Be

I will

sit and rest

listen 

to my breath

nurture

my soul

and allow myself

to melt 

into the moment

absorbing 

this place of peace

to

just

be

***

As I was refilling the bird feeders in our garden, I could hear the happy chirps of Sparrows hidden deep within the branches of our cedars.

Such joy in the moment.

Once all the feeders were topped up, I headed up to my studio and created a mixed media collage on canvas of my morning.

Vintage book pages and music sheets lay the foundation with Sparrow who has the wisdom to take in the given moment and just be.

I've created a print from the original mixed media canvas.

A gentle reminder to sit and simply be. Sometimes, we need a gentle reminder.

Paying homage to the Sparrows & my "guiding word" for 2020  Be ... 

Blessed Be,

deb x

Little red squirrel

We have someone new to our garden ...

and I am totally smitten!

At first she was running along the fence so quickly that my camera couldn't focus in time and I missed every opportunity to get a photo!

Then, I'd spot her again … I knew she was interested in the freshly filled feeders and dish of  cut fruit and nuts that I had placed under the feeder.

There were 5 or 6 black and grey squirrels already eating it and a swarm of black capped chickadees arrived which was amazing to see!

Then a Blue Jay and our Red Cardinal couple arrived.

 I decided that I was missing out on too much by trying to get a photo 

and put my camera down.

I knew she was very curious about everything!

Later in the afternoon, she was back and not only was she comfortable to eat under the feeder,

she walked on to the back deck as well once she realized there were walnuts waiting.

She looked up at me a few times... the lady sitting on the window seat with Nikon in hand clicking away as quickly as possible.  That would be me :-)

She looks much bigger in the photos

but she is really quite small with the sweetest eyes outlined in white.

And quite quirky and comical so she will fit in wonderfully in our garden!

We've been tossing around names (I've been thinking she's a girl but not sure) :-O

I'm partial to Dorothy (thinking of those special, magical red slippers)

Praise the day ...

Praise the day

The ancient ways

On sacred land is where I stand

Air* water*soil*sky

Am I

I live in a beautiful spot where I can be by water and woods and I gather so much inspiration and serenity from both.

So grateful for the blessings that come from the trees, stones, soil and water.  I am in my element with the elements.

There is so much beauty and magic to be found listening to the inner wisdom and teachings of the Earth.

I have so many ideas for new paintings in 2020.

Because I paint intuitively and directly on paper or canvas (no sketches ahead of time) I'm always interested to see where the painting takes me … 

Painting gives me a venue to express my deep love and gratitude to the Earth.

It is more than a creative outlet … each painting gives me the gift of peace, serenity, mindfulness. 

In gratitude, I paint

xo d 

Happy New Year ...

As the last few days of December neared, my thoughts went to choosing my "word" for the New Year.  Keeping really busy, I hadn't thought too much about it until after Christmas and Boxing Day had passed and I had some time to myself. Some years it comes to me early ... one of my favourite

"words" in past years was *flow* and that year, it turned out that it was exactly what I needed to do ... go with the flow. 

No resolutions for me this year. I am choosing however to live in the *now* - not pressuring

myself with musts or wants or shoulds ... and with that mindset, my "word" came to me.

Be

I had been sitting quietly, candles lit, music playing in the background and Archer by my side, journaling. Looking down at the page I saw the words I'd written *believe* belief* beach* become*because* being * begin* {ironically, not behave :-D} 

 I had been  playing "Let it Be" on my ukulele for the past few days as well ... just waiting for me to *notice* I suppose.

So there it was ... my 2020 word ~ be~ 

Happy New Year!

A new decade ...

12 brand new chapters to be written...

365 new chances … 

May each one be filled with love, peace, laughter & joy

deb xo

Winter Solstice

I love creating & anything hand made, especially at Christmas time, is my favourite gift to give {and receive}.

From my hands, with someone in mind, creating something that has special meaning.

My daughter adores pugs … so I painted a little wooden disc and created a keepsake box.

