New Year's Eve

in the new year eye want to c more clearly.

passion

direction

giving

listening

travel

experience

exhilaration

letting go of stuff

free to feel the breeze

of life taking me higher

Monopolized

world domination
yesterday hubby stopped by Walmart to purchase the monopoly game
since we were going to be snowed in.
did i mention i hate playing games!
around 6:30pm the games began - son, fiancee, hubby and i.
did i mention she's good at her family's madeup rules.
did i mention i hate playing games!
right away we could see she was out to win and win big.
strategy was her strength and boy did she lineup with hubby.
me - i'm slow at figuring out things plus i was the banker.
end result - hurt feelings - mine of course.
i don't do well when hubby lines up against me even in a game.
isn't he suppose to defend me, protect me! lol even in a game.
End Result - hubby went bankrupt first, then son's fiancee
and well of course that left son and me.
He played pure - meaning by the rules and won
Hands Down!
i don't like that little top hat(e) dude!
no more playing the game - i'll stick to watching!

Merry Christmas

from our home to yours.

Tis the day of Christmas and i am only one stirring

my holey socks are thrown down on the floor under other clothing in fear

that someone might find them and fill them with beer.

dreaming of sugar plums, but realize someone switched them for prunes.

daddy in his ole t-shirt and i in my ratty robe

crawled out of bed with aches and pains to turn on the stove.

when we heard such a clatter looked to see what's the matter

Santa had landed on a lost needle flouncing around like Mad Hatter.

no goodies for us this day, he said as he jumped on his sleigh

and then he flew up up up and away coming back on another wintry day.

feeling in a jovial Christmasy mood. pray all your coming new days will be filled with

awe and wonder.

Happy 30th Anniversary

every day has been living in paradise for me

i married the most wonderful man

reared three beautiful sons

lived life beyond my

greatest expectations

with more to come

this evening we return to that quaint little village where we were married

his homeplace

to celebrate a quiet dinner and a long, cool, breezy winter walk

to reflect on what we've experienced together

and to dream about what is yet to come.

Happy 30th Anniversary my darling, my love.

Life - One Continuous Line Drawing

Dancing Strings

or

i could call it

Line Dancing

i began to doodle one non-stop line

thru this artists' eyes

it became

Trio

a tribute to how God has grown my son in his music this year

no hair for a reason

no hair for a season

i just like bald

Do you ever wonder what your life looks like?

how your line has affected others in this world?

its one continuous fantastic line

created by The Master Creator Himself

believe it or not but 'tis true forevermore.

The Magic of Music

he wrote it

i listened

he spoke it

i got it

he loved me

i cherished it

he grew up

i adore it

Wonders never cease

the amazement of love

Open Broken Heart

While on my cruise i was reading a book that ask this question:

When do I experience an open heart?

and

this journal page is what came from

that question using watercolor pencils, typography and sketch pencil.

Jesus' Birthday

i came across this song for the season

by Becky Kelley.

She's so right on!!.

thankful

pondering

the love of God

that He would send His Only Son

a sacrifice for all man-kind

it seems so simple

i have sons and can't imagine

but

this i do know He has changed my life

forever

thank you God for loving me that much

Motherhood and Passion

while on our cruise our oldest decided to bless us with a wonderful email. totally a surprise!

snippets of his email:

"I feel like God has been breathing so many creative business and music ideas inside of me,

i feel so alive. God is good. I know this because He gave me both of you to love, shape and help direct me.

Mom you taught me how to live a life of passion! Passionate about every aspect from school to business to family. I love you so very much! You're my hero, life coaches and the filter for the way I'm trying to live a big life that looks beyond just the now and myself and is always searching for how i can grow and help others."

wow!! now that snippet was a tearful, loving great awaking for his dad and i.

this is what a mom lives for!!

living passion

Tattered Wings and Pink

my empathy monster - Pink

is recycled from a sweater, zip cap from a juice, found magical wand,

brads, flower eyelashes with buttons and a handle for mouth

my healing angel

Tattered Wings

and

now i will be off in a few short hours with

hubby crusin' in the Caribbean for Thanksgiving.

Celebrate Life!

i have so much to be thankful for this year.

