Almost over?

Purple, Purple, Purple.......I was excited when I had my first daughter because that meant I could dress her in every shade of purple that I could find.  I even taught myself to sew and made her first dress.  I was so proud of myself.  I learned a few things with this little dress....never use velcro 'buttons' on clothing for babies, don't make your elastic to tight around the arms and one can never have to many ruffles even for a baby.

In my garden I LOVE seeing purple.  It makes me happy and calm.  It reminds me of when my girls were young and I had pots of pansies on my deck.  The day after I planted all my pansies all the blooms were gone.  It seemed so strange to me at the time.  I would find out later that while my girls were outside playing they got hungry so they ate all the blooms.  So here is to my garden this year, beautiful purple.

So if you haven't guessed over at Kristin's blog this week we are talking about Purple.  It is hard for me to realize that next week is our last week, where we will be showing off the color Orange.

As this is my first ever art journal I want to just keep things as simple as possible and pretty basic.  More for my photos sake than anything.  Painted straight purple for the base with a design on the right where I added a favorite picture of my son when he was about 2.  He captures my attention even now 16 years later.  I added a bit of bling with a rindstone and iridescent confetti.

A parting shot, remember the Clematis a friend helped me transplant last year?  I thought for sure that I had lost it but all the old growth just died.  It is back and it makes me so happy.  I need to find a way to protect it a bit more from the winter elements.  Any ideas?

So what is making you happy this summer?

Here is to the color RED this week at Kristin's blog!  It is hard for me to realize that there is only a couple of more weeks left.  This has been a well needed distraction, thank you Kristin for making this happen.

For me the color red has always been a happy color.  When I think of red I think of my beautiful red headed girls, they bring me much joy.......everything that is red is in their personalities, even as adults.  Red creates warmth, passion and energy.  It can be seen every where if you allow yourself to open your eyes to its beauty. 

It is the color God uses to get my attention and to take my breathe away.  My youngest and I were out for a drive a couple of weeks ago and we went around a corner, we were caught in awe of the beauty. 

Then in my garden this week I found this red lily.  I always seem to forget that they around because there are so few of them.  I think I need to find a place in my front garden for a clump of them because they just make me smile.

So onto my journal page for this week.  Different spots of red that mean alot to me; a red ribbon rose that came from one of my daughter's outfits(she is now 24) and a heart that came on a card that a special friend sent to me.  I painted both pages with red paint first, using a white piece of cardstock as protection of the edges.  I used a piece of the cardstock on the right page as an accent.  The heart from the card is on the left with wings I cut out in thick plastic and accented with white paint.  On the bottom is a back of a self adhesive doily.  I can't see getting rid of them especially when you can use them in mixed media.

A close up of the heart.  Have a great week and look for red, see what you can find!! 

Starting to feel caught up

Really I can't believe how tired I've been.  I decided yesterday that I would get back to my regular bedtime of 10pm instead of staying up until after 11:30pm playing.  It turned out to be the best thing!  I actually woke up this morning feeling normal even though I really could have rolled over and gone back to sleep.

Over at Kristin's Blog this week we are taking a look at the color Brown.  I have always LOVED Brown!  It is the color of my eyes and of my very special friend I have had for over 40 years.  So it was natural to me that I would choose my friend, along with a couple of pages from an old Winnie the Pooh book, found at a thrift store for .99cents.  I then by added a pop of Pooh bear yellow, as I like to call it.

The background was painted a light tan, stamped over with a word stamp and a diamond stamp I picked up last year in the $1 bin at Michael's craft store.  The brown circles are from a tp tube dipped into paint then stamped on the page.  I tried the same thing with a light orange paint but ended up not liking it so I covered it up with Liquitex ink in Yellow Orange.  This ink is wonderful because it is transparent but still gives a bold color.  I liked it so much that I used it in the white spaces on the pages and added circles on the book pages. 

Resting and Creating

This week has been all about resting, creating and less blogging.  The days are longer and I find myself not sleeping well, loads of tossing and turning.  When you don't sleep well at night it is a struggle to stay awake durning the day and so I tend to find myself taking naps mid afternoon.  It makes me less irritable, which I am sure my family likes.

