Little gestures....

Sometimes its just the littlest gestures that can mean so much.  When I am the reciever, I am so grateful and when I am the giver I feel such joy.

Day by day...

Day by day, little by little, moment to moment, inch by inch, step by step. Learning to listen to my heart and my gut. Learning to respect my own decisions. I only have control of my own mind and my own ideas of life, of fairness, of right and wrong, of truth and of love. Thoughts become actions. Actions have consequences. Consequences have the power to lift others or to hurt others. Pureness of heart is crucial to living our truth. Living our truth is crucial to our happiness. I believe these things to be true, but somehow it doesnt make it easier. That part is hard to deal with. So back to the beginning I shall go...day by day, minute by minute....

A little Cooper trivia...

Lots of times when I'm standing still or sitting somewhere, Cooper will stand or sit next to me with one paw touching my foot.  To me it's his way of holding my hand, like a little kindergartner would hold his Moms hand on the first day of school.  

A challenge for myself 2011

Lately I've been thinking that I need to slow things down.  It seems that life has been in fast motion and fast motion just isn't working for me these days.  For me, it seems that many times I'm busy doing something, but not being 100 % in the moment.  It's almost like I'm doing something with the intentions of getting it done so that I can move on to the next thing that needs to be done.

 Yesterday morning I was taking a shower and thinking of what I needed to do for that day.  I decided to quiet my mind and shut out all the other "things" that were yelling at me in the background, and to just focus on cooking that day.  We were having friends come over and I knew what my menu was going to be, and so I decided that cooking would me my only main goal of the day.  The house was clean, my artwork could wait till tomorrow, and so could anything else.

So I made my list and went to the grocery store.  I didn't hurry.  I took my time and made sure I bought everything that I needed.  I cooked all day.  I enjoyed the smells.  I combined all the ingredients with care and interest.  I tasted my creations.  I tried new things from a cook book.  I didn't even mind doing the dishes.  I felt calm and happy.

I know it's not possible to handle everything in life like this, at least not physically possible.  But maybe there is a way to make my mind and my soul be in the moment 100 %- all the time.  I'm going to be working on this.  I think it's time to give myself this gift.  I also think it's going to be a challenge-hahaha  I wish this for you too.  To live each moment, in that moment 100%.  It could just be the key to happiness!  :)

One of my favorites...

FOREVER LOVE
8x10 prints listed on Etsy today.  This is one of my very favorites.

I believe....

I BELIEVE IN ANGELS...
9 x 11
mixed media
acylic, ink, collage, fabrics, buttons

Love Lives Here...

LOVE LIVES HERE
9 x 11
mixed media
acrylic, ink, collage

Coming up....

Hey friends!  I'm so excited to be in the upcoming issue of Artful Blogging Spring 2011.  It will hit the stands on Feb 1st....YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Sometimes....

Sometimes I wonder if I am too naive for this world.  I WANT to think the best of people.  I WANT to believe that people have good hearts.  I WANT to believe that we all just want to be loved and be happy.  Sometimes I wonder if I am missing some sort of defense mechanism.  Do I look at life too simply?  KINDESS MATTERS...is that stupid to believe?  It makes me so sad to think that I might be wrong in the way I look at things.  I hope I'm not wrong.

Wow! New Look!

So today I did two bleaching processes on my hair.  This has been so nerve wracking!  OMG!  I need a glass of wine :)

Here it is now, still a bit yellow/orange.  In a couple of days I'll put a toner on it that should even things out and get rid of some of the brassyness.  I'm mentally exhausted after doing this all day!

But it's just hair, and I have fun changing things up now and then :)

It really does....

Kindess Matters
Mixed media
9 x 11
acrylic, ink, collage, vintage lace and buttons, crepe paper

True story...Kindness matters.

Cooper says Hello...

Hello and Happy New Year-  Love, Cooper         xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

...

So many projects that need to be organized-where to begin????  I guess anywhere would be a good place to begin, just so long as I BEGIN!  Hahahaha

Music girls....

A friend of mine bought my three little music girls for her house in Palm Dessert.  Here they are all framed up and looking festive against her gold bath room wall-I love it!

Thanks Peg, for sharing with me!

2011 word....

I've decided that my word for 2011 is BELIEVING.  This year I will be believing in myself.  I will be believing in my dreams and making them come true!   I will be believing in all the possibilities and making them happen!  This year I will be believing BIG!!!!  Look out 2011 :)  I'm so excited!!!!!

Wishing you all a most wonderful New Year!  A year full of Peace and Love and Wishes coming true!
Love,
Kelly  xo

NEW GOALS

It's time to organize my thoughts and set my art goals for this new year.  That is what I will do today...Look out 2011!!!!!!!  I'm gonna get you good!

