Friday, October 3, 2014

Women and Heart Attacks

Several years ago, I was on my way to work and on this particular morning I was in a really good mood. Maybe because it was Valentine's Day, I don't know. I would catch the bus every morning, because I literally lived down the street from my job. As I was walking, I felt a sudden pain in my jaw, and I remember thinking, what the heck is this? because it was pretty severe, but I kept walking and as I was standing there waiting on the bus, I started to gag. The bus came, I got on, but I'm not feeling to good. I questioned myself, wondering if I was having a heart attack. I ran down the symptoms in my head one by one and I didn't have any of them. No chest tightness, no clamminess, no arm pain, nothing, just the jaw pain.

I got off the bus and headed for my job and I didn't think I was going to make it, but to God be the glory, our security guard was there early. He met me in the parking lot, unlocked the door and helped me to my office. At this point, I knew something was wrong and I asked him to call 911. He sat there with me until the paramedics arrived, did I mentioned I passed the hospital by bus and wondered if I should have gotten off and walked? When I think back, I know, I would have never made it. I had never been in an ambulance before, so that, in itself was a little scary.

Now...I'm starting to feel some chest discomfort. An EKG was done as soon as they rolled me into emergency and what felt like less than a minute later the doctor told me I was having a heart attack. I can't put into words the emotions you feel. All of sudden everyone was moving, no one is talking to me, just movement. I asked if I was dying...no one answered. Within minutes, I was wheeled out of the emergency and taken to cardiology. They told me I was going to be feeling better soon, they were waiting on the doctor to arrive and that I needed to have a stint. Within 30 minutes of arriving at the hospital the procedure was complete. It's been close to 5 years ago, since I had the heart attack and believe me when I say, God has truly been good to me!

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Road To Radiance! Day Eight

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Class starts tomorrow...way to excited!

Today is Day Eight of  a nine day series leading up to Radiant Faces' Opening Day on October 1st! Every day of our Nine Days will include a chance to win one of three free seats in the class, so keep coming back! Yesterday, I introduced you to Dina Wakely! On Day Six, we met Jamie Dougherty. On Day Five, we met Kylie Fowler! On Day Four, we met Julie Gibbons. On Day Three, we met Christy Tomlinson. On Day Two, we met Tamara Laporte, and on Day One, I introduced you to  Jane Davenport!

Today, I want to introduce you to Joanne Sharpe!

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What I love about Joanne's work is that it is incredibly vibrant and full of detail, yet if you've taken any of her classes, you know how simple it is to emulate. Joanne's teaching style is concise and meaty and every lesson she provides, while it might seem short, is jam packed with practical tips and tricks for creating your own doodle creations! Joanne is my top doodle mentor and I have learned so much from her classes - especially in the area of lettering.
Joanne will be walking us through the creation of a doodle girl like the one shown above. She will be tackling the expression of the Inner Artist with a class I like to think of as 'dessert' because it comes at the very end of our collection of nine artists and because it is short, sweet and perfectly doable.
Joanne's lesson will go live on October 1st with all the rest, and I will be providing my interpretation of her lesson on November 28th!

Here is Joanne's Bio

Screen Shot 2014-09-30 at 9.52.26 AM “Whimsical art maker” and best selling author, Joanne Sharpe is a colorful mixed media artist and enthusiastic teacher with creative savvy in art journaling, doodling and illustration. She is well known for her signature style of distinctive  hand lettering and love of bright, bold colors. Whether teaching with paper and pens, paints or a sewing machine, Joanne encourages others to nurture their own personal creativity and artistic expression.
Her brand new book “The Art of Whimsical Lettering” from Interweave has gone gang busters in the mixed media, craft and hobby category. Experience Joanne’s playful art, high energy, and masterful art making techniques in several online classes or live workshops and retreats nationwide.
Mom of four “twenty-something” kids, a golden retriever, a shih tzu and sibling Bengal cats, Joanne and husband Tom reside in a sleepy little suburb of Rochester, New York, between the two snowiest cities in the United States.

Monday, September 29, 2014

The Road To Radiance! Day Seven

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Day Seven y'all

Today is day seven of  a nine day series leading up to Radiant Faces' Opening Day on October 1st! Every day of our Nine Days will include a chance to win one of three free seats in the class, so keep coming back! Yesterday, I introduced you to Jamie Dougherty. On day five, we met Kylie Fowler! On Day Four, we met Julie Gibbons. On Day Three, we met Christy Tomlinson. On Day Two, we met Tamara Laporte, and on Day One, I introduced you to  Jane Davenport!

