Angel Of Healing

The idea of "Healing" has been on my mind so much lately... I needed to create something that acknowledged that. This is my 'Angel of Healing'. God has given me a heart of compassion that desires strongly to help other women who need to come into their healing. This world is FULL of tragedy, suffering, and 'Everybody has a story that could break your heart' as the song from Amanda Marshall states. It is true, I don't know that I have ever met another woman who did not make me tear up with compassion from her story, whether it be during our conversation or later while praying for that individual. Why is there so much suffering in the world and why does God allow all this suffering? These two questions are HUGE in people's eyes, in fact this is one main reason why some people choose not to believe in God.
I firmly believe that God is a God of love - He wants us to come to Him, to choose to serve Him and to love Him, not to be bound to serve and love Him without a choice. In the Garden of Eden He gave man a choice, and man chose not to obey Him. Sin was let into the world by man and suffering and tragedy is the result. I am certain that God does not sit on his throne in Heaven rubbing His hands together plotting what destruction He can rain down on mankind each day! That doesn't make sense ~ if you read the Bible God is not portrayed like that at all! He is a loving God who gave man free will and He patiently waits for us to come to Him. He knows we suffer in this world and He waits for us to bring our burdens to Him.
I have received so much healing from the Lord and I have been down that long twisting road of pain and suffering, heartache, grief, letting go, giving up, etc. He was with me throughout the entire journey and continues to be with me now. I am currently free of depression which plagued me for most of my life and now it's my turn to give back what He has given to me.
I may have an opportunity to be a witness to some women in dire need of hope and I pray that I will do God justice in allowing Him to use me for His good and perfect purpose. May the Angel of Healing guide me to help others. (I'm not meaning that in a physical presence, idol-like nature to which that sounds, my drawing is of course only a drawing, if that makes any sense).

Happy Creating everyone! May the Lord lead you to your healing today.

Wonderful Mail Days As of Late

I LOVE LOVE LOVE MAIL DAY!!!!! I look forward to picking up the mail every day in hopes that something in that lovely box is for me!!!! No, I'm really not a selfish person, honestly! I just love receiving Happy Mail!!!!!

I received this package from Louise Gale last week but haven't been feeling well enough to post it until today. A few weeks back I posted one of her lovely paintings on her blog and mentioned that I won a giveaway of hers... I was tickled pink to open this package up and inside to see her beautiful artist postcards...





and then to also see she sent me this fabulous book on the history of color! What a blessing I have received from this gal! Such a giving and generous heart and her website is so inspirational and talk about creative!




A Dear Blog Friend whom has been with me since I started blogging is a wonderful creative soul named Michelle over at Creative Treasures. She makes beeeeeaaauuutttiiiffuuulll cards and other creative treasures and is an amazing photographer. I love her site so make sure you take a look! A few weeks back one of her cards touched my heart so much that I decided to contact her and beg her to make me one so that I could give it to my friend and she so lovingly agreed to send me one. However, she not only sent me one but TWO of her beauty's! Aren't they gorgeous Darling????? Thank you Michelle for taking the time to make these cards for me and for sending them all the way to me here in Canada! I am going to give it to my friend right away! Hugs and blessings to you!





My Dear Blog Friend Phoenix Peacock sent me this lovely postcard! I LOVE receiving them and to know that someone out there is thinking of me makes my day! Thanks so much Phoenix, she is now officially one of my "Dear Darling" pen pals (which is such an awesome experience to share. The art of writing a letter is truly lost in the world these days so for me to be able to find individuals willing to share their lives with me on pen and paper, well, that just is the most awesome thing ever!!! View Phoenix's Blog HERE.


I pray that you are all having an absolutely wonderful weekend!
Happy Creating with many many blessings!

Living To Love

As I was drawing this image I thought about the lifeforce flowing through the flower and out into the world... in every creation the Lord has made He has used such incredible detail, uniqueness and beauty. When I look at a flower I feel joy, then I smell it's wonderous scent and I am filled with love and romance... isn't this the way God's love works? He fills our souls with love and romances us to Him as a Father draws a child into his arms.
The verses in Matthew 6:28-29... came to mind, "See how the Lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his spendor was not dressed like one of these." Does this not show the beauty of God's creation in a Lily? And yet I can't help thinking that He has dressed each and everyone of us like this as well. Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise You because I am uniquely and wonderfully made".
Living to love... the name of this piece because this is the message I want to put out there. We are here to love one another, in God's eyes we are all equal though we are all fearfully and wonderfully made which means we are precious in His sight. Now if that doesn't fill you with a little love an romance for your day I don't know what will!
Have a blesed wonderful day!
Happy Creating Everyone!

