Free Christmas Collage Sheets

Visit Lisa Volthraith's wonderful "6th Annual Original Printables Holiday Countdown" at http://countdown.tentwostudios.com for Free Christmas Collage Sheets.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my family, friends and readers! Have A Fabulous Day! The Extravagant Heart Valentine decoration is an original design by yours truly. I created it using gold chenille stems twisted into heart shapes that surround a music paper heart that I hand painted. The medallion in the center of the heart is a pendant I found at the thrift store. I accordian folded burgundy silk ribbon to set off the medallion. Ribbons are individually looped and glued inside of each heart. I hope you enjoy your visual Valentine!

Funky Art Doll

In October I taught a Mixed Medium class for 4th-6th graders at the Art Place, an arts center in Marietta, Georgia. I had four wonderful students! It is so much fun to teach a small group of kids. My Funky Art Doll assemblage was inspired by Opie & Linda O'Brien. Our final project in the class was our assemblage doll. They all turned out fantastic. The bonus for me was that I created my own assemblage as an example for the students. I have been wanting to create an assemblage doll for ages. Isn't she great! I had a ball creating her. I still have not come up with a fitting name for her. Do you have any ideas?

Synchronicity

Merriam Webster defines synchronicity as the coincidental occurrence of events and/or mental images of an unexpected event before it happens that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality —used especially in the psychology of C. G. Jung. I believe that synchronicity means that when I put creative energy and actions into the world that I attract positive opportunities to my life. For the last 8 months I have been doing just that. Many exciting things are happening in my life! Monday I received the wonderful news that I will be teaching the art workshop, Creating Inner Child Archetype Cards, for the Women Within Community Weekend in Elmer, N.J. April 29-May1, 2011. I am so excited! My friend, Julia Speer, will be the Keynote Speaker and Facilitator for the weekend. If you don't know about Women Within check out their website. I absolutely love to teach art workshops. One of my greatest loves and strengths is helping women tap into their creative potential.

So what do the photos above have to do with synchronicity? I started this blog 2 years ago with Valentine postcards I created for a swap with Latest Trends in Mixed Media Art. I created the Valentine ATC's above for this year's swap with Latest Trends. So much has happened in my life. Doors have closed and new ones have opened. Last May it was very difficult to believe new doors would open when I found out I had been laid off from my art teaching position with Cobb County Schools after 17 years of service. I was devastated!!! Today I am releasing my feelings of pain, rejection and inadequacy for my feelings of excitement, joy, and happiness. I attract abundance and artistic success to my life through my creative energy and confidence. In my renewed commitment to my blog, I will be sharing more of my artistic journey with you in my posts.

Goddess Tiaras

This past Sunday, Julia and I got together and had an art play day creating Goddess Tiaras. We had a ball as you can see by the photos! Check out Julia's website. She creates incredible ceramic sculptures and leads two women's growth retreats a year. The next retreat is April 8-10, 2011 in north Georgia.