Glitter and Sparkle.

Looks like Easter is upon us and we haven't done any Easter crafts or any type of holiday decorating (one thing I was going to improve on this year.) So, what is one to do? Well you can take the kitty grass and use it as a center piece. Check.

Then you can take fake speckled eggs and glitter the tops to hang on your indoor tree branches. Check.

Then after a very noise intensive day of three children with loud voices enclosed in a car, you can meet up with lovely friends for a drink and an exquisite dessert. Check.

How about you? How do you prepare for Easter?

Wednesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for two fabulous nieces and the funny things they say.

Gavin's red wagon.

I painted in two kid's rooms today. For some reason, this has been a month that seems to be centering around painting for kids. This is one of the rooms I worked on... I'm liking this direction... keeping it simple.

I like it when things become simple. Like when you ask for clarity of your flaws, which is something I did very recently, and then you are shown just that. Clear. Concise. Simple. Not liking because it's painful when you see your flaws out in the sunlight, it but at least it's simple... right?

How about you? Do you like things simple?

Tuesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a really good friend to host a play date for my son while I paint. Oi, a house full of three boys! Thanks Suzy!

Focal points.

I posted this quote a while ago and for some reason it has come back around with the desire to make itself known again. This is a constant reminder for me as I can be so very self absorbed. There is so much satisfaction when you can focus on others, giving of yourself, without any intention to yourself. I'm going to strive for this tomorrow as I did it sort of halfway today.

How about you? Do you find it easy to forget about your needs and focus on someone else's needs for a while?

On another note:

Tomorrow is passover. I know what passover is but do people today eat special meals for this holiday? I'd really like to know. Do you?

Monday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a day with my son all to myself.

Leap.

Whatever that means for you... leap. Your wings have been training for this moment.

Sunday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a nice long walk and an impromtu day at the beach.

Daring to fail.

Dare to fail. Surrender. Quit hoping, pushing, driving the control train towards an expected ending. In this past week, I've done just that and the outcome has been simplicity. The exact response I've been working, running, pushing and shoving towards. My word for this year that has been eluding me. It's been there all along, in the side lines, just waiting for ME to get out of the way. So. I. Did.

How about you? Do you dare to fail?

Saturday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a full week to be over. Whew!

Catsup and Pickles.

This is the first bloom this year of my "Double Delight" rose bush that was given to me for my birthday from dear friends. This particular rose bush was my sister's favorite so this bloom is more than just something pretty to adorn my front porch. Spring is definitely here!

A random note:

Driving home from another 2 hour football practice (I had no idea this football thing was going to be such a time bandit), a song by the Black Eyed Peas was blaring on the radio. My son and I were singing along and then after the BEP's sing the days of the week, my son says,

"That is my favorite line in that song. It's educational!"

Ha-ha! I wanted to burst out laughing and say something snide like, "Yeah, just like we go through drive through restaurants for the catsup and pickles on hamburgers. You know, so we can get our veggies!"

I didn't but I must say, I just love the delight and enthusiasm of young minds! This is going to be a good weekend. I can feel it.

How about you? How do you know when your weekend is going to be just fine?

Friday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a nice last day at my son's current school.

Sparkling happy.

Lucky me... I was fortunate to paint a mural today. Nothing could make me happier than to have a paint brush in hand and create some happy for a super nice family.

How about you? Did you make someone smile today?

Thursday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for the ability to turn a mediocre mood into something sparkly.

Busy life, busy bees.

The canvas from yesterday, along with a few others, turned into this...

and this...

and this...

I celebrate life. Especially when I drive half an hour to take my son to football practice and when we get there he is horrified of the purple sports sock choice he has made. We were early so I took him to the drug store (since there were no sporting goods stores around) and he chose to wear knee high men's black dress socks! Got to love that kind of enthusiasm!

Life is another kind of celebration when I drag my 10 year old niece to my son's 2 hour long football practice so I can tell her about the birds and the bees. Not the sugar coated version either but the full detailed version. Although I've been rather dreading this discussion, it turned out quite well and even enjoyable with her enthusiastic questions. Reason indeed for celebration, ha-ha!

I suppose that is my story. Little things to make me laugh and keep things interesting and continually reminding myself to be very present.

How about you? What is your story and how do you celebrate your life?

Wednesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a full schedule that keeps my life busy.

Use it or lose it.

Another textured canvas... what could this be? Only tomorrow will tell.

On another note:

Have you seen the show called "Hoarders?" I've caught it once or twice and it's about people with the mental disorder of hoarding. It's repulsive, enticing, interesting and shocking all at the same time. If you ever have any problems with throwing things away or deciding what to keep, watch this show and you'll be enlightened immediately. I was enlightened last night with not only one but two episodes back to back. Man oh man... I'm just sayin'.

Tuesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for more licensing news although it seems to be working against my desires for simplifying.

Mondays are for creating.

After a very busy week and weekend, I started this brand new week by taking a card making class with my good friend Suzy, a lover of all things creative. This world of stamping, embossing and stickling is new to me but I think I like it!

Then, I was able to squeak in a few new canvases. I am really having fun with textured backgrounds and exploring new color combinations.

