being set free

 i'm not sure why i give up on my blog.

maybe it is because i am not a writer.

seriously...

words are not my strong suit.  it is my weakness.

but for some reason

i always have to come back here.

even if no one reads...

or understands what it is i am trying to say.

the last few months have been hard.

coming face to face with myself.  the ugly side.

the dark inky holes in my heart.

i have some seriously high expectations of myself.  voices and lies of what my life should look like. what kind of person i should be.  how our home should look like.  i have carried heavy burdens around for so long that i forgot what it felt like to be myself.  i didn't like who i had become.

a couple of weeks ago i finally let go of my luggage.  those rocks that had kept me from moving, from changing, from becoming who He had made me to be.

because i couldn't forgive.

myself.

i gave those expectations.

those ugly, dark, nothingness to God.

it is amazing.  the kind of lightness that comes from releasing your burdens.

from opening your heart...showing those dark, ugly, inky holes. 

the change that only God can do.

taking those things that we don't like about ourselves

and turning them into something beautiful.

using them to bless ourselves.

and others.

this painting is what came of what i was feeling.

the trusting.  the forgiving.  the life changing.

redeemed.

 

i am joining at chatting at the sky.

please won't you head over there to see how others are making life 'art' this past month.

 

today i am thankful for 

~a day to just veg out.

~harvest almost coming to an end

~God's truths

~good friends

~my life 'art'

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from beginning to end

 good morning friends!

i want to thank all my new followers and the 

sweet comments you have left on the last few posts!

i truly appreciate all of you!

i want to make it over to all of your blogs...

maybe since it is only 5 out this morning,

today will be a good day for that! 

anyway...

i have had a few people ask me about my process

of my paintings here and

on my facebook page.

so today i thought i would share one of my paintings.

i have a few different styles and  this is just one...

this one i am doing on 100% cotton 140 lb water color paper.

first i draw out the scene... 

i just use a 4b pencil.

i then started to add some vintage papers...

i love using vintage wallpaper, music sheets, dictionary pages, etc.

i do find a lot of these at thrift stores.

next i add color to the background.

i use golden fluid acrylics, pan pastels, and soft pastels.

 just keep building color on the background using acrylics.

for the face i use shiva oil paintstiks.

love how smooth they are...so much easier to use than regular oils...

in my opinion anyway!

for the details i use a white gel pen to doodle around the face

and other places....like the halo here.

i use a black and white stabilo pencil to do the scene ...

this pencil will write on anything.

and it is water soluble so i can add a wet brush to 

it to make it look like a watercolor.

and here is the finished painting.

if any of you have more questions...please ask!

i will try to get them answered.

i'm linking up to 

studio jru in the studio sneak peek

and

paint party friday

you can join us by linking up as well as check out other creative souls...
i hope you do!

hope everyone has a great weekend!

live and let light

ahhh. last saturday.

what a great time we had!

we got out some of our favorite art supplies.

papers, paints, markers, inks.

 and we made signs with words that mean something to us.

it was an assignment of our brave girls club art class.

there were giggles, teasing, and learning from each other.

the dining room table was a mess...

but our  hearts were 'home'.

this was emma's sign.

'live'

she papered, painted, doodled to her hearts content.

it now sits on her window seal.

and mine.

'let your light shine'

sits in my studio...

a reminder of why i do what i do.

matthew 5:16

we are going to sit down.

my daughter and i.

with a calendar to schedule more art dates.

our goal is once a month.

more if possible.

and ohhhh do we look forward to it!

linking up to studio jru sneak peek friday.

are you creative?

i'm sure you are!

in your home, in your kitchen, with your kids or with a craft or art.

why don't you link up and join us!

today i am thankful for

~creating with my daughter

~inspiration from everywhere and everyone

~finding a friend who has the same tastes i do

~my treadmill

~an upcoming art retreat

and the walls came tumbling down

have you heard that song?

'joshua fought the battle of jericho, jericho,

jericho.

joshua fought the battle of jericho,

and the walls came tumbling down.'

i have or rather had very high,

strong, 

and thick walls built around me.

the details don't matter,

but because of things that i have done,

things that have been said and done to me,

i built walls.

i felt safe behind them.

like a cocoon.

but i heard God saying...'your walls are not a cocoon, but a

prison.'

'you were not made to be safe. you were made to fly.'

