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!

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!

Art and Soul Inspirations....

I was lucky to get into Tracy Bautista's class "The Art Book" at Art and Soul" in Portland this past week. I feel so spoiled since I only live ten minutes from the whole event! Tracy's class was a palette of delicious creativity! She was a delight and shared so many fun techniques with a variety of paints and everyday tools. We spent the day getting our hands covered in all the colors of the rainbow and creating our own papers with cool designs and patterns. Then we cut those papers in a variety of sizes, assembled them together and handbound our own unique journals! I have been wanting to create something special to record all of the "Divine Whispers" that have been moving my heart towards each new step in my own journey. This book was exactly what I had been dreaming of! So I look forward to the day when it is overflowing with experiences, treasures, images, stories, dreams and inspirations...and I look back through the pages and see how the story unfolded!

First we painted and played to our hearts content!

Next we cut our designs into shapes, collaged and created our journal covers!

Then we bound our pages and wove beautiful ribbons, fibers and embellishments into the binding and wah-lah! (well it was a teeny bit more involved than that haha)


What a pleasure it was to sit and soak in all of Judy Wise's wealth of experience and wisdom in her class "So You Want to Sell Your Art"! What a generous and insightful soul she is. I so appreciated Judy's advice and perspective on being generous and giving as an artist. She was rich in sharing the wisdom of living in a way that allows us to freely release our gifts into the world without getting caught up in holding too tightly onto "what is ours". Her creative heart and calming spirit truly inspired me! Had fun running into fellow ZNErs Gina Smith and Tina Curtis too!

I was sad to have missed the vendor night at Art and Soul but was so inspired by the moving stories of healing and lives being restored that were shared at the ARMS (Abuse Recovery Ministry and Services) annual fundraiser banquet my husband Dave and I attended that same night. We hosted a table and shared the evening with our Moms and friend's Dave and Meg Wilson . It was a sweet time to be with my dear soul-sister Shelby as we each were honored to participate in a video presentation for ARMS which debuted that evening. It was such a reminder of how God weaves lives, hearts and circumstances together to redeem our pasts and usher in new hope for the days to come!


"Sweet friends you offer gentle hope and renewal to my spirit"

Inspiration and Art Journaling....

I opened my home studio this week for the first meeting of a wonderful, monthly art journaling group I will be participating in. I love it when hearts and paths cross and God arranges the kind of divine appointments that you know cannot be just mere coincidences! There is an excited anticipation of how the journey will unfold but tempered with a quiet peace as you step into the flow of where the river seems to be taking you! We hope to each share our own unique styles, techniques and ideas as well as explore the deeper experiences of how art journaling opens our souls and moves us toward deeper understanding of our emotional and spiritual lives. I am really looking forward to becoming more consistant with my art journaling and having like-minded souls to encourage that journey! One of my favorites on my studio bookshelf is "Art Journals and Creative Healing: Restoring the Spirit Through Self -Expression" by Sharon Soneff. I highly recommend it as rich source of inspiration for the healing potential of the journaling process. Please stop by Sharon's Blog as she shares more of her heart behind this beautiful and vulnerable book.


As we shared each of our journals to date and got to know each other over tea and pastires (must have treats and some form of chocolate!) I was in awe of the creative energy and spirit amidst the group. Longtime friends of mine, Jaron and Shelby, were joined by new friends Michelle Allen of Allen Designs and Teri Owens. You'll have to take a peek at Michelle's Etsy shop. Her creations are magical and I had to treat myself to one her signature clocks, "Love & Hope", to hang in the studio.



It was a very hopeful and inspiring experience and I look forward to watching how it all unfolds and the new creative doors it opens!
PS. Michelle is having a absolutely wonderful giveaway on her blog too! Take a peek at this post for all the details!