Smile

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ~Thich Nhat Hanh



When being can't promote action, let action promote being... It's a grey day here and I'm still feeling a bit uninspired. But I'll get out the brushes and the paints and work my way into creativity... (I may stop by the store and pick up some coffee for some liquid enthusiasm, however.)



These earrings are currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $15.



And if you're thinking ahead a few weeks...





my inspirational Father's Day cards are now available, one for $3 or two for $5. Take a peek!

Embrace

When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers. ~Thict Nhat Hanh








Why do we tend to be less mindful of the needs of our partners, our children, our best friends, our mothers, and sisters.. those who are closes to us? In an effort to be polite, to construct a certain image of ourselves to the outside world, we often forget those who are closest to us. We speak to and act towards those we love in ways we would never speak to and act towards others.




Is it that we are comfortable? Is it that we know they will love us anyway? Is it that we expect them understand? What would happen if we would commit to honoring those we love through our actions and words more? Would we turn the cell phone off more? Smile at them more? Would we look at them more when we speak rather than be distracted by other tasks? What would we be doing?




This mixed media painting is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $40.

This piece is my entry in this week's Created by Hand challenge.

Building on Air

Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put foundations under them. ~Henry David Thoreau



In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus tells the story of a foolish man who builds his house on the sand, so when the rains came his house fell. The wise man builds his house on rock, so when the winds blow and the floods come, the house remains. But Jesus does not say, how were the plans for these houses made?

I spend time every day laying on my couch, or my bed, or wherever I can find to stretch out. I close my eyes and it is some sort of prayer time for me. I create in my mind. I let the colors and lines and textures flow freely. For me it is a sort of communion with the divine, because I don't attempt to control, but let my mind be more of a vehicle, an instrument. My best pieces seem to come from this prayerful mind exploration.

Oh, but when I dig in, without this meditation... so often I am led to mistakes and frustrations. I have to build and break down and build and break down and build again. The art is more forced and the process less free. I feel less connected to the spirit that brings me to my work.

So today, before you start building on your rocks, spend time playing in the air... whether you are writing a test for students, preparing a piece of music for performance, or solving a computer problem. Let your mind explore.




These earrings are currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $15.

Gentleness

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. ~Saint Francis de Sales





I always admire those people who speak their mind quietly. Holding back and waiting for the right moment to act or speak takes such inner control and holds so much power. As when you exercise, it takes more strength and builds better stamina to lift the weights slowly, with controlled movements. Today I will be gentle in my movements, thoughtful in my words, and seek strength in simplicity.



This item is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $20.

Sipping Nectar

Like the hummingbird sipping nectar from every flower,
I fly joyfully through my days,
seeing beauty in everything.
~Amethyst Wyldfyre



After a very productive midweek, my energy and drive is a little lacking. Today I will think of the little hummingbird... flitting from flower to flower.. as I move from task to task. I will remember that each task is a bloom and from it I will sip life-giving nectar. I am blessed to be surrounded by such colors.



This item is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $45.

Water

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble,
and precious, and pure.
~ St. Francis of Assisi









Today I celebrate the healing nature of water. It quenches my thirst, cleans me, and softens my spirit. As I go about my daily work, dipping my brushes into water cups, washing my hands, rinsing off dishes, I will do so with gratitude for each drop that passes my way.





These earrings are currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $15.

Aspire

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. ~Louisa May Alcott


It's the time of year for celebrating the movement through life.. graduating from one stage to another. And what a wonderful time for each of us to remember our own dreams... those from the past and perhaps new ones. The vision of the aspiration has so much more power to propel us forward into action than the actual grasping of a dream. Celebrate today.. not what you have done.. but what it is possible for you to do.





This item is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $40.

A Surprise Blessing

I was so pleased to learn today, through a general Facebook post from my sister of all things, that Patti Digh has chosen me to be the first artist featured in her "37 Days" project for her daughter... 37 days of advice for her as she graduates and goes out into the world. Read the post, Consider this: things will flow as they will.






Patti has written an amazing book by the name Life is a Verb that I highly recommend!

What a blessing to be chosen for this and to be part of her upcoming ebook! Patti is one of those people who "get it"... can write inspirational words without being trite.. can see the complexity.. and to top it all of.. she loves artists... And I love her!

Flowers

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson



There is something really appealing to me when poets personify the natural world. Somehow it allows me to connect more personally...to share experience... This would be a lovely creativity starter... find a way to personify an element of the natural world...



This item is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $12.

Butterfly

The butterfly is a flying flower,
The flower a tethered butterfly.
~Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun






Today I celebrate the beauty of creation. Oh, how I wish I could have captured the real little white butterfly bobbing around in my shot when I photographed this little painting in the flowers... Untethered it remains!





This painting is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $20 and comes with the adorable little art easel and a painted gift tag with the quote.

Play: A Celebration of 100 Posts

Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold. ~Joseph Chilton Pearce










This is my 100th post! Thank you so much to all my followers ... I'm blessed each time I see someone has stopped by.. and I've been blessed to visit you and feast my eyes on your words as images as well. A little over a year ago I started this blog... and it has been so wonderful to meet new people and catch a little sweet love each day! Thanks for playing with me..






This is a 3.5" x 5" original watercolor painting in acrylic magnet frame. It is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $12.

Words

Words are the voice of the heart. ~ Confucious










Alive

Blessed

Joyful

Abundant









Words have a powerful influence on our perceptions and feelings. Do you wake up thinking "tired" and "grumpy" or "alive" and "passionate"? When you feel your mood start to go under, are you able to use words to meditate a new mood? Today be a poet of your thoughts...




This item is available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $16.

Wash

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~ Pablo Picasso


Yes! Yes! Yes! By far, one of the most meaningful quotes about art for me. Art has a way of taking all those complicated thoughts and feelings of day to day living, and cleaning them up! Perhaps it is the slowing down... the sitting... the focus...it heals and restores me.. whether I am creating or an observer. How has art healed you?

This piece is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $40.

Energy

There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind. ~ Annie Dillard







This 5" x 5" sun painting is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $25. It is painted on a boxed canvas so it can stand alone on a shelf or desktop. It comes with a beautifully painted tag inscribed with the poetic words above. The visual vibrancy of this piece would be a great momentary meditation to start each day with vitality and passion!



There is a piercing effect to nature's forces.. whether it be the sun, the wind, rain, or thunder. When the temperatures begin to rise here in the Texas summer heat, I will try to remember the poetic beauty of Annie Dillard's words...

Change

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ~ Maya Angelou







This sweet 3" x 3" miniature painting is currently available in my Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $20, which includes the adorable little easel.








Change is uncomfortable, difficult, and at times downright painful. What a lovely reminder the butterfly gives us that something beautiful is in store for us... Honor your metamorphosis...

Remember

Don't forget to love yourself. ~ Soren Kierkegaard


Today in 1813, Soren Kierkegaard, philosopher and theologian, was born.

This item is currently available in the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for only $35. It would make a lovely last minute Mother's Day gift!