Secrets of a Butterfly

You have every right

You have every right to dance when your a dancer

 and express love when your a human being

 

You have every right to expand a message

 & honour a movement towards a better world

 

You can use all your talent that was placed in you for a reason

 

You can in Art, do what you are called to,

 dance, move, sing, paint and express,

what you are called to

 

It doesn’t have to be liked by all

No one has the right to tell you

 you shouldn’t, or you did it wrong,

 or how dare you use creativity

 as a means of speaking what matters most to your very soul 

I mean, as if that’s something a human was born to do!

 

If you are gifted opportunity to speak, 

to shout, to dance, to move, 

to convey a message,

 however uncomfortable or beautiful 

However painful or confronting 

Do it 

Do it now !

 

Do not be boxed up 

shut up, and kept quiet 

That’s not why you are here

 

Dance diversity 

Dance !

And in dancing your message is heard even louder,

 it is multiplied by your unified movement,

 by your infusing your passion with purpose

 & then sharing it in service 

 

You claim it 

Claim it for your own 

That freedom 

To do this!

and we will celebrate that claim 

For freedom for one 

Is the beginnings of freedom for all 

and freedom for none is not the way the future will stay !

 

Like you say “ Sometimes we have to get sick to find a better way “

 

An extra special Strictly final

For me, near on impossible to choose between the two male celebrities in this years Strictly final.

When voting I tried to recall how each had danced throughout the series, and what stood out was Ore's progression and evolvement from a complete non dancer into an incredible performer who gave so much of himself to each dance, and somehow added a different quality or emotion to each. He was the one who seemed to have opened up to us the most, he was the one who lost himself within the dance and became more than what he should really have been capable of. Somehow he danced beyond the boundaries that should've limited him or caused him to go out sooner in the competition. 

 

Danny though he was exceptional pretty much through out,didn't have the feel of having come on as much of a journey, and he didn't seem to have an extra sparkle to add on final night. On reflection, his best seemed to have been last week in the semi final. Where Misty Blue certainly was one of my favourites of his. 

 

Ore without realising, ended up pitching it just right on the night, to reach his ultimate during the final meant his win seemed destined to be.  His confidence in performing and his unbounded energy seemed to all come together seamlessly at just the right moment.

There was nothing between them in personality performance skill or connection to their partner, all that differed was Ore just seemed to have something extra  - some magic - saved up for the last dances especially his show dance. 

I also felt watching Ore that he wasn't going to make a mistake, there were no nerves apparent, and I relaxed more watching him, his dances left me with an uplifted feeling.

My favourite choreographer was Aliona, but now it's Joanne. She has crafted some beautiful routines. I felt the show dance was the best of its kind, across many series. It was what I like a show dance to be, a combination of moments and styles that they've done from through the season.

 

It felt like Ore had become the west end star in the end, just pippin Danny somehow to the post. 

 Danny's exceptional passion and way of throwing himself into his performances was his style, but somehow meant there was less connection left for the viewer, he performed them so well with Oti, but not so much for or to the audience.

That's the only difference I can make out really, as to why in the end i voted for Ore. Because he took you the viewer along with him... both through his progress week to week, becoming something more than he had even imagined he could be, and within the individual dances themselves. You felt that inclusion & were swept along in their story.  

Such a shame for Danny though as he deserved to win too! I loved watching Danny and Oti, & he must go down now in Strictly history as the best male celeb to not have won.

He's certainly in the top 5 best male celebs ever on Strictly I feel. Alongside Ore, Jay, Harry, Tom.

Such a shame they were both in the same year, and couldn't both win, but then that's what made it a better final because of the quality. Louise too could have won in other seasons I'm sure.

how will next season beat this, I don't think it can be done! 

Kathryn x 

photos via Google from bbc.co.uk

Harry and Aliona win Strictly

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series of Strictly Come Dancing. When it began i thought nothing could top Artem and Kara winning and falling in love on last years, but it turned out, thanks to a certain boy named Harry, not to be the case. I have enjoyed Harry and Aliona's journey just as much, and with fierce competiotion from actress Chelsee and performer Jason, it was a tight race to the finish last night.

