Barbara Gray Blog

Well, this one couldn’t be more appropriate! Trying something new can feel a bit daunting, especially when we’re comfortable with the things we already know how to do. But that’s where so much of the fun is, isn’t it? You don’t have to be brilliant at something the first time you try it – in fact, you probably won’t be! The important thing is simply being willing to have a go. Yesterday, here at the Retreat, we introduced our second…

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Small Ideas Can Grow Into Wonderful Things. Isn’t that so often how creativity works? You start with the tiniest idea – a colour, a shape, a stamp, perhaps something you’ve spotted while you’re out and about – and before you know it, one thought has led to another and you’ve created something you never planned at all. That’s why it’s so important to simply start. Don’t wait for the big idea or the perfect plan. Put something down on the…

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Good morning and Happy Monday! Here we are on Day 10 of August already! Where does the time go? I overdid it a bit yesterday, (laughed too much maybe!), so I am stepping back from the SHAC this morning. Apologies for cancelling at the last minute. I already knew last night that I had overdone it, but decided to “sleep on it”. Verdict still the same this morning. Thing is, the next fortnight is going to be full on, with…

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Happy Sunday! Now, that might sound a bit big-headed at first, but it really isn’t intended to. I’m not saying, “Look at me, aren’t I clever?” Far from it. I think this is something we can ALL do. Give us a scrap of paper, a stamp, a pencil, a bit of ink, an old book page or even something destined for the bin, and we have the ability to see beyond what it is and imagine what it could become….

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Hi there, How many times have you heard me say this ? I’m not a tattoo girl, but I reckon this one would feature somewhere! I rather like today’s affirmation because it perfectly describes the way this project evolved. I honestly had no fixed plan when I started. I simply began with the first layer, then stopped and looked at what was in front of me. That told me what to do next. Another layer, another pause, another decision. That’s…

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