This is a picture of the girls that I received from my friends!! Each one from a different friend...each a different girl...DO YOU THINK MY FRIENDS KNOW WHAT I LIKE?!
I adore all of these ladies and all the ladies that gave them to me...They surround me with inspiration, love and friendship!!!!!!!! I hope that you also, were given things that you adore and that will inspire you this holiday season......Gifts from the heart for the heart...IDEAL!!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
COMPLETED!!! And now this elf can REST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wishing everyone a Creative Holiday and a Awakening New Year!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This is a picture of one of those paper letters that they have out in the craft stores. My great niece is 3 and I thought this would look GREAT in her girlie room!! And perhaps even something that she will be able to have for as long as her hearts desires.The letters are fairly easy to paint as long as you allow drying time!! The paper gets a little bubbly when you first start but dries tight! I embellished with jewels and glitter just like every girl loves....I try every year to make her and her sister something...One because I love to make my gifts...Two, because I am hoping it will strike a creativity cord in them!! Anyhow, as you can see it is Christmas eve and this elf is still at work...The E is almost done for Emily....So back to the paint!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=4718d8a220397c1fb6f6a44G06122216
Please copy and paste into your browser for your holiday giggle from ME!
I have been in paint and recovery land...But my thoughts are with all my
dear hearts this holiday season...SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
What is it about getting a gift of love made by hand? This is an altered piece of art that my daughter gave to me tonight at our Christmas gathering. We did it early as this is an extended family and this is the day that we had open so that we did not have to share this day with anyone! Anyhow...this altered piece came as a total surprise and a wonderful addition to my gallery of art that my daughter makes for me...And so as not to give credit to one child over the other...I also now have a home theater system..with surround sound from my son...I AM TOTALLY BLESSED!!!!!!!!!! And that is my wish for all...that you count those blessings!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I am taking a moment out of the creative world to wish everyone who visits this site the peace, love and joy of the holiday season. May your new year be filled with creative adventures that will make your heart sing.
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I have decided that I want to continue to do the altered art for a while...but I wanted it to be more of "MY" work...So I have started to draw and paint faces and clothing instead of cutting them out of magazines....This is my very first one that I completed that is totally mine!! I decided this yesterday, and went to bed around 12:30 with it on my mind...and POP...POP...POP, my little eyes opened wide at 3 AM this morning and I did the tossing and turning thing for about a half hour when I decided to come in the studio and get to work...She was completed by 6 when my husband was getting up for work!! AHHH...all in a nights work for me!! I am sending this off in a Holiday Swap to a secret muse....And I am now looking forward to designing some more...It is sort of like paper dolls meet paint!! But, I am having fun and think that this could be a little something different for me to add to my art and with my style!
So this is my wish for you today, when doing your art, try something a little different....You never know what the possibilities are till you go beyond into the impossible....MISSION IMPOSSIBLE...COMPLETED!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This is a pair of shoes that I altered to give to my sister for Christmas!! These shoes are fun and functional!! And certainly no one else will have a pair like these! I love working on the shoes, the surface once prepared is smooth...and not very large, so you can get these made fairly quickly!! I wanted to write on the shoes...One shoe to say BELIEVE and one shoe to say WISH...when I do another pair for myself I will do that!! But, for now my wish for all is that they: FLY ON THE WINGS OF THEIR DREAMS...WISH ...AND BELIEVE....
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
Everyone seems to be doing it!! And I guess I am no exception!! Although I do put my own spin to it and I am coming up with some different spins....But this is a custom order that will be going to Texas!!! So it is embellished with the yellow rose!! Have you ever done these altered pieces on canvas????? If not...well I say give it a try..I will post some more of the ones that I am doing that have more of MY SPIN on them...
Happy Creating!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
On this day remember to give thanks to all who touch your life....
And all of the lives that you touch....
