ART EVERYDAY JOURNALING ... for one year!!

 New Beginnings ....

 Flower and caladium from back porch...

Ball point ink doodle and two real feathers with two painted feathers....below.

 Tree... "Getting Older" ...... and fun with color pencils below...

 A cherished place to rest my back...and the LOGO for ART EVERYDAY JOURNALING.....

 Above.....missing my art supplies and closing my eyes to the mess of packing boxes!!

 My new kitchen...play with my black and white floors....

 Crazy composition of leaves, twigs, and rain drops....

 My cheap but wonderful watercolors and supplies....

My mother's old metal flower hanging lamp I am thinking of restoring for hanging above my kitchen sink....

 Drips and drops of paint then made into flowers with a pen...simple fun!

 Peacock feather with metallic watercolors....

 Forever Love stamps reproduced in watercolor....stamps are on left and right.

Warrenton memories in the Texas Trash booth with Cheryl....

 Vase of leaves and acorns done with a fine Sharpie.....

 Detail of "New Beginnings"

I have an on going new EVENT on my FACE BOOK..... called "ART EVERYDAY JOURNALING" .  You are welcome to join in if you like..... it has been fun with a few friends who aren't even artists, they thought!,  to do some doodling and sketching and writing thoughts. Some are surprised I think at how good they are and we have just had fun overall!!  It is a challenge to me mostly to do some doodling or sketching every day for one year!!  Especially since I have had my art supplies packed away for almost a year trying to get moved!! So I am doing it to get me back to some drawing and playing with my simple tools of pencil, ball point pen, and cheap water colors and some color pencils..... someone seems to post at least EVERYDAY and it has become a way to communicate with each other and have something fun to look forward to!  No telling what God is going to do with this!!  I think after a year in 2013 in September we will actually have a get together EVENT!!  Anyway, stay tuned to see...also click on my FACE BOOK to the left to go to the EVENT and join or say you are "going"....which means going everyday to see what we are up to or to post your own fun doodling!!  I will post a bunch of the doodles done so far from me..... enjoy and BLESSINGS TO YOU!!! 

GRACE.....

The women's event "If the Shoe Fits" was wonderful, of course!  God did his thing moving hearts to accomplish it! We had almost 200 !  The dining room was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the chatting was lively and happy! We had very special music with words so assuring. There was an exciting air of expectation in the atmosphere as we filed into the Sanctuary to hear "Jenny Broughton" !  She could be a Christian Comedian!  She is so alive with humor and funny "real" things to talk about that we all experience in our dull everyday lives .... but somehow she makes those simple events we go through not so bad and at least very memorable!  Like the days of those of us who never went anywhere without our pantyhose and the struggle they at times presented in our trying to get and keep them in the right place!  She is so animated!!  It was so wonderful to laugh HARD with her, especially during a time in our lives of such heaviness on TV!  
We needed to hear her .... to hear her and how very real and normal she is!  And WHY?..... she,  being so normal with the same struggles as anyone ..... Why would she want to come and entertain us with her funny and painful stories of her life experiences?  WHY?  Well, it's the heart that God mended, in such a broken child, that He so beautifully nurtured and grew and loved unconditionally that she is "compelled" to share His boldness with us!!  His boldness.  Imagine having someone love you so boldly that He never gave up on you ..... that He reached down to an orphaned child and made sure there were loving arms around her at all times!  He used so many to do His job.   
Well, Jenny's "story" is wrenching .... the things she has had to go through and witness in her life as a child .... and even the things she learns later in her life she never knew.  So one of the loving things God gave her to help her get through, was a sense of humor!!!  We could all use a little sense of humor!!  Not that she has been absent of painful tears, but her sense of humor is crucial to her survival in sharing what she shares with us.   Because THEN WE CAN EVEN identify with her!  Maybe in some way we have walked in her shoes!  That is why she is compelled to share it "all" with us .... the ALL .... the good and the bad, but most of all is she is compelled to tell you how she was rescued through it all and from it all .... and she continues to be rescued and "fitted" for the right shoes in each season and then able to "Walk On" in  His shoes he "fitted" for her at that moment ....... and for all of us if we so choose to take off the old shoes that become so uncomfortable!  Her words to us......and they leave me wanting to shed a few pairs of shoes I keep walking in .... that have become uncomfortable .  I am ready for a new fit!

