Joyful Purpose

Farewell my dear friend

Farewell my sweet sweet girl.  She was my best friend for 19 years without fail she was there for me with unconditional love, a nicker, a soft nose to kiss, and a sure and steady presence.  Ebony turned 28 on May 10 and on May 12 she moved on to a place that I believe has endless green pastures, no pain, and an endless supply of carrots.  She was a constant strength in my life and I cannot imagine it without her.  I will miss her every day  without question.  My husband Mark bought her for me on our first Christmas together.  There has not been too many days since then that I haven't seen her.  Yesterday, after weeks of trying to get her well and pain free - I let her go.  It was the hardest goodbye I have ever made and my heart feels like there is a huge hole in it.  I know I did the right thing, the unselfish thing, the kind thing - I let her go when she had a perfect morning - she went out to graze in her favorite pasture with he buddy Spot eating grass in the sunshine, I gave her a bag of carrots for them to share and I told her how much I loved her and I thanked her for all she had given me.  And I said goodbye and that I would see her on the other side when my time comes.  My heart is broken and I miss you beyond measure.  I love you my sweet, sweet girl - my rose smelling horse.

Mothering Sunday

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I am an admitted OCP -Organized Clutter Person

This is the painting studio, as a functioning one that is - I wish someone would put a book out on artist studios - AS THEY REALLY LOOK- for me I want a glimpse into the essence of how people work and create - sure I love looking at all the neat and pretty pictures of a cleaned up studio - but come on folks if you are really doing some mad work - it ain't pretty - I want to see the nitty gritty.  So here is mine after I have done some mad work in it - as is

And hey I am all for being organized as it leads to being productive thus the ...

Tote-ally Cool! Tote2 - that is actually the name - I know it is a cheeseball name but I didn't do it!  However, the tote is actually great - and it has a magnetic spinning plate on the bottom - so it spins - very cool - I have a mini one for my jewelry tools and a large for my journaling tools - I actually saw these at my friend Carol's studio ,as she uses them - bought the mini from her and got the large one at Target.

I realized that I am an OCP - Organized Clutter Person (yes, of course I made this up) and you can't make a leopard change his spots or hers in this case.  I am a nester - like lots of stuff but like to know where it is. 

I showed you mine now show me yours ....

Mama's gotta brand new car

  This is my new love.  Isn't she cute!  I had owned a Ford Expedition for the past 8 years and I loved it and it served me well and it would have run another 200,000 miles and it was paid off .... and it cost 100.00 to fill the tank every week.  I just couldn't justify giving that much money to support the oil companies - so after a labor intensive search and a grueling negotiation with the dealership - I am now the proud owner of a silver Prius!  48 miles to the gallon and good well as good as can be for the environment.  need to name her - any suggestions?  The boys like Trixie (they wanted the Mach 5 as being fans of Speed Racer but I told them she was a girl so they settled on the gal character- aka Trixie)  and I thought of Penelope as in Penelope Pitstop = that was vetoed - so I am open for your suggestions.

Guardian angel my guardian dear

This is a series of paintings that I finished based on photos I took of a guardian angel and child statue that resides at Maryvale along with blessings from J O'Donohue.

May we discover beneath our fear embers of anger to kindle justice

May our eyes be worn but have the kindness of reverence

May you have courage to listen

May a secret providence guide your thoughts

These are in my Etsy shop as well.

cuts like butta

I have been carving blocks to use in my work - some of the results above and the prints below - I really like the tribal type of feeling they exude and the resulting feel.

Soft Cut blocks

work really well and cut "like butta"

Speedball Lino Cutter

the tool of choice for cutting

Etsy as in Betsy is Open

I have decided to start listing a few select pieces in my Etsy Store ( and it is pronounced et - see as it rhymes with Betsy as per the sites FAQ) I tell you that made my day finding out the answer to that long held debate!)

The paintings in the aforementioned post are listed and I will be adding others soon.

A Mantra

These are a few small pieces I have been working on that embody what I am trying to say in my work -
the quotes are blessings from John O'Donohue's
To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings    

All that is eternal in me welcomes the wonder of this day

May I live this day
Compassionate of heart
Clear in Word
Gracious in Awareness
Courageous in Thought
Generous in Love

This is my daily mantra...

courage and commitment

It takes courage, conviction and commitment to pursue a body of work, and for me this is my painting.  I have been working on a collection of pieces for quite awhile now and after showing them to a friend, whose opinion I greatly value, I decided to have the courage to post them .... they are still works in progress mind you, but here are some peeks at the work.  This is a big step for me because my paintings are the most intimate thing that I do - the most expressive - the closest view of who I truly am.  So here is to being vulnerable and willing - in hopes that it will give me clarity to stick with it - to believe in it  - and to move forward.

A bucket full of roses

I love this picture- for me it says so much as to what I love - colorful, fragrant, delicate roses in a hot pink bucket amidst a hay strewn floor in the barn.  I tell ya it doesn't get much better than this.
Except for this of course - my sweet rose smelling horse -Ebony.  We went for a lovely walk and cut roses the other day. This is the path to and from the barn that we walk.  I know, I know, just lovely isn't it - we are blessed.  I am grateful that I was able to see and accept all the beauty around me - it was truly a great day.