Being Still

I am not the greatest at planning. I am a very "fly by the seat of my pants" type of person. I am constantly inspired and switching gears and trying new things, which is great for the artist in me...but for the business side of things, not so good. Or for the wife and mother that I am suppose to be. I am working on it, but I feel I will always be working on it. Why do laundry when there are new things to try out, paints that need to be used, flowers that need to be planted or games that need to be played...

I tell my friends I am the one who is always in the grassy field chasing the butterfly or the rabbit or the squirrel or a combination there of. Not a bad thing, but not always productive.

I wish sometimes I could focus better, BE STILL and hear what my instructions are, before I think I have it all figured out. Maybe that's my lesson, maybe you are trying to learn the same one.

I do notice I have an easier time focusing when I do have some quiet time, when I make the time to BE STILL and listen to God, the universe or whatever. When I slow down and BE STILL. Nature and sunshine help me a little, but taking time to create in my journal what is going on in my life is the best way for me to refocus and see what has my attention right now and see if it's what I should be focusing on or not.

This morning I challenge you to take time and BE STILL, journal about what has your attention and refocus if you need to.  

New Name, New Adventures and the Radio

I find it amazing how a few simple words and throw your world into a spin. (Not a bad spin, just a new one). Midday Connection on Moody Radio has asked me to be on their show May 23! This will be my first radio interview talking about creative art journaling. I am super excited about this opportunity! I can't wait to share what I have learned from creative journaling and I hope to share some tips on how to get started yourself (if you haven't started already) or share some tricks for those of you who have been doing this awhile.

I also have some teaching gigs coming up  (2 next week for some small groups)! And a BIG one coming up on June 9 (more details to follow). There's even one booked for the end of June in Texas! Very Exciting!

Lastly with all the changes I want make it easier for you guys to find me on the web, so I have a new name that I will be working under. Artful Story, TP Design was already taken and I wanted something that spoke to what I am doing now. My awesomely talented sister in law is designing my site for me you can check out her other work here. When the site is done it will link all my pages together ie, my blog, shop, art and facebook. I am super excited to have everything altogether!

So that is about it here. Hope you all are doing well! I'll keep you updated as things change come up. Thanks for being on this journey with me.

Handmade Friendships

So I have some pretty amazing friends, I would hope everyone had friends like mine. My friends always seem to know what to say to bring me out of a slump. They are amazing at encouraging me to dream bigger and wider then I would set for myself. This of course is great by itself what's even more awesome is that each one of them is creative and inspires me to live and create with more...well with more love for what I do. I am pushed beyond the bounds of myself everyday because of these women.

I have one friend who never ceases to amaze me in how she combines vintage items with everyday common beads and wires to create some of the most stunning pieces of jewelry I have ever seen (I even have the privilege of owning a few of my favs from her). Her creativity has always stunned me and, even though I have never told her, intimates me as an artist. I wish I could see things the way she does, see beyond the 2 dimensions of a page, but I struggle. Thankfully I struggle, because if I didn't what would I learn from her?

Sewing is something I do, not well, but I try. I know someone who is amazing at putting together fabrics and creating the most amazing clutches, purses and bags (someday I will own one, a custom one) She can see how the stitches can enhance a bag's personality or bring out a pattern that may not even really be there. She can free-form stitch like no one else I know, creating an image by guiding fabric through her machine with no guides. She also has the greatest no fear personality I have ever met. I hope to have her confidence one day.

Have you ever had a friend who has no idea just how amazing they are? I have several, but one in particular who is an amazing artist. Yes she is an artist, she doesn't know it yet, but she is. She is one of the few people who can think and create on a page as well as off. She creates environments in a room that can take your breath away. I have learned candles are essential for creating intimacy and the more the better, feathers are amazing at softening, and turquoises is a universal color that looks good on everyone! She inspires me to be me, to live generously, and to love those around you with all your heart.     

I won't mention names here, because I know each of these women would deny that they do any of these things, although one is getting much better at saying thank you, but ladies you inspire me. And one day, when I grow up, I want to be you. Thank you for your friendship, your talent and sharing with me and others your love of what you do. I would love to know who inspires you...post them here.

Happy New Year to Me

So yesterday was my birthday and for the first time I am actually looking forward to a new year with new possibilities and new adventures. I don't always have the best birthdays and I think I figured out why, I have far too many expectations going into the day. When things don't magically go the way I dreamed they would I get sad. Don't we all though? So this year I looked at my birthday as a gateway to all that the next year holds for me. I have a lot of things that will be coming up this year that are new adventures and I am super excited. So instead of putting too many expectations on one day, I looked at yesterday as the door finally opening to my next chapter.

