Blog

Posted on

Christmas List

Over the years, and especially since working with The Rocking Yak, I’ve become increasingly intentional with my purchases.  Even more so in this last year as my desire to simplify and travel has become more pressing in my life. This holiday season has found our family craving more shared moments and adventures over things. Even so, there are a few items that have found their way onto my Christmas list this year.

2014 Christmas list

1.earth paint 2.apron 3.blanket 4.plant dyed watercolor paints 5.gourd speaker 6.iphone case 7.messenger bag 8.woven bag

Posted on

Wanderlust

Wanderlust

Every year I go through a period of time when I am beside myself with wanderlust. I just need to go somewhere – anywhere.  I want to be outside, exploring.  I want to hit the road and simply roam.   This desire of mine has gown more and more intense over the years as I see our family moving closer and closer to reaching our dream of traveling together.

Wanderlust was painted during a time when my feet most fervently needed to wander.

Limited edition 11×14 prints of this painting are now available, but only through my campaign, Healing Souls on the Road!

Posted on

Lotus in Snow

Image

The lotus is a flower that is rooted at the bottom of miry water.  It shows great determination as it forces its way up through the darkness until it finally emerges into the sunlight and blooms as a beautiful flower.

The lotus flower becomes a symbol of perseverance, overcoming, and survival as the miry water is often related to a dark trial in life.  Encouragement comes in the hope that at the end, a person will be met with the joy of the sunshine and will bloom as the beautiful lotus flower.

8×8 prints of this original artwork are available now, but only through my campaign Healing Souls on the Road!

Posted on

Walls that heal the soul

Mural: St. Joseph Regional Medical Center; Oncology
Mural: St. Joseph Regional Medical Center; Oncology

“Where other medical units have a need to invest in new robotics for patient care, Oncology does not have that need.  I am investing in art on the walls that heal the soul.”

~ Amelia Taggart, Director of Oncology

Art can offer healing to the soul, a place where medicine can not reach.  It can offer encouragement and renews hope when words fail to do so.  It speaks not only to patients, but to their family members as well.  For this reason, art is a powerful resource in providing comfort and peace.

Learn how you can be a part of “Healing Souls on the Road“

Posted on

Taking A Jump

IMG_9106

If you know me, you’ll know that I have a passion for creating art, and that I dream of traveling with my family. These 2 desires have been the basis of EVERY decision that I make in life.  Over the years, I have taken baby steps, placing one foot in front of the other, trusting God as I slowly moving toward my dreams.  However, in the last year, as one art project has lead to another, those baby steps have become more like strides.

In August, I was able to use the money I’ve earned painting murals to purchase a vintage 31′ Airstream Sovereign.  It is the perfect addition to our family of 4, making it possible for me to achieve my dream of creating art from the road.  Now, I am ready to take the jump and begin to make a living at doing what I love most, creating art.

In the last year, it’s been my honor to paint murals for the Oncology unit at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, IN.  Never has my artwork, been more fulfilling to create, than it has been while painting for the patients on the unit.  I love seeing how the symbolism that I have prayerfully worked into the designs touch people’s hearts at the time when they most need the encouragement.

My desire is to continue doing this work, and the airstream is going to help me to be able to reach out further than I what can reach now.  However, there is some work that needs to be done before, I am ready to take my mural business on the road.  This is why I have put together a crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo.com.  My goal is to raise $10,000 to help me build up my business, in preparation for hitting the road.

“What will these funds go towards?”, you may be asking. For starters, the Airstream needs some repairs, and new tires before we can take it use it.  We also need a dependable truck with the towing capabilities needed for hulling the weight of the Airstream.  These are the first priorities for the money.  If possible, I would also like to purchase some decent camera equipment, and a laser printer enabling me to photograph my artwork, and print my own fine art prints.

Not everyone is in a place to pick up and go out to use their passion in helping people who are sick or hurting. However, just because you can’t go, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of bringing healing to people who need it!

Please take a moment to check out my campaign page, and please consider making a contribution.  For your generosity, I am offering some great pieces of art for each level of investment.

 

Posted on

Being Present

IMG_9105In raising children, every parent hopes about what days will be like throughout the stages of life.  I always envision myself as a mother who is in tune with the seasons, exploring with my children the land around us, and taking advantage of everything that nature has to offer us.  My vision for our future always consist of a slower pace, offering us the time required to cherish and love life together as a family.  Each year, I make a promise to myself that next year will be different.  Next year, I’ll be the mom that I want to be, living the life that I want to live. Yet, here I sit, the last week of October, and once again, I feel that familiar panic rising in my heart over one more autumn that is slipping by without me being present.

My children are 9 & 10 this year, which is quite old if you ask me.  That’s 10 years of envisioning a life with my children that I have yet to actually embrace.  I ask myself, what is keeping me from making these dreams a reality, and in a word the answer is busyness.

What on Earth am I so busy doing?  Put simply, I’m preparing for the future.  Our family homeschools, so a large part of my time is spent preparing my children for their future.  Daily, I have conversations with my children about what the future may hold for them, and what skills they must learn to prepare for life as an adult.  I also busy myself working to earn money.  Granted, I love the work that I do.  However, there is pressure to store up treasures in an effort to secure a better future.  I am so busy preparing for tomorrow that the every day moments fly right past me without a notice.

Isn’t this why God has told us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself (Mat. 6:34)?  I know that my God will provide for me. I know that “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know that He watches me”.  My faith is in Him, yet I continue to toil in an effort to secure a better future for my family.  What promise do we have that the securities we work to put in place today will brighten our tomorrow?  What promise do we have of there even being a tomorrow?  None.  We do however, have God’s promise that He will provide for our needs.  This week my challenge for myself & you as well, is to trust God.  Not just in word, but in how I choose to live life.

Posted on

Lessons In Fiber Art

IMG_8998

This fall I have been teaching some handwork classes to the kids at the homeschool co-op our family is apart of.  We started of with cleaning raw wool & cotton fibers.  Then we hand carded & spun the fibers into yarn.  We did some wet felting & we made some natural dyes using walnut, tumeric, & black beans.  Now the kids are working to weave the fibers we dyed.  I have been so happy with how the projects are turning out.  Mostly it’s been a great reason to try out all of these amazing projects that I’ve been meaning to try for years.

I’ll have more pictures of the finished weaving projects soon.

Posted on

Journal Page: “Brushes dipped in praise . . .”

Brushes dipped in praiseI’ve been looking again at the power of worship, and what happens in the heavens when we praise God.

“[Worship] … is considered an attack on the enemy because it carries the Light of the presence of God.  When the Light of His presence goes forth into the atmosphere, it pierces the darkness, proclaims victory to the captive, heals the sick, binds up the brokenhearted and proclaims the year of the Lord!”

– Unlocking the Heart of the Artist by Matt Tommey

Did you know that art created as an out pouring of praise & worship can do that?

As I continue to think about creating art as a form of worship, I feel greatly inspired, & empowered.

With our brushes dipped in praise,

let our colors be the light that pierces the darkness.