Trust Your Heart

Monday afternoon I got busy with paintings. And it was such a nice relief from jewelry making. I pulled out the wax that was staring me down in a jar on the art desk. And melted and painted away. It was so freeing in a way to try something different. Now the wax is put away and the canvases are out and ready to be painted. I just had to get it out of my system I suppose. Prove something to myself maybe? And then the rug was pulled out from under me on Tuesday, and then the floor got pulled out from under me yesterday. So today I am going to do just this:And pull myself up. And trust that my heart knows the right thing to do.

JUST IN: Part of the floor has been fixed. My van which last night I thought was going to the dump to become scrap metal JUST needed at $20 hose. I can breath now......I can breath now.....

Listen To Your Heart

My daughter Mailey is in 2nd grade this year. Each week she brings home her rather heavy reading book that contains many short stories. One is read each week. This week's story is a Frog and Toad one. Have you ever read any of those? Well, this story really hit home to me for some reason last night. I'll tell you why. Or better yet, I'll give you a summary of the little story and then say why. Toad and Frog are best friends you see. One morning Toad goes to Frog's house to find a note on the door that says, "Dear Toad, I am not home. I went out. I want to be alone. Frog" What? Toad does not understand, and of course jumps to the conclusion that Frog is mad at him, or doesn't want to be his friend anymore. But once he finds Frog, after a series of events, he finds out that Frog woke up super happy that day and wanted to be alone to reflect on his good fortune of having a friend like Toad, and having a wonderful little life. So why bring Frog and Toad into this post you ask me? Well, in the past week I have had friends from all my walks of life say almost the same thing to me, "Jenni, how have you been? I haven't seen or heard from you in awhile." Or something similar to that. You see, I've always been one for alone time. And quite honestly sometimes I don't even realize that I have isolated myself until someone brings it up. But I can't apologize for this behavior because it is a part of who I am, a part of my growth. And honestly, Frog says it quite well when he said he woke up so happy he wanted time to think about how FINE everything really is. Because everything is fine. I wake up every morning so very thankful to have this life. It has taken several years of trying out different jobs, but man have I hit the nail on the head with this one. And my family, well we are all growing in such an amazing direction that I can't help but smile when I think of them. Now, it's not a perfect family, nor a perfect life. But challenges and growing pains are what make us stronger and make life full filling. Lastly my dear friends, well I am very fortunate to have each of you in my life. I know that you were placed in my path for a specific reason....each of you makes me more complete.

So this new little orange bird says on it, "Listen to you Heart." I don't know what led me to place those words with this bird on this stand. But it has all my favorites....my favorite color is orange, my favorite flowers are daisies, and my heart....well it hasn't failed me yet. And if you listen to your heart a little more often than your head, it will lead you places you hadn't imagined. So I challenge you to take a day and be quiet, still and thankful for all that you have. I think if you do you'll realize how abundantly you are blessed.

Some Helpful Tips

While cleaning out the studio Friday, (it's a part of the creative process for me remember here?) I found this book I bought Mailey awhile back. Sums up how I truly think we can make the world a better place...and it has fabulously silly illustrations! I love books like this. So enjoy my favorite pages. I challenge each of you to come up with your own tip to make a happier life. Ever thought about that? My tip would be this.......find something you love with ALL your heart, throw yourself in and live it all up. And don't look back.

This page says make music on one side....and art on the other.

I Like You

Over the summer I participated in Marisa of Creative Thursday's "Life in the Fishbowl" e-course. It was amazing. I believe there were 80 participants from all over the world. The wealth of knowledge she fed us weekly was super, and so was all the feedback in the form of comments from my fellow classmates. In her first class she told us "I like you already." How cool was that. She liked us, even though she knew none of us, personally anyways. We came with willing hearts and minds to listen to what she had to say. Immediately you were walking into class, the first day of school and someone liked you.

I am painfully reminded of this as my children have started a new school. We didn't move, just were redistricted to a new school. We've been in school almost two weeks and my little Mailey has spent way too much time crying that she has no friends, that no one likes her. All she needs is for someone to say, "I like you already." So I guess my personal life is spilling over into my work right now, because I just had to add these words to my newest felted friends. I introduce Rosie and Jeremy. And they like you already.
As I pondered writing this post, I say with all seriousness "I Like You". You, my readers. You come to my blog to read a little about this and more about that. You come willing as I sort out my fears, celebrate my successes and offer kind words when needed. And I thank you. And not only do we need to hear the words "I like you", I believe "thank you" comes in close second.