If Only I Had a Brain

said the scarecrow.

as i lay in the MRI scanner i laughed at the comment

my tech joe made, "too much information, need to know only info".

lesson learned - wait for them to ask a question

otherwise know no need to know.

i hate being stripped of all security

take this gown

put it on w/ back opening

i'll be back to get you in a minute

is my butt showing?

that walk down the hall feels like an eternity

is there a draft in here?

on another note: VOTE TODAY ITS A PRIVILEGE

Wmsburg Pottery - An Icon

behind the beautiful banner of buildings an ole icon of Williamsburg is being torn down - The Williamasburg Pottery. people would come from around the world to shop there. but as time as moved on so have the people. now the rubble will be cleared away and make for something new not necessarily better just different. scraps of metal, piles of rebar, stacks of drywall - recycled.

out of the ashes will raise

?

Heart Healing

Heart Healing WIP

Where Are We Going

the path was lined with stately trees

each one seemed to speak to me

where are we going

they did ask

to which i replied

some place that will not last

~~~~~~

the trail grew deep and dark without light

worn from weary travelers footsteps faded away

soon the garden will bloom again

but

this day remains barren and lost

empty with no thought

~~~~~~

i love the walks my hubby and i take with Bear on weekends we talk but mostly pray together

for family, friends and for you. may God fill your soul with delight and bring the weary traveler home with Well Done My Child.

Robed In Beauty

i used the alcohol and upon looking at the page saw her nose and lips and the rest is "her"story reads - along the river she traveled for days following the meandering river banks until she reached her destination the volcanoes of no return erupting inside her. Robed In Beauty.'>
i used the alcohol and upon looking at the page saw her nose and lips and the rest is "her"story reads- along the river she traveled for days following the meandering river banksuntil she reached her destination the volcanoes of no return erupting insideher. Robed In Beauty.

Chat W/ Mariza and Spooky

WIP spinning wheel

Everything But Kitchen Sink - 91%alcohol

w/ Heidi and

Layers of Tissue - Hanna

punk'd

now where's that wheel?

Blue

swirling blues

the water rushes in

over my head

fear does it come

no swallowing me up

i flow into the ebb

new life

and

freedom!

She Rises Early

10 Text Techniques page using 1940's Worker's Compensation Law book.

so old it crumpled in my hand. love the window, but it doesn't feel finished yet.

she is the heart of the home.

Now i feel better about this page,

with blue caran d'arche in background.
let her light shine out for others to see.

HIdden Behind The Mask

i'm working on Old Skool Art -Glazes 101 with Less Herger at 21 Secrets.

again the price for the classes are so worth it. check it out - you won't be sorry.

the word "mask" is now totally colored in - guess i'm not finished with this page yet.

I Tried

found myself playing with watercolor pencils and caran d'arche crayons to finish this page today. now to take a part of the doodles and transfer to 10 Text Techniques idea.

what a great day - just beautiful, hubby and i rode to Jamestown, walked along beach chasing butterflies. we purchased new cookware and made shrimp creole and dirty rice together. fun cooking w/ him. then to top day off we took a walk in NewTown before the sun set. Can it get any better than this? i think not!

The Sound of Color

could not decide which i liked

too late its black - point of no return.

The Sound Of Color

3D Chinese Papercut Butterfly
hymnal texts
from Emma Lakshmi Peabody's class Chinese Papercutting Meets Modern Art Journal

over at

21 Secrets

Art Studio Redo

everthing has been pushed to the center of the room

waiting for window tech. to measure for new windows

ugh

what a mess but opportunity to clean and reorganize

and

everything came down off the walls today almost

next week red walls being painted more relaxing color

Engaged

my son ask his sweet, wonderful girlfriend to marry him.

of course, they both have another year in college,

but

we'll let God be God and enjoy their relationship developing deeper.

i am so happy, ecstatic actually.

he is writing an incredible song for her.

Fully Alive, Fully Engaged

today i awakened to a work in progress - ME,

but another one also in my artistic endeavors.

i joined 21 Secrets to begin anew in exploring life.

AND

MARK ME

then my son invaded my space - not really

BUT

his spirit did explode within mine and we resonated together.

his music

his heart

my art

my heart

ONE

the sun is shining brightly

AND

i've been outside in my backyard dancing

to his heart expressed in music. a beautiful melody,

rays of electricity being sent out into the universe.

i absolutely love his rhythm.

Over One Year

a milestone

tis true

Decluttering Still

Marina's ATC

well think i will clean out this site. i'm deleting my favs so no one can get access. maybe in a month or two i will add them back. seems someone has access to my email addy.

why do hackers seem to enjoy destroying other's property.

and

i have decluttered my fabrics and books/magazines. a friend that does mucho charity work took it all. it feels great. i'm getting there. also packed up 6 boxes of books and sent them to new homes in US for ladies to enjoy reading. how great is that! i still need to organize and declutter more of my studio area then i will be on to the attic and outdoor areas.

so freeing!!

