Finding the balance...again

Happy Monday friends...

Quick post before I have to get ready for work. I hope this finds you well...and the world is treating you good and the sun has shined on your face lately...its hit and miss here in Michigan been a pretty wet and chilly Spring but today is a beautiful day...birds singing outside my window...makes me happy!

I find myself trying to find that vital balance again between work and life and work and ART. It is a struggle specially with the schedule I am on last week and this week...330pm-1130pm. Kinda takes the best hours of the day. I find myself staying up one I get off work in a rebellion to not give up art time. I just can't I grow depressed when my soul does not have that outlet. So that is where I am. My first niece got married Friday and it was a great time...so happy for her...the weekend went by so fast it didnt seen real...not the wedding just how fast the weekend passed. Been working on some little books and bonding...some swap things for me art group and trying to enjoy Spring and all the blooming taking place!

Tons of photos to edit and post and hopefully this week I will get to that in my late hours of solitude and artful endeavors. Be kind to everyone and have a great week!

Happy Mother's Day

Hello beautiful friends,

Happy Mother's Day if it applies to you...I am looking forward to a good day today....My Kori (almost 20) made reservations to take me to a Mother's Day brunch ...looking forward to hanging out with her after I see my Mom this early afternoon...Here is my beautiful Kori...also known as Story Kori...a name her teacher gave her years ago and its just sorta stuck with her....

Later on this evening  my oldest daughter Sam ( almost 25) will be coming over with Kori as well to paint with me and eventually watch Game of Thrones! YAY! We have much fun watching Game of Thrones we are a family of huge GOT fans!! 

On Mothers day...I feel so proud of the girls I have...they are both hard working girls...studying to be nurses, both working full time paving a future for themselves...they both have hearts of gold and they are loyal and brave and smart and funny!!! 

 This photo shows their true personalities when they are together...they are such good sisters...they love each other to the moon and back and that means everything to me....

 Happy Mother's Day to my Mom as well...this is her high school photo...she looks so beautiful here...

You are more loved than you know Munna 

Some things I've been doing....

And on that note..I gotta get my behind out of here...running late but you all have a great day...I know I will...hold these moments...they pass far too fast...never last long enough and before you know it...they are gone in a flash..xo peace & love

Random thoughts for the day....

On my art table...some paper beads I have been working on ....

Just experimenting with some old techniques, new mediums....

Waiting for Spring to get here seems never ending. Cold and raining we a re lucky to get some peaks from the sun here and there....eager to get on with the summer and get out with my camera...

Been enjoying some time with myself lately...just for treating my muse to a good book or tutorial...spending time in my studio which I have come to cherish as a sacred place in my life that is all mine; just for me to escape..to be me...to soul search.

And then there is nature..which I can never get enough of..where I can get lost in the most simple things..when I find my way back to awareness...my mood has changed, I feel more at peace and calm.

Like the anatomy of a flower...

Those things that make me wonder how others can wonder...
If there is a God.
Visit a baby nursery...or a flower nursery. They are the two greatest validations for me. The complexity of a human being the complexity of a flower...the diversity of both throughout the world...the way all things work together and cant work without one another...like the pollen in this flower....being where it is purposely... with full intent doing its job...

See it? It is no accident....nothing is accident....even the most horrible experiences in this life that may seem so crushing...they all have purpose even if the growth from the experience is painful or life changing. Losing my job was crushing and painful. It changed my life. I'm still suffering from it. But I learned some very important things that I needed to learn. I learned that people are not who they always appear to be. I learned that no amount of money is worth dealing with prime assholes who treat people horribly. I learned who and what I never want to be...It had to happen. I had to learn that I could fail at something...and that it did not mean I was an unworthy human being...because that is what failure always meant to me...and very honestly...I've never failed at anything I put my entire heart into. Now I can say I failed..and I LIVED. New doors are opening, and they will lead to more doors and that is the process of life and there really is a pre-destined plan for each life we just have no clue.....many times we step off the path and life becomes chaos..
it always really will be OKAY though. It really will.

