Gypsy Woman Altered Book Page

Just playing around and having fun. I love this picture of the gypsy woman. I layered her over a background that I made in an altered book.

Life is Hard - Altered Book Page

  

Life is hard. Be kind to those who love you.  You know that old adage - you don't know what you've got til it's gone....well, it is really true. So often, people are unkind or harsh toward those who truly love them and care about them the most. Those that are willing to stand by you when life is tough are only able to take so much. Eventually they will just walk away, because they just can't take the pain anymore. This piece was made as a reminder to everyone. Be kind to those who love you. It will be better for everyone in the long run.

This piece is scraped paint over a page with a digital overlay of a toy horse diagram. I am enjoying combining my altered book pages with digital art. This is pretty new territory for me, but I am learning as I go.

Everything Will Be Alright - Altered Book Page

Quote from Sonny - Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Sewing Mends the Soul - Book of Days

Book of Days "Sewing Mends the Soul"

A new Book of Days spread - "Sewing Mends the Soul". I used modeling paste in a stencil and so it has lots of yummy texture. I tried another gel medium transfer on the left of a vase of lilacs. It didn't turn out too well, but it adds interest, anyway. There are also doilies, trim, ribbon and a strip of cardstock that I embossed with pink embossing powder. The seamstress is an image from my art calendar. I had a lot of fun with this one.

Unleash Your Soul - Altered Book Page

I used modeling paste, a pocket, gel medium transfers and lots of scraped paint on this one. This page had been sitting for a long time with just some background paint. I am so happy with the finished result.

Higher Self - Altered Book Page

Often it's the deepest pain which empowers you to grow into your highest self.

- Karen Salmansohn

Dreaming in French - Altered Book Page

Digital overlay on an altered book page.

We'll Always Have Paris - Altered Book Page

Altered Book Page - Paris

Listen to Your Muse - Altered Book Page

"France and After" Love Eternal Altered Book

Altered book page with photo overlay - Spend time every day listing to what your muse is trying to tell you. The photo is of Mary Miles Minter, 1917, who was a silent movie actress. I liked the way she was so pensive here.

Trust In The Lord - Altered Book Page

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Imagination - Altered Book Page

My Own Little World - Altered Book Page

This is a page that I made and then tweaked a little digitally using Pixlr. It was a lot of fun.

Home is Where the Heart Is - Book of Days

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
― Edith Sitwell

Home is that special place where one always feels comfortable in your own skin - things just feel right somehow. It is the place that you always yearn to get back to, no matter how wonderful the trip.

I hope I caught some of the feeling of home in this double page spread in my Book of Days. I used a pocket in this one, some tags, and a vintage photo on vellum.

Strength Quote

           STRENGTH
       doesn't come from
        what you can do.
           it comes from
     overcoming the things
        you once thought
          you couldn't.

Tears

"Tears" - Book of Days

New Year's Eve - Book of Days

Book of Days - New Year's Eve

The Beatitudes - The Message

Angel Phot "Gone" by Lestatis

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being "carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.
"You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."   - Matthew 5:3-10 The Message

This was in my Bible reading for today and I just am struck by how Eugene Peterson's paraphrase. It has touched my heart deeply today. As I try to live my "One Little Word" Devotion this year, I find myself once again reading along with the One Year Bible Blog.  I enjoy his commentary so much.  The beatitudes seem so impossible to live and yet we strive to follow - because Christ teaches us to and shows us that we are blessed or happy because of this type of heart-attitude.

We have gone through a very difficult time lately in our family and there are some things I really don't understand. It is harder as a mom when it affects my daughter - maybe even harder than when it happens to me personally. Someone we love deeply has walked out of our life and this is just really difficult to understand and the grief is very real. I know in time we will adjust, but for now, reading the beatitudes has given me comfort.

So I will be meditating on these verses this week and drowning my sorrow in art. Of course! God bless.

P.S. The blog of the photographer of the angel above is here.

I Love Winter!

Photos from a cross-country ski outing...

Our front yard...

Happy New Year - Book of Days

I used a decoupaged napkin for the background, some stickers, paint and rubber stamps for this one.

Looking Ahead - 2013

Looking Ahead to Good Things in 2013

The beginning of a new year is always exciting - something about the freshness, the promise of a new start, throwing off the failures of the past and looking toward the future with hope. This year is no different for me. I haven't made any New Year's Resolutions in quite a few years, but this year, I decided to make a few!

Health Resolutions - Lose weight, exercise regularly and focus on myself more, so that I can accomplish these two things.

Art Resolutions - take one or two online courses, make art regularly,

Family and Faith resolutions - "Devotion" is my "one little word" for this year. I want to increase my devotion to God and to my family. I want to treasure each and every moment with them. This year promises to be a big year of change, and I don't want to squander even one opportunity to show devotion to each member of my family and to God.