Journey to the Heart/Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Don’t try to present your art by making other people read or hear or see or touch it; make them feel it. Wear your art like your heart on your sleeve and keep it alive by making people feel a little better. Feel a little lighter. Create art in order for yourself to become yourself
and let your very existence be your song, your poem, your story.
Let your very identity be your book.Let the way people say your name sound like the sweetest melody. - Charlotte Eriksson

This is our last week of "Journey to the Heart"....I can't believe 7 weeks has gone by so fast! The very best part of any Challenge for me is the amazing PEOPLE I meet...the art you all create and SHARE in our FB group is so inspiring!

Thank you for sharing your art and your hearts with me, girls!

Today's Challenge was so FUN for me!! Each year I create a New Year canvas...something I can hang in my studio (or bedroom, or kitchen...wherever you will see it the most) that inspires me to stay on the path...stick with my Big Dreams. Sometimes I incorporate my Word in the piece, sometimes I don't. It's a bit like a Dream Board but more generalized...here is my New Year canvas from 2015...

This cute chunky 6x6 canvas hung in my studio all year reminding me to love MY art...to go for it...to FLY!

As I thought about my canvas for this year I was inspired by an amazing group of ladies over at the Mixed-Media Monthly Challenge Blog. I first heard about them from a FB group celebrating the art of my favorite art journaler Dina Wakley. I would peek around their blog, admiring all of the gorgeous work I saw. A big part of me wanted to enter their challenges...but a big part of me was too scared. You know that Fear/Doubt Monster we all have telling us we are not good enough? Yeah, well I listened to him then...but I have promised myself in 2016 I am kicking him to the curb!

So here I am today...sharing our Challenge for Week 7 of "Journey to the Heart" that I am also going to share with the Mixed-Media Challenge Blog....GO me:)

Their theme for January is "Time Flies".

As I thought about this theme this saying popped in my head... "Time Flies So Why Don't We?" I mean each one of us is given the EXACT same 24 hours a day!

As I began putting my 8x11 canvas together I KNEW I had to use an image of Audrey Hepburn...she is just put together and cute! I added a butterfly wing to remind me to FLY...

Then added a wooden cut-out BELIEVE I painted with gold acrylic paint then rubbed black ink for depth. Birds are very symbolic to me and turn up in lots of my work...

I had this cute little guy forever! Once he was perching perfectly on my canvas I knew he needed something to further get my point across..."She sprouted wings" was exactly the ideal fit!

Audrey still looked bare to me so I thought about adding a crown yet didn't think a crown fit what I was trying to say...

Before I set out to add elements to my work I had spread out various different treasures on my work desk including a wooden birdcage...

As soon as I placed it on her head I KNEW it was meant for this piece!! I covered it in Mod Podge and poured dark golden sparkles all over it.

I am SO PLEASED with the results!! It is 100% ME and gives me a visual to look at daily to GO AFTER MY BIG DREAMS!!!

So girls...I want you to take all that you have worked on these past 7 weeks...your lists, your journal pages...your goals/Big Dreams and create a canvas. It can be a 6x6, 8x11, 11x14...whatever you have. No canvas? No worries....create in your journals. You can always take the page our and frame it to hang or place on a cork board.

If you would like to see how other artists interpreted this challenge or participate in it yourselves here is the link...

Go here

Journey to the Heart:Shake it Up/Do What it Takes to Listen

‘“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.” – Dave Barry

There are times when I just want to think.

 I don't want my mind cluttered. 
I don't want to worry about others...
I just want to think.

Yesterday was a day like that. I woke up with a Heart filled with anxiety and fear. Instead of seeing the bright side of everything I was only seeing the negative. From the clothes hanging in my closet (I have NOTHING to wear/I look fat in EVERYTHING) to my hair (I threatened to cut it all off....LOL) I was a big, ugly ball of negativity. 

One of my first mixed-media pieces. I create so differently now!

As I continued to spew pessimistic sarcasm throughout our home I suddenly stopped. What the HECK was I doing?? 

