Embracing the Hard Times

Worry never robs

 tomorrow of its sorrow,

 it only saps today 

of its joy.

  ~Leo Buscaglia

Life has been CRAZY.

No time to blog

or

create

or 

BREATHE.

My stress level

is

very

very

high.

Some days

I want to 

cry.

I mean have a full-blown,

sob in my pillow,

hypervenilating,

cry.

Page from my art journal.

I can't think of 

any other time in my

life when I was

more stressed

or 

worried

or 

sad.

This past 

week 

I have 

been thinking

about 

everything.

I 

have 

decided

I

need

to 

just 

be 

happy 

with

where 

I 

am

RIGHT  NOW.

My art journal

A peacefulness 

follows any decision, 

even the wrong one. 

 ~Rita Mae Brown

I need to

Embrace

the good

the bad

the ugly.

I need to fall in love with my life again.

My art journal

People often say 

that this or that person 

has not yet found himself. 

 But the self is not 

something one finds, 

it is something one creates. 

 ~Thomas Szasz, "Personal Conduct," The Second Sin, 1973

Doodle-le-do!

Do you remember these? Lettering and doodle books were all the rage 10 plus years ago. Lindsay Ostrom came out with most of these along with Zig...{the marker people}. I bought every single one. I was determined to re-create all those fancy letters on my scrapbook pages!

Little did I know that all these years later I'd be pulling them out again for use in my art journals and paintings. I am sooo happy I didn't give these away during one of my whirlwind make-overs:)

With all the STUFF going on in my life right now...time in the studio has been zero. My heart just hasn't been in it. However I longed to create something...

So last weekend I pulled out all these books, my bag of markers and a small journal.

 Here's the first page...kind of primitive I know, but it's been awhile!

My favorite part of these books are all the cute, little doodles!!

They show you how to create everything from flowers to hearts to what they call "swhoopies".

For two nights I sat on my couch, markers in hand and doodled.

Considering the stress I've been under this was the perfect medicine. I can't get over how relaxing it was. For a few hours I forgot about my troubles.

I copied some from the book and made up some of my own. As I doodled I thought of several ways to use them in my art and my Brave Girls.

I think doodling is my new thing. I LOVE it!!

I must tell you, girls...even though life has been almost too much to bear these past few weeks...good, good things are happening.

Sweet things.
Good business things.
Opportunities for my husband that he's only dreamed about.

We are learning from all this hurt and frustration and relying on our Savior Jesus Christ to help us through.

He is the answer.
He is always the answer.


"Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered.  And lo, no one was there."  ~Author Unknown
 

Have you ever seen these books? Do you doodle? What are your favorite blogs/books on doodling? Please share!!

Reinvent Myself-Slug Bug

I am feeling restless.
I tend to that when I do one thing for too long.
I think I have ADD.
Seriously.


So the art show didn't happen last weekend.
It gave me lots of time to think.
It gave me time to listen to my heart.


I have been doing lots of reading and watching Oprah's Life Class. Goooood Stuff!

So, last Wednesday was my 45th Birthday.
Every year on my Birthday I set 10 goals for myself.
This year I did something a bit different and way more fun.:)

I created a two page collage of what it is I want in my life this year.

I do want to choose the good news...
focus on the positives
not the negatives.

I want to remember I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father and he loves me so very much
and He knows what's best for me.

I want to be my VERY BEST SELF.

That's me and that sweet, little bird is my truth.
She's there...and I am ready to embrace it.

I am ready for a change.

That's what I've been realizing these past few weeks...
maybe even months.

I need something different.

Day in and day out it's been the same thing. I have the same routine every single day.
I thrive on routine...but lately I'm becoming stagnant.


My WORD for 2011 is REINVENT...
so I think it's time I do just that.

REINVENT.
CHANGE.
BECOME.

I am a Brave Girl.
And like I've said dozens of time before...Brave Girls can do anything.
We're like Wonder Woman...

We are.
I am.

So here I am...thinking of ways I can REINVENT myself and add some ZING to my life.

After a heart to heart talk with the love of my life we have decided to recommit ourselves to our health.
We had both lost weight last year but are back at feeling and looking pretty squishy.
Soooooo.....
my number one goal for my 45th year of life is to focus on my eating and exercising. It really is pathetic how bad of shape I'm in at the moment.
We have also recommitted to giving up soda. We are now 3 days without one drop. We CAN do this!


Throughout this goal making process
I am really listening to myself. 
Normally I would just jot a few goals down and call it good.
This year I'm taking my time.

As much as I enjoy creating
and painting and collaging...
I don't think my true purpose in life
is to focus every ounce of energy on
selling it.

My true passion is writing and connecting
and teaching. 

Words
quotes
encouraging
uplifting
healing

All words I have written here stating what my passions in life are.

So, for now...
I won't be putting my energies into an art show but instead writing more, sharing more, taking photos, scrapbooking {i miss it!}, sharing stories here with you and working on my Brave Girl orders {i really LOVE creating girls for specific people!!}



I am doing Zumba, eating smaller portions, drinking nothing but water and trying lower calorie versions of our favorite foods.

Oh AND I am driving a new car!! My Birthday present...something I've wanted ever since I watched Goldie Hawn in Foul Play....

My new Bug!

I think this year may just be the best year yet;)

Do you have a WORD for this year? How are you doing? Any ideas on lo-cal foods or Zumba moves would be great, too!


By the way....We have a WINNER of the Brave Art Girl!! Random Generator spit out #7 late last night...that's....

 

Soraya!!! I have been reading her blog for over 1 year now!! Congrats, Soraya and thanks to everyone that entered!!

