On This Day.......

So originally this started out as a way to express grief, in a way that perhaps others with grieving hearts wouldn't feel so alone. Grieving is a process so personal, and has a life of it's own. I am reminded of this as another father's day passes and remember it was 3 years ago to that day that I heard my brother's and father's voice.

My father and I had a great connection and conversation that day. I thanked him for the thoughtful birthday card he sent on his own (we shared a birthday month, and mom usually got the card. This year he insisted on picking his own...) I shared my future dreams with him, receiving his blessing and support, We told each other we love one another and think of one another every day.
My brother and I played phone tag, leaving messages for one another, his voice full of joy as he has 3 wonderful sons and a wife that lit up his life.

I know its just a day, but I never thought I would see them buried just a few days later.
It is a harsh but necessary lesson to witness the fragility of life. To live your Truth and share your Love moment to moment, for you never know when those moments will cease.

Although this thought is still a shock, These days grief is like rolling waves.....life seems bigger now as I carry their spirits, in a way.....and like any big waves, if you wanna play in the game, you need to know how to roll with it. Sometimes its not always graceful.

I am so thankful to my friends and this Love that supports me. The beauty & light that I have been blessed to be sent my way is all the encouragement I need sometimes.
The graciousness of Love soothes a grieving heart.

Thank you friends and family. I Love you.

Avatar,too

Another Birth!

Thanks to a lovely inspirational Woman, Amy Lenzo! I truly loved the playful and engaging co*creation Amy's invitation brought. You can access many of her creations through her blog, Here. Amy is very well connected to various online media expressions, sharing her talents, progressive ideas, and communicative gifts. You will find her personality big bright and shiny, much like her avatar. She (her avatar) even had an official coming out, here. Thank you for the Honor, Amy!

I have had many lessons lately showing how much one vision can be enhanced by another. More to come.

Bountiful Cities Project

The Bountiful Cities Project is a non-profit here in Asheville committed to urban gardens that bring neighborhoods together. This year Jake & I contributed to their annual birdhouse auction. We were pleasantly surprised (well, at least I was), that we won second place, a weekend lake cabin getaway!

Big Ups

During wintertime things usually feel very inward and stagnant to me, too much dark and cold doesn't suit me after too long, as with most folks.






This year during my hibernation I could feel the bulbs of life bursting forward in my heart, and I am so thankful for that.

As I get more clear on how I really want to share myself, the Mystery meets me. I have had wonderful mirrors of inspiration all around me. As I am pursuing my Great Interest in creating and growing into more of how I can share my creative process, (Avatars! Commissions!)~ (more to come later on my ideas)





I wish to thank Ashley Cooper, her creation, Easily Amazed, and her friend, Amy Lenzo, and her creation, the Beauty Dialogues, for their enthusiasm as we recognize the Beauty that surrounds all of us.






Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement that spirals outward from you lovley lively creative geekGirls!

SketchBook Project

One creation that was really alive for me the last month or so was The Sketchbook Project. The idea is that they send you a sketchbook, you fill it up, send it back, then it tours the country with all the other's sketchbooks. this is and Art for Everybody Project, you don't need to call yourself an "artist" and no one is turned away. Very cool! I needed a breakthrough, forcing me to draw everyday, and I was sad it was finished! I will be peppering my site with snippets from it, but if you want to see if they come to your town check here.

Letting Go

Markus Van Lokeren 1969-2009

Love to our Dear Friend, as we were blessed with his time here, may his daughter Elizah, her mother Anna B and the rest of us carry the Blessing his deep soul shared with us...we miss you so and pray for a blessed and safe passing.....

Obamicons!

Having a little too much time on my hands today, perhaps, I was informed of this site, and developed an instant addiction. I have to walk away now....

Commissions

On another note, I thought I would share some things I have been working on lately.

I recently finished a website for a very unusual and talented artist, Dan Reiser. Check out his site, Art, Lies, & Archeology, and feel free to let me know if there's any bugs in it! He is also a musician. You can check out his tunes here.


Today I completed a piece for Bob & Caryn Hanna, inspired by their children, Danielle and Bryce.
Also, I would Love to thank one of my nearest and dearest, Ms. Ashley Cooper, for all her enthusiasm and great ideas. Together we just rebirthed an online icon for her, an avatar that is every bit as spunky as she is. You can get to know her better by following one of Ashley's very inspiring blogs, Easily Amazed, that also links to her other fascinating works. I so love the idea of creating an archetype for our online presence, as she made a good point, that as information is readily available through cyberspace, aesthetics do not always follow. I would love to create more!
For a little shameless self-promotion, she talked me up quite a bit here.
Thanks Ashley! (She never ceases to amaze me)


I would also like to mention that without Ashley and our dear friend Thomas Arthur's encouragement, (and their attentive nurturing,through my grieving process at the time of it's birth!) this blog would not exist at all.

You can see more of their combined creativity at Woven Essence.

A New Dawn, A New Day

While sharing the Joy of millions of Americans as we celebrate the Change we are all participating in, and at this moment President Obama is sworn in as a symbol of this change, I am filled with humility to be part of these times.

I have such a renewed faith in my country, not because of political change of hands so much, but knowing that there are many who value their power to create something new within their reality, perhaps by just having a new thought or desire, and then following through with action.

We are truly amazing, and we, as humans, perhaps are ready to take more responsibility for ourselves, as individuals, and therefore as a community, as a country, then globally, Universally.

Thank you, Mr. President, for setting the stage, for being Brave,for following your Dream. For inspiring us also to let down the walls of perceived separation together.

2009~New Year, New Life

Well, now that I finally figured out how to sign in again to this account it's time for an update. This blog was originally designed as a space to share my ongoing grieving process after loosing my father and brother 2.5 years ago. After some time and soaking up the love of nature, the world around me, and lots of friends, things have shifted, things are lighter, and guess what, a miracle, I am painting again! I thought the day would never come soon enough, but here it is, and it feels great. Here's a shot of my studio.

Loosing my paycheck job happened in perfect time, also....It's like The Univversal Captain was gently pushing my lil paper boat to sea...."Not to worry, you'll do just fine...."

I have been keeping busy doing a few shows, selling prints, some websites here and there. Here's some shots of some shows, one on Biltmore Lake and later, at The Big Crafty...a superfun show complete with dj's and beer.

I feel I have a long way to go as far as getting me skills back, but I am very much enjoying the Journey!

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