Kindness is easy when you open yourself up and allow others in to experience what you really have to offer the world. So I challenge you this week to tell someone "I Like You" and just as important, "Thank you". And see what happens next. I have a feeling a door will open. Take care. Jenni

Food For Thought

Is the life I'm living the life that wants to live in me? -parker palmer

Just some food for thought tonight. As I've returned to some normalcy this week I have been seriously thinking about this little life I am living. And I can't help but think about how to make it better, no actually more full-filling. You know, the kind of life that has no regrets. I've been a little testy with the children, husband, darn cute dog, and friends (sorry guys). I find that whenever this sort of unrest begins to stir in me something really amazing is around the corner. So I wait.....still waiting....... My fortune in the cookie Saturday night actually said, "Opportunity is knocking on your door, answer it tomorrow". Seriously freaky. Especially since that is the analogy I use often for my own life, that of opening and closing doors. Being willing to open them is the key. So I'll be sure to let you know the door that needs to be opened as soon as I find it. Otherwise, this week I am ticking away at my SMART goals.

Barbie's Dream Camper

Airtream Silver Cloud 1936 15'

I've stepped out of my comfort zone a bit with my paintings in recent weeks. Although I will always paint little birds in their environments, I am having a bit of fun with these retro-American still life series I have going right now. First it was the bike series, and now vintage Airstream campers (I've got a turquiose payphone on the table too!). I found a fabulous website that had the original article on this particular camper and great photos. It was not the usual silver Airstream I was thinking of when looking for an example. But rather, this is originally "Woodframed and Masonite Skined". Yep. And cost all of $695.00 from a local Airstream dealer. So I took some liberty with the colors, I'm really into pink and orange right now. This the name Barbie's Dream Camper. Does that mean anything in particular those of you deep meaning in art people?

Speaking of deep meaning in art, I have a comment on that note. It was during my senior project interview when it hit me like a ton of bricks that perhaps my art was not really supposed to have some underlying deep context. The panel of 10 art professors (9 of whom were MEN) had concerns over my choice of making a paper quilt as my project (this is of course after approving the project and giving me thumbs up for 12 weeks while I made the beautiful piece). Not wanting to bore you with my anger towards that particular institution to this day for that grueling time of self pity over a grade, I'll skip forward to the artist I am now. And honestly, it's the artist I have always been. I paint happy, sweet, innocent paintings. I place a lot of thought into my compositions and the colors I place on my palette. But as far as there being deep meaning, I am sorry to disappoint that there is none. In fact, I view my art in the opposite. I want the viewer to see what is there, smile and say, I really like that. It could be my choice of colors, or texture, or composition or just the image itself. But in all honesty, what I gain the most from my art is happiness.

Producing all this work lately has almost seemed robotic. This veering into the still life scenes is helping to re channel my energy and regain some confidence in painting. And I am very happy to say, I am a bit tickled at the outcome of some of the paintings and their lack of global meaning.

The Truth of the Matter

This is Mailey and I being silly wearing our book lights. Yes, I wear it on my head....I hate the book clip ons! Being silly with my children is something I plan to do more of these days. Read on.......

I guess you'd pretty much be living under a rock to not be aware of what was going on around us these days in the states. Although I never watch or listen to the news, I prefer my little bubble of naiveness, I can see the struggle as I pass gas station after gas station with no gasoline and notice the quite empty parking lot at the local mall. People are scared, and well we should be. We've lived well above our means for years now as a nation. I know our family has spent more money on useless "things" over the past few years. And what I really wish I had back was not necessarily the money, but some of that time I spent shopping. I'd have used that time in the backyard more, games with the kids, cooked more meals, etc. So maybe all this chaos will bring about an awareness that staying at home is not so bad, and that less is more.

Which brings me to the real point of this soapbox blog. This weekend is the Norcross Art Festival. An annual event that is usually visited by thousands. I have a really icky feeling in my belly that this may not be the case this year. And I am going to have to face up to the fact that this first event may not be my best. I have to not be discouraged, and keep my head high. I have worked for 2 months now getting everything ready. And it is-packed, labeled, inventoried. Ready to find a loving home. If you are lucky enough to fill your tank with gas, and can find your way to Norcross, Georgia please stop by and say hello. It'll make my day so much brighter! But for now, I think I'll do some playing in the backyard with my children. It costs nothing, but is quite priceless, don't you think?

End note: It's 9PM- Afterschool we went to get ice cream, then William went to Noah's while Mailey and I swang. We did her homework in the playhouse and ate pizza (that I made, not ordered) there too. Except Papa bear, he was too big (seriously, I think the floor would've caved in, we've got to get the sinking floor raised soon!) Mailey then put on a lovely cheer/gymnastics show. More homework followed the show and before you knew it, the babies were ready for bed. Amazing what no TV and tons of fresh air can do for a family. Now I can tackle a new painting before the wee hours like usual!