Bloom and PAINT in 2016

I am pretty sure that most people know by now that my word for 2016 is BLOOM.

I  never realize how many people I talk to regularly, until I start to do something like this!  

A few months ago, I started playing with the Mixed Media line that DecoArt introduced a bit ago. I LOVE the colors and techniques I am learning.

I am certain I will never leave my "traditional" painting, but I thought I would try to use the techniques together. 

I painted this small 4 inch square canvas during my learning process and thought that I wanted to keep it.

As I was thinking about my WORD of inspiration for 2016, I looked at the canvas and knew this would be my word--BLOOM.

The crazy idea of painting ornaments happened by accident, and painting 56 in a week was cra-cra and I thought sure I was a "blooming idiot"! I could use at least 50 more! 

But, it has blessed me in ways I never thought. I didn't do it to gain glory, but I really wanted to encourage some close friends to BLOOM! We all have our moments of needing a gentle push sometimes.

SO...here is how YOU can paint this.

Blogger won't load my pictures from the computer, so I had to re-do them...heavy sigh...

Gather your DecoArt Americana paints:
Lamp Black
Snow White
Antique Maroon
Deep Midnight Blue
Avocado
Fresh Foliage
Turquoise Blue
Raw Sienna
Dark Chocolate
Marigold
Ice Crystal Glamour Dust
Gesso
Duraclear Satin Varnish

Base the surface (front and back) with 2 coats of Fresh Foliage

Put the following colors on your pallet:

Fresh foliage, turquoise blue, Antique Maroon, Deep Midnight Blue, Avocado.

Take a small stencil brush and pounce on Avocado

Then Deep Midnight Blue

Turquoise Blue

Antique Maroon...you can pounce your colors together as much as you like...

Take a piece of plastic mesh (used for screen windows) and scrub Fresh Foliage and Turquoise Blue on top...the texture is lovely!

This, to me, is what gives the ornaments much of their beauty.

Shade around the outside with Deep Midnight  Blue. Thin Snow White and add 5 or 6 flowers using a 10/0 liner.

With Gesso (or just white paint, but the gesso gives more texture), draw the center of your flower close to the left edge and add petals--I used a #4 round. When the gesso dries, paint with Snow White.

Shade around the petals with Raw Sienna

Paint the center with 2 coats of Raw sienna. Thin this and add lines on each petal. Shade the left side of the center with Dark Chocolate. Gently dry brush Marigold on the left of the center followed by a tad of Snow white. Outline each petal with thinned Lamp Black using your 10/0 liner. Add dots of Lamp Black and Margold to the center with your stylus.

The lettering is simple. Use the 10/0 liner and write BLOOM. Go back to each letter and add "triangles" to the ends and make one side bigger on your rounded letters...see the picture...color in these triangles/circles. I added a thin line of Snow White to the letters as a highlight.

Shade around the flower with Deep Midnight Blue.

Paint 2 coats of Ice Crystal Glamour Dust on the backs and finish with 2 coats of DuraClear Varnish on the front and back. I will be adding Magnets to these...NOW...who will get the next 2?

I hope that you ALL will live 2016 in FULL BLOOM, but just take each day, one step at a time and do the best you can! If you paint one, let me see it!

I  wish BLESSINGS to you in 2016...~~charlotte♡

BLOOM in 2016, Tuesday, December 29, 2015

I  laughed as I was eating my Christmas Supper as if I were a 5 year old:
Betty Crocker Cornbread Stuffing
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (cause Charcoal loves it)
Apple Sauce
Strawberry Jell-O Snack Pack

I prayed as if it were the best meal ever:
Bless this food to nourish my body so that I may use my health to Thy service.

I was thankful.

As I ate each bite, I continued my prayer that I wished all hands who prepared it would be blessed.

I  thought of each person who had a part in the meal and it would be impossible to count how many, but I did try.

What I realized is that I am sure most everyone who had a part in my meal had a dream...it took foresight to build a company...to create fast food,  to develop the machines to gather, sort and package...people to box, ship, load, unload...stockers, cashiers, baggers, invoicers, shippers, stores, warehouses, factories, stoves, pots, pans, electricity, water, soil, seed, roads, railroads, cooks, microwaves, homes...on and on...

At the heart of all of this is an individual...a soul with hopes and dreams. Some have gained millions while others struggle to put food on the table and a roof over their heads...some work to make money to support their hobbies...some dream bigger and better ideas while others have broken dreams and have given up and now just try to survive. So many people have no idea that they can dream...they see no other road perhaps than the ones they have been taught to follow...

In living, I think it is normal to have mountains and valleys...struggles seem to be a constant sometimes. We can't control factors in life, but what we can control is our attitude.

With this knowledge, I have chosen my word for 2016 as BLOOM.

I want to learn to be content. I want to grow, no matter where I am in life. I want to chase dreams, but I do not want to overlook the miracles that are in the here and now.  I want to follow paths that might not be traveled by many but that can hold great adventure. I  want to be kind...to forgive...to encourage...to look for the good...to be hopeful...to promote peace, to be joyful and to love.

I want to BLOOM where I am planted!

As I BLOOM, I realize I will need to be given nourishment. I can't make it on my own, as much as I wish that I could.  I will have to trust others (oh me, that is going to be tough) and I will have to look for encouragement and support and a soft kick in the pants from time to time.

I  have mailed 55 ornaments to some people as an invitation to come along on this journey with me this year.. ..I hope to get more painted soon...

