Accepting the here and now

For years I have tried to control my life and those around me and much to my demise I have discovered that the more I fought it, the unhappier, anxious and depressed I became. So, what to do?
I'm handing it up to God, the Universe, the Higher Power and allowing Him to take the lead. I've learned something.....I'M NOT THE BOSS!! As a girl and now a woman, we were taught that the mother is the one who takes care of the children, does the housework, grocery shopping, cooking, gardening and loves her husband! That was then, this is now, which now includes (in most homes) a job outside the house. I don't know about you but to me this sounds to the title of a BOSS. Right?
I am accepting that I can only take care of myself and GUIDE those around me. They in turn have a choice which takes the responsibility off my shoulders and ultimately leads me to a less stressful life. Rather than putting up the pessimistic roadblocks I am learning to observe the positive attributes of the polars.
Swimming upstream all my life has been exhausting. I could never enjoy what was set before me because I was so domineering. Letting go, accepting the past and present, and allowing God, the Universe, or Higher Power to take the reigns is exhilarating.
I'm accepting change in my life. And now I must embrace it!
As always, thanks for reading!

Choosing the Glass Half Full

Anyone that knows me (especially my family) will tell you that if there is a way to create a crisis or concern out of a situation that I am the president of the club. I over-think the possibilities and build upon that. I expect the worst in every scenario and soon my bruised and scarred soul becomes weak.

I've been reminded (by my husband) that we have choices. God gave us the greatest gift....the gift of will. In every case we have a choice how to react. I can choose to worry and fret about my children or the world economic crisis.But will my uneasiness solve any of the problems? If anything it could end up being a self-fulfilling prophecy.

At least for today I will choose to take the glass that is half full, count my blessings (actually jotting them down would be a good visual) and hand my struggles (real or prematurely fabricated) to God. It would be such a delight to wake up each morning sit with a cup or two of coffee, read an inspiration and move on to the studio knowing that God (the Divine, Higher Power, etc.) will be taking care of all my perplexities.

For today, raise your half full glass of joy and do what makes you happy!

As always.....thanks for reading!

A Time To Breathe

Though I should be at my drawing table working on my entry piece for the CPSA International Competition, I find myself aimlessly wondering around the house cleaning, organizing or just anything else in order to keep my mind off my son who is in Army basic for 16 weeks.

Don't get me wrong, my art has always been my therapy and has been able to calm my nerves. But this time I can't seem to think about anything but wondering how my son is doing. He hasn't been able to call except to quickly let us know that he arrived and he wrote saying that it will be at least another three weeks before we can talk on the phone. (It has already been two.)

I realize that at the end of 16 weeks he will come home a respectable, honorable and grown man but not being able to see or talk to someone that you have raised for 18 years is painful right now.

Therefore, if my readers don't mind, I may occasionally be posting some insightful thoughts from a book that has been by my side for the last two weeks. It's called Simple Abundance "a day book of comfort and joy" by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

Most women read for pleasure or to gain knowledge about raising children, improving relationships and finances. I have found comfort in reading daily inspirations. I find refuge and temporary shelter for my soul from the everyday discord. Relief is another expression that rises when I read similar feelings coming from other women authors.

The book concentrates on the journey within yourself. Happiness is not found in external possessions but within yourself. It is based upon six principles: gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty and joy.

Order stood out this week as it probably will for the next few weeks preparing for taxes and preparing the kitchen for painting. I have no control over my children (though a mother likes to believe so) nor do I have control in anything outside my life. Anxiety is my middle name. I need to have some type of control in my life. I don't know a female friend of mine that can think clearly with a sink full of dirty dishes, an empty refrigerator, piles of dirty laundry and a cluttered desktop.

So to clear my mind I'll be cleaning house and when I'm emotionally drained I'll be back to painting.

I wish you all simple lives and as always thanks for reading!

Question For My Readers

I have received many inquiries about the carousel that my husband made for me. Most of which were... could my husband make them one. Now my question....how much would an artist pay for it? We have totaled the costs of supplies, but hours of labor are more than one would care to pay for. So minus the pencils and printed labels how much is it worth to you? I will not be offended by any price. I realize that by asking for opinions that I am opening myself to criticism. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions.

Thanks for reading!

Color Pencil Carousel

Ten years ago my husband made me a lazy susan color pencil holder similar to the one in the Color Pencil Solution Book by Gildow & Newton. I continuously use it and since I have recently added some new brands of color pencil I had asked my husband to build me a second one with a few additions.

As you can see the carousel is two levels high and spin separate from each other. I work with solvents and asked that he drill out spaces for the containers. I have the woodless pencils and realized just how fragile they are. I put them in my original lazy susan pencil holders (sharpened end straight up) and accidentally (ever so lightly) grazed the top of the pencil and it snapped! I knew right away they were not going to last if I were to store them as my Prismas. That is why I had my husband route out indented trays on the bottom level of the carousel.

I also learned how to be patient with Micro Excel on the computer and was able to create professional looking labels which I can slide out anytime I need to.

If you look really close toward the center of the holder you'll see what looks like smaller pencils. They are actually wooden dowel rods that I made to look like colored pencils and are glued into the carousel. The last hole of each spoke is drilled all the way through and is slipped onto the color pencil dowel rod. We have made several spokes for each brand of color pencils that I have, so they can be changed out easily.

It has taken about a month to make this but now that he has the correct tools and design he is hoping that it should be fairly easy to make another.

Sometimes I think I get more excited about the new toys for my color pencil than I do about the drawing. I must admit though, it makes the process a lot more fun!

Ready, Set, Draw!

After hearing only good things about the Caran D'ache Pablo color pencils I had to see for myself what is so wonderful about these pencils.

They are more expensive than my Prismacolors but I decided to loosen the purse strings and go for it. My order arrived on Tuesday and I was floating on air when I opened the set! The gorgeous rainbow of colors, perfectly sharpened and in order! I felt my O.C.D. kick in before I reached out to slowly move my fingers along the tray and stopped. I had to take a photo! Once I began to draw this tin box would never be the same. Okay.......enough about this compulsion.

These pencils draw like butter! I haven't come close to any pencil in comparison to the Prismacolors and I have to say that the Pablos are there....minus the price. As I get further on my drawing I'll let you know how the color choices are.

Until then, happy drawing and as always thanks for reading.

Trash to Treasure, The Final Project

Well I finally finished my rainbow storage bin, labels and all. It fits perfectly on top of my flat files and there's still plenty of unused drawers to fill! The flat files were purchased from an office that was going out of business last winter. My husband and I went to the sale and found them in the usual gray color with quite a few scrapes and scratches all over it. Because my studio faces the north side and is quite small I wanted the room to be as light as possible, the furniture as well. I painted the walls in a cameo white and painted the flat files white. My husband made a laminate top for it so it would bare weight more evenly.

So the room is complete with the exception of creating another color pencil lazy susan. It's still in the planning stages but will be posted. I promise.

Now that the "nesting" process is winding down, I'm preparing for the hibernation in my studio for the fall and winter months to come. I've been adding more nature photos to my inventory and am hoping I'll have a few nice ones to keep me busy for the next several months.