"Every Life Has a Story!"

Up/Down...

"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction."

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Journal Page Elements: stencils, spray paint, rubber stamps, black pen, acrylic paint, white pen, glaze and black dye ink pad.

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I am so excited for artist Bridgette Guerzon Mills. She has been preparing for a solo art show that will be opening on Friday, October 5 at Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne, Florida. The show will hang for the month of October (1st through the 28th).

The show is called Expecting: explorations in mixed media.  If you are in the area, be sure to check it out!  Her work is very inspiring!

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Daily Journal Prompt:  What fear would you like to overcome?

Have a blessed day!

Begin the Revolution...

It has arrived!!! Be sure to visit HERE for all things Revolution! Linda and Karen have done it again with their newest book, urging us all with humor, encouragement and direction to create our own awesome journals!  This newest installment is edgy and full of step-by-step directions sure to inspire us all!!

Make Others Happy...

It occurred to me today, with more impact than on other days, that life is good. I know this intellectually, but on some days I am reminded maybe a little more that this is truth by really feeling it in my heart.

What brought this about? I'm not sure exactly, but maybe it was the conversation I had with a good friend, someone who I care deeply for who encourages me and makes me feel good about myself.  Maybe it was the kind gesture I witnessed between a young person and the elderly lady who needed help reaching the highest shelf in the grocery store.  Maybe it was the card I received, offering me kind words for being who I am.  Maybe it was just the thoughtfulness of someone who just said, "thanks and I really appreciate you!"

Maybe it was just that I saw the beauty in giving of oneself, ever so small, to make another person happy.

Mark Twain said, "Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can read."

Find a way this week to do something kind for someone else. Send a card, make a call, help someone in need, or just buy coffee for the person in line behind you!  Find a way to reach out and let me know about it!  I will do the same and post any of my experiences.

Have a blessed day!

Journal Page Elements: Old photo, gesso, stencils, rubber stamps, white gel pen, wallpaper, Rub-on letter, acrylic paint, staples, old book paper and a black pen.

Meme in the Middle...

I have been tagged by, Diane  for a meme. This one uses the letters of your middle name.

Here are the rules:

You have to post these rules before you give the facts. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blogpost containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

I do not have a middle name so, as the rules state, I will choose one that I would have liked to have been given...my grandmother's name--Grace.

I have decided to share with you some childhood things...

G is for Glasses. Really big and ugly glasses that I wore from the age of 7 to 16 because I am very nearsighted!

R is for Ralph. He was my first stuffed animal made by hand. Yes, I actually made my own stuffed animals when I was younger. He was a three foot tall white mouse.

A is for ABBA. Do you remember that 1970's group? I had a crush on a boy named Bart. He came to my 16th birthday party and brought me a few 45 records, one of which was Afternoon Delight by ABBA. Not exactly an appropriate song for a girl of 16. I remember him backing up and falling down as my dog lunged at him!  I also remember wearing bright blue satin pants at that party!  UGH!  *Please note that it was brought to my attention by "pipw" that Afternoon Delight was actually a song by Starland Vocal Band. So, A is for Starland Vocal Band!  Thanks, pipw! At least I got Bart's name correct in my memory!

C is for Charlie Brown. How can I forget this blast from the past! My close friends called me Charlie Brown because physically, my head is larger than average size. Needless to say, I did not find this the least bit amusing!

E is for Eiffel Tower. The one I sketched in seventh grade with charcoal, which won me a blue ribbon in the county fair.

Thanks for asking me, Diane! I enjoyed the walk down memory lane!

I will tag the following bloggers:

Nancy
Kelly
Jo 
Deryn
Maija

Have a blessed day!

To Start a Thing...

I've been avoiding my studio lately. There are times when I can't wait to step inside and feel the welcome of all the artsy things I love.  To touch and smell the goodness of the supplies that I enjoy working with and to gear up the sappy romantic comedy on my lap top so I can begin creating. I'm ready and the creative muse is in high gear. Well, so it is on "those" days...

...I will start a thing, I will not wait for inspiration, I will move toward action!

Have a blessed day!

New Site, New Stamps, New Ideas...

I am excited to announce that Paperbag Studios has just released new rubber art stamps!  We have also redesigned our web site, making it more user friendly and easier to find things! 

The Gallery has new samples, showcasing the new stamp images with designs by Audrey Hernandez, Celine Navarro, Erika Tysse, Jo Capper-Sandon and Lori Lundy.

In addition, visit the Paperbag Studios Flickr Group  to share  your own artwork!

Have a blessed day!

 

Daily Journal Prompt: 

"What three things would you like to change in the world?"