 

Harry and Aliona won the Glitter Ball trophy, after performing 4 dances. The quick step, a show dance, the American smooth (my absolute favourite dance of theirs) and ending strongly with the Argentine tango. Harry for me has certainly been the best male celebrity the show has ever seen. From drummer in a boy(all be it now a man)band, to leading Aliona round the dance floor with such accomplishment and passion.

 

 

I have so enjoyed each and everyone of their dances, both latin and ballroom, as a couple they excelled in each. I have included pictures in this post from throughout the series. Aliona's experience coming second last year with Matt Baker, certainly must have helped her in handling the pressure of choreography to such a high standard. She is amazing both as a dancer and teacher, one of the best! and i was so happy she got to win this year - they each worked so hard and it was so much deserved.

A picture packed post i know, but i couldnt resist including so many of my favourite memories to look back on.

and their american smooth isnt on you tube yet, but this one is equally as beautiful their viennese waltz.... watch enjoy and dream away, its beautiful

love

(many thanks for the messages left on my previous post, it has been overwhelming, comforting and inspiring to hear from you and i appreciate it so very much, i have replied to each of you there in the comments xxx)

A Higher Love

James Vincent McMorrow has the most perfectly beautiful voice, and his cover of Higher Love, it just lifts my heart, i thought you might like it too...this has the lyrics, which are exquisite...

love

Birdy Love

I am listening so often to the beautiful emotive voice of Birdy. I have Shelter and Skinny Love and i just got her version of The A team.
Do check her out if you have not discovered her, her voice will reach into your soul.

I found some threads of things i needed to make sense of, i am missing the expression of posting, so my break turned out not to be that long. Wherever possible, I need to write and to share it helps me feel, and heal. It must be how singers feel about writing and singing their songs.
we all have a heartsong to find and to sing, i may not be singing loudly, sometimes it feels like a whisper, i do not know who hears, but i sing anyway,
love

Sunlight, sunlight

image by Ashley of the lovely blog Decor.Amor

I heard a song called Make it Better, on the tv advert for Mars bars, and loved the singer's voice. And that is how i found Gary Nock and downloaded this beautiful song Sunlight from itunes last night. The words spoke to me and have helped my delicate heart this weekend. I thought i would share the you tube clip of him singing and also put the lyrics here, maybe you'll find the song touches something in your heart too.

Sunlight
Will you follow me now
From this old town I'll carry you home, carry you home
In your life, there's something I can't show
We all love, love you so

When you're lost, you can take my hand
We can find your promised land

Free like summer kisses, waterfalls and wishes
Beauty all around me, sunlight, sunlight
Free like summer kisses, waterfalls and wishes
Beauty all around me, sunlight, sunlight

Now you're miles away, hey, hey
And this whole place is dragging me down, dragging me down
In your light, there's nothing I can't show
You know I love, I love you so

When you're lost, you can take my hand
We can find our promised land

Free like summer kisses, waterfalls and wishes
Beauty all around me, sunlight, sunlight
Free like summer kisses, waterfalls and wishes
Beauty all around me, sunlight, sunlight

This heartache you're feeling, it's only love can heal it
You want it, you got it, sunlight sunlight
Free like summer kisses, waterfalls and wishes
Beauty all around me, sunlight, sunlight

There's beauty all around me, sunlight, sunlight

- Gary Nock

Don't you love his voice, and the way he sings the 'summer kisses, waterfalls and wishes' line. I also like 'the beauty all around me', as well as 'this heartache youre feeling only love can heal it'.

image by Natalee May

Waterfall wishes :)
& butterfly kisses

Royal Wedding Bells

Kate looked so very beautiful on her special day, marrying Prince William and becoming a Princess (or a Duchess as her title now reads) Her long sleeved lace dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, was exquisite and the corset set off her figure stunningly. She very much reminded me of the way Grace Kelly looked in her iconic wedding images. I thought her makeup highlighted how pretty she is and her hair left largely down, meant she seemed very natural in her beauty.

