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TULITA HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

The rain stayed away and we had a fun day raising money for the Tulita PTA.









TULITA HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

I am excited to be here on Saturday December 1st.  I will be selling some of my artwork.  Last year Joshua and I had a 'cat' theme and I'm so grateful for the wonderful people who passed by the table and brought the artwork.  Joshua was thrilled to donate our earnings to the Tulita PTA and it gave me the confidence to return for the second annual holiday boutique.  This year will be an assortment of paintings I've worked on during the year.  It's time to let go of some pieces - there is only so much hanging room in a house...


QUOTE: PAULO COELHO

“When people consult me, it’s not that I’m reading the future; I am guessing at the future. The future belongs to [a Higher Being], and it is only he who reveals it, under extraordinary circumstances. How do I guess at the future? Based on the omens of the present. The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better.” 

- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

THE WILD UNKNOWN

A sucker for tarot and esoteric themed artwork... this beauty is winging its way to me!



PAINT MOJO

Tracy makes it look soooooo easy!
I struggled to get this far.
I over complicate things.
I started over at least three times.
Colors, smears, words, pictures, drips and splatters.
They are all there..somewhere...lost in the layers.
I'm finished... done... we rise with the sun...
Thank you Tracy for a wonderful and inspiring weekend.
I'm ready to do it again!

PAINTING THE GODDESS WITHIN

After 'Angels in My Studio' I was thrilled when Sherri announced the next workshop would be 'Painting the Goddess Within'.  If you remember my Angel from a previous post you will know my 'Angel' gradually morphed into a wonderful Goddess, so this new workshop just feels like a natural progression to me and I cannot wait for it to begin. 

Although I do love painting I don't find it easy.  So I'm super-excited to learn more about Havi Mandell's class using Sophia McCloud's Color of Woman Method.  Anything that breaks to painting process down into steps is a good thing in my eyes.

If you'd like to know more about this workshop including the sign-up information go to Sherri's blog where you can also see some of the stunning work she has created using Sophia's method as presented by Havi Mandell.



I HAVE AN IDEA...

I'm on a blog posting roll which makes me look like I've been super creative, but I created these two canvases back in July.  You can find this project on the Brave Girls Club website and the great thing is that you have instant access AND it only costs $10.00!

I loved this project so much I had to do another one in blue!







PAINT MOJO WEEKEND

I had an amazing time painting with the very patient and generous Tracy Verdugo and a wonderful group of ladies in the beautiful home of Christy Nimeh.














ANGELS IN MY STUDIOS

After watching part one and two of the wonderful Whitney Ferre...

Initial Sketch
First Layer



Adding Details





















Blocking in and Adding Wings

























Still a long way to go, still a work in progress...

THE MISTS OF AVALON



I am reading the Mists Of Avalon. It is the story of Avalon and King Arthur written from the women's' point of view. I'm only on chapter two but I'm hooked already. I wonder how long it will take me to read - it's HUGE!

My sister read this many moons ago.  For some reason I did not pick it up at that time.  Now, maybe twenty years since she read it I am reading it for the first time.  I have to confess I never did visit Glastonbury when living in England.  Instead, I wait until I live five thousand miles away to take an interest... ha! :-)

OWLS



JUST FOR TODAY

Free shipping at Society 6 through to the end of Sunday


SKETCH No. 4

SKETCH No. 3

LATE NIGHT SKETCH No. 2

QUOTE: RUMI




BLOGLOVIN

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

LATE NIGHT SKETCH No. 1

NEW DIGITAL ARTWORK

I added a new piece to my Society 6 store...

BOOK REVIEW: FIFTH CHAKRA BY SUBTLE HARMONY


Short books worth reading.
Reviewed for people with little time to read!
Fifth Chakra E-book by Subtle Harmony (Gin White)

Fifth Chakra eBook by Subtle Harmony

I LOVE this compact book - all 39 pages of it!

Can you relate to any or all of the below?
'Have you ever been speaking and had someone interrupt you… perhaps not even to talk to you, but to direct their attention away and speak to someone else, as though you weren't even speaking at all?

Have you ever spoken up at a business meeting and felt like you weren't heard?