Thanks to all for your love and support!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=0183913358
So here it is November and it is that time of year when you
really want to reflect on what it is that you are thankful for. We really do need to be aware of our blessings throughout the entire year. But, somehow for most of us, that comes and goes in splurts depending on our mood. So as we approach Thanksgiving Day, take a moment or two and completely unlock your heart. Open up and see what it is that you are really thankful for. It does not have to be HUGE...there are so many small things that we overlook everyday, or just take for granted. Some things you hear alot of people say are: "IF ONLY"..."I WISH I HAD" ..."If I could go back.." "I should of said"...So here is my wish for you today...Unlock your heart...Do the IF ONLYS...Start the WISH I HADS..SAY THE THINGS YOU WANT TO SAY TO THOSE YOU LOVE...And go forward from here, be a little more open to your blessings. View a few of them everyday!! Cause once you start to do this....They just seem to pile up! And your life and your heart just opens up to all the possiabilities you only dreamed of before. I for one am thankful for just being able to write this and express how I feel this morning!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
"I believe that you manifest what you want by who you think you are and what your wildest imagination can conceive"
This piece is going to reside in my friend, Carol's new kitchen! Now, Carol is one of those friends that I have had for some 25 years! When we were young mothers we spent a great deal of time together, but as we have grown it becomes less and less...Carol is one of those people however where time and space changes nothing between us, we just pull up a chair as if it were yesterday! I adore that about us! However, I do know that once I see her I realize how much I miss not seeing her!! LOL...So, I will make sure I do that more often, when I am thinking about calling....I will just call!! This is my wish for you today...That if you are thinking about a friend, make sure you give them a call, meet for coffee, talk, reconnect! Because good friends are hard to come by...and impossiable to replace!! THINK I WILL GO CALL CAROL NOW!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
There was a time when I painted lots of tin objects....Frogs, cats, dogs,birds, bird houses...I found this one in my studio when I was cleaning it the other day! (Yes, I do clean it every once in awhile!!) And the really funny thing about this Frog is that I haven't painted them in 5 years...and Sunday, well, I got an order for the FROG!! So I guess it pays to clean the studio every once in awhile!! LOL...So my wish for you today is to LEAP!!!! Leap forward, leap sideways, leap up....JUST LEAP!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I went to bed late and I was up early!! Nothing like running on 4 hours of sleep!! But, my creative juices were running high last night! (So what else is new?!)
The thing about this show is that if someone buys a piece, I cannot take it off the wall till I have something to replace it!! Now, there is an REASON not to sleep!! LOL
So I was working on replacing some of the pieces...and managed to make 3 small 5 by 7 altered pieces and one 11 by 14 framed piece! Hatch Your Egg Today is one of the smaller altered pieces! I have lots of little thumb nail sketches for some others! That seems to be the way it goes with me...I just plain go into over drive, so if I don't sketch them out when they appear to me, they somehow get lost in my memory bank!! So my wish for you today is two fold! I wish for you to hatch your egg today, whatever that may be! Color, paint, draw or write but get a hatching!! And I wish that you get lost in the process of that! Because once you do, you will find a happiness that you only dreamed about before today!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This piece has been bought and will be residing in Manhattan!
I am so excited about this! I love this piece and know that the new owner now will be able to see this and SMILE every day! This show is reaffirming to me the true belief that I have held in my heart since I was small...I was meant to do this...meant to share who I am and the feelings that I can place on paper, wood, and anything else I can get my hands on!! I often do not tell my truth, to others, let alone to myself.
But this show has awaken me, awaken my passions even further, awaken my committment to myself, awaken my joy! And that is my wish for you today, that you AWAKEN.....look around you, listen to your heart, and BELEIVE!!!! BELIEVE in YOURSELF!!!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
My one woman show has been up for a week and tomorrow is my GRAND OPENING! Here are the unframed paintings that have been sold or are spoken for already! I am so excited and I am floating on air! As usual fear comes to me when I venture into projects like these. I feel like a hostess throwing a party and then wondering if anyone will come! These pieces let me know that people will come! The one thing about my art is that it comes from a place in my heart, and I think that the people who buy these pieces feel that within them too. Or it speaks to them in some sort of way! This part makes me smile deeply! I am delighted to know that these pieces will now reside in the hearts and the homes of people who just HAD TO HAVE THEM! That is my wish for you today also. That you let your heart speak to you and that you follow your dreams. I can tell you first hand today........YOU WILL SOAR!!!!!!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
Pumpkins...Gobblins...Black Cats and Dreams!
Wishing all the magic of the day and night!!
MAY ALL YOUR TRICKS BE TREATS!
This is a happy picture for me, because it shows all of my kitties sleeping together on the couch! All 3 of them...I am so happy to have Kitt back home, that everyday I just have to smile!! I am always asking him where he went on his adventure!! Perhaps it is a book in the making!! HUMMMMM...This post is rather small and there is no art today, although I am working on a wedding present!! But, I am somewhat tired...I don't know about anyone else, but when you come off a big project..you whirl and twirl for a bit...and then you REST!!!! Well, at least I do...So, I can tell that I am getting ready to rest. So, that is my wish for you today. That you know when to rest, that during that resting time, you are just re-energizing yourself! Let yourself just swim in the silence of the lull....I for one am looking forward to it...
