My Initiation into the Craft World

Well, I finally got to try my hand at some crafts and I gotta say: What fun!

I admit patience is a necessity but it is so relaxing and the tiny little things you make bring such a smile to your face and satisfaction for your soul.

I went over to my friend's house and we started with paper quilling. The paper colours all lined up in the packages you buy are just so pretty! After looking through an illustrated book of paper quilling, I decided on just doing some simple flower and heart designs to start off with, especially since all the instructions were in Japanese.

So, after lots of measuring, cutting, rolling, pushing, pulling, gluing, fumbled fingers and my friend's excellent instructions, I had created my first project in crafts. And it only took two hours!!

Here is my final product:

It may not look like much, but it does take a long time and precision. Every piece glued onto the frame, needed to be sized, cut, quilled, shaped and glued together.

Each piece is made separately, formed and shaped and glued. Once you have enough to create something, then you put it together to make a heart, or flower petal, or stem, or whatever.

Once it's all glued together to (hopefully) resemble what you want it to, then you have to put it on the frame.

The little white flowers in the top left take the longest. First I did the yellow centers. Then I focused on the white. Each long sheet, needed to be cut to size, then cut numerous times along the edge, then twirled around the yellow center and glued. Then to create the effect of petals, formed, and pushed and spread apart. So, it really does take time.

But now that I know, I will be doing another one with a lot more detail to be used as a collage of pictures of my husband and I. Wish me luck!

Today, I spent another couple of hours making more flowers and other simple designs, and stashing them away in my little cache for my next project.

Two and a half hours, a cup of herbal tea and a bunch of grapes later, we moved on to my next craft: embroidery.

haha.....well, let's just say I didn't finish the tiny cushion I chose to make.

Hooolllyyy tiiiime!! I had no idea how long this stuff took to make.

I won't upload the picture of what I am doing in embroidery until my cloth begins to resemble the picture I plan to make.

But I chose a tiny cushion that has different types of herb plants, as my design. It's really cute.

After...ahem...more than a couple hours...(I won't elaborate)...I managed to finish the square border and one stem line of one herb of a few.

I also didn't realize that embroidery is all about the counting...we had to do a lot of counting to centre the image, to measure, etc. etc.

But, in saying all that, after a few cross-stitches I began to see the pattern form on my fabric and it was the encouragement I needed not to throw in the towel, or the cushion for that matter.

So also today, I spent my morning finishing four other stems. It is coming together...it will definitely take me much longer to finish this than the quilled picture frame, but I'm enjoying it. I cannot deny.

There you have it: my initiation into crafts was a success and I have now crossed to the 'lighter' side of life...it is a wonderful way to pass your time, to spend time with friends, to relax, to lighten your mind and to give yourself some fulfillment.

I would recommend it to anyone. :)

It was just what I needed to finish off my first week in my self-improvement mission.

My husband commented in the car today that I am so relaxed. We were behind an old granny driving about 20 kms/hr in a 60 km/hr zone. It was a swervy and hilly road, so I could not pass him.

If this had happened two weeks ago, I would've been cursing, my heart rate and blood pressure would've shot through the roof and I would've honked and swerved behind the poor man, making him nervous as hell and eventually move to the side to let me through.

Instead, I sat back, sang along with the music and chatted with my husband as we sipped our coffees from 7/11.

He was very impressed with me. And to be honest, I was impressed with me, too. :)

It was a relaxing drive. :)

So now I'll sign off sending out a big thank you to Heather for inspiring me to try my hand at crafts and to Caren for having the patience to teach and guide me.

And once I post this, I'm going to open my file and continue writing my novel, which I added another 3 chapters to, last night.

Have a wonderful week everyone :)

Quote of the Week

Well, I'm going to include two quotes this week, only because both of them are perfectly in line with my mission of self-improvement.

Read, enjoy and take them to heart :)


"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~


"Peace begins with a smile."
~Mother Teresa~


Happy thoughts, everyone!

A nice glimpse of the future

This week has been a refreshingly calm week. Yes, I'm still crazy busy, but I'm smiling and my shoulders are relaxed and my hair is done nicely and my glass of wine is a nice treat, not a relaxer.

I have now started my Spring Break holiday, but here in Japan it is our end of the year holiday and the new school year will start, for us foreigners in a couple of weeks.

These next two weeks will still be busy as we are finalizing my husband's papers and doing a major cleaning to get rid of most of our stuff to get an early start on packing. I also plan on finishing my novel within these next two weeks.

