The treasure house awaits you in your own being - Rumi

"The treasure house awaits you in your own being" ~ Rumi

I love this Rumi saying and it fits so much with what I have been reflecting on lately....A lot of which comes from the readings I have been doing on the "Law of Attraction" by Ester and Jerry Hicks.... I am now, more than ever, acutely aware that this awareness of what the law of attraction speaks of, has been within me forever, and will continue to be there for me...

...However, it is because of the recent events in my life that have manifested for and by me... that has shown me what I know is true...These events and people are so beautiful, joyous and blessings.

I read "The Secret" by Rhonda Bryne a while back...this set something wonderful in motion.  Then in the summer a few things happened that brought other magical things my way....I met Pamela Fitzgerald and Norman Stiff, local Elora artists at the Fergus Art Walk.  Where I spotted Pam and thought to myself "I know that soul"....She seemed familiar...turns out that I hadn't met her yet, (well here in this life) .....but there was a comfortable knowing of her....and I felt like I had met an old friend...and as we spoke more...I began to learn more about how we had been drawn together...that was through the "Law of Attraction"...She shared with me her intense passion for Jerry and Ester Hicks' work and the words of Abraham....AHHHH ...this resonated ....and I knew we were meant to meet...They, Pam and Norm have shared a world I knew so long ago, but had forgotten...and now I am rekindling that 'knowing' through my readings by Jerry and Ester Hicks, ....thank you for this gift.  The other AHHH...was that Pam seemed to also recognize me...and she said something about reading my blogs...(I think I recall this anyway)....This was when I realized the art of blogging was truly a way to meet lovely like minded people...and that in a world that speaks of ill will, horror and violence...that there is in fact much love, compassion, and healing to be found; one way that this awareness has been manifested for me is via the world of blogging ..., meeting people who are on this same amazing awakening journey.... Shortly after I realized this, I met some other amazing soul friends...via the blogging world...and somehow this world became more intimate...more connected in a meaningful way...somehow that isolation dissipated a little...thanks to my first virtual friend, Janet from Toronto..who emailed me in the wee hours of the nite after a visit to Oakville's Cafe - Bean There...letting me know about the work she purchased....and we soon became virtual friends...and this sense of connection grew to Rita, Kelcey and Melissa...each of whom are on their own creative journey, sharing what they will with the world, openly, honestly, authentically, which fills in little pieces to the whole picture for me...because as I read their blogs, see their work, I am touched and honoured...As their blogs remind me of things I might have forgotten, or are teaching me new things and sending joyous smiles with each read.  Ahhh, yes the treasure house does await each one of us in our own being....Sometimes the awakening comes through connections and sharing with others...I realize this more each day.

Botanical Blessings - Summer Treasures

Holding onto those last days of summer...creating with treasures found from summertime...no bees were hurt in this creation.  These are the blessings from today, enjoying the moment.  This piece is called "Botanical Blessings".

'Moodling' in the Studio

Two miniatures created yesterday while playing in the studio.  Often when I am feeling 'stuck' creatively speaking, I remember this fantastic saying, 

"So you see, imagination needs moodling - long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering." ~ Brenda Ueland

This wonderful quote helps me to let go of expectations, or attachments to outcome...And I am able to create in this space of play.  What better place to be than in this space of happy idling, dawdling and puttering....Yes I am aware that this might be seen as another way for me to procrastinate...As there are many to do projects, such as getting ready for the studio tour, two other commissions, trades etc...Or it could be seen as a way to encourage the creative flow...Since, without this permission for soulful play...getting to the things that need to be accomplished get stagnated.  In fact it is through 'joy' that imagination is awakened, authentic moments are induced and emotional clarity can be discovered.  So I encourage others to enjoy 'moodling' often ... it is lovely.

