My recipe for a happy marriage.

I've been reading books by noted psychiatrists and looking up internet sites by relationship experts on how to have a happy and  fun-filled marriage.
Why would you do this if you already have one you may ask?

The answer is that it's like anything, if I'm not working on it, it could slip into the boring old, "taking each other for granted"  rut.
It could fall off the tree and become a rotten, apple.

Marriage can be treated like making a special mosaic that you really love and admire.
 It can be a vehicle for bucket loads of creativity and joy.

It can bring as much colour and cuddliness  into your life as a Autumn leaves or

                               a furry animal.

I was talking to some friends at the Rotorua Camera Club last Christmas about this very subject, as it's one of my favourites.
One  man laughed a lot when I told them that I regularly, (about once every six months), discuss with my husband how I think our marriage is going.

He shook his head and he said,  "the poor guy I feel sorry for him".
"Don't you know that most New Zealand men don't like talking about relationships"?


 Another man said to me when we went on a group camera trip to Auckland that he thought being married to me would be like "living in heaven."
That is one of the nicest things someone has said to me, but I didn't think my husband would be describing it exactly  like that.
Unlike me, I know he doesn't believe in heaven.

When I told my husband what the man said to me, he laughed which just goes to show that humour is very important in a marriage. 

I guess it really depends on what sort of man you are married to whether or not a rating  method is going to work. 
 In schools they use unit standards.
Why not apply them to a marriage? 
 I realise that I have tried using unit standards on every man I've ever gone out with and this is probably why  it has taken me so long  to choose a suitable husband.

I have a different set of requirements for a husband than most other women I know.
He needs to believe in me and my art totally.
He needs to be able to fly in his mind to embrace my visionary ideas.
He has to admire, approve of and  respect me.
These requirements are reciprocal. 

 He needs to be there for me when the times get tough and vice versa

  He needs to have a short memory about occasional arguments (unlike an elephant) because
 why hold grudges and sweat the small stuff?

 In my dreams I have visions of happy families  coming to my studio to make art together.
It came true this year when the Vaile family came and did six sessions.
Ron is a doctor and Heather is a jouranalist, they were absolutley delightful to teach and they had no inhibitions.
They certainly flew with their art right from the start. . 

 Shortly after my husband and I  met  he went to one of my exhibitions and bought a painting .
It's very special to an artist when a person buys your work because you are treasuring a part of their soul.

It's a spiritual connection, much like taking photographs of beautiful things in nature.

He also took me to a tropical island six months after knowing me, it was so romantic even though my face blew up like a puffer fish because of the prickly heat.

 He's taken  me away on overseas holidays every year since, often to my favourite place in the world which is Noosa on the sunshine coast of Australia. 

 Lately I've been making  paintings of girls with wings and owls.
I'm sure this means I'm getting wiser and I'm going to be flying to Italy to see some mosaics  in churches soon.
I 'm visualising this on a daily basis.
In my mind I'm there.
But it in the meantime...

My aim is to have the marriage with a score of 10 out of 10 most of the time.
My husband usually gives me a 9 out of 10  but he always gives our cat Gary 10.
My husband says this is because Gary never loses his temper.

 Gary is such a good rat catcher and defender of our property, I  know he loses his temper sometimes.
 Most people have two or more sides to their personality, it's a matter of  focusing on the best qualities.

So what if the sparks fly occasionally when a husband does something annoying or vice versa?
It's best to let off stream if you have an issue I feel, particularly if it's me having the issue because verbal communication is Queen.

When I  initiate these little "state of the marriage  discussions', I'm doing most of the talking and  I suspect my husband could live qute happily without them.
  He is a university qualified engineer with  a high quota of emotional intelligence and common sense so
 I like to think my words have the effect of sinking into him  like glaze on a ceramic sculpture.

 Practical exercises are initiated by me.
Our latest one is...
10 ten quick  hugs in the morning before he goes to work and 10 quick hugs when he comes home.

