~A Little Whisper From the Universe~

I just love when I get little messages from the universe. Tonight, I was sitting with my beloved sister-in-law Jane, having a few glasses of red wine...She said to me that she had been thinking about me, and my art...and she thought that I really need to do some more children's things...she'd been missing my children's work. The funny thing was that I had actually been kicking around this idea in my head for a little while now.

When my children were a little younger, I used to do lots of children's art...and design, and sell children's clothing. I truly loved the whole process of creating each piece of clothing...whether it was smocking...embroidery...painting...applique...I was passionate about each stitch...I felt a lot of pride in sending out each piece knowing that it was created with such love and care. I was actually doing quite well at it...but true to form...as soon as I felt myself getting somewhere, I pulled the pin on it.

I have spoken here before of my past tendencies to sabotage my success...to deny myself doing things that bring me joy...
I honestly, believe that I have crossed a major bridge...the gremlins have been left on the other side...I do hear them whispering now and again, but now I can plug my ears, and yell....'la,la,la,la...I can't hear you!' I am feeling protective of myself...something I have never felt the right to do before.

I am revelling in how good it feels to be ready to surrender myself to wherever this creative paths leads...allowing myself to be gently nudged to the place I need to be. I also take so much comfort in knowing that I am not the only one feeling this...I'm in beautiful company.

So...let us walk wherever our bold hearts lead us...

'night Sweet Girls...

~Striking a Balance~

This is the painting that I have managed to get done this week. It makes me smile, because when I was painting it the whole time I was thinking about how much I wished I could be swimming in serenity with these girls.

The kids are on Spring break right now...which means I have a really full house! I've been tangled up in blanket forts...covered in paint...accidently sitting in blobs of multi-coloured homemade playdough. Baking cookies...building block towers...and seeing smiles...smiles...smiles! These little ones are SO sweet!

It hasn't left much time for anything else...yet I found balance. I have found a few scraps of time to do some Sun Salutations...to sketch...play my guitar(On Top of Spaghetti). I am sure if I hadn't found a way to do this I'd not be sitting here at naptime on this Thursday afternoon...sane...and smiling!

(But PLEASE....PLEASE...PLEASE Weekend, could you hurry up and get here!!!!)

Peace and love to you...

~Knock, Knock~

She has arrived, Spring! Well, the weatherman said it's not official until close to midnight here...but she's on my cottage's doorstep!

I am an avid gardener...as avid as a girl living on the Canadian prairie can be.

I have been feeling a little like I imagine my mid-March garden must feel. A little bit soggy...sloppy. Applecores...Halloween's pumpkins...eggshell...bits of the past...gracefully decaying...creating fertile ground.
Speckled with pods...seeds from a season gone...
Lying in wait...breath catching with anticipation...

For those of you interested in eco-friendly clothing please check out magnoliapearl.com. I have got to get myself some of this loveliness!(Once upon a time...fairies on my front porch...)


Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

~Magic Follows....~

I have been....
Breathing...contemplating...
Trying not to lose my balance...
Letting go...but...
Holding that which is precious to me...
Sinking into glorious...beautiful colours...
Surrounding myself with song...and kindness...




I did this painting on Tuesday...as a deliberate reminder to myself to keep my heart and eyes ready...for the magic that is sure to follow if I stay open to it...

Does magic follow you?

~Sweet Dreams~

I'm sitting here thinking...'Uggghhh...I can't wait to get to bed!' Instead, for the moment I will sit here and pour out this little rambling from my conscious...I've been in a bit of a 'funk' for the past few days. We've had beautiful...sunny days...and I've only seen grey. There are things I wish I could speak of here....there are people in my life right now that I wish so very badly I could help...but due to circumstances totally beyond my control I sit in silence...I haven't painted since Friday...my house is a complete mess...which coincidently mirrors my state of mind...

Right now my daughter is upstairs singing Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams'(of course, that makes me smile)...fresh out of the tub...and getting into her jammies...My cue to go upstairs,snuggle up, and read with her...a little Anne of Green Gables is on tonight's agenda I think...

Then after I tuck her, and Joe in, I shall go sink into one of my favorite places...my beautiful antique clawfoot bathtub...with a cup of tea...and turn the faucet off and on with my toes while meditating on this unease...searching...for the wisdom in this moment...I know it is hiding here somewhere...right?

Wasn't it Scarlett O'Hara who said,'Tomorrow is another day?'

Love and Peace to you (Sorry for the downer post!)
'Night.

~Winds of Change~

~Brianna~
(Acrylic 9x12)


She calls upon the Wind...
Longing to hear the lilting voice...
Of the spectre who will guide her way...
Along the arduous path...

Softly comes a disarming song...
The voice, her own...springs from within.

~Through The Looking-Glass~

Last night I was going through my bedtime ritual...and as I was rubbing in my face cream...looking in the mirror...I thought of how quickly I zeroed in on my 'faults'. My crooked teeth...wrinkles...scarred nose...dark circles under my eyes. These things don't really bother me that much...I have a pretty nonchalant attitude towards them. They're just there...and they are a part of me. And the funny thing is that I'm guessing most people wouldn't even notice them.

Then I started thinking of how our own perceptions of ourselves tend to differ so vastly from how others see us...and not just physically...personality wise too...
I think for the most part, others view us in a kinder light than we see ourselves.

Do you think you see yourself clearly for who you are? Would you like to peer into the looking-glass, and see yourself as others do...even for a few moments? Do you think you would be surprised by what you would see?

I think I am just beginning to see myself clearer... I am still contorting to fit inside this skin of mine...and show my own true colours...

Peace and comfort to you...