What is the meaning of life?

To me it's all about finding what makes you happy, doing it and sharing it with others.

We often go through life looking for something, asking the wrong questions, acquiring too much stuff, complaining about our jobs or family or life in general, doing all this stuff we have to do, finding very little time to enjoy what we have, unable to spend as much time as possible with those who matter to us and ending up old and miserable. I'm here to tell you, "Don't do it!" Find your meaning in life. Find a purpose for being here. Decide what is really important. AND don't let another day go by unhappy or unsatisfied or waiting for the day when you can start living. Live now. Be sure to thank God for all He has given you and done for you!

Image is from art journal. Digitally made back ground with photo image cut out one size and larger negative size cut out. Paint pen words.

When women had wings...

Will be sharing images from the When Women Had Wings book for a couple days.

Hand painted painted paper glued to butterfly booklet page. Text with paint pens, Prismascolor stix, collage image, transfer wing, and rub ons.

Wandering of the Mind

by the creek

sun on my face

cool air too

water trickles by

snort of a deer

blessed

mercy & love

joy & peace

calm & relaxed

grateful & filled

questions unanswered

respite

So relaxed I could sleep here. Where is the peace on days rushed and crammed? Do I just fail to grasp it?

Sun glistens on a tiny thread of silk. Water plays melody over the rocks. Birds harmonize. Distan roar of machinery. The mood is still peaceful. Why do I let everyday noise drown out life's blessings?

• God


• family


• friends


• creativity


• good times

A perfect spring morning but still enough chill in the air that my breath becomes fog. St. Francis stands watch. (pictured) He hears the fiddleheads unfurl. He knows the daily joy found here. Where am I? Fernwood of course! Heaven on earth.

After weeks of tension, sleepless nights, the soul relaxes. Tears fall. The heart heals.

Another new project

I recently finished altering a blank butterfly book, bound by ball chain. Here is a collage of the pages. I call it WHEN WOMEN HAD WINGS. I've used original hand painted background papers, collage clipart of women and wings, tape transfer wings, and original text with Elmer's paint pens.

Sleepless wonder

How can I possibly be awake enough to even type this. A restless night always follows too much stimuli (in this case, a visit with old art friends to say good bye to one moving to be closer to her children and grandchildren. It was fun but I knew I'd never sleep afterwards. I simply have to have my own quiet way to wind down alone at night. My routine is simple but it works for me most of the time. Why can't I get others to do things earlier in the day?

"I will love the light for it shows me the way,

yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.”

Og Mandino

Image is a card stamped with text

and then 4 simple faces doodled in white over color.

new work

I'm working on several projects at once as usual but this is one of my favorites....

Saw the idea at a scrapbook store and decided I could make my own. I would post a tutorial but I've submitted it to a magazine. Will post the how-to later, but I'm sure you can get the idea from the photo.

A day like any other

Why are some days pink and purple and others are blue and gray?

Sun Lift

As the sun rises in the eastern sky

I feel the spirit in my soul lift as well.

A day of routine becomes a day of detail.

Checking off the list is what women do.

The list grows and life flows.

The list slowly diminishes and is quickly refilled.

As the person in charge of my own list, why do I

have such trouble prioritizing the list to include more for me?

A Day of One's Own

Virginia Woolf wrote of the importance of A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN. Women need a place, day, moment to themselves. Life puts many pressures on women and we allow most of it. For years I felt like I was on a Merry-Go-Round with no hope of stopping, let alone slowing down to get off. I finally learned when to say "no" or "enough." This month, however, has been back on the Merry-Go-Round. Today had to be "Enough"! After a restless night or little sleep and aches and pains, I just had to stay home alone. I had to decide for me what I needed. Even though it interrumpted a day at my beloved Fernwood. I often have to say "no" to others because only I know when I'm ready for company and when I need to be by myself. This month has demanded too much from others and if they don't understand, I hope it's because they never feel the rush of a Merry-Go-Round lifestyle circling at light speed with no hope of getting off.

Here's a little journal page that shows what we become when we don't say "no". "Enough"!

The text is:

a morning of chores, art, meals, and....

WOMEN

we are pieces put together with glue

one wrong breath

we can fly to pieces

Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14

List Making

Making lists is a great exercise for journaling!

Here's my list of 100 favorite songs...they are not ranked, simply written of the top of my head.

