Thursday, May 19, 2011

Everything happens for a reason...

Wanna hear a cool story? So I recently got back in touch with one of my best friends from high school. I thank Facebook for being able to keep in touch with her, while she is in Michigan, and I'm in California. I've always been into art, painting and drawing, and recently, DeAnna, who I fondly called PP or Peppermint Patty sent me a present just because. Something she saw while vacationing, and sent to me. So thoughtful. So perfect. She has no idea what that little gift would lead to. It was two small canvas prints from a mixed media artist, Kelly Rae Roberts  I had never heard of her, and quickly became a fan. During the time the gift arrived, I was taking an online course about Mixed Media Art. My very first one. Now here is where Kelly Rae Roberts comes in. Not only is she an artist, but an E-book writer, and an amazing inspiration to me! I bought her books, have learned so much already and plan to open an Etsy store soon, to sell my art canvases. Little did PP know, that the gift she sent would possibly lead to a new opportunity for this Mom of two! I am thankful for being able to reconnect with my best friend, but also for every coincidence in my life, because as I know "Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous"

Sunday, May 15, 2011

I Heart Faces...Photos for FUN! May flowers...



I HEART FACES

This week's photo entry for I HEART FACES is just for fun, and no human faces are needed! These were taken by J (age 16) last week at Disneyland. I gave her my camera and she got some great shots around the park. I think she's been bitten by the shutterbug! Enjoy...

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Artsy Mommy returns...

After letting my canvases and art supplies sit for at least a month, I picked up the paintbrush and gave it another try this week. As I dabble with mixed media art, I find that I enjoy using a painted background more than a paper background. I can always add paper, tags, and fabric afterwards. So that is what I've done with my latest projects...enjoy!







Thursday, April 14, 2011

Birthday Girl Party Themes...

I've had two friends, in the past few weeks ask me to suggest birthday ideas for their daughters, which made me think of all the girls birthday parties I have planned/executed for my daughters...holy moly, it's a lot of parties...I thought of quite a few ideas, a few of which I have done myself. Here is what I came up with, that's if I remember correctly!

Jessica
Age
1 Bear
2 Winnie the Pooh
3 Cinderella
4 Minnie Mouse
5 Madeline
6 Tea Party
7 Hello Kitty
8 American Girl
9 Coconut from American Girl
10 Lizzie McGuire Sleepover
11 50's Sock Hop
12 Mall Scavenger Hunt/Pizza
13 Scrapbooking Day
14 Beach Photo Shoot/Dinner
15 Dinner and a Movie Night/Sleepover
16 Sweet 16 Hollywood VIP

And for Erica...
Age
1 Busy Bee
2 Elmo
3 Jojo's Circus
4 Ballerina
5 Disney
6  Princesses
7 Tinkerbell
and it continues...

In addition to those, I've had two girls tea parties during Easter time, a Valentines Day party, a Halloween Party, as well as quite a few Adult parties. Yes, I actually do plan something for adults once in awhile. Oh how I love a party! I always love a reason to celebrate! I'm feeling like we need to have a pony party sometime, since we've never done that. Maybe another book themed party too. Hmmm...wonder what I can come up with next? Stay tuned...

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I Heart Faces...Photo Challenge: Best Face of February 2011

I entered this photo because it's not only my favorite for February, but my favorite for many reasons. This was E's first dance with her Daddy, in her first big girl styled dress, with her big girl hairstyle and she was LOVING it! You can tell by the smile on her face...she was feeling confident! Sassy and Seven!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Week 2, SheArt Workshop...so much more to learn...

So I jumped into the first week's assignment and had so much fun trying out all the new techniques that Christy taught us via online class. I was able to make two basic girls, and am working on my third. This week's lesson is more about adding details, textures, etc. I'm sure I have lots to learn...wish me luck!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Canvas, paint and textures...oh my!

So my first ever mixed media art class started yesterday, and since it is online, we watch the video when we have time. The best time for me, is when the kids are at school. I can watch it, take notes, and really pay attention. I enjoyed several hours of that yesterday, but then the rest of the day, all I could think about was ART! Art, and ART! My mind was like a lovesick girl, except I was dreaming of new art products I was introduced to earlier that day! I can tell that I am going to love this style. It's an eclectic, let go, do it how you want kind of art. There are no major rules, no mistakes, "make it work" kind of style! I learned all about textures, layering, India inks, wax pastels, spray inks, gesso, modeling paste, and all kinds of technique on how to use many of these items. Ordering online is the best way to get many of these art supplies, so Mr. UPS and I are going to become fast friends! (shhh...we already are...) So, if you have not heard from me in awhile you know where to find me...in the ArT LoFt upstairs...