On the creating front I am busy with Soul Restoration 2 and am feeling a bit behind.  This session is about creating the life you want to live and putting it to a life journal.  This way you can refer to it when you need to be reminded of what your goals are.  It is full of hard but rewarding questions to answer.  The artwork we are going is slowly coming together for me.  It really does make me completely happy.

This week on Kristin's blog, it is all about the color Yellow, which happens to be my least favorite color.  I wouldn't say I never use it but it does take me out of my comfort zone.  This time though it came easy when I went to create my art journal page.

A favorite photo of my youngest daughter when she was just over three years old.  On the left page is a flower she made me just around the same age, it has been on my inspiration board for 13 years!  I'm happy that it has found a permanent home here.  The inside of the flower is filled with green split peas painted black, then sealed with Mod Podge.  On the leaves of the flowers you will find what the color yellow means, followed by things to remember about the color Yellow at the bottom.  Our challenge was to use metallic somewhere, so it is added to the background along with a couple of Martha Stewart punched butterflies.

If my day goes the way I want it today I will be back with more artwork tomorrow.  Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are up to!! 

What a fun filled busy week!  Hardly time to breathe much less post to my blog.  I was able to get a few fun things completed so I will be sharing them this week, promise.

Last week with The Summer of Color was the color Pink, not to much a favorite of it but did make it work for these pages.  I chose things from my garden and looked up the feelings that pink is suppose to mean.  I am pleased with it and surprisingly it makes me happy.

My Daughter, Son in law(who came in on Friday) and my Grandson left this morning so it is a laid back day.  I'm ready to settle into my summer and start a project or two.  Today is the 4th of July here in the states so we might be going for a drive across town to watch the fireworks above the city.  Whatever you do today, enjoy yourself!!

250!!!

So this is BIG for me, 250 posts since I started this little blog.  It has turned out to be more than I thought I could handle but then more than I ever though it could be.  I want to thank you so much for sticking it out with me even in my lean posting times.  I am enjoying a little bit of time with my youngest Grandson and my oldest Daughter the next few days but be looking for a celebration post coming in the middle of the week.   

Such a wonderful day today.  Summer has finally reached Spokane and even with the wind it has been delightful.  Started my day with a little bit of quiet time with my son and then later in the morning I was able to go in for a massage. It is amazing how a massage makes you feel.  I haven't felt this good in weeks since I pulled a muscle in my neck.  I ended up going to my doctor late last week because I was really worried about the tingling in my arm and lip.  She said it will take time to heal.  I've also been having some pains in my calfs.....it turns out I need to figure out a way to stand to do my scrapbooking and art.  I wrap my legs around my chair and cross my legs to much.  Any ideas on how I can change my work area? 

How did I do that.....

I was asked yesterday how I created this look on my journal page.  Pretty simple, really.

Start with a white paper doily and spray randomly with Adirondack Color Wash in Sailboat Blue and Lettuce.  I put into a large narrow box so the over spray would be contained.  Be sure you note these are dyes, if you don't want it on your hands wear gloves.  If the wind is blowing you WILL get back spray...just saying.....so don't where your nice clothes.  After spraying, the paper gets very delicate to handle, so leave it in the box until it is completely dry....over night is best.  If you work with it to soon it will disintegrate.  The GREAT thing about the Adirondack Color Washes is once they are dry they are permanent, so you won't bleed into other colors.   

                               

The next day I started with spraying my journal pages with the same color washes, again letting them dry.  I then cut my doily apart and put down Mod Podge on my pages, placing the pieces in the bottom left and the top right of those pages.  Put Mod Podge on top of the doily and start working it with your fingers to get it to lay flat.  The trick here is to work VERY slowly because once the doily gets wet it goes back to being delicate so just go sloooowwww.  You will end up having parts of it that will dry sticking up but I didn't worry to much about that because I liked the look.  Then I just continued to layer, layer and layer.

First day of Summer vacation, with us not having very many warm days it is pretty strange to say Summer.  I just have to remember that Summer isn't actually offical until tomorrow.  I am ready for a few more non gloomy days.

This week in The Summer of Color class we are highlighting GREEN.  It is one of my most favorite colors.  There aren't many places in my house that don't have some type of green except maybe for my son's room....hhhmmmm....that gets me to thinking......lol.....wonder what he would do if a bit of lime green showed up in his room this week? 

