Nourish Your Soul

I went to mail something yesterday and realized I was near a bookshop that sells Moleskines and I needed some for my journaling class. The come in packs of 3. I purchased them and went home, not knowing what I was in store for and how fate sometimes has other ideas for us.

There has not been much creating lately and I was so excited to get back into it (much like my blogging!) It is when I am at my most calm and peaceful state, which doesn't happen often enough.

As I sat down yesterday to begin my online journaling workshop taught by Hope, my little budding artist asked if she could join and grabbed one of the journals.

If you want to grow as an artist, create with a child.

We ended up at it most of the day.

It was quite an experience.

She is only ten and expects herself to create just like the master.

There were some tears,

but when she realized what wonderful things she can come up with on her own,

she relaxed and enjoyed the day.

Now she has some work that she is proud of and the time we spent together was priceless.

Here are our first pages:

mine

anna's

Now, as I reflect,
I see that I need to
work on more words and less collage.

Getting comfortable with my writing is tough,
but I have to let go…
especially with my little one watching.

Being comfortable in our own skin and developing our talents is such a mountain for an artist to climb but once we are at the summit, the possibilities are endless and what amazing and beautiful work follows! 

I am still climbing...

~hugs

a random act of kindness (rak)

Today was unlike any other...

got up, got ready,

ran out for errands

and

blammo!

I found a box in the mail.

I didn't order anything...

hopefully my son was not on eBay again trying to out bid someone

(the last time he did that
we paid almost $70 for 2 inspector gadget toys...
God bless him, he hates to lose!
you can bet your sweet pa-tootie
that we changed our password though)

I digress.

In the door I went,

mail and box in hand.

I ripped into the package and found the sweetest card and gifts.

AND all owlies! 

She knows me!!!

My dear friend Julie Baxley sent it with thanks for hosting swaps last year at Silver Bella. 

Honestly...

what a living doll! 

She already sent me goodies back then

and now this!

Well, there is only one thing to do...

pay it forward. 

Maybe you can do one too!

I love random acts of kindness, thank you Julie!!!

i am still here...

life tends to get away from me...

or maybe it is this blogging that gets away.

while i am living life

yep,

that is it.

I have been LIVING LIFE.

summer is in full swing,

family visits, garage band sessions, house guests, horse camp, swimming in the cold pacific, BBQs, kids i do not even know running through my home... 

gosh, i need a vacation to get away from my vacation. 

that sounds ungrateful. 

i do not mean to sound that way,

i am happy to have the time off. 

it is a blessing.

just yesterday, i drove my dad and step mom to the airport and said goodbye. 

I came home and everyone was exhausted

so we pulled out the hide-a-bed and hung out snuggling and watching movies all day...

the whole family

(and yes, puppy too) 

It was like a snow day, without the snow. 

Now that I am all rested, I wondered onto a wonderful friend and artist's blog...

Hope Wallace Karney

look out girls, if you have never been there

(and I cannot imagine you haven't)

you can get lost in the wonderfulness of it all

I just signed up for her
"nourish your soul"
journaling class

(i know, like I need something else to work on)

but maybe i will finish this one... maybe

it looks really, really, really creative and i hope to get those juices flowin' again

it has been

really, really, really too long.

more on this and that suzi blu class later... (whichihavereallynevermentionedexcepttosomeclosefriendswhohavebeenaskingaboutmyprogresswhichihavenonetoshowbecasueijustcannotsitstill.)

whew!