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! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle where we talk about daily strategies to decrease our stress and increase our Peace! This week, we're talking about what makes us feel most at home and when to determine it is time for a Homecoming of sorts! 

(I'm not referring here to a family reunion or school reunion but those are fun too!)

We often put off the things that bring us the most joy in the busyness of life, but what happens when we put it off for too long? Do we forget the benefits of engaging in things that speak to and feed our souls? What about the satisfaction we can experience after doing something that feels most like home to us? 

These things are vitally important for our well being. As we choose to Go Gentle with ourselves, that includes not only reducing what stresses us (or eliminating it all together), but also Enhancing our Lives with what brings us the most JOY and ENERGY! 

So, let's not put off what we love; let's make it a priority! 

I give some ideas on what brings me great satisfaction in the recesses of my own soul and why you would benefit doing the same. Of course, this is never to guilt you but to inspire you toward what makes you feel the most At Home. Because Home is Where the Heart Is, and how you feel in your heart matters! 

So let's have a Homecoming together! Share in the comments what feels most like HOME to you. I want to cheer you on! 

Journaling Prompt: 
Make a list of the places or activities that give you that feeling of HOME. What is it about that place or activity that lifts your spirit and gives you energy? 

Put one of those things on your daily calendar and start today with a Homecoming of your own. 

And remember that Gentle is Magic!

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we talk about strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 
Well, who doesn't love a plushy?? How many times have we been comforted giving our plushies a hug as children, right? 
My grandson, Jake, is an avid plushy collector! Well, Grandma likes her plushies too! 

So, This post is the start of a new series I'm calling my Surprise Series, where I'll be sharing images of something that inspires or comforts me or makes me laugh, that I thought I would share with you...as a surprise! I wanted to do something fun we can look forward to together. 

So, my first Surprise is images of two of my curated plushy collection. 
The first one is my most recent that I acquired from a local estate sale. When I walked into the room where it was located, I felt like the lion was eyeing me, like, are you going to take me home? I immediately said yes. He sits on the floor next to my journaling/study desk in my bedroom. 

You see, I have an affinity for lions. Oh, they are the King of the Woods and awesome creatures. But the biggest reason is, the lion reminds me of ASLAN from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia Series. 

When my kids were young, we watched the series (the original as well as some of Disney's versions) on repeat for years. It was a highlight of our times together as a family. And Aslan, Oh dear Aslan. I loved the way Lucy would talk to him and how he spoke to her. She was the first who found Narnia and who saw Aslan herself. 

So, Lions have deep meaning for me. In many ways. The history of our children's childhood. The spiritual meaning of Aslan. And the many things he would say throughout the series that resonate deep in my soul. 

I decided to share my Lions with you to show a very personal element that has deep meaning, that brings me comfort when needed, and just makes me happy when I see them. 

And that really matters to me! 
So, what sort of collection do you keep that makes you happy when you look at it? What deep meaning does it have for you? 

You're welcome to share in the comments below. I'd love to hear about it. You can also use those questions as journaling prompts if you thus desire to reflect. I know I've enjoyed sharing my heart about lions with you. 

Make space for the things that brings you comfort and joy...because Gentle is Magic!