A Placing Where your Spirit Takes Form - Knowing

Have you ever had that undeniable feeling of "knowing" --- Knowing that there is something so 'true', 'authentic', an everlasting feeling of 'goodness', of 'love', joy within...within all of us.....just there at your grasp..as if you can taste it on the tip of your tongue..waiting to be savoured - a delightful, delicious drink of love, of knowing, that there is more.  I can feel it, I know that I can produce deliriously glorious, spirited creations...It is as if I can see it in my mind's eye..It is there within, ready to be tapped, to be found...I know it because I can feel it, the presence of 'spirit' ...Echoing daily, waiting patiently, to blossom, to bloom...perhaps to even explode.  This place within is a place deep inside where your own spirit takes form.  A calling....What is calling you to be awakened?....Listening attentively creates magic and your authentic self to awaken.

New Limited Edition Print Art Greeting Cards in Shop

I have created 8 new greeting cards, 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in size, these are limited edition prints, printed on acid free, archival matte finish quality paper, mounted on white, black or brown acid free, archival cardstock.  The adhesive used is also acid free.  Each card is individually packaged with an envelope in a crystal clear acid free bag.  These cards are a gift in itself, which can be matted and/or framed.  There are only 5 of each print, see them in my etsy shop.

A summer smile - beach days with friends

My friends Pina and Andrea

A finished masterpiece.

The waves were fantastic...thanks Pina and Andrea for inviting us up to Port Elgin for the day, we all had a great time...These are what summer days are made of, time with lovely friends, playing and relaxing.

Fun photos from a recent workshop taught

A piece by Yvonne. Practicing embedding collage elements and layering with different colours of paint.

Some great pieces completed by some students at a recent workshop.  Check it out...thanks for letting me share these on my blog.

Second piece by Yvonne, practicing gouging and drips.

A piece by Amber, practicing and playing with collage elements, and layering with different colour encaustic medium paint.

Second piece by Amber, delving into gouging.

How Cool is this to experiment, play with creativity and feed your soul.....

Life can be......

full of possibilities, wonder, joy, love, compassion, peace....All of which I am grateful for and I try to practice being in the moment each day, in order to really feel the potential of all the endless possibilities available in life...In short life really can be anything you want it to be...

"We must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose."  ~Gandhi

Etsy Shop Now Open

Check out my NEW ETSY Shop...very exciting for me...I set my heart on a goal that by the end of the summer I would open up my own etsy shop...and I did it...within an hour of posting my first eight items..I sold two. Thanks so much..it is so wonderful to know that there are beautiful souls in the world that support handmade items and that love my work enough to purchase it.

A Smile and Giggle for the Day.....An All Around Warm Feeling

This morning I woke to a wonderful womyn's blog comment, Cristina, whose website on "Positive Thinking" was a breath of fresh air and a gift to her readers...on it I found this gem which I would love to share as it brought me so much joy this morning..thanks so much Cristina for your work in putting together your fabulous website and work on gratitude. 

Matt dancing around the world is a great video to watch..it made me smile from ear to ear and giggle ....and with tears in my eyes I feel another restorative feeling towards humankind...thanks Matt for sharing this venture with the world....what a glorious and transformative healing gift.....See his You Tube video...

Gratitude for the Creatively Divined

Lately I have been practicing the 'art' of gratitude...At the beginning of my day, I explore aspects of my life that I am grateful for...and pay homage to them, giving each blessing attention in my daily journalling...

So what am I grateful for today, here are just a few things I wanted to share: 

...The lie in I had this morning and the slow waking up with a great cup of "Cafe Feminino"....Yummy organic free trade coffee from a great womyn's cooperative in Peru...

I feel blessed to have completed two recent commission pieces within the deadline; and relief at knowing that the one piece delivered was loved as much as I had delighted in the making of it.

The love I feel for Jeff and Maya, my anchors, and how I am so loved back by them daily in so many little ways...

Also, knowing that Maya is SO cherished, protected and nurtured by her grandparents, her Nana and Bubba, that it provides me with the an ease while she is away spending two weeks with them on a summer vacation...though my heart aches for her daily....

I am thrilled to know that I have loving and generous parents..