Such a better outlook. Because of this I had one of the best birthdays that I can think of to date! I had delish coffee from Starbucks (free, which of course makes it better), a wonderful time with a group of women I adore and thank God for everyday, lunch with a beautiful long time friend, scores of posts on my facebook page from friends all over the country, and a wonderful afternoon with my family swimming and working out and eating (this goes without saying of course)!

I also had a friend look up the meaning of my name, which I would love to share with you here:


Your inherent meaning for your name is -- palm tree (this one I already knew)

Your spiritual meaning of your name is --- Victorious Spirit!!!

Your scripture for your name is Micah 5:9
Your hand shall be lifted up over you adversaries, and your enemies shall be cut off. 

How cool is that! I love this meaning and I am blown away by how fitting it is right now in my life when I have started to truly work on being who God created me to be. So for all of you who blessed my life yesterday with well wishes and continue to give me wings with your support and amazing words of courage thank you. I truly believe that you are gifts from God. I have been re-reading a book called Coming Home to Your True Self by Albert Haase and in the book Haase talks about Mary and how she "was a woman totally aware that everyone she encountered was a God-bearer". This struck me so deeply that I don't think this way at all, and yet it is so true - so this year, I am going to work on seeing God in all those I encounter, my friends, my family and especially those who just have a moment in my day to day life.

Be blessed friends...and I can't wait to start my new year with you.

First Class

So my first class in my studio went off without a hitch. We had fun, made a mess and I loved every minute of it. My class did too. I made a couple announcements at the class that I can't quite make public, but they are big and I can't wait till I can share them with you. Until then I leave you with some of art that was created by my students. Hope you enjoy!

Zombies for Christmas

 

So I have been dying to share these with you, but of course I had to wait till my brother and his wife opened them for Christmas! Since Christmas is over and hopefully these are comfortably sitting on their couch or bed and I can share!

My brother, while he says he is easy to shop for, is the hardest to shop for every year. I want to get him something special not just an action figure (which is what he asks for every year). I personally try to let him know he means more to me than just an action figure, and for once I think I may have done pretty good.

He and his wife love zombies, The Walking Dead is one of their fav shows right now. And while zombies are "in" right now and zombie stuff is easy to come by, I still wanted to get them something unique.

 

What is more unique than his and her pillows with them as zombies! My son helped me paint the backgrounds and then I went in and added the faces. There are extra details too like buttons for eyes with red thread and when the paint dried I sewed them up with a black and white herringbone fabric on the back.

All I have to say is if I knew how easy it was to make custom pillows before this I would have been making them way earlier than this.

Enjoy!

New Year, New Me, Same God

I am in awe sometimes by how quickly something can go from an idea to being a new way of life. I started journaling last year and not just journaling but art journaling. It went from something to do to a must do. A new line of communication was opened between me and God and I began to share it with others. New paths were opened for them as well and a small movement was started and began to slowly grow. Now I can't wait to get in my studio and start a dialog with myself and with God. With the growth that I have seen as well as others that I have been sharing with I figured it was time to take this show on the road. (Well at least expand my horizons.) So to start this year off I will be teaching a class here in my studio!

New Year, New Me, Same God

This class will give you a start into what art journaling is about while setting the tone for your 2012 year. You will be focusing on a few words that you want your year to be about, while pairing them up with scripture, worship songs, colors and textures. If you have been journaling before you can still take the class and learn some new techniques and be in community with others. Limited spaces are available for this class so sign up soon.

This one time class will be on January 22, from 1:30-4 
Here at my studio in Skokie, IL
Cost is $20

If you are interested in attending please RSVP by messaging me here or at tpdesign01 (at) yahoo (dot) com. If you need more info please email me soon.

I can't wait to start the new year off with you all! 

Footprints in the Sand

Sometimes it takes looking at the world around you through the eyes of a 4 year old to realize all that God has surrounded you with. We have friends that lives on the beach (yes, even in the midwest you can have a beach) and they are kind enough to to let us "play" there from time to time. So yesterday even though in never made it above 50, my son and I took a moment to enjoy the beauty set out before us.