I had this page done right away because I was so excited......

I'm also adding pages in my journal for the Three Hearts class that I took with Christy Tomlinson trying out differant backgrounds and loads of layering.  Things I need to remember.  Fun stuff!!

This week for me is all about getting ready for my oldest Daughter and youngest Grandson's visit, they will be here for 10 days.  I'm looking forward to loving on them which I don't get to do very often.

This is a special She Art I did for a friend of mine.  She has been through so much this past 18 months and I wanted her to always remember to find her joy in the midst of pain.  I think the piece speaks for itself.  I found the word JOY, it was someone's special give away for Christmas and I didn't save the link.  Sorry!  I started by painting the background a solid color, then started layering.  The doily was white and I painted it before laying it down.

Plenty of writing, doodles, stamping and outlining.

A few special things here....a paint on pearls, a cluster of cherries at the waist, the word love that just happened to be on the pages I used for her body.

 Layering here with paint and some stamped images.

Flowers are punched out and layered to look like a full daisy.  Leaves are left overs from the flowers I made for prom and Mother's Day.

ALWAYS let your layers dry before starting another!!  Mod Podge can be your friend!!!

What is art to you?

Art to me is life.  It isn't about just finding the time to do it but it is making the time to do it.  It breaths life into me, lifts my mood when I am down, calms me when I having a time of anxiety.  I get lost in it really, before I know it family is asking what we are going to have for dinner.  So I have to be very careful in balancing my time with the things I have to do.  I like to break it up into little bits over the day, keeping myself focused.  It helps me to feel less overwhelmed with my daily chores. 

Something I believe in, is all artists and the right to keep their art their own.  Meaning if they make it and make the choice to sell it they should be paid.  Let's be honest, the Internet as wonderful as it is can be a horrible place too.  In some cases worse if you are an artist!  You will see a new link to the left for the LinkWithLove, we really need to help each other to accept, respect and protect all forms of artwork.  This project was birthed from what happened here and here.  It is wrong for someone to use artwork that doesn't belong to them for personal gain.  Being a scrapbooker, card maker and crafter I have many copies of photos from sketches and color combos I want to try.  I haven't been good about linking back to who created the sketch or even where I have received my inspiration.  From now on, I will do my best to give credit where credit is do, in doing so hopefully we can help people to be honest about where they get images.

What a wonderful few days I have had!!  June 9th, was my 27th Wedding Anniversary and we are going into 30 years of being together!  What the time we have had in those years, certainly a lot of bumps along the way but I wouldn't change a thing.  I love this man more today then I did the day I married him.  He is my constant companion, he misses me when he has to be away from home, he is my best friend and puts up with everything I do.  I LOVE you Darlin, always and forever.

Thanks, to two of children's friends coming over Saturday for a few hours, we were able to get our yard work caught up.  Now it is just about maintaining everything.  We pulled out some evergreens, then went to the nursery yesterday and bought some plants to fill it back in.  It is a challenging space because it is all shade.  I haven't had a shade garden since we moved from our very first house over 15 years ago.  I'm looking forward  to seeing everything grow and come to life.

I'm really loving the Summer of Color class.  Last fall that I took Nic Howards Color Class at Big Pictures Classes so I decided I wanted to change up my original little layouts to go into my journal for this class.  I love how it turned out, you can see my before here.  Each color will have two pages. 

Since I love Big Pictures classes I want to give you a heads up.......if you missed out on Nic's class in the fall they are offering it again at Big Pictures classes.  I believe it starts at the end of June and runs for 6 weeks.  Totally worth the cost of the class!! 

A little bit of wonderful

Oh my gosh!  Sunday I went with a friend of mine to the Farm Chicks Antique Show.  If you EVER lack inspiration you should go!  I couldn't stop saying how much I just loved it all.  I did come away with a few fun things which I can't wait to put to use!!

An old cosmetic traveling case, which is going to be repurposed for my small stencils I keep loosing.  It will join my Grandmother's case that I use for my special paints. 

2 wonderful table cloths, will be repurposed into, I'm thinking some cute aprons.

Finally this piece, which caught my eye.  It will be a anniversary gift to my lovely husband.

