Homegrown Hospitality

Antibiotics + Pain Relievers =

Doodles.

Once I was able to finally get the right medicines, inhalers & pain relievers, I was able to get some rest, but for those in-between times when I wasn't sleeping, say between midnight-2am, 11pm and 1pm and sometimes at 6pm, I would feel good and then I would doodle.

I have been on the couch for almost three weeks and next to me I had my journal, a pencil, a pen and an eraser so that if I felt like sitting up, I would and I'd doodle. sometimes I would just pencil in something and close up the book.  Sometimes I would add a little ink over the pencil lines and sometimes I would not open the book at all.

After getting the right doses of the right things and felt like I wanted to lift my head from the pillow, I'd grab the pen and color away... and I kept going till I hit a bump in my road and then I'd lay down.

Now, I took all of these photos this morning BEFORE I started taking my first of 6 days of Steroids :and now I am back on the couch because after I took the steroids, I put ear plugs in my ears and started doodling again, and whoops...my world turned to the left, and then to the right and whelp, I am on a merry-go-round of dizzy, so I am going to close it up and sit down.

and note to self: if I grow a mustache and big muscles, you'll know why.

More Doodles in 2013?

Thank you for your warm response to 52 Pickup! I am excited about this being a progressive class and with all of the new product releases, I am just excited to share more things with you and the year moves on.

Many of you have asked about doodles because I mentioned a new workshop for 2013 a few months back. Doodle 13 is still in progress, still planned to be released and hopefully even taught in-store, but I wanted to do one thing at a time (hahahahaha!) so now that 52 is released, I will switch gears supplies and get to doodlin...

stay tuned...

What's In the Bag, Part Two

Here is a closer look at what is in my Do-odle Bag (really, a zip-lock bag)

• A stack of Project Life Cards - 2 3/4" x 4" cards (use up your stash by creating your own. Simply cut patterned, lined and blank cardstock into that same dimension and then round the corners.)

• Post It Notes - The ones shown on the photo above are "Smash Book" accessories. (you could create your own by using post it notes that have stamped images on them)

• Pens - Two pens. A black "PaperMate" Flair black felt tip pen (I buy them at Wal-Mart, Target or wherever I find them!) and a "Zig" Writer marker in "Platinum" for shadowing (you find them on-line, and when you do, get a couple!)
• Random cardstock printed journaling notes. (I found a pad at Micheal's on sale under the "Recollections" brand.  I suggest using what you have, or making your own. )

and that is it!  I keep it simple because I could totally over complicate it by loading in colored markers, etc.  I just keep the basics in there, grab it and go.

If you are still reading and you are interested, I am doing some "custom/special request" orders of the Project Life Cards for a few people that have asked.  IF you would like to order 1, 0 or however many, just email me at homegrown1(at)att(dot)net and put Project Life Cards in the subject line.Happy Do-doodling!

Things To Do-odle

Never leave home without ____________________ a zip lock bag with a marker and some paper so that when you are...

• in the lodge
• in the ER
• in the airport
• in the passenger seat
• at the skatepark
• in the doctors office

you have something to do-odle.

Personally, I was all packed for a cozy day in the lodge which turned into an afternoon in the ER which will now be a day at the dr.'s office...

but never fear, I will have my trusty Do-odle To Go bag with me. you should pack one, too...for those "out-of-the-blue" situations....

4 of 4 & Another Peek

The fourth and final thing that will help me you US make the rest the best is choosing to live by faith and NOT by fear. 
Now, when I re-read this, I realized that I wrote " Not faith in so much "what" but rather in "who" and "why" and that sounds a little off.  What I believe is that if you have faith in the "who" and the "why" than naturally, the "what" will happen.

Let me throw myself under the bus to give you an example that I have shared before.

I don't like leaving home. 

I mean, I am good with going to work at the school, always up for a trip to Target, love getting to be at the Joy Factory once a week and feel really in the right place driving on to campus at Saddleback....

I think, or at least I am starting to realize that I don't like leaving home when I am going teach what my "gifts and talents"are. I don't like leaving what I "think" is my safe zone.  I don't like being away from where I feel safe.  I am a homebody, whatever that really is. 

