Thoughts of the day...

Hello friends :) 


So I know I said my next post was going to be 'Part 2' of how my storybook came to be...though I came across an interesting, inspiring and refreshing quote from a well known, famous person that I felt encouraged by...




A quote from Albert Einstein...

This quote touched my heart deeply...as not everyone learns the same...and not everyone's life is the same. 
We are all unique and different in who we are. 
That's what makes us SO AWESOME! So THANK YOU Albert Einstein... even though you have passed on through...I needed to hear that! :)

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Also another thought for the day: 


Clones are okay...if your going for mediocre! 
Though if you want a LIFE of adventure, fullness & happiness...one key remains: 


BE YOURSELF and BECOME something AWESOME that your CREATOR intended you to be.


'The assignment' is in YOUR hands! Though one simple question remains...


WHAT are YOU going to DO with YOUR LIFE assignment...? That is the question... ;)



There WILL ONLY EVER BE ONE YOU! 


So...MAKE the MOST of it each day :)



It has been said...that we have an assignment in life...and it IS YOURS to FIND OUT! 
GO ON...I DARE YA! ;)

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'The adventure'is in the FINDING :) 


FIND your Passion, 


GRAB every moment with both hands- opportunities are everywhere! :) 


BE a friend to Someone


HELP someone in need...perhaps an elderly person...?
Sometimes, they have a wealth of knowledge...because they have LIVED LONGER than many of us...& you know what...


Grey hairs are to be celebrated!


GIVE to be a blessing and give of 'your time' to others  Family & friends might be a good place to start ;) 


And lastly...


LOVE your next door neighbour as yourself :) 
Perhaps a friendly, neighbourly wave hello won't go unnoticed...Or perhaps baking some freshly, made goodies and taking them over to introduce yourself to the neighbours...might be a GOOD way to make 'new friends'...Just a thought... :)


Though whatever you do in Your Journey...


remember...Be KIND to YOURSELF & OTHERS around you ...


As Your CREATOR LOVED YOU :) 


Also I was told of a movie- called: THE HELP which is a heart warming movie to see...so with that in mind...I will check it out when my storybook is finished.






Well my fellow followers...hope you enjoyed reading my post...next post I PROMISE will show some of my completed illustrations- in COLOUR I might add :)




Until I blog again...


Yours Faithfully...*Huggles*


Shine :)

Storybook...and life...hehe :)

Hello friends :)


So it's 3:16am in N.Z and...and yes- I do get the occasional 'I can't sleep syndrome' aka...insomnia! Lol 
Though I quite like being awake at this time of the night...okay I admit it...I LOVE to be a night OWL ;) 


How DO I explain my week??!...Hmmm let me see...ahhh yes...


My Week: 


Lots has happened...clinic appointment yesterday...quite happy with the clinical test results :) Yes I AM picking up my MATT and WALKING ;) Studying like a MAD hatter that's lost his fine, bone china, tea cup or...may it's the steroids I'm on- (joking about the steroids btw)!...Yes so...you can all breathe a sign of relieve! Haha!


Sweet! :D


Now that we have got past 'the basics'...onto the next few little precious moments I have planned and am awfully looking forward to accomplishing this week :)


Buying some darn right, good old fashion. board games...magnetic in fact! 
Throw in two citronella candles, a rather fluorescent green dome and some chocolates and what have you got? Have I caught your attention yet? ;)


Well i'll give you hint...Nature at it's best...sleeping under the stars...


If you guessed the answer...Yes that's right folks! We are going CAMPING this weekend!! YEEHAAAA! ;D What a treat it will be for our dear little pup Lilly...who has never experienced camping before!! :D I don'y know who is more excited...her or me??!! Haha!


This hoilday couldn't have come sooner! :) 
We have the perfect location set...though my lips are sealed as to it's whereabouts...sorry ;) And No- it's NOT the BACKYARD!! Hehe :)


Now onto other matters...


Some of you might be wondering...How my Children's Illustration dummy book- (mock up book) is going...? 


Well as best as it can be...given the 6 week time frame ;) 


So here's the goss/update: 


I now have scanned images of my illustrations, so far so good ;) Today I will be at some point...cutting down more of my text-e text...in order to get *drum roll pleeeaassee*
All 32 pages of illustration in my dummy book, before the end of this course- finishing early October this year. Ek! Lol


Here is an example- one of my Children's storybook illustrations...

Will Shine make it in the world of  Children's Fairy Tale books and get her book completed? FIND OUT in world of Children's Illustrating course: Part 2 land??!! 


Stay LOGGED IN to find OUT!! :)


To be continued... ;)




Well this is all the time I have for now...