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This is the final piece for the show. I really love this piece because it has that
3-D effect. I love working with wood and seeing it transform from a circle to a combination of sun, moon, and stars. By adding the wooden stars with the fibers it gives it such a fun and whimsical feeling. It makes me HAPPY! When I look at it my heart smiles! That is what art does to me...It makes me smile, deep down within me smiles! And this piece does that more than anyother one in the show! The show is hung..PHEW! And seeing the collection together on the wall of a gallery as opposed to the floor of my studio makes a HUGE difference. I am joyous today, because this project is COMPLETED!..FINISHED! I can take a little rest now!! Well, just a short one, because my mind is composing other things to do!!The best part about doing art for yourself is that it reflects who you are...and this show does just that...It reflects my color!That is my wish for you today, that you complete, finish, or better yet start a project that will make your heart sing! Give your soul your own happy song revealing all of your true colors.
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
There is no picture today...because I have been busy framing pictures for the one
woman show that will be hung on the 29th of the month. As the show approaches and the paintings are being finished I once again fall a little bit into the FEAR. And when I do that I remember this quote that hangs in my studio....
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ~ Marianne Williamson
This is my wish for you today, that you print this beautiful quote out and hang it somewhere close to you. So that when you feel yourself falling...like I did today, you will read it and ask yourself that wonderful question: WHO AM I NOT TO BE?
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
It is after midnight...so it is a new day!! This is the page that I just completed for my new art journal. It deals with the different masks that we wear. I do not have many anymore, but the one that I still keep, is the one when I am not feeling well, but pretend that I am. I think we all have that one! When someone says "is everything ok, and you answer YES, everything is fine." When really you just want to scream " NO...everything is not fine!" But to keep from complaining, or having a pity party you put on the mask. Sometimes it suits a purpose, other times it is just to benefit someone else...but most of the time it is just to keep our feelings, emotions, exposure to our self. The one thing I am learning however, is that most everyone who is close to you can handle your "mask" days and in order to make sense of them and get on it is good to expose yourself. When you do this you learn something about yourself. That is what this journal is helping me to do...Learn, grow, expose! So that is my wish for you today. If you are wearing a mask, drop it, show your eyes, expose yourself. Today if you do that you will learn a little more about yourself, and that will help you to grow. And afterall, we are growing more and more every day!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I have not posted in a while as I have been down with a cold! YUCK!! But, I am on my way to recovering!! YIPPEE!! My heart was telling me to start a new journal book..at first, I did not pay attention, but as usual the voice got so loud I had to start one.This is the first page to that book! I often ignore the looking inward voice, not because it is not important to me, but because, well, everyday life sometimes just gets in the way!! But, when I finally do listen it directs me in such a way that my happiness explodes, that things become clearer, and that my path is usually right at my feet!! So that is my wish for you today, that you realize that your hopes, dreams and joys are waiting for you! Just listen to the voice of your soul and if you do not use the direction that day, perhaps another day you will hear it a little louder. Because as we all know, some days are just better than others!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I decided that I wanted to do some small altered pieces for my upcoming show. There are not a lot of people around here that do this work and because they are small, I can sell them at a low price. I am having a lot of fun doing these. They are 5 inches by 7 inches in size. I must admit that I am new to this format, but I like how they are turning out, even if the photo isn't all that good! (hey, you just can't do everything!!) I am hoping to get a better camera next year so that taking photos will be easier for me. I have decided that I will do 6 of these pictures to capture different emotions. Friendship, sadness, dreams, guardian angel, perfect cup of coffee,and of course love!! So that is my wish for you today! That you have FUN with whatever you are doing. That you capture a part of yourself and freely use it in your art. Share what you love to do with others!! It will truly make you smile and want to get back in the studio and DO MORE ART!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This is a custom box that I designed for an artist in Colorado. It was given as a gift to her from a friend. This design with the continuous vine is for growth, the stars with the sparkles is to remind her to reach for the stars! Inside there is a written note that says.."It all starts with a wish and a dream"! I love the feel of this box...It is both pretty and powerful! I love making these boxes for special people from those who love them...It helps me to understand the power of the people around us. How their support helps us to grow, and stand on our tip toes to reach our own stars, and know that when we can't they will help lift us up. That is my wish for you today that you value the people who support you, let them know,sing their praises, dance the happy dance with them and reach for the stars together!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
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My goal this year has been to do art EVERY DAY and expose myself to new venues of art that I have not tried before. So when I saw a challenge to do an altered altoid tin doll at Artella (www.artellawordsandart.com) I was up and ready for the challenge! Never having altered a tin before it took a while for me to get comfortable with this new medium..But, WHAT FUN!! These little tins can turn into anything you want them to be!! You can drill them, paint them, glue on them!! Now, who would think that a tin could come out so darn creative!! I met the challenge, mailed her out on time for the deadline!! And to my delight she will grace the Artella Zine!! (hey, if you aren't getting this zine...go to the site and take a look
and sign up for it! Marney and her staff are AMAZING! And this site has SOMETHING for EVERYONE and then some more!!) My doll now hangs on my studio wall where she is an inspiration to me that I can fly when I let myself!! And that is my wish for you today! That you see your potential as a creative! That you honor that part of you! To often we use the words, "CAN'T" .."NO TIME" .."I DON'T DO THAT"...when in reality all you have to do is BELIEVE in the power of yourself...Spread your wings and fly...I know that I have this year, and PLAN on continuing to do just that...
