CUSTOM FIT

It's been a while since I made a journal page, but frankly it just wasn't happening. Then it did. As many of you know if you follow my blog, I have been dealing with health issues that have affected my way of thinking. I feel that I am moving past some of the anger that I didn't even realize was anger, and am beginning to accept things better, and try to make things work best for me......a customizing, er, let's say, just some tweeking. Probably a few more tweeks yet, and I might just get to that custom fit.
I made this double spread out of a practice portrait drawing from Suzi Blu's class in Jan. I found my perfect words on some old dress patterns, I just love the color of pattern tissue, and the transparency creates such a mood for me.
I always have a bird with me, or in my thoughts, and I created the texture with Golden's molding paste and some foam stamps impressed in it, then a wash of light color. I have not been feeling like a lot of color these days, lightness, subtlety, and calmness appeal to me....a feeling toward peace....it makes me feel comfortable.
Thanks for visiting as always. I deeply appreciate it.

I AM BLESSED

I wanted to share with you some amazing gifts from some amazing blog friends of mine. The top 2 photos are wonderful jewelry components and earrings that I adore from Renate of Put A Little Magic in Your Life. Renate is a wonderful friend and an incredible artist.
She also sent me the beautiful family of birds, and the chandelier ornament with the birds shining through.....just gorgeous.
The 3rd and 4th photos are of an incredible piece of mail art from one of my swap partners, Astrid....you can visit her amazing talents here. I was blown away to see she had sent me my zetti doll for a swap in this amazing envelope she had made out of a bubble envelope. It is something, it feels quilted, and it has loads of beautiful papers, stampings, and do dads.
The bottom photo is a pic of a gorgeous handmade card sent to me as an RAK made by Marilyn Rock. I am guessing that the cute bird is a hand carved stamp that Marilyn has been delving into, she stamped on the envelope...love it!~ The gorgeous leaf pendants and beads are gifts I won from the extremely talented Nan of Spirit Rattles.. her style is perfect to me, simply stated and organic....beautiful.
I am at a loss for words to tell you what these beautiful people and their actions all mean to me,
they make me appreciate everything in my life. All I really need are the connections and the words, and I have been given pieces of their souls. I am blessed, by all of you that I connect with here. Thank you so much.

THE MOON

This is a postcard created for my swap group, the theme being the moon. I also used my favorite quote, and some handmade papers sent to me in a paper exchange earlier in the year.

Happy weekend to all....and be creative!

LOVE

This is a recent bracelet I made...simple, clean, and the weight of 12 gauge on your wrist feels good.

You can buy it here. Thanks for visiting and looking. And thanks for all of your kind words.

FINDING SERENITY

click on the picture for a closer look

As many of you know, I have been struggling with health issues, and the unknown, and now, the almost known I will say. I have an autoimmune disorder, that is "similar", but yet different, like a "cousin" my doc says, to Guillain Barre syndrome. The protective covering of my nerve ends, known as myelin, is or has deteriorated , leaving me with damaged nerves, resulting in the pain and weakness I have mostly in my feet and legs. It also explains my feeling exhausted a lot of the time. So , I feel better knowing something, although there are still more tests, and this diagnosis is open to change yet, but I feel better after a year of struggle that I am heading in the right direction, and have such a fantastic doctor who is helping me. Treatment for this would be plasmapharesis, a process of filtering my blood, but we are waiting a bit for some more information. I still hold a lot of fear, I have many many unanswered questions, but for now, I am coming to terms, and do realize that are many people worse than I am, and I am thankful for everything I have. I think most of all I am happy that finally I know I am not going crazy. Thank you all again for hanging in there with me.
I have felt very unmotivated to say the least the last 2 weeks, but today I felt like fabric. Since I made a few fabric pieces a while ago.....here.....I have always wanted to continue, but somehow got sidetracked. Today I listened to what I wanted to do.....and this is what I made. I had dyed the cheesecloth a while ago, I just love that pale blue color. I layered over that a transfer of a rose I made on coffee stained muslin, and in between is a beautiful green, brown fabric from Lorraine of Creative Daily, she makes the most beautiful fabric pieces ever! I stitched on some red sari silk, and the quote stamped piece of muslin also, vintage buttons, coffe dyed lace, and some red faceted czech glass beads. I was thinking about opening another etsy shop for work I make like this....tell me what you think please.
Look for a giveaway here soon, I am so thankful for all of you in my life!

VERACITY

This ATC is the only thing I managed to do all week, although I was pleased with it. It's been a long week of stress and a mental roller coaster. I have found out that I have an autoimmune disorder. There is still a lot to be done, as far as tests and results., and course of treatment. I feel better knowing what I am dealing with, the not knowing is worse. I will be okay, It may be difficult, and right now, things may change, but I am and always will be creative! I will share more with all of you in the days to come, I still am feeling overwhelmed and having a hard time processing something I am trying to understand myself.
Thank you all my friends for your tremendous support, and caring, and very uplifting comments that have made my heart sing! I am forever grateful for all of your friendships. I hope to catch up with everyone's blog's this long weekend, but first I have to go and put in a half a day of work...and a nice long nap!
Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend, and thanks for peeking in on me and my art!

WOVEN

available on etsy here

Everyday I realize more and more how woven together we are. Everyday I realize how my life is interwoven in everything I make, everyone I talk to, everyone I touch somehow, and I am grateful.

As always, thank you.