Share the Joy Thursday–A Mermaid Mandala

I made a mandala to day from sea shells and flowers from around my house.

The yellow ones are from a little bouquet of flowers that decorated the guest room for my mom during her recent visit.

The shells were all gathered with my Mom when we visited the beach at Fort Desoto multiple times over our week.

The beach was the very best part of our time together.

Two happy beach bums were we !

The turquoise background and the shells also reminded me of my favorite Mermaid piece in the studio.

Together they make a pretty altar

dedicated to my love of my new seaside life

and to the joy of having my Mom visit my new home.

Little joys and sweet beauty brought together by my own creative hand.

Love that.

So much joy to be celebrated.

Thank you for the sweet visit, Mommy. I love you so much !

 

Got Joy you want to share ?

Meri does it every week at Love, Meri.

 

And I was glad to jump in today !

 

Have a joy-full Thursday, Beautiful Ones !

She’s a real Treasure !

I am getting things ready for my lovely niece Jessica’s visit.

She arrives late, late, late tomorrow night.

She will be the first visitor to use our mostly completed guest room.

I like to have a special altar-ish place in the guest room.

I have included a basket of goodies, tea, shampoo, bath things

and I also like to place a carefully thought out bowl of treasures for my guest to enjoy.

As I wandered the house picking up little bits from here and there,

I looked down at the little plate I was using and this face just kind of appeared.

I will admit to placing things just a little, but those two eyes (the glass feet of the plate ), the coral lips and nose, and that pink cheek just fell into place themselves !

I’m calling her “Treasure”, which is the prompt today for the August Break challenge.

Here, I played a little bit with Pixlr Express editing.

Ain’t she sweet ?

This is the little plate filled with some pretty things and sweet messages

that my darling girl will see when she gets here!

Let’s be on the look out for more treasures today, beautiful Ones !

Big love to you !

 

Hosted by Susannah Conway

Share The Joy Thursday–Even in the Chaos…

From this weeks Joy List…

I’m expecting an unexpected visit from this little hug bandit and his momma today !

It has been about a month since I have seen Jayden.

He turned six months this week.

Time is going so very quickly !

Look at him loving on the monkey I gave him, even in his sleep !

Makes my heart shine !

Can’t wait to smooch him !

These are some details of my 24 X 48” canvas that I am working of for my friend Suzanne.

I am thrilled that in the midst of all the chaos of packing, getting this house ready for renting, and planning our cross country move,

I still managed to get this piece to a place I am really excited about.

Hoping Suzy loves it too !

She arrives Sunday to help with some of our hundreds of little jobs that need doing before June,

and I hope to have

“My Garden is a work in progress” completed for her by then.

My white lilacs are in bloom and their scent is just heavenly !

I am glad we are moving after my favorite spring flowers have graced us with their presence.

Spring in New England is truly remarkable.

 

Focusing on the joys and the multitude of little things that are good sure helps keep you grounded in the present moment.

And believe me, I am very grateful for that during this busy, busy time.

Share the joy today, Beautiful Ones !

 

Visit Love, Meri every Thursday.

Sharing the Joy–What April Brought…

April 2014 was a busy month !

Full of beautiful people that I love

and experiences I will cherish always !

I made a girlfriend trip with my dear Linda to Saratoga Springs, NY,

where we saw, savored, stitched, spoke, listened and enjoyed.

I had a return visit from my sweet Jayden boy and his Momma !

He’s getting so big and strong ! Love those guys and miss having them close !

David and I traveled to Montreal for an Easter, Katie turns 6, we’re moving to Florida party, lovingly hosted by my sister, Natalie.

Lots of tears on my part, knowing I will be so far from my family soon.

But lots of joys too, as there always is when we spend time together as a family.

One of the best moments was watching Miss Katie ride her new big girl bike, a gift from us, without training wheels ! She is awesome !

Then David and I flew to Tampa, FL, for a whirlwind house hunting, meet and greet visit!

With the help of a great real estate agent, we saw a ton of houses but found the right transitional home for us!

It is a lovely, airy home with a screened in lanai and a perfect yard for Chica.

It backs onto conservation land and is close to Dave’s office and our favorite beaches !

Can’t wait to make it our home !

After the house hunting and meeting people at Dave’s new office was done, we had a little time to enjoy the perks of our new state.

Welcome to my new beach….

Heaven !!!

Today is May 1st.

If everything goes as planned, we will be moving in 6 weeks.

Wowza !

Still so much to do !

And it will all get done !

Somehow…

But as we go along,

I have promised myself some creative, rejuvenating time every day.

Otherwise, I will have nothing to give, and be one grumpy girl !

The studio will be the last room to pack,

and yesterday, I set up the space for some big canvas painting.

This work in progress is a 24 X 48” canvas that is a kind of commission for my friend Suzanne.

 

But the paint sloshing and meditative painting time

is

 all for me !

 

***************

Happy May, Beautiful Ones !

May the sweet new beginnings be rich with joy for you !

 

(I am rejoining Meri for some joy sharing. Miss this blogging love !)

Sharing the Joy–In spite of it all…

It’s Thursday.

The coldest of the cold snap is over and today is a balmy 25 degrees (-3 C) today.

I haven’t been feeling very well physically this week.

Headache, body aches, maybe fighting some flu-ish thing.

Feeling quite a bit better today after sleeping most of the week away.

In the midst of the icks, I have still found things that made me feel joyful.

Like Black Cats in your lap…

or in a sunbeam.

Figuring out my inspirational phrase of the year…

and making a little rock with it for my Word of the Year Rock in a Box.

This phrase has saved me so many times when life gets a little too overwhelming or unsure.

Coming back to this moment reminds me that this is all we know for sure.

Be

Here

Now.

Ah…

Finishing up little projects like this silly felted and embroidered owl make me smile too.

That was about all the creative juices I had this week, feeling poorly as I was.

Until this morning when this strange but appropriate journal page emerged…

“Headache” – Art Journal Page,

watercolor journal, spray inks, old dictionary page, india ink pens, white gel pen, Twinkling H2Os

Here’s hoping the aches are over !

I know that this afternoon will be joy-filled as I am taking care of my little buddy Jayden for a few hours.

So glad to be feeling up to that kind of snuggling !

Happy Thursday, Beautiful Ones !

May your day be joy-filled too.