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
The calendars are ready to be shipped! So run don't walk to this wonderful fund raiser! You can order the calendars at: www.wtww.org This is an amazing calendar, by extremely talented fiber artists and a powerful woman named, Victoria Brown who organized this event again this year. She has gone thru many different trials this year with the publishing of this calendar. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of the ArtBra calendar will be donated to the Laura Dreier Breast Cancer Center in Phoenix, AZ. The money will provide breast cancer screenings and services to Navajo and Hopi women. Many of these women have an annual income of $5,000. Your purchase of a WTWW Calendar can make a difference! Every calendar sold will help, they are wonderful gifts to give to every woman on your Christmas list!! HELP us make a difference! REMEMBER: www.wtww.org
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I have decided that one of the things that I want to do on this blog is share with you some of the creative things that I make. All colorful, all fairly useful items. I like working on projects that have a dual purpose. So here is a picture of a Step Stool that I painted for a gallery in Baltimore. This step stool is titled: Step Into My Garden....I did it for an opening that they had and I am HAPPY to report that it SOLD opening night!! I love that!! When I make something for a Gallery it is a great experience because I can do it anyway I LOVE to do it....And that makes for the creative process to be so open and free! When you are doing custom pieces you have a little less control over the direction that the project must take. I really love the Gallery work, because my mind is open and free to do anything that I want. When it is purchased I know it is because the person buying it feels the positive energy, the happiness of the creativity, the joy in the process that I felt while doing it...Because after all these are objects that speak to the buyer...I HAVE TO HAVE IT! I know that feeling. When you see something and you JUST KNOW it must be yours, you must have it around you, you know it just makes you happy!! That is my wish for you today. That you get a little glimpse of what makes you happy and then you do it! That you try to do it at least 5 minutes every day! Get into the habit of it...Make yourself HAPPY!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This is a picture of me that Jennifer Simpson took of me (You can see her blog here at blogger...aka jesais Check out her piece on CREATIVITY!) , without me knowing at the Kaizen-Muse conference that I attended in California last month...I do not usually like pictures of myself, but this one sort of speaks to me...and I see myself in it...Do you know that feeling? The one where you are looking at a picture of yourself and say.."hey, who the heck is that!!??" This one does not do it to me, and I think it is because I had no idea that she was taking a picture and therefore I did not have to do the "cheesy" smile!! LOL...Anyhow, this is the front of me...So that is my wish for you today, that you look and see yourself..and if you don't at first look again especially into your own eyes...see your beauty, see your soul, see your creativity! Try to see just 5% of what everyone else sees...I think you'll be amazed!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
In a post a few days ago I wrote about my beloved kitty, Mr. Kitt.I am happy, well, more than happy, OVERJOYED!That Kitt has come back to me..All the well wishers, all the positive energy from those I love, and from those who love animals must of worked! It has been 9 days, he is skinny for sure! Wants to eat like crazy, and he won't quite let me near him enough yet to figure out if he is OK, but he looks ok...and he did kiss my nose...a thing he has been doing since we first brought him home....I do not think he will venture out again, but to air on the side of caution, he will be held when people are walking in or out the door for a while!! My wish with this post is to keep a watchful eye on your beloved pets...They look to us to protect them, we have tamed them, so they really do not know what to do once they get outside if they have never been there before..Kiss your pet, love your pet, adore your pet...I KNOW that I am going to do that just a little bit more!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
So did you ever wonder where people create? Well, this is just a small peek into my creative space...or should I say lack of space!! LOL....I love the clutter, I love all the color around me, toys, projects that are started, projects that are finished, projects waiting to be finished! Because I deal with paint, there are numerous projects going on at one time (of course it could also be that my brain fires in rapid numbers different projects to work on!! LOL!) But, I do like to blame it on the paint!! Anyhow, there is usually a small path through my studio door (which use to be my daughters' bedroom!) to my work desk...The work desk has just a small working surface because I have so many toys, and happy objects on it that inspire me!! I surround myself with eye candy of the people I love...When I can't find something (and believe it or not amongst this clutter I usually can!!) then I know it is time to clean!! I am almost there, but not quite! I think I can get away with it for a week or so more as projects become completed and new ones pop up!! I have a few deadlines that I must meet so cleaning will have to wait!! (What a great excuse!!) So my wish for you today, is that you surround yourself with the things that make you happy, paint your studio a fun color, or if you use the table in the kitchen, before you start to create bring in a few objects that inspire you! I always know for myself when I am creating that when I look up and see something that speaks to me, the process is just that much better!! So go now...get to your studio...get to your space...put out some wonderful loving objects and CREATE!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