There must have been a great deal of pressure upon her in the run up to the day and how admirably she has handled that and created a day along with William that felt at once small, intimate and personal yet also grand, celebratory and unifying of the whole country. Not an easy task to allow the ceremonial aspects to be upheld while placing in special touches that mean something to them alone.

I heard Kate took care over choosing the flowers to be placed in her bouquet.Liking as she does, to know the flowers meanings and choosing them for what they symbolise. Including one by the name of Sweet William.

These are a few snaps i took with my iphone while watching the ceremony at home on the Sky news channel...i thought you might like to see them, though i am sure you will have seen coverage on the news channels yourself.

The bridesmaids waiting for the bride, and looking so cute. Kate's sister and maid of honour Pippa, who wore a stunning dress trimmed in the same lace as Kate's.

Westminster Abbey looked as stunning as the bride, with foliage and trees brought from William's father's estate. Adding a touch of the countryside to a city based celebration.

William's first glance at his bride, Kate, as she reaches the altar with her father.

the exchanging of vows and the ring for Catherine

Prayers and a blessing for the couple

After a few moments away to sign the registry the couple emerged with Pippa and Harry behind, and began their walk to leave the Abbey.

They left holding hands

They then set off in an open top carriage to Buckingham Palace, flowing past crowds and crowds lining the route, cheering and waving union jacks

After official photos were taken inside, they emerged on the balcony to wave to the 1 million strong crowd and watch a fly past (hence the little bridesmaid covering her ears!)

And to share a kiss, sealing the end to our participation in their day, and beginning their life together as newly weds.

See all my photos that i took on my iphone while watching Sky news in this set at my flickr.
Any wedding day is special and very much a day of Love, but perhaps because so many people all focus on one couple in a moment in time, the royal weddings always seem to take on a special magicalness and not just because they involve so much extra tradition and are so grand in scale.

They create a joy and upliftment that only the hardest of hearts can ignore and one which has been most welcome to our country. I feel very blessed to live here, a place where we are free to take to the street and celebrate good times with one another peacefully and happily. How stark the contrast is to those fighting for that very same type of freedom in other countries around the world at this very moment,

I have happily shared in seeing this special day unfold upon my tv screen. Living in a modern, fast paced society, it can be easy to forget the place that ceremony and tradition hold in our lives. Yet on occasions such as the wedding today, we draw so deeply on this rich heritage and it only serves to help us create a meaningful occasion. As we share in this celebration together, it enables us all to feel a greater sense of unity as a country.

Histories whether personal or collective, are always what shape and form how we are today. So to deny them, is to deny so much of who we are.
With an awareness or respect for what went before, we only deepen our appreciation of what we have now. How far we have travelled to create a country that enables us to live as we do and how proud we can feel of that.

Ok, so like any person, it is not completely perfect, it has its faults, but we shouldnt dwell on those to the exclusion of our achievements. If we do we forget what there is to be thankful for. And celebrations always bring thankfulness to the forefront of our minds.
I think a wedding, just like that of William and Kate's today, helps us to realise that it might just be ok, to celebrate our country and within that oursleves, and to show a little pride in them both.
I for one, felt so proud of Kate and William today and wish them every happiness for the future.

Love and blessings

With love to Japan

Watching the news daily about Japan, i am struck not just by the awfulness of what's happened but by the courage and dignity of the Japanese people. Something also tugs at my heart strings as i watch the pictures and see the unfolding aftermath of such devastation. I find myself wanting to do something to help. Yet what can i do?...the situation is not beyond hope, for that would be to under estimate the bravery of those involved and their strength of spirit. But i feel so far away its as if i can do nothing to benefit them.

Wondering about this brought me back to something that i often feel, when struck by something on such a huge scale, it can either freeze or mobilize us. This seems true for both those within an experience and those simply hearing or seeing pictures of it.
Not always do we have a choice as to which, especially if we are a part of the event.

But watching as we are, it seems there is a conscious decision we can take, do we stay in our heads and try to comprehend the incomprehendable or we move into our heart and do something, however small, to make a difference within this global community in which we are now all such an intricate part.

But what can we do, realistically, just us, little and seemingly so removed from a situation such as this, the aftermath of the earth quake - tsunami.

