Prayer for the Journey.....

New Journals in my Etsy Store!
I have a few sweet yet simple journals I added to my store this week. Each of these have been accented with a collage print and pretty ribbons and fibers and make sweet gifts of encouragement. I have been slowly working on new pieces to offer soon through my website. As new doors have opened, I have had to divide my time a little more between walking through them and creating in the studio. I am looking forward to releasing my first newsletter soon and have been enjoying the art of creating with words again as writing was such a haven for me as a young girl. So it seems my visits to my blog are a little further apart but what is being quietly woven behind the scenes has been breathing new hope and vision in my heart.


Its also a busy season as I prepare for the graduation of my son. Two years ago when my oldest son graduated I remember thinking time was likely to pass quickly and I would find myself ordering another cap and gown before I knew it and here we are already. So the days are filled with all the preparation and activities for the event. At the same time, I have begun to share my heart in a new direction by supporting a woman's and recovery ministry at a very creative local church and community center. I am so encouraged at their passion for the creative arts and am excited to see what doors open and what God has in store. I had written a prayer to share with the woman recently and hope it blesses each of you.

PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY:

Lord I break open my heart and invite you to gently explore and expose my innermost being
Help me to truthfully be who I am with these woman who journey to magnify your name
Mercifully reveal and illuminate those hidden places in my heart that need Your health and healing
Let me be receptive to change and to the love, wisdom and discernment of those who care for me
Help me to remove any masks I have worn and let Your light into any darkness they have hidden
Let me move though this journey with a willingness to be real, vulnerable and transparent
Give me the courage to open new doors, risk new beginnings and trust deeper relationships
Show me what it means to create a safe place to carry the burdens of the woman in our community
Help me walk difficult roads with other brave woman and speak the truth of our collective stories
Where there is insecurity and doubts let me reveal and share my weaknesses and fears
Where past experiences have left wounds and scars let me not hide, disguise or deny them
Where there is envy and jealousy let me humble myself and reveal my heart’s struggles
When I feel the need for control help me to slow down, loosen my grip and let you guide my path
Where I need to be confronted help me to release my pride, receive wisdom and take steps of growth
When I have been hurt let me speak honestly and move towards forgiveness and reconciliation
Where there is judgment and condemnation soften my heart and forgive my blindness
In your mercy reveal and expose any hidden agenda or selfish motive in my actions or deeds
Remove any lies that have held my own heart captive and kept me from living in Your freedom
When You speak, help me discern Your voice and embrace instruction without argument, hesitation or delay
Let my words uplift, edify and speak truth, encouragement and blessing to my sisters in Christ
Help me to be an honest and nurturing place that invites the hearts of woman into the arms of Your love
Quietly weave the threads of my own story, unique gifts and passions into the tapestry of Your ministry
Bind and lovingly link me together with the precious woman who desire to serve and know You
Lord magnify my heart from the inside out so that my life may magnify Your glorious name. Amen

Music that heals......

I wanted to share a song that has deeply touched my heart recently. I was asked to sing it at an upcoming luncheon sponsored by ARMS (Abuse Recovery Ministry and Services). This non-profit agency provides services and resources for woman who have been wounded verbally, emotionally and physically through domestic violence. The speaker will be Dr. Patrica Warford,PsyD and the title of what she will share is called "Unraveling the Secrets of Trauma Bonding". If you or someone you know is carrying scars and pain from these kinds of experiences please visit the ARMS website for more information on attending this free luncheon in Portland, OR on June 5th! May the song comfort and offer hope today for whatever challenges or struggles you may face.....

Please pause the music playing on my blog on the lower right sidebar before viewing the video!

The cruelest world
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Release into the New Season......

The "new season" whispers to our hearts very, very quietly at first....and maybe only now and then. Like a breeze that you sensed just softly touched your face and you turn but can't distinquish where it came from or exactly what it was. It caught your attention though and you paused momentarily. Often the new season enters our awareness so subtly and briefly that we are apt to miss it and instead pick up our normal pace and activities again without pausing to consider the nudge.

