good news angels

OK everyone out there, who is listening, I am going to share something with you that has been extremely near and dear to my heart since 1993.   Whew!  That is 20 years ago!  These " little angels" came to me in a dream and I had to get out of bed to sketch them, within a few weeks I had started making them.  I would sell them at craft shows  and anywhere I possibly could.  I had a mission because I believed in the message they carried.  I still do!  It's almost as if it's part of who I am.

                                

In October 2012, these little angels popped back into my head.  You can read about it here.  The message was loud and clear, "I was to bring them back".  I set out with good intentions and here it is now 9 months later.  Now I know why I like the saying, "give a slow beginner and I'll show you a winner".  These little angels are taking flight  in a little shop in Indiana called Great Finds.  My husband, John, proudly made the stand re-purposing an old coat tree.  He did a great job, too!   

I have another idea that come to me in a dream of how to bring a smile to someone's face.  It warms my heart when I think about it.  I am in the midst of creating a website (experiencing a learning curve) as part of my plan.  will definitely let you know when it is a go.  I wanted to put this bit of info out there as a way to spur me on.  I would not define myself as a procrastinator but I have noticed a lag between my ideas and the fruition.  

a little drawing time

While my sister enjoyed herself and laid out in the sun.  I sat in a chair beside her, my pencil in hand, my pencil box to my side, and I just drew away.  I'm having a delightful time drawing in my journal.  There are no expectations, just taking the time to practice my skill.  Here are the results.

Daring Greatly

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.

...believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path."  

This is an excerpt from a speech given by Steve Jobs.  The first time heard it, it resonated with me.  Lately I have been drawn to it again.  I know within my heart that I am moving in the right direction yet there are times that those little voices seem to be overwhelming and  trying to knock me off my creative path.  I've been here before, as I'm sure you have, too.  I am, as my Mom use to say, "stubborn as an ole mule", so there is no changing my course.  I'm sharing how I feel because I have been reading a book by Brene Brown titled Daring Greatly.   She speaks about shame and how it can haunt us.  One of the essential ways to loosen the grip and affects it has on us is to talk about it.  Well... that is what I am doing here, today.  Nuff said!  -  Thanks for listening!

out of the mouth of babes

Yesterday I had my grandchildren, Delaina and Brayden, at my house all day.  We ALWAYS have a good time.  When I really watch and listen to who they are, I am amazed.    These little beings  have so much to say and so much they can teach me.  I have absolutely no words that can express how much I love them!!!
Anyway...we decided (they actually coerced me) that at 10:00 in the morning it was OK to eat ice cream at Grandmas.  So we did!

Later in the day, while Brayden napped,  Delaina and I got out scissors and I told her we were going to cut some lavender to make some posies.  She was so excited to be able to cut lavender with big people's scissors.  Several times she told me how pretty the flowers were and how much fun she was having.  Then she stopped cutting, looked right at me with a quizzical look on her face and said, "Grandma... is a posie like in the song ring around the rosie,  pocket full of posies,  ashes to ashes all fall down."  

I smiled real big and said, Yes!

create art with a free spirit

My husband and I just returned from our vacation in Mexico.  We have gone there for the last 14 years. We just hang out on the beach, play in the ocean, listen the waves from the ocean,  take many beach naps, drink margaritas, walk along the shoreline... I'm sure by now you get the picture.  We simply go there to reconnect with each other and relax.  This time I took my sketching tablet with me and I made this commitment in my journal.  

Then I did as I committed and I followed thru.  I was going to draw each day and not be concerendd about the outcome. 

There I sat on the beach with a towel folded up as my make shift desk, my pad on my lap, and my box of pencils to my side,  just drawing away.

Here are the results of my very own artist retreat in Mexico.

This one I did not finish in Mexico, she will be done soon.  

"my bea-u-ti-ful amulet"

I just had to share this story with you and I hope it brings a smile to your face like it does mine. 


My husband bought me a beautiful necklace for Mother's Day  and I decided to wear to my daughter and son-in-law's house for Mother's Day. 


As soon as the grand kids saw me they came running,as usual,  for a BIG Grandma hug.  They give the best hugs ever !  Brayden kisses with his mouth wide open like he's going after a piece of food.  Love it, sloppy and all.  This time it was a little different with Delaina, my granddaughter, she's 3 1/2 yrs. old.  As soon as I picked up Delaina, she  said with such excitement in her voice, "Oh Grandma, you have such a bea-u-ti-ful amulet!"  I smiled and said Thank You but I had no frickin' clue what she was talking about.  Then she asked me if she could touch it!  That's when I realized she was talking about my necklace.  My daughter explained to me it is a gift that was given to Princess Sophia from her father and when she wears it she can hear animals talk.  My heart is filling with emotion by this time.  I am in awe how children find wonder in the little things. Periodically throughout the day she would come over and touch my "amulet".

As we were ready to leave she gently took my hand and pulled me down to her  and she whispered ever so softly in my ear, "when you come babysit can you bring the amulet so I can wear it?" 

I smiled the biggest smile ever and said, "absolutely".

 

Love those kids!

HEATHER

I have had the pleasure of witnessing a friend bloom into the artist she always knew she could be.  Pretty much like the flower in the short video.   I has been very rewarding to witness her growth.  Her name is Heather Hanson, read more about her by clicking on the following link.  http://www.therubyslipperscompany.com

Heather has always been creative and artistically inclined and claims that writing is her first love.  She gets really excited after her trips to estates sales where she literally brings home many bags of vintage this or vintage that.  When she tells me about her finds you can see the light grow brighter in her eyes.

Her love of all things vintage, her uncanny ability to formulate words that  inspires and delights, and her creative talents have finally all come together like putting that beautiful puzzle together.  She discovered mixed media art!  This past week end Heather was featured in a Trunk Show sponsored by Cindy fields Design downtown Naperville, IL.  Heather recently opened her Etsy shop where she is offering original whimsical mixed media art.  I invite you to stop by her site and see what she's been creating. http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheRubySlippersCo