Time to Be True

"Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."  -Swami Sivandanda


I am struggling in so many areas of my life right now. Since last November I have been trying to lose weight and just be healthy. Here it is almost 8 months later and I have only lost 10 pounds. I keep playing with the same 5 pounds. One week I am up one week down. It is driving me crazy. And what's worse than the lack of my weight loss is the fact I haven't reached ONE goal in MONTHS. Not even the simplest thing like getting my steps or water in daily.

I am a mess.
And it shows.

In my daily life, my artwork, my spirit.

My headaches are coming back with a vengeance. I am not sleeping well and my moods are up and down. Somethings got to change. It's time for me to be TRUE to me again.

A Brave Art piece I created a few years ago.

This morning I met with my Curves Coach and I admitted something to her and to myself...I don't think I am worth all the effort it takes to be healthy. I have been at my current weight and situation for so long that I just don't think I can ever break through to the next level.

How sad is that?

I am constantly thinking of others and taking time for them but when it comes to me...I just put myself on the back burner. And guess what?? It is taking it's toll.

So today, with the help of my Curves Coach Renee...we came up with goals to help me get back on track...all I gotta do is show up and BE BRAVE.

A page from my art journal

So here I am today, all my papers and planner spread out in front of me planning my week. I KNOW that when I plan...magic happens.

A page from my art journal

I am inspired to create a Quote journal...full of my favorite quotes that motivate me to STAY TRUE. I love it when I can combine art with my goals!!

A page from my art journal

So this week I re-commit to ME. I re-commit to loving myself enough to stay focused and REACH my goals. I know I can do this. I know that when I put my HEART into something...things get done!

"I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart."  -Vincent Van Gogh

What are ways that YOU get back on track when you feel like you have lost your way? I would love to know!!

My Creative process, Style, etc.

“Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul — and you answer.” ~Terri Guillemets


The amazing and fabulous Leanne with  From Chaos Comes Happiness has asked me to answer a few artsy questions about myself. This has been a VERY enlightening experience to say the least....I had never given these questions much thought until now. Thanks so much Leanne for this challenge!

What am I working on? Currently I am obsessed with stencils, spray ink and creating backgrounds.

Background in my Documented Life Planner...also playing along in the Color of Summer Challenge using turquoise, yellow and hot pink.

I find when I am knee deep in watercolor paper, art journals, paint, inks, stencils, stamps, vintage images and letters my creative spirit is unleashed and I get lost in my art. It is the best feeling ever!!

Some of my favorite images to use are vintage girls. I use them in most of my work.

I am also playing along with Tammy from Daisy Yellow...her ICAD Challenge is the BEST! The above image is one of my index cards from last week. The Summer of Color Challenge and Documented Life Challenge are also keeping me busy this summer. And I am finishing up The Walk with Brave Girls Club. LOVE their classes!!

Another ICAD from last week. The prompt was camera.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?  The Words and images I use are what's in my heart. Yes, I am aware that so many people use vintage images and birds and butterflies, etc...but what I am saying...what I am creating comes from ME. It's what speaks to me. We all have a different story to tell...my art is MY story.

A page from my art journal

3. Why do I create what I do? To encourage, uplift and inspire. Seriously...those words are in my heart...and when I create I want what's in my heart to be revealed in my art. 

One of my fave pieces of my Brave Art

I was at an art show one time...with all my art laid out on display. It was my first show and I was scared no one would like my work. I will never, ever forget this woman that came up to me, clutching one of my business cards to her chest. (my biz cards have my art on them) She looked at me and said "What can I give you for this?" I replied with a puzzled look..."Ma'am that is by business card...those are free." She answered..."Sweetie, your work is beautiful and it is speaking to my heart. Please never quit doing what you do." Then she handed me a dollar. She told me she couldn't afford to buy anything but she wanted to have something so she took my card. Oh my goodness!! I will NEVER forget that. If I never sold a piece of my work again...her words were enough. They filled my soul up that day and continue to do so!

Another favorite of mine to create are sweet, little houses.

