Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Word Art Wednesday

Word Art Wednesday





Alas, I have no art to post for Word Art Wednesday this week as it has been a rough go health wise, and I haven't had the physical "power" to be working on art. However, I am honoured to have been selected to be a member of Cassandra's Word Art Wednesday's Design Team! I have been very careful to limit my "challenges" and responsibilities these days, and with Cassandra's sweet understanding and a determination to get things done in advance, I am delighted to participate. (It's just a three-month term.) There are very few things I feel like doing these days, but I know that even a little bit of dabbling with art helps me heal. Besides that, WAW is a simple but wonderful way to let God expand in me (a concept a friend introduced to me, and now I find others writing about) through contemplating His Word. 


Perhaps you'd like to join us!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Word Art Wednesday


I'm participating in Word Art Wednesday again -- 

I glued a piece of an old encyclopedia page on the library catalogue card and painted with water colour, then drew and wrote with marker (the page in the background is not attached -- it was just for the photo). 


I was inspired by this view from my hospital bed this morning. While there was no weeping last night (at least in my room), that's the verse that came to my mind while I watched the sunrise this morning. 


Word Art Wednesday

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Art for Helen

A few weeks ago, I created a piece of art for a terminally ill lady I met in the hospital, and my friend liked it so well she wished she had a copy of it. Well, she deserves more than a copy of something I made for someone else, so I painted a similar picture especially for her. I'm happier with it than the original she liked, so I hope she is even more pleased, too :) 


But I must tell you what an amateur I am! I thought I was painting with water colours. Half way through I realized I'd done the background with water colours and the woman with acrylics!!!! 



Monday, December 12, 2011

Hospital Art - yet another piece

Well, an unfortunate infection in my PICC line (which has since been removed) has landed me in the hospital yet again. This time, instead of lamenting the weight of my art-to-go kit, my dh encouraged me to bring it :) 


Interestingly enough, we both had some creative inspiration last week while we sat at this very hospital for an outpatient appointment. He imagined writing a symphony using the notes of an IV monitor alarm (I told him it might make me and other patients scream in horror. That sounds curdles my blood now ;) 


I envisioned a piece of art in which I was holding my husband's face, looking into his eyes, with the words of the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" written around the picture. At first I wondered if that was sacrilege. But then I realized that if we are to be Jesus to others, to let Him live through us, then it made absolute sense that I could look into my believing husband's eyes, the man who is Love to me, the one who meets my day-to-day needs in a real and physical way, and see Jesus. As if to confirm what I'd been thinking, the pastor spoke on Sunday about the times we pray for others. When we pray that Jesus meet the needs of our neighbour, we should be going out there and helping to meet the need. When we pray that He comfort someone in their loss, we should be offering them comfort ourselves. The Spirit of Jesus is in us, and we are His hands and feet . . . 


So this is the drawing I did based on my "vision." I really think I should stick to mixed-media collage, but maybe one day I'll learn how to draw ;)






Have you had any visions of art you'd like to create? Have you tried to make them real? How did they turn out?

Saturday, December 10, 2011

{this moment}

Participating in Amanda Soule's:



{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.




Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Word Art Wednesday

Word Art Wednesday

One of my new cyber friends, Cassandra, recently started a meme called Word Art Wednesday. The challenge is to create a piece of art that incorporates scripture or some encouraging text.  I've wanted to participate for a while, but haven't quite felt up to it physically. But this afternoon my DD14 asked me to come into the art room and be creative with her. That was an invitation I could not refuse (it was such a delightful one!). So we sat together and bounced ideas off of each other as we worked. 


Our family has been thinking a lot about Peace lately -- our need for it, and the too-oft feeling that it is lacking in our household. The reality is that it is not lacking because Peace is a Person -- Jesus --  who lives in us if we are followers of Christ. The problem is that we too often fail to let Him reign in our lives, for “the Lord of Peace Himself gives His peace at all times, and in every situation” (2 Thess. 3:16). We just need to claim it! (Often easier said than done, I know.)


So I created this little piece of art. I'm not super fond of the results, but at least I did something ;)



I have a stash of these library catalogue cards, and I was thinking they might make a good starting point for establishing a regular Word Art Wednesday creative effort. They're small enough to be fairly quick, but big enough to provide space for some artiness and text. 