                                  

I did have something special happen to me at the show.  I was able to meet this wonderful lady Jenny Doh.  I have been following her since she started Crescendoh, a beautiful place where artists are highlighted and classes are taught.  It was a complete blessing to be able to tell her how her site has changed my life as an artist.  One of those times in your life that you can't stop from grinning ear to ear, making your face hurt.  I feel as a good shift happened to me when I met her.  Some changes are on the way, it is in the air.   

Image courtesy of Jenny, since I was without my camera.  Thank you Jenny!!  

The Summer of Color Class started yesterday.  I have pulled a few things together that I want to use.  One of them being my purple/pink moleskin journal that I have been holding onto for just the right project.  The tags were from the Nic Howard Color class I took last fall so I'm thinking they will be a nice addition.  Of course things that aren't pictured that will be used are photos, paper and embellishments.       

Soul Restoration 2, started today.  I am going to be honest......I'm nervous.....already today questions are being asked that I haven't thought about in years.  This week we are to concentrate on journaling through some questions and making our life journal.   

Finishing up She Had Three Hearts, which is so full of techniques it is unbelievable!  Keep and eye open for the class on Christy's blog, if she ever offers it again take it!  I personally haven't done any art journaling for the class.  I have my supplies together but my space seems messy.  So I decided to concentrate on watching all the videos and take loads of notes.  I'm glad I will have access to the videos for a few more weeks after class because that will allow me to put together technique cards. 

Woke up to this beautiful sight in my garden this morning!  I purchased two plants at the end of the blooming season last year in hopes at least one of them would make it through the winter.  So happy to report that both plants survived.  

In my very first garden over 22 years ago I had poppy's this color and have missed them so much.  My first garden was beautiful, full of so much color and a true labor of love.  When we moved into our next house I was so burnt out on gardening.  I went from having a shade garden to having full sun.  I honestly didn't want to take the time to learn something new.  However the last two years we lived at our house I started to find my love of gardening again.  I found my joy again.  So when we moved here to Spokane, it was a blessing to see that God has known my heart all along.  I have gardens all around my house and I am in love with it all.  Honestly there are a few things that don't tickle my fancy but they make hubby happy so I am willing to give.

So do you have a garden?  What are your favorite things in it?

Our spring has been anything but stellar, cold and wet.  We have only reached over 70* maybe three times, one of those being yesterday.  Everything is managing slowly to bloom in the garden.  Oh how I've missed the color outside!

My parents were in town this week for my children's end of the year choir and band performances and my Mom fell in love with our Crabapple Tree.  Despite the cooler temperatures it managed to be in full bloom, which turned out to be a good thing because my Dad got a beautiful photo.  After this picture was taken it started to rain again for two days!  It isn't as bright as it was then but it is still beautiful.  Thanks for the picture Dad!

The cooler weather has not stopped the bees from coming out!  I was looking to see how the flowers fared after the heavy rain.  I walked pasted the Crabapple Tree and heard a humming sound.  In taking a closer look I found the largest bees I have seen in quite awhile.  I spent a little time to get a couple of perfect shots, I just was careful to stay out of their way as much as possible.

I mean seriously I don't want to make these guys mad, they might carry me away!!

 

 What a busy couple of days but fun!  The weather here has been anything but normal, upper 40's at night and high 50's to mid 60's durning the day.  It has been raining the last two days and not just a sprinkle but down pours!  The kind of rain that makes you late to the end of the year band concert, sorry kids nothing I can do about traffic.  The Spokane River is the highest it has been in years!  Since my parents are in town my Dad and I took a trip down to the river to see the falls.  Despite being so cold I wish I had brought my gloves, it was fun!  My most favorite shots..........

They are saying in the news that high water will continue through the end of this month.  What is the weather like where you are at?

A little bit of organizing makes me feel so happy!

I four drawers of ribbon plus a mini tote of satin ribbon in my garage.  I think it is safe to say I DON'T NEED any more but sometimes I can't help myself.  So in order to come to a place with my ribbon that I know what I have, it was time to take out the drawers and organize.  It took me close to a week to get them finished.  Now they look so nice.

Another challenge is my little pieces of ribbon.  Ya know the ones that are left over from a roll.  I can't seem to throw them away when they make really cute little knots for projects.  So this past weekend I tackled what I like to call my stuff bag.........the bag I stuff full of those little tiny pieces that I can't throw away.  See the stuff bag migrated to a stuff things anywhere you can, ya it wasn't pretty.  It made me frustrated so then I would just walk away.

