Homegrown Hospitality

Prayers & A Doodle

Just like you, my heart is broken into 27 pieces, 26 for the lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary and 1 other piece for the mom who lost her life in her own home at the hands of her own son.

No words, just prayers and a doodle.

When you don't know what to do, do what you know how to do and then pray. This piece is being widely distributed and if you would like to download, print and share, please do in honor of Sandy Hook Elementary School, please send me an email at homegrown1(at)att(dot)net and I will send you the file.

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...

Scrapbooking 2012 in 13

Third times a charm in my quest to scrapbook, because that is really how this whole creative life started...here is proof that once upon a time, I use to attend crops and at this table, this is where it all started.  Deena & I's table of big girl dreams...So, as I start to focus on the creative side of 2013, I plan to re-introduce..

wait for it...

scrap-booking.

whhhaatttt????

yep, and at least once a month I am going to gather my girls and hunker down in the garage-mah-hall and...

wait for it....

scrapbook.

In preparation for this, yesterday, while I should have been unpacking supplies from my weekend classes, I started to gather the past two years of Project Life supplies and at 4:07pm, after Amazon order was delivered for the third year...I started organizing and even...wait for it...

ordered photos for all of 2012.

What are you doing in 2013?

 

Whim-So-Doodle Whiplash

I am home from a whirlwind trip to Whim-so-Doodle in St. Petersburg FL where we created ornaments and art journals and made a HUGE creative mess together for hours My heart is overflowing with happy for the ladies who spent hours taking classes with me to Jill and her crew at Whim-So-Doodle for taking such good care of me and even happy about the Whim-So-Dodle Whiplash I came home with from constantly looking around the amazing store stuffed with scrapbook suppplies, art supplies, home deco from many of my most favorite people..and fabric. It is an amazing dreamy store where you can shop for hours and see different things every time you walk down an aisle Thank you to the ladies of Florida and Jill and Crew for a awesome weekend!  I hope to see you all again in the spring of 2013! (hint..hint)

oh, and I did come home with a few new things...

Fly...

I am packed and ready to hit the runway and fly to the sunny state of Florida...Whim-So-Doodle, here I come!
I must admit that the fear, anxiety, whatever you wanna call it, of leaving home is happily weakening as I work and strengthen my bravery wings. 
It mostly has to do with the fact that I have surrendered all, but also because I am fully aware that my talents are a gift to share. 

I have learned to say out loud that I am an artist and that I am not allowed to keep the talents and gifts for myself.  

My job is to :
and share, teach and remind you of what I have learned.

When I return from Florida, I am excited and ready to teach, create and prepare for 2013.  I have learned some really good and hard lessons this past year and will keep everything in consideration as I plan for new things. As I create and plan for 2013, whether it is here on my blog or in a store near you, I will continue to strengthen my wings:

Through Prayer...as I pray for INSPIRATION..

Through Reminders...to remind you that we are all in this thing called life TOGETHER...

Through Examples..of doing things like spreading JOY...

Through Connection...of our CREATIVE SOULS...

Through Art...that I CREATE & SHARE...

Through Love...for OTHERS because we are supposed to....

Through Support...for EACH OTHER beacuse we are better together.

I look forward to a creative new year with YOU!

Repurposed

When unpacking the Christmas decoration boxes a few weeks ago, I came across last years Daily December tags: This morning as I was tinkering around with a little plain ol' tree in my entry way, I got an idea.

I took the tag off of the ring and inked the edges, added a little "chit chat" sticker that reads "memories" and placed it underneath the word "holiday" and replaced the tag string with a longer piece of twine...Then I took the red ball jar that I spray painted a few years ago.. and tied the "re-purposed" tag on the mouth of the jar, stuffed my tree into the jar and placed it on the kitchen counter
Fah Lah Lah...

Cross One Off Your List

Was it not was just about 6 months ago when I started reminding you (and myself) of the upcoming holidays...

and dang it..

here we are.

Sunday morning was rainy and the perfect time to create a quick and easy way to make "Gift Card" giving a little more fun than just "here is the card"

I started with a large 4" x 9" manila tag from one of my most favorite places and folded it up a few inches Then I stamped the large Blueprint Tree by Tim Holtz onto the tag using Black Archival Ink. I used the heat dryer on it for few a seconds to make sure the ink was dry...Then I grabbed a few fah lah lah lah lah colors of Distress Ink Pens to color in my tree. 
Start with a light color, like Peeled Paint.  Scribble a little color out onto a craft mat and using  a water brush, color in your tree and dry it Then using the brush tip of the same Peeled Paint & a darker color, like Forest Moss, add in a little more color onto your tree Highlight the right edges of the tree, ornaments and star using Pumice Stone.
Next, add a little color to the star and ornaments
Add some aging to the edges of the tag by using "Walnut Stain" ink and a blender
Next, using a small hole punch and a few brads, punch a hole on each edge of the top of the flap and attach a brad to each side to create a pocket
and okay, so I am not a glittery type of girl, but adding just a little stickles to the ornaments and the star adds just the right amount of Fah Lah Lah Next, just add a peace of twine to the top, insert a gift card into the pocket and hang from the tree and cross one of your list!
Merry Christmas...

