Stamp Carving!

Its been an incredible week of steps taken, new doors opening and invitations awaiting the right timing! My deepest passion is to offer hope to those that have struggled with the wounds of the past. I was so honored this week to speak to a group of therapists and share my own journey and creative tools and processes to assist them in helping their clients. I felt stretched in every way possible! It seems a season of great risk, vulnerablity and learning is upon me. I am just trying to take each step as it arrives, take a deep breath and move forward. There is always something new to learn!


Speaking of learning something new...what fun I had today as our art journaling group arrived! After updating each other on the happenings in our lives, Michelle Allen brought materials for us to learn how to carve stamps from our unique drawings and doodlings. She has some great pictures on her blog that demonstrate the process. I was so inspired and I am sure stamp carving will now become my newest addiction LOL! Everyone tried their hand at drawing a design then transferring it to the rubber and carving away! The possibilities are endless for the what can be carved and used in collage and canvas work.

Spreading Her Wings...

My sweet friend and one of the most prolific artists I know, JoAnna Pierotti, has begun a new adventure teaching on-line Mixed Media and Assemblage Art classes! She has a wealth of experience, creative secrets and amazingly cool techniques to share and does so with an authentically open heart! She is developing a wonderful community where she will be offering her classes in an on-going, video format. I love the option of taking classes on line, at your own pace and in your own creative timing! The current class JoAnna is offering teaches her truly gorgeous Art Doll Assemblage techniques. If you'd like to join JoAnna and a growing community of artists as they spread their artistic wings, take a peek at the above link!

Although I am all signed up for the class I have to wait until I am through with several committments before I can get creating. So to tide me over til then, I made a little slide show of some of my own art doll inspired and themed pieces. I have long had a fascination with dolls of every style. There is something about the faces that whisper to me. Each one carries with it a unique story. It rekindles the little girl in me and the comfort that that special doll seemed to always bring. I have been dreaming of new doll creations for a while. That seems to be how new inspirations always begin....in the dreaming!

Standing By........

My Auntie Ria sent this to me today and I just had to share it. I love the power of music to transcend boundaries, distance and time. It has the ability to touch and move places in the heart that are completely unique to each listener. See where it takes you as you listen. Needing someone at one time or another to stand by us is a universal condition! Our souls were created in and designed for relationship! We may already have one who has taken their stand next to us, maybe a new friend has entered into our life unexpectantly and is quietly standing near or maybe we need to be willing to reach out and ask for the support. However the need arises, I believe there are enough of us to take a turn "standing by"!

Be sure to pause the music playing on my blog on the right lower sidebar before viewing!

Happy Love day!

Hope you are enjoying the day and that you have someone to share a dose of love with, a bear hug, a valentine cookie or a beautiful flower! It just doesn't take much to extend a little "heart love" to those you care about! My husband presented me with the most gorgeous white roses and red tulips. His sweet, little box of chocolates came to my rescue as I was searching through the house desperately for a chocolate fix with my hot cup of tea lol! This was the first time he chose white roses. I was deeply moved. They just seemed to whisper of hope and renewal!

"One World One Heart" Giveaway Winner!

Well I had great plans to stay up til midnight and do my offical drawing but I dozed off! I want to thank everyone who came by and for all your wonderful comments. There were so many blogs to visit and it was such a great event! The response was overwhelming! I really did do it the old fashioned way and cut up all of your names to put in my butterfly box! That was alot of tiny pieces of paper! So I am happy to announce the winner of the "Soul Peace" Altered Journal is Melanie of Whimsical Creations. Congratulations Melanie! Please take a moment to take a peek a Melanie's blog...it is a delight!

Celebrating the Journey!

Shared a beautiful evening last night at a Pink Party celebrating the journey of a dear friend who has courageously walked though breast cancer this year. I love what women bring to each others lives. So many heartfelt conversations about whats important and the beauty that life's heartaches and struggles ultimately reveal. Pretenses get left at the door and life comes into the sharp focus when these kind of journey's are entered into. Hearts are opened wider, words that had not been spoken are shared and hands offer to help in the most meaningful and creative ways. My friend said looking back she is grateful for what the path gave her. She wouldn't trade it now. Pain brings us some of the most treasured gifts. As much as we might wish to never have to experience the difficult paths, death, grief, sadness, loss...in these valleys we find parts of our heart we might never have otherwise discovered. Its the opportunity to understand deeper truths. We see more clearly into the lives of those around us, reach for them and receive more willingly. That is the beauty in pain and struggle. To be in it but surrounded, allowing yourself to be held and celebrated. Let your pain speak into another's life. Let their support and love speak into yours.



