This is not the best picture of a rainbow, but nevertheless one that appeared yesterday afternoon, and was a beautiful. colourful, magical arch across the back of my garden, a rainbow to make a wish on, one to dream on.
I have always been a dreamer, somewhat a solitary child who was happy in her own company. I spent most of my time drawing, making up and writng stories with the most extraordinary creatures from my imagination, and of course daydreaming. And these 3 pursuits still stay with me...and always will. My mind conjuring up many a mythical creature, but one I am still outlining is about a cat....no ordinary cat, a lesser known Norfolk cat with exceptionally long legs which makes him stand out from his friends. He lives in a place called 'Hidden Dips' with his friend Talking Spoon. He has many adventures and learns through his journeys, self confidence and inner strength....Anyway watch this space, I am still illustrating and scribbling notes right now. I have a family who encourage me to follow this dream and a special friend who inspired it :)
Six years ago we went to Australia to celebrate a set of milestones that each member of my family had reached. The last family holiday together as the gang were growing up fast and reaching for their own dreams.
I encountered a bit of a personal knock, but a good time was had by all. There was one activity that I did not join in with and once we were back in the UK I regretted not taking part in the Sydney Bridge Climb. My family had all enjoyed the day on the bridge and I wished I had been more adventurous and joined them in this once in a lifetime experience. Lucky me though had another chance and June 2009 found me back in Sydney.
This time I braved up and took the challenge, and wow how good did I feel when I completed the walk. My smile showed it all. I felt very spiritual at the top and now knew that anything is possible if you really want to do it.
I wear a little charm of this magnificent structure which in times of uncertainty I I take in my hand and remember how I faced my fears. I still waver from time to time, all of us do, but its such a wonderful feeling to of chased a rainbow and lived a dream.
I have an ongoing dream that has lived with me a very long time, maybe the next time I see a rainbow I will embrace it, and follow that dream.
A very happy bright and colourful week to all of you ...oh and to a very special friend thank you from the very bottom of my heart :) :) x
So a wish was made yesterday afternoon....silly me, am I just chasing rainbows of shall I follow my dream and take another leap of faith?
"In my world everyone is a pony who eats butterfly's and poops out rainbows"-Dr Seuss
How the first rainbow was created ..........
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.
Green said:
“Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”
Blue interrupted:
“You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”
Yellow chuckled:
“You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
“I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don’t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.”
Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
“I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life’s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”
Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey.”
Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
“Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
“You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued:
“From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.” And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
Author Unknown
Each one of us have our special purpose, unique and different and when we embrace them we can create something so beautiful that will stretch across the sky.
I'll go chasing after rainbows
Living in my dreams
I wonder now if anything's for real
I'll go chasing after rainbows
Living in my dreams
How can I explain the way I feel
This work started life as pieces of collaged vintage textiles and threads, then heavily machine stitched together to form a whole cloth. The shapes of these bags are based on loose drawings of the human form. Once cut out the new cloth is embellished, lined and stitched. Apart from small seed beads I make all the components myself, again using up-cycled ingredients! The colours are based on some lovely dancing bright light reflections across the water in Sydney Harbour. A feast of colour for the eyes that always inspire me on my creative journeys. I return to these images time and time again. 