Oh yes...and before I end off...here's some food for thought I have recently been thinking about...


"When crappy negativity is flying in all different direction towards you in life...just remember...
Your ONE STEP CLOSER to becoming the person your CREATOR INTENDED YOU TO BE...ONE step closer to a VICTORY!" :) Keep the FAITH! Yay! ;D


Until I blog again...


Yours Faithfully...
Shine *Huggles* ^-^

Storybook full SPEED ahead...! ;)

Hello friends,


Sorry it's been so long again since I last updated you on things! :(


Well, yesterday was my children's illustration course. And I have so much to catch up on!! 
Apparently i'm a wee bit behind my class!! ONE WEEK'S WORTH- in fact! *sigh* 
Oh well guess that's the STORYBOOK of LIFE!! ;)


Anyway, so having gone to this course for about 3 weeks now...I am under the realisation...that 6 weeks, is no where near, long enough, to complete a storyboard and dummy book mock up book with in this space of time.


My Tutor was also telling us students yesterday, that it take illustrators AT LEAST 6 MONTHS to complete a storyboard and dummy book (mock up book) to present to the publishers! 


So...I guess I REALLY have my WORK/ILLUSTRATIONS cut out for me! ^-^


Anyway enough about my days...here is some food for thought I've been pondering on...


Enjoy.... 


Life is meaningless, unless you follow the path that was promised and acknowledge the one who created you.


by Sarah.


Life is like the flicker of flame on a candles wick, dancing to the tune, surrounding it. 
Bright and full of light, the Maker guards His little flames by protecting them from the dangers unseen- that threaten to blow them out! 
His hands are like a shield, until the candle wax runs out...


By Sarah.


Also another favourite motto by Walt Disney I absolutely LOVE...(Apparently Walt Disney use to hang this up on his wall and work place for all his workers to see....


"This IS a 'Happy Place" ;)


Until I write again...Your faithfully...


Shine *Huggles*

'THE LIBRARIAN'

Hello friends :D


Thank you all for checking in so often :) 


It really means a lot to me, that you would take some time- out of your day, to check out, this blog! Yay! :D


As the weekend approaches, a few thoughts go through my mind...


The crazy, though funny week I've had.


Let me explain:


So...last Tuesday (and I speak of LAST TUESDAY IN PARTICULAR) I needed this library card for the course I am currently doing...


(Oh if there are others who have just logged onto this blog site- You might want to read my last few entry posts, it will give you an update on things, I'm currently doing) ;) 


So where was I...ahhh yes...


So it was- a very sunny Tuesday afternoon. The sun beamed brightly, across the vast blue sky and the wind was a bit howl-y at the time! Hehe...


I walked into the Library, feeling awfully cheery and excited about stepping foot back into a library again. 
As I approached the reasonably neat and tidy, returns office desk, I was greeted with
 a GRINCH! *Gasps in the audience* 
So condensing and darn right patronising, was the GRINCH!
If only there were a way to turn her frown upside down...hmmm.


"Excuse me." I asked, pleasantly.


It was...*Movie stringed instruments* *Movie shock tune: DAR DA DA DUMMM...!!!* :o


'THE LIBRARIAN' aka...'The Grinch' ;)


The Grinch even thought I was computer illiterate. 
Can you believe...? If that were so...I would not be on fb... ;) 
So there...I said it- though not to the Grinch's face, oh course ;) Hehe 


"Ahh..." I said to the Grinch.
"Sorry, I must not be familiar with your library system. It has been 10 years, since I last stepped foot, inside this wonderful, land of books! :) 
Can it be...? That your computer system doesn't like my name- it won't register me...?
Maybe it has an error..?"
Now the Grinch was quite annoyed by this...and so my frustration continued like this...
Until I kindly said; "Thank you, though I think I'll come back,. some other time" 
Inside...I was close to tears and felt like crying...though I didn't let the Grinch SEE that! ;)
Instead, I decided to walk out, head held high...yes the Grinch was not going to get the better of me- that day! :)


So...I decide to try another library, as I desperately needed, half a dozen or so children's storybooks, for AUT :)
 A nice, elderly man came to help me...he was my angel and helped me get my library card in the end.

So all was not lost...my friends...'Real Life Fairy Tales', can have a 'Happily Ever After' ending... 

THE END ;)  

A COURSE...Of course! ;)

Hello friends :)


Hope you are having a good week so far and life is treating you well....?
And if not, I hope next week is a better one ^-^


Just to let you know...


I am going to be a little busy for the next 6 weeks. 