New Tree Of Life - Texturized

Since learning the technique of 'texturizing' with the faces I have had an idea to do another Tree Of Life piece. I adore trees (as you know if you are familiar with my blog), so I decided to do another tree. I am really happy with this one as it turned out very earthy and fun! I love the effects of this technique on a different subject than on the faces. I might just try other pieces with this technique too!

Hugs and happy creating to all of you! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Blessings

Art Journal Fun

I hope all of you Canadians are having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and for everyone else you may commence the drooling of the thought of turkey coming soon! LOL. I love Thanksgiving because it is my hubby's and my Anniversary. I never forget my anniversary so it is the perfect date because my hubby never forgets either! Today we celebrate 17 years of blissful marriage!

This past week I went to Vancouver, British Columbia to celebrate my middle sister Tania's Graduation receiving her BA in Criminology! I am so proud of her! She has worked extremely hard for her degree as she worked full time and raised 5 kids while getting her BA. I think she is the strongest lady I have ever met! We had a wonderful time visiting and I was finally able to meet my Great Nephew Brock! He is such a cutie-pie! I thoroughly enjoyed making him giggle and ponder the idea of blowing kisses!

The above face was created on an 8x10 canvas using watercolor crayons and black markers. I started this face a few weeks ago and I usually finish right away but I did not get a chance to work on it. This gal I have named "whimsy". Everything seems to have the word 'whimsy' in it lately so I decided to play along.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you Canadians, happy weekend to all others! Happy Creating and many blessings to all of you!

Have You Been To The Artist Blog Hop Lately?

There are over 450 artists signed up now! Talk about inspiration galore! Following are some new additions to the list;





#456 Karen Martin Sampson! I just found her blog today while going through the new artists added. I fell in love with this "oil" painting of hers - can't you see why? Check her blog out to see more of her amazing paintings - you will not regret it!










#446 Kelley Brown Shalegh has some amazing ideas on creating new art journals not to mention a fabulous blog to share with you! I would definitely check it out if you want to be inspired. On the left is a picture of her 100% Recycled art journal and it's fabulous - see more pictures on her blog! You will want to take a look inside this yummy journal!










#444 Karen Winters, now try and tell my you are not dazzled by this beautiful painting????? I took one peek at it and was most definitely dazzled. I would have loved to receive such a priceless painting for my wedding almost 18 years ago. Please take a look at her blog and see her other amazing talented work!


Enjoy and Happy Creating Everyone!

Tree Of Life Painting

This weekend I was blessed to be contacted by a lady named Kris Downing in the U.S. requesting to use my painting "Tree of Life" for her Therapy Game called Sensation Game to help those individuals who have suffered from trauma. You can view all the details at her website at www.sensationgame.com .
She contacted me awhile back and now she has finished placing it all together for her therapy sessions. I have always wanted my art to help others in one way or another but especially help them to heal. Coming from a background where I have needed to heal it has always been my desire to help others. I pray that the Lord blesses this game and those who use it. "Lord let your healing rain come down!" Amen.
Thank you Kris Downing for choosing to use my "Tree of Life" painting. I am truly honored.

Happy Creating Everyone!

Almost Finished Flowers For Scarf

So here they are... the flowers for my flower scarf! I decided to choose a salmon pink middle to them and I really like the outcome! I can picture myself wearing this all winter to keep me thinking about sunshine and summer! Have you ever heard of a crochet pattern called the "magic circle"? It really is magic because when you are done with your stitches you pull a string and they 'magically' form into a tight circle! I must admit... I 'googled' the pattern! That just sounds funny to me.. ' I googled it! Hee-hee!
I am planning to make another scarf in a rich grey and smoky pink! Then maybe a sunshine yellow and lime green? That might be taking it a bit too far! LOL.
Enjoy your day and your weekend everyone. I pray for you all to be richly blessed with great peace, joy and love!
Hugs and Happy Creating!

Can You Guess What This Is?

Yesterday I was just getting ready to eat dinner when I happen to look outside our back window towards the park and I witnessed the most peculiar thing! I went upstairs to grab my camera, grabbed my sweater because the wind was blowing a slight chill in the air, and even placed my barefeet into my hubby's yard shoes to go investigate! It must have been something pretty spectacular for me to put my barefeet into his yucky yard shoes! LOL!
I walked to the chain link fence and set up my camera to capture wild mushrooms growing in an arched line! I had never seen this before EVER! I don't know if I'm just naive, or if I never paid attention before but it was the most beautiful artistic wild thing growing I have seen this year and so I took many pictures! The above picture is sure enough the underbelly of a wild mushroom. I had to take a photo of this magnificant pattern! Not only were the mushrooms growing in an arch artistic but this pattern was amazing too!



