Muse is Rampant

I have been quite busy lately making small art and note cards for an upcoming sale at a local arts council's Christmas gallery. I have so many ideas but just not enough time nor few enough interruptions to get to them all. I've also begun a new art journal and am half way finished with the altered book round robin I am participating in. I entered three pieces in our local art guild's members only miniature show and won an honorable mention for one piece.

The holidays are coming and I'm so excited. I just wish I had a team of elves to help me do all I want to do for everyone. Maybe I'll just clone myself and then all the me's will know just what to do and get it all done magically while I sleep one night just the way they helped the old shoemaker in that fairy tale.

I don't have pictures ready to post so you'll have to wait. Taking the pics, loading them, resizing them, cataloging them....so much to do with that aspect of art making, let alone, framing and prepping for shows and sales. Please if you are an artist reading this, tell me: how do you manage all the different aspects of being an artist?

Autumn

As days shorten
Fall shadows lengthen.
As days pass
Time is precious.
Spend the days
With God
Counting blessings.
Know each day's beauty
And thank Him often.
For without a loving God
Days mean nothing.
Eternity is the goal and
It's nonexistent
Without God.

Thankful Heart

life is for living

When God fills my heart...

Peace fills my soul
When God fills my heart.
Love fills my life
When God fills my heart.
Joy fills my mind
When God fills my heart.
Gratitude fills my world
When God fills my heart.
Hope fills my heart
When God fills my heart.

Have a Spooktacular day!

The test

The real test is life and
it comes day by day
The questions are easy.
The answers are revealing
Did I do God's will today?
Did I give from my heart?
Did I trust God's grace?
Did I extend God's love to all?
Did I share my faith?
Did I waver from His truths?
Did I truly know hope?
Did I believe strongly enough?
Did I find joy in the day?
Did I laugh enough?
Did I express gratitude?
Did I know His peace?
Did I accept His commands?
Did I truly stand firm in His teachings?
DID I PASS THIS TEST?

image of three shore birds at rest

painted with simple watercolor brush strokes

Birthday Celebration

with 24 year old son, Matthew.

Quiet Repose

Finding much needed relief
By Kiawah seaside
Relieves all grief
And in God I abide.

Learning His lessons
Of quiet repose
Are my sweet blessings
I always suppose.

God's calming peace
Is freely given to me,
Causing all worry to cease-
My gift from the sea.

photo of moon and dune fence on Kiawah

To dream

Sky of grey
Sea of blue
Searching for words
I never knew.

God of sky
God of sea
Knows my heart
And all of me.

Today to live
Tomorrow to dream
Believing the truth
Easier than it may seem.

image is watercolor palmetto painted with simple brush strokes

God's Masterpiece

A place called Peace

watercolor heron painted with simple brush strokes

I've been tagged! 7 things you may not know about me!

I've been tagged by Linda at www.timelesstreasuresofleast.blogspot.com

And Christy at www.averageamericangirl.com/blog

SEVEN THINGS:
1. I would love to have taken ballet as a kid but when I was a little girl, fat kids didn't take dance.
2. I am afraid of flying because I fear air sickness. I have other neurotic fears too but that's a whole 'nuther blog post!
3. I love being organized but I'm NOT! My house and studio are a cluttered chaotic mess!
4. If money were no object my one luxury would be to have a full time maid.
5. I could easily spend an entire month alone with my journal and art supplies, blissfully happy.
6. I play piano but never practice.
7. I am an only child. My husband is an only child and we have one child!

I am tagging Cyndi at www.layersuponlayers.com
and Aunt Bobby at http://artellacafe.com.blogs/aunt_bobby?miscellany/default.aspx

Thanks for the tag and enjoy the sites!

Beach Muse ran rampant!

As you can see, the sunrise is magnificent at Kiawah Island. The sea oats were many this fall and I took enough pics to prove it. More to come and for the couple of art friends who tagged me for 7 things you don't know about me...it's coming! I just haven't come up with the list of 7 interesting things to share yet. Please be patient!

words and pictures say so much

This image is an 8X10 acrylic canvas I did while at Kiawah. Words were written there and added digitally once home. Three colors were used - gold, copper and ultramarine blue. This was a recurring theme for me the entire week-simplicity, searching for a close revival to God and find my gift from the sea.

Back and So Wishing I Wasn't!

Great time and more to come!

Art! Writing! Photos! Ahhhhhhh!

Here's a sunrise through the sea oats!

Self inposed or not

Do you ever impose unnecessary tasks on yourself? I do. Always have and always will but it's how I tick. I seem to get into all these details before leaving for a special trip. You have all the travel stuff to do but I seem to end up with a million and one others too. I've been busy senselessly trying to get everything done before my week at Kiawah-a week without a care in the world except for BEACH WALKING, FAMILY, WRITING AND ART! To get there I:

work, cook, tidy, clean, paint, photograph, enter, lose, win, buy, teach, shop, pay, launder, dry, fold, swab, rub, vacuum, mop, call, answer, call again, answer again, click, smile, frown, reply, commiserate, listen, talk, help, pray, plead, support, encourage, straighten, file, organize, bake, wrap, plan, and on and on the list goes.

Will I be able to relax when I get there? Counting on it!

Life is a journey

Searching for spirit

Life is a pilgrimage

Finding peace

LIfe is a mission

Knowing the Savior

Life is a passage

Crossing into eternity

Image is Kiawah last October!

Kiawah Inpired

This image is from last year's trip to Kiawah. Wish I could escape there permanently.

aligned with God

needed