janet driver : acid-etched deep green leaded glass panel For several hours high winds of 56 - 60mph have been buffeting our trees around, making me feel almost sea-sick ! so I have chosen a still & peaceful image to follow after the rolling & rollicking branches... In fact this hanging plant I came across a few years ago when visiting a butterfly house near Kew Gardens was so still... merely turning very slowly as it hung down above a pool surrounded by exotic plants and beautiful butterflies...I remember the amazing stillness I felt as I sat beside the water quietly sketching this beautiful flower...

I hope that by choosing to focus on either my glass panel or oil painting you might be able to catch a glimpse of silence, stillness & thankful joy...

Christmas Eve

Have you noticed how Luke tells of the Nativity giving us stories that are filled with light & joy, of angels and the Holy Spirit...of Mary cared for by Elizabeth and then by Joseph and his family in Bethlehem.

joy

Shepherds & Angels

"...and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God,

and saying

'Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace..."

Nativity : www.jesusmafa.com

"For most of us, there is only the unattended 

Moment, the moment in and out of time,

The wild thyme unseen...

Or the waterfall, or music heard so deeply

That is is not heard at all, but you are the music

While the music lasts. These are only hints and guesses...

The hint half guessed, the gift half understood, is Incarnation. "

 T S Eliot : The Dry Salvages

Sunflowers & Sunsets, Creative Art & Croquet

http://leeabbey.org.uk/devon/

arriving at Lee Abbey

after a long day of travelling

...a really warm welcome, followed by a glowing sunset...

                                  and sunflowers on every table in the art room

joyful colour ... "joy in the journey" ...

beginning with Matisse :

Matisse: The Sheaf

& wonderful coloured paper to cut out our own designs

many delightful surprises

like the enameling workshop 

and even a game of croquet 

with an international flavour

and  winner from Uganda

delicious food 

 a delightful international evening

an opportunity to learn lino-cutting

joyful colour

& sunflowers, yet again...

opening up to quiet beauty

and joy

deep within

http://leeabbey.org.uk/devon/