Homegrown Hospitality

Insert: Purpose

Yesterday on my way to the post office, a new sign caught my eye. I drove by the building that is the new home to the "Joy Factory", the Jessie Rees Foundation. I can NOT imagine being a mom that would be putting up a sign on a building in honor of my child, but that is exactly what a family in our community, a family in our church is faced with and is doing..and has vowed to keep their precious Jessie's dream alive.

INSERT Purpose.

I am on team NEGU..

NEGUstands for Never Ever Give Up and is something we have really started living by in our little home sweet home.  It was what Jessie did in the 10 month she fought...and ultimately lost.  It is her story, the will of a 12 year old girl that taught us to NEVER EVER GIVE UP and will continue to be a force in our house.

KEY WORD: House

So what in the world can I possibly do to help besides pray? 

I can paint and I can run.

(NOT a the same time, duh!)

What can YOU do?

1. You can Join Team Negu and help spread the word
2. You could simply "like" Jessie's FB page (they are trying to get to 200,000 likes by April 8th, which would have been Jessie's 13th birthday)
3. You could sponsor me and Team NEGU for the 1/2 Marathon by clicking that little red scrolling box up there in the right corner because I am training and will run that race for her and for all of those little love bugs that are fighting with that DAMN cancer (excuse my language).
4. You could go to Ebay and bid on this new 12x12 canvas that I just finished last night:
   

I am auctioning this handpainted 12x12 Mixed Media canvas that reads "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15.  All proceeds from this auction will be donated to the Jessie Rees Foundation.

GOD gave me the skills and abilities to paint, doodle...and run so that is what I'm doing...in between laundry, carpool and painting base boards...you know, stuff like that.

So..what are you waiting for???? I just listed the canvas on EBAY...as an auction..for 5 days and I sure hope that I did it right...

Happy Friday!

True Happiness

A few days ago BEFORE I started painting, I doodled a little doodle in my tiny doodle book (say that 5 times fast!) but left it as is because I was not sure what I want to add to it, if anything.

Then during a little break of peace & quiet last night after an extreme carpool/practice/work/laundry day, I finally picked up my February issue of Oprah Magazine.  It has a ton a great articles about being creative and as I  read a quote from Martha Beck (page41) I knew exactly where to write it...

Although at times our little ordinary life is hectic,wild, mildly complicated, it is also wonderful, fun, crazy and exciting..and I LOVE it...even when I don't.  It is all the way you look at it...so if you don't love it, you might need to tweak your focus a little (or put on your glasses, if you can find them) because you do not want to miss the beautiful moments.

Today..

give yourself permission to do something you love to do.

if you love to window shop, window shop, it doesn't mean you have to buy anything, just look and be inspired.

if you love to plant new flowers, go spend 2.98, buy a 6 pack of flowers and plant them..it takes 30 minutes from start to finish and gives you days of happiness!!

if you love ice cream, have "some" ice cream, maybe not a lot, but have some and enjoy it.

if you love to read, grab you book, maybe your glasses (if you know where they are) sit down and read.

If you love to stitch, darn it, stitch something, just don't poke yourself..

Today, do what you LOVE to do..do it and pay attention to how it makes you feel.

I am going to sit in the stands with my whole family and watch my boy swim..that is what I LOVE to do.

I feel like I am writing this not only for me...and even though I do not know exactly who is reading this...it might be for you...

Sometimes we just need a little permission to do something, so here it is again:

Today, do what you LOVE to do.

Works of HEart

I have been creating "Works of HEart" on canvas, paper & wood, even blank journals, for several months knowing the specific purpose for the work but not knowing how, where or even better "what" I was going to do with them all. 

I just kept creating and doing what I was to be doing...and stacking them high.

Yesterday, on a whim, I took my stack and "displayed" them just to see what I had.  At one point, Jack even stopped to ask "Mom, what are you doing???" and I just answered..."Just Playing" (but what I was playing was "Art Show")

so this morning, I get an email from my best pal Staci at Grove's asking if I wanted to bring asome of my orginals to Grove's....

for a little Art Show during my classes.

Of course she asked me that...

and of course I want to...

and of course HE knew...

because THAT IS HOW GOD WORKS.

For months, I have been working on a new purposeful way of teaching, teaching techniques to make things like in the photos above. My new "hands on" (not online) class is designed to teach you how to create art from HEart (which sounds confusing)

BUT, some of you do not want to take a class, some of you do not want to learn another technique and some of you do not want to take another online class...so, I am going to start (slowly) offering my "Works of HEart Art" starting with a little Stephanie Ackerman Designs Art Show at Grove's at the end of April.

For more information on my classes and for the Art Show, please visit the Grove's website at http://www.grovesoffice.com/Home.html

 

Unique Contribution

Today I am sharing a new doodle with you that I am sending to all of the Scrapbook LIFE Journal 2012 class participants. It was inspired by a sentence in the book, "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. This month we are focussing and learning about Talents, Abilities and Creativity and here is my shameless plug..."read more about the class here"

Something that I think we all forget and need reminding of  is that we were each individually handmade which means we are unique...

and when we use our "unique" as a tool to better this place...it makes a difference. 

Stretched and Uncomfortable

Now that is a pleasant title for a Friday...

"Stretched and Uncomfortable" is something that, when doing the will of God, we will feel at one time or another and sometimes...more often than not.  It is what I am feeling and maybe what you are feeling, too...but it does not mean you get to give in or give up...oh, no...

Trouble is part of life, duh and when you are in the midst of troubles, conflicts, strife, ________________ (enter your thought here) amongst all of the homework you struggle to help with, socks to match, appointments to make and carpools to figure out, how you deal with all of it is what makes the difference. Relying on God and doing what HE wants you to do versus how YOU think you should handle your situation will make all of the difference.  When you are sure of that, you will be able to deal with what life brings you much easier.  It will provide you a sense of peace and THAT is what living in Gods will is all about. 

I am certain you are thinking "Well, good morning to you, too" or "Well, I am sure glad I stopped here this morning" which I am glad you did, because I am learning and growing in my walk and here to tell you that "Stretched and Uncomfortable" is a normal and good....and the name of a new canvas that I created yesterday out in the ol' shead-teau while the sun rose...

which, by the way, is a great way to start the day! 

Random Non-Creative Reminder

Little random things that make a big difference...

Take a little time to clean out the shelves in your refrigerator door today.

Practicing Art & Purpose

Switching gears a bit from the doodles and markers to canvas and paintbrushes as I get ready to ship samples to Grove's for the "Work of HEart" class I am teaching at the end of April. 

It seems I am adding some color to my regular ol'  "Life Color" palette of  Barn Red, Sage Green and Liberty Blue to include golden butter colors, apple green touches and subtle splashes of turquoise.. and I am really liking the combinations...  

Art with color and purpose makes me happy!

What is a LapDoodle?

Not to get confused with "gourmet" dog breeds, this is a "lapdoodle" which simply means I doodled' it on my lap during soccer practice yesterday.

good quote...and so true...dang it!

 

To Change Your Life...

...you need to change your thinking.

The #1 barrier to change is PRIDE so you (and I) need to take the first step to break the barrier by simply stop pretending that we have it all together and start admitting that we don't..so that we can!

When we do it, others will be influenced and inspired to do the same...

Duh..and Yay!

Here is what I am reminding myself :

 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12:2 (NIV)