Today, I want to introduce you to Dina Wakely

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What I love about Dina's work is that she demonstrates working *quickly* and simply with results that look anything but simple. Her portraits are extremely expressive, full of emotion, and once you've been walked through how to make them as I was during a live class last year, deceptively easy to create.
Dina will be walking us through the creation of a portrait that will allow us to express our inner Stranger. She says "I think if you accept yourself, as you are, you will love all of you. Even the parts yet to be revealed. Even the parts that are frustrating. Even the parts that are imperfect. Accept yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be your own hero. If you don't, who will?"
Dina's class will go live on October 1st with all the rest, and my interpration of her lesson will appear in our classroom on November 21st.

Here's Dina's Bio

Dina Wakley sm 2Dina Wakley is a mixed-media artist and teacher. She loves everything about art: creating it, thinking about it, looking at it, and teaching it. She lives in sunny Arizona with her husband and three boys. Dina’s work has been published in many magazines and books.
Dina is passionate about teaching art. She teaches both in-person and online workshops. She is a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum, where she gives tours to school groups and gets kids excited about art.
In partnership with Ranger Ink, Dina designed a line of mixed-media art supplies that includes acrylic paints, mediums, brushes, rubber stamps, and stencils. Look for the Dina Wakley Media Line by Ranger at a store near you.


Sunday, September 28, 2014

The Road To Radiance! Day Six!

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I love this painting...so cool!

Today is day six of  a nine day series leading up to Radiant Faces' Opening Day on October 1st! Every day of our Nine Days will include a chance to win one of three free seats in the class, so keep coming back! Yesterday, I introduced you to Kylie Fowler! On Day Four, we met Julie Gibbons. On Day Three, we met Christy Tomlinson. On Day Two, we met Tamara Laporte, and on Day One, I introduced you to  Jane Davenport!

Today, I want to introduce you to Jamie Dougherty!

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What I love about Jamie's work is her use of 3D elements to create beautiful portraits that leap off the substrate. I took her class, Bloom Girls, and I absolutely loved her instruction style.
Jamie will be walking us through the creation of a portrait of our Inner Dreamer. She says "We all have dreams, some big, some small but all of them matter. We spend minutes and sometimes hours throughout the day dreaming, thinking of ways we can better ourselves or our situation. Sometimes we find ourselves so lost in our aspirations to make those dreams happen, that we let our dreams slip away. Don’t let life bury them down deep amongst the everyday craziness––you might not be able to reach them! Hold onto the hope that one day your dreams will come true."
Jamie's class will go live on October 1st with all the rest, and I will be offering up my interpretation of her lesson on November 14th!

Here Is Jamie's Bio

Screen Shot 2014-09-28 at 12.00.05 PMJamie Dougherty is a self taught artist, author, and Mixed media instructor. She has been creating art for over fifteen years and has recently created her own signature line with Prima Marketing Inc. Jamie enjoys teaching and does everything she can to inspire and encourage others in pursuing their dreams––art is meant to be shared. Jamie lives in southern California with her husband and two beautiful kids.
You can find her website here.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

The Road To Radiance! Day Five

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Check it out...another great artist!

Today is day five of  a nine day series leading up to Radiant Faces' Opening Day on October 1st! Every day of our Nine Days will include a chance to win one of three free seats in the class, so keep coming back! Yesterday, I introduced you to Julie Gibbons. On Day Three, we met Christy Tomlinson. On Day Two, we met Tamara Laporte, and on Day One, I introduced you to  Jane Davenport!

Today, I want to introduce you to Kylie Fowler

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What I love about Kylie's work (especially her paint over self-portraits) is that it gives me an opportunity to see myself reflected back from the page in a way I might never otherwise see myself. Some of my major milestones over the last year have been memorialized in my journal using Kylie's paint over methods because I love it *that much*.
Kylie will be walking us through the creation of a portrait of our Inner Watcher. She says ""The Watcher is somebody who can be objective and look on at you with great support and unconditional love - someone very like a cheerleader..." She will also be demonstrating a character trait that I am a huge fan of: Perseverance. Like me, Kylie believes in pushing through when things aren't going quite as planned, and as a result, her lesson takes us through several transformations as we learn to deal with mistakes and make the best of them.
Kylie's lesson will go live on October 1st with all the rest, and my interpretation of her lesson will appear on November 7th!

