Hello friends! Like I promised in a previous video, I have completed the art journal spread that I have titled, Out of the Ashes, that I started in Late 2023. This spread is more than deeply personal; it is somewhat of a demarcation point due to the life change this spread has helped me work through. 

My father passed in January of 2023 and my mother passed in January of 2024. 
So my grieving process has included the very intuitive and spiritual practice of my art journal. 
As I have worked through my loss, I have expressed those emotions through gouache paint, fabric, stamping, collage, oil and water soluable pastel, plus embelishments such as sequins. So many layers have gone into this particular spread. 

I started with an idea of using a floral motif in the center of a night sky with moonbeams coming out, as a way to express Coming up out of the ashes (which symbolize the passing of my parents) with the idea of growing through the process and learning to live anew with my parents in spirit. 

So I cut strips of fabric (which you can see in the first video below). Then I had the idea of putting splashes of paint on the substrate (see next video). Then I started collaging papers, both brown paper, and paper from dream notes I take in the morning) and adding layers of gesso in between. 

I also used several stamps in the process: one was a small floral stamp to unify the floral in the center adding green highlights with oil pastel crayon; another was a clock/watch stamp which represents the passage of time, from childhood til now; then I used letter stamps to spell out Ashes across the page in between the fabric strips (which I did toward the end of the process.) 

Once I was satisfied with the layering on the substrate, then I put down the fabric strips that feature a night sky with moon and stars. I see the strips as moon beams. 

Then I hand lettered the words "out of the" using oil pastel and water soluable pastel crayon in black and white on brown paper. I did the same with ASHES, hand lettering. And then adhering. 

Then I used silver, black, white and green pastel highlighting the fabric strips, accentuating the idea of moonbeams. Lastly I added green sequins as an embellishment. I wanted to brighten things up a bit. (I've had these sequins in a jar mixed with beads and buttons for many years! It pays to gather supplies when you see them since you never know when you'll use them!) 

I wanted to finish this spread, Out of the Ashes, by year's end, to have closure with my parent's passings and move into the New Year with a fresh start. I'm glad I did. I have had 4 sessions over the holiday season, following my intuitive nudges with each session, noting what was working and what wasn't working. (I decided against buttons which was the original idea with my design and instead used sequins to accentuate the design elements. 

I really wanted to share the finishing of the project with you as I have given you glimpses of my process with videos over time so you can see the ins and outs behind the scenes. 

It is important to me to share this process with you so you can be along for my journey. Thanks for warching, reading and subscribing to my YouTube Channel in support of my work. 

Your presence here means the world to me; I wouldn't want to do this without you! 
So thank you for being here. 

My delight is to continue sharing my artistic/spiritual journey with you in the coming year of 2025. I hope to see you here! 

Happy New Year And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

As I have been experiencing the sights and sounds of the Holiday Season, I have been encountering memories of old from Christmases past and other childhood moments. 

First I will share one in honor of my Dad. 
I was exiting one storefront and could hear very old fashioned Christmas music, Big Band style, wafting from the speakers across the street from where I stood. Hubby was with me and I recalled to him how Dad would have loved this music. So I began doing a little jig down the sidewalk, which immediately brought me back to a moment in the Mom's kitchen and Dad wanting to dance, so I said, I'll dance with you, Dad! So we did, down the hallway and back. It was sweet and poignant. After we would dance, he would kiss me on the head and say, "I love you, kid!" with a warm smile on his face. "I love you too, Dad." 

Gosh I can hear him chuckle like it was yesterday. With his wide smile and gentle way with me. One day, Dad, we will dance together again; in the meanwhile, I know you're watching and dancing too! 

Now I will share one in honor of my Mom.
I was recently shopping at one of my favorite stores where I live (a 2 story antique shop filled with all kinds of treasures!). As I went from booth to booth, I saw so many little Christmas trees, of all sizes, and colors, and in fun containers of sorts. I was wondering if I would find one that would be perfect for my art studio space. 

As I was looking at one in one of my favorite vendors, I heard Mom say to me, Mit-mas Tree. She would always have ways to shape the English language to her own liking. When she said this word, it was always with a feeling of fun and sensory joy.

I then said aloud, I hear you, Mom, I hear you. I felt like she was looking at those little trees through my eyes, as if we were shopping together for the holiday. It was a sweet poignant moment, with a tinge of sadness mixed in. But I was glad of this experience. I didn't find a small tree to take home with me but I brought home that moment in my heart. 

I love how her love of decorating for the holidays was the connection we made in spirit together. I don't decorate like she once did, turning the whole house into a Christmas treasure, but I remember the fun of seeing the space come to life. The joy it brought her may not have been visible to me as a child, but I could feel it in my heart as I shopped that day. 