For the ability to be able to get bills paid and for plenty of great food to nourish our souls, bodies and minds....and for the wonderful friends and family in my life...for their support in  my journey and choices.  Finally not last at all, and definitely not least for the creative muse who guides my creativity daily in the studio...this piece was done for her, called "Divine Intervention".

"Gratitude is the most transformative force in the [universe]" - Sarah Ban Breathnach, The Simple Abundance Companion.

The many faces of love and more!

It has been 4 days without my little one at home, she is now 8  years old, and is off on her annual summer vacation with her Nana and Bubba, up north.  Maya absolutely loves going there every year...she has a great zeal about all the things she will do while there, swimming in the lake, fishing, finding treasures on the surrounding islands, visiting with her many cousins the same age or similar ages to her....I am so blessed that she has this relationship with her grandparents.  I was never able to have this same relationship for many different reasons..one being a very practical one, that being since I am the first generation of immigrants...so my grandparents were not even accessible to me even if they were alive.

As a social worker, I am fully aware that this love and care provided to her from many adults is a great blessing, one that will give Maya a great solid ground to take flight from, into her adulthood....

It still doesn't make the letting go any easier...which leads me to the many thoughts I have had today about the many faces of love, and the many lessons love teaches us...and most of all I am left feeling much gratitude about the blessings I have in my life.  The wonderful daughter that Maya is to us, the wonderful grandparents she has to enrich her life, and to the time that this two week vacation away Maya has, does afford me....Today I was able to wake up slowly, spend two to three hours reading, an hour journalling and feeling blessed with each hour passing for the abundance in my life...the number of possibilities each day brings and the hope with each new morning....Here are a few other newer pieces I have worked on, one of which was inspired by Nina Bagley 's, "Listen" blog entry....which once again reminded me of my Maya when she was only 2 years old...it is amazing how little ones can teach us so much, if we just remain open to these gifts....

Etsy Shop Announcement- Coming AUGUST 15th!

Here are a few pieces of product to be put into my new etsy shop...a few examples, more to come, 

Just wanted to let you know that I will be opening my own Etsy shop by the end of next week, August 15th,  I have been working hard at getting it all set up and working on new product to upload into the shop...This will be a great new way to view my new work and let others know too....if you like something you could even purchase something for yourself and/or someone special in your life...it will be as easy as 1, 2, 3,..... Or as my good friend Leigh says, "Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy!"

There will be a number of items in the shop, from framed original encaustic collage, mixed media work to prints, matted and/or framed, as well as in greeting card format both orignals and prints again...There will also be some original work on thick substrates of wooden blocks, some upcoming other products will include paper doll creations and altered books.

Take a look at some of the first few items here..more to come and will be available by the end of next week, August 15th, in my etsy shop.

Blessings in unexpected places...isn't that the way?

Today I am filled with gratitude for two particularly wonderful things that happened to me....out of that vast world wide web community I was sent two messages from two sister artists...the first from "Melissa Hronkin", an encaustic artist, ..who sent me an email letting me know how she felt about my work and website etc..and I have to admit..it was great to hear...one to know that there are kindreds in the world who create from a place of passion, who understand what it takes to keep at it day in, day out, in an isolated studio, room, and/or a creative sanctuary....sharing on the blog and/or on a website...not knowing if anyone else is reading or seeing your work.  Today was reassuring to see that yes in fact it does work...I am specifically intrigued at the similarities in the work we do and how we express ourselves through the work.

Secondly, getting an email from, another artist and mother, Kelcey, was a heavenly sent blessing...as after spending a whole week with my daughter, Maya and her dear close friend of over 6  years...Allison, I was left wondering if what they experienced was meaningful for them....Intuitively I thought spending days making an altered book - a "Power Me" altered book would be something they would have that would last a lifetime..the memories of the creating, the process not only the outcome...but as I am often a 'doubting soul'...which is something I am working on...I was reassured to hear from Kelcey, the universal delivered angel, that it does make a difference.  

What a lovely way to close off the day and be filled with gratitude for having heavenly messages sent my way from two unknown soul sisters...artistic  soul sisters and mother.

Thank you!