Birthday Musings

This is today's page. Just playing with spray mists, stencils, stamps and paint. A good day, playing in my room and thinking about all the changes that come as a result of becoming a parent. What an incredible joy and blessing it is. My oldest turned 29 yesterday, seemingly impossible and yet very real. Once again, I find myself wondering where time goes. I seem to be spending a lot of time pondering this...no answers yet.

Art/Visual Journal...Finally Started

Posting some pages out of the visual journal that I am trying to keep. I have never been much of a diary keeper but I think I will do a better job of it if I mix it up with art.

The flowers on this page are made out of leftover painted parchment paper that I did in another class. Love that technique!

This was the result of watching way too much of the Olympic games. I am not a raving feminist by any means but I loved how well the girls performed and the fact that this was the first time we sent more female athletes. I also loved seeing the women from muslim countries participating for the first time.

First time to play with watercolor pencils. I really like them!

I love the way the book paper butterflies look with a wash of watercolor!

A reminder to slow down and really live in the moment! Part of the journaling says "How can I blink and suddenly days, weeks, months and years are gone. Lost in the midst of everyday life."

Enjoy your weekend...and create some art!!

Stretching My Creative Wings

I am really trying to work on art journaling. Trying to spend at least a few minutes every day working in it. In fact, I just joined a Flickr group started by Julie Feifan-Balzer. Not necessarily finishing a page each day but working in it...stretching my creative wings...growing. 


This is yesterday's result. I stretched and it felt good. Nothing hard or complicated here. 

I think this will turn into a scrapbook/art journal that celebrates the life of my brother. I have never combined the two before...again stretching my creative wings. 

It will be a place to record things about him that I don't want to forget. I am excited to see how it turns out...where it ends up. Cancer claimed him at the age of 42. This will be a celebration of a live that ended too soon but was lived to the fullest.

I have no idea what gift this note is talking about or if I even wrapped it for him. I hope I did. I don't know how old he was...young, it appears from the handwriting. What a wonderful thing to find tucked into an old book.

What a wonderful thing life is.

Coneflower Art Journal Page

We humans spend an awful lot of time worrying about things that are of no importance in the grand scheme of things. This page reminds me to trust the One who loves me more exceedingly, abundantly above all that I can ask or imagine.

Sunday in the Park and Snowcones

Today, at lunch after church, Jadon asked if I wanted to go to a Festival. Not really...my couch was calling me for a nap and my sketch book was calling me for some fun. But I cannot look into my little man-cub's beautiful blue eyes and say no.

 So, Nanny and Darling Daughter and I loaded up four kiddos and headed to the park. It was hot and crowded. It reminded me of a school Halloween carnival... except for the fact that it wasn't a cool, fall evening.

We swung and slid and climbed and ran and when we were totally worn out, we headed back to the car and went in search of the "World's Best Snow Cone".

I have been hearing about this place for about a year now. It's on the other side of town and I'm not a huge snow cone fan...I much prefer ice cream.

We pulled up to the stand and Nanny and I stood in line for a good 15 minutes or more. We were hot and tired and I was wondering if this was really going to be worth it. It was...both for the snow cone and the conversation. A wonderful conversation with a young, Hispanic father of four, out for a snow cone (for the first time too). Precious, well-behaved kids and a conversation that ended with "God bless you".

And you know, He did...and does. Constantly, day in and day out.

Abundant Life Art Journal Page

I love this page and am amazed at how a simple little sketch turned into this in just a little over an hour!! Fun, fun, fun and so very much to be thankful for!!

"Look At What We Began" Art Journal Page

I am taking an art journaling class with Junelle Jacobsen called the Art of Wild Abandonment available through Christy Tomlinson. It is good. Really good. This is the first page I've completed and also the first time I have used watercolors.

The prompt was "place" and somehow I ended up here with hearts and vines and family...contemplating what was begun almost 32 years ago on a beautiful day in May. The joining of two hearts. The beginning of a home. A journey of love.

I am happy with this page but there is more to explore here. I think I may paint this on a canvas and hang it in my home...a daily reminder of the wonderful things that happen when love is shared.