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to teach, love to get out and meet the amazing creative souls from all over and love to be connected to those who love to create, but getting up and out causes a whole lotta anxiety and fear for me, which spills out onto my family and messes up my purpose.

and yep, I know who causes all of that anxiety and fear...

and it ain't God.

so I CANT LET FEAR WIN. (either can you)

I can't

I won't

and I will continue to keep on working at this with my super shield of FAITH. (insert lightning bolt and thunder sounds)  By choosing faith over fear, I will succeed in anything I do, regardless of the outcome.

By choosing faith over fear, I will keep growing & learning,

By choosing faith over fear, I will become stronger and more confident...

and who doesn't want that?

okay, a peek at the projects that have arrived safely at the Anaheim Convention center for this weeks CHA

12 in 13

Another thing coming in 2013 is more doodling. Doodling is one of my most favorite things to do and in 2013 my plan is to do more of it. I am in the midst of writing the third Doodle class, "Doodle 12 in 13" which is 12 verses, 12 new doodles and 12 journal prompts
My hope for this class is that you take time to do{odle}a little for yourself, at least once a month with what you have, wheverever you are. 

My plan for this class is to do it online, and if time and schedules permit, in a store near you. 

My purpose for this class is simple. JOY.  When you choose JOY, you feel good, and when you feel good, you do good, and when you do good, it reminds others of what JOY feels like. It really is simple.

More class information very soon...

Ultimately...

Uncommon Courage

This past weekends message at church was all about "Standing Courageously For the Truth" and if you were there or watched it on-line then you know it was jammed packed with ALOT of things and it would take me 74 blog posts to cover it, so in a nut shell, here it is...

This is a hot topic right now in our little home sweet home because TODAY, Jack is going to be learning about "Conspiracy Theory's" in his "History Through Film" class.

Again, TRUTH MATTERS and as a parent I have to reinforce that.  Does an 11th grader with an open mind need to learn about conspiracy theory's?  Maybe, maybe not...but I am going to stop here because I could be walking into a can of worms..and I do not like worms, especially those big gross green disney-character looking ones that eat tomatoes.

So back to the message..just a little more...

it all takes courage.

Something I personally battle with DAILY, sometimes...HOURLY!

There it is...the Truth about me. (I suppose that was courage right there by admitting that to you..) You might not know it or think it if you are around me, but it is there, more than ever and I tell you, ever since I "FULLY SURRENDERED" that damn red suited guy likes to sprinkle my day with doubt, anxiety and anything else he can muster up to toss in my path.. Sometimes I can karate chop it away..and sometimes I can't and that is what I am working on. (It is okay, you can call me a "fraddy cat.")

The thing that helps me get through this crap (and it is crap) is prayer and art.  The more anxiety, the HARDER it is to get up, but I make myself do it...and the more powerful I create.   This is yesterdays harvest:

I am finding comfort, peace and meaning through my art and I want to suggest that if you are in a spot that is not comfortable..try creating.  Many times I just work on getting the base of a project down so that when I am inspired, I can go out and create HEart.

I am using old marquee letters as my base.  I start by layering on tissue wrap and dictionary paper using Glue-n-Seal. Make sure to dry....

Then I add swipes of crackle paint  and while those are set aside, I use color wash and distress stain to add color to dictionary paper so that I can tear out hearts and just those steps starts to take the crap away...then when I am ready to create, I have all of the pieces and parts I need to create a piece of HEart!

Never Forget

New Things

Today is our first day back to school and my first day back to work/school and I am ready for the new beginnings...I am Iam Iam.

and speaking of new, I re-opened my ETSY and it will be the new place to list my ART FOR SALE...

here is the link : http://www.etsy.com/shop/StephanieAckermanDes

Including art for sale, there are going to be a few other things listed, including felt!  I spent the evening on the floor cutting fall colors and as soon as I get a sample completed, I will list them. 

and as I mentioned., I have a giveaway in honor of all of this newness....this doodle (shown below) ..framed!

All you have to do is leave me a comment...about anything.  I will announce a winner tomorrow morning!
Happy new day!