I have about another 10-15 chapters to go, but I am determined to finish it. Then dedicate the next 2 or 3 months to making the final edits. Then, it's off to a publishing house or agent for rejection or acceptance...of course, all in the house are hoping for the latter! *wink wink*

Getting older doesn't seem such a taboo issue with me anymore. No, no. I'm actually enjoying each day as my life is shaping up to be just how I want it to be.

I'm learning to relax more, learning to let the little things fly with the wind and the big things not to consume me. I'm enjoying learning the things I've taken upon myself to learn. I'm learning to be more optimistic. I'm learning to be even stronger than I thought I was at facing possibilities/obstacles.

And I'm learning to enjoy a good glass of wine, or a steaming hot coffee, appreciating the nature around me. I've passed a couple of days in the exact manner I've painted my 'future' picture as. Relaxing with my husband over a nice coffee in the morning, watching the sun rise and writing.

I've had the pleasure of learning the feeling my writing tutors described when they talk about 'whipping up an article and sending it off'. And also when they talked about feeling like a writer and the satisfaction when the paper or magazine shows up on your doorstep and you open it to read your article.

Yes, this week has been the exact mimick of what I am planning my life to be like by the end of this year. It takes time, but each day is one step closer. Each day is a separate pleasure I'm learning not to take for granted.

Okay, so there are my thoughts for the night and now I'll sign off wishing everyone a wonderful week. Find beauty in the little things. It makes life so much more pleasurable. :)

My Published Works

Here is an article I wrote, published last December in the Being A Broad magazine for foreign women living here in Japan.

Just click directly on the article for a bigger, clearer image.






Next month, I will post another of my publications. :)

Happy thoughts

Well, so far this week has been a very relaxing one.

I've been trying to follow my list of improvements and I'm proud of myself at how well I'm doing so far.

Since Sunday there were 23 instances where, had I not made my list, I would've lost my temper...little things like getting cut off while driving ( I have terrible road rage..something I inherited from my Canadian roots, apparently!)...

Anyhow, to make a long story short, I've been feeling much more relaxed as I chose not to get angry in those moments. I just kept repeating "Happy thoughts!" over and over again.

My husband saw how my attitude has been improving, he jumped on the bandwagon as well. He knows me well enough to know what gets me going, so before I even have time to register what is happening, he is already saying "Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts!"

It's actually quite cute, since he can't speak a word of English so it kind of comes out as: "Hapay fox!" hehehe :) :)

Anyhow, I'm even enjoying my dancing more. It says something about being more optimistic and calmer in life. I happen to like this temperament better.

Oh, I'm not 'cured' but if I'm going to put energy into something, it's better to put it into "hapay fox", rather than road rage :)



Today was also the last day of school and we had the graduation ceremony for my junior high school students. They are my favourite students and I will miss them terribly.

In the six years I've been here, I have never met a group of Japanese teenagers as outgoing, kind, friendly and open-minded as them. They made me feel like a friend and respected me as a teacher. I will really miss them. We took lots of pictures together after the ceremony, so I will definitely develop them to keep for memories.

Yes, so far it is shaping up to be a very good week.

Happy thoughts :)

Why is changing so hard?

So, a few things happened over these last couple of weekends that got me thinking.

It's been a long struggle for me over the years to live the life I want to live and to mold myself into the person I want to be. And I've had more relapses then I'm willing to admit.

I wasn't always such a nice person. Actually, I was a downright b*tch. I had alot happen in my life that made me lash out and hate everyone, feel the need to break free and turn my back on it all, feel the pressure to prove myself and I was cold. Very cold. I didn't shed a tear no matter what happened.

There were a few years of my life where I felt I had finally reached the balance in my life and in me, as a woman. They were the happiest and most peaceful years of my life.

Unfortunately, that didn't last long.

Now, I am overly friendly, am a mother hen to all my friends, wear my heart on my sleeve and cry at the drop of a hat. I'm pathetic.

The thing is, such an extreme change in character has opened the doors to being hurt, taken advantage of, betrayed and leaving any Joe Blow feeling they have the confidence to say whatever they damn well please to me.

And everytime something like that happens, I can feel the old Aurora coming back. It's like the transformation of the incredible Hulk. Seriously. My face feels hot, it's red as a tomato, my hands start to shake and I can almost feel my blood boil. (I know that makes me sound scary, but unfortunately that is one trait I inherited from my Sicilian ancestors: a very bad temper)

Yet, I say nothing. The new Aurora, the nice Aurora, the 'do unto others' Aurora wins out. And I honestly have no idea if this is a good thing or a bad. All I know is that when I walk away without taking the opportunity to speak up for myself or my family, I'm left days with simmering anger.