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

What I like Wednesday...

Whew...I just made it! I am going to start this Wednesday thingy with a few of my weekly picks. I challenge all my blogging buddies to do the same, then we can share our favorites!
1. Lisa Leonard Jewelry  I own several necklaces similar to these, but I must say, one of these will be on my next wishlist! :)
2. This class GOT PAINT? starts tomorrow, and I am taking it! It is taught by Emily Falconbridge, so it will be "thinking out of the box" good! She rocks! (Oh, and the other classes on Big Picture Scrapbooking are all great too. I've taken several over the years)
3. Old Navy is my one of my favs this week, for the silliest reason. As some of you know, clothing is a bad word for Erica. She loves, loves clothes, but with sensory issues, it isn't the easiest to find comfy things she likes and are "her style". Yes, at seven, she has a style. (I would call it, "Wanna dress like a big girl, but still wears little girl sizes" style!) We found quite a few cute things for her at their kids sale! When I find something she loves, we usually buy it in every color! :)

So...there's my first What I like Wednesday...stay tuned...

Monday, February 21, 2011

Art journaling...or as I call it, Art Therapy

Ramblings from my Art desk:
I started putting together a page in my art journal last night, and as I got more involved in it, I just didn't like the way it was looking. Some say I am a perfectionist, but if you've seen my art journal, you'd say I have given up on perfection. It has been a very freeing experience! Anyway, it wasn't gluing well, it was not what I had envisioned, and so I quickly removed it from the background page, before it was too late. It was sticky and a big mess. I put it aside, and started working with something else. I kept looking at that paper out of the corner of my eye...thinking, it's still pretty, I picked it for its colors originally. (strange, I know!) So...I picked it back up, and started tearing it up. First in big pieces, then into smaller sizes, not knowing what I was going to do with them yet. I started pasting them down, one by one, on a white background page...and it started looking like a mosaic. Sorta pretty, after all...Once I glued them all down, I modpodged over them, and continued on with my original plans for that page. The journaling that was opposite the page was about made up and legitimate reasons we don't just do something anyway!

I thought about God, and how he created each and every one of us. How he never chooses to toss us aside, regardless of how wrinkled, crumpled, or what kind of sticky situation we get ourselves into. He loves us no matter what! My page may not have turned out exactly how I originally planned, but it turned out pretty good after all. I think God would say the same thing of us...we may not have always followed what he wanted us to do, but for the most part, we turn out pretty well...
xoxo, m

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Words of Wisdom from another Mom...

 As I try really hard to feel better, I read Becky Higgins blog this morning. This quote from a former professor of hers really struck home for me. The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship.
Translation? Everything you do matters. Helping with homework, making dinner, doing laundry, driving kids to school, making lunches, and so on...it ALL matters if you look at it with the relationship to that person/people in mind. To keep in mind that it is all for the relationship, really makes it seem more important than just a task on the to do list. Which, by the way...my list is very long at the moment! Wish me luck...

Monday, February 14, 2011

A love song from Erica...

Love is something when you give it away, give it away, give it away
Love is something when you give it away, you ending up having more...
It's just like a magic penny, hold it tight and you won't have any,
Lend it, spend it, and you'll have so many, they'll roll all over the floor, floor ....


Thursday, February 10, 2011





I cannot wait for this online class to start! Online classes seem to be the latest with the art/crafting industry, and I love it! Watch the tutorial when you can, watch it again if needed, and then dive in to the project~ I recently set up a flickr acct just for that kind of stuff. That way I can share my projects with my class. My Soul Restoration class has hundreds of Brave Girls in it from all over the world. If you are interested in joining me in "class" go HERE 
I don't know about you, but ART helps me BREATHE....


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Art Journaling...