I went to the kitchen, made myself a healthy lunch and sat at the table. As I looked around at our clutter I could feel my heart tighten...I knew what I needed to do...

This may sound crazy to you but when I am so over the top unwilling to even crack a smile I know what I NEED...I need to put some of my favorite tunes on and CLEAN!

Yep!

Clean!

There are few things more rewarding to me than an orderly,  fresh-smelling home. And while I am sweeping, mopping and putting things away I am thinking. I am submersing myself and connecting to my Heart. It's one of the few times in my week when I don't check my phone, stop by the computer, sit down to watch a favorite show. 

I just clean.

And think.

I have had some of my best ideas while scrubbing the toilet!

What My Heart Told Me

During my Scrub Fest I heard my Heart tell me I need to bust out of a rut. It is the New Year after all and I have Big Dreams to Dream, goals to reach, blog posts to write! I thought about what NEW Challenges I have started and what practices I want to keep in 2016. There are quite a few...maybe almost too many...and yet this is the year I want Grow and CONNECT to people, to my art, to my body...to my Big Dreams. 

Today's Challenge

This weekend take a few hours to break out of your rut. Try something NEW...Find something NEW! Sometimes it's just fun to Google a new art technique or head over to YouTube and watch a few videos. Here are MY NEW Challenges for 2016...I am so excited to try them all!!

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Here is what I am working on for their January Challenge...Time Flies.

His Kingdom Come
I have been a member of this faith-based group for a year but never participated in their challenges. My intention this year is to complete each monthly challenge and post on their site. Shonna is a wonderful leader! If you want to enrich your relationship with God I encourage you to check this out!

52 Card Pick Up
My cousin actually told me about this and I loved it! A fun and very easy challenge creating ATC's (I am using index cards) with their weekly prompts. Here is mine from last week...

I have ALWAYS loved lists so it's a natural for me to participate in the Reset Girl's Lister's Gotta List Challenge!!   Cori even has FREE downloads that fit perfectly in your planner or in an art journal. I am using a small journal for my lists...all I need is a pen or marker and I am good! Super simple and VERY do-able!!!

Girls, the bottom line is this...if your Heart is telling you to be creative...then BE CREATIVE. I found mixed-media art 8 years ago...and even thought I DID create...it wasn't much when I look back. I thought about it, I made plans to do it...but I always put something ahead of MY TIME. In the past 2 years I rarely make excuses for my art time...I just DO IT! And this year I am SUPER EXCITED about these challenges...they will hold me accountable to my ART! When we create we become more creative...it's TRUE!!

So take time...find a new challenge to shake it up a bit. Listen to your Heart...scrub a toilet...do whatever it takes to HEAR those Heart Whispers. It will be so worth it!

Week Three: Where Does your Time go?

“Your hand can seize today, but not tomorrow; and thoughts of your tomorrow are nothing but desire. Don’t waste this breath, if your heart isn’t crazy, since "the rest of your life" won’t last forever.”
― Omar Khayyám, Quatrains - Ballades

Time...we all want more of it. More Time to spend with loved ones, more time to create, more time to have FUN! Where in the world does all our Time go?

Back in the 90's I was introduced to a wonderful Life Coach....Cheryl Richardson. The first time I saw her was on the Oprah Show where she was talking about her book "Life Makeovers". My kids were just babies then and more often than not I was completely overwhelmed. Like so many of you I craved alone Time. Time to be with my thoughts, to find myself, to shower!:) Richardson's book was a life-changing one for me. Simple and to the point, I gained the tools I needed to have more balance in my life. This week's Theme is inspired from her book. I just KNOW it will open your eyes and make you go...I had NO idea how much Time I really DO have!!!

"Time is a created thing. To say I don't have time is like saying I don't want to..." Lao-Tzu

Richardson says...

"The truth is that WE control where our Time goes. Time is finite. We only get a certain amount 168 hours a week, 52 weeks a year; and that's if we don't die first. Time is a gift that most of us take for granted. We get so caught up in the busyness of our daily lives that we rarely stop and take  serious look at how we're spending this gift."