Here's Kylie's Bio

Screen Shot 2014-09-27 at 10.29.26 AMWorking in a variety of styles, using various media, Kylie Fowler is a portrait and mixed media artist, illustrator and art instructor, with a fascination with the face, particularly the eyes.  The old adage ‘The eyes are the windows to the soul’ certainly resonates with Kylie, as her level of connectedness to each artwork is determined by the eyes.
In addition to selling her artwork in her online shop, ‘Blissful Pumpkin’ Kylie also keeps busy with commissions, both in portraiture and whimsical mixed media, and is in the planning stages of establishing her own online classes, and upcoming collaborative classes, all of which will be shared in due course.

Friday, September 26, 2014

The Road To Radiance! Day Four!

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Day Four: If you have been thinking about taking an online art course or interested in learning mixed media art...this is the class! Just think of all that you will be learning from some of the top mixed media artist...you truly can't go wrong!

Today is day four of  a nine day series leading up to Radiant Faces' Opening Day on October 1st! Every day of our Nine Days will include a chance to win one of three free seats in the class, so keep coming back! Yesterday, I introduced you to Christy Tomlinson. On Day Two, we met Tamara Laporte, and on Day One, I introduced you to  Jane Davenport!

Today, I want to introduce you to Julie Gibbons!

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What I love about Julie's work is that it is steeped in the feminine divine. Everything I see her create (Mandalas most especially) virtually vibrate with the energy of a feminine cosmology. I feel my own divinity rise to meet the images she creates! I love the thoroughness of her classes as well. Everything she teaches comes with so much information and so many jumping off points that inspiration is inevitable! And this is completely beside the point, but I could listen to her talk for hours. That accent of hers is music to my ears!
Julie will be teaching a class that will allow us to express our inner goddess. She says "Today, the goddess that I am inviting you to work with in this workshop is very much more than a single deity and certainly more than a great beauty - She is the symbol for that great archetype, the feminine divine Herself."
Julie's lesson will go live on October 1st with all the rest, and I will be interpreting her lesson for you on October 31, which is also Samhain (or what you know as Halloween)! How apropos!!

Here's Julie's Bio

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Hello creative friend. I’m Julie Gibbons : artful self-discovery guide. What that really means isthat I share artful techniques to help women invoke the creative magic they need to discover their whole, true and best self. I combine art and journal therapy with the psychology of self to tap into soul wisdom and experience personal growth, healing and transformation and am a wee bit obsessed by mandala magic!
I’m based in bonnie Scotland and work from home alongside my internet entrepreneurbhusband and free-range, home-educated teenage son.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

The Road To Radiance! Day Three

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Christy Tomlinson is one of my all time favorite mixed media artist, I've taken several of her classes and I've learned tons of information and techniques!

Today is day three of  a nine day series leading up to Radiant Faces' Opening Day on October 1st! Every day of our Nine Days will include a chance to win one of three free seats in the class, so keep coming back! Yesterday, I introduced you to Tamara Laporte, and on Day One, I introduced you to  Jane Davenport!

Today, I want to introduce you to Christy Tomlinson!

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What I love about Christy's work is that a) learning from her really helped me master background making and b) her faces have a universal quality to them that really rocks my socks. When I first took her She Art classes, she was painting girls with no facial features and there was something about those deliciously open faces that was perfect for me at the time. Since that time, Christy has been teaching faces with features like the one you see above. Isn't she infinitely feminine, soft, and evocative? Christy also has some great tips in her classes for creating and keeping inspiration files that I've appreciated very much as her student.
Christy will be teaching us how to paint and connect with our inner 'girly girly'. She tells us she's not much of a girly girly, but something of that quality really comes through in her paintings.
Christy's class will go live on October 1st with all the rest, and my interpretation of her class will go live on October 24th!

Here's Christy's Bio:

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I am a self taught mixed media artist who isn’t afraid to get my hands messy and let my heart be open.  Over the past couple of years I have been blessed to travel and teach all over the world, including the United states, Europe, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and more. I also love teaching online full-time and offer over 15 online workshops currently.. in all styles of art.. mixed media, sewing, jewelry, watercolor. I love mixing mediums to create unique projects!
We also host week long art retreats in my home, called our She Matters Retreats, where guest stay in my home and are pampered all week by my husband’s amazing cooking and we create art and make memories and it’s a magical time!
Besides teaching online and in person, my husband and I also have an online mixed media store, Scarlet Lime, where we sell all sorts of fun mixed media and unique products to create with. We have a monthly mixed media kit club as well as a monthly video Art Society Club.. which keeps us busy full time!
Besides work.. (which I consider fun ).. we also have 6 amazing kids. Five boys and one girl ranging in age from 18-9. I am BEYOND blessed to be able to stay home with my husband each day and work and raise our kids in a small town with good family values and strong faith in Jesus Christ.  I love to snowboard, read good books, surf, spend time with my kids and dear friends. I LOVE creating in all ways.. I live a blessed life and am so grateful for this life God has given me!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Radiant Faces - Day Two

