Choices

I discovered I always have choices

and sometimes it's only a choice in attitude.

~ Judith Knowlden

When our minds and hearts are in overload, the most detrimental thought habit is to feel powerless.  Sometimes our choices may be hidden from view and require the compassion and care of another soul to help us see them, but choices always exist... if the choice is even to spend time "budded up" or to accept one's current state.  Our own thoughts are our greatest capital.

♥

This piece is 6" x 6" painted on both sides, with the above quote on the back, and is available for purchase for $30.  Please email me at cori-lynn@msn.com for details.



Enjoy!

The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.

~ Richard Bach

The days are long and all I want to do is sit with a glass of cold lemonade and fan myself!  What are you doing to enjoy the beginning of the summer season?



Turn

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

This was a recent commission as a gift for friend of mine all the way back from teenage years who has been the Director of Music Ministries for decades at the church I grew up.  Here she is...



Isn't that a shiny happy face?

Pam is one of the warmest, most positive people you'd ever meet -- so talented and humble!  After working so long directing the music program at my childhood church she is leaving to begin a new life, finding new ways to share her gifts of music, passion, and creativity.  What courage to step away from the foundation she has built and faith to leap out into the unknown!

I felt very deeply about this piece as I created it.. thinking of the warmth of the golden sun (a divine symbol in much of my work) and this magnificent bird taking a  90 degree turn!  I know my friend will bless and be blessed by this decision to turn and I hope it serves as a reminder that God's warmth is shining on her!

♥

Fourth Birthday Blessing: Wash

Since I'm turning a year older this week, I am creating pieces to use as signposts for goals or thoughts this upcoming year.  On my recent road trip to Kentucky, I got lots of driving time in solitude -- no greater way to empty your brain of a little mental garbage.  A visual kept popping up in my thoughts... that of washing and it being time to let some of the pain and disappointments of the past wash away.  So it was really serendipitous when my sister gave me this as my birthday present when I arrived...

A envelope necklace with...



... a tiny note tucked inside!

a sweet little poem

These little lockets are made by Liz Lamoreux, who held a wonderfully life-changing "Be Present" retreat that my sister recently went on.  (It's been so neat seeing my older sis evolving in her creative journey the last several years as a play therapist and newbie artsy fartsy! Follow her at PlayCrane.)  It took a few days for the words to sink in and their weight to resonate.  Right away I saw a deep connection, knowing how much I am drawn to the color blue in my work and messages of hope.  But this special message seemed just right for me this upcoming year as I seek to find the next stop in my life walk.  Sometimes it is exactly the place where pain is washed away that we find ourselves...

♥

Third Birthday Blessing: Celebrate

The more you praise and celebrate your life,

the more there is in life to celebrate.

~ Oprah Winfrey

This week I'm creating pieces to with various concepts I want to keep in mind during the upcoming year and today is my actual birthday!    Today I celebrate that I've survived and learned and am blessed with so many people who have been with me along the way!  I ate lunch with a friend and stopped in a nice little art store where I found this mini MINI sketch pad ( 2.5" x 3.5") and a tiny set of colored pencils.  They are so sweet I thought they would be a good reminder for me that we don't have to do big things to celebrate facets of our lives, but it does take a little effort.  I think celebration is gratitude in action...   

On that note, I'm off for a nap and then cocktails and cake!

♥



Second Birthday Blessing: Value

Learn to value yourself, which means:

to fight for your happiness.

~ Ayn Rand

As I posted earlier, this week I'm celebrating my birthday by creating works that are to be touchpoints for the upcoming year.  Today I am thinking about the importance of self-worth.  I know that I am not alone in having difficulty in embracing my own worthiness and  it probably the single most pivotal piece of most of my life challenges.  The struggle to find value in self -- the kind of value that allows one to speak their voice without needing to shout -- is continuous...

First Birthday Blessing: Sweep

Sweep first before your own door,

before you sweep before the doorsteps of your neighbors.

 ~ Swedish Proverb

So it's my birthday this week - Wednesday to be exact.  I'll be old enough that I've made enough mistakes to create good material for life lessons and young enough to still not have figured out exactly what the lessons are!  So this week I'll be creating pieces that are touchstones for my upcoming year.  I found this little quote while hunting for inspiration for this past week's Illustration Friday theme of "swept."   I think it's a good reminder not just to take care of your own business before meddling in that of others, but also to take care of oneself before taking care of others.

♥

Healing Art Challenge: Delight

Dedicate yourself to the good you deserve and desire for yourself.

Give yourself peace of mind.

You deserve to be happy.

You deserve delight.

~Hannah Arendt

Oh, man have I been in a winter slump!  Have you?  Exhausted after the holidays, it's so easy for the blahs to set in.  This week I was given the wonderful advice to take the tasks that are most challenging me and do whatever I can to make them fun.. turn on fun music, laugh, dance, whatever I need to do!  So that's, what this challenge is all about.. finding joy!  So get out your paints, crayons, your pencils, your musical instruments.. whatever the tools are for your medium for creation and interpret delight for us!  Please email your pictures, poems, photos, or performances to friendsinhealing@gmail.com by Thursday, February 4 at 12 pm CST time.  The gallery will be posted on this site later that day.  If you publish a blog, please give me the link so it can be shared along with your work!

And for a little extra inspiration... please visit this post on Why Adults Need Play, by my very wise older sister and lifetime playmate, Jodi Crane, play therapist.

Healing Art Challenge: Harvest

When we plant in the soil of contemplation, we can reap in the harvest of action.

~ Meister Eickhart

Sacred Arts Studio and the Friends in Healing Community is excited to announce a new weekly art challenge to be posted each Friday.  This challenge is open to artists, poets, photographers, writers, and musicians.  This week's challenge is the theme HARVEST.    Harvest is the act of gathering a crop.  What are you harvesting in your own life?  How do you harvest?  There are wonderful quotes about harvest to choose from if you would like to add words to your image.  You might want to include a short meditation with your pieces.  Please email all challenges to friendsinhealing@gmail.com by Thursday, November 18 at 12 pm CST time. If your entry is a longer written piece or requires a music player, please include a link.  All entries will be posted a week from today.  May your creative fire be lit!