The reason...*drum roll* please...? Ahhh who am i kidding...this is just blogger.com! Hehe ;)


Well... here it goes...


I have signed up for a course at uni. The course is called: Children's Book Illustrations. 


And let me tell you, that I am VERY EXCITED AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT!!! though a little nervous...oh ok quite nervous... EEEK! 
As apart from going through school and one other course, in my lifetime- which I did over 10 years ago. Eeek! lol
I  really haven't the faintness idea...how I'll get into the 'study ethics' thingy mi-jig' AGAIN?!! 


Ahhhh...It's been sooo looong...!! Oh well...guess I better start LEARNING fast...if I want to get something on 'paper'!!! ;) Lol


Anyway moving on...


I believe this will be a very valuable tool- perhaps even a key...when trying to create my very first children's novel! :)


You see...I have hit a stumbling block with my  illustrations for this novel. 
My illustrations are alright...though lots can be worked and improved on :) 


So...here is the crux of the matter...I HAVE NEVER DONE A STORYBOARD before, to put down all my creative illustrations into actions on paper...thought in this case a STORYBOARD is JUST WHAT I NEED!!! YAY! HAPPY DAYS!! lol 


In fact...this course will help me to described things better within my text-e story!!  ;)
*SIGH* So that's where I went wrong?!! :/ :) Haha! Well...now I know, how to go around my stumbling block! Hehe :) Yes I think an applause is needed...just kidding! Haha!


So this course is the kick start I needed, for my very first children's novel. 
What the course entails is, storyboarding and then getting a dummy mock up of how you want to present it to the publishers! So...I am very excited and happy to have found this sweet little course- it's just what I need!! :)


Well it's getting late over here...


Though before I go...someone gave me this verse. So I will leave it with you today...Psalms 91:1. Enjoy! :) 
I know I felt encouraged by it ;) 



Until I write again...


Yours Faithfully...
Shine :) 

Bless You :)

Hello friends,


Sorry that's it's been a while since I last wrote on my journey blog.


Lots has happen and a beautiful, sweetie gift and blessing came to us just 2 weeks ago ^-^


Hope you have all had a really good last few weeks and if not...then I hope you find your peace and security in knowing LOVE can conquer all :)


Ponder this verse from Philippians 4:7. Please be encouraged :) I wish you all the best in whatever you decide to do in life :) I choose to celebrate life and all it's blessings despite the shadows...
Remember...the SHADOW IMPROVES THE SUNLIGHT! :D

Now onto my most wonderful blessing thus far... Introducing:

Lilly our new little 9 and half weeks old Japanese Spitz puppy!! ^-^ She has only been with us for the last 2 weeks. She is such a cutie and a real sweetie ^-^ Since we brought her home, she has been nothing but a blessing to Alec and myself. She delights our hearts and fills our home with joy, happiness and the wonder of how a puppy can love you for who you are! :) Her loyal ways, touch my heart everyday :)

Thank you Lord, for giving us this awesome, wonderful bundle of little sweet joy... :)

Hope whatever you are doing in life, brings you happiness and fulfilment in your dreams, goals and desires on your journey...

Also before I end off my entry today, Remember to be kind to yourself and others...including puppies and other things great and small ^-^


Your faithfully...
Shine :)

Soccer teddy bear completed...and food for thought...

Hello friends,


So I've finished the painting I was talking about in my last blog page.


Here it is TA DA...my painting of a soccer teddy Bear! :)

In this painting it is personalised with the little girls name...but it can be just the teddy bear with preferred background and no name on it. Depends what the customer wants really.


In my next project...I will be painting a teddy bear- the background being a baby's room...for my little niece who will be due to arrive in this world sometime in December 2011.  I am so excited...this will be the first little baby from our side of the family...can't wait! :D




Food for thought: Some things may seem boring, mundane...like washing dishes or cleaning the house...putting out the washing...maybe doing the grocery shopping...but whatever it is... lets be grateful we have these things...as some are not so fortunate in some parts of the world to have plates, food everyday, clean water to wash their clothes in. 
When it boils down to it...if all of these things were taken away from us in a day...we would wish them back in an instance.


So I am grateful for a HOUSE to clean and ROOF over my head...grocery stores so I can supply my fridge and cupboards with FOOD...knowing I won't go hungry for a day or more.


It's all in how we think...just remind yourself to be grateful for all that you DO have :) 
Just something to think on ;)


Well until I blog again,


Yours Faithfully, Shine

Oh yes and I almost forgot...the last one of my happy little veggie friends...

Hope this brightens up your day...enjoy :)

Dear friends...where for art thou shine...? And for music's sakes...I'm sorry.