We chuck so much off in this life as coincidence...when two lives cross paths...when eyes meet...not even in a romantic way but in passing on a bus...I believe all things have meaning in this life. I believe in divine timing as well....possibly more than anything. It has played such a significant role in my life in so many ways...
everything in its right time.....

love + pe@ce

Queen of Nothing

Braving Life's Storms

Photoshop CS6 Illustration

Brave The Storm

Happy Easter

Hello folks...I hope this finds you well in one of the most glorious days of the year...Have a ham cooking, blueberry muffins smelling up the house...croissants...pasta salad, potatoes, corn...kids are coming and the sun is shining! It's a good day...I do hope you and yours are enjoying the holiday festivities if you celebrate.  Been working on all sorts of goodies for some books I am making..also some tags and such..doing some stencil layering which is super cool...also been making some dolls and bunnies..will be sure to post more photos maybe one day this week...

Any Game of Thrones fans out there? If so than I am sure you share my excitement about tonight's episode...let the celebrating...ops I mean funeral begin eh?! LOL Love this show...I don't get too addicted to many series and such my TV watching is usually things Animal Planet, National Geographic, Forensic Files ...things like that but this show just sucked me right in.. We shall see how Joffrey's death plays out...

Nothing much else is going on this way..Kori ( my 19 year old) is currently out like a light on my bed..so proud of her shes been working so hard...just finished college and was in her internship plus working a regular job...kid would get out of a night and fall asleep in her coat but as I have told her so many times in her life...hard work does pay off...she was offered a full time position with the Dr's office she did her internship at!! Way cool she's very excited I'm very excited for her...my other daughter Sam is in nursing shcool while working full time...they are both hard workers and I'm a proud mumma!! :) So..though I wanted to hang out with her and watch movies..I know she needs this nap and she loves my bed :)
Hope you have a fantastic Easter with your loved ones friends...Peace, Celebration

& Faith +

What to do with all those Gelli prints?

If you are anything like me you love your Gelli plate and you are too ...addicted to it! Hey...anyone gives you a hard time about that you remind them that there are far worse things you could be addicted to! My drug of choice is the art supply store...and well...my Gelli Arts plate! Here are some ideas for things I've used those prints for...gives you a reason to pull it out and use it if you make good use of the prints right?!

Scanned print and turned into digital art..

Scanned print and turned into digital art..

Scanned print and turned into digital art..

Cut up scraps glued into a collage abstract work of art....what do YOU see?

Mini books..all of the covers were made from prints

Scanned print and turned into digital art..

Scanned print and turned into digital art..

 TADA...not bad for strips of prints that were not my favorites to begin with...looks really cool hanging..

Interesting Week

A bit of a mad crazy busy week for me...interviews for jobs, dad in the hospital running back and forth an hour away every single day..Don's birthday...yikes! Felt good to just relax today!  Been working on some sewing and doll making and loving the process..that is when time permits ..will post photos soon but wanted to come by and say hello! Hope life is treating you well!

 If you are a mixed media artist and have a Facebook page, love swapping and doing challenges come over to The Enchanted Imaginarium and request to join my art group there...we have an incredible group of girls there who love to share their artful journey! We have swaps, we talk about life and share ideas, products, tutorials, websites and so much more. Some of the best kinds of friendships are made there! Only a few spots open so get on over there..here is the link...this is a private group..if you are not interested in participating, if you are not an artist of some sort, please don't send a request. The group is only for members who want to be there and actively participate! https://www.facebook.com/groups/enchantedimaginarium/

Other links where you can find some of my work include: 

https://www.facebook.com/peculiarme71art

https://www.facebook.com/Peculiarme71Photos

http://www.pinterest.com/peculiargirl71/

And so..until we meet again folks...tata for now! 

“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” 

Maya Angelou

Sometimes

It's the little things that make us so happy. Reflecting on them today.