Week 4 of Magical Mystical Makings "Mermaids"

Mythical Being: Mermaids
Master: Marc Chagall
Themes: Transformation, change & growth

Hello everyone, here are my journal pages for this week’s challenge.  I had a slow start this week as I had my chemo therapy on Tuesday and have felt pretty crummy since. My intentions are always good.... I'd love to blog every day, but somehow my energy level doesn't always cooperate nor does my health or migraines.

 This week in my 3M workshop we started our Mermaid on wood project. 

I have to say, I wasn't too excited about utilizing Marc Chagall's style, 

I never even heard of him before receiving our class material, 

or at least I didn't think I had.  

But once I emerged myself in his art I found I kind of liked it... 

I loved that my interpretations didn't have to be perfect... 

which is a difficult task for me as I am such a perfectionist and always want my lines to be clean...

at least when it comes to my paintings. 

This exercise brought me out of my comfort zone 

but I will say, I actually had a lot of fun. 

I was able to completely lose myself in the process.

Almost afraid to post my work for fear of what others would think,

My inner critic wasn't being so nice. 

I finally got up the courage to post my work. 

I'm so glad I did, 

After I received so many wonderful comments from my fellow classmates, 

It was so heartwarming....

I can't tell you how much it meant to hear their words of love and encouragement....

It was truly a humbling experience.

I am my own worst critic.

soooooo 

Today.... I allowed myself to feel good about what I've done... 

Today, I embrace the fact that I love to paint...

Today, 

I learned to believe in myself… to believe in my abilities

And

To believe in my artistic interpretation and creations.

Today I learned to love....

Me

 Thank you everyone for being on this journey with me... 

Thank you all for sharing a part of your life with me… 

We are all creative and artistic in our own way. 

Making our world a better place through the eyes of art brings so much joy to everyone.

I hope my creative endeavors bring love, joy, and beauty into your life.

Love, Hugs and Blessing to everyone.

♫¸.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫¸.•*¨*•♫.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.  .•*¨*•♫`·.¸.·•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•..•*¨*•.♫`·.¸.·♫•*¨*•. .•*¨*•♫

This is my work in progress.... Next I need to apply my magical touch
paint...college....pen....love....patients....more love....lol.... 
Stay tuned for my completed masterpiece...lol.. 
Love and Hugs!!!!

Wahooo!!!! Art Journal LOVE Day Party!!!

You have until this Friday, February 18th to enter!

Connie will be closing the give-away at 10pm MST on Friday.

She will be announcing the winners late Sunday!

So hurry and enter for your chance to win some awesome prizes.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

http://www.DirtyFootprints-Studio.com

http://networkedblogs.com/etOzH

Happy Valentine's Day

Every year on Valentines Day 

I try and do something special for others, 

I try to give love to someone who might not otherwise be told they are loved.

Today, 

I handed out Valentines to people I didn't know, 

I mailed them to six people I met on-line around the world, 

I gave them to homeless kids out on the streets in Port Townsend,  

and to elders I've met around my community. 

Tomorrow,  

As I sit in the hospital all day receiving my chemo therapy, 

I'll be handing out Valentines to everyone who comes in to get their treatment;

Hoping to make their day a little bit better,

or to put a smile on their face,

maybe fill their heart with love.

 Today 

I opened my eyes to the love all around me....

I didn't expect or receive cards, 

flowers 

candies 

or other luxuries, 

but what I did receive 

was a heartfelt appreciation, 

compassion, 

hugs, 

and love

from those who's heart I touched.

 I hope I've touched your heart, 

I hope your Valentine's Day has been filled with love.  

Mine has.... 

Love and hugs to you my creative friend!

Week 3 of Magical Mythical Makings "Angels"

ANGELS

Hello everyone, Love and hugs out to all of you {{{xoxo}}}.  My goals this week were to stay on top of my workshop assignments... doing this weeks assignment first and then going back to finish what needs to be done on last weeks when I have extra time. That was going to be my way of staying on task so not to get so over whelmed by being constantly behind and in catch-up mode (not a very creative state of mind, I might add). These past few weeks my intentions and desires have not been my issue, although a white canvas was a little intimidating, but once I got started, it was not what was holding me back…my health was. It wasn’t cooperating with my wants, needs and desires.

"Everyday is going to be different." I kept telling myself each and every morning. I'd wake up with the mindset that today is going to be the day where I feel great and I accomplish everything I set out to do….As always life sets in, and my plans for staying on top of things quickly got hijacked by life forces stronger than my own...another migraine set in and forced me back to bed, that makes 24 days of migraines out of 31 days. As I laid there trying to will my migraine away, trying to create the life I want by meditating on every little detail... I found that what I needed to do was to let go.... I needed to just let everything in my mind stop fighting the pain and see where it wanted to lead me instead of wishing I was someplace else and someone else...I was trying to control every aspect in my life when in reality I have no control at all over anything...