100 Favorite songs
(chosen randomly)

1. Desperado - Eagles
2. Piano Man - Billy Joel
3. We're An American Band - Grand Funk Rail Road
4. Home is Where the Heart is - Elvis
5. I know I need to be in Love - Carpenters
6. Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
7. Soak up the Sun - Sheryl Crow
8. Dust in the Wind - Kansas
9. Carolina - James Taylor
10. Breathe - Anna Nalick
11. The River - Joni Mitchell
12. He Ain't Heavy He's my Brother - The Hollies
13. Believe - Josh Groban
14. I am a Rock - Simon & Garfunkle
15. Fly like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band
16. Still Haven't found What I'm Looking for - U2
17.Build me up Buttercup - The Foundation
18. Lonely People - America
14. Last Song - Earl Klugh
20. American Pie - Don McLean
21. Devoted to You - Everly Brothers
22. When I'm 64 - Beatles
23. Amazing Grace - various artists
24. Be thou my Vision - Various Artists
25. I'm Not Crazy, I'm just a little Unwell - Matchbox 20
26. The Wedding Song - The Lettermen
27. Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel K
28. Theme from somewhere in Time
29. Only Hope - Mandy Moore
30. 100 Years - Five for Fighting
31. Feel So Good - Chuck Mangione
32. Young World - Ricky Nelson
33. Charlie Brown Christmas Theme - Vince Guaraldi
34. Longer - Dan Fogelburg
35. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
36. I Just Wanna Stop - Gino Vanneli
37. Lullabye - Billy Joel
38. Blue Moon - various artists
39. In the Still of the Night - The 5 Satins
40. Why Walk when You can Fly - Mary Carpenter
41. Stormy - The Classics IV
42. Feeling Good - Michael Buble
43. Colour My World - Chicago
44. I feel the Earth Move - Carol King
45. My Father's Eyes - Amy Grant
46. Breaking Up is Hard to do - Neil Sedaka
47. Lone Star - Norah Jones
48. Love Grows Where my Rosemary Goes - Edison Lighthouse
49. Dizzy - Tommy roe
50. Temptation Eyes - Grass Roots
51. Baby G - Kenny G
52. I love you more today than Yesterday - Spiral Staircase
53. Make a Memory - Bon Jovi
54. Summer Love - Justin Timberlake
55. What Hurts the Most - Rascal Flats
56. Old Time Rock & Roll - Bob Seger
57. Reeling in the Years - Steely Dan
58. Vincent - various artists
59. Yesterday - Beatles
60. Stop this Train - Jon Mayer
61. Sooner of Later - Grass Roots
62. Love will find A Way - Pablo Cruise
63. Got to Get You into my Life - Earth, Wind, & Fire
64. Nights are forever without you - England Dad & John Ford Coley
65. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
66. You Are the Woman - Fire Fall
67. Can't Smile Without You - Barry Manilow
68. Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
69. Baby I love you - Andy Kim
70. Pleasant Valley Sunday - Monkees
71. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
72. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer
73. Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts
74. Still Crazy - Paul Simon
75. If - Bread
76. Rocky Mountain High - John Denver
77. You're so Vain - Carly Simon
78. Too Late - Carol King
79. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
80. Make Someone Happy - Seal
81. I can Only Imagine - Mercy Me
82. This Guy's in love with You - Herb Albert
83. Mr. Lonely - Bobby Vinton
84. Stormy Weather -
85. You Send Me - Sam Cooke
86. At the Hop - Danny and the Juniors
87. Mr. Sandman - the Chordettes
89. Chances Are - Johnny Mathis
90. Smoke Gets in you Eyes - Platters
91. Turn, Turn, Turn - Yard Birds
92. What the World Needs now is Love - Jackie Deshannon
93. Big Yellow Taxi - various artists
94. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
95. Every Breath You Take - The Police
96. You are the Sunshine of my Life - Stevie Wonder
97. I can't Make you Love me - Bonnie Raitt
98. Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson
99. How Deep is Your Love - Bee Gees
100. Black Water - Doobie Brothers

When you really look at the list, each title could be a journal entry starter, story starter, art page, scrapbook page, anything you can imagine! Try it!

Image is another journal entry, art page from Somerset studios is back ground, music ribbon, packing tape transfer of woman, flower stamp with gold and white with one cut out and raised, and inked glossy paper.

Hold the presses...and printers

Why can't things just last forever like the old days. My printer is dying a fast death now and as a mixed media, collage, photographic artist scrapbook enthusiast, print your own photos kind of girl....I'm lost. Can't find the exact product I need. This one's too tall for my printer cubby on my desk. That one doesn't have individual ink cartridges.....oooooooooo but this one can scan and print old negatives.....HOW COOL IS THAT? Dilemma! Which do I buy? Do I settle? Do I just buy ink and keep printing streaky photos? NO! GO for it....the older I get, the harder it seems to make decisions....until now, I'll just finish my coffee and other tasks at hand and maybe the solution will come to me in the night.....it usually does.

Here's another journal image....prismacolor rendition of Nefertiti.

Just write!