Organizing my stuff jars:

My stuff jars after organizing.  The four jars in the left photo had a matching one that was taller but I picked it up and found a nasty crack in it with part of a corner missing.  A disaster waiting to happen so it was time to condence.  One of my yard sale finds this past weekend were the two jars in the right photo, for $1 each.  The fat squatty jar I found a Walmart and bought two for $7.  I still have one empty so there maybe a little more organizing in the future.  I do love how the color shows through, sure makes me happy!   

   

Last year I started on a journey to use what I have and I've been doing better.  Now that my ribbon is organized I can start to look at what I use the most and downsizing.  I'm looking forward to that!  Do you have something you need to organize?  I would be happy to lend you my ideas because I love helping where I can. 

The final list that I decided on for my weekend

1.  Eating consisted of:

Dessert, cheesecake dipped in chocolate with strawberries....Perfect!  Sandwiches choices: Steak or chicken with onions and turkey bacon.  A morning omelet with turkey bacon and cheese. 

2.  A bit of organizing in my corner

3.  Ironing, one pile of two complete

4.  Cleaned our outside refrigerator it was gross....it holds summer things to drink.  

5.  Another Thift store, where I found a mini food processor for $6!!  Now I can make my rib sauce!!  Ya, haven't been able to make that since my big food processor died, 2 years ago.

6.  Watched Netflix and listened to music

7.  Enjoyed time with my son after he got home from his trip Sunday.

8.  Baked some cookies with a bit of extra love!  Can you see the heart?

9.  Waited for my DH and daughter to get back from their trip.......now need to do laundry and get ready for the last two weeks of school!! 

My weekend

Well hubby has taken youngest daughter and 3 of her girlfriends to Whistling Jack's Lodge for the weekend! My son went on a school trip to Seattle so I have the next few days to myself. HHHhhhmmmm, now to just decide what to do first of my list!

1. Make a list of what I want to do.....lol
2. Watch Take Home Chef on Netflix.....really what is NOT to like about Curtis Stone
3. Work in my messy corner doing some organizing, which really isn't work for me because I LOVE to do and make some ART
4. Package up a VERY special gift for a VERY special lady, to go out in the mail on Tuesday.  After she receives her present I will post.  It turned out so wonderful if I do say so myself!
5. Can't forget to eat, while everyone is gone!  Is it totally sad that I have to actually write this down?
6. Paint or collage on two wonderful wooden boxes I found today at Value Village.  An old 5x7 recipe box and a gift box that held 3 bottles of wine.....hhhmmmm, now to decide what to put on them.  I do believe that the wine box is going to be the new home for some of my special paints, not sure about the 5x7 box.
7. Start the book I have picked out...oh wait, decide which book I want to read first out of two, then start it.
8. Start my art journal
9. Organize some photos so I can get myself in gear to make pages
10. Be sure to eat so I can actually NOT have a headache!
11.  ooooo, maybe I'll go to another Thrift store tomorrow?
12. do a very small amount of chores

What are you doing this weekend?         

What I am looking forward to....

FINALLY a bit of warmer weather here in Spokane!  I have so needed it.  April was the coldest on record since the 1920's!  I tell you what it leaves you not motivated to do much of anything. 

My one and only scrapbook project done so far this year.....ack.  I know hard for me to even believe.  I've had this on my heart for sometime, helps me to think of warmer days and special memories!   A 5x7 canvas of my soon to be 18 year old son, he was 2 years old here.  His hair is darker now.  It was a good day at the beach, not a day I soon will forget.

 What I am looking forward to this summer.......Thank you Leslie for the idea!

1. My oldest daughter and my youngest grandson coming for a visit in 39 days.
2.  Having my teenagers home for the summer.  Trying to hold onto each minute of time with them.
3.  Celebrating my son's 18th birthday...it happens so fast?  Again, holding tight to every minute with him.
4.  Celebrating my Grandson's first birthday!  I have 5 Grandchildren and this will be the first birthday I have been able to celebrate with one of them.  So excited!
5.  She Had Three Hearts with Christy Tomlinson, starts May 23!  I know not quite summer but it is close enough.  This class was given to me as a gift and I am so looking forward to it.
6.  Soul Restoration 2, starts June 6.  Another special gift from a friend.  Thank you Kathy!
7.  The Summer of Color class, starts June 6 check it out here.  Whats not to like when it is FREE!