Dear friends,


My apologies for being a bit absent...fear not, for I have not forsaken this blog! Haha...
I will try my very best to write my thoughts down as best I can :) 
2 reasons really for my absence on this blog...well where do I start!?
1...my music! :) 
I have spent most of the last 2 - 3 weeks on one of my original songs. 
I spent an entire day in the studio playing piano/keyboard in studio. 
I am working with a friend who helping co producing this song with me...to get the right drum pattern and sound and anything other instruments we need to use...to make it sound phat and good for music sake ;) 
Anyone who has been in a recording studio...will tell you...it takes hours and hours of time to get something down musically! Haha...
Oh WHERE WOULD I be without my MUSIC and SINGING! I LOVE IT! 
It's what keeps me ALIVE in the soul you know! ;D


And 2...I have been busy working on another one of my teddy bear paintings...which I have been asked to do for a little girl...
The painting is going to be...a soccer bear in a field with blue sky and puffy white clouds...
I'm hoping her uncle likes the finished result- after all...he is the one paying for it! :/ 


So my friends...I hope that clears up a few things- why I have been absent...


In next blogging news...I will be posting the soccer teddy bear painting that I am currently in the process of painting. I have finished the background already...so now it's just painting the bear, dressed in soccer uniform.


Even though my paintings may not look like they take much work...they in fact...take several hours to days to do...depending on what the buyer wants and how much detail they want in their painting.
All my paintings are layered...which is why it takes much time.


I hope you are all having had a good week thus far...
and I hope you are doing what you REALLY LOVE to do in life...
Remember...we only get ONE life...Are you making the most of your days here...? :) 


As I am writing this...the song 'Dreams do turn to dust' by Owl City's new album: 'All things bright and beautiful' is playing on my ipod...how fitting for today's thought! hehe :)


Also as I blog...I will leave you with this...


"I can do ALL THINGS, through Christ who strengthen me' Philippians 4:13 :)


Well until I write/blog again...be kind to yourself and others around you...


Your faithfully...
*Hugs* Shine :)

Once again...another of my 'Little Happy Veggie Friends' as promised. 

Hope this makes your day a little cheerful-er ^-^ hehe

I know not a word right...?! Well...it is now! Hehe :)

A little look at some of what I do...

Copyright.KiwiChristmas.2008.AllRightsReserved.

Hello Friends,

Today I thought I would share a little of what I do...

When I'm not singing & song writing ^-^

Several years ago I was approached by a company to do some corporate Christmas cards...

I ended up selling over 300 hundred Christmas cards for this particular company...They were prints of course on good

quality card paper.

The mediums I used to painted these paintings you see here...were done with acrylics & flat board canvas, then sealed with a matt finish.

I still have these originals paintings and many more locked away from the public eye until the time is right ;)

 I started painting these little loveable teddy bears since I was 14. So I've really had a lot of practice ;)

Copyright.WinterWonderland.2007.
AllRights Reserved

I have many of these cute little furry Loveable teddies...

My logo & brand is called 'Loveable bears' by SarahAmy.

So I hope this gives you a little sneak peek into just some of what I do :)

Well I hope you all have a nice day...and remember to be super kind to yourself & others...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Copyrright.ChristmasPlaytime.2007.AllRightsReserved.

Until I write/blog again...

Your faithfully...*Huggles* Shine ^-^


Loveable bears Christmas collection...was proudly brought to you By SarahAmy. 

Copyright.LoveableBears.2006.AllRightsReserved.

Literally, not metaphorically...hehe :)

Hello dear friends, :)


Today as I sit on my light mocha cosy couch- laptop resting gently a top a servings tray. 
I write this post, starring out my windows, as the trees dance and sway to the tunes of the wild wind... revealing the calm after a stormy winters night.


Though clouds maybe overcast...revealing a hint a blue sky and sunlight every now and then...shinning down on evergreen trees, highlighting colours of light greens, yellows and medium shades of green.
As the howls of the wind pass by our house...making their way past a patch of green pastures- land we live on.
This come with much gratitude...that even through the storm...I am safe...somehow...in my Masters loving arms :)   


Yet even though I am alone I do not feel alone...for somehow my Master is with me at all times.


@(--'---


Well these were my thought for today...I will be posting some pics up soon...(hopefully today)! Pictures of our adventures in Dudersland...and a beautiful piece of paradise from heaven above...that could only be Maretai Beach, in our beautiful land Aoeteroa...meaning: Land of the long white cloud...New Zealand! :D


Well until I write/blog again...


Yours faithfully,
Shine...aka Sarah :)