I did end up bringing home other treasure, which I am grateful for. 
But the treasure of family cannot be bought. 

This is the first Christmas where both of my parents are in the same place in spirit. 
I am grateful for my memories of Christmases past and of my childhood joys. 
And staying "in touch" with them in ways that touch my heart are what I will carry with me always. 

Enjoy your Christmas, Mom and Dad, as you are together again. 
You will always be remembered. 

Welcome back to Going Gentle and my new Surprise! Series, where I have fun sharing something that inspires, comforts or makes me laugh! I'm loving sharing memories associated with some of my Surprises and this surprise will be no different. This one is a fun Surprise that you could associate with friendliness. 

Allow me to introduce the Surprise for this week. Ready? 
OK, you know how they always say that a dog is man's best friend? Well, I don't know if I would say that I'm necessarily a "dog person," but I did grow up with a dog named Taffy who we had for many years, who was a cocker spaniel/poodle mix--a cocka-poo. Then there was the dog my husband Bill and I had; I named her Shannon and she was a pure bred Golden Retriever. Sweet and loving. 

BUT there was a type of dog that I absolutely ADORED starting in my childhood, and that was the Miniature Schnauzer. Every time I would encountered one of these adorable dogs in my path, I just wanted to scoop it up and take it home with me. SUPER FRIENDLY. ALWAYS EXCITED TO MEET ME. 

Well, since MOM knew how much I adored these dogs, she decided to make me one! As a Surprise of course! It was a Christmas gift when I was in my teen years (mid-1980's to date myself.) 

Mom used to go a ceramics class in someone's home basement and pick out different things to make for gifts. And this Schnauzer dog has stood the test of time! Decades of time! I call him my little mascot in my office. 

I keep my friendly ceramic pup in my office where I manage Bill's Quality Electric, LLC doings. He sits between my filing cabinet and my desk for safe keeping. I put him on my desk for the image on the right so you could have a good look from the other side. Yes, Mom put a actual dog collar on him, which just adds to the cuteness! 

So this representation of a mini Schnauzer is actual size, at least that's what Mom told me when she gave it to me. I thought that was just delightful, to have my own ceramic pup in my space. He makes me smile. I love his stance with him looking off to the right as if something has his attention. Mom did such a great job with the painting of the details. 

I appreciated her creative bend and her desire to give me something that really meant a lot: honoring my love of mini Schnauzer dogs. I especially love their adorable faces, especially when they have a really nice hair cut! Isn't he cute? 

Do you have a ceramic based animal that you were given as a gift? Is it based on something you really love? You're welcome to share below! I'd love to hear about it! 

I do hope you enjoyed my Surprise this week and I wish you a delightful day full of fun surprises! 
Remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle and my Surprise Series that I am having so much fun sharing with you! I feature something that either comforts, inspires or makes me laugh, bringing some lighthearted energy into our day! I just love that! You do too? Great! Let's get started on this week's Surprise! Ready? 

So, this week's surprise has a very JOYFUL and inspiring connotation for me and I'll explain why. 
First, it is a gift I received from my dearest friend, Carrie Aulenbacher. She SURPRISED me with it for Christmas this past year (2023)! I had No Idea it was coming. And when I saw it, I was Deeply Touched. It is a necklace that features two girls on a swing under a tree. Oh my goodness, I just LOVED it. For so many reasons. 

The second reason it is JOYFUL for me is it reminds me of my friendship with Carrie, who is kind and caring, insightful and humorous, and she supports me in all facets of my life! Thank you, Caring Carrie! 

The third reason it is JOYFUL for me is because it brings back delightful memories of my swinging on swings as a child, both in my own back yard and in one of my favorite places I enjoyed in the summer called Terrace Lake. The freedom and joy experienced on the swing as a child is so sweet and fun to recall, so this necklace inspires me to recollect those time with JOY. 

The fourth reason it is JOYFUL for me is because it reminds me of a local outdoor billboard that has an image of a little girl on a swing and it says, Live Life JOYfully! Every time I see the billboard, it reminds me of this necklace and dearest Carrie who gave it to me, and the joyful feeling of being on a swing. 

So, this beautiful necklace that brings me such joy has a very special place where I keep it, so it is visible every time I put on my jewelry. (of course I wear it as well!) It is on a mini dress form that I keep on my dresser, right next to my jewelry box where my some of my jewelry collection is located. I love the context of the collage style design on the dress form juxtaposed with the JOYful necklace that sits atop it. 

So that is my SURPRISE for you today! Do you happen to have a piece of jewelry that was gifted to you by a dear friend that brings you joy? You're welcome to share it below. I'd love to celebrate with you! 

I wish you a fun surprising day full of things that are meaningful to you. 
Remember that Gentle is Magic!