8.  Having no daily agenda

9.  Rain storms, maybe some thunder too.

10.  Gardening.  It has taken me over a  year to find my joy in this again.  We have worked so hard as a family, the last couple of years, to make our gardens stress free.  It is paying off this spring!  It is all beautiful. 

11.  The excitement of Marching Band season.  It is always so LONG, but it is going to be a special year for many reasons.  I can't share them right now but when I can I will post!

13.  Excitement of my son's senior portraits getting done......excuse me....again, it goes to fast!!

14.  Scrapbooking, needing to get on a roll again and get stuff done.

15.  Ice Tea Lemonade ;) 

So what are you looking forward to this summer?

Giveaways!

So one of the things I LOVE, is to keep an eye out for special Blog Giveaways.  I have taken part in many over the last few months and have been blessed with being chosen.  Each one in someway has helped to kept my creative self going, when I have needed it the most.

So here is to a special giveway over at Jeanne Oliver's blog, she is a wonderful Brave Girl.  I can't say enough about her wonderful creativity.  Take advantage of entering, you never know when you to might be blessed!!

Rest and Creating

I'm sorry I have been absent but I have felt I needed the break to get my barrings.  So much started to be piled up on me that I felt I was going to be crushed by the weight of it all.  I couldn't even step into my corner which seemed like it would last forever.  I knew I had things to do that I really didn't want to do so I went back to making a list of what needed to be done.  My list of what I don't want to do is now complained with the things I love to do.  I am finding that works the best for me especially when the don't want to do, out weighs the want to do.  All of this is helping me to focus which in peri menopause, is proving to be a challenge to me.

One of the things I have been focusing on is the She Art class I was able to take.  I am enjoying the process of watching the girls come to life.  #1, She finally believe what had been in her heart all along.  This girl has such a big meaning for me.  There was a time in my marriage that I couldn't bring myself to believe that I was really loved.  One day this past month the light bulb went on and I finally believed what I was feeling all along.  The feeling has always been there but it was the knowing that has changed things.  #2, She was the best gift she could give herself.  A background that my daughter created over a  year ago, which I am so glad I convinced her to not throw away!  The message of living life to the fullest and making it count by being yourself.        

I hope everyone will have a wonderful Easter week!!

Honor

So a lot has been happening this past few weeks.  It is stuff that isn't all good and I can't go into it here for privacy reasons.  In the midst of it all though I am remaining peaceful.  I can't tell you how good of a feeling that is, to just be peaceful.  I feel like I can breathe, that I'm not being suffocated.  I know it is hard to understand if you don't know what is going on but before Soul Restoration something like this would have just sent me into a tail spin.  I would have dwelled on it and it would have broken me.  However, I am whole and it feels wonderful!

My daughter has a school project that is coming up. She has a question she needs to answer in a form that would be visible to the public. She will be doing some mixed media, making them into She Art girls.  Her question is what does it means to live with honor?  We would be interested to hear your answers in forms of favorite quotes, scriptures and whatever else you would like.  Who knows, my daughter may just decide to give one of you a special present after her project is finished at the end of May.

hon·or [on-er] –noun

honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.” – author unknown

Routines

I didn't really know until today how much of a routine person I have become.  There is that saying "When Momma ain't happy, no body's happy".  Yep, that would be me when it comes to my routine.(Thank you Flylady!)  Mess with how I like to do things and you may just have one angry Momma on your hands.  Now, don't get me wrong over the years I have learned to make adjustments and not be so controlling about said routines.  I am happy to bend when necessary for company, days of illness or just spontaneous fun. 

However, at this point in time I have a problem.........We moved here 3 years ago, this upcoming June and the only routine this Momma has is avoiding the things that need to be done.  I haven't been able to find what works for me now.  You would think I could keep it the same as before but it just isn't working.  A few years ago I was at a very special friends house and I noticed her to do list on her refrigerator.  It said "Love the House Day"(at least I think I am remembering it right) and I asked her what that meant.  She told me that her house needed to be loved just as much as her family.  So just like she set aside time to be with family, she set aside time to take care of the house.  For some reason what had always seemed like chores to me became something I did out love.  What a change that was! 