While I created my little WAW piece, DD14 decorated headbands with feathers. Aren't they pretty? (I somehow missed photographing the third one on the head. Oh well!)





Perhaps you'd like to take up the Word Art Wednesday challenge, too?

Saturday, December 3, 2011

{this moment}

Participating in SouleMama's meme{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


{this moment}






Wednesday, November 30, 2011

One More Piece of Hospital Art

While having another chemo treatment, I hauled out my art supplies and started to play! (The nurses were full of questions about what I was doing -- and some showed me their latest projects ;) I started with a little canvas on which I had painted a picture I didn't like. At one point I decided that I'd like some of that picture to show through, so I sanded a few spots -- but I'd forgotten that I'd turned the canvas upside down because I thought the way the sewing patterns I'd glued on looked better that way :{ Oops! Some upside down tree branches in a sky on the ground :{ 


Anyway -- I wasn't sure I really liked the end result. 


But then I stuck it in an old frame I found in the basement, and I liked it better. 


I'm still not sure I'm fond of my lady -- especially her face -- but as usual, it simply felt good to be creative. It sure made the hours of chemo go by faster! I didn't even have time to finish the little project until I got home.



Have you done any creative therapy lately? 

The Virtues of a Vegetable Peeler

Sometimes we have to get creative with the tools we have on hand, don't we? We recently acquired a lovely Cradle to the Cross wreath, but the candles we purchased were too big. Nothing a trusty vegetable peeler couldn't change! I neglected to take a picture of the featured tool (I can assure you it wasn't my good Pampered Chef one!;) But here's a peek at what a peeler can do :)





That's not a pile of fake finger nails -- it's all the candle wax shavings ;)

Don't you just love the little wooden figure of Mary riding the donkey that moves through the wreath as we count down to Christmas? For lent, there is a figure of Jesus carrying the cross -- and two extensions for the wreath. 

Have you gotten creative with any tools lately?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Gratitude Challenge November 20 & AEDM

Today I'm giving thanks that I serve a God of miracles! Yesterday, the resident oncologist making rounds on the floor felt for the tumour that I had discovered just over a month ago (it was about the size of a grapefruit and very palpable) -- and she couldn't find it!!!! I felt around, and I couldn't find it either! So God is kicking this cancer in me -- the treatments are working and I'm feeling great! I don't know the status of my other tumours, but that one was huge, and now it's not! Hallelujah! 


Because my friend down the hall at our hospital "B&B" was recently diagnosed with cancer and also believes in miracles, I painted a little picture for her of an image that continues to stick with me (you'll see virtually the same concept in other work on my blog ;) You can't see the sea salt effect on the background, and I don't like the lettering on the word "miracles" --  I hope it blesses her a bit :) Of course, it will be accompanied by some gum -- a whole pack -- as she seems to enjoy that so much ;)





For what are you giving thanks today?





Saturday, November 19, 2011

Art Every Day - November 2011

My friend Sara sent me a link to some art ideas that were perfect for my art outlet while in the hospital. The links, in case you're interested, are here and here. As usual, they were more challenging than I anticipated and took much of the day (on and off) -- but art therapy is, well, therapeutic -- and I'm in here for healing! (BTW -- don't you love my sham and hand-painted silk pillow case? Such blessings of comfort and colour!) 








Gratitude Challenge November 19



Today I am thankful for the forced rest and relaxation I am getting because of my cancer. The hospital is not my first choice of venues for such R & R, but choosing to see it as a B & B, where I get to linger over coffee and a magazine with breakfast in bed, my every need is met by others, and the sun beams blessedly in my face for the better part of the day really helps me to appreciate the gift I'm receiving here. While even in this place where I can't "go go go" there don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do the little things I'd like to do (read this book, write that letter, try this art idea, watch that video), I have the freedom to decide what I want to do and when (except maybe shower -- I have to wait for a nurse to unplug me from my IV). Today, my mom visited, and while she read to me from the book I'm reading (cuz she likes the books I read :), I tried my hand at some art activities that my friend Sara sent to me. So I enjoyed Peace and productivity! ;) Even though I cannot sleep well (too many trips to the bathroom -- which is a good thing because it will mean I can go home sooner!), I am enjoying the quiet rest this environment affords. 


For what are you grateful today?

