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♡

Puddle of Paint Spring Challenge, Wednesday, May 27, 2015

WHEW...I got it finished!  I belong to a FUN CLUB called PUDDLES OF PAINT.  Designer, Susan Kelley, provides 2 patterns each month, JUST FOR US and then will give us some challenges to create throughout the year.

Susan has been WONDERFUL.  I have been lucky to get to know her a bit, and she is so helpful, friendly and down to earth....and FUNNY!!  I LOVE her!  She has become a friend and a mentor who is always willing to answer any questions that I may have...She inspires me and encourages me.  I am THANKFUL for getting to cross her path!

When I first got on FB, I was afraid to chat with anyone who had LOTS of likes on their pages, and talking to a BIG BRUSH was so out of the question, but then, I remembered something that Mother taught me growing up...ALL PEOPLE put their britches on one leg at a time!

I have gotten more opportunities than I could ever dream possible...MANY of these dreams are things I never knew to dream...

I have met some wonderfully helpful people in my fb journey, and I have soaked up as much knowledge as I could!

I am a Helping Artist through DecoArt~~another dream I had no idea was a possibility, but because of a friend sharing and encouraging me, I was accepted into the program.  I have used DecoArt products in my painting for over 20 years and I LOVE them.

DecoArt has recently come out with a new line of products especially for mixed media.  I have been fascinated with this, because I LOVE to learn new techniques. I recently saw a post from a person asking WHAT is the big deal with MIXED MEDIA...she went on to say she had NO IDEA what people did with the "stuff" they made...I was SO DISAPPOINTED in this person...Reminds me of the old CHURCH saying, "We've NEVER done it THAT WAY before and WHY change something that works!" ...heavy sigh...

I don't understand WHY people feel the need to attempt to BASH things they don't like, especially if it causes no harm...IF you don't prefer to DO SOMETHING, then DON'T...People really don't CARE and by all means, don't be so condescending to others who ENJOY EMBRACING CREATIVITY in other forms!  OK...off of my soap box for a little while...

I thought this challenge was a perfect time to use some of these wonderful products and to step out of my comfort zone that I know so well.  I really had FUN with this...SO, I took a few pictures along the way and thought I would share what I did...

First, I used a stamp to put on a piece of paper and then I printed the words I wanted to use on this piece...

 I Then used the Misters to spray on the background...These are SO MUCH FUN...I put the paint on fairly thick and then took a crumpled up piece of packing bubbles and picked off some of the paint to get a texture...I had so much paint, that it kept seeping back over the texture, so I worked quickly and then blasted it with my hairdryer...HA...can't defeat ME!

I painted the face, arms and legs with the media fluid acrylics.  It takes very little paint since they are highly pigments...You will see in the top right, that I cut the dress and purse from scrapbook paper.  I used Decou-Page Matte to glue it in place!

I added some color around the dress, purse, ears and nose!!  Isn't she SWEET!!  Anyone who follows me might have noticed that I paint my bunnies grey...WHY?  Because I HAVE GREY HARE, um, Hair!  teeheheeeheeeee

I painted 4 wooden butterflies that I had bought at JoAnn's in the mixed media aisle...Yes, I have a habit of buying things with NO CLUE what I will do with them, but SEEEEEEE...they were JUST WHAT I NEEDED!

This is the finished piece...I printed the words on my computer onto the stamped paper...I gued on the butterflies, painted the grass and flowers...I went around the flowers with a Dimensional Writer.

I LOVE it!  The message is JUST what I needed to see.  We ALL need to follow our dreams...we ALL need to live the life we have imagined...It is ok if your imagination changes a few times along the way.  Sometimes, we have to adapt and there is nothing wrong with that!

I thought I would share the Cake I made when I Celebrated Daddy's birthday.  It was nice to remember good things about him, not that that is any different from most days.

Mother and Miss Stella made this cake DOZENS of times.  It is so easy and light.  It is wonderful with fruit over it or just with some cool whip OR with Ice Cream!  A GREAT summer dessert!

Take an Angel Food Cake and a can of crushed pineapple

 Mix the two together. Pour in a 9x13 pan. 

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

YUMMY!! Served on Mother and Daddy's wedding China that Uncle J.P. (daddy's brother) bought them as a wedding present when he was stationed in Japan.  It is Noritake, Orient.

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world...

I HOPE that I have inspired you in some small way

...Blessings to YOU...~charlotte

Go CONFIDENTLY in the direction of your dreams,

Live the life you've imagined.

~~Thoreau