 Anytime I go to the beach the poem Footprints in the Sand always comes to mind. It is one of the few things I remember vividly being hung in my house when I was a child. I wanted to share it with you here if you have never read it before, I hope you enjoy...

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

---

Mary Stevenson, 1936

A Budding Promise

Like most people I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring. Spring means growth, colors bursting forth from from the dark blackened earth and most importantly fresh starts/new beginnings. My friends down in Texas are soaking up 80s and sunshine, while here in Chicago we are some days barely above 40. But it's ok. I know it's coming.

My cycle in life right now seems to be in a Spring season too. Which is truly exciting, so many promises on the horizon. I recently taught at a women's retreat, the spiritual art journaling that I have been showing you all pages of, and it went wonderfully! I made some great connections, met some wonderful women and spent some much needed time with God. Some great things came of that weekend and I can't wait to share them with you, but it's not quite time to spill the beans on the projects I'll be working on soon...

So I am hoping this spring brings you some much needed rejuvenation too, that you begin to see buds, busting through the darkened world that surrounds you and you begin to see some vibrant colors shining through.
Until then... 

little hands, little eyes

As most of you know I have a son who will be 4 in March, who I dearly love. He is loud, full of energy and most of all very creative. One of his favorite things is to paint with me in my studio (aka the basement). I personally wish we could do this all day everyday, but that usually doesn't happen. On the days it does happen it's magical. I love the stories he comes up with as he paints and the colors he chooses to go together. He's not afraid to try anything and he has no rules that he follows. He is free. In his mind you can never mess up.

So many times when I am painting I get wrapped up in the rules or I am afraid to make a mistake, not realizing it's just paint, you can always paint over your mistakes or for really big messes get out your gesso and start from scratch.

I think we do the same thing in life too. So many of us are so worried about making a mess of things that instead of doing something, we do nothing and "hope" it just happens on it's own. The other scenario is that maybe we do start something, but we get into the middle of it and realize it's not coming out the way we hoped so instead of pushing through we just give up.

But I am here to tell you that we should not be afraid, we should see life the way my 3 year old does. You can never get too dirty, you can never mess up to much and you can never use too much paint.

See this verse:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

of course that is nice and easy to read, but sometimes hard to believe so if that doesn't stoke your fire enough see these next verses...

Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.  Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 4:14-16  AMP


I love these verses in Timothy, not only does it urge you to use the gifts God has given you but it says PRACTICE...not just do, but PRACTICE. In other words if at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. God knows we won't always get it right, but He does expect us to DO.


So forget the rules and use your gifts, God will do the rest. Happy Wednesday!

New Crafting going on!

So for some reason this week I have been super crafty, well at least more than I usually have been (at least lately). I have some new pics that I will be sharing with you soon on the projects I have been working on, but I wanted to wet your whistle a little first, and share some of them with you.

So first my son and I painted crazy all over some scraps of canvas that I have had lying around that I will be cutting up, sewing together, and adding embellishments to...I can't wait to share these with you! The idea behind this project came from a painting I did a couple years ago (which is below)

 

The second project that I have been working on is making mittens from old sweaters. I picked up a couple sweaters from goodwill and made a pattern for my hand, the first pair were a little snug so I gave them to my son's preschool teacher for her daughter. So as I work on that and work out the kinks I will post some pics for you.

The third project was adding to a project I did a long time ago, I made some wreaths out of scraps of fabric, yarn and buttons, but they never seemed finished so I added some vintage ties to them and they are starting to look better, again I'll post pics later.

Last project is my journaling. So many have been asking me about this and I am super excited that I will be teaching spiritual art journaling this year at Willow Creek North Shore's Women's Retreat. I will have 2 sessions on it! How cool is that. SO right now I am working on what I will actually be teaching and what techinques to teach...as this comes together more I think I will start offering online classes for those of you not in the Chicago area.

That's my week so far, how's yours going?

Car Display Holder for over the door

This past weekend my son had a birthday party for a classmate (actually 2, twins) and after talking with them and their mom I decided to recreate an over the door matchbox car holder similar to one we received from a friend. Of course I quickly realized that this could be used for all sorts of things from matchbox cars to barbies to trains and tracks...you name it.

To say the least I am super excited with how it came out and can't wait to make more for all sorts of things... Their mom knew what I was planning to make and I am pretty sure she was more excited about the gift than they were, but she said they wanted it hung up as soon as they opened it so I guess it was a win win... Happy Birthday again Miles and Nolan!