Look at this amazing arch they are growing in? I am so glad that it captured my attention lastnight. I needed a spark of inspiration and I got it!



They were huge too! I don't know what kind of mushrooms they were but I wouldn't chance eating them! I am extremely naive when it comes to plants and such so I wouldn't know a "magic" mushroom from an "edible" mushroom! LOL!

I hope you enjoyed my beautiful find. I think we can find beauty in every creation if we just look at it differently, don't you?

Hugs and happy creating everyone!

Can You Guess What I am Making?

I am so excited! No, it doesn't take a lot to excite me - lol! Can you guess what I am making? It is a little difficult to tell from my pictures but I am making my first ever flower scarf!!!!! Yay!
Thank you Carmelina over at Creative Carmelina has inspired me to learn how to crochet flowers! I have always wanted to learn because for the longest time I have had an idea of crocheting a flower scarf but the problem has been that I didn't think I could learn how do do anything other than a straight or zig zag line! However, after blog hopping and seeing Carmelina's beautiful crocheted florettes I knew I had to put my 'big girl' pants on and just learn how to do it already!!!! lol! So I opened up the internet and found a pattern and went for it! YAY! Eventually, once I have all the flowers sewn together it will magically become a flower scarf! I am not your ordinary fashionista... I like to do things differently so I love flowing blouses, long skirts and most always... flowers in my hair! I have so many flower head bands I have lost count! I love making my accessories so this flower scarf works perfectly for my purpose! Once I am finished making the white flowers I may add some color to them but I haven't decided yet.
Thank you Carmelina for inspiring me to learn how to make them!

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend. Happy Creating and much love!

PS What do you think of my new background and banner? These were difficult to choose and find the right colors to represent me ~ I think I finally chose right though!

Happiness 101 Award

My dear friend Jo over at Tanglefrost has awarded me with the Happiness 101 Award and I am so very honored by her! Not only do her fairie crowns make me drool they are so lovely but she is an amazingly kind inspirational woman and I have so enjoyed getting to know her. Thank you Jo for honoring me with this.

So I believe what I am supposed to do now is share with you my list of things that make me truly happy and content with my life (as she shared hers on her blog and I could possibly have many of the same, if not all the same answers as she put... but let me think and see what I can come up with;



So first and foremost God is my complete happiness and contentment in life! It is because He is such a loving, merciful God that I have what I have and that I am who I am! He fills me with peace when I am hurting, joy when sadness tries to overtake me, unexplainable love and sense of self worth (read Psalm 139, or John 3:16 to truly know what I am talking about) and He is so good to me by giving me understanding to help me with life's many questions. He answers my smallest prayers when I least expect it and in unexpected ways. He lets me know that He is always with me by revealing Himself in all His creation. He is an amazing wonderful awesome God and I am so privileged and deeply honored to serve Him.



Secondly, my husband ~ my gift from the Lord! He came into my life when I least was looking for it and he has been such a rock to me ever since. God has used him to give me strength, help me to grow, bring me closer to Him and to become one with him. He is my best friend and I am so happy to be his wife. He is a crown on my head!



Thirdly, my boys! I never thought I would be a boy mom, but God had other plans and I am so glad He did! God has made me 'a girly-girl' into a boy mom and I love it! I don't know what I would do with girls! They bring me immense happiness and joy and I have enjoyed each and every stage that they have grown in and out of!



Fourth, my art! Wow... if I were to describe my art and its meaning to me I would use the following words; healing, creative, fun, a true blessing, love. I receive so much from my art and I have grown in many ways since I began. I have always loved art (since I was physically able to hold a crayon) and have held a facination with all things pretty! Starting out I was a bit of a perfectionist and I discovered this very pleasingly when I won a coloring contest in grade 3. I remember it so vividly because it was between this very elegant japanese girl (whose art I loved) and myself... the very intimidating 6ft Mr. Sharp held the prize behind his back as he walked between our two desks and ever so slowly placed the giant chocolate egg on MY DESK!!!! That right there settled it! I would forever harbor a deep love for art in many forms, but especially coloring inside the lines! lol.



Fifth; Aaaaahhhhh books! I must say that my bookshelves are overflowing with their loveliness! I have been a HUGE fan of reading all my life but have a real LOVE for fiction books in particular. Just the thought that a book can whisk you away to another world brings me much happiness indeed! I have been known to read up to five books in one week!