Once I was able to see that, be one with it, and accept the things I cannot change...the migraine seemed to lessen. Now it could be the magnitude of meds, shots and more meds that I took to rid my month long continuous life stopper, pain-in-my a******* or in my case head and a**…lol.... but regardless... it finally started to let up and I was able to at least sit up in bed. I quickly surrounded myself with my journal, crayons, watercolor pencils, and laptop. Listening to Tam’s soothing angelic voice talk me thought my exercise, making me laugh and want to talk back to her when she'd question herself; I found comfort, love and the ability to get lost in my art, forgetting about the pain that consumed my body.    

Drawing my Angels brought about clarity and a sense of comfort and oneness. I felt surrounded by love! For some reason, I found this to be extremely funny because last week my Goddess choice was Katasee... Goddess of all that is, of all things, well-being, and unconditional love and healing.... While creating my journal pages, I came to the conclusion that these were all the things I wanted and needed in myself, my body, my life... right here, right now at that very moment. Realizing I had it…all of it right before my eyes;  I just need to be present enough to see it, feel it, and enjoy it. Peace washed over me; my migraine was no longer sitting in my face no longer the elephant in the room, no longer controlling my every thought, no longer consuming my essence. I was surrounding by a glow of love, art, compassion and healing!

So here you have the start of my Angels. I still need to finish her wings and dress but at least I’ve started. I decided to do the assignment just as Tam was teaching, and then when I put my work on my watercolor canvas I'll make my Angels my own. I've also included the progress on week 2's Goddess painting, I still need to apply the college aspect of the Klimt's style to her gown and halo, but one step at a time.  

Several months ago I was told to paint by a dear friend who recently passed, it was as thought he had an insight into my healing, he was very insistent that I give it a try again. At the time, I remember thinking he was crazy, I hadn't picked up a brush in years, I couldn't see what he did.  Now.... the more I paint, the more I feel his presence and the more I understand. I am so grateful he nudged me back into painting.   Every time I pick up my brush I feel so blessed and thankful. 

ENJOY!

Katasee Goddess 1-23-2011

Katasee Goddess 1-23-2011 2
Originally uploaded by Chel Marie's Creative Corner

As I announced earlier Tam over at Willowing.ning was offering her new workshop called Magical Mythical Makings. I was given the gift of this online workshop by a dear friend who I met at the Art, Heart and Healing workshop a few months ago. It is because of her I was able to participate in this workshop. I am forever grateful for my dear friend and artist soul sister Yolanda... Thank you for your friendship, Thank you for your love and understanding, and Thank you for your truly wonderful gift. I will cherish it and you forever!

So here is my first Journal entry for the online workshop at Willowing & Artist's Friends. As usual I'm behind the rest of the class as I'm constantly dealing with debilitating migraines and my illness. But through perseverance, my love of art and journaling I just keep plugging away. Art brings so much joy to my life, creating such beauty even if it's only in the eyes of the beholder, it truly brings so much love, peace and happiness to my heart. Making a dark day seem much brighter.

Art has been very healing for me, if you need some love or a boost in your sometimes hard emotional day... please, I encourage you to give it a try. Tam has the Art, Heart and Healing workshop up and running for anyone who wants to join in and it's completely free. It's her way of paying-it-forward for all the love and joy in her life.

It has been a way for me to connect to others even when getting out isn't an option. I have met so many wonderful, creative souls in the past several months and made lasting on line friendships all over the world. Tam has created such a fun and loving environment for anyone interested in multi-mixed media artistic adventures... Come and join in on the fun, I'm sure it will brighten your day and heart, and who knows maybe you'll find your long lost passion.

Magical Mythical Makings is now open for registration!

Magical Mythical Makings is now open for registration!

Learn to make beautiful mythical beings in mixed media paintings! We'll be making Goddesses, Angels, Fairies, Mermaids and Unicorns! We will cover the basics on a front facing and 3 quarter portrait but we'll also do full bodied figures. Additionally we'll let some of the old masters inspire us and we'll explore the different kinds of surfaces we can work on. This is a very comprehensive, in depth mixed media art course in which you'll also keep a practice journal for which you'll receive weekly assignments. Find out more information and sign up now.


Tam at Willowing & Friends is an amazing teacher, her teaching style is fun, loving and full of wonderful healing energy. I learned so much from her free online workshop she offered before the holidays which is still up and running for anyone who wants to give her art techniques a try. You will definitely come out learning more then you imagined and you will not regret it...I promise. Tam has a heart of Gold as we all found out during her Pay-It-Forward workshop called Art, Heart & Healing. I highly recommend it.  I met the most amazing woman in the workshop forming lasting friendships with ladies from all over the world. It's not just about the art...it's about the community and friendships.

Check it out; here. 