My son, Jason, has moved into a new apartment! I am always a little bit unsure when I decide that I am going to make something for him. He has his own unique style and personality. But the one thing about him is that he is an extrememly colorful guy! He has so many sides to his personality! He is a loving son for sure! And I adore him! He has a fine since of humor (well, really it borders on being very silly!) He has a ton of one liners, and many other qualities of humor. I think that is one of the aspects of his life that just causes me to stand back and giggle!! I have always wanted to give him a piece that I made....Well, here it is!! The table of colors.....And when he saw it he knew that he had to have it!! He has been a fine supporter of my art for many years. Both with being a backer for me at times, and with cheering me on! I LOVE MY BOY!!!!!!! And that is my wish for you today, that you give a little back to those who support your hearts' passion. For the people that are your personal cheerleaders! They are the ones who egg you on, who dream a little bigger for you, and who help you reach a little higher. HERE'S TO YOU KID!!!!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I have not written in my affirmation journal this week at all. With the things going on in my life I haven't even thought about it. I opened up the journal to share it with a friend and read the entry here and realized that the ending for this project had come. I wasn't even aware of it! I still have to make a cover, and back for the book and do a dedication page, as I would LOVE to get this little book published.
It would be a wonderful thing to inspire others to create their own, and at best for them to have a positive affirmation and a piece of colorful art to see every day. So that is my wish for all today. That you know when to start a project, a thought, a conversation, an affirmation, but you also know when to end them. To often we stay at the party longer than we need to and that cause deep trouble. Then we often don't even start the thing that we desire most and that causes deep soul trouble. So honor both your beginnings and your endings, it will do your soul good.
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This is a photo of my beloved kitty Kitt who I have been the proud owner of for the past 11 years. We got Kitt after the kids flew the nest and the Doctor thought perhaps my empty nest needed someone to mother. So my good husband took me to the pound for our anniversay (even though he was not fond of cats...he is fond of me!) We saw one litter of kitties that were all black and they asked which one I would like, which I answered well, the black one! LOL! They lifted up one of the little black kitties and there was a golden baby that could fit in a teacup! Oh NO! I must have that one!! And off Kitt went with us to his new home...He has been a handful, a loving pet and a joy to me. He curls up underneath my arm every night to sleep, promptly wakes us at 6 AM demanding to be fed and delights us with fetching toys and bringing us dead bugs! This perhaps sounds past tense because it is...Kitt made a mad escape last week while I was out of town. Being an indoor cat he must of been compelled for what ever reason to go outside. It is now day 6 and he is no where in sight. I am heartsick for my lost, delighted that I knew him for 11 1/2 years and still hold on to some hope that he will appear at the door like nothing ever happened! So my wish for you today is to kiss the nose of your pet, tell them you love them, give them a treat and SMILE because of the joy and the unconditional love they bring to you.
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
While coaching a client this week we began a conversation about perspectives and keeping them! There are times that it is easy to lose sight of the things that we hold true to ourself and know comes from our higher self. I would like to say that I always have a focus on my perspectives, but I know that not to be true. There are days when that little nagging negative voice comes over to my house to play! When those days happen it is easy to lose sight of the important things to do with your creativity. The truth of the matter is that sometimes that nagging little voice actually takes over the creative space and just makes a mess of things. In our conversation it became very clear that at that moment that voice seems to be getting very loud, you must STOP! BREATHE! Let it have its 15 minutes of FAME and then say..OK NOW BE GONE! We all can be stopped in our tracks with this negative side of ourself, no matter how successful we may be! Some long held belief that we just aren't good enough, or do not deserve to be this happy! It is just a part of life I guess, but keeping hold of our perspective makes you come back...Back to the space that is happy, that does know that you deserve the happiness! So that is my wish for you today...That you keep sight of your perspectives! That you know when the negative comes, that following right behind it in bigger footsteps is your positive...your perspectives...STOP! And BREATHE it back in! It is like a clean fresh breath of brilliant creative air!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This painting was inspired by my friend Debs, from Key West!