Unfortunately, I admit the new Aurora tends to take alot and then without explanation I blow up at the final straw. So it is partly my fault for by staying quiet, these so-called friends or complete strangers are conditioned to think it is okay to walk all over me.

Due to recent events that I won't get into, my husband gave me a stern talking to. He said I am way too nice and I need to stop being this way. He, on the other hand, is not very friendly with people at all. I've asked him to be a little more friendly over the years together and he has softened a bit, but I am beginning to think he had it right to begin with.

This afternoon my husband made it clear to me he is no longer Mr. Nice Guy with anybody but family. He is polite, don't get me wrong but cordial polite. Not friendly polite.

After the track record I've had these past few years of being walked on and losing friends for not saying things sooner, I think he's right.

And I hate to admit, that because of all this, I've grown to be quite a complainer and I have grown to become irritated much to quickly. I am no longer the calm, take it in stride Aurora I was a few years back. And I miss that.

I miss the woman I was just a few short years ago. It seems I was much smarter and more balanced then.

So, after an afternoon alone with my thoughts, I've made some decisions.

I am no longer going to complain.
I am no longer going to look at the pessimistic side of things.
I am no longer going to allow people to 'sting' me with their words/actions.
I am no longer going to open my heart to just anyone.
I am no longer going to worry what people will think of me if I do or say something.
I am no longer going to let people manipulate me.
I am no longer going to let my temper get the better of me.

I am going to focus on me.
I am going to focus on my husband.
I am going to smile more.
I am going to be more optimistic.
I am going to be firm.
I am going to say and do what I feel is right in the moment.
I am going to move forward every day.
I am going to let go of the past.
I am going to let other's be angry.
I am going to make the line more visible to others.
I am going to rid myself of all negative thoughts.
I am going to distance myself from people who won't be in my life in a year.
I am going to be more calm.
I am going to curb my temper.
I am going to surround myself with only people I want near me.
I am going to think happy thoughts.
I am going to be happy, secure, confident and balanced.

And I am going to log it all here in my blog. I need to 'see' myself accomplish these things.

*phew*

Well, what a way to start the week. A little soul-searching and resolution making. :)

I am going to succeed :)

Quote of the Week

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
~Charles M. Schulz~

Something sweet?

Anybody?

:) :)

Today is the day

Well, great news!

Another article of mine has been accepted! I was contacted by the editor of the magazine awhile back for a 'rush' article she needed done. I got that done in a 'rush' and it will be published this month.

She sends me another message yesterday, asking if I'd be interested in writing another article she needs for next month. I ask her for a sample and she sends me one this morning.

I thought: What the heck? Why not? It's a great way to get tearsheets.

So, I start fooling around with an idea and an hour and a half later, I send her my first draft.

She emails me back so excited and happy. She loved my draft and said she'd be willing to publish it, as is! And says she's impressed how fast and great I am.

Now, I'm not trying to stroke my own ego here, because I know these are not major kick-ass articles. Actually, all three articles accepted by this magazine were non-fiction, life articles.

But I am feeling pretty damn good! And it inspired me to write another article which I want to send in to another magazine. Yes, a paying one.

I finished that article today, as well.

So I must admit, it's been a pretty productive day. I taught three classes, wrote two articles.

One has been accepted already and the other is now sitting patiently, while I do my Market Research Analysis and hopefully that will be out by the weekend.

Now, I have an inkling of what my life will feel like if I reach my goal of writing from home.

Today, I feel like a writer :)

What a wonderful surprise!

Well, you just never know where, how or who will surprise you. :)

I opened my blog today to find my faithful TWF Friends as my followers. You guys are awesome!! :)

I'm proud of the community The Writing Friends has become over such a short time. We met at different points in our lives. We're all from such different backgrounds, but having the love and struggle of writing in common, brings us closer together.

I feel more at home in TWF than any other writing site I've found. I am proud of everyone's successes and sympathize with everyone's letdowns.

It's nice to feel part of a community that is still very personal and one that helps us grow. It will be awesome to watch everyone progress and reach their goals!

Perhaps very few of us have blessings in all aspects of our lives, but some blessings make you feel so warm inside, it makes up for where blessings are lacking.

I will sign off wishing you all a wonderful week and leaving you with my Quote for the Week:

"I'm so lucky. I have such a great support system. All I have to do is run. "
~Cathy Freeman~

Quote of the Week

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do and damned if you don't." ~Eleanor Roosevelt~


This lady got it so right :)
A lesson that was difficult for me to learn, but I think I've finally got it.