Planting seeds... and Heart Experiences...

This time of year is a little different for us...

 west coast cali-peeps. 

It's easer to lose track of the seasons, in a way... 

because the markers are much more subtle. 

Cold is 45 degree's and rain is... well...

oh my... blocking the sun from shining. 

The hills reflect light off of a carpet of green. 

Lavender blooms and camellia's burst alive with color.

All of this being  

somewhat of a pre-Spring...

before winter seeds 

come to a full bloom.

I always like this time of year, 

because  

a r t  s e e d s  

planted from the new year

have been taking root.

One of  my seeds included 

creating an art & word journaling class, 

to be shared with 

a Life Group in my home.

 

I've been planning lessons to share with this lovely group of women, 

to encourage expression, spiritual connection and bravery.

I create my sample pages to encourage everyone to 

not   f e a r 

be  f r e e 

and  e x p r e s s.

We talk about "artistic license"a lot...

 and that there are no mistakes, 

just  g r o w t h.

I  have been humbly amazed at the connection that has been made.

The fear that dissolved, and the spirit that is continually felt among us 

when we gather to create.

Take a peek at what a lovely group can do, 

who were fearful of the concept of "self-portrait"

who thought they had no artistic ability...

who all looked at me with raised eyebrows 

when I mentioned the words

"take a picture of yourself on your phone..."

Our h e a r t s became full, 

as the tension went away, 

and everyone got in their own art space.

I am simply  a m a z e d ...

grateful for 

new seeds of growth. 

(Matthew 18:20)

"For when two or three come together in my name, there am I among them." 

...soooo thankful to Junelle Jacobsen for teaching Wild Art to us all, so we can share the process of art journaling in the world and connect hearts... There's still time to signup for Junelle's Spring Workshop~ 

I soooo highly recommend it~ best class ever!

How does your garden grow...?

I cultivate my garden, 

and my garden 

cultivates me.  

~Robert Brault

(a little watercolor sketch of veggies~ beets or radishes... hmmm?)

It's funny, but I tend to think of working in my garden,

and the whole, bird building it's nest from pieces of straw and twig,

as the metaphor for my personal art process.

Kind of like a "life verse" of sorts... 

my "life metaphor". 

I've always gravitate towards the organic nature of art...

whether it be my subject matter, 

the materials I am working with,

or the kind of classes I like to take.

(And these days, I am sure lusting after a Flora Bowley workshop big time!)

The concept of planting seeds,

the cultivating process,

the growth... 

the end result...

it all fits together most artistically to me.

Maybe that's why I find...
 that I keep posting several areas of the art that I am developing in...

 decoupage... watercolor... oil and mixed media. 
(Rather than focusing on one solid part of this garden- like the tomatoes- 
they seem to be a lot easier to grow).


Maybe that's why some of my art pieces are just little exercises, 
and other's are more finished.


Maybe I am being shaped through this process 
(by the weeds, as well as the water and the soil).
The weeds, being those pesky things 
that get in the way of "creating"...


The more I turn the soil,
 I am starting to see how this process 
"is cultivating me".


What's growing in your "art" garden this week? 

finishing off~ with a grateful

s h o u t   o u t...

to a fellow creative, with a most beautiful line of 

delicate, sweet, elegant and tender jewelry pieces.

I had the pleasure of creating an updated logo for 

Amy Friend 
of 
Cypress Sun Jewelry.

I was honored to be able to collaborate together 

to update her identity, 

that reflects the elegance and simplicity of her most lovely designs.

I am proud to say I own the pieces above.

Major love people.... major love!

and... a  g r a t e f u l shout out 

to another wonderfully creative artist...

that I am so fortunate to know from 

the Kelly Rae flying lessons ecourse last year~

Elizabeth Gonzalez

a lovely ceramic and mixed media artist with a whimsical style.

I am so happy to have received one of her prints 

from her anniversary blog giveaway.

(I have a little secret... to own a piece of art from each of my "fellow flying artistic friends"... 

I have started my collection, and have been adding to it, as I can afford 

or as I was blessed to win~ it just makes me smile!)

grateful!

Hanging out with Jennifer and other creatives at STUDIOJRU

Click the link to take a peek at what everyone has been up to this week.

Seeds of G R O W T H... and a G I V E A W A Y!

"We come from the earth, 

we return to the earth, 

and in between we

 g a r d e n."

anonymous

So, for the past year, I've been planting some seeds. 

I've been working the soil of my creative journey. 

Some days turning the dirt and adding lots of nutrients, 

and other days just looking at the soil, 

pulling some weeds, 

and wondering when the sprouts are going to shoot up.

Lately, I've been seeing some sprouts. 

I am starting to see a few glimmers of those colorful flowers 

that I so desperately want to grow.

 I do  b e l i e v e  

the flowers 

are really, really starting to grow!

... and I am encouraged.

a list of my  s p r o u t  sightings...

~ I'm seeing some increase in my etsy sales

(Every time an order comes through, I'm like a child at Christmas- 

the sales seem like they are creeping in slowly, but creeping in, is good. 

I feel a lot like a snail in the soil sometimes!

I've started to "renew" and add items more often- as well as join a couple of etsy teams,

which I think is another contributing factor to the visibility. 

Meeting new people on a team, and supporting each other through team treasuries, 

giveaways, & team blogs, I think has definitely been a boost. 

I am sooo thankful to the people that have included me in a treasury, or a feature, or their blog. )

~ I'm seeing increased visibility

(I'm starting to notice that my work is being recognized at shows, the more I attend repeatedly- 

I had a couple of people looking for me- yea!

Also I am noticing that the wonderful connections and friendships from ecourses, blogging, blog hops, 

giveaways, and social networks that have been continually taking root. 

This is the most wonderful area in this crazy journey of creating art. 

I cherish each and every connection that has been made, and am trying to recognize and support 

each and every sweet person that is on their own creative journey beside me.

It's amazing to see some who have arrived to the place of enormous growth- completely in B L O O M.

It inspires and encourages me always. 

It's amazing to see some who are on a parallel path and others who are just getting started. 

I am inspired by and in awe of each and every one!)

~I'm starting to approach shops  and bigger shows

(Finally being B R A V E and approaching a few shops to see if I can get 

any of my work in another venue- got a couple of consignments started. 

Also doing a show in a couple of weeks that is a much larger venue than I am used to...  

Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Show. 

Talk about butterflies and preparation! yikes!

Hey if any of you are in So. Cal and are attending, 

or are exhibiting there- give me a shout out in the comments- I'd love to meet you. ) 

~I'm starting to see a path

(As I am starting to see a path, it feels right, to acknowledge this grateful list of sprouts. 

There is so much soil I want to cultivate, and yet sometimes 

it's good to just stop, 

look for the growth, 

and see the colors as they start to reveal themselves.)

what is on your "sprout list" ?

what new things are happening for you?

Feel free to leave a comment today and I will enter you into my giveaway 

to  C E L E B R A T E  

s  e e d s   o f   g r o w t h

s p r i n g

&  g r a t e f u l n e s s

To enter to win (one of my little birdie houses shown above)

Leave a comment on my blog~ it's as simple as that!

Drawing will be on Friday!

2 entries if you are already a follower or if you become a blog follower.

Thank-you faithful followers!