Message for Sunday-wish I had written it!

Never give up

No matter what is going on

Never give up

Develop the heart

Too much energy in your country is spent

developing the mind instead of the heart

Develop the heart,

Be compassionate

Not just to your friends

but to everyone,

be compassionate

Work for peace in your heart and in the world

Work for peace, and

I say again

Never give up

No matter what is happening

No matter what is going on around you

Never give up.

Tenzin Gyatso

Maybe I can live it!

digital self portrait

art, life and the real world

In art we can create the dreams we really want.

In life we try to make our dreams come true and learn to accept life as it comes.

In the real world, dreams are just dreams.

BUT I say: Never NEVER quit dreaming.

Dreams do come true.

I have a wonderful life with many of my dreams realities.

Go and seek your dreams and the life you want TODAY!

Great Weekends

I had the blessing of visiting my son over the weekend in New Bern, NC AND going to a Nicholas Sparks book signing. I now have all of his books and all are signed.

His latest book is The Choice and I can't wait to start reading it.

Attaching a photo of me with him at the signing.

Always Over Inspired

I see so many wonderful arty things I want to do. I have so many arty things going on.

I have so little time to complete them all. I really need to get my time mangement better organized. I try to cram too much into most days and of course that leave little energy for the art. I usually do fiddle with something when I finally stop in the evening but it always leaves me wanting to do more and I'm just too pooped. I joined a zine swap through Artella and I am so excited. I make 5 to send and receive 5 different ones back. Well, you know me, I have to be over creative. I've chosen one set of ideas and am making each of the 5 different in content. I have three months but if I only had 3 weeks uninterrupted I could make even more.

Please if you are reading this, tell me some ways you find more time to create.

Here's the cover of Medley Zine 1.

This is the day the LORD has made

REJOICE and be GLAD! It is a beautiful day indeed! A new day brings hope and promise of a closer walk with Christ and His glory fulfilled. One of my daily devotions talked of being ready. Ready for what comes your way! How does anyone without Christ in their hearts make it through any day? I know I couldn't. The old adage of "if you don't feel close to God, guess who moved" is very true. If you have a single doubt in your heart, STOP, right now where you are and confess your sins and unbelief. Turn to HIM and BELIEVE! Ask Him into your heart and He will never leave you!

Walking in the Light

The world is dark enough so find your own inner light from God. Then you will never be in darkness again. Christ is the light of the world and if we make Him part of us, we are light too.

Chase away the darkness in simple ways:

pray

sing

dance

create

help

guide

ask

show

tell

believe

Do the things that make you happiest and do them often.

Image is a digitally altered photo.

Thanks for all the lovely comments and would you like to trade or barter?

I'm sorry to be so slow to reply to comments on this blog. I do appreciate them each and everyone; I just forget to check when I'm posting.
To comment on several:

I do write the poems I use; when I don't I surely give the author credit.

All the artwork and photography are mine (again unless otherwise stated).

I love to share my work, trade my work and sell when it happens.

Most images on the blog are for sale unless stated as something made for trade.

If you have an interest in trading with me, let me know. Bartering is good too.

I'm in the process of cleaning studio again and have way too much ephemera, leftover bits etc.

If interested send me a self addressed envelope with two 41 cents stamps and I will stuff it with some bits for you to use in your notecards, ATC's, Inchies, mini works, etc. If not satisfied I'll send a second envelope filled for free.

Here's a little Halloween character you may wish to use in your upcoming Halloween art.

Just right click to save it or click to download the full size.

Enjoy!

in regards to YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN ARTIST WHEN

Linda says:

When you pick up strange things off the ground because you might want to glue them to something!

Anyone else care to add?

Praise is what it's all about

Each day give God the praise for all the good in your life. Thank Him for the many blessings and show Him your love by spreading his message to everyone you meet. If like me, a quiet witness, then simply show others the way by your own quiet voice, smile, word of encouragement, sharing of blessings and talents. You will be blessed and be a blessing to others in ways you can never fathom.