Free Fonts, the good the bad and the ugly

Being a designer and working with very different clients usually at the same time, it's important to have a variety of styles and ideas on hand at all times. You never know what a client will want to try next. So I have a list of books, websites, blogs and such to turn to for inspiration. Of course these are not just for working with my clients they are also for me when I am working on my art.

I wanted to share one of the sites that I came across recently for free fonts. Now I know that there are a lot of site for free fonts, but not all the fonts are that great, this site Font Squirrel does the hard work for you, by picking the best of the free. Of course you still need to read the fine print as to how you can use the fonts, but for designers, scrapbookers, artists that are on a budget this site is great!

Do Not Be Afraid, I Bring Good News

I think it's always interesting when my son has a new saying. I always wonder where he gets them, most I can figure out and those I can't I will ask him about and I can usually decipher his answer. He's 3 so it doesn't take much for him to pick something up and repeat it over and over again. Which of course I have to remind myself of that every once in awhile.

So when he came up with his last saying I chalked it up to his Sunday School teachings, especially being that we just finished up the Christmas season, but anytime I asked him where he heard it, he would simply say "God".

Now our family has had a pretty rocky end of the year. One of my closest friends past away suddenly in November. This was especially hard for me because I have never lost anyone close to me. I didn't know what to feel or how to act, and I still don't really. I have been going over in my head for the last 2 months what I would have done differently if I had only known...but I didn't. She was a strong woman of faith and she was changing lives all around her, including my own. I have a lot to be thankful for because of her influence in my life. I miss her greatly and it's been super hard to focus on anything, especially my art. So instead I focused on nothing...not really a good thing to do with so much going on.

But a couple days ago everything finally clicked, I realized my son was giving me a message from God. A message I think we often forget especially this time of year.

DO NOT BE AFRAID, I BRING GOOD NEWS

There is always so much going on, but this time of year things seem to get more stressful more hurried, and the message that God is trying to remind us of gets lost. The GOOD NEWS doesn't seem to be the reason for the season anymore, and I think that was my struggle this past year. While others in my life worried about what "things" to get everyone and anyone, my thoughts were on Mary and the scene at the manger. I could not see how we went from celebrating the birth of Christ in a lonely meager manger to what it is now. I was sad for all these people running around me looking for presents instead of looking for Jesus. But my son got it. Now whether or not he actually heard it from God is a different story, but he at least got the message.

It took me a while but I finally got the message too and just sat amazed. Somehow my 3 year old has enough sense to listen when God was talking, but like so many others I struggle to sit still long enough to do this. So I decided to challenge myself this year for the first time. I sat down with a friend of mine and we made a list of things we want to accomplish this year, after sitting and listening to where I thought God was directing me (This way I had an accountability partner)

But I also wanted to share a few of them here with you...so here goes.

1. Find more venues to teach my Spiritual Art Journaling class.
(if you know of any please share, I would love to hear your ideas)

2. Write a book/journal and get it published.

3. Challenge myself and my art and push it to new levels.

So these are what I will be trying to focus on this year, of course things might change (I am always up for change) but I am really going to be trying to LISTEN to what God is wanting from me and right now I think these are the paths I am supposed to be on.

So what are your plans for the new year, where are you feeling lead? I would love to know what's on all of your plates.

Freelance: Trade As One

It has been another crazy week around here, with no end in site. I am planning a huge Block Party (aka Quilting Bee) in October for the ministry that I started called Safe Blankets. We are partnering with Willow Creek Community Church's North Shore Campus for a day in which they are asking their congregation to "Just Serve" the community around them. There will be about 10 different places that they can volunteer at and Safe Blankets is going to be one of them!

Of course life is never that easy, by having just 1 iron in the fire, I also have my freelance that has picked up tremendously (which I love), which includes businesses, brides and new mothers, plus my son just started preschool! And of course I have been asked about teaching in more than one venue the Spiritual Art Journaling class that I just taught at Believers' Fellowship.

But while I had a free moment I did what to share with you some of the freelance work that I have been working on over the past couple months. All of these items I did for Trade As One, a fair trade company. Their mission statement as it all: Our mission is to use fair trade to promote sustainable business and break cycles of poverty and dependency in the developing world. We all have a conscience. We want to make sure people get the chance to use it when they shop.