Or have you wanted to speak up at a business meeting (or in any other situation, really) but felt uncomfortable, and so you said nothing at all?

Have you ever wanted to write a book, tell a story, paint a picture, sing a song… but felt stifled somehow?

Or have you ever written that book, told that story, painted that picture, performed that song… but kept it to yourself, feeling too afraid or too uncomfortable or too something to share it with others?'

It all starts with an overview of the chakra system the colors, names and meanings of these energy centers. Of course, more attention is given to the 5th chakra.

If you are thinking you really don't need another review of the chakra system - read on...

Gin explains that communicating isn't just about using your voice, and nor is it just about communicating to others. She says

'We’re also talking about communicating with your intuition and your heart and your own Self. It also involves communication with Spirit/Divine/God/Universe/Higher Power, your angels and guides and guardians, or however you choose to define what is greater than yourself.'

Now, that's interesting stuff, huh?

And yes, this book really does tell you how to open up these communication channels by working with crystals, stones, aromatherapy oils, sound, color, journal prompts, meditations and affirmations.

This isn't a quick fix book. These changes are often subtle, but that's not to say they are not working.

Remember, the only way to see the improvement in your communication is to listen...

Why did I choose to review this book? Because it's brief, easy to read, in a language that is easy to understand and also meaningful with exercises you can put into practice right NOW! And the bonus is that it is available as a download, so you can buy it today and start work on your 5th chakra within minutes.

Find your voice find your truth. 


Find out more about this wonderful ebook visit Subtle Harmony 

Fifth Chakra eBook on Subtle Harmony
Fifth Chakra eBook on Etsy

Thank you, Gin for a wonderful read!

ON READING

I used to read.  I used to read a lot.  I used to love to read.

Living in London, England I had a thirty minute commute each way, five days a week.  That makes for a lot of reading.  Now I have a forty-five minute car drive for my commute.  Couple that with a six year old son and that makes for zero reading time.

But somewhere my brain hasn't made this connection.  Still I buy paper and Kindle books as if I am still in my pre-family days and commuting by train.  The paper books sometimes get flicked through and even carried around in my tote for a few weeks, and I've managed to get to the end of a few good tales on the Kindle, but generally opening a book at the end of a long day at the office just sends me straight to sleep. And that's no slur on the book content - just my brain's way of saying enough is enough!

But I still LOVE reading.  I love a good story, I love learning, I love a good self-help guide, and I simply ADORE a good craft book!

What is one supposed to do!?

Well, I'm going to read short books that get straight to the point AND I'm going to help you my happy reader to get straight to the point too!

I kid you not!

I'm working on my first book review right now.  Sign up for blog updates on the left of your screen if you want to be notified when the first review is up.

SOCIETY 6 SHOP

Have you seen what's in my Society 6 shop?

This one is my favorite!

Reiki friends will recognize the first line of the Reiki principles...

The Simple Sabbat and Things My Mother Knew

Maybe it's because I am in the desert that I purchased the book?  In the Palm Springs valley area.  The mountains and valleys and wildlife all around make me feel more grounded, more connected with nature.  

I have just purchased The Simple Sabbat by Charming Pixe Flora.  Just a few pages in and already I've fallen in love.  She includes instructions for rituals that includes kids - now who could not fall in love with that?

And in a strange way her book reminds me of my mother.  My mother was brought up in London, England and in the Church of England faith which is basically Christian with a few modifications by the English Royal Family along the way.

BUT she knew about Pagan rituals, herbal remedies, old wives' tales.  She understood full moons and new moons and the changing of the seasons.  She knew sentences and rhyming words that some may call spells but to her they were just words that she knew.

Occasionally, her Church of England faith would come out and she would say 'Oh but it's all silly really.'  But in general she would talk more about nature's ways than the church.

If I could have time with my mother again I would like to ask her how she knows the things she knew...

My Beautiful Mom

BEADING BUG

Yep, seems I have the beading bug!
Last night's creation...

STRINGING BEADS

My mother-in-law is visiting and I'm struggling to find things to keep her entertained.  I booked us onto a beading class at the local bead store.

We had great fun and both came away with a finished necklace.  Who knew I would choose orange?  My sacral chakra must have needed some attention that evening.

