EXCITING CHANGES TO COME!!!

Dick and I have made some big changes for the year to come!! We are downsizing to free us up to do the things we have always wanted to do ..... that is.... free to travel, spend more time together, follow His lead for new adventures, no more retail store after 27 years, more time with kids, but still MORE ART and probably some sewing classes for girls ..... that is a dream right now ..... but the ART won't stop, it will be here on the blog as soon as we finish remodeling our NEW/OLD smaller home about 20 miles away. SO STAY TUNED ... we'll be having a big sale and beautiful house and property SALE in the SUMMER!! MORE FREEDOM ON IT'S WAY!!! WooHoo!!! And THANKS for all your support the last twenty seven years in my shop!!!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

THE "GIRLS" ..... my zinnias

12x16, done using Jane DesRosier's (Gritty Jane) texture idea of paper squares...then painting on top. First coats and beginning drawing... A simple journal page....got Zinnias on the brain! Some photos of the humblest of zinnias.... ..... they are so beautiful, strong and complex in their design. Almost architectural and perfect. There are so many different kinds, shapes and colors of the same thing. They thrive on the sun to become so beautiful and pleasing to look at. After a while, their color fades and their energy is refocused. They appear to suffer and struggle when finally they dry up and their once beautiful, now dead petals blow away. All that is left is the core, or their soul so to speak....that place where the petals held on to for so long. Then the core or soul or seed head dies and breaks open.... releasing all the seeds of new life she was nurturing and forming all along. All along her purpose was to bloom, die and then release new hope for the future. Her cycle continues for an eternity... her purpose for living never ended. As the dried core blows away and the seeds spread all around on the ground, the rain comes and it sprouts new life in a tiny delicate green sprouts that amazingly being touched by the sun grows into a a strong, mighty and beautiful creation to behold. She has given her soul or seed head to begin maybe a hundred new beauties! Her purpose for living is never in vain.... especially when touched by the warmth of the sun and fed by the rain.....Go Girls, Go!! Two people I know went home to be with the Lord this past week. One was a loved younger Mother and Grandmother and the other was an older Grandfather and Father, also very loved. They both "suffered well" with great grace.... as was quoted by a family member. Both left many, many seeds behind, many seeds that were touched by the "Son" that had nutured their own growth and their own unique beauty they each beheld while they were here ... each one different but uniquely beautiful and so pleasing to behold. See you later "Cici" and "Ted"..... see you there. I can't help but wonder knowing we too will someday go home to our Father, if I will be able to "suffer well"? I don't know and so I continue to try and learn and fill myself with the Son and His Mercy and Grace. Also, now when I gather up and "hold on" to all those dead looking seed heads, I will still know and appreciate more all the beauties and possibilities I hold in my hands. But I will "let them go" so they can spread and the new sprouts can come. I have LOVED this flower since early childhood when we planted our own first little flower garden beside the garage wall by the back gate in hot North Texas as children. What grew from those first seeds has stuck with me all my years and through today as I take these photos of yesterday's dried seed heads. My daughter reminded of these references in Scripture as well....I Peter 1:23-25, Isaiah 40:6-8, James 1:10-12, Matthew 13:31-33, Mark 4:7,8.......Blessings to you! An additional note....I would like to link you to the Obituary/ Blog of Ted and Jo Stone, who we had the priviledge of knowing through dear friends....they also counseled us in our marriage and were encouragers in Christ and just someone you could always go to in honesty and never be criticized, but nurtured and loved through whatever you were going through. Ted went home to be with the Lord as mentioned above, but Jo is still here and will continue in her awesome God Given ministries to people! If you ever visit with me I will walk you through the awesome way she walked me prayerfully through releasing things from my childhood that has had a deep hold on me for years....I will never forget it and how my focus went to the One (who I already knew) but who delivers, Saves, Loves and never forsakes!

17 comments:

Diane said...

Sherry this is so beautiful! Over a year ago, grittyjane used to have a ning group all about textures, but she closed it down, but she did give us permission to download all of the videos, and this was one of them. That was a great workshop--just full of texture ideas.

Mary said...

Sherry, I love this painting!! I took Jane's class on textures too. I love the texture this technique gives the painting.

I too love Zinnias. I especially like a huge vase of them in all their different colors!! I don't have any growing here now - will have to fix that.

I am sorry for the loss of your friends. Mourning and joy intertwined.

Kitt said...

You and your painting are beautiful, Sherry. Your testimony about your life and the people in it has planted a seed of joy inside me today. I'm so glad I stopped by!

Emelie said...

I enjoyed your writings this morning, I love Zinnias also, and when I plant them I alwys wonder how that flake type seed can mature into such grand flowers. I dead head them so don't get much from reseeding, but I get long blooming time. I enjoy rows of them in the vegetable garden, they make the harvesting of the vegetables so pleasant, or rather double pleasant. It is like going to your own farmers market, coming in with various vegetables and a bouquet of zinnias. Zinnias and dill in a vase are a favorite and also some Siam Basil. Such blessings of summer.
Your art is also beautiful lovely design and color.

Anonymous said...

hi, sweetie! gorgeous, thoughtful post. thank you!

Say It In Color said...

OH MY Thank You for your enthusiastic comments!! Made my day!! Everyone of you....a present to me....woohoo!

Carrie said...

Oh, I love the painting...it does remind me of Cici!! She was colorful like the zinnia and full of texture in her personality! What a beautiful memorial to both she and Ted.

Carrie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jennifer Richardson said...

So, so beautiful....the words, the paintings, the photographs. Thank God for zinnias....and all the lovelies in all of the gardens.
What brilliant design.
Thanks for sharing this nourishing post:)
-Jennifer

DJ said...

This post is as beautiful as its artist and writer.
Love the zinnia painting & journal page. Your work is growing and developing.
Blessings

Carol said...

Wonderful textured painting, Sherry. I love zinnias too, so really enjoyed your photos and your beautiful words.

Kelly said...

I fell in love with this beautiful painting of yours! I am so glad you joined the blog hop so that I could find your blog and be completely inspired. Your painting is so well done and just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.

Kelly said...

By the way... I hope you don't mind... I featured you on my blog with a link to your blog to inspire others. If you do not want to be on there please contact me. Thank you.

Rebecca Anthony said...

Your work is really beautiful!

Montgomery Family said...

You painting is AMAZING, absolutely beautiful. And zinnias are one of my most favorite flowers, too. I just moved to TX to a yard with lots of sun, and I'm dreaming of planting zinnias!
I also love what you shared! Thanks!

Our Hands For Hope said...

I love the textural idea. It works well with you painting style.

Nelda Ream said...

This is such a beautiful painting, Sherry! And beautiful sentiments, too.