"Spring Break at Siesta Key, Florida"

Visiting my sister during Spring break.  Such a beautiful day there.  The water temperature was around 62 degrees and the ocean breeze blowing across the water felt amazing along with the warmth of the sun.  That combination lulls you into the most relaxing rest under those cabana chairs.  You hear a multitude of conversations humming along and the playful giggles and laughter coming from children digging in the sand. Then there is the constant gentle sound of the ebb and flow of the water as it greets the feet of birds and humans.

How I wish I could bottle these moments and pop the cork to sit there once again soaking in the life at the foot of the shores.  Absolute paradise!

"Inspired by Nature - Art Journal Page.jpg"

I have for many years now kept a written journal.  Mostly my journals are my prayers.  When I discovered art journaling, just last year, I was amazed.  I find it difficult to write with the depth I have in my written journal and trying to combine that with pictures.  I am still in this process of discovering what really appeals to me and making that my place of creativity. 

These words are actually from a song by The Allman Brothers Band.  As teenagers in the 70's we loved the sound of their southern rock and slide guitar.  Their music still makes me smile.  These lyrics fit my feelings for Jesus.  As the creator, He is my blue sky, He is my sunny day and remembering how when I first received the gift of his never ending love, I felt like the cup that is displayed here running over and His love is intended to spill over from our life into others.  Beautiful!

Experimenting.jpg

Thought I would play with different color options.  I love pastels, but I love these darker pages, too.
There are so many great things about art journaling. 

Learning to do some canvas.  I love it!  What fun this is!  I possibly could add some little extra something to it but I thing I am ok with it here.  I love mixed media and am trying to teach myself using the techniques I find from the videos on YouTube.  Thank goodness for the internet for the positive things it allows us to view.



Change




Our Pastor encourages us to have a word for 2013.  I love this concept because it is much easier than a list of resolutions.  My word is "Change".  It is a change of attitude, a change in responses, and a change in thought.  It is a change that I desire to move up and forward and live with excellence for Christ.  There are things in my life that have to change to move ahead and receive the good gifts that God has waiting for me.  I have come to the realization that I must often be the one to stand and stand firm to let go of emotional baggage and people that keep my life from progressing.  It is going to take strength, much strength to cut out certain people.  It is necessary.

Valentine's Day---I have no beau.  That's ok, the "change" thing has to happen first.
I also know that love does begin with me.  I love God, but how hard it has been to love myself.  This is so evident by so many mistakes, but at least I am coming to terms with that.  Took long enough.
We ladies tend to take a back seat, see less value in ourselves, but we are spectacular creations and children of God.  He delights in us.   We were created in His image and that has to be amazing.

Sea Whispers

Playing around in journals at Christmas.

Just Be

I remember when I was a child, creativity came fairly easily.  Pretending to be movie stars or setting up an entire scenario and scenery around a Barbie doll, complete with aluminum pans of water with Lantana flowers thrown in as if Barbie were in Hawaii.  I also loved making colorful pot holders and selling them door to door.  As a little girl, I even loved making creepy crawlys with the little heater plate that came with it and creating colorful bugs with the goop.

Eventually, adulthood catches up and you have to concern yourself with making a living and exploring other areas of your life that need attention.  Then a day comes when you ask yourself, what is missing in my life that is causing this angst I feel?  For me, it is creating something pretty even in for my own eyes.  I just want to create something nice.

I have watched video after video in fast motion of art journaling trying to catch every move they make.  I have copied and have become discouraged that is doesn't look as nice as theirs.  But I have discovered that continued learning eventually gives way to the ability to put it together.  I thought this page was a mess and had no clue how to finish it up.  It comes to me that if I can't draw, I can do the next best thing and use the pretty items from craft stores.  Do what you love.  I love all the amazing emphera that is available and though it isn't my art, it is definitely fun to design with it.

Confident

I have been challenged by a lack of confidence my entire life.  It is crippling at times.  I had hoped getting older would bring on new confidence as many women have claimed they received as they turned 40 or 50.  Wonderful for them.  Mine comes and goes.  As a Christian, I'd like to stand on the faith that Jesus stood.  Now I enter into a another world I watched my parents go through with little understanding what it was like for them.  I am only 57 and was blessed with excellent health.  I still have excellent health but am beginning to realize the onset of the aging body thing.  And yes, it frightens me.  I just discovered visual journaling and now face challenges with my eyesight.  Nothing debilitating but enough to remind me of how very fragile we human creatures are.  We are wonderfully made, no question, but we are mortal and living in a decaying body until we are set free from those bodies.  So, what confidence I muster up comes from my heavenly father.  His still small voice always says to me "lift up your head" as if to remind me who I am in Christ.  That love alone should always be my foundation.

Chasing Rainbows

A Poem I wrote and Art Journaling Around It

A poem I did a long time ago.  I was chasing a rainbow - running after someone who never loved me.  I would frequently give up time to be with my mom to chase a dream.  My poem was published in Center Stage in the 80's, Central Florida's Art and Entertainment Magazine at the time.  This journal page needs something....not sure what yet.