Follow the Leader

God is my leader in everything I do.
I sometimes fail to follow His nudgings and that

always lands me in trouble. When I listen and

do as He would have me do, things always

work out. I must do a better job following and less work whining. What will you do?

Mountain Top Experiences

Just returned from a nice visit to the mountains.

Stayed at our favorite bed and breakfast which has changed owners since we were there last.

Still a great, economical B & B. Check it out. Alluring View B&B at Jonas Ridge, NC.

Here is a little inspiration from there.

Mountain Top Experiences

You can tell you are an artist if

• you have paint on most of your clothes


• you think about art most of the time


• you see art ideas in the simplest of things


• you buy things on sale or with a coupon even when you don't need it


• you think of art before sleep and when you wake


• you want to check out art stores everywhere you go, even if it's the same chain


• you never tire of browsing other artists' sites and blogs


• you visit museums and galleries over and over again

there are many more of these....respond with your own.....

Image is of a watercolor and crayon melt note card. I've really been into doing lots of art with crosses lately.

Regaining Balance

"If you are exhausted when you quit working, you've worked too long." It's a reminder to quit working - or at least take a break - before total exhaustion sets in. Like how we should eat before we get totally famished...same idea. If I work til exhaustion, it takes a while to bounce back...not very efficient in terms of time or energy."

I read this on Marney Makridakis' blog.

It fits me to a T.

I had a wonderful Labor Day weekend (family, friends, cooking, sharing) and kids' art classes began immediately after ... last night and this morning, I found myself crashing.

I often just keep with the momentum when there is so much to do and see and share but when it's all over I'm so exhausted I just stop completely. How do I get off the Merry-go-round earlier and take time for me during all the craziness of cramped calendars and speeding clocks.?

I thought I had been doing better but this past weekend proved I have more work to do on simplifying and slowing down so as to not miss the good times. I advise anyone reading this to do the same.

Next week we are going to the mountains for a couple of days. Then to Kiawah next month. Maybe I'll regain my balance, composure and energy there.

Image is a collage on watercolored mat board with altered clip art geishas, transparency pagoda and stamped letters on paper towel. Was going to send to Somerset for green theme but sent something different.

Accidents happen but GOD is good!

Remembered Little Miss Sunshine was due at the video store yesterday evening. I had watched it with a friend and kept it to watch with my husband. Matthew, my grown son was home for the holiday weekend and we decided to watch it, and then I went to return it a little after nine (PM). Got behind an old beat up truck at the fork, driving eratically.
Got to the stop light. Stopped short to give him space, not wanting to follow him to Stanley (4 miles) and suddenly he started to roll back and right into my bumper before I could even shift into reverse.
In Matthew's car (old Camry), just roughed up bumper. I was okay (I thought but got up before the chickens with my back and sciatic nerve hurting into leg.) When the driver got out he was acting shaky and drunk. Younger man with him. Both claimed he had a bad clutch and wanted me to back up. I said "No, I'm calling the police. Dialed 911. Lincoln county answered. They decided to transfer me to Gaston. Stanley police responded.
I thought the old man was drunk. I told the police what happened. The old guy admitted he rolled back into me. They asked him how much he had been drinking. He said "Just one beer." They questioned him saying they could smell it on him. Tested him and asked about drugs. Both men appeared to have prescription drugs with them and the officers tried to determine what it was but was not completely sure without their ID book. Meanwhile, I had called Matthew while waiting for police. He came and took the movie back. Got to the store as they were locking up and told him he'd have to put it in the drop box. His watch and the clock inside said 9:59. They would not budge. I will take care of the late fee today. (But I went by this morning and it had been checked in with no late fee incurred.)
Officers said I could get a police report today. They said they had other reports of this guy that evening and I happened to be the one to help them get him. I said, "lucky me."
Of course the mind was going through all the what ifs and if onlys. I finally decided it was meant to happen this way. Maybe I saved him from killing someone. Oh, and the police report had errors with my phone number and drivers license number. Got to wait till Wednesday to get one now.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Here's a recent hand painted note card reminding us to TRUST God in all situations.