Seek the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding'. 'Be still and know that I am God'. Every religion teaches we are to learn to be quiet and meditate.

PLEASE SUPPORT US.
Stress and depression can affect anyone, meditation and massage is a wonderful way to find healing it has been researched and proven that these practices increase cortisol, the feel good hormone.

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

For the artists who follow my blog look at the rest of Bruno Leyval's art.

I am sorry I have not been here for quite awhile. I always have to remember that this blog was started in 2007 so that I could share my recovery from Domestic Violence and perhaps help other victims.

It sure as heck has been one long tough journey.

Art has been my outlet for all my frustrations, struggles, escape, and healing and I am still not there yet. The biggest problem that I find is that professionals don't diagnose correctly. It is all well and good when people have struggles in life to say... why don't you see a therapist? I have, many of them and I am sure many other victims of violence have as well, but if you don't see the right person it can add to the fear, disappointment, PTS and ultimately healing. In my own case it has been 3 steps forward, 2 steps back.
This reminds me a lot of when I was younger and had anorexia when I was modelling. Many people commented on my weight or lack of it... you look so skinny, you look fabulous, you need to eat more, you look terrible... but no one said... I think you are anorexic. In those days, way back then... no one knew about anorexia until Karin Carpenter died and Jane Fonda admitted having Bulimia. So it wasn't as well known as it is today. I cannot blame anyone for not confronting me, I didn't think I had a problem.

Most of the time it has to get this bad before anyone will say... this is anorexia and you are going to die unless you get some help.
PTSD is much the same. People say... oh you must be so much happier on your own, at least the abuse has stopped and you don't have to live with that anymore.... but no one knows what is happening on the inside. Yes I was glad I was away from my abuser. He is not my enemy... my memory is. I thought I was doing just fine and slowly but surely I would be happy again, but I was doing all kinds of things to avoid facing the truth. I was completely broken on the inside, cracked, and bleeding profusely. No one could see that, so as long as I looked okay on the outside people around me thought I must be doing alright... not so. As long as I could keep myself busy doing my artwork 24/7, drink umpteen cups of tea, stay away from the outside world.... I would be fine... WRONG. I was setting myself up for a complete break down by denying the severity of my situation. I did try to get professional help but I don't think anyone thought I was struggling as much as I was.
When is enough enough? When is the day that it all comes crashing down, what will it take for the pain to end and healing to begin? I was constantly being told... I am so strong and brave... I wasn't... I was hanging on by my fingernails.
I am going to be journalling about PTSD on my ABUSE IS NO EXCUSE BLOG so please go over there and follow me if you need some help.

When things go wrong they go seriously wrong

I was admitted to hospital recently and given a cocktail of medicines against my wishes. Today I thought I was good enough to go!. I took out some art work that I thought I could do while I was watching TV. I have been having some wobbles, but I thought I had them under control. I decided to paint all the borders of paintings that I have done over the months with black borders. Well before  long I bumped over a bottle of black paint that went EVERYWHERE. All over my persian carpet, my beautiful couch, my clothes  my jersey I was wearing and all over me... my face, my hair everywhere.

Let me tell you about my daughters. I have 3 of them. The eldest arrived to bring me some meds from the chemist, she saw what  looked like, said nothing and her reaction was to tell me how to perhaps clean it. She didn't looked shocked although I was covered in paint.
My second daughter, had she arrived, would have been in with all kinds of cleaning material. she would have taken all my dirty clothes put them in the washing machine and she would have wanted to see everything sorted and under control.  My youngest.... would have been on the floor laughing. She would  have taken out her camera, taken a picture of my new black hair, laughed her head off and done nothing to help me fix he problem.

I love my girls..... but I would like to see my Persian carpet clean... any ideas?

Oh I forgot to mention. After this catastrophe I thought I would relax and finish a painting that I had been working on for some time. I set up my workspace, nice and clean on my dinning room table. I put some turps into an old yogart container and started painting. The next think I notice if that all my oil paint is messed everywhere, there is turps everywhere and all of a sudden  I realise that turps eats trough plastic. I don't want to describe the mess..... so I did the best to clean up and that was me for the day !!!!!

Zentangles The Godess within.

I haven't been blogging lately as I gave been struggling really badly with PTS. It was advised to me by my therapist that I meditate and try and do things that will really distract me. This really works because although there looks like some sense of design, there really isn't until I start seeing a face appear.

I guess in some weird kind of way I would like to wear a head dress like this and live in a world that I can create for myself.

Okay we won't try and analyse this one, but it was a wonderful meditation.  My mind races with memories so this is like doing Mandalas except that it doesn't have any set design. I think  I could get addicted.

I am also starting to get ready for my Christmas show in  October. This little picture took about  an hour and a half and I think turned out really well. Nice to use up all the scrap pewter.

Blushing Bride

Anyone who follows my blog can see that I really love flowers and the Blushing Bride is my favourite. It flowers in September and is really hard to find. They don't last long, but when you dry them after you have enjoyed the fresh flower they dry beautifully.

The Blusing Bide is the soft pink inbetween the roses.

Sea Glass Chandaliers

I haven't got much time anymore to post my own art work so every now and again I find something really special and just have to share it. A friend of mine was collecting sea glass and she posted some pictures on Facebook. One of her friends left a comment and a link to follow and these are the beautiful chandaliers made with sea glass by this amazing artist. I couldn't save some of my faves but follow the link and take a look for yourself. Riaan Chambers

Soul Restoration

By now, those who visit my blog regularly will know that I love searching for beautiful blogs that restore my soul, this is one that I found recently and I think the reason I love going there so often is that I love the music that plays in the background while I brows through all the stunning pictures. Sharing is caring and this is really worth sharing.

Bel-decor

I DARE YOU

This is seriously NO JOKE. I friend of mine has actually been in this pool and he isn't normal and neither is anyone else who would want to do this. Google Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls and take a look at some of the video footage.

What a lovely holiday for the whole family... NOT !

Okay not I need a drink !

My Favourite blog this week.

I am freezing here in Johannesburg so I really enjoyed looking at these photo's. This is the blog I go to when I want to escape into a very beautiful world of fashion. The Alternative Wife I so often go to this site just to browse it really is so beautiful. Follow all her links and you will disappear into a world of fashion and beauty.