DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.....

I just finished this book and was very moved by the unique life  story of Susan Boyle.   It is a rags to riches story with a very different set of circumstances than the usual ones told. Susan's story is very inspiring to say the least.   Eventhough I didn't care much for the writing style of this author, Susan's story shone through.   Here is just one of the insightful quotes from the book .....

"What, ultimately, has made Susan so universally loved is that she is everywoman.  Everyone in the world has a bit of Susan Boyle in them - the frightened wee girl treated badly at school and dismissed as an adult - but Susan proved that these are handicaps that can be overcome.  Everyone has dreamed a dream of some description, though few of us are able to follow it through.  After all, it takes guts to leave the safety zone and expose yourself to the eyes of an unforgiving world.- something Susan did and has kept on doing.  Ultimately, the Susan Boyle story is about hope."

After reading this book it just confirmed the notion that it is never to late to realize the dreams that you have imagined yourself to achieve.  Click on the link below to see a clip from her now famous Britain's Got Talent audition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

I just have to say I don't know if this clip will affect you the same way it does me, but it definitely moves me to tears everytime I watch it....enjoy.    Until next time.....I wish you peace...

This picture was taken in front of my friend Terri's home. I didn't know what Selah meant so I asked Terri. She said it meant to pause and reflect. So when I got home I decided to look up the word. It is a Hebrew word and actually has several meanings according to sources on google. The one that sounded like the most common interpretation meant "a dramatic pause or change of tempo - stop and listen".   It is used many times in the Psalms.

The second most used interpretation meant "measured against" or "valued". Here the translation "valued" is used to illustrate the meaning of something for an exchange, i.e., wisdom cannot be measured with the gold of Ophir. It is BEYOND value. In other words, it is beyond comparison or measuring against.

What a wonderful way to describe my visit to Terri's home ~ A Time to Pause and Reflect ~ A Place of Value Beyond Measure. Not only did her home exhude this sentiment but also our time spent together. I am so thankful for friends like Terri with a willingness to take time to nuture friendship. May you be blessed with such friendships, until next time..... I wish you Peace...

ART JOURNALING DAY 8

For day 8 of our art journal we were to pick a word that would exemplify what our focus for the year would be and use it in our journal art page.  This is the page I came up with and a short explanation of the word I picked and why.....

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to live this year with "No Regrets", but..

that is not my word for 2010.   My word for 2010 is

BALANCE

For me the two things are very tied together. Finding balance in my life includes no regrets or apologies for not being able to do everything. Meaning.....if I want to do art, I will have no regrets about the layer of dust on everything and 2 loads of laundry not being done that I am behind on.

Balanced heart (living blissfully) makes for a balanced life.

Until next time......I wish you peace...

Essence of Woman

A recently completed sketch.  Would love to hear your interpretative thoughts on this one. 
Hope you enjoy....

ART JOURNALING ~ DAY 3 & 4

The Journal  prompt for days 3 and 4 was to use checks and large circles in the design.  I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do so I just started playing around with some ideas and the pictures below show what I came up with.   When starting this project I added texture to the 2 page spread using Liquitex Modeling Paste the night before so it had plenty of time to dry before adding the other layers. 

The color combinations turned out great and I thought the design had the look and feel of an old map page.

The left page has a "vintage paper island" that reads

 The Journey Awakens The Soul

The right page had lots of swirls for the circles and various sizes and shapes of numbers.  I put the numbers in the design to represent passage of days through the new year.

For day 5  the Journal prompt is diary or calendar pages.  Check back soon to see what design I came up with!  Until next time.............I wish you Peace..........

ART JOURNALING 2010 - DAY 1 & 2

My mind swirled with ideas as I opened my recently purchased art journal and caught a whiff of the newly bound pages of the book.  A whole sketchbook full of blank pristine white pages full of endless possibilities!  The bouquets of brushes and newly sharpened pencils on my art table which overflowed with artists paraphenalia stood at the ready waiting for that first stoke or swirl. 

Filled with excitement  about starting my first art project for 2010 I quickly jumped online to take a peek at the prompt for the day for the art journal group I belong to.  The suggestion for the day was to make a Journal  Introduction Page.   Wanting to picture myself doing more art this year, I decided the theme for my journal this year would be.......

Visionary Moments.

On the second page I put words that expressed what I wanted my art to portray this year...family, friendships, love, life, protecting the environment, and finding bliss. I added the statement "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" to remind myself to try new things.

 Supplies Used For These Pages Were

Glazing Medium

Matte Medium

Permanent Markers

Acrylics

 Oil Pastels

Vintage Book Pages

Rubber Stamp

Stamping and Distress Inks

Polymer Clay

ART POD STUDIOS TOUR

Today I got to thinking that my readers might like to see where I work.....here at the Art Pod.   I finished getting my studio and supplies settled into their new home just recently and I am thoroughly enjoying my new space.   I still have some organizing to do but it was wonderful this fall when my busy Halloween season hit and I had such a wonder place to work in........

This area of the studio is dedicated to comfort!!  I have my morning tea time here and contemplate goals for the day.

This shot was taken from the staircase and pretty well shows the layout of the whole studio.

One of the things I did not get a picture of is the cathederal ceiling area of the studio.    The ceiling is all wood and adds a lot of visual warmth to the studio, while the 6 skylights at the highest part of the ceiling add the much needed natural light for doing my artwork.

Hope you enjoyed my little tour, until next time I wish you peace...............

A Poem Speaks To The Mind's Eye

.....Heart & Soul.....

Would that we could all be

POETS

                                                ~Carolee~