Jane Hinchliffe - Embrace THIS Moment

A little message from me to YOU today

Just a little message from me to YOU today!

Jane x

Budding artists in our midst!

I held my first children's painting lesson on Saturday! 

There's so much pressure on children these days and painting (and creativity generally) can be an invaluable way to destress and have fun. 

In the photo above, both boys are drawing pictures of birds which will then be painted in acrylic.  They then want to hang their creations in their bedrooms!

Of course, children don't usually have long attention spans, so they drew for about 20 minutes and then we talked briefly about the particulars of acrylic paints and thereafter delved into playing with the actual paint!!! Yay!

So in the photo above, they are mark making and trying out different tools - experimenting.  We talked about colour, opaque versus transparent, colour mixing, neturals, had a go at spraying paint with water directly on the canvas, stamping, using fingers/hands, flicking paint with a toothbrush, using a roller etc. 

What made it for me, were the sounds of sheer delight coming from these children!  Their faces were animated and alive with JOY! 

They seemed to love the freedom and release of doing what their intuition was asking of them.  Not worrying about the 'outcome' of the painting but just having fun.

The energy from these guys was electrifying, truly amazing! 

So, next lesson we'll continue with their bird drawings and then do a bit more self-expressive stuff as well! 

So, watch this space AND our budding artists!

Jane x

 

 

 

 

 

Goings on in my corner...

This week I've kept going with my healthy juicing and smoothie making... 

My digestive system is definitely adjusting now and I'm still enjoying the results!  The other day, I made a smoothie with avocado in it.  I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out and was hoping it would be ok.  Well, it really was - so smooth and velvety!  The other added bonus to all this effort on my part is that my waistline is shrinking slowly but surely.  Of course it's early days yet but so far so good!

 

Smoothie - melon, cucumber, celery, yogurt, walnut

 

On the artwork front, I've finished two new paintings and have really enjoyed the process!  The one below is called 'Beauty surrounds us' and is now available in my etsy shop.  The painting includes two of my favourite things - flowers (pink of course) and hummingbirds! 

This painting is called 'Count your blessings one by one'.  I love the colours in this piece and the cute little nest with two eggs nestled in it. I'll be listing it soon. 

Today I went into some woods nearby and came across some beautiful bluebells...  I just love them - they are so magical to me.

bluebells

Mia on our walk today

Mia was very interested in the tadpoles...

tadpoles

I hope you have a wonderful weekend...

Love Jane xo

 

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cleansing time...

After enduring long-term issues associated with my digestive system, I have once again decided to go wheat free.  I'm also juicing every day (once per day) using vegetables and fruit to aid weight loss.

I think my body is doing a bit of a detox at the moment as my digestive system slowly gets used to the changes. I've also felt a bit tired at times and again have put that down to my body adjusting.  

Our boys have been interested in the 'goings on' too and decided to 'help' with the smoothie making.

Here they are polishing off their scrumptious recipe...

So, hopefully my digestive system will feel cleansed and refreshed this next week. 

Take care of yourself...

Jane xo

 

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Had lunch with my Mum at the lovely Betty's restaurant in Harrogate.  I had a watercress and cheshire cheese quiche with various salads.  It was gorgeous!  It's lovely being able to have an uninterrupted chat with Mum sometimes!

 

I've started making smoothies again and am really relishing them.  This one contains baby spinach, half a banana, one apple, some cucumber and natural yogurt.  Just so refreshing!  I'd forgotten how good they are.

Here is my most recent painting which is just about finished.  This one is called 'Sweet heart of mine' and will be available in my etsy shop shortly.

So yesterday was May Day in the UK and our local village and school celebrates with maypole dancing, music, bouncy castles for the kids and lots of other activities.  It was a gorgeous day and was such fun seeing our boys and the other children celebrating.  The May Queen looked so pretty and so did the youngest children who were all dressed up too!

This photo shows the procession at the beginning of the celebrations with the Mayor in attendance!

Our boys mid-dance!  (They are both in the middle).

So, I hope you are having a good start to your week and take care.

Love,

Jane xo

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Fresh eyes...

Yesterday I had meant to carry on with a painting I'd started but instead found myself changing my website around (like you do!) and designing a new banner etc.  I hope you like the new look!

