Wishing You and Yours a Blessed Christmas

TWO MONTHS!!! I knew it had been a long time....but TWO MONTHS!? Thank you for your unending patience with me. I wish i could be that patient with me:)

Lot's of exciting things going on here! Some things feel like more than i can handle at times, but i realize that makes me lean on HIM more.

I look forward to catching up with you over Christmas break, including my long overdue lesson on Inked Tiles, i have not forgotten!! But had to take this opportunity...in the midst of unwrapped gifts, uncooked food, and my unclean house, to wish you and your families a Blessed Merry Christmas. What a JOY to walk away from the organized chaos and sit with you for a bit.

Your support, prayers, and visits were a true Blessing to me in 2011 and i look forward to leaning on you and offering all the same love and prayers in 2012.

May we always remember that HE

is the reason for the season!

You're on my list!

If your a Seinfeld fan, which I am, you may recall the episode when Jerry and Elaine make rental car reservations. When they arrived at the ticket counter the attendant tells them that they didn't hold their reservation. Jerry begins the process of explaining to the counter attendant the meaning of a reservation.

Watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7uvttu8ct0&feature=player_embedded

I think this is a great example of customer service these days, but only Jerry makes it funny.

I also think this is sometimes a good example of prayer life.

Do you ever ask someone to pray for you?

Do people ask you to pray for them?

What an honor to pray for someone and have someone pray for you!! I feel like it is really the most powerful thing we can do for someone. And to ask someone to pray for you puts one in an amazing place of humility and according to Scripture...God loves a humble heart!!

I have to be honest when i tell you...I'm finally starting to get this. Used to be when someone asked me to pray for them, i would say i would but quickly i would forget them when it came to prayer time. I used to think that to actually ask someone to pray for me would be a sign of weakness, you know...I've got it covered don't bother...even when i needed the prayer badly.

I have actually had someone say to me "don't pray for me, pray for yourself!" after telling them i would pray for them. Maybe they sensed it was just something i was just giving lip service to.

Just like the lady at the ticket counter! Anyone can just say they will pray!

 



God has really convicted me on this. After all, when you say your gonna pray for someone they are taking you at your word...that you're going to pray for them. And how prideful of me to not want or ask for prayer. What a gift...it is a prayer!! I need prayer (feel free to pray for me anytime friends)!

1 Thessalonians 1:2-5

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

One thing that has helped me to "keep the reservation" is to make a prayer list. It is very special to me to write someones name on that list. You're on my list! It helps to keep me focused, really it is my prayer to-do list:)

Do you have a prayer list?
If so...could you add me to it?!

Just a reminder that i will be back soon (hopefully Friday) to post about the Alcohol Inked Tiles.

I think you will so enjoy these inks!!

xo

Tease on Tiles and 'doing what you love'

My very favorite thing about being an artist is just playing!! When i first began selling my art 4 years ago, I totally didn't get that...to play. I was trying to create a product and forgot that i was suppose to put my heart in the work i was doing. It really showed in my art, the lack of passion, and I quickly had to let go and learn to play again. i was suppose to just be me and let the art create itself.

That is why i love mixed media so much...it allows me to express myself in ways i can't find using just one medium or technique. That's pretty much how i am in life...gotta have 10 balls in the air, 6 lines and the water, and 4 pots on the stove. I'm just crazy like that:)

So i  love this new technique i have been working with using alcohol inks and ceramic tiles.

I simply couldn't take a picture that would do these tiles justice! The colors and shine are just stunning. If you have worked with alcohol inks you know how rich and vibrant the colors are, that's why i love using them!

These tiles were so much fun and they very much had a life of there own. I'm offering a workshop on this process next Thursday (you can find more information in my workshop page).  Friday, the 23rd i'm gonna come back and share the tutorial on how you can make these at home. Sorry to be such a tease but

I'd love you to stop back by and experience this super duper fun process with me.

Until then...

I'm excited to share "my walk" on a truly inspiring blog called Do What you Love for Life hosted by Beth Nicholls. Here is her facebook page too. Beth has a way of supporting women in who they are while inspiring others through her own walk.

Here's a little sample ...
"In 2007 I was happy. But not the kind of happy that fills you up. I was satisfied but still hungry. I think that was the first step for me in doing what I love, realizing I wasn’t filled up and feeling like I did deserved to be filled up."

Please stop over and visit Beth and read more on the journey's of people who are doing what they love for life!

Floods and Fires...

Through floods and fires...He has you right where you need to be.
Through sickness and abandonment...He's got that too.
Loss, pain, and sacrifice...Jesus knows every bit of how that feels.
It is the test of the true witness that can stand the trials of life and still love our Father...still praise and trust Him.

Thank you to all the Godly women who have been sharing their trials with such great love and gratitude.
You are a reflection of Jesus to the world. May God use this trial to bring you closer to His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

Welcome Change

Change, transformation, conversion, shift, turn-over, revolution, turn....

No matter how you say it or when it happens...it is simply a part of life.

AND I LOVE IT!!

As the leaves start to turn the rich colors of red and yellow i feel excitement. I feel prepared for the changes that God is handing me and my family these days. Trust me, I'm never prepared! I'm more of a roll with the punches kind of girl so this is very uncharted territory.

Lately I have this spirit of courage and TRUST.

I feel like God has me at the brink of something great and I'm ready to step  dive off the edge into the unknown.

 

Feeling so used up and tired earlier this month really turned out to be a Blessing. It allowed me the time to rest and renew my spirit in HIM so that i could feel the fullness and the beauty of the path unfolding before me.

 

    Are you are experiencing a beautiful transformation in your lives or are you in the 'Be still and know that I am God' mode?