Looking back and feeling thankful...

What a great Christmas eve and Christmas this has been. I would be so happy just to be with my husband and kids like we have done these past two days. I don't need presents or fancy things.

This year has been a huge turning point in my life. I've learned so much about myself and what I really want. I've come out of a confusing fog, to find that I really only want the simplest of things, and those are the things that I already have in my life. Quality time with my kids, new adventures with my husband, creating art and spreading kindness, and loving my little dog Cooper, these are the things that make me happy. These are the things in my life that I adore.

I'm feeling so very blessed right at this moment. I'm feeling blessed with clarity for what is important to me. I'm feeling blessed with love and true friendships that help me to see the light. I'm feeling blessed with incredible, caring,smart, and good kids that I really like and that like me too! I'm feeling blessed with peace and compassion for myself, even with my imperfections and quirks, that I am loved and I am"good enough anyway". Life is good and God loves me, I can feel it. This is all I need.

Merry Merry....

Wishing the whole world a very Merry Christmas and a loving and peaceful New Year.

ANGEL OF SURVIVAL

Here is the newest angel...dedicated to survivors of , and those we have lost, to breast cancer.
ANGEL OF SURVIVAL
11 x 14
mixed media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, hand made papers, vintage buttons and lace

Angel of Our Troops...

Newest angel for my collection...ANGEL OF OUR TROOPS.  Thank you to all the men and women who bravely serve our country.  God bless all of you!  Your courage is so appreciated and valued.  Love to you!
ANGEL OF OUR TROOPS
11 x 14
mixed media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, handmade papers, vintage buttons

Angel of Love Doll....

I think she is about finished, but now I think she needs some long floppy legs to make her look like she is sitting down.  Her body dimensions are off and I think that might help...

My doll experiment in progress....

She's coming along....

waiting for her arms to dry (paper clay) so I can paint them with black and white stripes.

HO HO HO

HO HO HO!!! Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!  Love, Kelly xo

The doll experiment....

I'm calling this my doll experiment because I'm NOT a seamstress, so I'm having to be very creative to find a way to make a doll with MINIMAL sewing!  I have hopes for this, even though she looks sort of like an alien at this point-haha

Oh, and Cooper says hello :)

:)

Someone just emailed me this wonderful note..."Your art is like sunshine to me"
It doesn't get much better than that folks!

Thank you sweet Jennifer xo

Happy Shock :)

Just recieved an email with the final spreads for the Spring issue of Artful Blogging!   OMG!!!!!!  6 whole pages, with my article and artwork!   I have tears in my eyes and I'm doing the happy dance over here!  I can't wait till it comes out this February!  I think I'm in shock!  Happy Shock!  I will have this silly smile on my face the whole day I'm sure!   YIPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
:)

Newest Angel....

ANGEL OF MOTHERHOOD
9 x 11
mixed media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, handmade papers, vintage buttons and lace

Birthday Angel

My newest Angel to add to the collection...
ANGEL OF BIRTHDAYS
11 x 14
mixed media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, handmade paper, antique lace and buttons

Part of a very cool treasury....

I'm so proud to be a part of this very cool treasury!  So fun!

Christmas Angel....

Happy Holiday season everyone!  Ho Ho Ho  :)

I'm Better For It....

A few months ago I met a wonderful woman on my blog.  We began communicating back and forth between our blogs and emails.  There was such a connection.  Then in October we met in person and shared 5 magical days together in Idaho.  I felt as if I had known Kolleen all of my life.  Our friendship has continued to grow, and I feel deep inside that we are soul sisters, finally united.  I am so grateful for this angel coming into my life.
Kolleens blog is awesome, and her artwork is adorable and energizing!  She has a way with words and questions that make you dig deep and find the truth.  She is running a 6 week series of stories, every Friday, that describe something difficult that someone has gone through in their life, and is now "better for it".  She asked me if I would share my story.  Her and I both believe that there is so much healing to be had when we share, not only for us, but for a reader in need.  So tonight she has posted my story.  I hope it gives hope to someone out there that has lost their way.  Life is good.
Thank you Kolleen, at Heartwing Sisters, for letting me share my story.  I love you soul sister of mine!

It's going to be a good day....

You know it's going to be a good day when you wake up to the news that you are featured on someone's blog.  It's a great feeling to be recognized.  The other day I recieved this very nice email from a woman named Debbie, asking if she could feature my artwork on her blog.  Well of course I said YES!  And so here it is...so fun for me!  Thank you Debbie, I so appreciate your kindness!

It's just gotta....

It's gotta come true, cause I feel it in my heart...I see it!