 The key to a mans heart is though his stomach.
 I've always maintained this even though it might seem like an old fashioned concept to you.
You can put  a lot of  love into the preparation of a meal.
My Grandmother loved cooking, she was superb at it and her food always tasted the best in the world.

I like to make my husband imaginative meals during the week, so it feels  like we are dining out in different countries.
One night it might be French, another Chinese, Italian , Turkish, Spanish or Thai.
Cooking is creative.
I often have hot soup or freshly baked muffins for my husband when he comes home for lunch.  
He cooks on the weekends and I  get breakfast in bed; he makes wonderful scrambled eggs and fresh coffee.
He is very good at cooking  roast  lamb.

 We always thank each other for  meals.

                       Going on regular holidays away from his stressful work is healthy.

Having a date once a week is a great habit to get into.
It doesn't have to be anything expensive, it could be a  trip to the Polynesian Spa, a walk in the Ngongotaha Tree Trust Forest, a classical music recital, an arthouse movie or a ukelele concert

Walking together for a half an hour every night after work is a healthy habit and it's spring now so there are no excuses.

 The top six  things I think are the most important for my marriage are faithfulness, respect, trust, empathy, appreciation and affection
 Making an effort to be genuinely nice to each other is healthy and to thank each other every day for something is fantastic.   
One of my favourite sayings is; how did I get so lucky to find you?

Recently we have been initiating the "giving two compliments to each other every day habit."
 It may seem contrived but you know it seems to work. 

Before you shout out the words pass me a bucket, why don't you give it a try.
I dare you.
It's never too late to pop a bunch of daffodils under their pillow or if you are feeling particulalrly creative you can pen them a small poem. 
Purusing  various  internet sites on the topics of happy marriages confirms my thoughts that I am on the right trail, but you can never take anything for granted.

  I always look forward to Graham coming home from work and  I know he looks forward to seeing me as well because his eyes light up when he walks in the door and no he hasn't been drinking. .

  Quotations I  made up using mixed metaphores.
If  the grass looks greener, it probably isn't, except if you are a sheep.

It's better to eat your own apples than jump over the fence and steal  your neighbours

Keep your  marriage bucket full by adding one or two compliments to it every day.
 
 Remember to leave a patch of wilderness after you have mowed the lawns so that the daffodils you planted in winter can be free to pop up and romance  you in Spring.

Creative Quotes of the Day.

“Many marriages would be better if the husband and the wife clearly understood that they are on the same side.”

 Zig Ziglar

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person”

Mignon McLaughlin

 “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” Friedrich Nietzsche


. 

It's Spring, the daffodils are out.

  If you live in Rotorua or the Bay of Plenty you could go for a walk to celebrate Spring in the Memorial Peace Garden (Rotorua Tree Trust) on Mokoia Drive.
 Take a detour, after days work, before you go home.
It's not going to hurt you to take a half  hour out of your day for yourself, it's not a mortal sin. 
 It's just up the road from the Waiariki Institute of Technology, go on I dare you to do it and drop me a line at jkeen@clear.net.nz to tell me you've done it.

The daffodils are out in large drifts, you don't want to miss them.

Take some shots with your pocket rocket or your dslr.
They don't have to be magnicient works of superlative art.
You just want to get into a peacful space.
To de-stress and detox.
Turn your smart phone off, the people will still be there when you switch it back on again.

Have some silence, celebrate that you've made it through another dormant Rotorua winter to the beginning of Spring where everything seems filled with the possibility of new beginnings.
Think about making the coming year happier for yourself and your family.

Take a notebook and a pen and jot down some quick thoughts.
Buy one at the two dollar shop if you don't want to spend too much  money.
 Doodle a quick sketch with your biro.
 Do something a tiny bit creative just for yourself.
You don't need to show anyone else what you have done and it doesn't have to be magnificent or perfect.
It just has to be.
Like the daffodils.

 Lovely and free.
Good luck and blessings, you are so worth it. 

Creative quotes of the day. 

“Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff.”

Jack Handy 

Excerpt from Wordworths famous Daffodil Poem. 

