A little creative experimenting.......

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I felt like a little girl playing in a coloring book today as I experimented with my very humble paint shop program. It was just fun to play in this digital medium and watch what unfolded. I must admit I missed the hands on of glue and paper and getting messy but this was creative in a way that felt quite exciting too...you know the kind of excitement that bubbles up deep in your creative core and whispers..."Now this has some cool possibilities!" I dared myself to put them on the blog or even sell them though they feel a bit elementary. But isn't that what living is about....just lay it bare, humble yourself to be a beginner, throw yourself into the wind and risk something you've never tried before! These prints are available on Ebay!

"Imagine"...New Journal Art on Etsy!

I am revamping my Etsy store and slowly beginning to add some new items. I finshed some inspirational tag sets, wooden star dangles and altered library pockets. I discovered this beautiful black easel in my frame store I have out in the garage (haha...my hubby says I should not be allowed to buy another frame for as long as I live!). It was perfect for another piece of journal art. This sweet vintage fairy journal can be found on etsy today too!




Also..This weekend is a leap year special over at my Zazzle Store. They have a free shipping with purchase special going on through the end of the weekend! Have a fabulous end of the week everyone!

Now Offering 5X7 Enlargements.....

Must be almost spring as I feel that nesting thing coming over me...nesting, gutting out, reorganizing and making room for the anticipation of the new!

I wanted to share that I am now offering 5x7 enlargements for $8.99 each of over 150 designs I sell as ATC/ACEO prints. I often have requests for my art cards to be enlarged for framing. They have been a blessing for me to frame and give as gifts to special ones who God brings my way! I also decided to offer my ATC ACEO Prints unmounted for $3.99 for those who want to save a little on my art card prints (prints mounted on matboard sell for $5.99). You can find all the designs there are to choose from here and either purchase through ebay or if you would like to purchase any ATC prints or enlargements direct from my blog just let me know. Shipping is 1.25 for the first enlargement, $1.00 for unmounted ATC prints and free for any print purchases after the first!.

A sweet thank you to Cathy at Avalon Rose, Judy at JMK Originals and Izabella's Blue for your encouraging gift of the "You make my day award"...
The award gives me the opportunity to share some blogs that are wonderful to visit! I can never narrow down who to put on these lists (plus I hate to leave anyone out!) so I would encourage you to check the list of incredible blogs here! The OWOH event was an fabulous chance to explore some truly unique and delightful blogs!

Release the Depth of my Soul....

I love the idea of journals being displayed as artwork. This new original Altered Journal is available on Ebay today. The work is displayed in a gold scrolled easel. I have one of own special journals perched at my favorite writing desk in a pretty stand. It seems fitting that our most intimate thoughts and musings be given a place of honor in our creative spaces or cozy writing/reading nooks. It is always so cathartic to let the words flow and leave footprints that trace our journeys! When we know where we have been it illuminates the road that is taking us where we are going!

Love heals the soul....

Had fun working with these beautiful antique metal embellishments I found in my stash. This sweet piece is double-sided so you can spend a little time reflecting on each message. I was reminded of all the special souls in my own life who have offered me real, safe and unconditional love. It has been in this fertile soil of love that my own heart has been free to heal and take the risk of embracing my tomorrows. Friends who can just sit in the quiet with you are a rare gift. This Altered Art Tin Assemblage is for sale on ebay today.

New Art Cards on Ebay....

Art cards are always a great way to slowly make my way back into the studio after a long creative break! I finished these this afternoon and listed them on ebay if you'd like to take a peek! I am hoping to experiment in the days to come, play with my soldering iron, gets my hands in some polymer clay and paints....time to stretch and move out of creative comfort zones is the gentle whisper I hear. It always takes me a little while to get back in the groove around my studio. So hopefully I'll have some new pieces to share in the coming days and weeks! Thanks for stopping by!

Hopeful words to share........

Attended an amazing workshop recently with the poet and writer Ana Callan . Such a tender and gentle soul whose insight into the depth and soul of poetry was such a deep encouragement to me. Thought I would share a piece written from my heart that day and hope it will bless yours........














Revealing while yet still in revelation
the hidden shadows and whispers of the emerging voices
receiving, holding, listening, believing

Reaching into the unfamiliar yet known
image of the core small form of the innocence of me
rocking, caressing, touching, releasing

Remembering the visions and untethered spirit
of the unique child that was of an existance before
untouched, unhurt, unfractured, unashamed

Offering a sweet and safe invitation
bathed in the hope of renewal and a more gentle rebirth
crying, aching, grieving, mourning

Braving exposure of the dormant inner passions
that have simmered in gentle and quiet childlike anticipation
creating, speaking, singing, healing

Lani Kent Copyright 2008



A sweet friend shared this song with me today. I pray grace finds you this day and mercy gives you the courage to hope... to try..to reach...to imagine all that is possible for you!