 'you were made to show the world My light through you.'

so He has been removing my walls.

brick by brick.

softly, gently and whispering...

'i will catch you.'

 so i am gripping white knuckled

to the one that knows.

i am scared,

but i am ready to shine for Him.

do you have walls?

if you do, pray.

pray for strength to hang on to Him.

He will not leave you...scared and alone.

today i am thankful for

~warmer weather to walk outside

~ watching eagles fly above our home

~tearing down walls

~new paint

~figuring sales tax

today i am linking to 

in the studio sneak peek friday

please be sure to check out what everyone else is creating.

happy friday everyone!

i see His beauty

 this year i want to concentrate on

portraits

in my art.

so this week i have been practicing.

i have found out

that doing eyes is my

favorite part.

 

of course...

maybe that is because

the eyes are the first thing

i notice in a person.

the color, the shape.

the laugh lines.

i have been reminded

that i have to open my eyes.

to see Him.

and His gifts.

His gifts are all around us.

God not only shows himself in the large things.

but 

God also shows himself in the smallest of things.

are we slowing down

enough

to see them? 

today i am thankful for

~new friends

~being able to be patient enough to talk a kitten down a tree

~laughter

~faces to draw

~my eyes to see



today i'm linking to
studio jru in the studio sneak peek friday
paint party friday
be sure to check out all the other lovely creations.

a handmade kind of Christmas

 i love christmas.

getting together with family.

baking some of our favorite treats.

and sweets.

singing our favorite carols.

all in celebration of Jesus' birth.

the last two years

our daughter wanted to decorate

in a simple handmade style.

 she wanted every ornament to be made.

by hand.

i have to admit.

i usually go all out.

put almost every.

single.

ornament on the tree.

 

this year.

i did not.

we went through our boxes

and picked out the things that were made by hand.

(i did sneak a couple of my favorite store bought ornaments on the tree.  i just couldn't help myself)

\

and i have to say that it is much more meaningful.

to see those things made from love.

hanging on our tree.

and on our 'mantel'

 

i am linking to~

jennifer rizzo

wendy at the shabby nest

lucy at craftberry bush
jennifer at studio jru

be sure to go check out all the other lovely 

links to their parties.

there are some wonderful, talented people!

an update on my finished' essence of creation dolls'

my computer is still out.

my daughter's computer still does not like my

camera card.

 

so i thought that i would show you an

update.

 

awhile ago i shown you some starts.

of my 'essence of creation dolls'.

you can find it here.

you can find how i started here.

 

i thought i would show you the finished products.

 

 

rose.

 

 

twila

and

daisy.

 

zoe

 

and glory.

 

 

have any of you been able to finish

projects that have sat for awhile?

please share!

 

 

 

what i am thankful for today

~snow, much needed moisture

~putting up the christmas tree with my loved ones

~coffee and toffee creamer

~memories of loved ones

~the golden glow of candles

 

 

behind the curtain

 

 

i have heard that there are those who have quiet time with

the Lord

in the wee hours before the sun comes up.

before the rest of their family is up.

with a cup

of coffee.

 

i have also heard there are those who have quiet time with

the Lord

outside.

walking.

hiking.

running.

just waiting to hear His voice on the breeze.

 

not me.

nope.

for some reason

i end up having quiet time with God

in the shower.

 

 

i don't plan on it.

it is when i am the most

vulnerable.

maybe it is there because

i am totally alone.

 

or maybe because no one

can hear my heartache

with sound of the water

rushing.

 

as the warm hot water is running down my neck

and shoulders,

my heartache is let loose.

 

it is there that He fills up

the holes.

left by the pain.

disappointment.

and failures.



 

He fills them with His

love.

grace.

forgiveness.

and strength.

 

He reminds me that no one.

not one human.

can do that.

 

Only Him.

He alone.

 



 

have you heard the song

'the well' by casting crowns?

 

'leave it all behind'

'leave it all behind'

'and come to the well'

 

or in my case...the shower. :)

 

 

oh...one more thing.

that rug.

 up above.

was made by my beautiful friend.

she has a page with all of her

creations.

 

in His loving arms...

have a wonderful day.

alissa

 

 

what i am thankful for today

~my daughter back in school after 5 days of the flu

~a day spent in my studio

~prayers and encouragement from strangers

~a well worn, warm sweater

~God filling those empty spaces