She wrote a wonderful poem with this title and it inspired me to paint this picture! Debs is a marvelous writer, a new/old friend (you know the type that you have just met but feel that you have known for years) a patron of the arts, a personal cheerleader, a wonderful soul...and I am honored to have her in my life. I will finally get to meet her in San Diego in a couple days, after being friends on the net for a year...So this is a very exciting thing for both of us...Two peas in a pod...members of the same tribe of Muse women...And this is my tribute to her...Thanks Debs for everything. So that is my wish for all today, that you let the people in your life know how much they mean to you. That you honor that blessing of having them in your life. And that because of them your life is more complete!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
There is no picture today! I am actually feeling a bit under the weather...
I also know that I have hit the wall while running! I am not sure what happened, but
guess I will blame it on to much sugar!! I have been posting in my "blue book journal" today, and this coming right after such a week of happiness! But, I think that is it!I can never quite figure out why it is that I just can't STAY THERE in the happiness. Why is it that for whatever reason I do not think I deserve it for long? So today I am in the "blue funk" I am slowly coming out of it!! But I think that I will have to really focus on the gratitute that I have within MORE today than ever...And that is my wish for you today....FOCUS...FOCUS...FOCUS....I just got this mail and I will share with you while I ponder it also:
Your body is constantly renewing itself via the thought forms and energetic patterns you radiate. Change the self-limiting patterns and negative forms to those of positive, expansive vibrations and you change your body, your reality, and your world. (Archangel Michael through Ronna Herman) - www.RonnaStar.com
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
Another week has passed! As you are aware this week has been filled with happiness and my being aware of it! That is not to say that all has been happy!! My daughter and grandson moved out this week and so that was a very sad day! I did manage to stay out of the house all day so that I did not have to witness the final departure! However, I know that I will adjust to this, I have my grandson here today, so things appear fairly normal!! I also know that the time that we spend with him now that he will not be here every day with be EXTRA SPECIAL!!!!!! And that makes me very HAPPY!!So as usual one must remember that there are two sides to every coin! Yes, sometimes things appear to hit you badly and cause a little sadness, but then FLIP it over to the other side and perhaps the sun is shining. So that is my wish for you today...FLIP...Take a look at the other side of things...turn it over gently...hold it for what it is and love it...Cause you never know what kind of happiness lies around the corner or the other side!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I have become really aware of happiness this week, and what part that plays in the creative process! The love that surrounds me, the singing and dancing around the house...the silly stuff that just makes me giggle right out loud! When I am totally aware of it all...when I let myself be in the moment with it..WOW!
I realize how content I am...those "little" annoying things no longer throw me out of wack, or take over me! (Remember that saying: "Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill")I am not sure why I do that, but I must admit that I do...And yet this week I am totally aware of "mole hills" and I have not made them into "mountains" and I am so PROUD of myself!! I am just singing and dancing in all the HAPPY around me! WOW AGAIN! So that is my wish for you today, that you WOW yourself with an awareness of your happy! That you do not make mountains out of mole hills, or if you start to you stop and say..HEY THAT'S A MOLE HILL! LOL!!! Because, those mole hills usually take care of themselves with time, and a small smoke bomb!! So enjoy your day, sing and dance in your happiness...It is a beautiful thing!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I have been having a very HAPPY week creatively! And I have to say I have not been doing a lot of art! I have dabbled in some here and there, I have been looking at a lot of wonderful magazines filled with all sorts of visual eye candy. I have been thinking of art, dreaming of art, day dreaming and just generally being happy with that. I use to "beat" myself up when I was not creating...You know, how do you call yourself an artist when you aren't even doing anything!! When one day I realized...this down time is PART OF THE PROCESS! My mentor calls it my "INCUBATION" time! And she is right...I have come full circle this week! I have been working so long and hard on getting the paintings ready, doing my altered book, creating a few projects (small ones) for a few coaching clients, that I was a little tired. I didn't even realize that I was...But, now after having taken a few naps, looked at some of the magazines, gone out for a few lattes and did a little window shopping I realize that I was. Now I am ready to start again...I have had a BURST from this down time!
