Joyful Purpose

6 keys

  Judi brought back these cards for me from New York and I just love them and what they say - they really do say it all - I mean if we all followed these 6 simple rules life in general would be much better for everyone.  But since I am only in charge of me I need to practice these keys - so for today it is GRATITUDE ~
I am truly grateful for the wonderful, supportive, loving friends in my life ~ you know who you are - thank you so...

I am grateful for my family and the love and comfort they give me

I am grateful that I have the opportunity to do art on a daily basis and I am grateful that I understand and accept that art is necessary for me to be whole and fulfilled.

I am grateful for my life  ~ I am blessed beyond measure.

These Clogs were made for walkin'

  These are my new clogs - I love them - Dansko clogs that is - I have been wearing  this brand for over 10 years and love them - the way they feel on my feet, the look and not to mention that they add a few inches to my  height - which at 5'3" I need.  This is my newest pair - They are  SWEEEET!!  Love the tapestry and the colors - they just make me happy ;)   So I wore my happy clogs to the bead show with my friend Judi and did some damage  .... Here are a few of my finds. 

A good Egg indeed

I am asking for all of your prayers, good thoughts, positive energy whatever works for you.  My dear, dear friend Ginny (she is going to kill me for this) had a triple coronary bypass quite unexpectedly this past week.  Please hold her close to your heart with good thoughts for hers.  She is one of the good ones - the kind you treasure and feel blessed you can call her a friend.  As she would say ... She is a good egg!  My lovely friend be well.

A little Party for the Season

We had a Halloween Party last night for the boys friends and their families.  Everyone seemed to have a really good time.  So here are a few pics of the before shots.  After that no more shots - darn it - I say I am going to take pics during the party but I just get to busy taking care of things- oh well - it was fun - I am off this morning with my friend Judi to a bead show - yumm-  I'll show you my scores when I return ;)

Gifts from friends

It is wonderful to receive unexpected gifts from friends.  Darling Tammie Moore included this handmade necklace in my Halloween Swap.  I can tell she made it with me in mind - I love birds - love the color light blue - How sweet and how thoughtful.  Tammie you rock girl!

Lovely Ladies

First, thank you for all your concerns about the fires - Our family is fine - it's been a bit crazy - no cable or internet service still - (I am at barnes and noble typing this now)  Funny how we communicate so much with our internet - I think I am going through a bit of withdraw;)  Anyway, the class I taught at the Paper Post last weekend was small but delightful - Here are some pics of the ladies and their work.

  SueNan owner of the fabulous Paper Post itself.

  Darling Debbie - oh such a courageous soul!

  Lovely Annette who has such a strong and wonderful sense of colors and textures.

I really enjoyed teaching the class to these wonderful women.  I think I get just as much teaching as I do being the student - it's all about the learning.

new ventures and new journeys

Here is my renovated studio space for painting - I know can you believe it it looks so clean and neat - but don't be deceived - it is just new!  It is a shed/storage area in the breezeway of our beach house.  I have decided to deem it my painting space and am going  - yes I am - going to schedule at least one day a week as my work studio time to come and work on my paintings.

This is my son Payton who - god love him - wanted to paint today - a first - must be the new studio - he is cute though!

Here is my little package for my students at the Paper Post class I am teaching tomorrow - a first for me there and looking forward to it - they will either love me or hate me - we shall see.....

keep on drawing

china marker on acrylic paint

I read recently that it is good practice to draw the same image over and over again - so here it goes - an effort from my journaling last night of an image of a face that I love. uh times 3!

Fine Pitt pen, marker and colored pencil

brush marker

Beautiful hopefully equals bucks for Free Arts

beautiful  48"x36" mixed media

This is piece is finished for the silent auction for the Art Heals benefit for Free Arts that will be held this Thurs. in Malibu.  I am donating all the proceeds to Free Arts so I hope someone really likes it a lot!

We only have this day - once

  When I was at my friend Judi's the other day she showed me this wooden calendar that is not only cute but has a reason behind it - She said she thought if she had to physically move the blocks to a new day every day that she would be more conscious of the present - that she would never have Oct. 16, 2007 ever again and therefore to make the most of this day.  I really loved that idea. Sooo, I went to one of my favorite stores -THe  Paper Post in Agoura (where btw I will be teaching a journaling workshop this Sunday) and purchased said calendar.  So here begins my little adventure sharing the things today that I love and appreciate this morning - Sweet Cheyenne who follows me EVERYWHERE and is now snoring away at my feet while I type this - it gets on my nerves that she is always under my feet and then this morning I thought how lucky I am to always have her love me so and how I will miss her when she is not there.

And then I am constantly greeted by darling Soloman - who we call Cry Baby - because as in the picture he is always crying to us for attention.  He loves to have his belly rubbed like a dog.  Here he is this morning for a little snuggle time. This makes me slow down and take the time to rub a cat's belly or scratch a dog's ears.  To appreciate what I often take for granted.  Today - Oct. 16, 2007 - my intention is to appreciate the small things in my day - to slow down enough to savor them.  To accept that I am so blessed.