I started my journal five weeks ago, when I started the Soul Restoration class. I had no idea how valuable this process of journaling would be, or how much I would enjoy the art I would create inside to go along with it. I've painted, stenciled, glazed, sanded, wrinkled, and inked the pages that are inside. The other pages are filled with words. Thousands of words, written from my heart, about the happiness, the sadness, the past, the future, and every thing in between. Melody Ross, our teacher/mentor has a way of writing a journaling prompt that gets your mind and creativity in sync, and get the most out of your journaling. Because I am such an artsy girl, I always want to do the art stuff first. So I made myself a deal...if I do a journaling prompt, then I can do an art page. Deal? Deal! Stay tuned for some photos of my journaling art/therapy...it sure has been good for my soul.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Gotta love freebies...

I just added a new blog layout from LeeLouBlogs  and it was FREE! You can change it for each season, but I just picked one that was kinda cute :) Anyway, what's up with me? Beside managing life with the kiddos, I am in week 4 of the Soul Restoration/Brave Girl class. This weeks project is fun, and very thought provoking. Getting us to the truth of our lives...good stuff. Jessica is still waiting on letters from a few Ballet programs for Summer. It looks like it'll be the Boston area or Los Angeles for her this year (staying at Pepperdine, I think she'll survive!) Erica is celebrating her 100th day of school today, and is feeling much better. It's amazing to me how quickly she bounces back. Her and Bill are attending a Sweetheart Ball this weekend with Indian Princesses, and she is super excited about it. New dress, new shoes, Sissy is doing her hair...so fun! I will be sure to post photos.

Oh, and if you see me less on FB lately, I am going to do more of my updates, etc on here, since I can still link it to FB, and I can have this made into a blog album at the end of the year! Very cool, huh? Is it okay to be 40+ and say Cool? I think so!
Happy 100 Day~ M

Monday, January 31, 2011

Quote of the Day...

You can dare to take that unspoken dream seriously...

I loved this when I saw it. In my Soul Restoration class, we have been talking a lot about what you dreamed of being as a child, or young girl, and what part of you still wants to be that...I wanted to be a Mommy, a teacher, and an artist! Mommy, check. Teacher (teachers aide, scrapbook teacher) that counts, so check...and for the very first time, I submitted an original piece of art, so maybe, just maybe I can check off the last one, Artist, check! I saw the quote above today, and decided I must have that somewhere to see every single day. ART is my passion, it's what I love....I just sort of forgot along the way...like we all do...So, what IS your passion? And what steps will you take towards that unspoken dream this year?

P.S. Bought this great new Mixed Media art book today, I won't dive into it until after I finish SouL ResTorAtion...but I'll be ready!http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160061082X/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1JA2AYPEZ16P0MMKW1GN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Week 3...repost from my old blog

So the laundry is piling up, the kids are starving, but my art is looking FABulous! (just kidding...) I decided to go ahead and leave the scraploft upstairs after all. The daunting task of moving two project desks downstairs was just too much for our 40+ year old backs. Silly thing is...I have always sat with the window behind me. I switched to the other side and it feels like a completely different room! A view, some great sunlight, and I am inspired to CREATE! I have been working on all my Soul Restoration projects.(6 week class) Each week we are assigned art projects, as well as journaling prompts that coincide with them. Good stuff, I mean really good, get into the heart of it, trudge through the mud of your past, but come out smiling on the other side stuff.  Quite honestly, week one I thought...What the heck was I thinking? This is going to be so hard, and uncomfortable. And I signed up for this?? Week 2: Read the assignment, look at the projects, and think...I can do this, no problem. It was much, much harder than I thought, some tears were shed, and I got through it! The project was a look at your story, your timeline. What has made you, well, you! Week 3: We are now moving beyond our past and into the now. The now is looking really good for me. This weeks project was simple, so I am spending a lot of time journaling, and then art in my journal. My little 99 cent composition book from Rite Aid is really turning into a treasure. I'd love to share it, but it's kinda private, sort of like a diary. I will share some of my art from it, when I get a chance.  Happy Weekend, oh, and BE BRAVE...

Thursday, January 6, 2011

New Year, New home for my Blog...

I've moved my Blog to Blogger, basically to make it easier for me to post, add items of interest, etc. In the past year, I've found that Blogger is where most of the blogs I interact with reside, so I moved! :) I look forward to personalizing it in the coming weeks and really making it my own~ hope you'll join me as I challenge myself creatively and personally in 2011!