Friday, November 18, 2011

Art Every Day - November 18 - More Hospital Art

While I like to think of myself as an artist, I confess that I lack confidence to tackle any big project that requires any degree of skill. So Kathy Barbro's blog Art Projects for Kids often inspires me with simple projects for my children -- and for me. Last night she posted about a Kandinsky Water Colour activity, and I decided it would be a perfect hospital project for me, especially since it would be fun to make another variation of our Family Art Day Project a couple of years ago. 


I didn't have crayons in my Art to Go kit, but I figured oil pastels would have the same resist effect with the water colours. With this Kandinsky painting in front of me, I spent a good deal of time painstakingly painting in my circles, only to decide I didn't like the neat lines and controlled colours. (I wish I'd taken a picture, though, to compare! You'll have to use your imagination.) So I put random blobs of watery paint all over the page and held the paper vertically, letting the paint drip and wander where it willed, bumping into the oil barriers of the pastel lines, and running in different directions. Call me crazy, but I like the effect much better! It is somehow more unified and interesting. 







It got me thinking about my tastes in art. Would I be drawn to this kind of art to decorate my home? Mmmmm. Not so much. But I like it! And I think I like it because I look at it and think, "I could do that!" And I like the random, funky nature of it. I think I'm becoming random and funky in my old age! (I hear someone saying, "You mean crazy!" ;)


I also found myself wondering, "What's the point?" It's not like I would frame this and hang it on my wall (except maybe in our art room, where few people go. I'm more likely to recycle it and use it as a background for something else). But I remind myself -- it's the process, not the product. Some people might feel like doing this kind of art is a waste of time. But I do believe in the healing power of art and creativity. 


And since I need to heal, and it's fun, I think I'll ignore the voice in my head that says I could find other ways to be more productive. I can't remember who it was that recently reminded me (in a blog post) that Peace is more important than productivity in any given day. 


So I will pursue Peace. And letting the Spirit inspire me to be creative is one way I can do that. (Just rediscovering an old book by Brenda Ueland called, If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit. In a letter to her friend, poet Carl Sandburg, she said it was actually "a book about the Holy Spirit." That interests me! I don't know much about either of them, but since I already own the book from years ago, I thought I'd see what she has to say.)


Do you agree that Peace is more important than productivity? If so, how do you pursue Peace?

Gratitude Challenge November 18


Today I'm thankful for little luxuries that make my life more comfortable right where I'm at . . . the beautiful bedspread on my hospital bed (thank you again, Susan!) . . . packs of gum to get rid of the bad taste in my mouth . . . lip balm . . . my cozy shawl (thank you again, Helen!) . . . toilet tissue from home (seriously -- it makes a difference!) . . . yellow curtains that reflect and magnify the sunshine . . . my computer . . . my Art-to-Go case . . . books and magazines to read . . . music to soothe the soul . . . little gold slippers given to me by my daughter . . . a book light . . . a lamp with an incandescent bulb . . . natural skin moisturizers . . . an IV pump chord that reaches all the way to the bathroom . . . so many little luxuries . . .





For what are you thankful today?






Thursday, November 17, 2011

Blair's Balanced Boost Juice

When juicing vegetables, it's easy to get one vegetable standing out in strength of flavour, which isn't always very palatable -- especially if you don't follow a recipe. My DH did some juicing for me at lunch time today, and he managed to concoct a perfectly balanced juice blend that I really enjoyed! The vegetables in it are good for boosting the immune system and energy -- hence the name I gave it ;) 


Blair's Balanced Boost Juice


3 carrots
2 apples
2 tbsp. pomegranate seeds 
1 beet with greens
1 clove garlic


Juice all in an electric juicer, stir, and enjoy!


Let me know if you try it :)


Do you have any favourite juice recipes you could share?

Gratitude Challenge November 16-17



November 16 - I'm grateful for the Awana program and the tool it provides for teaching my children to hide God's Word in their hearts. I'm also grateful for all the volunteers that run the programs in so many churches internationally -- but especially at the one where our littles attend. 


November 17 - Today I am extremely thankful for the team of ladies up in my bedroom as I write. They are blessing me with a room make-over!!!! I can't wait, can't wait, can't wait to enjoy the haven of rest being created up there! I have no before pictures (just trust me -- it was an ugly catch-all room with 10 year-old builder's white paint on the walls) -- but I will post pictures when it is all done :)


For what are you thankful today?

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