Rain falls
Mercury drops
Jackets button
Bones shiver
Life hurts
God helps
Peace resides
Life heals
Sun returns
Hearts warm

I read somewhere once. Just do it! (I know it's the Nike ad but there was another writing with the thought.) If you want to sing-sing! If you want to make art-make art! If you want to write-write! Whatever you want to do with your life-JUST DO IT! It may be rocky at first but you will improve, enjoy it, be proud of your effort and don't forget to share it with others!

Image is another drawing from my journal-prismacolor stix. I've said it before. I love those things, solid square stix of artist grade color pencil material-great for drawing, rubbings, everything! Get some. They come in sets but some art stores sell individual sticks of color choice. Lots of choices too!

Thanks to all my faithful readers

I get such nice comments on my blog and I appreciate them all. With dial up, it's too slow for me to reply to them all but I do appreciate your reading and comments and hope you will continue and send others to the blog as well.

Here is another free image to download for your use. It's a watercolor house. Just click to save and use for journal pages, notecards, atc's etc. You can always resize it in your photo editing software.

The Lord is....EVERYTHING

The Lord is my shepherd:

I shall not want.

The Lord is my protector;

I shall be fearless.

The Lord is my provider;

I shall have all my needs met.

The Lord is my guide;

I shall not be lost.

The Lord is my Saviour;

I shall not fall.

The Lord is my all;

I shall be filled.

more drawing time

This image has the dark eyes again but also a look of gauntness. Could she be a cancer patient or anorexic? I've seen too much and heard too much lately. I guess these poor women are in my mind and heart. You know we only have one life and we should live it and enjoy every minute of it. We don't know what tomorrow holds and life is too short to be so conscious of our bodies that we starve them or hide them or fear someone will see us as vunerable or weak. Celebrate your life. Celebrate your body. Except for the grace of God....we could be one of these sad looking women.

Never neglect drawing

I started drawing and coloring as a child. A new box of crayons and color book was my favorite gift. I continued to use markers and paint but also continued to stay in the lines. I took a few classes. Got into watercolor....then pastels, collage, altered art and now full blown mixed media. I keep throwing it on the page until it pleases me. I do still pick up my sketch book and a dark penci,l like a 4B or softer, wider the better and I love those Ebony pencils; and start drawing. Many times the inspiration will come from an unusual source....a movie I'm watching, a magazine I'm reading or a scene out of the car window. Most recently I was watching Sweeney Todd, a rather dark, forboding musical of all things and was engrossed by the dark sunken eyes of Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett (played by Johnny Depp and Helenal Bonham Carter. I began sketching these dark sunken eyes and have not had my fill yet.....so expect to see more.

Hey! Pick up a pencil and pad of paper at the dollar store and just sketch!

ATC Swaps

I am currently doing two ATC swaps at Artella: There's Magic in the Air and Sherlock Holmes: Mystery a Foot. Can you guess for which theme these were made?

Rainy Days and Saturdays?

Last week was great! Fun! Productive!

This week is cramped and full. To the point of wondering if it will all get done and will it all be done right.

Amazingly, a rainy Saturday gave me clearer perspective that it would all happen and it would all happen right. I wrote these words in my journal yesterday while at my favorite weekend getaway, our retirement property, I call Fernwood, cause of all the beautiful ferns that grow there.

The rain soaked woods of Fernwood

Heighten my senses to life's meaning;

Giving emphasis to peace and beauty.

A light shower on my shoulders

speaks to my soul of God's gentle message;

Tapping in Morris code a love letter from Him.

A gray day at Fernwood

Reminds me of the woodland beauty

Existing year round in all weather.

A cramped calendar in the midst of April's glory

Gives purpose to life, enforcing my need to serve and

Support the needs of community.

Image is raindrops on branches; I call it Nature's Holiday Lights!

FIrst Inchies

Making these for a swap for In This House yahoo group.

Fun but tedius! Have you made inchies?

Wish to share?

Catching up-random thoughts

I've had a busy week and weekend so little time to catch up but here goes...........

• great weekend with son


• last art class in old building, moving to new location, dreading the physical part of finding everything again, but looking forward to more space and better facility


• birthday party for dear friend


• too many projects to complete (swaps, rr, upcoming I Am Woman show, Biggers Mural finally getting done and dedicated {in charge of silent auction}, wedding and wedding anniversary celebrations, local fund drive..............) when did April get so busy?


• personal projects to do

But with the good Lord's help....I'll handle it all with ease and grace! By the way, I received 2 more odd emails from the person interested in my art. I finally told them I wasn't interested in the transaction. It just felt weird. Not very business like on either part but I decided it was, had to be, a scam of some kind.

Image is a tip in for a new altered book round robin project I've joined online. My book is called BirdLand.