So was it a success? Yes it was .... God had His Hand in it, touching those who needed it .... He always reaches over and beyond any humanism  to call us to Him in such a private and gentle way.  I am sure many hearts went home pondering all that they had heard from Jenny .... and maybe with a little giggle too!  
How can I say ..... Thank You Lord! ... for all that you used to make this happen in our midst?!!!  Thanks that all of you came to share in such a special person's life!!  She also leaves "blessed" by your presence!  ....that is how He seems to work!  

The flowers above were in her room and then she gave this quote to see if it could be put on a card ..... of her flowers!  Enjoy and if you want her CD called "CALL ME " go to www.JennyBroughton.com to contact her for anything,  even a date to come and speak in your church or group of gals someday!!!

YOU'VE SEEN HER BEFORE...

Yes, you may have seen her before ... but she has a little new meaning in her life and knows where her strength comes from.  As it says .... "I am a princess, not because I have a prince but because my father is a KING."  The King is the Christ, the Son of the Most High.... and believe me when the chips are down He IS THERE .... He is. We will have the priviledge to hear about it this weekend and then on Tuesday evening with Jenny Broughton ........ she KNOWS.  Her heart will be present to share with us ... much laughter and some tears too.... they should go hand in hand.  Don't miss the message!! Hugs and Blessings!!!

I AM HUMBLED ....

 Please try to come to this very special EVENT!!!

Several things come to my mind and heart today ..... My Mother, My Heavenly Father and Blessings ..... even through tough times .... I know there have been incredible blessings ..... and I am humbled because I don't deserve one!  But I am so grateful of God's grace in my life.  Working on this EVENT "If The Shoe Fits" has been a growing blessing for me.  God really knows how to connect the dots to grow His Kingdom and I feel blessed to be a little dot!  The Event is Tuesday the 18th of September coming up and many women are excited about it!!  We will be sewing  tables runners this week in my new sort of finished Studio/Garage.....my first event for creativity in my Studio....His table cloths!!!  I am reminded of His Words in Psalms 23:5....."You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  You anoint my head with oil;  My cup runs over."  Well, that is how I feel....My cup is running over....not with too much work, but with His love and Blessing of getting to participate in this special women's event in La Grange.  The cups are mine, the red one in front is a cup from my mother, the oil painting of my mother from 1958 when we lived in Spain, ....she was the most awesome MOTHER.....she is who taught me to love to sew....still on her sewing machine!....I miss her.  Then looking out the window of the beautiful house we still live in, but will soon move from.  It has been a blessing of beauty to live here, BUT I KNOW HE has something "new" in store for us and we are excited for what that will be.....we have FULL hearts of anticipation and excitement and peace for the days to come.  This event has connected some dots for me as well and I am so thankful!  Hmm ...the table runners are polka dots!!!

DON'T MISS THIS EVENT!!!!!!

 REMEMBER.....if you are happy.......

 or sad.......

 or tired.......you should not miss this special event to hear Jenny!!!

Even though we have not moved yet, I am feeling like a real part of my new town!  I have met the nicest of women who have a heart for one another....therefore I am sooo excited to tell you about my friend,  Jenny Broughton, originally a Texan now lives in Oklahoma City..... (www.jennybroughton.com) AND  who is coming to LaGrange to speak at a special event sponsored by "Joy Ministries" (click the poster to enlarge) .  She knows "The Pioneer Woman", Ree,  if that makes any difference..ha....Jenny is one of my very favorite women that can get you pumped up about life, even in it's challenges and in the possibilities that life offers you to know how much you are loved and valued! This event is open to anyone in any situation in their lives .....yukky or not yukky....... you will laugh, cry and say a hearty "Yahoo!"  I hope you will try to attend this very special event if you are close by .....bring a friend.... you won't be sorry! Blessings!!!  (the doll above is one I grew up with and still have .... a three faced doll from the 40's ... her head turns for the mood she is in ..... I could use that knob on top of my head!  ha!) Also, we are still packing and remodeling the next house ... someday, someday ... we'll move.  All in God's timing! .... I am missing my art and art room....soon!!!