Brand New Day

I have come to so many realizations in the past two days. It's like everything I've been worrying about and wondering about have been answered. I am feeling so very blessed.

source

Today is church. I love church. I get 
 to spend 3 hours of uninterrupted time just thinking about my life, my Heavenly Father and my spirituality. So peaceful.

I am looking forward to sharing what's next in my life.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend my friends!!

I Have Arrived

My Business cards are IN. Here they are...

 

I found this awesome website that let's you take your Art and put them on your Biz cards.

 

Moo

 

 I was able to choose 6 images...

I knew exactly the ones I wanted. And I knew I wanted rounded corners on my cards. It cost $4 more but so worth it!

 

The quality of the cards is excellent. They are heavier than a playing card!

 

I thought long and hard about the name of my Creative Biz...

I just kept coming back to this...

Brave Girl Art. 

  When I'm creating

and putting myself out there 

I just feel so...BRAVE.

I mean this is NOTHING I would have

ever considered for myself

just one year ago.

NEVER!!

However, because of the classes 

I've taken,

blogs I've read, 

techniques I've learned...

I can do this now.

I have learned how to be BRAVE. 

I am a BRAVE GIRL and I create.

**If I ever decide to sale on Etsy or anywhere else on the Web I will not use this name for obvious reasons.  This is local for me at the moment and at this time I have no intention of selling on Etsy.**

Here are a few things I've been working on...

 

Golds, browns and dark greens are becoming my favorite colors to use in my projects.

Lots of ink

and lace

and texture.

Butterflies keep popping up all over my work,  too.

Something so simple...but I really love it.

Couldn't you see this sitting on a nightstand in your bedroom?

Remember all those wooden blocks from a few weeks ago? Here is what I'm doing with them.

These are meant to motivate and inspire you.

Perfect for your desk top

or sitting on a shelf.

I must say Thank You 

to my friend and fellow creator, Jodi

for the inspiration here.

If you haven't seen Jodi's work...

be sure and stop by. 

She inspires me daily.

With your help I'm so close

to reaching my Follower goal of 300.

You girls are AWESOME!! Thank you!!!

The contest closes at 5PM CST tonight. I will announce the WINNERS tomorrow!!!!!!

What shape or word or symbol keeps popping up in your ART??

WOYWW-My Daughter

Happy Wednesday!! I have a little something different on my Work Desk today.

No crafts or artsy projects 

for me this week.

No.

My mind has been 

on one thing lately...

This girl....

My darling, sweet and beautiful Emma.

Once upon a time she was my little shadow...

tagging along with me everywhere.

She never left my side.

I swear there were some days I thought I'd go nuts...

just wanting to have a bit of time to myself.

Awww, it's funny how life goes. 

When they are so little and full of 

"Why, Mommy" and

"How come?" and

"Can I go with you?"...

well, there are times when you just get

so exasperated you just could scream.

But then something happens.

One day you realize they aren't your little shadow anymore.

They are growing and learning

and venturing out a bit more on their own.

And you are happy. 

You watch as they seek 

and find what their passions in life are.

You watch as they become more and more independent.

They still need you...

yet, you feel the difference.

It's not like it was.

They look over their shoulder to see if you're there

less and less.

Their friends and activities start to take the place of you.

You swear it won't happen...

but it does.

And it's hard.

It's hard to watch your "little shadow" grow up.

My precious "little shadow" starts High School tomorrow.

And as much as she's ready for it...

I don't know about me.

I look around my office as I type this...

looking at photos of my Em.

Where did the time go?

Wasn't she just sitting beside me?

Wasn't she just asking me to play "Little Pet Shop"

and go to the pool with her?

Where did my little girl go?

Ahhh, there she is.

She may not be so little anymore...

but she's there.

She's still that sweet

and thoughtful

and goofy 

and fun-loving girl.

She's my Emma.

And I love her.

A daughter may outgrow your lap, 

but she will neve

outgrow your heart. 

~Author Unknown

Stop by Julia's to see some awesome Work Desks:)

Heart Spilling-Link Party

Welcome to What's on My Work Desk Wednesday. 

I love showing you my space and all my projects!

This week I have kept busy....

"My work is giving space

to the creative spirit-

learning to get out of its way 

and be in its service at the same time." 

-Gabrielle Roth, Dancer and Healer

Working with all of my favorites...

butterflies

and

vintage ladies

paint

paper

words.

"Just don't give up trying to 

do what you really want to do. 

Where there is love and inspiration, 

I don't think you can go wrong."

  -Ella Fitzgerald, singer

Busy as a bee and making quite the mess.

"I think the creative process

is not about creating something else; 

it's about the process itself creating who I am."

  -Mayumi Oda, Artist and Writer

Remember a few posts back I told you I have been flexing my courage muscles?

I am.

And it's hard and scary 

and I'm trying not to be too cautious.

Not to be nervous and second guess my self and my abilities.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."  -Anais Nin, Writer

This October I am headed to Clarinda, Iowa for my very first show.

I have been signed up for months.

Planning and prepping and creating.

"To fear is one thing. 

To let fear grab you 

by the tail and swing you

around is another." 

-Katherine Paterson, Writer

This week it was official. My business cards finally arrived!

Soooo excited to share them with you along with where I purchased them later this week.

Even my teenagers think they are pretty sweet;)

Ya' know what's crazy...I have been so frightened to share this here with all of you.

I guess I thought if I put it out there...

it would be "real".

I would have to follow through with it.

But I am following through.

I have found my passion in life.

And I am so ready to see where this all takes me!

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."  -Mary Bryant

Day by Day I am letting go.

I am exploring.

My art is spilling out of my heart into my work.

"When you have a dream, 

you've got to

grab it and never let it go."

 -Carol Burnett, Actress and Comedienne 

I am linking up today with Studio JRU and Inspire Me Fridays!!

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