Extra Christmas Cards

Here’s an idea I found on Facebook for using one of your extra Christmas cards.  Even if you don’t agree with our Armed forces being involved in the mess overseas, sending a card is a nice jesture for the people who are working, helping and fighting in Afghanistan.  These men/women are doing what they believe will help Canada and the people of poorer/conflict ridden areas of the world.  Who knows maybe they can actually change things for the better in the middle east.

When filling out your holiday cards this year, please take one card and send it to this address:
Any Canadian Forces Member
Op Attention: Kabul
PO Box 5140 Stn Forces
Belleville ON

Kim 

My friend Jennifer Cockton is one of the contributing authors of this amazing book "1000 Tips For Teenagers" launched today (National Child's Day) Help me celebrate her commitment to EMPOWER TEENS! Share this link http://nimb.li/S7jUWM

1000 Tips for Teenagers is a compilation book of 120 authors who have each contributed 10 tips to inspire teens. With suicide at an all-time high, this book was written to help teens know that we aren't giving up on them. Teens count and teens matter! This book is the ultimate resource for the teen who is looking for inspiration to get them through their tumultuous teenage years.

Check Out This Site

There is no such thing as a simple Google search!  While checking out a few You Tube how-to videos, I stumbled upon the Craft Test Dummies site - www.crafttestdummies.com.  There are lots of product reviews, links to how-to videos & more for every medium.  The site led me to ways to use my Derwent Inktense pencils & blocks (this is what I was originally looking for).  I also found lots of other new and not so new products to investigate.  Anyone, use ModPodge's Brushstroke medium?  Think I might have to look into this....oh the possibilities!

Words from a friend

It's weeks like this that I'm lucky to have such good friends in my life.  Today is going to be a crazy day and I want to keep up with developing/posting the blog so I'm happy that a friend has sent me the following.  Deb, thanks for sharing this with me and enjoy being 'published'!

The Magic of the Universe by Debra Anne Gaudet

When I’m feeling lousy or need energizing, I go for an 80-minute walk late in the evening. Now, I do a lot of soul searching during these walks, work through my problems, remember the important things I'm supposed to do and give myself a healthy pep talk about the future. By the time I come home, I'm energized inside and out.

While I walk, I often encounter animals on my path and they always appear when I'm particularly down. Sometimes they appear at home. Yesterday, while I was crying about a conversation I had just had with my ex-husband, a dragonfly landed on my kitchen window. It stayed for a long time, as dragonflies do. Then I went out on the deck to see the other side of it and it flitted over about a foot to let me see. It was a magical moment, and a sign from the universe that I am loved. I instantly felt better, knowing everything would be alright and that although my ex-husband only expresses hatred and resentment towards me right now, the rest of the universe loves me.

Dragonflies often appear to me right when I need some assurance. Sometimes they land on me, or flitter around my head a few times. I take it as a sign. 

Hummingbirds are also extremely magical to me. I rarely see them, but once in Victoria, right after I ended my 15-year marriage, a hummingbird flew right up to my face, stared at me for 10 seconds, and hovered off. I think it was saying, "Have confidence in yourself, you are special." Whether dragonflies or hummingbirds have this ability is not the point of this story. The point is that it is important to believe in the magic of the universe.

We know there are immeasurable fields of energy among us that link us all on a sub-atomic level. Physicists are working on understanding these fields by observing how sub-atomic particles behave in certain situations. What if, in some small way, I have become able to observe the effects of one of these fields? Most people wouldn't think twice about the appearance of a hummingbird or dragonfly, but somehow I see a correlation between their appearances in my life and how I feel at that moment.

Take the time to appreciate the appearance of animals and birds in your life. The happy songbirds that wake me up in the morning are welcome visitors to me, no matter what time they wake me up. They are saying: “Hey, I’m just a little bird and I struggle to survive every day. But I take the time to sing a happy song to show you to appreciate what you have right now.” It sure reminds me not to dwell on my problems but to appreciate the moment.

I know you're saying, “She sees what she wants to see.” And I argue that we all should see what we want to see. Paint a picture of yourself, your perfect self in a perfect world; put it on paper with as many describing words as you can. Hide it away for a few weeks and open it up again. You will see that the universe has conspired to love and support you and those things have begun to happen (naturally and without effort). Suddenly, you will notice certain magical things happening in your life. Belief in something bigger that is on your side is something you should force yourself to do because it leads to a more positive, healthy life. Whether or not animals have something to communicate to us is irrelevant: but having confidence that if you act in a positive way, positive things will come to you is primordial to mental health. Have faith in the goodness and generosity of the universe. Believe in the magic.

Yesterday, a tiny black mouse appeared on the fence as I walked by. It froze, allowing me to come closer. I wished it well and took it as a sign that I was on the right track.

 

Here's a quick peak at something you will see at the Good Shepherd Art Studio Show & Sale this coming weekend.  It's a series of three coloured ink line drawings by me - $120  I've previewed some of the other entries and wow!......there is much creativity and talent in our community.

More about me ..... coming soon

I started writing a paragraph about me for the blog - it made me laugh!  I still sometimes feel uncomfortable saying "I'm an artist" but that is how I started.  I began to explain what kind of artist I am and that's when the laughter began.  If I didn't include an art medium I'm playing with then it appeared on the list of mediums I want to try.  I am an ANY MEDIUM artist! - I have my favourite mediums and my go to mediums like pen & paper and my camera but basically I want to experience everything (and sometimes on the same canvas).  This exercise made me realize that picking one theme or narrowing the focus of this blog is impossible .... and unnecessary.  I'm going to post about what I'm doing, what I want to do and what others are doing and that will change depending upon the journey the art mediums take me.  So, don't be surprised when one day I'm excited about watercolour or acrylics, then back to papercrafting and my Copic markers - hopefully there will be lots to share about stuff on my "to be tried list" too! 

The to do list today includes:

• post on the blog - WOOHOO! something already crossed off the list!
• finish writing & post "about me" paragraph for blog (will happen when the laughter stops)
• sort out my blog & website links list and share some with you (feel free to share some of yours with me too)
• explore more about Blogger & all the things it can do ( sooo many gadgets - it's like a digital candy store!)

Good Shepherd Art Studio Show & Sale is next weekend

I will have 4 pieces of art in this sale.  If I get busy, I'll have more - some for sale & some just to show.  There are many very talented artists in our community.  Come be inspired by their creativity.  I will be in attendance on Saturday.  As luck would have it, I have a conflict on Friday evening - I'll be getting inspiration for some projects at the Leonard Cohen concert at the Saddledome.

3rd time's the charm!

This is the 3rd time I have started this blog.....3rd time's the charm!  I haven't known what to do or what I wanted to do with a blog.  After reading lots of other blogs, I have decided to keep my 'theme' somewhat random.  For now, I will post my random thoughts about stuff I'm doing, stuff I like, stuff I'd like to share, and more stuff.  My hope is that the blog 'theme' will sort itself out over time.  I'm open to ideas and suggestions.