Tomorrow is another day and I can't wait to step right into it! So that is my wish for you today, that you realize the value of your down time. That you know it is really an honoring of who you are and what you do. To receive that burst is an important step, but you have to allow yourself the time to be quiet so that you can receive it fully! It is BIG ... it is beautiful...and it is all about your creativity!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I am really enjoying doing my daily affirmation journal. I think it is because it is a positive message every morning, and I really don't think about it to much. I am not offering it for sale so it does not have to be perfect...things can be misspelled and the paint can be out of the lines...It is also something that I keep for myself (and share with YOU!) but I do not keep to many art pieces for myself that I make. Most get sold and some very special ones go to very special people in my life! Anyhow, this piece sort of reminds me of a christmas ornament...and for whatever reason once it was complete it just made me SMILE! One of those deep down within you smiles that make you feel warm all over and just make you glow. I never know why somethings do this, but I certainly am glad they do! So that is my wish for you today, that you become aware of something in your life that causes you to experience one of those deep smiles...and rejoice in it...do the happy dance...throw your arms up in the air and give out a big TA-DA!!!!!! Smiles..just start and make the day perfect. So here is to a perfect SMILE DAY!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
Do you ever just sit down at the studio table, or wherever you do your creative work, and you have no idea what is driving your hand to draw something? Your brain is not even in the process! Well, that is what happened with my morning affirmation today!I sat down picked up the pencil...and the drawing really just drew itself...The paint jumped out of the tubes onto the paper...and before I knew it ...It was done!! Like magic...That is how I feel about art most of the time... It is just pure magic. People often ask me where I get ideas from and I always feel sort of silly when I say things like, well...they just come to me...or well...the piece just sort of tells me what to do! But that is the process for me!! It isn't like I do still life paintings or portraits...I just see this design or a color in my mind and I just have to paint it!! So that is my wish for you today, that you see your magic in whatever it is that you are doing. That you recognize the power it has and let it just awe you! Make it appear on paper, on wood, on canvas with metal, with beads with yarn or fabric, with ink and pencils...wherever it can!! Just pull the rabbit out of the hat of creativity and make your magic! WHAT A SHOW!!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
It seems that the older I get the faster the time goes by! Perhaps it is because I am so wanting to do so much more, now that I am older. There just does not seem to be enough hours in any given day to do everything that is on my list!(remember when you were a kid and you use to tell your mother you were board?!Well those days are long gone!!) I am staying the course however! I am not giving up! I am standing on my tip toes reaching up toward my stars and waiting to spread those wings open wider than I can possiably imagine! I have so many things that I want to do!! I am traveling very rapidly these days, and I really am liking this fast pace (at least at the moment!) I am working on so many things right now, the paintings, the wall art, my daily affirmation book, the altered book exchange, getting ready to go to California (I have a Kaizen-Muse Conference that I will be attending in 2 weeks!) and then of course there is just the daily stuff, the bed needs to be made, dishes, wash, bathrooms cleaned...*you know the really fun stuff!! Books to be read, phone calls to be made!! But, I am finding the time and space for it all, and that is making me so very happy. So that is my wish for you today. That you take all that you do, and make it happy! Whistle while you work!!! Sing a song, make a painting, dance~~I will leave you today with a quote from Robert Fulghum......
"Be aware of wonder, live a balanced life, learn some and think some and draw and paint and sew and sing and dance and play and work every day some!"
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
Just another update...I have completed another painting!!
I have decided that I will be doing 12 paintings and a wall installation. Why? Well, because I usually paint on wood and one of the designs that I see in my heart would look better on wood! So I have decided that it is what I should do!! Actually by finishing this painting it became more aparent to me...I am remembering the fire in my heart. I love the feel of the texture that objects that I paint allow me. I sand and finish and there are just so many steps to it..I guess I like all the steps. I must say that I am having great fun with the paper, but I have started the wood piece and my heart is singing! So that is my wish for you today, before I get back into the paint, that your remember the fire in your heart. Even if you think that fire was put out a long time ago, with age or someones words. REMEMBER IT! REKINDLE IT! Know in your heart that it is still there and needs you to honor it. So whatever it was(or is)take it and take time for it. It will make your heart sing, I know that to be true!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I have a journal that I call the "Blue Book". This is a journal that I write in when my "shadow" side is showing itself. I have learned recently that if I allow those feelings to come out on paper then I do not wallow around in the shadow area very long. I see what it is that is making me a little sad and I am better able to address it. This is the page that I have been playing with today. I titled the page, the bitter and the sweet, because that is how I am feeling. We have had our daughter and grandson living with us for the past 8 months. It has been a wonderful and yet at times difficult thing. They are moving into their own apartment and that will be final this weekend. So, even though I know in order for them to grow as a small family, and even though I know that I really want my time and space back, and even though I know that it is the best thing for everyone to become whole...I will not have the wonderment of a 1 and 1/2 year old exploring my world every day, I will not have the nurturing that I instinctively do daily, I will not have another artist who stays up till 1 in the morning to cheer me on and give me support. Once your children have left the nest you have an adjustment time, just when you think that you are so comfortable there, someone might come back, and you have to readjust again...and then they leave once again...READJUSTMENT! And although I know in my heart this is not an ending, but rather a beginning of a new chapter in our lives. I can't help but think that that first morning when I sit down to have my cup of coffee alone, that the chatter of a little monkey boy saying...MO-MA! will be missed very badly. Guess I'll just have to go out for that cup of coffee!! So my wish for you today is to adjust. Adjust to the things that happen in your life that you know are bitter/sweet. Know that all will work out for the best for everyone involved
