WIP or something like that...

i am struggling.  

sometimes painting is downright painful. 

could it be that i feel like crap physically?

threw my back out last Monday...it's on the mend. 

yes, that could be part of it, but sometimes painting is just that, a struggle. 

feeling inadequate, unskilled, insecure...the list could go on.  there have been moments thoughts like, "just give it up" have crept into my mind. 

but then i hear, Mar just paint what you know, play, explore, don't worry about all that you don't know or what you can't do yet....

YET...because the more i paint, the more i play, the more i explore, i learn. 

so i continue the journey...knowing at times there will be struggle and unease...that's okay.  

and sometimes it's more...

We are reaching for the future, we are reaching for the past

And no matter what we have we reach for more.

We are desperate to discover what is just beyond our grasp

Maybe that's what heaven is for.

Still it seems a tragic fate, living with the quiet ache,

the constant strain

for what remains just out of reach.

So when we taste the Divine, it leaves us thirsty every time

for one more taste of what awaits when heaven's gates are reached.

song lyrics "Reaching" by Carolyn Arends

more journal pages

these are some of my favorite journal pages ever.

i'm not even sure i can explain why i like them so much.

they were done in a much quicker fashion, a little more haphazardly then normal.

maybe with a little more freedom.

last nights workshop

photos from last nights workshop at out of the box studio in roswell.  sorry they are a bit blurry...i did not use a flash...don't know what i was thinking.  most of the women chose to do their work on a canvas panel.   as usual, it was so much fun to see the variety that comes from a group doing this.  

see my huge journal page on canvas in the background...and don't my cards look great on that rack...

love the checkerboard floor and the colorful chairs

and i got to meet a blogging buddy.  Laurel over at Happiness is... what a sweet woman.  i love meeting blogging buddies!!

hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  most welcomed cool temperatures here.

more journal playing

here are a few pages done with Derwent Inktense Blocks. the first two spreads i was just getting the feel of how they worked and i wanted to see how much color i could get out of them.  as you can see it is quite bright and brilliant.

there is a bit of texture on a few of them.  i used gesso on the pages first (my pages are very thin in this journal) and when the pages were still wet i smooshed them together.

i blended and played with the blocks a bit more on the last three. i also used some gesso over them here and there.

got the news back on my pooch.  she is okay!!!  turns out it was a hematoma after all.  now i  am extremely thankful, but i am a little ticked that the vet could not distinguish between a hematoma and a tumor...put her through an unnecessary surgery and cost us a small boat load of money...i'm just sayin...

resting

thanks for the well wishes and prayers.

saturday's workshop was wonderful.  several new ladies attended.

i am continually amazed at how God uses this visual journaling thing.

i am feeling a bit better.  i have been taking it easy and just playing in my journal.

these were created with cheap craft paint, and some collage.

i have been playing with Derwent Inktense Blocks.  boy are they great to use.  you can get some amazing intense color with these and they are permanent when dry.  i'll show you some later this week.

i still have not heard from our vet yet...

feels like ages

it feels like i have not posted in ages...while it's only been a week or so

it seems like life has just crowded in on me, things and events coming from all directions

i have been working on lessons, and journal prompts for my upcoming workshops

prompts that will take women deeper into their hearts

prompts that are meant to open eyes and hearts, and awaken desires long forgotten

i wonder...there are forces set against that happening...

my sweet doggie i told you all about a few posts back may have cancer.  what they thought was a hematoma they now think is a tumor - we will know next week

there have been major health issues in extended family members and friends

and i have a crappy cold!!

please pray that i will be well on Saturday.  that the workshop and prompts help open closed places in women's hearts.

grace and peace

journal spread

This is a journal that I carry with me.  It houses my calendar, my to do lists, ideas for my workshops and the stuff of life.  I have painted several backgrounds so they are ready when i feel the pull to journal.  I completed this spread while in Florida a few weeks ago.