Homegrown Hospitality

The Documented Life Project

At the beginning of January I joined in with 4000 other creative souls in the Documented Life Project and since then, not only have I journaled a little something each day, I have merged my 52 PickMEup class cards into my journal as well as attach things that I have written down from my study and work on The Daniel Plan and the Transformed series at Saddleback. Here is a look inside my journal:

Week One

Week Two Week Three Week Four
Week Five
and a few pages here and there... If you are also doing the project and you are doing my 52 Card PickMEUp, consider printing out and attaching the photo I send you at the beginning of each week as a reminder.  If you are doing the Daniel Plan or the Transformed Series, photocopy or rewrite what you have read and add it to your journal!
and enjoy the process!

 

Duh.

I carved some new stamps yesterday to use in my Boston classes at Right@Home Scrapbooking next week and as I carved, I took maybe 25-30 step by step photos...without a card in my camera.

duh.

This is the only one I got, which I just took this morning (when I noticed there was no card in the camera)

and my reaction was evidence that I am in a different place. 

What it means is that I get to carve another one, which really, I can do anyway, but because I really love to make things, I feel blessed that I get to.

Today take note of what you get to do instead of feeling like you have to do something.

Transform & My Story, Part Four

I have been MIA on the ol blog because I have been reading, searching, stitching, untangling, creating, highlighting, learning, and a whole bunch of other words that end with ing.  It is all part of my personal realignment, part of the TRANSFORM 2014 and part of my creative process. 

I have merged my study on the Daniel Plan with the series Transformed and The Documented Life Project which influences my work on the 52 Pick ME Up Class and the new BIG project I am working on. I don't know how to "knit" but somehow I am weaving all of these things together to create art and because of my basis and foundation of all things, it is working.

It takes that moment of deciding enough is enough and that was the topic of this weekends message at church.  TRANSFORMATION starts when you get to that point where you have just had it.  you are done..done DONE. You are fed up and think,"that's it"  I am done with _________ and are ready to change.

Been there, done that, more than a few times. Just ask me and I will share.

Once you have decided "no more" and have gotten to the point of being sick and tired of being sick and tired, you gotta fess up.

yep.

It is time to own up to your sins and confess them.  It might be hard, it may be embarrassing and probably humiliating, but guess what? God already knows, duh, so just fess up.

Here is something to ponder on (and giggle about). 

If you feel like GOD is so far removed from your life that you can't even feel him....guess who moved?  YOU are as close as you choose to be and the easiest and fastest way to realign yourself is to fess up right now.  That's it.  Just tell Him and then thank Him.

p.s. that is why I crossed out the word "somehow" up there. 

Once you get through these few things, it will be smoother sailing ahead...there will be waves for sure but you will be wearing the very best life jacket on the market.

It is a promise! 

52 & Documented Life

At the beginning of each week I send out emails to those that are taking my 52 Pick ME Up class with a simple word.  I write a little about what the word means to me and then encourage them to think about the word and then, if moved to, create around the word.

This week I printed out the picture and placed it in my Documented Life Journal as a reminder for myselfand thought that I would also share the photo with you as a reminder. 

Print it out and use it on something, tape it to your mirror, slide it in your wallet...Take a minute to reflect on this word.  It is a BIG word.  What is it that you believe?  What is it that you need to STOP believing? If nothing else, please believe that YOU matter.  You might not think you do, but YOU do.

Do What You Love 2014 Online Workshop

I love to make things. 

I think you know that by now.

Sometimes it is doodling ..Sometimes it is carving stamps ..sometimes is is coloring...
sometimes it is stitching
or sometimes, it is all of the above.

I am excited to announce that I have a new ONLINE workshop based off of my 2013 Do What You Love class that begins March 1st and registration is now open!  CLICK HERE for info and to register!

I hope to see you March 1st!

BHD - Big Honkin Doodle

I am working on a project that I will be able to share more about in the coming months but I am also working on a project that I will tell you more about tomorrow.  In the mean time, I want to introduce you to my BIG HONKIN DOODLE.  It is taking part in both projects mentioned above.

It started with a sharpie, a 1.5' x 2 .5' piece of paper and a circle in the middle:

and about an hour or so later.. the Sharpie headache started so I put them the pen and just looked at this big honkin doodle.

To be continued..

Stitched.

I wanted to use the word Miscellany for the new things to come but I can't (dang it) so in the spirit and in honor of the word TRANSFORM, I have been searching, seeking, waiting and wondering what to use when it just happened.  The word became evident to me as I sat quietly for a week and....

stitched. 