There is something with a hawaiian flare shaping up in the studio...

Creativity is sprouting up all over... this is my first bloom from my hanging geranium.

How about you? Did you start your week off doing something you love?

Great Quote for the Day:

"Enthusiasm spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment." - Norman Vincent Peale

Monday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful to live a creative life. The joy in this leaves me speechless at times.

Child labor.

Last night was my son's school auction Gala and after creating all of these item boards, basket tags, setting up the event, working it and then breaking it down, today was a day of reflection and rest. Much needed rest. Here are the only two photos I managed to take of the entire event. Thank goodness I was not the hired photographer!!!

Such a day of rest it was that we put the kid to work!

How about you? Do you rest after a hard day's work?

Sunday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for an enlightening day.

Spring has sprung.

Today is the First Day of Spring! New life is breaking ground, the sun is shining just a bit brighter and there is a fresh crispness to the air. Enjoy the day!

Saturday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful my son's school auction tonight will be a big successful event!

Celebrate.

'Nuf said.

Friday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for good friends, great laughs, and a job well done. G'nite.

Life lessons.

There is change in the air, you can almost feel it. Spring is almost here!

Thursday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for really nice friends who pick me up when I fall.

IF_Subterranean

The topic for Illustration Friday: Subterranean...Situated or operating beneath the earth's surface; underground.

In other words, life is never as it looks, there is always something else just below the surface.

Wednesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for subterranean elements in my life so I may learn to look through eyes that are wise.

Soul Searching.

Life is a chance to grow a soul.

Tuesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a nice long talk about things that mean the most to me.

Signs. Really large signs.

While organizing some of my photos, I came across a photo of signage I created for Party City last Halloween for a costume line...

Full House equals no sleep.

Things have been a little crazy around here since Saturday with building a new fence, picking up a pound dog who just had surgery and adjusting to our larger family... so I missed posting yesterday.  I promise to get back to the regularly scheduled program of art, gratitude and other musings.

On another note:

"Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them, And they flew..." - Guillaume Apollinaire 

How about you? Did you go to the edge today?

Monday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a new furry friend, no matter how upside down it makes everything right now!

Sunday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a yummy breakfast out at one of my favorite places... the Hash House.

Love in a white fur coat.

There is going to be a new being around here starting tomorrow...

Yup, we adopted a pound puppy today. This lovely six year old malamute will be part of our family in a few short hours. Can't wait for more fur to love! Now the animals outnumber the humans at my house.

How about you? Do animals bring joy to your home?

Saturday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for just happening to check the pound website, see a dog I've been pining for and just happening to visit and find her available. Life is good.

Wisdom of the heart.

Couldn't have said this better myself...

Just finished day three of the P90X workout system. Kicked my you know what! Only 86 more days to go.

Friday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a very busy day to be ending peacefully.

I'll take it.

This has been a week of licensing discovery! A few friends told me they had found my art on metal at Cost Plus World Market so I went to visit one today and saw three left! Another friend sent me a photo of what she has and I am pleased with the quality so far. 

On another note:

This year of simplifying has left me in a stupor. Actually the beginning of the year felt bright and crisp but as the year continued, things started to feel fuzzy and a little unkempt. The natural tendency was to fight the response and try to come up with a solution as I am a very project oriented person. I like, very much, to start something, see it to completion and move on to something else. Set a goal and celebrate the finish.

However, the light bulb went on and I discovered that I may have to sit in this untidy pool of unwelcome emotion for a while so I might as well surrender to it. Just accept it for what it is. Stop trying to find the fix. Certainly not like it, but learn to live with it for a while. Everything has a season and everything will pass. Change is inevitable. Whether we like it or not. As uncomfortable as change can be, it will always be there.

So. I have accepted this place that I am at and however long it takes to move along, I am OK with it. More than OK. Good. Really good. Because the moment I actually believed that I have accepted this funk I am in, things started to change. Just a little. Just a little tiny bit. But I'll take it.

How about you? What do you do in times of unease?

Thursday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a nice long walk with a friend and a spontaneous breakfast along the way!

Celebrate, laugh, believe and dream.

My agent directed me to a website with some more of my licensed art... www.primagift.com. These are glass plates with a painted color image on the back showing through and the mugs are ceramic. Fun stuff. The originals are shown below.

It's that time of year again, my son's school has a big ol' fancy gala fundraiser to raise money for special interest. Being an involved parent, I am on the committee and here are a few of the posters and invite I created. It is one and a half weeks away and I will be so happy when it's done!
How about you? Do you volunteer for good causes?

Wednesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful to be able to take my niece out of school today for lunch, a movie and shopping. Those are the moments I hope she remembers when she looks back upon her childhood.

Inspired series found.

I was looking around the web the other day and I found some of my paintings for sale on a few websites. This was a nice surprise. Such is the land of licensing.

Tuesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful to finish up a few more projects today when I really didn't feel like it. Sometimes doing the things we don't want to do is exactly what we need to do. 

Daring.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller

What did you dare to do today?

Delight.