Let's BLOOM together in a POSITIVE environment and show a beauty like many have never seen before.

Let's put the "fruits of the Spirit" into our lives in ALL we do--Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness  and self-control.

It is going to be a good year! If all else fails, maybe I will just be a bloomin' idiot, but hey--I will be the best one I can be! Lol

Most of us have everything we need. Let's not forget those around us who need what we have to offer. We might need to change our focus a bit to SEE where we are needed, but never doubt that YOU are needed...so let's get ourselves situated and start looking for ways to serve...to be a beautiful creation!

We are going to BLOOM! I  wish blessings to you....~charlotte♡

Footprints on my heart, Monday, December 28, 2015

I  do not dare complain about the rain because I lived through a drought one summer that saw farmers lose their income for the year and possibly longer, since many had to sell their cattle...

I  won't lie and say that I am seeing all the JOY in this event,  but it has made me grateful for warmth, for a dry place to lodge and for the knowledge that the ground water will help us through the possibly long dry summer.

I am grateful for safety during the storms and am keeping A prayerful heart for those who suffered great tragedies during the past few storms.

I went to the POSTIE and discovered MORE rain, but this was the rain of FRIENDSHIP!

The first discovery was to make a mental note to contact one of the husbands to take away the DUCT TAPE from his wife!! But, never fear, I got it opened!!! I  won't name names, but it certainly made me giggle AND made me think I might need to find my box opener....

CHOCOLATE, oh, and an ornament, LOL,  came from my friend, Lydia in Kansas...Lydia was one of the first people that I really met on Facebook. Her work is immaculate! This meaningful ornament will remain special, and a part of me will giggle at her son's thoughts about it!♡

This awesome package came from Gloria in Idaho-ho-ho! It spent some extra time in Memphis and I wonder if it saw Elvis!!  A beautiful hand made card (WOW), some beautiful ornaments to paint and a loverly magnet that now is on my freezer to think of her when I open the door daily...and now, for some reason, I would like a watermelon!♡

Crystal in Ohio, sent me these awesome treats that will join the other goodies I have painted by her. I love these. There are some artists that you know their work instantly, and Crystal is one of those! I love her whimsical creations. She also has one of the most giving hearts I have ever seen!

This handsome fella came from Janice in Missouri?? Oooooooooo...JAN!! ROFL He had to spend an extra night at the Postie because he was too big, but he was so worth the trip back to town! He is beautiful!! I am so blessed to have several of Jan's painted goodies.

I am floored at the generosity of people. It is just another reminder that Life often gives us better than we deserve.

Thanks for your part in leaving footprints on my heart and giving me wonderful memories of this Christmas. Because of each of you, I will try harder to be a better person and a better friend.

Thank you to all who have sent me cards...left posts and messages wishing me a Merry Christmas...they do not go unnoticed...I finally mailed some cards on Saturday, even though they had been ready for weeks...I had to find the MAGIC...  (and, well, stamps)

Once again, Thank you!  May you feel the love you gave returned to you in even greater ways! Funny how God makes that happen! I send Blessings to YOU...~~charlotte♡

Merry Christmas, Friday, December 25, 2015

Joy to the world!
The Lord is come!

Now what?

Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

We NEED a Savior, Thursday, December 24, 2015

Wow!  What a stormy day. This sure puts into clear perspective what is important...

My heart goes out to the man/woman killed Southwest of here in Tennessee and others lost in the storms in other areas...somehow, I pray their families will be comforted and that someone will be sent to stand in the gap.

Another family is preparing a funeral for a 15 year old killed in YET another senseless murder...ALL lives matter!

I  have a college friend who has had knee replacement and I hope she got good drugs! I'm keeping her in my prayers...

Many people are having their first Christmas without someone they love...I pray peace and comfort for them...

People have lost their homes in today's storms...it is incredible to watch neighbors pull together to help each other.

A post office was destroyed...how are YOU going to react if your mail doesn't get where it belongs? Based on what I have seen, most of you will start to bash the postal workers---shame on you! Mistakes happen and I am still searching for that perfect human--oh yeah, I have encountered those who think they are. They are wrong.

Homeless people are searching for a dry, safe place to rest...

My heart is saddened by the young Mother who took the life of another young mother and injured others...the death is horrible, but when I hear that she was TIRED and looking for a place to rest, my heart breaks more. If you have never done without-I mean REALLY done without a basic human need, then, you, my friend, are blessed.

In a country as great as America is, and yet flawed because her citizens are imperfect, I shake my head at how blinded we are to the needs of others and at the realization that mental illness is a reality! We live in a country, that we simply tell people to MOVE out of our way, instead of offering HELP...trying to get help for someone is almost impossible, while those who sit collecting benefits grows daily when they could be earning a living...I wonder where we went so wrong and when...

Broken families...
Broken hearts...
Lonely people...
Hopeless People...
Sick and dying souls...
Drug addiction...
Mental illness...
Bullies...
Tired workers...
Homeless people...
Financial struggles...
People who are afraid...
Workers who get no holidays....
Military Personnel and families...
People filled with hate...
Angry People...
Unforgiving people...
People always pointing fingers...
Entitled People...
Mean Words spoken....

IF ever we needed a Savior, it is now.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus...
Save us from our sins...

Let me learn how to love, to Give hope, to promote peace and to be JOYFUL during the good and the bad...teach me to have a heart like Christ! Let these lessons of being prepared extend beyond this season of Advent...amen...~~charlotte♡