Today Another Child Will Be Hurt...

There are times when the burdens of our heart need visual expression. Art, music and media offer a way to bring what can be held in captive silence out into the open, touching our souls in profound ways. In my heart one of the reasons I wanted to begin a blog was to offer a place of hope, resources and education for those that are on a healing journey from the hurts they have endured. Sometimes those images and conversations can be difficult. Many of us still carry the wounds of childhood with us. Last night I heard yet another account on the news of the heartbreaking physical and sexual abuse of a child. I wanted to share this video to offer a moment to for us pause and pray for these children...to pray for the endless cycle of abuse to be broken...and for eyes to be opened to the children around us who may be trying to scream through the barriers of silence and ignorance for help, safety and healing.

One World One Heart Giveaway Winner!

What a fun event this has been! I can't thank everyone enough (all 165 of you!) who stopped by my blog, left such inspiring comments and entered the drawing for my giveaway journal! I ran out of time to try and get to all of the participating blogs but look forward to peeking in and getting a chance to meet all these amazing bloggers. The array of beautiful items that were offered were so heartfelt and truly some delicious eye candy! And the big moment...the winner is....JENNY FOWLER!

Congratulations Jenny! Stop by and check out Jenny's blog...what a sweet soul and I look forward to sending this journal off to you and hope it blesses you!

"Healing Expression's Art Stamps" Introduces Design Team Artist Deb Neerman........

I am honored to introduce my friend and artist Deb Neerman and her new paper crafting blog, "Paper, Ink, Scissors and Stamps". Deb is known to many over the years for her gorgeous and incredibly creative, vintage-inspired, mixed media work on Ebay. Mixed media artists can find some "kewl" items in her Ebay store called "Kewl Stuph and Funky Jungue". Deb has now expanded her artistic palette and is embarking on a new journey into the ever-expanding world of paper crafting. Her style and talent really shine in this medium and I suspect she will be one of paper crafting's rising stars in no time! I am honored to have Deb designing original cards that incorporate Healing Expressions Art Stamps. She will be featuring my sentiment stamps which you can find in my Ebay store. I am currently working on several new lines that I hope to debut in the coming months! So hope you'll stop by Deb's blog and see what beautiful projects she is sharing! It always warms my heart to watch artist friends discover new paths, take creative risks and experience sweet artistic blessings!

My New Offerings on Zazzle!

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Something a little new for me...and quite a bit of fun in the process! I opened a small gallery at http://www.zazzle.com/healingexpressions and picked out some of my favorite designs to experiment with being produced on several of Zazzle's products. Many would be nice gifts to encourage a friend along their journey. I have ordered from Zazzle in the past and they have the highest quality of items. I was always thrilled with how everything looked when I received it. So if you get a chance I hope you'll stop by and visit me there! Take a peek and be sure to let me know if there is ever a design you see in my Ebay store or elsewhere that you would like done on one of the products Zazzle can magically transfer my artwork to! Thanks for stopping by!

One World- One Heart Giveaway Event........

What a joy to participate in such a heartwarming event! Lisa Oceandreamer has organized a giveaway event that is growing by the day! Check out her blog for all the details and the list of participants that have an amazing array of creative items to giveaway. I have the honor of blessing someone with this one-of-a-kind handmade journal as my offering. The unique piece measures 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches and features antique-toned metal embellishments, jeweled heart and lovely satin ribbon. If you would like to be included in the drawing for this journal just leave your name and contact info in the comment section and on February 14 I will be drawing the name of someone to receive this original piece! If only time and resources were unlimited how I would love to just create art non-stop and secretly send it out everyday to encourage others! This is one small way we can release our gifts of creativity into our world and bring a sweet embrace of hope!

MY GIVEAWAY OFFERING: ORIGINAL ALTERED JOURNAL "HOPE"

Take the risk and dance........

Journey's Rest.....