The second teacher to be introduced for the upcoming Radiant Faces class is Tamara Laporte. I've taken her Life Lessons (2013) year long class and, in fact, that class taught me so much about mixed media. I am telling you, if you are interested in learning how to draw/paint faces, check into this class!
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Here's Tam's Bio:

check out her website over here: www.willowing.org
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Tamara Laporte (also known as willowing) is a mixed media artist, illustrator and online art teacher who loves avocados, kindness and making a wonderful artsy mess on her desk. Her work can be described as “mixed media folk art”. It ranges from whimsical children’s illustrations to a more stylised fantasy art. Love, mystery, innocence, hope, spirituality, kindness and self-connection inspires her art work. Her paintings often contain healing themes, uplifting messages and inspirational poetry. She believes that the act of creating art can be a catalyst for healing and personal growth – often, her art classes contain an element of self-development as well as learning art techniques.
She is deeply passionate about helping people find their inner muse and would love to help YOU too to get in touch with the artist in you!
She is also a prolific art journaller and creates stuffed toys and art dolls when she has the time. More recently, she’s started dabbling in the world of digital creations and has come to enjoy making paintings in Photoshop with a wacom tablet as well. Her work and articles have been published in several art magazines and books. She is based in Brighton in the UK with her lovely husband Andy and her 2 magical children Dylan & Elliot. She’s been teaching online art workshops since 2008 on her ning network which at present has over 15400+ members and grows with about 150-200 mixed media enthusiasts a month!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Radiant Faces On-line Class

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Radiant: FacesI am so EXCITED about this online class that will be starting on October 1, 2014. Nine different instructors starting with Jane Davenport. If ever, you've wanted to take an on-line mixed media art class on how to draw faces this is the one!

Here's Jane's Bio

Jane ‘Danger’ Davenport is a professional Artist, prize-winning author and her artwork is featured in magazines, books, movies and her own stationery range. Jane designs signature art products for Artistcellar and Peerless watercolors, hosts ‘Escape Artist’ retreats around the world and her first Mixed Media book will be released with Quarry on Jan 1st, 2015
Danger is a popular workshop leader and her online Art School is home to thousands of creatives from all around the world. You can find her at http://janedavenport.com
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Saturday, September 20, 2014

A New Friend

We recently moved to the south and I have to tell you I love it!

Well...we live in an area that is a fairly new subdivision and our house is at the end of the street, next to us, as many of you know, is a cow pasture.

Anyway...yesterday, I was on the computer in my art studio, when I heard something at the front door. I listened and I thought oh...its just someone putting some type of flier on the door. Well...I waited for it to stop and it didn't, so now my heart is starting to beat a little faster, because it doesn't take anyone that long to put something on the door. I looked out the window and I don't see anyone, but the noise at the door is getting louder and its really starting to get me rattled. So...I tiptoe over to the door and OMG it's as if they are trying to break the door down...I'm in FULL PANIC mode now and I scream out "Can I help you?" thinking maybe they'll leave, if they know someone is at home. The noise stops for a minute, and then, it feels, as if, they are moving with an urgency. My heart is beating so fast I can hardly move and I'm thinking, what to do, what to do! At that moment...logic was going out the window...instead of calling 911...I decided call my neighbor, my hands are shaking so bad I can hardly hold the phone and I'm trying to find her number. Now keep in mind, I am still hearing the noise at the front door. I told her, I'm coming out the back door because our yards connect and by the time I get out there, she is in the front and she said to me, "I don't see anybody" but I did see a squirrel run off your porch. Is that possible? Could a squirrel make all of that noise?

OMG!!! As I am sitting here writing this... I am not kidding, the noise is at my front door again. And although I know it may be a squirrel, why am I shaking? Okay...I'm going to open the door and look out...and there he was, big as day...a dark gray squirrel with a big ole bushy tail. Almost caused me to have a heart attack, I tried to get a picture of him, but he decided to run off. I'm sure he'll be back and I'll be ready for him...Coming soon...