I have been busy writing and doing alot of work for a presentation I will be giving soon and haven't had too much time in the studio. It was a treat to create this special set of collage art blocks for a dear customer this week and thought I'd share them with you!

Morning Reflection.....

Pause the music currently playing on the lower right sidebar of my blog before viewing the video!



Just offering an invitation right where you are...before the day slips by...before the sun sets....

to pause and be present
in this moment that is now
be grateful
remember what really matters
let go of what doesn't
ask for who needs your words, touch or prayers
listen for God's guidance
release what you are holding on to
take hold of what is before you
feel your breath
hear your heart beat
move through this day with intention
do the thing that is before
give what you can
receive what you are given
open your eyes
and truly see
the unspoken nature
of what is happening around you
live fully in this one day

Remembering.......

"The courage to face the road that has been traveled...
to receive the lessons of what has been...
invites the soul to embrace the journey that beckons ahead...
the gentle hope of what can be"


I was looking through images of work I had created a couple years ago and came across these two pieces. They reminded me of a different season of prolific creativity in my life. It seems it is good to remember. When you are risking heading around a new bend, and cannot see exactly where you are going, its encouraging to remember where you have been. We see so much farther and clearer when we turn around and take a moment to see with eyes that understand more now, have experienced more, a heart that trusts a little more...maybe is even a little wiser. I don't feel as afraid of letting my creativity ebb and flow as I use to...the fear that it all might wither and dry up and never return doesn't haunt me. Though my studio is more often quiet and less productive these days...I have come to understand that my creative energy moves, morphs, evolves and flows into many different areas of my life. I have learned to take it with me as the wind shifts and new steps are revealed.

I will never forget a dear woman who sat with me over coffee one day...many years ago...before I had begun to sell artwork or journey down this path I have now been on as a collage artist...a road that has now become somewhat familiar and safe to me. She was looking over several healing-themed collages I had created and framed. She stood up and one by one layed each piece around the floor. We stood in the middle of all of them in silence. I was unsure, feeling very vulnerable as these pieces felt like opening a secret cavern in my soul that felt so raw and vulnerable. I remember I was facing some risky steps in my own journey and was afraid this "art thing" was a freak occurance...a one time deal...that I could create any more collages seemed unlikely. I knew I was going to have to put my heart energy into some difficult personal work that would take me away from formally creating artwork that others would see...for a season...and into a secluded season of letting decades of secrets spill out through art that would ultimately be for my own eventual healing and freedom. She asked if she could pray for me, held my hand and put her fingers gently over the inside of my wrist...as if to take my pulse...and then she said these words...."as long as your heart is beating, as this blood pulsates through your body, God's gift to you of your creativity will continue to flow and give life through every nerve and fiber of your being , from within you out into the hearts of those who are hurting. You can trust the source and that the gift is neverending."

Remembering her words are a comfort to me today as I move into new places. They are a reminder all these years later of where I have been...of where I can travel again if I choose. My heart is still beating and the blood is still moving. So today I encourage you to stop for a moment and remember the road you have traveled. Gather the strength born out of the insight received from what was and let it give you courage and hope for the unknown road called " what will be". The truth is all of these moments and experiences and choices and paths are intricately connected and linked together by One who has all our days in His hands. Don't be afraid to lie still and be hidden for awhile while the new path emerges. Just remember you'll will find your gift,your creativity, your passion...safely tucked away in your heart and beating through every fiber of your being...nourishing every aspect of your soul. Like the butterfly...the time will come...when resurrected together in its new form...fresh strength and vision will be pushed through your wings and the flight will feel almost effortless.

Upcoming Seminar......

I am honored to have been asked to present a seminar for therapeutic professionals this month to share creative processes and tools for clients who struggle with the dissociative effects of severe trauma and abuse. If you or someone you know is a therapist, counselor, or works in the mental health profession, and would be interested in attending, you may find all the information here on my website. This opportunity is at the heart of my deepest passion and I am so looking forward to speaking and sharing art that promotes the uncovering of painful secrets and soul healing!