Seeing people there within the devastation, having to try to survive and do the smallest things to keep going. Makes you realise that, yes small simple acts do have an immense value even in such a huge disaster. Infact they are the only thing that so many have to hold onto as a way forward.

And so this leads me to the reason for posting. Just i know it is leading many others around the world on their blogs and within there etsy shops.

About a month ago i started collecting together some donations from my favourite illustrators for a giveaway I am planning here at my blog to mark its 4th birthday.(hopefully more on that later in March)

Kayo Tamaishi my friend in Yokohama, Japan,(who is thankfully safe and well) kindly sent me 10 copies each, of two of her postcard prints from her etsy shop last month. They are the designs shown in the photos here.

Now though, instead of using them in my giveaway - i thought it would be wonderful if we could, together, raise a bit of money for the Red Cross Japanese appeal.

So i am offering the postcards up to you dear readers. All you have to do is be amongst the first 10, to leave a comment on this post to say you would like a set of 2.

I will then email you to confirm they're still avaliable and you can give me your address to mail them to. And then you can make your donation. I am suggesting an amount of £5.00 or $8.00 Which you will need to donate directly yourself to The Red Cross Japanese appeal, through the appropriate website/text number in your country.

Thanking you in advance for taking part in my little, but meaningful way of caring about Japan,
Love Light and Hope to everyone,

Kara and Artem...dancing a dream

 
Last night saw Kara Tointon and her professional dance partner Artem Chigvintsev win the Strictly Come Dancing Glitter ball as well as each others hearts.

 

 Their dancing was already beautiful but their growing chemistry added an extra special sparkle. Artem's routines challenged Kara to her utmost and helped her develop her natural ability as a dancer. She even surpassed Alesha Dixon in my eyes, as the best celebrity dancer that the show has ever seen. This was also Artem's first season on Strictly and he has added so much to it artistically. His choreography is simply outstanding.

 

 

Kara's last dress was the most beautiful, a pale peachy pink with crystals and a halter neck and satin ribbon tied at the waist. The outfits this season have been exceptional. Many could be worn on the red carpet, as well as a dancefloor.

Matt and Aliona, made the perfect runners up. His performances being strong all season, lacked nothing in the final, but simply couldnt surpass the romance and expression of the winners. In past years he would no doubt have deservedly lifted the glitterball trophy.

 

 And here's a link to Matt and Aliona performing their other dance the Paso Doble i really loved them too and will miss their performances so much.

I found all the photos here, as part of a great review  of last nights show, at the Dailymail online.

The excellent MratariST. on youtube, is where i found the dances. All uploaded clearly and even has the shows in full.

Kara and Artem Slow Waltz,  American smooth (kara danced on despite a bad wrist injury from the showdance), Rumba,

 

Artem has signed as a choreographer on So you think you can dance, another BBC dance show. Meaning he gets to stay in London and with Kara for that bit longer. Good news for their romance as it blossoms beyond the show.

Hopefully there are new opportunities ahead for Kara too, it would certainly be a shame if this was the last we saw of her on our tv screens.

In the very final moments of the show, Artem kissed Kara, it was so romantic and just the perfect ending to the night.

 I'm going to miss it, but am delighted with the outcome of what has been the best series of Strictly Come Dancing yet!

 

 

Take my hand

Allie Moss - Corner

When your world trembles and quakes
And your footing suddenly shifts and shakes
Take my hand
We’ll hide in the corner… hide in corner
Take my hand
We’ll hide ‘til it’s over… ’til it’s all over

lalalalala lalalalala

We have choices to make
We have promises that we can’t break
There is nothing left to lose
So hold on to me, I’ll hold on to you

Take my hand
We’ll hide in the corner… hide in corner
Take my hand
We’ll hide ‘til it’s over… ’til it’s all over

lalalalala lalalalala

listen here

photos by Fabienne Linn

I want to thank The Pride of Britian awards and everyone featured on last night's show here on tv.
It was truly inspiring to see their courage and selflessness.

To hear all the stories of such bravery in all manner of adversity,and to see just what the human spirit can come through and still want to love and live and give,was inspiring beyond words.

blessings