Friday, August 29, 2014

Bible Journaling 

A few days ago, I was on Stephanie Ackerman's  http://www.homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/ blog and she was talking about how she landed on this particular blog http://shannanoel.blogspot.com/  all about Bible journaling...CREATIVE Bible journaling. I was so excited, I didn't know it was such a thing, I couldn't wait to get started. I ordered my Bible from http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Standard-Journaling and anxiously waited on it to get here. I got it yesterday!!! And then, for some unknown reason, I was a little intimidated about starting. So, I finally talk myself into it and instantly didn't like the page I had done. I had to remember that in everything we do, there is a lesson to be learned, I think my lesson was, it's wasn't about the artwork I had done, but about getting into the Word of God and drawing closer to Him. Check out their Facebook page "Bible Journaling Community" I love what is happening and some absolutely beautiful, creative pages.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Joel Osteen Ministries
44 mins ·
Just because you’re a person of faith doesn’t exempt you from difficulties. The enemy may hit you with his best shot, but because your house is built on the rock, his best will never be enough. When the storm is over, you’ll come out stronger, increased, promoted, better off than you were before.


My friend sent me a message about this statement from Joel Osteen. She stated it reminded her of my artwork. I love it! It's confirmation, because that's exactly what I'm hoping to accomplish.

Friday, August 15, 2014

I was talking to my daughter the other day and she made the statement that a lot of the girls on my painting look depressed/sad. And I thought about that for awhile and came to the realization, that may very well be true. When we relocated to Alabama a couple of years ago, it was a very sad and difficult time for me, and I had started dabbling with paints again. I knew I wanted to do something that would minister and encourage women, to let them know they are not by themselves, what we feel is very real. I believe healing and encouragement comes in all different ways. We are taught to dig deep within when we paint, to paint our emotions, to just let ourselves go. Well, I have to share this, today when I was painting, I let go and before I knew it, I had scribbled all across her face...hmmm...I wonder what that means. I was going to start over, but the more I look at it the more I like it. I'll be sharing that painting soon. Just remember to "do one thing every day that makes you happy!"

Friday, August 8, 2014


Oh yeah...I wanted to share a couple of my latest painting, available on my Etsy Shop.
I keep checking my blog as if something exciting has happened. Don't know what it is, I guess it's just of matter of when...I'll keep you updated! I can't wait.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Grand Opening "The ARTery" Art Gallery




Can you believe? My painting in an art gallery!!!! This was the most exciting thing to happen in my life in a long time. I never dreamed my art would actually one day be in a gallery, are you kidding me! I was so excited opening night that I could hardly stand still and I tried to stay away from my area, because I didn't want to see people's reaction. So my daughter and I stood over to the side a little bit and was AMAZED, people were buying my paintings...OMG!!! People approached and asked if I was the artist and what inspired me to paint, it was a night of a lifetime! I thank God for blessing me with a gift that brings healing and joy to others. If you are ever in the Huntsville's area stop by The ARTery!

Monday, May 12, 2014


Did you know that today is Florence Nightengale's birthday? She was the founder of modern nursing and coincidentally today is the last day of Nurses Appreciation week. Here's a great gift idea for the new nurse just graduating or for a long time nurse...show your appreciation with the Nurse's Prayer. Prints available of my Etsy site.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Discipline!

I am committed to blogging several times a week!
So here we go... its 2014 and the beginning of a new journey. I've started this over and over again, trying to find the right thing to write about. I've procrastinated, I've tried to use self-discipline (there's that word) and the outcome has pretty much been the same. I'm bouncing all over the place like a ping pong ball!

I lived in Arizona for over 30 years, in the hot, hot, hot desert. Where in the summer time it is 100 degrees when you get up, rose to 112 during the day, and back to 100 at night. I always felt we had two seasons, summer and spring.

I said all that to say, a few years ago, my word for the year was faith. Well after faith, I thought journey would be a good word and found myself relocating to Alabama without a whole lot of planning. I literally took a journey based on faith. And I ended in a sub division with some of the coolest neighbors, this guy lives to the left of me.

Monday, January 27, 2014

My Word for 2014

Several years ago, I remember finding Ali Edwards website and reading about "One Little Word," and how all these people was picking a word for the year and I thought "how cool" is that! I think I'm going to pick a word too and my word is going to be "FAITH". OMG! I had no idea the level on which my faith would be tested, how far I would be stretched in a year, and how in the end it would be my faith that kept me from losing my mind. So, this year my word is going to be, DISCIPLINE, it makes me both nervous and excited. Nervous because I need discipline in so many area's of my life and excited because of the possibilities, when applied.

discipline - 1. exercise especially in self control by controlling your behavior 2. to train or develop by instruction 3. to train (yourself to do something)