Today was a breakthrough day and I am on my way to finding my happy routine.  At this point in time.....Wednesday's mark my "Love the House Day", which includes the things I don't really like to do but need to be done.  Dusting, vaccuming corners and cleaning my bathroom.  Thursday's mark starting laundry and which gets finished up on Friday.  The whole goal of my happy routine is to be able to free up our weekends as the warmer weather approaches.   So looking forward to the evenings after dinner in the garden!!  

So please share with me, do you have a rountine?  What do you do that just makes your home happy?

And so it begins

A LONG weekend.  My two teenagers have been madly practicing for a high school play, Fiddler on the Roof since they returned from Christmas break.  Practices 5 days a week and a couple of weekends thrown in there have proven to weigh heavily on this family.(especially when 3 out of 4 of us was sick for 6 weeks)  We are a family that gets cranky when we don't get to spend a lot of time together and I've been known to get the jealous mommies.  Example of the jealous mommies.....when teenage daughter wants to have a friend over because she misses said friend, then I feel left out.  I would rather just spend time creating art with her instead of sharing her.  I realize she has to have time with her friends outside of school so I suck it up and play nice.(at least I try)

So the last nights of the play started yesterday and go through Saturday.  Did a mention that it will be late nights until 11pm?  Ya, I know I am getting older because I can't stay up that late to many days in a row.  I am looking forward to Sunday, the day after the last performance.  We just might end up sleeping in.....right like that ever happens with me.  I am lucky to sleep in past 7am!  Oh well, such is life and it goes on. 

My parents are coming in for a few days so that will be fun.  I am also putting together a Brave Girl apron and trying my best to find motivation to make some art.  I am LOVING the She Art class!  I haven't created any girls yet but my ideas are brewing so that makes me happy.

The winner is........

BUT first I need to let you all know how much I appreciated each one of your comments and have read them all.  They were all so touching.  Welcome to all my new followers.  I hope you will enjoy the journey I share here.

I believe that there is a God that knows what each and everyone of us needs to continue on our own journey.  He puts things in our paths that can result into beautiful things.  When I went to the Random generator I plugged in the numbers, then went back to my list of comments.  I counted and then relized that one of the most touching comments for me was the person who received the blog gift.  This is so like God to provide something special to help someone along their way. 

So to number 35, Kristy you are the winner!!       
Kristy said, "I am so loving this BG blog hop ! Being able to read your stories and sing praises for SR at BGC is wonderful .I am so excited to say I am signed up for the April session. IS it April yet ? I have been so touched by your story and for being brave enough to post it. I am happy to add you to my following list. I would just die to win this amazing gift. I am on a journey to heal after the death of my dear husband in July 2010. On a journey of discovery and being Brave in my new "Widow" walk. I am over the top with joy that you girls put this together. What a wonderful gift to all of us !! Hugs.. KRisty ...Krissi57 at BGC...You can reach me at my blog...http://myhealingthroughartstory.blogspot.com/ "

I linked Kristy's blog so you lovelies can go leave her some sisterly love.  Her artwork through healing is amazing, which makes God pretty amazing!!  Blessing to you my new Brave Girl Sister!!

What it means to be a Brave Girl

Welcome to the Soul Restoration blog hop - if you're following from the beginning you came from Leslie's blog  to continue hopping on your way you'll visit Kai's blog.  If for any reason you get lost or a link is broken you can go here, here, here or here to get yourself back on track.  Several of the ladies are having give aways, so have fun!  That is what it's all about making special connections.

As you go along this blog hop journey you are going to see my sisters hearts, please be kind and leave lots of LOVE for them.  We would love to see you join the most powerful and fun online workshop taught by Melody Ross.  This class is being enjoyed and loved by women all over the world and the one thing in common you will see is it is all about connections.  Connections between other women who get you and to the little girl that is still inside of you waiting to be healed.  Soul Restoration online classes have now been expanded to TWO sessions:  Soul Restoration Part 1 - Finding your truth(6 weeks) starting April 5, 2011  Session $99 Registar HERE and Soul Restoation Part 2 - Living your truth(6 weeks) For graduates of Soul Restoration 1 only June 7, 2011  Session $99 Resister HERE 

You DO NOT need to be an artist to do this.  Melody is so awesome and she walks you through it all.  After watching all the technique videos if you are still having trouble, go to your sisters for support.  That is what it is all about lovelies.