As the new season draws nearer, we may notice an increasingly frequent breeze, stronger and more persistant than before. It becomes much harder to ignore and begins to cause us to stop and turn around....to look around and listen, to ask questions of its source, where it came from and where it is going. It begs us to stop the direction we were headed and get truly present into our current circumstances and actually turn to face the breeze...to really listen and to feel on a deeper level where it is wanting to take our body.

We can choose to fight it...press back against it and push into the force as its pressure continues to mount and breeze turns to wind. We can fight it out of fear or insecurity, heart weariness, woundedness, pride, stubbornness, distrust or because we just don't see clearly where the direction of the wind will take us...and we want the comforts and assurances of the ground on which our feet have been safely planted. What if we imagined the breeze, if our sense was wrong...what if we appeared foolish for stopping and paying attention....for letting go...and letting our hearts be carried into the new season. Sooner or later we will discover this truth....that trying to move against the new season really does take so much more energy than turning and releasing the body to be carried by these fresh winds.

In my own life, that is how God seems to move and invite my participation. The subtle breeze released by a comment or suggestion from a praying friend, a small invitation accepted or the turning of the handle on a door slightly ajar seems to slowly build into the winds of a bold opportunity, a fork in the road with a sign that says "This way", a wide-open door or authentic relationships that speak bold truth into my life and begin to shift the trajectory of my path. God just asks that I be willing to stop my scurrying about and attempts to make my own way and sense His presence in the people and curcumstances in my life.....that I release my grip on what is preventing me from freely moving with the wind. Its really a powerful, mysterious and beautiful force.

So today I let go briefly and was carried a little further into the direction of my own new season. It was a small, simple circumstance yet held the possiblity of carrying me with great momentum. I can honestly say it was a beautifully terrifying experience filled with a good measure of hopeful discomfort! I'd highly recommend the ride. Do you sense the whisper of a fresh breeze in your own life? Are you pressing against the winds of a new season and are tired of the fight? Wont you consider falling back into the wind for a time and letting yourself be carried to the next place....into the hope and Divinely creative possibilities of your new season?

New Etsy Shop "Altered Revelations"...

I have had these sweet, tiny brass easels hiding away in a drawer in my studio for quite some time. So I played with some pieces of "stampbord" (great product with a multitude of uses) and created these teeny collages embellished with copper,metal filigrees. They were just perfect to rest on the easels! You can find these little burst of encouragement listed in my Healing Expression's Etsy shop!


ALTERED REVELATIONS....

I wanted to officially introduce my new Etsy shop called "Altered Revelations". I will be filling this shop with items that are created with the mixed media artist in mind. As an artist I am always on the lookout for items to incorporate in my own work and I thought it would be fun to create a place where I could offer these discoveries to those who also share a passion for mixed media collage and assemblage! Here you will find vintage style collections, unique trinkets, findings and other handcrafted items for use in your paper and fabric collage, altered books, assemblage and mixed media work! Below are a couple examples of two vintage-themed collections that are currently in the shop. You can find these and other treasures to inspire your creativity here at Altered Revelation's Etsy home!



GOODIE BAG OFFER: If you would be interested in helping me spread the word about my new shop by placing a button link for my Altered Revelation's Etsy store on your blog, I have a sweet goodie bag filled with a few Healing Expressions treasures that I would be happy to send you as a "Thank You"! Just let me know by email, include your address and I will send the goodie bag on its way!

Thanks for stopping by and may your day be filled with love, kindness and hope!

Colorful Creative Spaces.......

I finally got to the end of a long to-do list that has been following me around for awhile. I love the wide space that opens up in between crossing the last item off the list and before it fills up again! So I spent a quiet day in the studio and was able to create a few pieces. I added these new inspirational, vintage themed, glass pendants to my website today. If you would like to see more images and find these sweet little offerings you can see COLLECTION A here and COLLECTION B here!




