All in a Days Work

This was a day for connecting the dots, painting branches and creating cocoons. It's amazing how much art work you can do when you have a studio. A month ago I was so blessed to find  a little space about a block from where I live to rent for a studio. This is a temporary space and I will be moving a couple doors down soon. When I'm settled in my permanent space, I'll post some pictures.

Magnolia Leaves

 A friend of mine gave me some Magnolia leaves a while back and I've had them in a book for pressing.  I had forgotten about them until I picked the book up and they dropped out.   I struggled with what to do with them so today I decided to introduce them to acrylic paint and this is their new life transformation.

Cocoons Art Retreat

Community of Faith Church in Roanoke hosted the first "Cocoons" Broken Branches Art Retreat November 12th.  We had such a great time turning these branches into works of art and writing out our prayer requests and encapsulating them in our cocoons was such a special time for all of us.  I have received some of the most precious emails from ladies that attended saying what a spiritually transforming time it was working with the cocoons.  Ladies of Community of Faith....you blessed me and I hope to see you and others again in 2017.        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myQwyvrMRxc

COCOONS

New to my painted branches are my cocoons.  The cocoons have a very ethereal look to them and hold a very special place in my heart. Before beginning the process of layering different kinds of textiles and heating with a heat gun, I write on a small piece of paper my most intimate prayer request, my deepest  need and begin to wrap my textiles around the piece of paper for safe keeping inside the cocoon, knowing that God sees the most innermost parts of my heart and cares deeply for me. I leave this request in His care and I will wait for  the Holy Spirit metamorphosis to happen.

TAKE A LOOK AND JOIN THE FUN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHPLY3yZ7N0

Time Again For Rest and Renewal

I just got back from a wonderful overnight time of rest and rejuvenation at the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I try to do this at least once a month due to current life circumstances.  Last night the temperature was in the low 60's and when I got up this morning it was 59 degrees (jacket weather) and a real touch of Fall was in the air. I had coffee on my balcony overlooking Abbott Lake and spent time in God's Word which always refreshes.  After that, it was off on a walk around the lake in the brisk morning air but I kept my eyes open for that bear I saw the day before. Not sure who was frightened the most because he took off in one direction and I in the other!  I usually try to take some art supplies when I go away so last night, in my room, in front of a big picture window overlooking the lake, I got a stick and started to work.  I never know what's going to appear but this cutie showed up.  Her expression looked to me like she wanted to break loose and do something out of her comfort zone so she decided to "Dance as if nobody was watching".  It made her happy!

She's dancing like nobody's watching!

SLEEPING BEAUTY

"Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will move mountains"

All of my stone faces and my painted branches are special to me but this stone face holds a favorite place in my heart.  I'm going through a hard time in my personal life right now but at the same time God is using me and my art to fill empty places in my life as well as other's lives.  Even though I feel like I'm at a complete stand still, I think God is really just resting me so He can teach me and grow me and strengthen me so when this trial is over, I am equipped to move mountains even better than ever!