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Acrylic paint on the wall. This shows my pinky promise to my daughter, which I made 100 days ago today, to not drink anymore. 

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This is a picture ( oil 80 x 100cm) that I call "Imago" the final form of metamorphosis. Thought it  was suitable as it is a birdlike being exploding into life 

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Mixed Media on Canvas. Al Mezze is an Arabic word which is a table full of small dishes for family and friends to share. 

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Acrylic paint, newspaper and sharpie. I painted this as an ode to my Grandma, who always had button jars around the house. 

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I started making this when I stopped drinking and got my evenings back and finished it on my 100th day. It hangs in my bedroom so every time I wake up I can look at it and be grateful that I'm sober.

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I've nearly finished this for a dear Ista friend who asked me to make her something.  My life has flourished unimaginably since I stopped drinking.

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Temperature blanket - 1 day at a time by Blackpoolbelle 

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Temperature blanket - 1 day at a time by Blackpoolbelle 

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I started crocheting this on 1st March 2022, 1 row each day with the colour linked to the temperature. Although I've not been completely AF in the time, I will be 52 days AF on the last day, 28th February. It's my sobriety blanket!

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This painting symbolises what is so important to me about Soberistas, the friendships we find here, the hand holding, love, caring and support we give each other

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Living sober has given me joy in my painting again and this captures the peace and serenity living AF gives me

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This is a thumb nail from one of the pages of my concertina sketchbook.  The idea is to throw media on the pages and respond to the marks. I love the concertina format as there are no ends to the pages. Sobriety has allowed me to work and work and work into the pages, with the idea that there isn't necessarily an end point. Enjoying the journey is enough.

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Another thumbnail.  Love the texture in this one

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This is my AF motto - what do you say to the wine witch? "Not today."

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I love the ocean, the fog, the moods of the sea. By PaddlingUpstreamWithoutAlcohol

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Some moody local scenes from the Northwest

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Since quitting drinking I have sewn over 100 quilts (I've also become a grandma to four grandsons who will never seen me drunk!). Many are my own designs, some are not. The creativity consumes me and I love it so much.

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Designing a Christmas Quilt - requires steady hands, creativity and precision - tons of that since quitting drinking! (created by Kim (Four)

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Designing a Christmas Quilt - requires steady hands, creativity and precision - tons of that since quitting drinking! (created by Kim (Four)

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When i first quit drinking I went to a quilting retreat (where everyone brings wine and drinks at night). I was pretty scared I'd relapse - but instead I just started designing quilts for my kids'. I love it so much. I couldnt possibly quilt and drink, as I need steady hands, precision and creativity!

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Drawing with my sewing machine! (by Four - Kim)

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Drawing with my sewing machine! (by Four - Kim)

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In recent months I've moved onto "drawing with my sewing machine" and creating thread painting. In the past 2 months, I've designed more than 10 pillows with my favourite "dogs", but I began with this Emu last fall.

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I love the contrast of the bare tree with the sunset behind it. The flow of the tall grass lets me know that everything will flourish soon.

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Good morning! I thought I would share a painting I did based on bamboo in the wind - the largest I have attempted so far 120 X 150cms - I call it Wind of Change and it feels that " change" is what I am trying to do, change for the better(!)

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This painting was sums up for me the beauty and strength we discover in our sobriety. This was one of the first paintings I did as I really started to find my creativity again which had been dulled by my drinking. Being sober gives me freedom, joy and clarity

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This is an illustration from my ABC book, the letter 'U' - Undone. It starts with a Westray legend of a shipwrecked boy who made good and ends with van Gogh's b

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I can get lost in watercolors for hours. And searching the coastline to photograph these magical places gives me an excuse to get out in different light and weather to see how it changes the mood. By PaddlingUpstreamWithoutAlcohol

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I thought I would share this, a view from my window in Collioure, south- west France, a lovely place, the tiny appartment a stones throw from the railway line that took transports up and down to Spain and vineyards beyond and then mountains. In 2018 I climbed up to an old tower, high high up, vowing to get alcohol out of my life and so I reached Tour Madeloc, my Soberista name. I like to think that the open window gives a sign of hope.

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I thought I would share this, a view from my window in Collioure, south- west France, a lovely place, the tiny appartment a stones throw from the railway line that took transports up and down to Spain and vineyards beyond and then mountains. In 2018 I climbed up to an old tower, high high up, vowing to get alcohol out of my life and so I reached Tour Madeloc, my Soberista name. I like to think that the open window gives a sign of hope.

