Creative Abundance

   First of all I want to thank you for all the get well wishes for my Mom. She is doing much better although it will be another week or so until the flu symptoms completely disappear.

  I have been struggling to feel good about making art and celebrating the coming holidays since hearing the horrific news of the losses of life at Sandy Hook in Newtown, CT. I want to share some links to four of my beautiful blogging artist friends who have so eloquently expressed the thoughts of many by using their words, their art and /or photos. Thank you to Jenny (Texterial) , Nancy M. James (Sugar lump Studios) , Patty Szymkowicz (Magpie's Nest) , -please scroll down to the post below Patty's link here to read the beautiful poem- and Shahrul (Such Pretty Canvas) -Shahrul has a link to a quick and easy project to make and send to decorate the new building in which the elementary students at Sandy Hook will return to. Thank you all for giving perspective in continuing to move on the best way one  knows how.

   I knew I wanted to look for a new online class to take for the coming new year but what I didn't expect was to find myself beginning one today! My friend Lenna Andrews (who had taken Julie Fei Fan Balzer's Stamp Carving 101 online class with me) had mentioned a class she signed up for on a recent post on her blog . The description was so appealing to me but I didn't think I could squeeze it in at this time. Well, as synchronicity took place quite quickly and things aligned as I believe they were meant to, I found myself signed up!

  I am now taking the class "52 Weeks of Creative Abundance"  being taught by Christi Wich at The Creative Underground. Here is the description Christi gives :

"52 weeks of do-able creative actions and projects that will help you uncover your authentic heart felt desires and passions, and re-connect you to your sacred truth and creative nature as a woman.
Throughout the course we will embrace what it means to be a woman...mind, body, and soul...and will actively set about creating our best and most joyous life. Opportunities for interacting and sharing with other creative women, whom are also participating in this journey, will be offered as well as introductions to a myriad of creative self care practices that are designed to help you tap into your inner wisdom and unique beauty."

 If you wish to sign up you must first join The Creative Underground group but it's only a click or two away.

  To  begin on the Winter Solstice is wonderful, for although it's the shortest daylight day of the year, it also means we will be gaining a bit more daylight each day after today. And that means before you know it, summer will have arrived :):)

 

  It was suggested to keep a journal for the class so this is the journal I'm using. I had done the cover quite awhile ago and set this moleskine journal aside to be used "some day". The background collaged paper was created by Helga Strauss, owner of  ARTchix Studio. She offered this master sheet on her blog as a free download. I added three small ARTchix Studio square collage sheet images, added ribbon at the top and bottom and titled it-not knowing what was going to go into it.

 

 

 

 

 

   This is the background for the title page and a first pre-class exercise, which was to make a list of about twenty things that feed your spirit and warm your heart. I made a heart stencil and meditating figure stencil to use along with soft colored inks.

 

  And here's my list:

 

 

 

  I am linking up to Art Journal Everyday and  Paint Party Friday.

 

  For those of you who will be celebrating any of the holidays this season offers I wish you and yours love and light.

 

    "Truly, it is in the darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us."  Johannes Eckhart