#reverb10 Lesson Learned

Prompt: Lesson learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

This is MUCH easier for me to talk about!

The best thing I learned about myself is that I can remain positive and have great faith in the universe regardless of circumstances.  It's been an emotional, financially challenging, amazingly rewarding year for me.  No matter how frustrated or broke or angry I've been at the universe, I've always had faith that things will work out.  And you know what? They have! Even today, I started out wondering how I was going to get gas to go to work tomorrow and pay bills and maybe squeeze in a little Christmas gift buying with my paycheck.  I was stressed beyond belief! But I let it go knowing that those that love me aren't worried about what I give them or when they get it.  I just had faith that it would all work out the way it was supposed to and I got a check in the mail from my state's Department of Revenue from my ammended return!

When you find yourself spinning in circles, wondering what to do, just take a deep breath and HAVE FAITH!  I promise, it will all work out. 

Blessings to all.

#reverb10 Friends

Today's prompt:
Author: Martha Mihalick
Editor at Harper Collins
@curiousmartha

Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?

This is a hard one to write for me.  The person for me is a man I dated this year. 

We met online (I know, I know!) and emailed throughout the summer.  He's an artist and we would send pictures of our work back and forth along with some flirting.  I took the summer off from dating so it was fun but I didn't think it would go anywhere.  His emails were very supportive of my art which, for me, was the first time a semi-impartial party had commented either way! It felt great.  He encouraged me to post more of it online and to enter it into shows and to magazines.  He encouraged me to dream and grow as an artist. 

After school started and summer was 'over', I decided I was ready to meet him in person.  He was great!! Kind and caring.  We ended up dating for an amazing 2 1/2 months.  Short, I know, but wonderful.  Life changing.  He was nothing but great.  Sadly, his life changed drastically and we broke up.  I will always remember him as a HUGE influence in this year and in my life.  As one of the greatest influences in my artistic life.

#reverb10 Action

I've hopped on the reverb10 bandwagon! I love the idea of reflection and figuring out goals for the new year.

Today's prompt is:

December 13 – Action When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

So really; what IS my next step? What am I going to DO to achieve my goals this year?

One of my big goals for this year is to really improve my technical art skills. I've signed up for the Sketchbook Challenge, I'm commiting to sketching as much as possible (trying for every day), and I will take a drawing class. In addition, I will take a class in acrylics and one in watercolor during the first half of 2011.  And, of course, I'll attend Art and Soul in Portland in the fall.

2010 was a big year of goal setting and action and 2011 promises to be as big, if not bigger!

Mail art and Projects in the Works!

What a great and creative week this has been! Here are a couple of things I'd like to share.

First off, I wanted to share a piece of mail art that I received from Lis of Dandelion Seeds and Dreams.  I LOVE the bird! The back says "Only from the heart can you touch the sky" (Rumi) then she added "but some things are worth flapping your wings over".  Check out the stamp of Ganesha on the back of the envelope!

 This was a great fast project.  I lightly crumpled and tea dyed some manila tags that I had.  Then I used a mandala stamp with silver ink and black StazOn with the 'Joy' stamp from Michael's. I finished them off with a distressed grommet. I'm bringing these to my local stationary store to sell.

 Here is my latest collage that I'm making into cards. Another tea-dyed tag, Distress Ink, paper flowers and lots of glue dots! When I was making this one, my daughter kept asking for flowers and glue dots that she used to make a 'beautiful headband'.  I'll have to track it down and get a picture! It's very ummm.....'her'.

As you can see on my sidebar, I'm also going to participate in the Sketchbook Challenge! I'm excited to improve my technical skills and to see what everyone else does!

I hope everyone has a beautiful and creative weekend!

It has been a crazy and amazing couple of weeks for me! I'm in my first art show EVER!  10 Cupcake Lane was accepted into the 'Just Desserts' show at Atelier 6000 in Bend, Oregon! Wow! I also sold my first batch of greeting cards to a local store and they want more! The painting below, which will be a gift to a friend, is going to be part of the next batch.  It's acrylic on canvas board with fabric and dimensional paint.  I have an image in my head to do a white lotus next.

I'm not sure what direction this is headed yet! It's collaged hand painted and printed papers that I have ready for a background. Hmmm..... Any thoughts?



I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful day!