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One of many blankets I've knit to keep my hands busy in the evenings. Most have been donated to the Salvation Army who pass them on to share the love. This was a bit of a marathon! Nana Treen

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Good morning all! As spring is coming, I thought I would show a series of three paintings that are attempts at hope and positivity. They are based on that poetic, and surprisingly sensual, piece of writing in the Old Testament " The Song of Solomon".. I call this "The Song to be Sung", the idea being she is looking into the future. The text from the song goes:"...By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not"

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Good morning all! As spring is coming, I thought I would show a series of three paintings that are attempts at hope and positivity. They are based on that poetic, and surprisingly sensual, piece of writing in the Old Testament " The Song of Solomon".. I call this "The Song to be Sung", the idea being she is looking into the future. The text from the song goes:"...By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not"

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It is 100 x 120cms. No. 2 tomorrow

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Hello, yesterday's picture - Song of Solomon I - The Song to be Sung - showed the figure looking into the future. Today's one, The Song Sung, is the present, a sort of ' in your face' image (from an iris flower that lived about one  day in my garden before the sea wind blasted it to smithereens). The text from the song goes: "Behold, thou art fair, my love! Behold, thou art fair!"

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Hello, yesterday's picture - Song of Solomon I - The Song to be Sung - showed the figure looking into the future. Today's one, The Song Sung, is the present, a sort of ' in your face' image (from an iris flower that lived about one  day in my garden before the sea wind blasted it to smithereens). The text from the song goes: "Behold, thou art fair, my love! Behold, thou art fair!"

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Sorry not great photo

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The Clematis in my garden is in bud already, a sign of warmer, brighter days to come. Painted last year in ink and watercolour ☺️ Sharpie Jane x

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The Clematis in my garden is in bud already, a sign of warmer, brighter days to come. Painted last year in ink and watercolour ☺️ Sharpie Jane x

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The Cherry tree is so beautiful and the blossoms stay with us for such a short and delightful time.

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My mum holding her gift.  Zeroed in on the cushion.

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A tapestry cushion made to commemorate Katie, KMS, who was my Mum’s best friend.  I really enjoyed making it and had it bound with cord and backed in purple velvet. I have made a Klimt design tapestry since and aim to make it into a cushion cover myself and learn how to use the sewing machine!

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I love making wreaths from lavender and dried flowers, they remind me of my connection to nature.

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"An Orkney A to Z: Ruminations of a drystone dyker/ And other dreams"

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"An Orkney A to Z: Ruminations of a drystone dyker/ And other dreams"

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The above is the title of my book just published, the cover of which I cant seen to access for you, but it is there in Flying Free.
The book is an attempt to build up a kaleidoscope of a lovely distant place and give solace and humour on the way! I liken it to a drystone dyke with its different colours and shapes and problems, each part - meditative, down to earth, historical, fantastical, humorous etc - combining its thread to wind into a secure rope " shedding old skins, old sorrows".....in this sense it may have a place in Soberistas. It is in no way a guidebook, although a lot about Westray is imparted along the way. I have included 25 colour illustrations and it is hardback.
If anyone interested, it is priced at £20.00 with £3.00 postage added....

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I started this colored pencil drawing in honor of the time I spent in Sri Lanka. Today is my 10 month soberversary and  I got to do some art for myself today!

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The animals appreciate and prefer that I am sober. This is a quick portrait of my special kitty that I painted one evening before Christmas, the product of one or two of the countless hours of freedom I've won by choosing not to drink. Yes, his paws are really that big. --By napcat

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A really great beginners knitting project. Pattern download available from LoveCraft. Perfect for anybody new to sobriety who’s looking for something to keep those dancing fingers busy😊

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The ocean is unruly this time of year. It’s great for the winter surf season, and really spectacular for the photographers looking to catch giant waves crashing on the coast. This is my take on the stormy sea done in watercolor. By PaddlingUpstreamWithoutAlcohol

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Little Christmas Bootees knitted for my granddaughter kept my fingers busy!

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When I drank alcohol, I’d knit in the evening, then look at what I’d knitted the next day and spot several mistakes and have to take it all back. I could never have completed this aran jumper in my drinking days!