Won't you join me?- "Newsletter" Reflections on Art, Music and Life!

I am working on a new project that I am getting very encouraged and excited to share! Beginning next month I will launch a monthly newsletter that you are cordially invited to be a part of! My hope is to offer creative encouragement through writing, poetry, journaling exercises, reflections on the healing journey and other musings on art, music and life! I will also use this newsletter to have a monthly giveaway and showcase new work for sale, upcoming therapeutic collage and art journaling workshops as well as other special events and happenings on my website! If you would like to receive this newlsetter please sign up on the right sidebar in the aqua-colored box marked "Healing Expression's Newlsetter". If you would be kind enough to share the news on your blog, let me know and I will add your name twice to the first month's giveaway!



Thank you to everyone for your overwhelming response to the One World One Heart Giveway! Thank you to Lisa Swifta for organizing another wonderful event! I so enjoyed participating again this year and am happy to announce the winner of my Glass Butterfly Necklace is "Julia at Vintage With Laces"!

Please stop by and visit Julia's beautiful blog!



I was thrilled to receive my "Decorative Art Girlie" from Kelly Rae Roberts new collection this week! I adore the spirit behind her work. The words really spoke to me:

Listen to Your Life
DREAM BIGGER
unleash your joy
embrace vulnerability
WHAT IS CALLING YOU?
love with abandon
get quiet...just be
REDISCOVER YOUR PASSION
Nurture Your Soul
Allow the blessings to sink in and stay awhile
Surround yourself with good people
HONOR YOUR INTUITION








ART JOURNAL REFLECTION:(Click image to enlarge) What does it mean to risk the leap for you today? What do you need to let go of to take the plunge? What might you be afraid of? Where might it take you if you dared? What is the one, small "next thing" you could do just for today?

Radiance...Art Journal Release....

I had been staring at my blank art journal one to many times over the last few months. We use to spend time together but life squeezed in on us this last year. I had surrounded myself with delicious, eye-candy-filled art journal books, sat in on art journal gatherings with friends and was inspired and dreamed of all the pages I would "one day" create again....BUT until I finally sat down and silenced the internal critic and pushed through the reasons why I couldn't take the time again to explore and spill color on the page with my own hands...to create just for me...only then did I realize this week what I had been missing. I feel like I finally popped the cork as the pressure to find creative release finally had its way with me. It seems you can fight time and distance from your creativity only so long. It always feels like reconnecting with a very dear friend who knows you inside and out. It didn't take long and the two of us were creating in the wonderful quietness that only good friends can rest deeply in. So I think we will be having tea and playing together more often in the coming days!

I wanted to share two new sets of pens I purchased that were fabulous to work with in art journals! The "Marvy Metallics" and "Elmers Painters" are paint pens with medium tips. The colors are rich and brilliant and terrific for lettering work and coloring over painted images and surfaces. Now I am on the prowl for the Sharpie Poster Paint pens! If you have any pens you are in love with...drop a note and share!!!


Song...JUST FOR TODAY... BY India Arie

Just for today
I will not worry what tomorrow will bring, no
I’m gonna try something new
and walk through this day
Like I’ve got nothing to prove, yeah
Although I have the best intentions
I can't predict anyones reactions
So I’ll just do my best
I'll put one foot in front of the other
Keep on moving forward
And let God do the rest

I don’t know what’s gonna happen
That’s alright with me
I open up my arms and I embrace the mystery
I don’t know what’s gonna happen
That’s alright with me
I open up my arms and I embrace the mystery

Just for today
I’m telling the truth like it's going out of style
I'm gonna swallow my pride and be who I am
And I don’t care who don’t like it, yeah
I feel the fear but I do it anyway
I won't let it stand in the way
I know what I must do
There’s no guarantee that it’ll be easy
But I know that it’ll be fulfilling
And it's time for me to show improve

It’s okay not to know
Exploration is how we grow
It’s ok to not have the answer
Cuz sometimes
It’s the question that matters

I don’t know what’s gonna happen
That’s alright with me
I open up my arms and I embrace the mystery
I don’t know what’s gonna happen
That’s alright with me
I open up my arms and I embrace the mystery