Holiday Open House/Studio Sale

Healing Expressions
Holiday Open House/Studio Sale
Saturday, December 6, 2008
11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Its been a busy week and I have been away doing alot of preparing and writing for my therapeutic collage workshops. I will be turning my focus back into the studio over the next couple of weeks to prepare for my first Open House/Studio Sale! I am looking forward to opening my home and studio this year to share a selection of original inspirational artwork, meaningful handcrafted gifts and other unique items to encourage and uplift the soul! If you are in the area I hope you’ll stop by and enjoy some beautiful music, appetizers, holiday treats, sparkling cider, giveaways and celebrate the creative spirit with me!
I am grateful for each and every one of you and thank you for your continued support and encouragement! Please feel free to pass along this invitation and bring a friend or two. Creative Blessings and I hope to see you there!

For more information or directions you may contact me by email at lanikent@msn.com

Custom Journals....

It has always been my deepest pleasure to create pieces that are specially ordered by one person to be sent to bless another who might be a friend or loved one. Many times, when I have these requests, the work is for someone who is going through a difficult time. This custom journal was created this past week for a customer of mine who wanted to give something special to a family member who had lost their mother. She hoped to offer a place for words, memories and even the grieving process to be expressed amidst the pages of the journal. I truly enjoy creating pieces that have such a special purpose. I love being the messenger in the middle...a bridge for one soul to reach across and bring encouragement to another.I always smile when I get to write the special card attached to the piece that says', You are being specially blessed today by____"!While creating the journal, I remembered a beautiful song I had the honor of singing at a service for my dear friend's father called "With Hope" (By Steven Curtis Chapman). The words are so meaningful for anyone who has lost someone so I thought I would have it playing with this post.

You can see other journals that were given as gifts too on my website. I hope to have a few more available soon and am also taking special orders for the holidays now. A custom journal might just be the unique gift you have been looking for to give this holiday!

Reaching for time.......

TIME....

"There never seems to be enough of these fleeting, catch it while you can, rushing by at light speed, elusive, whisper-like moments...."





















Trusting the time that feels lost to the wounds of the past
will be redeemed.
Praying for the moments I might have missed
to be revealed.
Knowing in my heart its never too late to begin
with this one moment.
Choosing to bring all of what was and is of me
into this present hour
Believing the time that is yet to come
will arrive with possibility
Embracing the One who was, and is, and will yet be
woven through all that is time

Art Journaling....

Shared a wonderful afternoon with a few of the gals who were able to make it today for our monthly art journaling group. Michelle, Teri and Jaron each brought their hearts and willingness to venture into the blank pages of our art journals and explore a little. Sharing art journals between friends is a really great way to get to know each other at a deeper level and to enter into each others stories. I love seeing how my friends visually and creatively interpret the things they are pondering about their lives, hopes, struggles, who God is and what He might be whispering to their soul. Each one had such a unique way of expressing themselves and playing on the page. Its what I love about art journaling...no rules...no agenda...no limits...just pure freedom to discover, experiment and make it whatever you want it to be! Its an environment that is just perfect for something new and surprising to happen when you least expect it! This is the art journal page I shared in the group today. If you are having trouble getting started a quick way to jump start the process is to pick out a large stamped image (faces are great for this) and stamp in right onto the blank journal page as a focal point. Then just begin to color, doodle and journal around that central image! Its interesting to watch what slowly emerges when you just go with the moment and release all preconceived ideas of what you think the page should look like...and instead just be open to accepting the piece in process....learning from how it evolves...and what it becomes...right before your eyes!

I Can Only Be Me.....

I recently discovered the beautiful music of Eva Cassidy. Although Eva lost a battle with cancer in 1996, and died so very young at age 33, her voice impacted so many who knew and loved her. She considered herself an interpreter of songs others had written and performed mainly in small clubs etc before her death. She was relatively unknown prior to her death but her recordings and artwork are availiable from several websites offered now in her honor. I think I felt drawn to her music as many of the songs she chose to sing were long time favorites of my own. I thought this was a beautiful version of a song originally done by Stevie Wonder called "I Can Only Be Me".

The first three songs currently playing on my blog, "Over the Rainbow", "Autumn Leaves" and "Songbird" are all renditions by Eva as well. When you are finished listening or at any time you are ready, be sure to turn the music off on the lower right sidebar of my blog before viewing the video below.

I Can Only Be Me

Butterflies begin,
from having been a larva,
As a child is born,
from being in a mother's womb,
But how many times,
have you wished you were some other;
Someone than who you are.

Yet who's to say that if
all were uncovered,
You will like what you see;
You can only be you,
as I can only be me.

Flowers can not bloom,
until it is their season,
As we would not be here,
unless it was our destiny,
But how many times,
have you wished to be in spaces,
Times, places than what you were.

Yet who's to say with
unfamiliar faces,
You could any more be;
Loving you that you'd see,
You can only be you,
as I can only be me

I can only be me.

Art Card Musings and Giveaway Winner......

"Desperate Heart...
...hear my cry"





















"Secrets...the pain was hidden in the shadows of her soul"











New art cards that can be found here on Ebay.











ART BLESSING GIVEAWAY WINNER: Thank you so much to everyone who participated and shared a small part of your grateful heart with me in your wonderful comments! I am excited to announce that the winner of the drawing is Yvette Adams of "The Charm House"! Be sure to stop by Yvettte's beautiful blog! It is filled with inspiration and a warm and inviting spirit!