Either way, each and everyone of us deserves to be the best we can be!

I believe in you!!
 He believes in you!!

      “The key to change... is to let go of fear.”

 Rosanne Cash

The Indiana State Fair Tragedy and Memories

It has taken me two whole days to put this post together as I have gone back and forth about should i publish this or not. Please understand that I have chosen to focus on the wonderful family times to be had at the fair due to all the controversy about who is to blame for the tragedy that took place on Aug.13th. After much prayer i feel it would honor the victims more to focus on love rather than blame. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

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Indiana State Fair Memories

Lot's and Lot's to do at the Indiana State Fair...

                                       

Can't forget the Midway rides!

 The TREATS!!

The wonderful people who work at the State Fair year after year...

 The familiar and welcoming sights that let you know you are at the Indiana State Fair.

 And of course the music and special events...

Mercy Me and Third Day Aug. 10th 2011...I'm becoming a Gomer:)

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As I'm sure many of you have recently seen on the news, a terrible tragedy stuck my Indianapolis In. community this weekend. 5 people lost their lives and, as of this morning, 18 people still remain in the hospital, many in critical condition.

These are the photos i took of the memorial, outside the collapsed Grandstand 2 days after the accident.

 

Please lift up Indiana in prayer, especially praying for the victims who lost their lives on Aug.13th, the injured, the families of the victims, the people who rushed to aid those hurt during the event, those that witnessed first hand the accident and the people who work for the Indiana State Fair in all capacities.

May God grant them all healing, grace, and forgiveness.

 
 
****Please be aware that the footage below is disturbing and shows the collapse of the Grandstand stage on Aug. 13th 2011.



Life is short...God be with us all.

Renewed by TRUST & Collaborating ART

 

Feeling so much better these last few weeks as I've taken time to really fill up again. Crazy how quickly life can take a toll on our spirit. I really just needed to get out of myself for a bit and focus on my Blessings. God has me in some challenging places right now and I have to lean on Him and TRUST. Like i've said before, this is a process for me and trust doesn't come easy. It's hard work emotionally and spiritually. But it's good work and it's good for me to be tired from it:) The Lord continues to humble me and put me in places where I have to trust Him. I need you Lord and i thank you for your faithfulness.

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A few weeks back I held a workshop called "Pass Me the Canvas". I had this on my schedule for 6 months and had been anxiously awaiting the nights that 7 brave artist would spend two evenings playing the artistic version of musical chairs. This creative exercise allowed each artist to tap into the deepest part of their creative spirit and challenge themselves to just TRUST the artist within.

I began the workshop with a relaxing meditation, full of positive affirmations, that would help to free us from any strongholds and lies we may listen to.

Here is part of the meditation...

"When we pull back the layers of our TRUE SELF and bring LIGHT into DARK, hidden places inside us, then we will begin to know who we really are inside.

Expose the gentle child inside yourself…the trusting, vulnerable child.

Share her tonight with us."

After the meditation i had artist choose a pattern, color palette, and inspirational word to guide the collaboration of each artist. I also had artist write out nouns that they thought would inspire the progression of their artwork. Of course I chose nouns like bird, circles, flower, and nature. I chose my inspirational word by closing my eyes and TRUSTING God to pick for me...He picked the word Beauty .

Next, i asked each artist to write out their fear about coming to the workshop and this took an additional dose of humility.

                                 

Then we began the music and spent the first evening building our background by using mixed media supplies and lots of TRUST. We passed the canvas every 35 minutes for a total of 3 rotations.

Here is some of the amazing backgrounds creating the first night...

The next night we passed the canvas for three,15 minute rotations to complete the circle of artist. This allowed each artist to work on every canvas.

The backgrounds were complete and each canvas had a ton of depth and color.

 For the final hour of the workshop the artwork found it's way home to it's inspiration and true owner. Artist then added the final touches to their collaborated art. I assisted artist in their final hour so i haven't finished my piece yet but will post it as soon as it is done.

Here are some of of the finished pieces...

I think we were all surprised and pleased with the final outcome of our artwork. It was a journey as we stepped out of our comfort zone; it took a lot of TRUST. I was inspired by the strength of the other artist who attended the workshop. Thank you BRAVE GIRLS!!

We all experienced humility, creativity, and TRUST and the workshop turned out to be more than i could have ever dreamed.

Gotta be a lesson for me somewhere in that!

All Puckered OUT!

I just love this picture!!

This week, as we near the end of summer, i find myself feeling like this little guy. Just plain tired, all puckered out! Writing this, admitting that i'm tired, causes me to feel a little embarrassed. WHY?! Are we not allowed to feel tired and want rest? My Mom and Grandma are always telling me to slow down, that I take on too much. Truly I enjoy biting off more then i can chew but sometimes I feel disappointed when i don't accomplish all i set out to do. 

Do you ever feel like this?  

In February of this year, I turned 40. My husband planned a amazing surprise party and my mom, knowing i love birds, made me this BIRTHDAY TREE.

She had all the special people that came to the party, sign the back of these beautiful birds she made. I have placed the tree right nest to my bedside and  it is a great daily reminder to me of where i've been and where i want to go.

As I read the words of encouragement and love from my friends and family, it renews my spirit.

I do this often.

I have also place name tags which I have recieved from various events i have attended this year on the tree.

As i look again at the sweet little bird in the nest, i am reminded that I'm growing. I'm not where i was last year or even yesterday. I am not stuck or bored and believe me, i know what that feels like.

 I'm growing and this takes hard work sometimes.

I'm gonna take it easy this week...on myself and those i love.

Join me?