Kayla Giving Yogi Goodbye Hug As I've mentioned, I am working on the 100 Artworks Challenge. This is pushing and moving me in all sorts of ways. It is also allowing me to be open to ways to continue to support and encourage my family. Many of you know, that I am married and have two wonderful children; which are fondly known in my family as "Number 1" and "the baby." Well" the baby" is twenty years old and is a college sophomore. As a Mom, it's been wonderful watching her grow and stretch her wings and a challenge to see her make her own decisions. I often marvel at her courage and her willingness to try new things! It's what we want ... Continue Reading »
Family, Friends, and Life
The Life I Want…
I think the secret to having a joyful life is actually wanting the life you already have and being grateful for that life. Sometimes the desire for things – material things, relationships, jobs, experiences – makes us feel that our lives are not good enough. Like we somehow are failing because we do not have everything we want now! I think that the act of wanting can be good – it can be a driver, a motivator. It can drive and motivate us in two ways – positive and negative. Wanting can make us feel small or hopeless, or wanting can make us feel abundant and grateful. If we want more out of life from a starting point of wanting what ... Continue Reading »
Falling in Self-Love…
You and I celebrating you! If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place. Eckhart Tolle I found this quote at a time when I needed it, many years ago. In a world that places so much emphasis on our physical body, it is challenging to remember that the real work is done on the inside of us. Personally, I have spent many hours, at different times in my life trying to look a certain way…trying to fit a standard of beauty. I exercised like a maniac to fit into a certain size. I changed my hair numerous times and I spent a lot of money on clothing that was “in”. In fact, it took me until my mid thirties to recognize ... Continue Reading »
Beginning Again…
2014 came, conquered, and is over! I did what I could and grew in many ways and struggled in just as many ways, too! Yet, I am so grateful to be here for another new year beginning. The holiday of celebrating a new year coincides with my birthday; so it's always been a very special time for me on so many levels besides becoming older. But the one thing that stands out is how grateful I am to be in this place at this time, doing what I love to be doing...creating art in all forms that call to me. There is so much to be grateful for in this Life. So many blessings that are constantly unfolding before us, as long we keep our minds open ... Continue Reading »
Thought Imagery…
I love the practice of turning my thoughts around. I turned them upside down and inside out really looking for my truth in them. It is my process of questioning myself. I do this in meditation, but more often than not, I explore this through my art journals. Writing, sketching, and collaging my way to new insights through this process. Working with imagery uses a different part of my brain, guiding me to use my intuitive knowledge, which coupled with words, makes a big impact on my psyche. I don't propose to be a great philosopher or great thinker, but I know the mechanics of how my brain works, so that where I get my results, through ... Continue Reading »
Shifting into Black and White…
It's been days of rain and clouds around here. I'm still feeling unsettled feeling that comes with this time of the year, and of course, Mercury in retrograde, always affect me. Are you finding that unsettling too? I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago, and it persists. I know it's the shift in season, (gray skies makes the impact, greater) and the transitional feeling that comes with this time of year. As things shift, leave, expand and reflect, it all feels unsettling. As I navigated these feelings this week, I had a sense of void; everything appeared to be black, white, shades of gray. I didn't feel that color overload that I often ... Continue Reading »
Fall Reflections…
Fall is always a time when I start burrowing. It's the time of the year, when change brings about reflection. I wish I could say, that it brings about momentous change; but often times, it just brings the thought of changing. Maybe that's how change starts, with just planting the seed. Things have gotten quieter on the home front, with the "baby" away at college, the daylight time getting shorter and the temperatures starting to dip slightly. So today, I'm reflecting in my art journal and here are the pages that came out today. After I finished these pages, while cleaning and putting art supplies away, I found this quote folded up ... Continue Reading »
