Colouring The Decor With Patricia

If there is someone who did fabulous décor it is Patricia, for me! Patty is a friend who could lend you a great support in bloggyland. I love her designs and décor ideas. Her home in Dubai is like a canvas where creates and recreates magic time and again. Her daughters are blessed to acquire a mom like her coz she conjures their parties with ingenious ideas and fancies. She is indeed a Blessed Lady.

I am truly glad to present before you, Patricia Torres from Colours Dekor….

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

~ Calvin Coolidge

As a kid, I loved Christmas, it meant we were off school and Santa would come our way with loads of gifts. It was a time with family and friends, plum cakes and carols, parties and music..... *sigh*

Today, I believe... that we do not have to wait for Christmas to give!! Whoever said... Christmas was the season of giving... wasn't aware that you didn't need a season to give... *smiles*

What I love about this season is how our home transform into something so beautiful and precious... How we plan to be with family and friends and people that truly matter in our lives.. How we pause for  a moment to say 'thank you' to all those who touched us in different ways.. .

I believe in Santa Clause... Do you??

I love the time leading to Christmas, the planning, the preparing... *smiles*... The talk about gifts... meeting for coffee with friends, prior to going on a shopping spree... Saying that, this year, I've only purchased stuff thats on sale... which means.. I pay the difference between the original price and the sale price to charity... Its my little way of giving...

Every year, we plan and do some DIYs... The girlies like doing things... and we try and personalise our home... We make things out of paper... make pretty cards for all our loved ones... write personalised messages...





This year, I was running out of time.. so we only made the 'hanging decoration'

Hope you've enjoyed the little... 'me & Christmas' post... with me... Thank you Deepa... for hosting this and making Christmas Merry....

Brush Strokes From The Soul

The name SoulBrush(Jocelyn Rossiter) is what caught my eyes first. She is one of my oldest blogger friends in this bloggyland and one of my favourite; for her free spirit and will-do attitude. I feel the word “impossible” is ne’er to be found in her dictionary. She’s agile and would accept the challenges of art and life alike.

Soul’s art does touch my soul…it’s creative, innovative, fun and colourful. She always amazes me with her endearing spirit create more and more.

Soul is a teacher, a loving grandmom and an avid artist from London. Her art is soul personified! I would settle for nothing less!

Presenting Soulbrush…

'Tis the season to be jolly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la'.

We hear this every year,sung to us in all shops, by carol singers and in churches all round the World. And we throw ourselves into the Christmas spirit with joy, enthusiasm and lots of overspending.

My message for this year is‘

Mindfulness

I would like us to pause and think of those less fortunate than us.

 The old and lonely. We are all going to be old one day and maybe lonely too….Think abou tthese people now and tomorrow and next year too. Why don't you see if you can 'rent a Granny for the day' - someone sitting all alone in an Old Aged Home, with only her memories to keep her warm. Take her home and allow her to share in your festivities.

The ill and dying. Although we cannot always take them home with us- let's spare a prayer and a hope for each and every one of them this year, as they probably won't see another Christmas on this earth. May their Christmasses be filled with everything they desire (not materialistically!)

The homeless. When I see someone sitting on the side of the road with despair in their eyes and all hope gone, I often think...'this could so easily have been me', and I always spare a few coins for them, or some food. May be they would enjoy some of the leftovers from our opulently lavish Christmas dinners.

Abandoned pets. I get so angry when I see or find out about pets that are just 'thrown away' at this time of the year, either because people going off on holiday to 'find some sunshine' and the boarding kennels are closed, or they just get 'tired' of caring for a pet. Please remember- 'A pet is not just for Christmas, a pet is forever'. Maybe you could give your child one of these abandoned pets as a gift this year (but don't expect your child to care for the pet- you have to commit to it personally).

The lonely and alone. You don't have to be over 60, or poor, to be lonely, you can feel lonely at 16. Many many people will be spending the festive season on their own, without companionship or a loving family, and if you know anyone in this situation, then please invite him/her/them over for a meal.

Let's find our humanitarianism this year. Let's dig deep in our own pockets after what was an extremely difficult year for everyone economically, and give, give, give.

In my family- we adults-husband, sons and me, don't exchange presents- we give a donation to each other's charity of choice.

Because in a week's time, a lot of people won't even remember what you got or even who gave it to you!

I wish you all a blessed and heartfelt Festive Season filled with 'mindfulness' and joy.

Love and happy festive season to you dear Deepa,

Joss xx

(soulbrush: www.soulbrush.blogspot.com

 etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/soulbrushart)

Thank you very Soul for this fabulous post. You have always been a loving and generous Soul.

Soul is having a Sale in her Etsy shop till the end of December, Do feel free to drop in Friends.

Soul, Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas - Shirley's Illustrations

I stumbled upon Shirley’s blog, Shirley Ng Benitez Illustrations, and was utterly surprised to find the joy, innocence, fun, humour, emotion, sensitivity, feeling, intimacy and above all the love for nature – all in every illustration! I must say her illos are lovable and charming spreading warmth and delight. I am happy to have found her blog and wish her that even more heart-warming illustrations are born out of her pen/hand J

I am sure you would not leave her space without a J!!!

Shirley is a designer/lettering artist and an illustrator. She owns and operates Gabby and Co. She started the firm in 1998 and has worked in the design field for over 20 years. She has lettered cards for American Greetings Inc., has designed for major design firms and toy companies. Her work includes Web Design and Graphics, Application Graphics, book Production, technical and medical collateral and illustration for the children’s market.

Phew! That’s SOMETHING, isn’t it!!!!!!!!

Whenever I see her illos I get an Xmassy feel. You will certainly know why…

Presenting Shirley…

The spirit of Christmas...

...is celebrating nature's splendour.

...is wishing peace to all.

...is sharing the season with friends and family.

Thank you Deepa!

Merry Christmas, Shirley and my dear Friends!!!