FANS

Here is a picture of whom I consider to be my "biggest fans".

My two youngest daughters. They always seem to appreciate my artwork and tell me how good it is, etc... In other words...they keep me going, they help me to believe in myself, to strive to continue to learn new things, to continue to paint, to create, and give me continual inspiration.

I believe (or at least hope) we all have these special souls in our lives. Whether it be our children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, spouses, friends, fellow bloggers...

Who are YOUR biggest fans??? Think about it...who inspires you? compliments you? helps keep you going? appreciates what you are putting out into our world? challenges you? Thank them today...call them, email them, face book them, text them, message them on their blogs.

For, in my opinion, if it wasn't for our "fans" would we all be driven to continue what we are doing? Would we feel supported, challenged, inspired? Thank them...let them know what they mean to you and your creative spirit!

how cute is this

i just love this little clutch i found over the weekend at the sweetest antique store. don't you just love it when you stumble across something this cute and it is 50% off?!?!? MADE MY DAY!!

i find browsing quaint little antique stores brings alot of inspiration my way. it also really makes me heartsick for my grandma! there were so many things in this store that reminded me of her...i wish i would have taken pictures of all the things so i could post them up! there were beautiful, hand stitched hankies, old fashioned clip earrings, and of course sweet little coin purses. oh how i wish i would have held on to some of those things that she once had...but as we all know they are just "things" and clearly from how i felt walking through there...the memories of my grandma and her spirit are very much still with me. i love you grandma and know that you are smiling down on me!

happy tuesday!!

random...gotta love sundays

i am sitting here alone in a very quiet house...all 5 of my other sidekicks have gone to bed!

i just wanted to post how much i love sundays...in my house they are pretty care free and lax! i feel blessed that i can curl up on my couch looking out our front window and finish reading an amazing, suspenseful, brilliantly written book without much interruption! i find myself counting my blessings over and over again because the life i have now is so different from the one i had only a few years ago. i have learned how quickly life can change....for the better or for the worse , so i try really hard to just enjoy the moment knowing they pass as quickly as they entered into our lives. i find myself trying to teach my kids this...but I JUST realized it at 30+ years of age so how can i expect them to get it at their young, innocent ages??

i started another painting that was inspired by the friday afternoon dates i share with my youngest at starbucks!! she is such a firecracker and light in my life! God, I love this little person...my daughter! she was next to me as i began this painting, always telling me how much she loves my paintings and truly being my biggest fan! (it's the best!!! : ) but even better was how she grabbed some papers and crayons and scissors and started to make her own little creations...it was so fun to share that time with her. this time of creating and just being together! i love how i feel that we inspire one another...i wish i could bottle it up but i am wise enough to know it simply comes in moments and has to be enjoyed before it disappears!

so i guess what i am getting at after all this mumbo jumbo is to very simply...DRINK UP THESE MOMENTS...LIFE CHAN CHANGE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!!

more inspiration

i found more inspiration through a new found friend. check out this site. It is such unique, amazing work...the eyes say so much, don't they?

mom's day

first off i would like to wish all the beautiful, amazing, wondrous mamas out there a HAPPY MOM'S DAY weekend!!!! i hope each and every one of you does something special for YOU!

i wanted to post my latest little creation. i painted her for my mom-in-law who has to be THEE best cook and baker i have ever met! plus she is 100% Italiano!! i hope she likes her! my thought is...i realize my paintings are very kid like and amateur, however, they come from my heart so i would think there is no better gift than that. right?!?

xoxoxox

1 year down!

a year ago today (on the Isle of Capri, Italy), i became the luckiest girl in the world when i said "i do" to my prince, my very best friend, lover, partner, confidant, soul mate! i always hoped for a love like this and have been blessed enough to have found it! all my love goes out to my hubby today!

girlfriends

GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your partner.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
Another, 'Let's fight together,'
Another, 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ...Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.

i simply wanted to share this lovely note i received from a dear friend of mine who i am so blessed to have in my circle of friends!

SPRING FEVER

I've caught it!!! I have it!!! I am having major issues focusing and staying on top of my everyday duties due to SPRING FEVER!! I just want to sit outside in the sun with a good book and take it all in. We have had some lovely weather here but can feel the heat coming right around the corner...so I am really wanting to enjoy these 75 degree days!

My sweet little hippie chick is a spring lover too! My oldest asked for this one to go in her room...made me feel good that she liked it well enough to have it on display (so to speak)!!

I hope you are all enjoying nice weather where ever you may be! I think the spring fever bug is a good one to catch! xoxox

EARTH DAY

Here are the initial stages of my "green" heart wing sister! I felt inspired on this special day to paint her knowing that if we all just try and make conscience decisions...we can do a little something to help our planet!

My honest belief is when we have care and love for our self, it will birth care and love for all that is around us! After all, we are living in God's house...aren't we?!?!

Hopefully I can get around to finishing her soon...have been busy with all 3 of my daughters playing softball at different times, nights, etc... - feel like i've been living out at the ball diamonds this week!

HAPPY EARTH DAY ONE AND ALL! XOXOXO

sPaRkLe

Sparkle is a painting I did for a dear friend of mine's daughter. I surprised her with this painting...hopefully she likes it! The colors of her bedroom are pink, lime green and black - so i thought maybe she could hang her in there somewhere. Her Ya Ya calls her "sparkle" because she does just that...sparkles. She is such a sweet little girl...reminding me quite a bit of my own 9 year old daughter. She has these gorgeous blue eyes with a hint of green that...you guessed it...SPARKLE!

SO EXCITED.....

I am signed up to head to this come the fall! I cannot even begin to tell you all how excited I am. This will be my first official art retreat...and for that matter, my very first art class EVER! I am super excited but a bit nervous too! I think anytime we have a "first" come into our life it can be a bit intimidating...that fear of the unknown type of thing! But guess who I get to take a class from?!?! One of my biggest inspirations Kelly Rae - whoo hoo!!

Friday thought...

Miracle Thought:

"No Limits"I dwell in possibility," Emily Dickinson said. You have endless possibility too. In God there are no limits--don't make them up." Marianne Williamson