♥Tis The Season....Holiday Give away ♥

Check out Gwenny Kay's Christmas Give Away, Ends Dec. 18th

http://gwennysfaith.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-am-having-give-away.html#comment-form

Gwenny's Place: I AM HAVING A GIVE AWAY!

Gwenny's Place: I AM HAVING A GIVE AWAY!

We Have a Winner...♥

Actually we have Two Winners

Due to the high number of entries, I had to pick two winners, 

Congratulations 

Amy and Rhonda (aka Jordan)...

Yahooo.... 

You two are the lucky winners of one of my 

♥ Famous Heart Shaped Banana Breads  ♥ 

Please send me your mailing address in a private email 

And I will send you your Prize....

♥Thank you everyone who entered for a chance to win♥

 

♥Tis The Season.... Holiday Give away ♥

 

Tell Me, What Is Your Favorite Family Holiday Tradition?
 
One of our favorite Holiday traditions were to make several different kinds of cookies, breads, and candies... then package them up nice and festive.  My kids and I would go around our community and hand deliver cookies every Christmas eve to ...our friends, doctors,  community service places like the post office, police dept, fire dept, along with local homes for disabled elders, adult and children. Then we'd go down town to the Shelters and hand out small containers of cookies along with socks & gloves to the homeless living along the streets of Anchorage Alaska. It was our way of letting others know how much we appreciate them and that they are loved...♥♥

Keeping in the spirit, I'd like to give a way a loaf of my Banana Bread to the lucky person who shares their favorite family tradition on my blog, I will enter your traditions in a drawing to be held on Friday November 26th 2010 noon my time, where I will draw a lucky winner to receive one of my heart shaped Banana Breads & Homemade College Card.... OK... I know it's not an autographed signed book, but it is made with love and I'm sure to delight any who share in your winning… We would love to hear your family tradition....

♥ Enter for your chance to win ♥

 

Snoopy Peanut Butter Rice Krispie’s Bars

These are one my favorites to make all year long, 

I never get tired of making them, 

eating them, sharing them or did I say…eat them? 

I love, love, love them!

so do my boys and anyone else who gets to eat them. 

At Christmas when I need a gift or treat quickly, these are it. I’m talking 20 minutes from start to finish. You can eat them warm, but usually I make my kids wait. I’ve tried it with other chocolates, but I always go back to the milk chocolate. I’ve been making these bars for as long as I can remember. We use to get a similar bar at school, called Snoopy Bars, but the texture was slightly different. These are very similar to Rice Crispy treats, same concept but they taste so much better. If you’re a chocolate peanut butter kind of person, these are for you! 

Enjoy!

Snoopy Peanut Butter Rice Krispie’s Bars

1 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Light Corn Syrup (I prefer Karo)

1 ½ Cup Peanut Butter (I prefer Jif Creamy Peanut Butter)

6 Cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispie’s

1 Package of 11.5 oz Milk Chocolate Chips (I prefer Ghirardelli)

Put sugar and light corn syrup in a large sauce pan, bring to a boil stirring constantly being careful not to burn. Once mixture reaches a boil remove from heat. 

Add 1 ½ C. Peanut butter stir until melted. 

Add 6 cups of Rice Krispie’s. 

Mix together until all cereal is completely coated. 

Pour into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch cake pan 

coated with Pam cooking spray. 

Press mixture down evenly in pan. 

Sprinkle Chocolate Chips on top. 

Put pan in oven at 275 degrees until chips soften, about 5-7 minutes. Quickly remove from oven, spread chocolate evenly around bar. 

 Let cool and cut in squares. 

I like to use a butter knife to loosen up the edges, 

and then I pop the completely cooled bars out onto a cutting board.

I then flip the bar and cut into small bite sized squares. You can cut into larger bars, but these little gems are very rich so a little goes a long way.

The knife shown in the picture was actually used to cut our frozen Cheese cake. You can get it at any knife store, or order it on line. It’s called a Wusthof Gourmet 12” Cheese Knife, Doubled Handle. By Wüsthof  It works perfectly for cutting bars, frozen cakes, or anything you want a nice even straight line, plus it is so much easier to cut with being able to apply pressure evenly from both handles.

I prefer small 1 inch squares; 

they are easy to eat, share, and are the perfect nibbler size.

These are one of the easiest treats to make & send 
to your loved ones, normally
they won’t break up during travel 
to your desired destination, 
I've sent these to friends serving over seas 
and to my boys for their birthdays. 

It's one of my favorites to mail.

You do have to make sure that if you’re mailing in extreme heat, that you use waxed paper or parchment in between your layers, and freeze before you mail to set the chocolate completely. The tighter you package the bars, the better they’ll travel.

I like to make several pans at Christmas, 

everyone loves them, 

they make the perfect gift, brunch compliment, or after school snack. 

My boys love these bars! 

ENJOY!