new beginnings – Page 2

Category: new beginnings

Big dreams + hope and faith = a wonder-filled life!

The definition of WONDER:

a : a cause of astonishment or admiration : marvel

b : miracle
2: the quality of exciting amazed admiration
3 a : rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience

b : a feeling of doubt or uncertainty

Wonder. What a rich word! Marvel, miracle, astonishment. When was the last time you felt those things? Maybe as a young child the first time you saw a giraffe, or a skyscraper or a rainbow? But as an adult? When do you recall feeling wonderment?

Even the doubt and uncertainty part in this word is rich. Isn’t it good to feel doubt and uncertainty sometimes? We don’t know the future and life can change in a New York minute. To just allow myself to feel uncertain would be freeing after all we are all uncertain, life is uncertain!

But I have big dreams…so big that I have to push them down. After all who I’m I to dream such dreams? AND life is uncertain. It’s hard to plan when you don’t know what may be around the next corner. But lately, as God transforms me, refining me with great care and gentleness, He tells me that His dreams for me are BIG! Bigger then I can see or even imagine. And I just wonder…like a child…what He has in store for little ole’ me.

Prepare your hearts and repent!! With forgiveness, HE is coming to make your deepest dreams a reality. Dreams that are so BIG that only God himself could fathom them. Not one of us is worthy, but Gods grace and mercy is ENOUGH!

Luke 5

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus,

19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?

23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?

24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[d] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.

26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

I hope you see amazing things today!

Texture technique for your mixed media artwork

It’s BLACK FRIDAY!!

And there is no way in BEEP that I’ll be hitting the mall today! Not my thing, but if it is your thing then happy shopping. I know there are some amazing deals out there.

My day will be spent making soup and preparing for my final artshow of the year. This show has been so well organized and it will be great to see all the local artist that I have really enjoyed getting to know as we do a lot of these shows together. BUT…I really need the Jan/Feb break! My business seems a little (ok a lot) disorganized these days and the dreaded tax season is right around the corner. Staying organized is not my thing either!! That’s why I usually wait until the last week to prepare for shows (and taxes) that have been scheduled for months. I wonder what would happen if I ever got organized? Would the world implode?

Anyway, for all my creative friends who are in their studios today, I have a fun project for you. I may not be organized but I am thrifty and here is a creative way to get some cool texture on your mixed media artwork.

Here’s what you’ll need…

Gel medium

mini paint roller

empty toilet paper roll

a cut out strip of texture

*this technique can also be used with a large roller and empty paper towel roll for larger art pieces.

STEP 1

Secure some paper or non-slip drawer liver around your paint roller. You’ll need to do this so that the toilet paper tube will fit securely. Glue the cut out texture strip around the empty toilet paper roll, textured part facing out. Pull the t.p. roll over the paint roller like this…

STEP 2

Roll your textured tube through paint, just as you would if you were to paint a wall.

STEP 3

Roll it out onto your canvas or surface.

Check out these other items I used to create texture.

Here is the result painted on surface.

BURLAP

CIRCLE PUNCH OUT THINGY FROM THE HARDWARE STORE

YARN

I hope you’ll enjoy this fun and thrifty way to create some texture in your artwork. It’s not near the mess and it really is fun to just roll on. Bam! your done.

I was so excited with myself after coming up with this a few months ago that I was convinced i should have it patent . I recently went in the art supply store and much to my dismay I found a similar item marked at $12 for two tubes and a brush. Man, another dream gone:)

If I could only get organized!

something new to learn

Happy Friday!

It has been another crazy week around here, but isn’t it always?!

I have been trying to get some things in order this week and although it hasn’t been much fun, it is time well spent. Working on that goal list ya know.

One of my main goals is to re-do my website(working on it) and add prints to my line. I know, I know, I said I would never do them, but I’m doing them! I have had too many people ask for them not to go ahead and offer them. This will also allow me to do some whole selling and raise my prices on original work. It is time since I am selling through 50% of my work at shows. That’s a good thing and it has been a long time in coming.

So my darling husband, my biggest supporter, bought me a printer!! Oh my gosh, now I have to learn how to work it. It is a little much right now, as i just scored some new Photoshop software from a local thrift store I was volunteering at. It was just a blessing to unload that just donated box and find a brand new Photoshop 6.0, never used, waiting for my grubby little hands. To top it off it cost me $10!! I know it’s not the newest version but it will be more than enough for what I need.

It will be a challenge to learn all this at once because I am not very technically inclined. Remember, I can’t even operate a sewing machine! But I’m excited to grow my business and move forward. It has been a long journey.

Next week I will share the 3 best things I have done to grow my business.

I hope you are moving towards your goals too.

Come on in?

When I first started writing this blog, I had all these thougths about just how much of myself I would share and how much I would keep private. I planned on sharing my random thoughts on life and my love of art and other interest but didn’t intend to talk about my loved ones at all, that was just too close to my heart! But lately something has been tugging me and that something is you! As I share more and more of myself i’m becoming more connected to you and even though I’m finding myself in this incredibly vulnerable place, I kinda like it here. As I pull back the vail, I am enjoying the view more and more. It’s kinda like dating a new guy or finding a new friend, scary at first but as you reveal yourself you become more comfortable. So i guess that’s where I am, just lovin’ the ride and excited to see where we can go.

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So now for some formal introductions…

My rock, my love, and the leader of our clan.
Everything he does is for us and he is the love of my life.

My first born, she’s 10 going on 16 and smarter than any of us.

I’m in awe of her and excited to see where God leads her life.

My baby, he’s 9 and has the sweetest heart.
His kind and caring way helps to keep us all in check and he is an amazing example of Christ’s love. Funny how kids can do that.

Our home, we have lived here for 7 years and our roots get deeper and deeper.

My creative space. May look messing to you, but i call that INSPIRATION!

Me! Still growing and learning, but comfortable in my own skin.

What a blessing that is to know and love yourself!

Welcome to my whole heart, may not always be pretty, but it’s real.

I’m so glad you stopped in to visit.

I hope you enjoy this 4th of July weekend with your loved ones.

Please pray for our military.

what’s on the horizon

It’s a new day!! I feel like I have been a sleep and just like this lily, I’m slowly opening myself up to all the world has to offer.
Here is what’s on my horizon…
*This new blog…i can only hope someone reads it one day, but if not I’m fine with that too. I’m not in this for the fame lol.
*Joining the catholic church this easter and commiting my life to God. Thank you Lord for making my path straight.
*Being mentored by one of the top art gallery owners in my state
* My new studio, which i love…all mine!
*renewing my commitment to my health which includes, exercise, eating right, massages, and facials. Recongnizing that i deserve these things!
*Getting my house and yard organized. Can you feel me on this one?
*Making more time for my website and etsy page. I have had both of these for 2 years and have not put much effort into updating and keeping them fresh, therefore my efforts have not beared much fruit.

So why start a blog and what will i offer? oops, out of time. I’ll catch up with you soon………

just do it.

that’s it “begin”. just do it…open your heart…let LOVE in. as cheesy as it is that’s how i feel. I want to open my eyes to the new day and sing praises to the One.
woooh, slow down now! b-a-b-y-s-t-e-p-s, one foot in front of the other. Oh i’m green, so green, so forgive me as i stumble along. just don’t give up on me as i love with a whole heart.
love with courage…..