They are an amazing group of people with hearts so big! I have enjoyed every moment of working with them, and I don't intend to stop anytime time soon. If you a chance take a look at their website they have a store right there so you can buy online or you can become a Fair Trader which is an advocate for fair trade, where you can host a party and educate people about the importance of fair trade. There are many other ways to get involved too so check out their site and learn more about their passion.

Renegade Craft Fair and a Texas Sized Sleepover

This time last weekend Renegade Craft Fair was in full swing here in Chicago. As usual I was blown away by the amount of vendors as well the talent they possessed. If you have never been to it I highly recommend making the trip for it. It spans 6 CITY blocks (3/4 of a mile long), there are booths down the center facing both sides so by the time you walk around the whole thing - it's over 1.5 mile of walking! It was a great weekend, not just because of the show, but because I got to have an "sleepover" with some friends from Texas who were accepted into the Renegade Show and needed a place to crash. Cheyne from Cut Out and Collect and Brian and Lynnea from Squid Ink Kollective got to stay in our humble abode (my studio, aka the basement) and in their free time we bummed around Chicago showing them our fair city. They are amazing artists with unbelievable talent.

Cut Out and Collect shop features handbags, clutches, wallets and many other one of a kind pieces you are sure to want. A note on the embroidery: This is a technique Cheyne has been working with in which she uses her regular manual sewing machine and special thread to embroider. While it's faster that hand embroidery, it requires the same steady hand and patience and has some very unique, one-of-a-kind attributes. (and it's amazing) Don't see what you want, contact her for a custom piece!

Squid Ink Kollective focuses on screen-printed apparel and posters, as well as hand-sewn and printed housewares, clothes and accessories. Between Brian's amazing illustrations and Lynnea's self taught seamster skills there's no telling what these two will come up with, but it will be awesome.

Anyways if you get a chance check out their shops you won't be disappointed! And to you guys (Cheyne, Brain and Lynnea) we miss you already and hope you come back soon.

My Class

So last Tuesday I taught art journaling for the first time! I had such a blast with the wonderful women at Believers' Fellowship. I started the class with a demonstration on what they were going to be learning to do later on in the class and then gave a brief overview on what art journaling was and why it was important to their spiritual journey.

They jumped right in, when it came time to creating their own page. I had pre-cut 5x7 sheets of paper, markers and paints on the table for them as well as little baggies with magazine pictures, scraps of paper, ribbon, string, buttons (all things that they might find lying around their house. I wanted them to see that they didn't need to go out and buy anything special to start a journal. These women were amazing! They came up with some beautiful pages, which you see in this post. They only had about half hour to forty five minutes to create these! I am still blown away. Especially if you consider most do not consider themselves artistic or creative and it was their first time to work with these materials. Thanks again ladies for making my teaching debut a success!

 

Teaching for the FIRST Time

So I am working on a new project! I am going to be teaching my first class in less than a week. I am scared, but at the same time so excited! I can't believe how quickly this is pulling together. (less than 2 months) The class is going to be on art journaling. It's not a new concept, but I am going to be teaching those who do not think of themselves as being creative or artistic - so it's new to them. I have been focusing a lot of my time lately on my own journal and really feel lead to teach others. This is way out of my comfort zone, so I must be on the right path, right?

Anyways I am totally looking forward to it, and would love to know from all of you, if you journal and if you do what do you focus on when you journal...

Something to Blog About

I don't know about you but things have gone crazy around here. As soon as I think things can't get any busier they do and I lose track of time. The one thing I can count on is that even when things are at there busiest I can still find time to doodle! I think all artist do, or else we would go crazy. So if you are like me sharpies are probably your best friend, and if you are like me you are drawn to the new sharpie champaign.



I personally love it and I just found out it was done by a graphic designer right here in Chicago! Kristen Caston originally from Ohio now lives here and has an amazing portfolio chock full of amazing hand drawn type! if you get a chance check out her site and the rest of her portfolio you won't be disappointed.

Rememberance

It is hard not to remember where you were 8 years ago on this date. I woke up late and was missing my poly sci class because I had the flu. Of course I would be sick on one of the most historic days in history. I woke up that morning and turned on the TV just in time to see the second plane hit the tower. It still seems very surreal. I called my husband (my fiance at the time) and asked him what had just happened, being that I was not quite myself thanks to the medicine I was on, and he filled me in.

I am sure we all have our stories and know people who's lives were touched directly and I would love for you to share them. But I would also like to take a moment and remember the fallen from that day, and say a prayer for their family and friends as they remember as well.