“For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.” William Wordsworth

Poetry Recital Competition St Mary's Catholic School Rotorua.

Last week I judged the annual St Mary's  Catholic Primary School Poetry Recital. 

It was fun, fast and fantastic.

Rapid judging, I hoped I  added up the figures correctly. 

 I'd need to take a calculator next time I think. 

I was looking for pupils who had memorised their poems, which is a really hard thing to do. 

I was looking for poems that appealed to children because I like poetry that deals with issues kids can relate to like hating homework and squirming at the thought of eating earthworm sandwiches.

I was looking at their gestures, expressions,  the clarity and audibility of their voices and  I was looking for the audience response to each poem.

This years (as in others years ) poetry contestants were of a  high standard.
 It was so uniform it was difficult to pick a winner so we gave out more prizes than in former years.
 I am amazed  those pupils were able to recite their poetry off by heart and I know for a fact  I couldn't do it, unless it was a three lined haiku
The St Mary's teachers are coaching their pupils very well, you could really tell that the pupils loved poetry.

In my books every child who enters is a winner...
 

People who won were really happy.
 The audience of devoted parents and enthusiastic teachers enjoyed the experience and the child audiences were really well behaved.
I believe most children really relate to poetry, they have been bought up with it in nursary rhymes and children's picture books.



I like judging poetry contests  because I really enjoy  poetry, especially if it's sincere and not trite or overblown.
If  it has great word pictures, shows not tells and presents some novel idea  in a quirky way it gets a tick in the box and if it makes me laugh, it's a huge bonus.

One of my favourite children's book authors is Roald Dahl.
 That man is so funny, bordering on manic and  subversive and quite politically incorrect which makes it so much fun.
 Try reading Matilda,  it will have you laughing so much to the point you are almost crying.
I've read it about 10 times and I'm still not sick of it.
Matilda is my hero, I wish they would make a film out of this book.
Humour is a great teacher, black humour is pretty clever too.


Art is the best way to communicate faith according   to FR Marko Rothnik,(  Italian mosaic Designer)
I love the murals, artwork, mosaics and statues around St Mary's Catholic  School.
This statue of  Our Lady (Mary)  is in a type of dome with a blue background.
 It reminds me of the one that we had at a Catholic Primary School I attended called St Peters in Cambridge.

I  enjoyed going to church in the middle of the day when I was at school because I liked looking at the beautiful artwork  in the stations of the cross and the Priests robes which were dazzling and rich looking.
I was fascinated with the different colours they wore and the intricate embroidery that lit up their garments.
I couldn't understand why all men weren't dressed in such beautiful uplifting colours.
Catholic churches are full of wondrous art which always helps  transport me to a celebratory and  peaceful place.

                                                  This is just a segment of one of  St Mary's painted murals.

   This is one of the many mosaic murals that I have helped to make with  St Mary's pupils

Angels are in the centre with animals and flowers which represents peace, growth  and good will to every living and heavenly creature.

I really like making crosses, they are a sacred shape and contain a power all of their own.
I made the top one and the following year pupils helped make the second one and the sign. .

Creative Quote of the day 
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa

Oil Pastel Portrait Art Classes.

                       Princess Alexandra stared out her window to the pond below where her white swan waited    for her to feed him every day at exactly the same time. 
              

  
Bring out your inner princess with this fun-filled class that focuses on using your imagination to weave  whimsical fairy tales that will transport you into a world of  wonder.

 

Princes Margaret married her Prince and they lived happily without a cross word ever passing their lips. She dreamed of owning a little fluffy white dog but her Prince was allergic to dogs barking, so she bought a rabbit instead who was silent.


You will watch videos on how to make a pretty face.
You will have live demos on compositions and colour therory.
You will have lots of portrait books to look at to give you some inspiration
You will get plenty of help.

Princess Lea  gazed at her reflection wondering why she didn't want long hair, a Prince in a castle and a crown  like every other Princess she knew.
 Then she did an online Meyer -Briggs  test and discovered that only 4 percent of people shared her super creative personality which made her feel special.