But I cannot take credit for the entire necklace.  My six year old son collaborated with me.  The tiny colored beads are his addition - I think they are the best part!


Happy July 4th!

We'll be bbq-ing a little later but of course I'm doing a little crafting...  I think I'm addicted to the smell of Mod Podge.
How are you celebrating this July 4th?



What is Reiki?

Back in March of this year I read about a lady who enthused her jewelry with Reiki before positing it to the buyer.  I thought it would be a cool idea for my sister, Susie G Designs, who had just started making gem stone bracelets.  (I'm so good at thinking of good ideas for other people).

I knew nothing about Reiki and wondered what magical powers and skills were needed to be able to do Reiki.  I Googled the word and was surprised to find everyone had this magic power inside of them.   All that needs to happen is an attunment to awaken the magic already inside of you, or in other words to realign your chakras.  It's all very simple and gentle.  In fact, it is so gentle you could even be attuned while sleeping.

Instantly I was in love with Reiki.

By April both my sister and I were attuned and on our thirty day self-healing journey.

Two online Reiki places that I can highly recommend are Dharmadevi's Reiki Blessings Academy and the Spirited Reiki online classes offered by Jodi Lebrun at Creative Life by Design

Learning Reiki can be quite overwhelming to the newbie.  I know I had lots of questions which mainly started with 'Am I doing this right?'  I loved Jodi's Spirited Reiki I class.  It was small and intimate with lots of personal attention and Jodi answered all my newbie questions.

I'm still at the begining of my Reiki journey with a long way to go but already I can feel the positive effects of the energy reflected in all areas of my life.  One of them being my creativity.

Here is a little piece I made in response to one of Jodi's creative prompts in Spirited Reiki I.  Hanging amongst my son's artwork.  Can you tell he is my inspiration and my muse?

My daily reminder of the Reiki principles...



Inspiration: Aelita Andre

More beautiful spills, this time from Aelita Andre, 5 year old child prodigy...


Inspiration: Saori Kanda


This week we have been studying the Muse 'Spills' for The Modern Day Muse homework.
Watch this lady paint - I think you will agree she embodies 'Spills'. Her drips, smudges and spills are beautiful...





Her name is Saori Kanda. You kind find her website HERE.

It is said that the spontaneous style of Chinese painting came to be many years ago by an artist who would often drink too much wine before painting. He would drip and spill paint all over his work surface but jovially continue painting. It is unsure if any of his work still exists today.

Dream Board 2012

So can you tell what I'm dreaming of?

Karen Johnson Dream Board 2012

Sunday Morning Dream Board

I have a new favourite Sunday morning smell - coffee and Mod Podge!
The smell of creativity - what could be better?
Here's the dream board so far - still a few bits to add...

Karen Johnson Dream Board 2012



Boho Bliss

Deryn is giving away two places on her Boho Bliss workshop. 
Have I entered?  Too right!
I LOVE her jewelry and her classes are fantastic!
Take a look at her work on her blog here - Something Sublime. 

Deryn Mentok: Boho Hoops Jewelry Workshop


Dream Board

The house is in chaos as we wait for new kitchen counter tops to be fitted and most of the weekend will be taken up with Joshua's baseball games.  No idea if I'll fit any painting in so I'm going to attempt my very first dream board instead.  Images printed, magazines waiting, glue stick and scissors waiting.  Hopefully, I'll be back with photos.

Happy Saturday everyone.
Karen Johnson Dream Board 2012




Quote: William Arthur

I'm reading  The Nine Modern Day Muses (and  a Bodyguard) by Jill Badonsky and came across this quote.  

'Flatter me, and I may not believe you.  
Criticize me, and I may not like you.  
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. 
Encourage me, and I may not forget you.'

                                         William Arthur, Author

I think there could be more encouragement in this world.  It's so easy to criticize, discourage and pour out negative feelings, but a little bit of encouragement goes a long way... often further than we can ever imagine...

Color: Blue / Green

I love this color.
Yes, even for hair! :-)

Color: Blue / Green

Color: Blue / Green

Color: Blue / Green

You can find the credits for these photos on Pinterest.

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