Dealing with a head cold (tis the season) today, I turned up the heater (bundled Poppy on my lap)  & painted this lovely Rumi Quote.  
The moment I read it, I thought how beautiful... 'a love so deep the ocean would get jealous.'   It's what we all deserve.   It's what I deserve.  
I can handle the ocean getting jealous, anything else is just added drama I no longer desier.
That, would be a very intense love.  For awhile anyway... that is why we must have individual hobbies and passions - to fulfill our lives when  our other Love is "lacking" or distracted.
                       
Today is December the 1st.
I  am not decorating inside this year, my heart is not 'in it'.  
The kitchen is not finished..  not that it matters. I've discussed it with Storm, he 'get's it'.  
I get defensive- in the past  I'm called a grinch, why?  Because I won't go into debt for 'gifts' we dont need or want. No thanks. Those days are done.  When I give someone  a gift it will becasue I want to - not because a date on the calander demands it, and expected to give to several - no wonder people get overwhelmed... I  won't contribute to it.
I'd rather have some good times with friends, a nice meal.. quality time with my son. We are going to the museum soon! ;)    * I 'get it' wanting Christmas to be special for little ones but the facts are the majority of people can not afford Christmas to the extent they do.
Please don't.  Give your children the gift of your time, not your added stress after the holidays when the bills come in.

On a positive note! Thanks to sites like PIN - there is an abundance of creative, affordable craft ideas for kids of all ages!!  Make something fun & I guarentee you - you will be creating a memory that wil last a life time!  I am making a fairy lamp! lol - Not that I have anyone in particular to give it to- yet- I will.  Have a peek if you can surf FB you can find a creative way to have fun with the kids or grandkids this holiday- cheap! xox
​Check the snowman below to bring you to PIN.

Have Faith!                                                                                                                                          23
xox
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I would be lost without PIN , well o.k. not lost but it sure makes life fun! 
How cool if I want to see and research and octopus- I can at the tip of my fingers! Not like the good ol' days, get dressed, go to the library, find as many books as i could and take..from there - the days already 1/2 gone.  
Now, I'm up, coffee, not dressed- well -undies are o.k., office attire on a 26 degree morning in Canada!  I'm pinning lions for Duke's thank you card, mailed out later today with a  few postcards! ;) 
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I use it to craft, clean, cook, gouache better!  Draw better. THERE are no excuses- you will  spend your day reading what others are doing or you will spend it educating yourself on a topic you already love - the trick is to shut down and do it.  I can get caught up in PIN.
It is my 'I'm too tired to draw go to and 'time waster as well.
I follow a few and I unfollow too, only because I really want to focus sometimes and PINs can get me off focus. Moderation.
My art has improved because of the internet, I'm grateful for it! 

A few of my friends comment "I don't get it.." so here is PIN in 10 easy  visual steps (you are welcome) quick steps. Want to bake better cakes - use PIN - NOW wait... I have a friend who said  "I get overwhelmed at all the great work I see on PIN and then don't try..." well that problem is with the person not PIN. The only way to get better at anything is to do it all the time. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, when I had my studio PepeLepew was painted saying those words for the hundreds of kids who passed through my studio doors!
Because 7 out of 10 asked me: How do I draw like you?

PIN have fun! look me up! Comment on one of my recent PINs and I will see it there! 
I probably won't react- I'm usually on researching a drawing.
Have fun.. Moderation.

Have faith
<>< xox

Dream drawing job or not... on Sunday I paint what ever I want.  
This morning I was inspired by a deer looking back at me from my PIN page.  
As you can see. I see something, and ideas come to my head, the deer photo is a reference for f the imagination, still I am thankful to the photographer that captured this deer in all it's grassy glory.
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Below are a few steps from Start to Finish, todays lesson with gouache. 

Believe
xox
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To learn about the eggs: http://www.welovedaruma.com/en/about_daruma.html   Easter and the symbolism of rebirth, spring, new growth, forgiveness & hope.
I feel stronger about this Easter and what it stands for than  I did only a year ago. 

I asked the guys if they wouldn't mind staying home this Easter even though we were invited to the 'family dinner - actually, I said I was staying home but they could go - lol -it did not go as planned... so, I painted  eggs to give to a very 'select few', purchased a new everyday tablecloth,  Norm  helped clean - we picked up some tulips and  Easter dinner  (cooked and catered by mom) was  terrific. Perfect. 

​It  was a peaceful day... leading up to a mini Spring break. 
I've decided to take some time to read and draw, think and draw... spend time with Jesus- as I become less religious.  This Rosary you see is my meditation.  
I sleep with it wrapped around my hand and wake up with it still there many mornings. 
Think what you want- I don't care, it brings me peace.  
It reminds me that miracles happen every second of every day, inspired by LOVE.
Time again to Go within, with Buddha and past time with Poppy as spring gets closer to becoming summer. 

I can't promise I will keep up the blog the next few weeks, I only have a short allowance for internet time, I can promise I will be keeping very creative!
I will post one  'image' a day if nothing else, but this won't include original art work- some of it is top secret at the moment,  a few gifts I don't want people to know about yet...  a couple pieces taking a while to complete and a NEW project -  I'm not at liberty to discuss - yet.  ;) The days are getting longer and I am getting busier!  Amen.
 
To learn about the eggs: http://www.welovedaruma.com/en/about_daruma.html 
I also made something neat-- going on my ETSY page soon... 
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Do what you love & the rest will follow!
Believe
xox <>< 

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