The Queen View

The Queen's View

is a birthday ATC i used chalk colors and rub-ons

with a phrase from "Manners for Women".

True Contentment

True Contentment

can not be measured

in things

but

the love ofthe heart

Be Still and Know

Be Still and Know

quiet and surrendered

to the Creator

the hush of a snowflake

listen

i like the reminder of this artist

right where i am - still, hush!

http://amokarts.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/deep-roots/

Sunny and Fully Alive

haven't posted in a while.

the day is turning out beautiful, the birds are singing

and my flowers are rising to the occasion of the rain and sun.

what's weird is that son broke hand on a friday 2 weeks ago

and

my MIL fell day before Mother's Day and broke elbow.

she's had surgery and doing great

except

we can't leave her alone - she's so independent

and does not listen to the doctors.

life that matters

love what matters most with your life. rap away!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUQYJ77qa50

and

decluttering my home is almost finished.

my son even jumped into the mode and has salvaged junk

making $500.00 in two days.

Decluttering 2 Go

this past weekend i worked on my kitchen and i must say i did get rid of stuff in my cupboards.
how refreshing and wonderful the feeling is - letting go of the past so i can enjoy the present and look to the future.
i also worked outside in my garden getting rid of broken pieces of pottery and ole' flower baskets. it's looking great! a great book i purchased was "The Declutter 101 Workbook". very
feng shui, though i didn't know that when i purchased it. love the diagrams and such.

at the same time hubby and i are working on a budget and setting goals to enjoy life together.
this has been an amazing year so far, who knew, i would actually be able to "let go" of stuff i have been holding on to forever it seems like - esp. ideas, attitudes and thought patterns. they are going too!!! Free At Last!!

decluttering

hubby surprised me with a bouquet of flowers and an "i love you" card.

my son wrote a beautiful song and let me listen to it.

wow what an amazing song, it had me sobbing!

i've been busy decluttering my home. i mean digging deep and really letting go.

last week i actually let go of two pieces of furniture that belonged to my FIL.
what a freeing moment that was. reading "from clutter to clarity."

Cuffs

FAT current trade - cuffs/sleeves for tea/coffee -

one of african woman i added a beaded earring finishing them off with black chenille.
and

the second to recognize the "dance of the monarch butterfly"

added two charms and decorative stitches top and bottom.

i think its pretty amazing how far and long these little delicate creatures travel.

love, love, love them.

Rooster Man

i haven't kept up my blog, thought that would never happen.

here us Sharon's moveable ATC trade from FAT.

isn't he the cutest thing, all the way from Canada

enclosed with a piece of silk fabric.

Green

but not in a good way.

i wonder what the pollen count is today.

awoke to a porch, deck, car-covered,

street-lined green pollen enveloping.

but i won't complain bc i'm sure in the

scheme of life it produces something good?!

Sheer Delight

"N" had a fun trade of art bras on FAT.

mine is felted, and we had to have

a pink ribbon on it-so the tag reads

"Sheer Delight by Princess".

White Shadow

i hate not having my camera to take good pics of wonderful art pieces. My friend Noelene sent me this beautiful beaded amulet and bag to keep it in. It is just gorgeous. Thank you Friend of mine. "N" is from Tasmania. the little card reads:

She is the White Shadow

Dancing by moonlight

Leaving tiny white star flowers

To glow where her feet have trod.

She dreams that she dances

Among the constellations

far beyond our knowing.

Hot, hot, hot

today God has blessed us with perfect weather.

hubby, doggie and i headed to the beach to sit in the sun.

not really much of that with a lab near water.

but i loved the walk along the beach, the sun beating against my face.

the sun rises to bring a glow in our lives

and

the sun sets to bring the day to a close.

i'm reading Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor

more rebellion and fire for your healing journey

by kris carr

she is one funny lady.

where's my cowgirl hat?

Where Have I Been

Well God where have you been taking me in all this thing called "life"?

truly You have set me on a path

a path worth traveling only for you

You amaze me!

through my diagnosis you have led me to encourage

another who has nothing

but yet everything in You!

though she be in great pain

her joy and strength in You

amazes all that meet her.

thank you bc i am blessed.

Plans - Homemade Cards

love's dove

i am making cards for a group of ladies that all share our faith in God.
they are some amazing women.
to you all i say "Fulfill Your Destiny."
Jeremiah 29:11
for i know the plans i have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."