I had the opportunity to create a special order journal this week for a dear buyer of mine who serves overseas in Iraq. Her only request was to "create whatever inspires you"! I love to create "journals as art" and often sell one-of-a-kind-journals with lovely metal picture stands to display them on. Placing your own journals in a special area of prominance, as art, is a wonderful way to honor this process of expression and encourage a daily practice of written or art journaling.

I seem to be entering a season of bright color!I am so drawn to the rich and vibrant jewel tones these days. I fell in love with these handcrafted "silk sari ribbons" and creations by designtalentedone on Etsy. She creates the most unique and colorful ribbons I had ever seen!I treated myself to one of her original hats recently! It definately brought out that funky inner artist in me!

Tapestry of Music.....

Music has been woven through my family history and my own story as long as I can remember. My father was a professional jazz guitarist and the sounds of his gift are etched in my memory. As a little girl I took quickly to singing and spent many nights with a hairbrush in hand practicing all the lastest hits in my bedroom. Later the hairbrush would be replaced with a microphone and the bedroom for a stage as I began to professionally pursue and explore my own expression of music. Sadly, I lost my father as a very young girl and we never had the opportunity to explore and share these gifts with each other. After many years of performing, there eventually came a time when I needed to set it all aside for a season as I let God take my heart on a journey to heal some of the broken places in my heart. My voice was quieted and instead my creativity began to move through art and collage. But I prayed the musical thread in my own life's tapestry would emerge again when the timing was right.

Meanwhile, in the years between, I have been blessed by the unfolding of my son Brandon's gift for music. He began to play piano at about age 10 but it was quickly apparent that being restrained by note reading or traditional lessons didn't fit for him. He saw and felt the music in his soul and just began to play from his heart. This past January as his grandmother was losing her battle with cancer he composed a piece for her. We rented a piano to bring to her home a few days before she passed away so he could play it for her. Later he played the piece for her memorial service and I offered my voice. It felt like life was beginning to come full circle and I could sense that our families musical heritage was entering a new season

Watching him play with such abandon stirred the musical longings I had quietly set aside. I have dreamed of writing and recording a collection of songs to comfort and encourage those on the healing journey and have slowly begun plans for this to become a reality. My heart explodes at the idea of my son sharing his talent on this project as well. This past week he played his heartfelt piece inspired by his love for his Grandmother at his Senior High School Talent Show (it is the second one on the video). Just wanted to share it with you all.....

Please pause the music playing on my blog on the lower right sidebar before viewing the video.....



PS. NEWSLETTER NEWS! For those of you awaiting my first newsletter, I am needing to take a little more time with it and decided to hold off its release until May! If you haven't signed up to receive it yet you can do so by clicking on the link to the left in the aqua colored box! Thanks for your patience!

Art Blessing Winner and Spring Break Getaway!

Easter Blessings to you all this weekend! I am happy to announce the winner of the Art Blessing Giveaway. The inspirational collage cube will be on its way to Lori Roberts at Altered Art Expressions! Be sure to stop by Lori's blog and take a peek at her creative world! Thanks to everyone who participated!

This next week I will launch my newsletter with another giveaway. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the left sidebar if you would like to follow this new journey with me and be included in the first giveaway!



Enjoyed a wonderful time away this week for spring break visiting family in Seattle. No trip to Seattle is complete without an excursion to Pike's Place Market on the waterfront.The fresh flowers, produce, seafood, street musicians and unique wares from a variety of artisians is a feast for the senses! It was a sweet time of relaxing and connecting with those we love! I will let the pictures do the talking!



My husband met up with some new friends! He obviously didn't see the sign below :)

Art Blessing Giveaway!!!

Its been awhile since I offered an art blessing giveaway and I thought this "Vintage Journey Acrylic Cube" would be a wonderful way to bless one of you! Click here to see more pictures of all sides of the cube.