When something is made by hand,

you feel the soul that went into it.

These little wooden discs were so much fun to paint.

I painted a few others and realized that they were the perfect size to top a candy dish!

Filled with caramels, mini candy canes, mints and other wrapped Christmas candies … 

Owl and moon

Coyote

Mother & child

"we must teach our children 

to smell the earth,

to taste the rain,

to touch the wind,

to see things grow,

to hear the sun rise

and night fall,

-to care"

~John Cleal~

***

I loved the words of this beautiful quote

A box of old vintage spindles … painted,  make lovely candle holders :-D

Punch needle was a new hobby I took up this year.

Making up my own patterns, choosing colours and embellishing items made has been lots of fun.

Father Christmas holds a vintage key and lock

A little bit of furry fabric found had me thinking of toys

and "Gus" the elephant was created … 

The fabric was a little too "new" looking, so I went over the pile with scissors and then a razor

to take away a lot of the fluff. 

all that sewing left me with a few empty spools, so I decided to write out a little special message/scroll on brown craft paper & wrap it around the spool .

There was just enough fabric left after making Gus the elephant to create a mouse

who happily sits and waits for Christmas day

on a swing made from driftwood and twine.

{he still awaits some embellishing … I have a nice old bell to add & he may hold a tiny Christmas tree or stocking {still thinking}  … 

All that beach walking has provided me with lots of wild crafting material.

Made with Love & Gratitude a painted heart shaped stone, driftwood and bits and pieces of grapevine.

*Happy Winter Solstice *

Painting * Journaling & Plays

~Rejoice~

I loved every moment painting this precious scene

& used a very fine tipped brush to create the tiniest of details

~The gifts I bring~

Father Christmas and a menagerie of Woodland animals who find comfort & joy in the warmth of a 

warm and magical cloak

As we get near the end of November, my art journal is almost full ...

the pages have been filled with ticket stubs and programs, brochures ,

quotes and of course lots of woodland animals :-D

We are in each other's lives for a reason...

thank you for showing up.

"An invisible thread

connects those who are destined to meet,

regardless of time, place or circumstance.

The thread may stretch or tangle,

but it will never break"

~Ancient Chinese Belief~

"Some beautiful paths

can't be discovered without 

getting lost"

~Erol Ozan~

I created these 2 pages after watching the Santa Claus parade with my grandsons ~ all bundled up with a tin of homemade cookies on our lap :-D 

the best way to ease into the holidays

We went to see Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn at the Shaw Festival, Niagara On The Lake.

It was absolutely wonderful filled with lots of tap dancing (I love tap dancing) and many fabulous musical numbers such as 

steppin' out with my baby* the little things in life * blue skies  * be careful, it's my heart * cheek to cheek* & the famous *white Christmas*

Now to add it to my art journal :-D

journaling ...

"to move

to breathe

to fly

to float

to gain all while you give

to roam the roads of land remote

to travel

is to live'

~Hans Christian Andersen~

Even though it is snowing outside,

October and November's  art journaling pages have been filled with light houses,

 sandy beaches, sea shells,

sea glass, blue skies and mermaids ...

I'm still thinking of the wonderful time spent in Cape Cod and  those thoughts

are spilling out into my art journal.

"traveling is more than the seeing of sights;

it is a change that goes on,

deep and permanent

in the ideas of living"

~Miriam Beard~

beach walking/combing no matter what the weather

my journal is a spot to write down songs I've  practiced playing on my sweet Ukulele (oh how I love playing the Uke) … and a spot to write down "songs to learn"  which is ever growing 

"Let the version of yourself that you were, teach you.

Let the version of yourself that you are currently, comfort you.

Let the version that you are becoming, inspire you.

You are the version that you need 

and needed to be 

in every phase of your journey"

~unknown~

"You must understand the whole of life,

 not just the little part of it.

That is why you must read,

that is why you must look at the skies,

that is why you must sing and dance,

and write poems,

and suffer,

and understand.

For all that

is 

life"

 ~J. Krishnamurti~