To be continued, dates and times coming as soon as I've worked them out. 

 Creative Quote of the Day

Being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Princess Diana

                          
                         

Fat Dog Mosaics on Sale Now. This is the last of the line. Never to be made again, unless you come to my studio and make one yourself.

  Purple Tiki Fat Dog  $95.00 plus postage
  Stained glass, ceramic dots,Tiki
 Size:

 Tomatillo Fat Dog, Ceramic Tiles $95.00 plus postage

    Tangerine Dream Fat Dog , Ceramic Tiles $95.00 plus postage

   Luscious Lime Fat Dog , Ceramic Tiles, $95.00

   Grey Ghost Fat Dog, Ceramic Tiles, $95.00

  Volcanic Rock Fat Dog, $95.00 Plus postage

    Raspberry Delight  Large Fat Dog, Ceramic Tiles $295.00 plus postage

      Blue Tiki Fat Dog, Ceramic tiles and Tiki  $95.00 plus postage.

 Creative Quotes of the Day
  If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise.
-- Author Unknown

 My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.
-- Author Unknown

 No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.
-- Louis Sabin

new Mosaic For beginners Classes. Starts Monday 6th August.

You come for two hours from 6pm to 8pm on A Monday Night and you will learn how to make
A mosaic Fish with glass tiles.
A Mosaic Picture with Cermaic Tiles
A Mosaic Pot with Broken Crockery

 

the cost is $250.00 including all materials and tuition.

The next class is enrolling now and is starting at 6pm Monday 6th August.
There are still places available.
It is run from my studio at

374 Clayton Road

Childrens  Monday and Tuesday after school Mosaic and Painting classes $30.00 per session including materials. book your child or children in now. I guarantee they will have fin and learn heaps. 

Rotorua. 
Ring me on 3463435 to talk to me about booking your special place.

Email me at jkeen@clear.net.nz

See My website at www.jkeen.net


Weekend mosaic Workshop enrolling now
Make a Mosaic paving stone from 9am to 5pm
$250.00 including all materials.

Book now, numbers filling fast.

Mosaics on Television Monday 6th August 7.30am, 9.30am and 4pm.

I will be on Television that's Rotorua Central  Monday 6th August  7:30am, 9:30am and 4pm

That's on the Mish Mash Programme for Children. I will be talking about how to make mosaics. 

Here is a the link for TV Central if you want to see what they are like.    http://www.tvrotorua.co.nz/

Mish Mash TV Interviews Janet Keen at her Rotorua Mosaic and painting Studio.

I've always had a dream of being interviewed on television.
I used to go to Toastmasters International  and  a number of years ago  I did a qualification on television presenting, so in my mind I was prepared.
 I just needed the opportunity.

Out of the blue last week I got a phone call  from Mish Mash TV asking me if I was interested in being interviewed about my mosaic making and the classes I  run for children.

Of course I said yes..love to.

 Last Monday a team from Mish Mash TV, Jonelle Hosking, Brittany Stewart and Paul Tilling spent a half an hour interviewing me and learning how to make a simple mosaic.

It was fun talking into the camera.

They were such a happy, lovely and beautiful looking  group of people and they made me feel totally  relaxed.
 I'm sure their programme would appeal to children because they  really knew how to have fun.
I got the feeling they loved their job and that's what  it's all about.
I'd love to do it all over again.

Infact I'd love to have my own TV show about creativity;  hows that for being "over the top"?

I am looking forward to seeing the programme which is aimed towards school children.

I love teaching children mosaics because they really enjoy the process and make some really cool things.
It's surprising how quiet a whole room full of children goes  when they are busy making something like a giant mosaic mural for their school. 

My next wish is to be interviewed  for TVNZ on their Good Morning Show.
Astra are you reading this?
  
Creative quote of the day
It's a fact that more people watch television and get their information that way than read books. I find new technology and new ways of communication very exciting and would like to do more in this field.
Stephen Covey