And in the end, everything will be exactly the way it was suppose to be!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
This is just a small picture of the beautiful flowers that my friend Debs sent to me for my birthday celebration! Flowers are meant to be shared, the beauty, the fragrance, the perfect creation of nature.I thank her for being in my life and giving so much of herself as a friend to me. I want to acknowledge all those who have sent me wonderful E cards and good wishes. My day is starting out perfectly WONDERFUL! So this is a little BIRTHDAY GIFT that I present to all who enter here today. The gift of love that you are all so much a part of my life, and a visual of the perfect beauty that you present to me every day!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
Today is the day of my birth..The beginning of a new year for me! This is the morning affirmation I did for the celebration of this day! Today, I will take the time and reflect on getting to this 55 year old mile stone! The events, the people, the ups and downs, the great happiness... all that have made and shaped me into the woman that I am today! I am content with my life as it is at the present moment. I have great hope and joy for the coming new year. I am on a path that I will honor and be present in every day. That is my gift to myself! To be aware, to be and recognize all the happiness that surrounds me. To allow myself time to breathe and create all that my heart tells me to. It is all wrapped in shiney paper with ribbons and flowers and stars. And that is my wish for all today also, that you be aware of your moments. Of the things that add to you and discard those that subtract from you. That all the people in your life be gifted also, by your love and passion. So, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME/HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I had some postcards made up at VISTA.COM to send out for the ART opening in October. They had a rather fun and funky look with a lot of bright color that appeared to resemble what I do to some degree. So I decided that I would make a painting based on that postcard. Its sort of a theme thing that I have in mind. I decided that the first painting to go up will be the one with the woman walking out of the black and white world and stepping into the color...Then I will have this one next to it...cause my work tends to be all about the color!! I certainly do not consider myself a GREAT artist, but rather a whimsical one, who plays with the emotional aspect of my art. I like to put words on the paintings as I have done that on most of my furniture art pieces. Anyhow, this is the painting that I just finished! It is fun and funky a little like the postcards, but alot like me! So that is my wish for you today! BE A LOT LIKE YOURSELF! To often we let other people and things direct how we act and feel about ourself. Once again that comparison thing comes into play and we end up not being true to ourself. Be gentle....Go forward..
Try not to judge yourself. As a friend of mine told me this morning, "allow yourself to be in the moment of who you are is self-loving." So that is my wish for you today
LOVE yourself! YOU ARE TRUELY UNIQUE!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
I am keeping up with the task! PHEW! Considering that I have known about this show for a year, you would wonder why I would wait till the last minute to do these paintings. Well, let me defend myself to myself!! First I said YES to the show, because well, honestly, it was a huge ego boost! Secondly, after I said Yes to the show, I couldn't figure out why I had! Mostly because I paint on objects, furniture, wood pieces,you know, objects! So that is when the FEAR kicked in. Fear of not being good enough, fear of looking silly, fear of failure, better yet fear of success! So I put it off...and off...and off. Till finally as the deadline approached I had to STOP being fearful. I had to sit myself down and give myself a good talking to. You know one of those heart to heart talks. Why was I so afraid? It really isn't any different than painting on wood. Its paper..so what. Its still paint, and brushes and ideas and color. NO BIG DEAL! I could still do the paintings that I see in my minds eye! That is when I had to let go. Let go of the fear and start to paint. My goal is to do a painting every two days, and I am keeping to the goal. Then I will have to mat and frame them, good thing I know how to do that!!(I use to be a custom picture framer) So this is the one that I just finished. I call it SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS. And that is my wish for you today, that you show your true colors especially to yourself. The fear that you may feel when starting something is just a little bit of the unknown. Sometimes the fear just lets you know that you are on the right path. Believe in yourself and the creativity that longs to be released. Let go of the fear of trying, and honor your creativity, by doing so you will be honoring yourself.
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
Well, another painting down. Actually this is a mixed media
one...Stepping out of her black and white world! Or something like that!! LOL...This was a really fun piece to work on because I never see in black and white! Only shades of various colors. I have lately been more aware that there are people out there that only see things in black and white or shades of grey. So this painting shows me just
what color does for me. It brightens my day, softens my outlook on things and just plain makes me HAPPY! So that is my wish for all today. Look for the color in your world, in your life, in your day. There is bound to be something that will make you smile. I mean deep down from the tips of your toes to the top of your head smile. My day is starting out that way just by posting this picture. I hope it brings a smile to you also.
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
