The encaustic medium is magical, vibrant and translucent.  My creative muse guides, inspires and feeds my soul through this medium, mixed media and collage.  Blessing me with endless moments of creative joy and harmony...providing those ahhaa moments about life.  Join me on this creative journey, spend some time reading my musings about this life, the blessed other souls that come into contact with mine, however brief or often, that can leave everlasting imprints on our journey....perhaps our lives might share some similarities, bringing us closer and more connected...and less isolated.

"I suppose there is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one's self, the very meaning of one's soul." ~ Edith Wharton

Here's to finding those expansive moments.....

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Life's Invitations

"Invitation" 24 x 24 - Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 2008 

Life is full of invitations!  For me I am intentionally choosing the authentic ones; the ones that create growth and joy...This piece is about those choices to be vulnerable in relationships, to live life with those that cherish and respect your journey.  Everyday we are faced with the choice to embrace love.  Our soul speaks to us in every moment, beckoning us to listen and be in touch, to centre, and really feel...Life can be full of what we want it to be if we listen, be still and allow.  This is what this piece signifies for me ...Holding precious the kindred spirits that come into our lives and to embrace love and vulnerability in relationships.

These past two days have been reminders for me about this soul journey, about life and love, relationship and letting it all come to you ...Allowing it to flow.   The miracles of life.... My lovely little sis and her love partner, friend and now daddy, Darren, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Esme Priya.  I had the privilege to be a doula to my sis...and together, Tina, Darren and I witnessed the birth of this precious life coming to us into our lives on January 20th, 12:27 p.m....and it was amazing....To be on the other side and witness this birth was wonderful ...and flooded me with memories of Maya's birth and Jeff's love and care.

I am filled with gratitude for this mystery and joy of birth and welcome precious little Esme Priya into the world...I relished every moment of holding her as she slept or comforted her in her first day of living.

In the words of Rabindranath Tagore, a great Bengali Poet (East Indian), " The tapestry of life's story is woven with the threads of life's ties ever joining and breaking."



Monday, January 12, 2009

Photos from the opening reception - Pigments of the Imagination

Winning Ticket!


My new friend, Michelle LeBlanc and her beautifully vibrant piece.  Isn't it gorgeous? 

We had a lovely opening of "Pigments of the Imagination", it was a cool vibe and energy, lots of cheer and a great way to chase the winter blahs away....The show continues to run until the end of January at Whitestone Gallery in Guelph, if you would still like to check out the exhibit.  The gallery hours are from Thurs. to Sat. 11 - 5 p.m.  Thanks to Larry for the photos, they are great!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

I Took This Vow - Will You too!

Deepak Chopra is the President and Founder of the Alliance for a New Humanity and on November 7, 2008, at 9:45 a.m, the 500 people attending the Alliance for a New Humanity Human Forum in Barcelona took a vow for non-violence in their thoughts, speech and actions.  Each person decided to ask other people in their lives to join them in taking the vow.  The goal then became to create a global movement, which would mobilize 100 million people to make the same commitment.  

Think of what this would mean regarding "transformation", peace and compassion for self and others...if we all took this commitment and asked others to take it too and to gently remind each other when we stray from this commitment.  I took this vow and hope you will consider it too.   Here is to a new humanity of compassion, kindness, love and peace.

Help spread the word, Take the Vow.

Monday, January 5, 2009

"Pigments of the Imagination" at the Whitestone Gallery in Guelph opens. Free Draw Prize at the reception on Friday Jan. 9th 5 - 8 p.m.

Pigments of the Imagination, opens on Friday January 9th, opening reception will be 5 - 8 p.m.  A draw prize of $100 for those in attendance will be drawn, come out for a chance to win this fantastic draw prize which goes towards the purchase of artwork from the participating artists.  Whitestone Gallery, is an artist's collective of 18 artists, all working in various mediums.  Many of the artists will be present that nite to meet up with, light refreshments will be made available.  Hope to see you there!

Participating artists include:  

Rebecca Erickson
Michelle LeBlanc
Mary Karavos
Larry "Toots" Lawrence
Supria Karmakar
Daniel Durocher
Baerbel Kirstein
Janet Stanley
Nancy Farrell
Nadia Slawinski
Vickie Martin
John Roberts
Annette ten Cate
Vincent Wall

Thursday, January 1, 2009

To the Amazing You & New Blog - Inner Works Collaborative - Check it Out!


2009 marks the beginnings of a new collaborative project called:  Inner Works, check out our new team blog!   This is an altered book project of six fabulous artists coming together to share in a round robin over the coming Winter and Spring months.  I can't think of a better way to spend these cold months to go inwards and create a special altered book.


  Here is a lovely poem I'd like to share for the first day of 2009...to the "amazing you"....

"Only You" - a poem by Dan Coppersmith

No one on Earth exists quite like you
And no on is able 
To do what you do

The person you are
The talents you bear
Gifts that only you can share

Only you have learned
From the things you've done
Gaining perspective
From the battles you've won

Times when you've lost
Have been priceless too
The lessons contribute
To what makes you you

The rest of the world
Can't see through your eyes
Which is why your insight 
Is such a prize

Because you are you
There are lives you affect
Much more than you
Would ever expect

The things you do 
The things you say
Send ripples throughout
The Milky Way

You're unique,
Amazings like no one else
You have the exclusive 
On being yourself