as the new day dawns
I feel gratitude within
as the gift of creativity
burbles up
through my spirit
the gift of art
leads me on a path
of further
discovery





Over the past few weeks I have been busy preparing for a local "Women's Day" show and sale. Because the focus was on fashion, personal care, fitness and health, much of my art was not really appropriate. So I was focusing on making jewellery. I had hoped to do some painting of canvas bags also but ran out of time. I only started doing a wash on the inside of a bag on the very day before the show.

There were things I was made aware of through the preparation time as well as things of which I was strongly reminded. 
1. I am very good at planning and starting projects. Finishing them is an almost impossibility for me. Thank goodness my dear husband is so dear to have helped me with every single one of the closures. My hands are not very good with jump rings and tiny pieces. Snaps would be very tricky for me also. YAY! Greg.
2. Doing the same thing over and over is extremely boring for me. Cutting and gluing papers to insulin vials - hmmmm - any volunteers to assist with these chores would be greatly appreciated.
3. Comical talk show hosts can be extremely helpful in uplifting my mood in a winter that has been very harsh. The ongoing snow, wind chills and extreme cold have been brutal. There been a few sudden heat waves which every time have resulted in freezing rain or blowing snow across road ways. When one lives in a very rural province and many activities require travelling, icy and snow blown roads put cancellations high at the list of very frustrating. Yes, it has been a very harsh winter all in all. And so I have been grateful to Ellen and STEVEN and CHRIS for bringing to me joy and laughter over the past few days, weeks, when I tired of listening to HGTV momentarily.
4. When I am uptight and very tense, it truly helps to try to sing. Sometimes I sing familiar tunes. Sometimes I make up my own words. 
5. I must never forget how much I love to create and how much art saves me. Seemingly, I had not painted for weeks. On Saturday morning, day before the show, when I chose to splash a teal wash onto the inside of a bag, well, I felt enthused and energetic once again. On Monday, the day after the show, I did up the three art journal pages above. The backgrounds were completed and I had only to use a black pen and then fill in some extra colours with watercolour pencils. Immediately soothing. 

as the new day dawns
I feel gratitude within

out and about

being out and about in my own community



I was fortunate this past Sunday to have the opportunity to venture into my own community, locally, and display some of my art and share tiny pieces of what I do with people who had absolutely no idea. And they are my neighbours. Many folks recognized me, as I recognized them, from decades ago when I used to be a Public Health Nurse, aerobics teacher, and Nursing Coordinator with Home Care. Some of them were students in my prenatal classes. Sunday was fun. I actually sold just a few pieces of jewellery and I found a new young fan who was so pleased to win a signed copy of my "Autumn Richness" book in a dutch raffle. And the local photographer/reporter was there. She picked up my card. I have a feeling she will be getting to know me much more in the near future as I attempt to become better known in my own neighbourhood.







The pictures are from my display at Diva Kinnection. I also have numerous further possibilities for sales of these items. Some of this jewellery, and numerous of my other creations, will be slowly introduced to my etsy shop as well. So grateful am I to be able to share my art with you.

Angels be with you dear friends.

a deadline

my apologies for not updating sooner but I have a deadline. I am not good with deadlines. so I have been trying very much to NOT procrastinate. I think I have been doing quite well with that, but there have certainly been many distractions as well as other "must do" errands and activities. I am also trying not to pressure myself to finish every single plan I have for the ``Diva Kinnection`` show in which I will be displaying jewellery and any bags that I might be able to make. the show is local and is on February 27. the real test will come in the last couple of days before. my plan is to not stay up through the night or even into the wee hours. hah! wish me luck.


below are couple of photos of items I am working with. the bottom is a bag. that one is very questionable for finishing.

a cuff


domino charms waiting to be completed




tiny fabric squares waiting to embellish cuffs


and finally, hints of the bag I mentioned




until next we meet, may angels be with you

winter time dreams and looking for focus

sometimes 

the winter months are 

more about

dreams

and trying

to find focus

for if one chooses

to see only

the realities

the blues and greys

will be stark

too stark

the climate

will be cold

too cold

the ice 

will be dangerous

too dangerous

but if one can see 

the sparkle

the possibilities

the beauty

the miraculous

one will thrive

one will grow



one will flourish