Change IS necessary! NOW is the Time to take control of yours!! This week I want you to answer the following questions:

*How long do you really work each week?

*How much Time do you spend caring for others?

*How much Time is spent caring for YOURSELF?

*How much Time do you spend on Social Media {this is a HUGE time waster for me}

*How much Time do you spend watching TV?

Now here is where the real fun begins. In Richardson's book "Life Makeovers" she suggests making an Absolute Yes List. Creating a list helps you remember what your priorities are...I have used this list throughout the years and it works!

To begin your list answer these two questions:

*What needs my attention at this Time in my life?

*What do I need to let go of?

Be sure and be HONEST with yourself here...write everything down that comes to mind. Answer these questions for all areas of your life, too...relationships, family, community, work, emotional, finances, etc. I know one of the Priorities in my life right now is my physical health. My goal this year is to eliminate my near dally migraines and lose 20 pounds.

Once you have made your lists {and they may be LONG} choose the FIVE that jump out at you the most. The ones that when you see them your heart tells you..."That one!". Now put your Absolute Yes List in your art journals so you can refer to it daily.

A sweet GIFT created by one of my son's friends just for ME!!!:)

Girls...the goal of my Life is to LOVE it!! I will create MY Absolute Yes List this week and strive to say YES to those things in my life that fill me up and make me whole.

Here are THREE reminders from Richardson on why it's so important to say NO to those things not on our YES list:

*Your self-care is extremely important 

*You don't need to over explain yourself on why you are saying NO...Just saying NO is ENOUGH!

*Doing things out of guilt and obligation is not doing things out of Love

Let's take our minutes and hours and days back, girls. Let's start saying NO to those things that bring us down and hurt our souls. 

If you haven't joined our 52 Weeks of Being Me class...click here. It's completely free:)

Join our FB group here

Studio Time

"Only when one is connected to one's inner core is one connected to others. And, for me, the core, the inner spring, can best be re-found through solitude."  -Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Since I began my Morning Routine I find myself creating more and more. It's a practice I have wanted to be in for a few years now but never could see myself creating daily...I always thought "How do I fit it all in??" I am learning when I make myself sit down for 30 minutes {to at times an hour} in the morning...I make that a priority. And like I've said here before...sometimes it's just adding another layer to a journal page...but the very act of creating gives me so much energy and inspiration!!

It had been awhile since I spent any real time in my studio. You know...more than a few hours:). So yesterday I gave myself permission to shut the world out and write, paint, ponder and just enjoy  peace. It was much appreciated!!

How are you coming along on your Mission Statements, girls?? I have a few more questions to answer then I will be ready to put on this spread I made yesterday.

I am finding the more backgrounds I create the more layers I'm adding. This has become my favorite process!! Painting, adding a few strips of paper, words, painting again, doodling, a few more swipes of paint, stencils and stamps, more doodling, white paint then finishing it all with oil pastels. LOVE IIT!

Next week I will show you my process in a series of photos:)

Not only did I make several backgrounds yesterday but I started on three pieces of bird art including this background for my first nearly all painted piece I'm working on. It is 11x14.

VERY early stages:)

And last but not least along with "Being Me"...I am participating in my dear blog friend Kristin from Twinkly Twinkle...she is in her third year of "Summer of Color". If you don't know Kristin...stop by and say hi. You will LOVE her!! Anyway...our color combo this week is Citron and Turquoise. Here is what I came up with....

It is book paper with paint doodles...so easy and fun and relaxing:)


How is YOUR Mission Statement comiing along?? Thinking of you all and loving our sharing in our FB group!!! Also THANK YOU so much for spreading the word about "Being Me". I appreciate it sooo much!

52 Weeks of Being Me
Our FB group
Follow me on Blog Lov'n

Baby Girl

How is your courage list going, girls?? 

Twenty years ago today I took a leap of faith and married my husband Dave.

Oh how I love this man. He is amazing and I am very blessed!!!

This is a piece of Brave Art I was inspired to create with our Word this week. 

