Bloggers Art Gallery update: details for participants and observers

Dear All,

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to my idea about doing a Bloggers Art Gallery (I am agonizing over whether an apostrophe is needed. I feel there should be as the Art Gallery belongs to us, the bloggers, but it looks awkward! Sigh....I hate getting grammar wrong)- I am glad you think it is a good idea.

So... to those of you that have said you would participate, can I please clarify that you will indeed.  And those who left a slightly ambiguous response, I will also ask for you to clarify please!

Will be posting:

Sheila12:12 a

2. 
   Julia

   
   
3. 
   14 Shades of Grey https://14shadesofgrey.wordpress.com/
4. 
   Vix
5. 
   Mike: https://postcardpurposes.wordpress.com/
6. 
   HazelxJoy
7. 
   Polyester Princess
8. 
   Confuzzled Bev
9. 
   Louise
10. 
    Sophie in the Sticks
11. 
    M.K. 

1. 
   Shybiker

1. 

   Fat Dormouse https://fatdormouse.wordpress.com/

   
   
2. 
   

Haven't specified that they will be posting but left nice, positive comments so will be browsing the galleries, I presume (let me know if you aim to participate in presenting a gallery)

1. 
   wembley

   Great idea

1. 
   Aril

1. 
2. Anca
3. Anyone else:

   Comment with clarity! It's definitely not too late to join in. Just comment below

When:
Participants:
If we could all put up our posts on the 21st July please by 5pm UK British Summer Time (don't ask me to work out the time changes! I haven't got a clue!) but don't post before that day itself, if possible maybe schedule it for that day in the morning. I want to get as many people to see it as possible.  If you leave me a comment in THIS post (a with a direct URL to your post), I will post your link as I see the comments.  Leave it on that post as well as My one, just in case I haven't managed to post in time. I don't want people to miss anyone out because they were a bit late with their post...or I am!

If you haven't left me a direct link to your post on the day, I will still use your URL link above, to be included in the post.
Visitors:  Please visit from the evening...or whenever you see the post is up.

Also, participants, I wonder if I had permission to perhaps to a summary post a few weeks later or so perhaps sharing one piece that I liked best from everyone's posts. I hope that is ok!


What:
If you think it counts as artwork, please include it.  I want this to be inclusive.  Sophie mentioned that Art can be subjective.  I like that! I like the idea that some people will have only a little bit of art, some will have loads, some will be in the middle- that's what will make this interesting.  I like the idea of seeing what you can interpret as art too. If you consider it to be art, then let it be part of the fun!
It can be by you, by friends, by family or by an artist you have chosen to support by purchasing their art.
It might be:

• A beautiful hand-carved chair (I have persuaded my Mum to take part in this too and she will send me pictures - I reminded her of a beautiful chair she has which counts), 
• It might be sculpture.
• Rug hooking, 
• Patchwork quilt, 
• Hand-crocheted cushion or animals.
• Paintings
• Sketches
• Much-cherished drawings by young family members.
• Glasswear.
• Embroidery/Tapestry
• Photographs that you consider to be artwork
• Collage
• Carvings

etc, etc.

You get the idea...

Details:
If you are able to include some details about each piece of artwork, that would be really interesting for those who read the posts. Also, if you have bought from an artist who has a website, might be nice to share the love.
You could also include where you bought it, why you bought it, what you like about it? I like this type of info.
Or, if you find this a bit too arduous, just sharing the picture with the title (if there is one!) and the name of the artist is fine.

How to photograph:
If you could take some pictures that show off your beauties clearly- either just one photo or extra close-ups of details as well would be nice. But again, this is up to you.

Sharing:
Perhaps you could also copy and paste the links from my blog post to share on your blogpost of the participants (maybe edit so others who read your blog, but not mine, have the opportunity to visit all our 'galleries'. I've included the names above (with links, I think) of those I think are joining in, so you could use those in the meantime at the bottom of your post.

Commenting:
Art galleries like to keep a track of visitors so it would be lovely if you could comment on the posts of those you visit- even if it was a 'Thanks for sharing', let's make the effort to show our appreciations, even if the art was not to our taste. Of course, more detailed appreciative comments are also welcome!
Also, I don't need to say this as everyone who accesses this blog is kind (except for stupid people who share their random spam links- you can get lost!), but even if you don't consider something to be 'art', perhaps don't say so!

If you have any queries or questions, or I have missed out something vital, please leave me a comment below.

xxx

A pause for Advent 2: Madness, lies or the truth?

"Logic!" said the Professor to himself.  "Why don't they teach logic at these schools?  There are only three possibilities.  Either your sister is telling lies, or she is mad, or she is telling the truth.  You know she doesn't tell lies and it is obvious that she is not mad.  For the moment then and unless any further evidence turns up we must assume she is telling the truth."

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, p47-8.

We were discussing what we believe and why we believe it in my home study group on Wednesday. The following came up, which I feel is important for Advent.  Knowing what you believe or even if you are not sure, thinking about it and knowing why you believe.  Taking this time to reflect on your beliefs:

Jesus is/was a real historical figure.  He existed and is not some mythical creation. He is talked of in histories by his contemporaries (including those who were hostile to him and his message) including the Roman writings of Tacitus (the greatest historian of Ancient Rome) , Seutonius, Thallus and Pliny, and the Jewish writings of Josephus and the Talmud.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080612050321AAp9n9I


But who is he?  He can only be one of three things.

a) a madman.
b) a liar and somebody evil
c) exactly who he said he was.  The Son of God.

If a) then, why have a million people followed him, a myriad of poems been written about it. Why was he not found out? Why did many people believe him and not others. Why was he not written about as such?

If b) he caused the death of millions of people who were persecuted because of him, why thus did they continue to follow him and believe?

c) If he is neither of the above, then he can only be exactly what he called himself.  He can't just have been a good man, because a Goodman does not lie about who they are thus becoming the cause of many deaths in his name, he would not have been good then. If he was a Goodman, then he must have been telling the Truth and he is who he said he was.

Relating to who we/I/you believe who he is, I was given a 'Daily celebration of praise' calendar by a Secret Santa at school 4 years ago.  The entry for today, December the 9th states:

"His life is the lught that shines through the darkness."  John 1:5 TLB
Jesus is the central personality of history, and whether Christmas is canned or canonized, packaged in ribbon and sold for profit or sanctified in a cathedral where humble souds worship, He is the inescapable Christ.  The fury of opposition to His praise seeks to ban pageantry and sterilize holy celebration to suit the antagonism of organized unbelief.
But Jesus keeps rising again.
Every Christmas turns out to be an Easter
Jesus is still the King of kings.  There's no getting away from it...anywhere!

(These words come from the Daily praise calendar from www.dayspring.com )

I hope you gave a blessed week!

xx