God Is.........

doing something wonderful. Of course He is always doing something wonderful BUT how often do we recognize it. i am so grateful for Jesus Christ loving me enough to die for me yet while i was a sinner. You have a great day and remember Jesus paid the price for us all to be set free from sin.

Geisha FOB

Madonna Geisha

i was late meeting the deadline for my fob.
but i must say i do love how this one stretched me to work.
the fabric is snow-dyed, then i used my great gel pens to paint her.

thank you God for the beautiful day of drear, the rain and all You
have for me, what a glorious, glorious new morning. refreshing!
attached ribbon holder, the halo of beads and letter flower with leaf.
part of the challenge was to use wire so the letter "T" is added on the flower.

Mrs Popper's Heart ATC

My time Piece - Mrs Poppers

i loved Pippi Longstockings so this is my take on her.

thank you UU for the trade opportunity.

Rejoice In the Lord always.

This is the day the Lord has made rejoice and be glad in it.

comment from Attitudes of Gratitude

the more that you experience the truth of your uniqueness and beauty,

the more you will feel gratitude for your particular gifts.

and the more you will be able to deliver them.

What unique gifts have you been blessed with?

Gratitude

another great Valentine pocket page filled with goodies.

i love the reds and the texture in this page from Samantha.

thank you so much Samantha.

thank you so much God and friends.

this past weekend God really answered my prayers on what direction to go for dealing with my diagnosis. A friend and Pastor's wife called me with a great book. She even had her son deliver it to me so i could begin reading it. It was so on the mark with where i had felt i needed to go.

and

then dear Michelle sent me an email about a radio show she was listening to. I walked into B&N that evening and the book she mentioned was staring me in the face - right at the front door.

How awesome is GOD!!!

Dove and Robins

while working on an art project i looked out my window. down below on the moist cover ground were many robins and one morning dove. all the snow was melted but the ground was very soft. i believe they were worm hunting. one robin flew into the tree by my window and i could watch him eating. then one lonely black bird joined the lot. how wonderful to watch them gather.

Sunny's Valentine Page

Goodies in my Pocket

thank you Sunny so much for my Valentine Pocket page filled with all these goodies.

on a whiter note - we now have 5 more inches of snow and still coming down after last weeks snow. we have not seen this much snow in years. more to come next week.

FlowerThreads

swatch ratty threads flower

i washed a bunch of samples fabrics from swatches AND i got just what i had hoped for
clumps of threads - ratty, gorgeous threads. this group formed a flower, even the long piece of fabric was tangled into it and so i decided to leave it there - makes for a wonderful flower.

its a work in progress just like me.

i'm working on the ATC - so far have painted the canvas with acrylic colors.

Read My Lips

i usually don't watch Miss America pageants. but the other night i was up and it was on. Can you read lips - the winner Miss Virginia, a student at VCU, where my son attends college, won.
she lifted her hands up to the heavens and said "thank you Jesus". i love it. God is amazing!!!

and

i am grateful for this early morning.

i awoke, fed my dog,

and

after my dog and i walked out onto the back deck

there sitting in the sky was a gorgeous moon shining down on me through the trees.

what an amazing view.

the sky was black, the moon aglow and the stars twinkling for all the world to see.

oh most won't see it bc they are still sleeping.

the air was fresh and crisp, cool, cleansing with each breath i took.

what a glorious morning.

Celebrate Life - Wheel of Fortunate

CELEBRATE LIFE

here is my 2-page layout for Choosing Gratitude, week 2 titled Thankful For. the requirements were it was to be a 2-page layout, to use the title Thankful For, pic 10 pics of same size to place on page and make a list of those 10 everyday things i am grateful for. no one said the pics had to be seen on the page all at one time.

this is canvas painted with watercolor paints. i added chip board letters and dots, paper flower and word "life" with a polka dot ribbon running across the page, attached to the ribbon my "celebrate" tag with the list handwritten on the back. my 10 pics are hidden on the proportion scale. each time you turn the wheel it reveals another gratitude pic. my list of 10: sunset, flower, animals, seeds, clothes, home, marriage, beach, water and clouds. i had always wanted to use the thumbnail prints from my Caribbean cruises and that is what my pics were selected from.