You'll notice under my name (on the new banner), the words 'seeing the world + ourselves with fresh eyes...'. So, you might be asking what am I speaking about?

About seven or so years ago, I was diagnosed with depression and eventually got the help I so desperately needed.  I had reached an all-time low and with two small children, I was finding life very challenging.  I remember slumping to the floor whilst my two young children were playing in the kitchen whilst I was just crying my heart out! Instinctively and totally 'off the cuff', I said a prayer out loud asking for help.  After that, things changed profoundly.  I found myself (literally) at the doctor's and talking with someone who seemed to know exactly what I was going through. That all happened within a couple days of that first prayer and marked the beginning to my healing and transformation.

It doesn't matter what anyone else's view is - I know God reached out because I called Him.  The treatment I sought was just what I needed and I know this was at God's directive too!  You might feel that the word 'transformation' is a bit 'over the top' but honestly, it's true.   

I'm not sure why I'm writing about this today but I feel called to share...  Maybe it will help someone else out there who is feeling depressed, alone and scared like I was.  

Just ask for His help, He's waiting and longing to hear from you.  Ever since then, I DO see with 'fresh eyes'.  It's changed how I see the world, myself and others.  That's why painting, writing, photography etc. are so important to me.  Those practices remind me of how blessed I am and the miracle that took place on my kitchen floor all those years ago.  I. was. saved.

Of course, life throws it's challenges at me and I stumble and fall but I look around me and feel blessed to my core.  I never thought that could happen for me but it has and YOU can feel that way too!

Love and light,

Jane xo

PS.  Click on the link if you would like to read about my journey with depression. 

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Thinking of YOU and hoping you are having a good start to the week...

Jane xo

 

One Moment...

Sometimes words aren't needed... 

In this space, I'd like to share with you the simple beauty of 'one moment' taken from my week... 

I'm hoping you will be inspired to do the same - just leave your link in the comments below for us all to see... Jane x

Just Me + The Sunshine!

Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells in you?  God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16, 17

It's been a busy week and quite stressful.  I'm feeling quite tired and drained.  This morning I took the photo above, out in our garden using the timer function on my camera.  I wouldn't have thought of doing this if it hadn't been for Liz Lamoreux and her ecourse Being Seen. 

I'm learning to really 'see' myself but not in a vain, self-centered way, rather in a loving, accepting, 'real' way.  I'm trying to see beyond the signs of ageing, double chins, the 'having to wear glasses all the time because contact lenses irritate my eyes too much' etc. 

I know that I am more than my outward appearance and how society interprets that.  No, I am a part of God and God is a part of me as the quote above reminds us.  Are we not told to love our neighbours as ourselves?  Yet, for so many of us, we take care of everyone else instead - it's what we are taught to do from a young age.

Finally, by failing to see our own innate beauty we are shunning God's love for us...

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For those of you who want to know a little more about me, listen to this brief introduction:

listen to ‘Time to introduce myself #1’ on Audioboo

Life's Distractions + Cherry Blossom

Sometimes it's easy to get distracted with life's problems don't you find? 

We can 'zone out' to the beauty around us and instead 'tune in' to our incessant internal chatter telling us to turn this way, that way and whichever way...  It's exhausting when we get on this rollercoaster! 

I feel like that too sometimes when I forget that life is precious, even when it might not seem that way.  I remembered to look up this morning and I'm so glad I did...  I love the delicate pinks on the blooms - they have an innocence about them that touches me somehow.  The sky was very 'moody', with some light rain falling.  I love the 'softness' of light rain - I feel soothed by it...

If you are feeling a little distracted today, I invite you to use your camera, sketchpad or journal and capture something you love today?  Just the noticing makes a difference - promise!

Take care YOU...

Jane xo

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Find out about more about my Mentor - Let's Chat Sessions.  Ideal for the topics listed below (+ others not mentioned):

- self-care and how to implement a practice that is right for you

- mid-life spiritual exploration

- juggling the demands of being a Mamma without feeling you are losing yourself

- birthing a creative project that is close to your heart

- using journaling as a way of discovering the 'real' you

- weaving creativity into your everyday

- using art as a tool for self-expression

- conversation about my take on 'intuitive eating'

- connecting within to the 'little voice of the heart'

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