Early Morning Thoughts

Christmas Ornies

I know...talking about Christmas already!  Believe me, I don't want to think about snow or cold weather anytime soon either, but I have to start thinking around this time of year, what new ornaments that I will be making for family and friends come Christmas.

I wished that I could magically wave my wand and the ideas would just appear, but that is not always the case.  Yes, I will say, for the most part, ideas are always swarming my head...lol, I have created handmade ornament for years......, so trying to come up with something new, isn't always easy...:)

Any hoo, last fall...just for the holiday season... I created these 3 ornaments for a class that I taught at Creative Workshops, which is where I hold a few of my on-line classes. I am now offering this class, on a dvd for anyone who would like to learn how to make them.  This was such a fun class!  

The great thing about these ornaments are, if you change one or two items on them...you could recreate this ornament over and over again and each ornament would be unique in itself.

When I create an ornament, I want it to be able to be used in multiple ways.  You could hang this on a doorknob, hook, gift bags.  The make wonderful teacher/friend gifts.  A lot of times, you need to come up with an office gift under a certain dollar amount. This would make the perfect gift for that.

For years, my family and I have created handmade ornaments for our tree.  Now, you can imagine how beautiful our tree looks with all of the handmade ornaments from years past.  When our kids have families of their own, we will be giving them an ornament from each year for their tree.  What a wonderful tradition for them to start with their families, but also to be able to create memories with your love ones.

I am offering this dvd in my etsy shop.

 

 

 

 

What do you see....?

What do you see when you close your eyes....?

When I shut my eyes....I find that I am able to shut the world out and focus better, listen better and absorb the world that surrounds me.  The world throws so much at us, that I find that if I sit and close my eyes, take a deep breath....I find myself a calmer person/artist and able to renew myself. I find that I am able to release all of the stress, worries of everyday life and renew myself.  My imagination is able to freely flow once again...I feel like I could do anything... including flying!

With this in mind...I decide to create some new composition journals.  My first one up, is a print from a painting that I did....

My next two mini journals are with this in mind too....I love watching trees and how they move in the wind.  Not only are their roots strong, but their limbs are reaching for the sky/heaven.

How I love sitting out in the morning and listen to the world waking up for the day!

 

I have listed these in my etsy shop.

I believe that we all have defining moments in our life...

I have had many of these moments, but one that comes to my mind is....realizing how society can at times, make us feel, if we don't have it all together or have all the answers...then something is wrong with us.  Society can wear you down....it can make you feel like all you are ever doing, is running in circles.  Sometimes, it is about surrounding yourself with ones that will love you, for who you are at this moment, but will help you in becoming a better person.  

Life is about a journey and learning how to enjoy your journey along the way.  We are never going to have all the answers in life, but we can learn to enjoy the journey along the way as we strive to be a better person, a better friend, reaching out to help others in need, treating our family with love and respect and also...not expecting them to be perfect, etc.  

Sometimes, if we are not careful we can start to believe what society says about us. What we forget is, they don't know us or the steps that we have walked that had led us to this point in our life. 

When I find myself in times, where society wears me down....I create....:)  I love coming back to my roots...which to me is, organic...down to earth...real...substance...wholesome.

So, my next set of books are just this....

 

"destined"

 

My next book is....."growth"

Ok, I still have one more book left...but, it still needs more work done on it.  

I have listed these in my etsy.

 

 

"cherish, dream and live"

Learning to be able to do these might sound easy, but that is not always the case.  Life happens and sometimes, we are left with letting go, learning to cherish what was, learning to adjust our sails to new dreams and then finally having the courage to step out and live in our moment of today. 

My next book is all out these things....  "cherish, dream and live"

For the image on the front cover, I sketched it out and then painted it with acrylics, mediums, inks and pencils.  I finished it off with a sealer.

Here are some pages from this book....

I have listed this in my etsy shop.

overflowing....