Tim Holtz/SA Christmas Blueprint	Idea-ology Paper Strings	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Fasteners	Ranger Non-Stick Kraft Sheet	Ranger Heat It Craft Tool
Jet Black Archival Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Markers	Distress Ink - Walnut Stain

InLinkz.com

Defining Purpose

It is what some call "the season of giving" and just like many, I am blessed beyond measure.  With that comfort, my heart is constantly feeling empathy & compassion for those who are hurting, lost and dealing with difficulties. I get these tsunami strong feelings of "WHAT CAN I DO???" and my mind is constantly wanting, wondering, thinking and ready to do something to help.

As you know, this past year, I have been "moved" to react and respond to others through sharing my faith, supporting The Jessie Rees Foundation & HER cause that has become part of my heart and communicating, sharing and teaching others through my art.  I knew there was more...I just was not sure what it was and on Wednesday of this week, I heard the phrase/question "Care or Cure?"

It was the question Jessie's Mommy & Daddy asked her as they created the very first jars of joy.. 

Part of the purpose of The Jessie Rees Foundation is to provide CARE.  Jessie's wish was to care for the children that were battleing cancer and the question/concept & thought "Care or Cure" made me realize another part of my purpose, made me realize why I am so drawn to her foundation and why I feel so proud to be part of the NEGU team. While I can not cure the hurts, illness, and difficulties of others, I can support others with care...

Through Prayer

Through Reminders

Through Example

Through Connection

Through Art

Through Love

Through Support

and so can you!

We all need to practice the "Season of Giving" each day...not just in November & December and I am learning more and more about myself, about the purpose of my life and how to help others..all through the very short life of a sweet girl named Jessie.
So what can you do to help?

Donate to the Jessie Rees Foundation to provide JOY to little love bugs..

Promote the cause on Facebook by LIKING the page

Tune in THIS SUNDAY to CNN to watch..

 

Moved

Something is happening.

A shift of sorts. My heart is constantly feeling (empathy) and my mind is always wondering, thinking and ready to do something to help (compassion).That is the only way I can describe it. My heart is full of empathy and the compassion that comes from it makes the wheels in my mind spin at full speed.

With both empathy and compassion I am being “moved” to respond to others feelings and situations through art. so now what?

I am not sure, but I am ready to move.

Black Hawk Down

I win the bad blogger award because I was black hawk down with no camera.

gulp.

My camera died in Pennsylvania and like a good & patient girl, I waited until the black Friday sales to see what I could find.  PEOPLE...that was ALOT of days with no camera...but I am back in business.  The slight problem is I find myself very hesitant to pick it up with my inky, painty, glue-n-sealy fingers so the cross I just re-purposed...did not get alot of step by step photos.Here is all I got for ya:

1. I took the hardware off by simply placing a screwdriver under it and gently popped it off...super easy!  I left the little pookies there so that I could pop it back on when I was done. 2. I used Picket Fence Crackle Paint by Tim Holtz/Ranger and brushed it lightly over the entire cross and base to add a crackle (duh!) but to also add that wood-grainish texture to it.  (NOTE: the entire process was very similar to the Faux Woodgrain Finish I did on the frame HERE)
3.  I dried the Crackle and then added Pewter Distress Stain over the surface which gave it a slight pink tinge & I did not like where it was going so I wiped it off with a baby wipe and added another layer of white..JUST HERE & THERE to add to the texture. Then using brown acrylic paint on a DRY paper towel, I simply swiped the paint over the surface applying different amounts of pressure.  This made it so some spots were darker than others. I repeated this until I achieved the look I wanted. It really was that easy.  I did however have a baby wipe on standby to wipe off any spots that were to heavy.

To change the metal embellishment from purple and orange :all I did was dry brush over the purple paint with red acrylic paint, and gold paint over the orange.  Then using the White Picket Fence Crackle, I LIGHTLY brushed over the leaves and petals, dried it and popped it back on. I am pretty sure I hear angels sing when I look at it. and if you are wondering...I did call the other Aaron Brothers in our area to find more crosses and there are none.

boo.