4. How does my creative process work? I rarely go into creating something with an idea. I think that's why I love making backgrounds so much. I have no agenda...just my supplies, my favorite tunes and time. Once I get to spraying and inking and painting an idea will come. It so often depends on my mood, what's going on in my life at the moment. Quotes are a big motivation for me. Also images...I love working with these!!

To create pages like this...

Nowhere near finished but it's an awesome start!

I am a VERY visual person so I LOVE looking at Pinterest, Somerset Magazines and other blogs for inspiration!! My FAVORITE magazine is by Somerset Studios.

I didn't start creating until I was in my early 40's. When I was in 8th grade my art teacher told me I had no chance of ever being an artist...all because I couldn't draw. Ha! I have learned art is so MUCH MORE than whether or not I can DRAW. It is so sad to me that I let what she told me keep me away from my creativity for so long. I know that's why NOW, today I LOVE teaching mixed media classes to other women. I never, ever want a person to think she is not creative. We are ALL creative beings and have something to share with the world!!:)

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about me and my creative process. Please be sure and stop by these creative ladies blogs to learn all about them, too. They will have their post up next week!!

Jodene Shaw...one of my FAVORITE mixed media artists ever!! LOVE her work and her sweet spirit. Her faith appears in ALL her work!!

Joanna Grant....I "found" Joanne through my FB group Mind.Body.Soul.  Her backgrounds with the Gelli Plate are AMAZING!! Love her work and I can't wait to hear about her creative process!!!

Thanks again for sharing my creative process with me...be sure and stop by Jodene and Joanna's blogs next week for more inspiration!!

Create a Beautiful, Artful Life

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” 
― Neil Gaiman



So the past few months have been BUSY! And by busy I mean...little time for ART. The one thing in my life that calms me down, puts my life in perspective and allows me to be me. 

Sometimes with ART though...I find myself being too picky. Not creating for me but rather for someone else. Well, not actually for someone else...but in my mind I am comparing and telling myself that what I am imagining, what it is I like isn't enough.

*sigh*

I realize that my very favorite thing to create is backgrounds... I LOVE them!

One of my favorites in my Documented Life journal

I could quite possibly create backgrounds every single day, all day long. And for some reason I think that's "not right".

A background in progress...I LOVE stars!!

Honestly...what's not "right" about it?? It's MY ART for goodness sake! I am supposed to be doing this FOR ME!!!

Right??

Work in progress...I don't like this one yet but know after adding more and more layers I will:)

Two of my FAVORITE artists are Dina Wakely and Julie Fei Fan Balzer. What I ADORE most about these two women is there passion and color and how they EMBRACE their ART. They EMBRACE it!! They aren't afraid to create, let loose and LOVE their work!!! These two women inspire me like no other!!

More stencil/ink love...not finished quite yet

That "doily" stencil is one of my very favorites from the AMAZING Christy Tomlison...another of my FAVES!!


Gotta show you a close-up....

What I LOVE most about this background is the Dina Wakely inspired cursive writing. When I write on my backgrounds this way I know I can write with abandon...not caring what I say, knowing full well no one but me will see it:)

  Yesterday when I was creating all these I put on my favorite iHeart radio station, gathered my spray inks, my stencils and a few cut-out girl images then went to TOWN.

My DLP book inspired by Julie Fai-Fan Balzer

I was creating and letting go and ENJOYING the process.

It was magical.

And I thought...what keeps me from doing this every single day??

One of my favorite images to use in my journal pages are silhouettes of women.

I cut these images out of my daughter's TEEN magazine.

Don't you LOVE it?? Not sure how I will finish this one...but I have a great start!


What I learned yesterday is that the only person I ever really have to create for is ME. When I do that...my heart opens and spills out into my ART.

“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.” 
― George Bernard Shaw

Girls...spend this summer "making mistakes". Who cares if you aren't the perfect, amazing artist you think you "should" be!! Let's promise ourselves right this very minute we will make something every day. That we will let our muse out to play and inspire and do what FILLS our hearts with all that we love.  Create a beautiful life filled with ART.