i thought my title letters were originally too big. But as i kept working i really felt impressed that gratitude was the focus of this page not the things i was grateful for. i am so grateful to God for so many things - His faithfulness, His mercy and His love. i realize i need to be thankful in all circumstances no matter what! that is why my pics are virtually hidden unless you rotate the wheel. isn't that how most of us are - our attitude of gratitude is hidden or non-existent? and the list is hidden bc quite honestly whatever we are thankful for changes so quickly. i hear it said abroad that we americans are whiners and ungrateful for all that we do have living in america.

i have a question for you - are your hands open to receive and let blessings flow through you to others or do you tend to close your hands rather quickly to try an hold on to everything?

this study is helping me to realize just how much my attitude can change bc of circumstances.
it ought not to be so - bc of what Jesus Christ did for all of us we should be a steady stream of giving bc our focus is not on us but on Him. let today be a day of giving and thanking Him for all things, all situations and all of life right where we are living. it was the best of times.....regardless

White Fluff & Yuck

we have about 8" of snow right now and its still coming down steady.

i love snow, we just never get any.

wonder if i can do a bit of snow dyeing on fabric?!

blankets of white

blinded by the sight

it brings such delight

pouring with all its might.

snow

Gratitude

colleen helped me to see the yuck weighing me down today. so to visually recognize the burdens i decided to wear my ankle weights as a reminder to "let it go."

at the end of the day when i take them off i know i will feel so much lighter.

and

spiritually i will feel strengthened bc i gave it all to Jesus to carry.

thank you colleen.

i also wrote my yucks out and put them on paper, placed them in my prayer bucket

for Jesus to carry and answer however He wants.

then i placed my gratitude/blessings on papers and placed them

in the bucket. At an appointed time i will pull them out and see which ones

i have the most of. Either way i win - letting go, letting God.

Grow, Move Forward

Grow, move forward

i am delighted to say i sent a large box of cotton fabric to

an online seamstress who is making clothing for the

children in Haiti. Isn't it just like God to bring the

right people together to meet one another's needs.

and

this is another Birthday ATC going to Australia.

i forgot to mention i recycled - i had made a

postcard and never did anything with it so i

chopped it up into two ATCs.

repurposed, recycled, reinvent.

and

the box i sent the fabric in - recycled

from the lovely ladies that mailed me

my special quilt, pillow and Boobie doll in.

thank you so much UU and hammies.

NOthing gets wasted around my house.

except for what was in my storage area:

oh the weather was so great yesterday i decided to declutter my outside storage area.

i took a truck-load of junk to the landfill. i hated that i let clothing get mild-dewed so

they had to be trashed. does anyone know if there is something to get that out?

Draw Quietly-Gracefully

is on its way to Australia.

two days of appointments has definitely kicked my buttocks.

i would love to take a nap but must go fix dinner.

and

then off to play in art studio - steampunk may get created after all.

My Oldest College Attending Son

is loving his Psychology class.

today

dealt with an atheistic belief about no God.

my son thrived on that one.

it was like God was just waiting for my son

to react to this one.

I love one thing he shared about our Heavenly Father

giving us choices like our earthly fathers

love us and let us make decisions, harmful as they may be;

but

there are some decisions a parent can not make for a child

no matter how badly we want to take over their lives at that moment.

it is not our life to make that decision

and

so we watch as they suffer bad choices

and

continue to love them through it.

sometimes the choices are far reaching, unchangeable,

filled with suffering, imprisonment, filled with sadness

and

yet we love.

Heart of the Matter

Heart of The Matter is having a great give-away with Rosetta Stone. oh how i would love to win this. i was at B&N looking at the Spanish tonight. hubby said it's not priority right now. To which i responded, "Maybe you need to write down all your goals and see what God does with them. Because for me this is a need." Besides with his job who is to say they wouldn't send him unexpectedly into a Spanish- speaking country to work".


Here is their promo: go check it out!!

Surround your family with language.

By taking them there!
Travel to Paris, Madrid and Barcelona with Homeschoolers

from all over the United States.

Join Rosetta Stone Homeschool,

Heart of the Matter and Fusefly

on the inaugural Homeschool Language Learning

and Networking Trip August 2-11, 2010.

Become immersed in new lands, explore history, culture, art and community. And truly speak to the world. For more details visit www.RosettaStone.com/Homeschool/LanguageLearningTrip.
Hurry, registration for the trip ends February 15, 2010.
For your chance to win a Rosetta Stone language product, please visit Heart of the Matter. Entries are being accepted until February 1st.

Faded Flower Birthday ATC

this one is headed to Australia

i used a packing tape with a hint of tulips on it as the last layer

before adding the words.