I am always so grateful to receive your support and encouragement as I continue to explore and share art as a healing, revealing and redemptive tool in the revelation of our inner worlds. If you would like to be a part of this giveaway please leave your contact info in the comment section and I will add your name to the drawing! If you would be so kind as to share about this art blessing on your blog I will add your name twice to the drawing (just let me know)! I will draw the name of the blessing winner on Friday, April 2!

Springtime Show and Tell!

I always feel a rising of optimism and hope at the first sighting of the blossoms on the beautiful tree outside my kitchen window. When you add to that a gorgeous "blue sky" day the possibilities immediately expand in my heart and mind! The blanket of "Northwest Grey" is slowly lifting and I am ready for the new life of Spring!
(Click on any image to enlarge!)



After being sick for a couple days it was a welcome burst of fun and energy to have my monthly art journal gang over for friendship, tea and "art gab"! We call our gathering "CAFE" which stands for "Creating Artistic Friendships and Encouragement". We were thrilled with the collage goodie bags Janeen brought us. Jaron gifted us with original ATCs! We love to bring little surprises to share with one another!

We really have no set agenda but to share our latest mixed media creations, whats happening in our art journals and experimenting with a monthly challenge! Karla Dornacher has been working on new illustrations. Her artistic gift and detailed drawings always amaze me! She gifted us with a lovely new magnet design that you can find in her Etsy shop and also shared her new mixed media work! We were all in awe of the personalized paint job she and daughter Michelle Allen did on their "Traveling Art Bags"! You can see more of this project here!



Paulette Insall shared her new inspired works with us. She has risked a new direction with her painting that is truly unique and intensely colorful! You can find prints of her work in her Etsy Shop!

Paulette also brought her newest purchases from mixed media artist Mystele Kirkeeng! Her original handpainted and embellished canvas bags were funky cool! I hear she is getting ready to restock her shop and I hope to add one of these to my ever growing art bag collection! Mystele also has a great series of videos on art journaling techniques!



Teri Owens always brings some fun new idea from her art journal. Our challenge this month was playing with creative embellishments for the edges of art journal pages. Teri used buttons and wire to create these cool techniques! She also knitted these sweet little cell phone mini bags!

I had a great time sharing how to make original trinkets and embellishments out of polymer clay and PearlEx powders! One thing for sure our time always flys when this group gathers!








CLEARANCE SALE ON EBAY!! If you'd like to take a peek, I am doing a little spring cleaning in the studio and have listed several collage lots and groups of inspirational items! You can see some of these items on the upper right sidebar here on my blog or in my ebay Store!

A Day of Unexpected Rest..........

I had great plans for the day today but unfortunately I am hunkered down with the stomach flu. So I thought I would share the latest treasures in my art library. I have been swadeled up with a cup of tea and losing myself in the beauty and inspiration found on these pages today (in between waves of nausea...ick). I must admit to being a creative book addict! One of my favorite things to do is share and swap books with my artist friends. Admittedly I tend to be the one to have a collection which is the next best thing to visiting Amazon (haha). You can click on each title to find out more about each of these wonderful offerings from these talented artists! Click on the author's name and you will find their blogs and websites!

God Is at Eye Level: Photography as a Healing Art ~ Jan Phillips

Journal Spilling: Mixed-Media Techniques for Free Expression~ Diana Trout

Layered, Tattered and Stitched: A Fabric Art Workshop~ Ruth Rae

Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art ~ Rice Freeman-Zachery

A sweet friend of mine sent me this video recently. The author speaks so eloquently and vulnerably about this journey called "Mothering". As a Mom who is weathering the transition of sons moving into adulthood, I shed a few tears listening and remembering my own travels thus far. Be sure to pause the music already playing on my blog, on the lower right sidebar, before viewing. You can read more of Katrina Kennison's musings on her blog!