What also became evident was that sometimes, life looks like this: and sometimes, it looks like this:

and it is all about the way you view it, handle it and pray about it that makes the difference.

duh.

Now, I know that the word STITCHED makes you think of a needle and thread but really, it  stands for so much more.  It stands for bringing together all things I love to do and stitching them together one way or another.  It was a light bulb moment for me as I walked the rows and rows and rows at CHA this past weekend and now it is all making a little sense.

THAT, my friends, is GOD at work in me.  HE is working on you, too.  You just gotta be quiet and listen.

yay!

Monday & A List - Two are Better Than One

As we start a new week and work on TRANSFORMING, we need to replace the thought of "Three is a crowd" with something new.  The world has taught us that three is a crowd when actually, it is a benefit to our growth.  The importance of a group, a tribe, a posse, a platoon is essential to TRANSFORMING  and in this past weekends message, it was outlined on why and how to create a group. 

On a personal note, this past weekend, I took my first step back into the "arena" (the creative industry) As my day started out unsure, it ended strong, confident and clear because of  my whole family and part of my very own platoon. THAT alone is a reason to be part of a group.

Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work. For if one of them falls, the other can help him up. But it is hard for the one who falls when there is no one to lift him up. And if two lie down together, they keep warm. But how can one be warm alone? One man is able to have power over him who is alone, but two can stand against him. It is not easy to break a rope made of three strings.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

A group helps us study, practice, pray and encourage one another.  We were NOT created to be alone.  I find this true when I go out and teach.  WE are all a bunch of wild & creative souls that LOVE to make things.  We all have our own styles & our own ways of doing things but when we are together in community, it fills us the the brim.  Often times, I hear (& say myself) that "we should do this more often."  You see, it is not so much about the class, the project or the techniques, but also about coming together.  We are in FELLOWSHIP together and we forget how it feels to come together and we forget how good it feels when we are finished.  THAT is something we need to PRACTICE more often.  We MUST make gathering together a PRIORITY.
I found this true again this past weekend as creative souls met together in the center of the arena.  I felt secure and connected ad I met up with three of the five Doucmented Life creators, no, actually friends.  THIS is a group you want to be part of.

Today's  Download Twoarebetter is a reminder and a place for you to write about YOUR GROUP or a place to make notes on who you want to create a group with.

Happy Monday!

If you would like to be part of my group (based on the Daniel Plan & the new Transformed series at Saddleback,)  "GOD & a Group" on Facebook, please do! Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/548889901874197/

 

Transform & My Story, Part Four

I know that my past is part of my story. 

We ALL have a story. 

I made awful decisions, poor choices, many mistakes, worried about EVERYTHING and I have a cornucopia of other random things that I no longer display as a decoration at the center of my table. 

ALL of those things mentioned above DO NOT have to be the rest of my story and I am no longer repeating or replaying, unconsciously practicing or living those things.  I  have learned so much from every single one of them and because of my faith and my relationship with God, HE will somehow use them for good.

true fact.

God is good that way. 

What He says is what HE means and guess what?

It can be like that for you too.

REALLY!

whew!

I am reading the Daniel Plan book (and note, it is NOT just a diet plan) and I highly suggest that if (or when) you are ready for change, tired of feeling like crap and/or want the rest of your life to be the best, you get the book (and a highlighter)

Here is what I highlighted last night:

and goes on to say: There ya have it.

p.s I  started a Daniel Plan support/small BIG group over on FB called God & A Group - The Daniel Plan and you are more than welcome to join women from ALL OVER to support, virtually high five and relate with each other.

oh, and a printable for you to remind you:

Monday & A List 2014

The holidays are officially over, back to school today and my 2014 creative life is off to a great start!  The past few weeks I have been taking a little time to just creatively play. I have been stitching in preparation for new things coming this spring/summer...(eek!)I have been doodling in preparation for a brand new doodle class debuting in just a few weeks at Right@Home Scrapbooking in Boston Feb. 8 - 9 (man, I hope it warms up before I get there!) I started working along with 2600 other friends all over the world on the Documented Life Project and a few other things...

My problem (in a sorta good way) is that plain and simple,  I LOVE to make things.  There is not just "one" specific thing I like to do.  I like to do it all BUT if there is one thing I have learned, it is the fact that I can't do it all and do it well.
In my quest to TRANSFORM in 2014, I am fine tuning what I do to do it better, for the long haul and that leads to the first Monday & A List for 2014. 

It is pretty darned self explainitory:
Here is the download: Download Jan6arrows print it out, make your notes and let's get this year started in a positive way!