Life is full of little moments, little things that bring a smile or delight in our hearts. There are many more of these tiny bits of joy than larger, life changing moments. We just have to remember to find the joy in all of them, big or small.

How about you? What did you find delight in today?

Monday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for finishing up some work when I really just wanted to hop in the car and drive away.

Creativity abounds.

Not as much children's art going on here at the moment but lots of other creative outlets being tapped...

The wolf inside you.

This ancient teaching has been showing itself frequently in my life lately, at times when it is very unexpected...

An elder Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me... it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

"This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too", he added.

The Grandchildren thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied... "The one you feed."

Which wolf do you feed?

The point of this story is pretty evident. Look at how you feed your wolves and realize that you have the power at every moment to choose which one you feed.

In the Weeeee hours of the morning.

Every once in a while I have trouble sleeping. This morning happened to be one of these times, so at 3:30 in the morning, I stumbled upon the most intriguing website about children's books called Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. There are interviews with authors and illustrators, all which I find extremely interesting! This is how I found out about this particular children's illustrator, Kelly Murphy. I heart her work so much and here is an image from her latest book coming out called "Brand New Baby Blues." I thought I'd share this delightful discovery...

How about you? Do you find early morning hours to be invigorating or dreadful?

Saturday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a friend's birthday celebration last night, a chance to escape computer issues!

Sunday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for chores to be finished very early on in the day so the rest of the day can be filled with fun.

You were not born to fail.

“Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.” ~Og Mandino

There is "fun" in fundraising!

Oh boy, it's that time of year again . . . fundraising. At my son's school, every class creates an art project for the big gala to be auctioned off and somehow, every year I think it would be a really great idea to spearhead that project in my son's class. This is what the class produced (steps one through three) and step four is the final product. It is a mosaic water fountain! It wasn't too hard to create either, and knowing what I know now, the next one will be a cinch. Here are the directions for any of you who might be interested in creating one for your own class project!

Step one: Coat inside of large clay pot with waterproofing paint. A roofing tar product would be good too but very stinky!

Step two: Draw design on pot and assign different parts to the kids. (This is very helpful if you have very eager artists who don't know when to stop!)

Paint the areas with tile adhesive and let one or two kids at a time place on the broken tiles. (Helpful hint: use all of the same types of tiles, rocks or glass pieces. Mine were varying in thicknesses and made the grouting step much more difficult.)

Step three: When finished with the kid's part, fill in empty areas so entire pot is covered with broken bits of tile.

Smooth on grout so it fills in the gaps between the tiles pieces. After the suggested time on your grout package, wipe off excess grout with a large wet sponge. This part is very tedious and important to get as much grout off the tops of the tiles as you can. (When the grout dries, it is impossible to remove from the tiles.)

Step four: Seal the mosaic pot with a tile sealer and re-seal inside of pot for good measure.

Create your fountain top, feed pump tube through fountain top and submerse pump into water. It's a great feeling when you hear that water splashing!

There is another fundraising event that I was asked to make a decorated chair. I could not for the life of me find a chair that would work so I painted a small canvas with a super cute chair on it. Still keeping with the theme but more my style...

Whew! Fundraising can be very tiring so I am hoping to turn in early this evening after going out to dinner with the family.

How about you? Do extra projects tire you out or energize you?

Thursday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for very nice friends who bless me on a daily basis.

Friday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a creative friend to visit a yarn, fabric, craft store with today! Thanks Suzy!

Feel good moments.

Dialogue while driving in car:

Son: "Momma, you have a lot less nose hair than daddy does."

Mom: "Really? How do you know?"

Son: "You're supposed to say, thank you for noticing!"

Mom: "Oh, sorry, thank you for noticing." "Sigh."

Geez! I feel old all of a sudden.

Love in corners.

This quote really spoke to me today. Blessing my home with love comes in the form of simplifying and the task of simplifying to me means quite a bit of organizing, releasing and lovingly learning to let go. Essentially filling corners with love while clearing out clutter. How is this going? It's a slow process but I can see how little bits of love in unexpected places assists the response to warmth and comfort. Not only can our homes benefit with this process, but our physical bodies, which are homes as well, can only benefit from snippets of love.

How about you? Do you consciously fill your home with love?

I visited a friend today that has been in the hospital from complications of late stage cancer and is convalescing at home. I knew what to expect, so I wasn't taken by surprise by the sight of a lovely, lovely person visibly shrinking before our eyes. However, the act of visiting her was difficult due to recent experiences of cancer with my sister, but not as difficult as I was predicting. In fact, I have to say I was energized by the mere ability to show up. Being present for another human being shows them love and caring, possibly even more than words.

Very interesting day I have to say.

Tuesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful to feel a difficult decision can be the right decision even though it is submersed in discomfort.

Wednesday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a large block of time to discuss emotional progress with a like minded friend.

Tropical, schmopical.

This is a grouping of hawaiian inspired ideas. I haven't decided which direction to go with the red and blue canvases and I thought this might be fun. I just love tropical foliage. Do you?

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."- Tommy Lasorda

Monday's Gratitude:

I am so grateful for a nice afternoon out with my niece, just doing girlie stuff.