SUMMER...BORED?...NOT US!!!!

Our newest ballerina....

Our seasoned beautiful ballerina...

Our artist painting a cement pot at Mimi's

Grand daughter's (6yrs) SPECIAL art for a new room at their house!!!

Learning how to pin layers together before sewing....

These old quilt squares were from Miss Annie's garage sale and they became pillows for grand daughter's bed....after pinning she sat on my lap and machine sewed the quilted lines....can't find the finished pictures and also a picture of her adorable little suitcase we decoupaged!!

Other Mother's were busy at my house this summer too!!

Where did time go?! He used to fit in this pool a few years back at age two!!!  They all did!!!

Vacation Bible School.....she said it was tooo fun and this year Grand Dad even got involved...I wonder why?....ha....airplanes??? maybe???

I gave her her first hoop and started embroidery....she had her own design in mind!!!

An old bird house got re painted by grand daughter number two....and home it went with her!!

Probably our last 4th at this big ole house....it was a really nice day and they couldn't wait for the parade and all that candy and necklaces!!!

"We are ready!!!

SILLYness.....AND FUN!!

GOOFINESS AND BOYS!!!

OUR PRINCESS GOT SO EXCITED WHEN SHE CAUGHT SOME CANDY!!!

Grand Dad, daughter and mini daughter!!

Swim lessons....now that the ear tubes are gone!!!!

Our local boys carrying the banner and flag....sweet!

ABE!!?....we've gone greyhaired!!!

Grandson....bright eyed and bushy tailed!!!  Handsome! He is our baseball player!!!

My forever zinnias....

more zinnias from the garden...

Top garden fence railing almost installed on the loft....all pipe railing is done and the fence will be put on the outside.....you like it?

ART STUDIO....YAY...almost done!!! This WAS a two car garage.....Dick is ok with it too! Our carpenter Danny designed the railing and is finishing the details in the Studio...we love it!!

She wants American Girl doll "Kaya" for Christmas, who looks just like her!!! So she painted this blanket for the doll.  The pillow is his dog...Luke...

How did that mule get those britches on?!?!...and those socks!!!

ZigZag stitching around pillow...

OK...., these were gleaned from PB pillows and we only borrowed the design for the kids room and they did almost all the work!

We used black magic marker and acrylic paints!...on muslin....he really looks like Luke!!

Is he not the cutest dog?!  You can get yours, a little different, at Pottery Barn Kids....we made ours....took one hour and $3.00!

Our precious and loved grandkids from out of town.....

The cat we borrowed too from PB....but we painted ours to match Sunny (Sonshine) the cat!!!

Thanks for looking....have a happy day!!! More projects to come when my Studio is complete!!!

I KNOW....it's been too long....but we HAVE been busy .... and havin some fun!!! Maybe when school starts I can get back to "OTHER" things.....ha. My "Title" WAS going to be "He's Moving, but I'm Not" ....which would refer to a wonderful story of me putting off something God had in mind......and HE MOVED ON IT....., when I wasn't,.....and I had to change my tune!!!  GOD IS SO GOOD! I will share about it closer to September.....all you girls keep an eye out!!! It will have to do with SHOES!!!!  NOW back to Summer around here..... I am just going to POST a bunch of Summer Fun and projects at CAMP MIMI'S....I am missing a few projects like the redo of a cute suitcase from Miss Annie's garage sale for Peyton.....but here is all the rest!!! Miss you all and BOY DO I MISS MY ART AND STUDIO!!! Still in storage and the Studio in La Grange is coming along.....it will get "WIRED" one of these days!! ENJOY....and many Sweet BLESSINGS to you all!!!