Don't you just adore that sweet, pudgy, little face??

Have a COURAGE-filled day, girls!!

Spilling Truth

Sometimes the TRUTH can be hard to take. 

Most times the TRUTH can set us free.

Seek truth and you will find a path. 

 ~Frank Slaughter

Three amazing women have helped me realize that I need to be sharing MY TRUTH.

My sweet Leanne

My inspiring Soraya

My voice of wisdom Stephanie

In the past few weeks these women have poured their hearts out and shared their TRUTH. I don't share what's real here everyday. I mean the real icky stuff. Obviously most of us Bloggers don't. Not every post anyway. And that's a good thing....I mean who wants to read every single gory detail of what's wrong in our lives, right?

But their does come a time when the TRUTH needs to told. We get so very tired of hiding behind the exclamation points and smily faces.

Here is an excerpt from my journal entry this morning....

"2012 has just been HARD. Probably the hardest of my life. My kids' choices and trying to keep them in line. Oh goodness our finances...all our financial burdens. Not having enough. I know I have been going through major depression. I have all the signs: tired, listless, want to sleep, losing interest in things I love. It's because I feel like I'm in this deep, dark hole and I'm being swallowed. There seems to be no way out. I am filling my time with ways to escape: food and tv. TODAY needs to be the First day of the rest of my life!!! It's time for an intervention. I HAVE to Take Charge of MY LIFE again. I want to be a BRAVE GIRL. I CAN be. I just need a plan."

Is this a little too much information? I don't think so. I think so many of us are going through hard times right now. And I seriously can't think of a better place to share and be understood than by my blog friends. Each one of you is so kind and understanding.

Today I am reaching out. I pouring out my soul in order to heal and start fresh. Each of YOU inspires me daily and have helped me have HOPE in my dark days. 

Overall I am pretty happy. I have been blessed in countless ways...

*My family and I are healthy

*We have a roof over our head (although this has been a HUGE source of my stress)

*We have food on our table (our garden is helping so much!!)

*We have wonderful friends that share their light with us when we need it

*We have been able to go on a few mini trips thanks to my amazing Mom!!

Most importantly we have our FAITH.

With each family prayer we say we thank our Father in Heaven for our blessings. It seems just when we need it the most...we are blessed with money to pay a bill. Honestly a few miracles have been given to us and I am so, so grateful.

Leanne encouraged me to BE REAL...she encourages us all to BE REAL. Here is an excerpt from her latest post...

The truth is . . . it's not always rose colored glasses here. Lord knows, I'm not always happy. The girls aren't always just bathed and smelling like baby lotion and sitting like little angels reading wonderful novels from writers long ago. Sometimes it's more like stinky little 'played outside all day long' girls with knots in their hair and fights over whose Barbie doll that really belongs to. -Leanne

This post spoke VOLUMES to me. Thank you so much, Leanne!!

Soraya...well she is just one of those soulful writers that fills my heart with light!! Her post on why she blogs had me saying YES!! THIS IS WHY I BLOG, TOO!!!

Now...here's the thing about blogging (and this is difficult, if not impossible to explain to someone unless they have experienced it for themselves)...but it changed my life!!! And I am not being melodramatic, I swear (although I do have a tendency to be sometimes). But it absolutely changed ...me!!! Now when I look back and read through some of my earlier posts...I see someone in search of her voice. A little unsure, a little desolate + lost...but still...showing up. I see someone who has a sense of humor...and who tries. -Soraya

That last line...and who tries. Oh, I love that!! You see since I've become a Blogger I have tried more things and put myself out there more than ever. I paint now! I draw now! I have 3 craft shows under my belt! I never would have tried any of those things without my blog!!

And then their is Stephanie Ackerman from Homegrown Hospitality. Her post reminded me how I can get direction back into my life....