Sixth; And I can say the same love has passed it's way over to movies! I especially love old black and white (or redone in color) movies such as My Fair Lady, Gigi, or pretty much any old musical. I am particularily fond of 'Chick-flicks' too such as Ever After, or Sweet Home Alabama, Never Been Kissed... I could go on and on and my DVD shelves show it!



Seven; Arizona makes me REALLY happy! I haven't been to all the States in the U.S. but from what I have seen I love Arizona the best. It seriously feels like my second home! I love it particularily because I do not hurt there like I hurt in Calgary! I am soothed by the heat and bathed by the sunshine and I am completely content ~ now can someone please remind me why I live in Calgary, Alberta???? LOL



Eight; TREES! Yep, trees make me HAPPY and content! I don't know why but they tend to show up alot in my art work. Trees speak of God's creation and love to me!

Now I'm spreading the love around and would like to pass this lovely award onto the following recipients;
Martha at Art Du Jour
Jo at Tanglefrost I can't help it! She deserves it twice!
Rebecca at Daisydolls
Diana at ExPress-O
Suz over at Katsui Jewelry

Thank you again Jo for giving some blog love!
Hugs and happy creating!

Speaking of Color - How About Color Therapy?

Color... aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! What would this world be like without color????
Would we be as artistic and creative if we could only see things as black and white? Hmmm.... I wonder? Take a rainbow for instance... if we could only see in black and white then we would only be able to perceive different shades and where's the excitement in that? Colors are vibrant, fun, juicy and eye catching but they can also be used to change moods, capture moods, bring on adrenaline, calm thoughts and promote earthly friendliness...
Colors have so many great purposes...
With the color red I think of love, hearts, blood pumping, kisses... but I also think of anger, holding tight, frustration and flames.
Funny thing: I have heard it said that when buying a car you do not want to choose the color red because you can't see red in your blind spot (I don't know if that is a fact or not ~ but it is interesting no?)
Red is a bright warm color but it can also be a cold color if mixed the right way.
I tend to choose the color red when I am angry, when I need to vent, or if I am feeling "in love" and mushy. I do not feel the emotion of anger too often but when I do it feels so good to use the color red!



Now blue is a very peaceful color... the color of the skies when the sun has burned through all the clouds. Blue is most often used to depict water however most water is clear looking to me, unless we're talking tropical. It is calming to use shades of blue and as I was doodling the above picture I did have a nice sense of calmness in me. I feel better when I see the blue sky and tropical blue water so I believe it is a definite mood enhancer! I personally do not veer too far off with blue as there are only a few shades that really tickle my fancy.

What have you experienced while using particular colors? Do you notice that some colors effect your mood more than others? What colors tickle your fancy?

As always, happy creating everyone!

Venting In Technicolor and The Cuteness!

I have always held back in my venting. I don't quite know exactly why, I can guess it's because I don't want to hurt anyone and feel kind of silly venting. HOwever, I have discovered the perfect way of venting so that no-one can read what I write. These yummy pages were done in such a simple simple manner that I can't believe I haven't done them before!!! Here's the process:
I vented by writing in red one way, then blue another way, then green another way, then finally black or some other color. By the time I was finished covering each color once I couldn't even read what I was writing! So it's a guarantee that no one else will be able to read what I have written! LOL! So I am VENTING AWAY!!!!
I also saw someone paint gesso overtop of the writing with sharpies and some of the colors come forward when the gesso dries. I may have to give this a try one day!



And this is "The Cuteness"! I took this picture after he got home from youth camp and passed out on the couch. He is thirteen and I don't think he will ever stop being so darn cute!

Well, Happy creating everyone! I hope you have enjoyed my mid-week blog!

Yay! I'm a Winner!

Is this not so beautiful?????

I was very pleased this afternoon when I clicked on Louise Gayle's blog and discovered that I am a winner of her most recent giveaway (First Friday Finds). This talented lady has some really beautfiful new paintings that I am sharing with you. Go to her blog to see more of her lovelies!

Thank you Louise Gale for your lovely generosity and inspiration.
Hugs and happy creating everyone!

Art Journaling Love

This has been an abundant weekend of art play for me. I was able to cut out some stencils and play around with some glimmermist spray to create this next journal spread. It is so easy to create stencils by simply drawing them out on 90lb cold pressed watercolor paper and cutting them out, I don't know why I have not done more! It does however take a lot of patience and a tremendous love of detail, I have always had a love of detail so this has never been a problem for me.
I hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Hugs, blessings and Happy Creating to all of you.