self-compassion

lightness of heart

Creativity in all it's forms can bring a lightness of heart and joy...even homemade party lights to hang in the dining room or patio. 

call it what you will

My latest grocery bag art journal...notes to myself on regaining balance in life.  Call it what you will...centering yourself, setting your mind on things above, regaining your spiritual perspective, taking every thought captive, practicing the steps of recovery...for me, they are pages of visual meditations.

balance

My latest art journal's theme is what I call regaining balance.  I began it as a visual reminder of those practices that most help me recover, heal, center myself, and regain my stability in an ever-changing life.  Not only will it be a visual reminder when I'm done, but it also serves as a kinesthetic meditation while creating it.  Spending the time to express in visual form the message allows me to take it in through my senses. 

So...regaining balance often has to begin with stop long enough to take a few deep breaths...proceed to telling the truth...what is happening and how do I honestly feel about it....

(See subsequent posts for additional steps.)

paper feathers

Spent yesterday afternoon putting together another recycled paper bag art journal and tried my hand at paper feathers which turned out beautiful.  I love the challenge of making something beautiful out of what I have on hand.  Both ideas I found on Pinterest which provides thousands of creative ideas to get me going, but the amazing wonderful thing about art is that even with thousands of people making similar things, everyone's is perfectly unique and different from any other.

courage

Inspired by a conversation with my oldest daughter and her sharing with me some links to TED talks by Brene Brown.  Background text is from a paperback dictionary from a thrift store, sealed with gesso, with lettering in pencil, fine-tip Sharpie, and colored pencils.