When you begin to ask for direction...for the next step in your journey...the answer can be such a gentle whisper and seems to need the quietness and stillness of your heart to be heard. I have not been on line for a few weeks and letting my heart be present and attentive to some issues and circumstances that required heart reflection and prayer. It seems its been awhile since I have let God become as real to me as He has been these last weeks. I have just returned from a beautiful weekend with some of the most caring and wonderful women I have had the priviledge of meeting. I wanted to share the unique hearts of three of them, their gifts of words, music and hospitality for the souls of wounded women were a breath of healing air. Below is the lovely brochure for the home we stayed in here locally in Battleground, Washington. Florence McDavid and her husband Maurice have such an amazing story and ministry to share. Out of a journey through their own pain, they felt led to build and decorate this warm and inviting home for the purpose of offering shelter to women who were traveling some of life's most difficult journeys...who needed a place to rest, to breathe and to hear from God. It is truly a story of beauty from the ashes. Each room of their haven, "Journey's Rest", is filled with the presence of God and is a welcome refuge into the quiet where your soul can be nurtured, received and cared for. There was abundance of chocolates, decadent cookies and tea in every nook and cranny (I thought I was in heaven). If you are in the area, call Florence ahead to arrange a sweet time of refreshment and you will be deeply blessed. The collective wisdom, experience and tender hearts of the women who gathered this past weekend will forever have impacted my life and perspective on my own calling.



I was truly honored to share the artwork of Healing Expressions and some of my own story with the ladies. Many of those in attendance were counselors, woman who work and minister to hurting woman or those who experience a deep calling to come along side the wounded with compassion, transparency and authenticity. It was such a meaningful afternoon as I took them through a therapuetic collage exercise and we talked and shared about what the process revealed to us about ourselves and our own personal journeys.


Our retreat speakers were two woman I am blessed to know. Meg Wilson is author of "Hope After Betrayal". Her honesty and tender account of her own story and the betrayal of sexual addiction in her marriage is changing lives and offering hope to many marriages that are being devastated by pornograghy addiction, adultery and our culture's distortion of our God given sexuality. Her words of hope and redemption speak to those who have experienced betrayal of many kinds...sexual, physical and emotional.

Kate White is a concert and recording artist whose most recent CD is filled with the most beautiful and moving songs that sooth and call the heart home to the Father. She is a gifted worship leader whose music ushered us into the healing presence of God. Kate's own journey of recovery from abuse stirred me in the deepest places. Both of these women were so incredibly real in what the they brought to the weekend. It was a gift to be along side each other and take this "snapshot" of hope, vision and healing for the wounded and heartbroken souls of women.

The weekend reminded me that we can each be used in another's life no matter how weary or broken we may feel. When a hand is offered that holds no judgment or condemnation...one that is safe and real...the holding on can be life-altering. Times like these give us vision beyond what we might normally see...and courage to take the next step. I recently took my first class at the University in hopes of working towards a Master's in Counseling and Art Therapy. We'll see where God leads...thats one thing about listening for His leading...another door can suddenly appear and require we be flexible and open. So I encourage you to just take the next step...do the next thing that is beckoning your heart to do....and see how your story unfolds.

Finding my way.....

Trying to get back into the routine of everyday life after returning from a relaxing and memorable trip to the Oregon Coast. One of my most favorite things in the world is to sit quietly and watch in awe and wonder as each wave rolls in one after the other. It is always an experience that brings me closer to God..and to remembering how deep and wide and neverending is His love. Find myself in a familiar place of deep reflection. The ocean does that to me. I feel so small next to the grandness and unending power the waters bring. Heartaches and worries...for a time...feel weightless. So I am slowly making my way back into my routine and listening for direction...hoping to continue to find my way on this journey....

Family Holiday Fun!

Just a quick peek in from our family vacation over the holidays! Spent some wonderful time up in the snow at Mt Hood with our dear family friends in from Atlanta and now getting ready to head to the Oregon coast! Making lots of memories and just enjoying our time together! Hope everyone is having a safe and Happy New Year!!!

To thine own heart be true....

I have been slowly working on this piece for awhile and she is finally done. New shadowbox assemblage that can be found on ebay today!

Acts of Kindness........

"She felt the searing heat reach for her
through the door of her past...despite her fear,
she knew the only way was through the fire"
Sharing a few more thoughts on art cards. I often think of those for whom the holidays can be so difficult. My heart always feels a bit heavy amidst all the Hallmark moments filling our television screens and the endless stream of commercials depicting overabundance and excess....heavy for those that see these images and feel pain, lonliness, sadness and loss during the holidays. The seasons of the year find so many of us at different stages of life... going through different experiences, challenges and even wonderful victories as well. My own journey has led me to have eyes that long to see the truth of a soul and a heart that can't help but want to pray for those who struggle. I am able to see the warmth and the goodnesss of this glorious season of Christ's birth but grateful God has allowed me to experience the pain as well...for it reminds me there are others who need to be carried and encouraged this season. So I thought I'd just encourage anyone who stops by to reach out to someone in need, share an act or word of kindness, remember to listen...I mean really listen....when you run into a long lost friend and ask how they are doing.....just slow down and remember that God may want to use you in someone's life...in that moment...for such a time as this....to bring light into a life that might be struggling in the shadows.