Number 2 and 3 on my summer list are to stay on a schedule and well, make a schedule because without one, I am totally un-focused and out of balance and right now, at this very moment, as I sit and type this at 12:29 in the afternoon, I am completely out of focus and slightly off balance and honestly, I do not work well this way and when I get this way, all I want to do is sit down and read one of the three books I am reading right now...which reminds me that this is coming soon and well, reading always leads to a nap...which is maybe what I will do after I finish this long run-on-sentence-blog-post and cross a few things off my list...  -Stephanie

Do you know how long it's been since I wrote a list and kept it?? 

Here is my LIST for today:

1. put clothes away

2. laundry {daily}

3. Create index card

4. Work on Color challenge

5. Blog 

6. Exchange planner

7. 3:30 Art Experience to throw clay {yes, I am learning how to throw}

8. 5PM church meeting

It feesl so good to have this list!!

I know things will get better. I know life isn't always so hard. I intend on working on "Embrace each day and live it." Keeping it real though means it's not gonna happen overnight. 

But I  am gonna work on it.

Journal entry from this morning...

"I need a FIRE in my belly again. I want my heart to sing again. I want to look in the mirror and TRULY love what I see again. I am going to OVERCOME what is holding me back. I so desperately want to FLY again!!"

Here's to making lists, overcoming our weakness's, finding joy in the journey and flying.

Who is with me?

Week 4 is Here

Can you believe it? We have made it to Week 4 of Mind.Body.Soul. I am so excited you are here to share this journey with me.

This week we are totally switching gears and I am soooo READY!!

Our Word this week is:

OVERCOME

1.

to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer;defeat: to overcome the enemy.

2.

to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations, etc.);surmount: to overcome one's weaknesses.

I have a little secret to tell you...

I am addicted to food.

Potato chips, caramels, peanut butter, bread, greasy hamburgers and fries, ice-cream....and the list goes on.

When I eat these foods it's hard to stop. I mean at first I begin with just a normal serving but then I end up eating until I feel physically stuffed and mentally and spiritually drained. 

It's a vicious circle.

And I am tired.

I  want stop numbing myself with food when I'm stressed or worried. I want to live my life...every part of it. 

Sometimes it's hard to face our life isn't it? Sometimes we feel overwhelmed and frustrated and have such sorrow that it feels like we'll never smile again. 

That's what life is though, girls. Life is just like a roller coaster....

World's longest coaster

It's all twisty and curvy with lots of highs and lots of lows. Hopefully each of us experiences more highs than lows...but regardless, we all must learn how to manage the adversity in our lives.

So I am ready. It's a brand new month, a brand new week and Spring {at least for some of us} is here. It is time to ask myself some really tough questions and hold myself accountable. I hope you'll join me this week.

Assignment #1:  

1. Take out your notebook for journaling or your art journal{I know some of you are using just one book} and make a list of the Top Ten foods you can't stop eating. Here is my list...

   *potato chips

   *chewy cookies

   *ice cream

   *homemade bread with butter

   *buttered popcorn

   *any chewy candy

   *Doritos

   *chips and salsa from La Bonita

   *buttered noodles with salt

   *cheese

   *crackers of all kinds

2. Answer the following questions...

a) How do you feel when you're eating these?

b) If you feel happy, satisfied, like all is right with the world...why do you think that is? 

c) How do you feel after you eat your binge foods? Describe how you feel physically, mentally and spiritually. An example would be...lonely, sad, depressed, failure, loser, no self-control, etc.

d) If you had a choice between eating one of your binge foods or spending time doing what you LOVE...which would you choose? Be honest here, girls. I can tell you that at times I have chosen food over what I truly love.

3. What are the consequences of your food choices? I know for me when I choose to stuff myself with sugar I get migraine headaches. When I binge on fat I am bloated and just feel yucky. My mood is bad, I am grumpy with my family and my art and writing suffer. Bingeing equals 100% sadness for me. 

This time I feel different. I feel like I am not alone in my battle with food. I know you are here. And if you are like me you understand. You know exactly what I'm saying...what I'm feeling.

Be honest with your answers, girls. No one else will see your journal. 

I promise to post Assignment #2 Tuesday night...it will be something artsy and it will lift your spirits. You will be able to see yourself in a whole new way. 

This is the week we really start to grow.