The thing about giving is this....I believe that what we send out into the world, will come back to us in ten folds.  Whether that be a smile, laugher, love, gifts, kindness, etc.  It will eventually come back to us, at the right moment that we need it, but sometimes, that does require us, to have our eyes open to be able to see it.  

My next book that I have ready is....  "overflowing"

For the cover, I sketched out the design onto layers of vintage papers and then painted it.  To finish it off, I applied a sealer to protect it.

I incorporated a large piece of late 1800's vintage dress to make up the spine.  I then proceeded to sew and stitch it to create a quilted look and feel to it.

I have listed this in my etsy shop.

 

Change....

Happy Wednesday...hope that everyone is having a great day!

My next set of books and journal wrap that I have to show are about change and love....  It is always amazing, how these two things go hand in hand together in life.

 

"change"

                                                    (sold)

My next book is ....  "love"

Here is some of the pages from this book.....

                                 This book is listed in my etsy shop.

 

My next piece is a journal wrap.... "precious"

                                                         ( sold )

seeing within.....

It has been a while since I last posted....wow!!!  I have been so busy lately creating for my vendor table in Nashville.  I just got back from teaching at the Art is You retreat in Nashville and had a blast.  If you ever get a chance to take one of their retreats, you won't be disappointed.  It was such fun and always a pleasure reconnecting with friends and making new ones.

I have some new books that I want to share with you. Some are already sold and gone, but there are still a few available.  Over the next few days, I will be sharing these with you. 

My first book up is called....  "seeing within"

 

I have listed this one in my etsy shop.

new beginnings

Here is my newest book, that I donated for a silent auction at an art retreat.

"new beginnings"

 

Now the thing about new beginnings is....it allows one to start new again. Sometimes, we feel stuck, like we got left behind, the world went on without us....I've made too many mistakes to begin again, etc.

But, this is the best part...each day is a new beginning to start fresh again.  To make those changes that you have been wanting to make.  To embark on that dream that you have always been waiting to have.  To forgive those that have wronged you....etc.

Everywhere we go in life, we leave a footprint...you have to decide for yourself...are the footprints that I am leaving, good ones or bad ones.  Today is a new day...embrace your day and life and leave the footprints that you want to be remembered for.  Life is not a dress rehearsal...we only get one go around at it.  But, the great thing is, we get to learn from mistakes, missed opportunities, etc.  So, what is holding you back from your new beginnings???  So, go forth into your day, embrace it and smile...and start a new beginning with a new mind set that today is my new beginning!

Ok, I am off to my studio...hope everyone has a wonderful and creative day! 

winter blues.....

Wanting to escape the winter blues...well, how about joining me at one of the Art is you retreats.  Not only are they offering up a great line of artists and classes, but I have the honor of teaching in Nashville and Stamford this year! 

Our first event this year, is being held in Nashville.... Not only do they have fabulous classes to pick from, but they are offering yoga sessions, daily morning motivators, such as Jo Packman, Rice Freeman-Zachary, warrior painting with Sue Pelletier, Art trunk show and much more.  I could go on and on, but why not check it out for yourself... click on the link above and it will direct you to, Art is you and you can see exactly what I am talking about.

I hope to see you in Nashville...

 

what the heart knows....

I have been busy creating some goodies that reflect the heart/Valentines/woman...:)

I decided to create some journals...I haven't created some in a while and decided that would be a good place to start up my creativity again...lol.  Between the holidays, jumping into the first of the new year and with our youngest graduating this year...it seems, that time is just flying by.

My first journal is called.... be yourself

This is an image that I drew and then applied to clay and stitched to the cover.

I have incorporated 6 sheets of light watercolor paper and if you count the backsides that would make 12 pages.

My next journal up is called....

once upon a time

This one is called....

memories

My next group of journals are mini journals...just the perfect size to fit into a pocket, purse, etc.

This is.... whisper

3 hearts

 

XO

footprints

treasure

heart

Well, that is it for today....I have listed these in my etsy.