I personally have been following Melody and her journey for years.  She speaks truth with her words and those words have helped me more than she will ever know.  When I heard that she was starting a Brave Girl Camp I was over the moon and back excited.  I knew with the price tag, I was going to have to wait for quite awhile for my pennies to be saved.  Then it was announced that a special Brave Girl Community would be opened and that Soul Restoration six week course would be offered.  Have you ever just been not able to get something out of your head?  That is what happened with me when I heard about it.  The decision to take this class wasn't something I took lightly.  I knew I would have a lot of soul work to do and it honestly wasn't going to be easy.  Life style changes are rarely easy but in the end rewarding.  

 

My sister died when I was nine years old, this is my favorite picture of her and I.  I loved her so very much and since then I have at times felt like I've been lost.  I only knew for a short time what it was like to have a sister and I have searched for years for that bond.  The bond of undersanding that only sisters seem to have.  A peace comes over you when you a relize you don't have to search empty faces anymore for someone who will be your sister.  That is the peace that I have received from Soul Restoration, my restless sisters heart is at peace.  I don't have to search anymore because I have hundres of sisters who get me.  They are there at a moments notice when I am having a horrible, no good, very bad day.  They center me right back to where I need to be.  I so LOVE each and everyone of you, my heart is full.

Now for the fun giveway that I have put together for you!  In this giveway you will receive the above things to start or continue you on your art journey of healing.   I will choose a winner Sunday 3/6,  9pm pacific time and post the winner by Tuesday 3/8.  Be sure I have away to contact you!! 

In class you will choose your truth teller symbol to remind you of the things you have learned.  My truth teller symbol are birds because they are what God uses to slow me down.  This little guy was found in my garden one day when I was going out to my car.  Yes, he let me get that close with the camera on my phone!  It looks like he is smiling and that is what I like to imagine God doing when he looks at me.      

Please join us in the beautiful Brave Girl community, that Melody and her sister Kathy have created for us.  If you would like to read more about the community, please click on the Brave Girl button to the left. 

A bit of Truth

I am loving surrounding myself with special truths.  This is one I made for myself and a couple of sweet Brave Girl sisters.  Be blessed and come back tomorrow for our wonderful Soul Restoration Blog Hop!!

I painted on lovely canvas paper.  The heart is modeling paste, which seems like it takes FOREVER to dry.  Little fence is a Martha Steward punch.

Doing things anyway

Somehow, somewhere I learned to do things anyway.  It has been that way for as long as I can remember.  It is strange though, when you don't remember much of your childhood to not even really know when you got to be so strong.  I am choosing however to believe it happened over a lifetime.

These are my Anyway pages from Soul Restoration.  The birds I found before Christmas and just stamped several out, cutting them out and placing them over the punched vine and flowers.  I just love how they turned out.

I am choosing to believe what Melody Ross said to us in class one day..........When you go through things you are extremely qualified to help someone where no one else would be.  You are trust worthy because you have been there.  I remember a very dear friend telling me the exact same thing about 10 years ago so what Melody said was just a wonderful reminder.  I do wish more people believed this and that there would be more trust so that people didn't think they add reinvent the wheel.

Be sure to come back this way over the weekend.  A few my new Brave Girls sisters and I have to put together a Soul Restoration Blog Hop.  I'll be doing a fun little give away.  See you soon!    

Attitude adjustment

My attitude hasn't been the best so I find myself being quiet.  I loved the Soul Restoration class and I will talk more about that later in the week, durning our blog hop this weekend.  It was everything I hoped it would be but it doesn't stop just because the class did.  It is hard work to change how you think on a daily basis, to go where the peace is when all you want to do is revert back to your old habits.  I seem to be the master of that recently, falling back into old habits, it seems easier but it sure isn't healthy.  

I just noticed this week that my vistor counter has hit over 14,000!  Totally amazing to me!  Thank you to all of you that visit.  I do believe I will be doing a special give away to celebrate soon, just have to figure out just the right special gift.