Sometimes our heart knows things ahead of our experience. The calendar and journal pages in this post were made and written in April through the first week of May. With what is going on in the world now, including my home city of Portland, Oregon, the messages and prayers are more relevant than ever. The first of June is also the reveal of the new Stencil Club Mash-up set with Mary Beth Shaw. Here's the stencils and some ideas of what you can do with them...
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It has been said of the time we are in, and I agree, that we are all in the same storm, but not in the same boat. It is a storm none of us have faced before. Our polarization only adds to the problems, causing the divide to widen. Fear and faith struggle for control, and we choose. Our experiences are different and are expressed in different ways. The right answer may be different for different people in different places and at different times. What to do?
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As I was making my monthly calendar page, I was reminded how each day and how we live it is still important.In our Living Your Word of the Year facebook group, Bernice put out a challenge that seems just right for this month. As usual, I'm adjusting it to my own liking, and am finding comfort in the simplicity and the daily exercise of looking back on the day, and responding with a simple symbol, drawing or words.
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The people I've talked with and stories I’m reading on social media are encouraging and empowering. There are also the opposite harsh messages. In art terms, they provide contrast, but also brings sadness. I'm not denying or minimizing the difficulties we are facing in the world, but I believe we have power and what we say actually can create good or ill in the spirit realm. Making Art with meaning is important to me, and art reflects life. Make an acrostic poem with meaning.
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Obviously I planned the Keys to drawing Celtic Knots & Illumination course to be offered as we Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. What I didn’t expect is for it to coincide with the pandemic of the corona virus, limiting our in-person interactions and activities. An online course makes sense and can give some personal interaction around some common ground. If you're like me, it helps the stress level to do something creative and rhythmic with my hands, and the spiritual encouragement helps keep my thinking positive and fosters emotional well-being.
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One of the ways to focus on and contemplate my word of the year is through visually designing the word itself. If you aren't interested in doing that, you can always look for a font on your computer and print out your word in the font, adding color, definitions, quotes, symbols etc.Each year I dedicate a page to this in the journal used for everyday things, but you can also post it where you can see it each day.
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After I realized fear of failing was keeping me from hearing God clearly and taking positive action, I found the inspiration and motivation I needed. This post shares what I found. I am already stepping out with more confidence and intentional action.
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Only a week into the new year and decade and I was feeling overwhelmed. Not good. Numerous 'opportunities' were coming my way in addition to the already scheduled commitments and events on my calendar. As I wondered what to do, and not do, confusion started swirling in my head. My thoughts were not linear so I decided to do a mind map. This post shows the process I went through and three easy steps to make your own mind map.
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Whether you are researching your Word of the year or any word, these online research steps can help you grow in understanding of your word. In this post there is listed step-by-step process to explore the meaning of a word and find Scripture and quotes to add to the meaning. Examples of visually expressing words are also given.
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Introducing four new Celtic stencils inspired by Celtic illuminated manuscripts. Spark your creativity with four videos and inspiring examples.See what you can do to make a bullet journal come alive with using stenciled letters that don't look like stencils, and beautiful Spiral and tile patterns. Use a Gel Press to print shimmery papers with metallic Pan Pastels and acrylic paints.
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Here is a walk through of my Word of the Year bullet journal set-up for 2020. I also compare it to 2019's journal set-up. I hope you are inspired to set up your own journal. It's so nice to set up the monthly calendar as I go in the journal. That way there aren't any blank pages in between entries.
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The beautiful guiding prayer of The Maranatha Community has been read and heard by millions worldwide. It has helped transform my thinking and used to bring about inner healing. In this post I've use the sound-track from the original Shalom CD (with permission) to overlay it onto my original artwork to create this video rendition.
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This post shows my finished journal pages of the A-Z Word of the Year Challenge & links including A-Z of my Mystery and applying it to a word of the year.
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2019 monthly calendar made in my Leuchtturm 1917 dotted journal with theme of mid-century modern & using banner stencil. Biggest Stencil Sale of the year!
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Moving toward a zenith, the highest point in life, with passion and zeal sounds fulfilling and to me. I would like to live with such purposeful intention.
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What I yearn for I tend to say 'yes' to. That is why it is so important to nurture my heart, be aware of what or who I give my heart to, what I focus on, and even what I see and hear.
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The mysterious treasure and paradox of the letter 'X' in the A-Z of Mystery journal. Scripture and questions to consider in this journey of life.
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Seeking wisdom “the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, insight, understanding and common sense; unbiased judgment, and compassion.” What do I have grace and time for?
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We are bound together in a common life. Seeking unity with one another is a worthwhile pursuit. "How wonderful it is...to live together in harmony.
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