No place like Home for the Holidays Paint Party Friday

 

 Paint Party Friday

Revamped advent Calendar in the style of a box. Still needs some finishing touches!

As I thumbed through my address book  I realized how different this era is than when I was raised.  So few people  stay in one place for a lifetime. There's something to be said for living in the same house most of your childhood, getting married then returning home during the holidays.  Sauntering through the old rooms, eying familiar items from  childhood, opening the fridge to the same condiments and traditional Christmas foods from holidays past! It seems people made more sacrifices to stay put  during my parents era than they do  today! 

When you open the doors there are 24 little drawers to pull out. The original is too ugly to show!

With a  fifty percent divorce rate and a few dips in the economy things have gone awry. There is just not the same stability that past generations enjoyed with  their families, where grandpa and grandma lived in the same house until they died and all the  aunts and uncles did the same! Back then  home was the same place for decades! 

People seem to want bigger and better, or they split and can't afford the family home. Only a hand full of the people I know have lived in their homes ten years or longer! The majority of my  old neighbors living in elite homes  are all now divorced and moved on. It seems the ones who struggled to hang on to their modest homes during tough  times, ones who have renovated from the sweat of their brow, or raised several children, are still in their homes twenty odd years later!

Save a few addresses, sadly my address book is now defunct. Some people are only in our lives for a season, I guess  it's the ones that count  that stay a lifetime.  Even though things get  old and overlooked, renovations are put on hold, there is something so comforting about being in the same familiar place for years! 

Beardos parents have been in their three bedroom basement  home over fourty years. They  raised ten children and even though certain rooms have been renovated there is one  room  that still has the same curtains from the seventies. Curtains my mom once owned too! All the children come home for Christmas with their families.There is something so loving and comfortable about being there! It's a feeling that can't be bottled into words!

Digital Color edit

When I was young I wanted things to look perfect, surround myself in beauty, to stay current. When I was married the  longest we stayed in a home was nine years. There was always a reason to move.  Having been in my home sixteen years now I realize for me there is truer value in  permanence and stability. I am a homebody, some people have more of a gypsy spirit and need change often, others are economically forced to move whether they want to or not!

Life is ever changing, with technology, morals, and attitudes. Still  there is something to be said for going home and knowing things might be a little tattered here and there, but it's filled with love,  good memories and comfort that fill your heart with joy like no other!

Do you love your home as much as I do mine?

 Didn't get cards out in time this year. Inside its says Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!
Click on the photo for a better affect!

Wishing all my blog friends a  Holiday filled with Love, Peace

and snippets of Joy where possible!

To those suffering loss, or illness, be kind to yourself and remember 

the season is short and a New Year is around the bend.

In that, there is always HOPE!

May you ALL be blessed with good things!

My Normal Now Paint Party Friday

 Paint Party Friday and 29 faces of February!

Original digital " On the Bus" 29 faces of February

Recently I've spent  a lot of time in the car waiting!  I don't mind because I really enjoy people watching!
It's great fodder for cartooning.

Original  digital before color changes! #2,#3,#4,#5 of 29 faces

Digital characters are probably one

of my very favorite things to create!
Especially quirky ones!

Sometimes certain color edits turn out really ugly.....

 As quirky as people are, everyone seems to have

 their own sense of normal! What's customary in my life
 now is nothing like my childhood or early adult life!

Unfavorable color edits all!!!.....

 My parents drank and smoked, with that came a lifestyle

of weekend parties, card games, and loud arguments! 

All in a perfectly normal way!

Or so I thought until I  married and created 

my own lifestyle!

Doesn't matter how you look at it certain styles are just plain ugly!

At first  my normal consisted of a lot of budgeting, 
tv watching, delayed gratification and very little socialization.

  Creativity was always peppered into my days, 

with sewing, crocheting, playing piano, 

decorating or cooking! I was pretty contented with that!

As more money became available, different 

possibilities arose! I enjoyed  wild times partying,

 dancing, concerts, I dabbled in many great activities too!

 It was  fun for a time! 

Until I became a mother.

The new normal was a life rich with good food, 

good friends! Playing card games, and scrabble.
Days at the beach in summer, the rec center in the winter,
 attending any available child friendly event.  I had so much
 fun with my daughter and our friends! It was a very social time! 
We had many intimate dinners at home with different family friends,
 often ended in family sleepovers and a big breakfasts
the next morning!

A few years after my parents passed I became single mother.
Adapting again to a new normal. 
A quiet, simple normal of my choosing!

 The tables had turned, now everyone I knew had more money 
and adventure than me. With faith at my side,
 I quickly adapted to living more simply!
I socialized but it was very different. A little less elaborate!

This last decade I have lived a creative life! 

Surrounding myself in color, whimsy, and happy  people!

Allowing myself  a messy art corner that can

be quickly hidden away! I like my peaceful normal!

Many could possibly be bored with my lifestyle.

However I am not! 

Each color change exudes a new persona!

We are all programmed to our own normal, but
until we are conditioned to certain forced changes
it can feel so strangely unfamiliar!
Like it or not, eventually we adapt !
Sometimes compensating for the voids!

How does your normal look compared  to others?
 Are you quirky, adventurous, socially busy, happy, unhappy? 
If you could change one thing to create a new normal
 what would it be?  Do you have any voids?

 If so, how do you compensate for them?

Thoughts for the week! Paint Party Friday

Thoughts for the week!

 I have so much art in progress but both digital and painting but I found this full post in my drafts and thought I'd share it since this week has flown by!  I'm curious to know if anyone has read the book "David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell?

 Years ago a friends step daughter was struggling with science. My friend suggested she befriend  someone who gets high marks! I found her advice quite foreign. My mind doesn't even work that way. I'd have suggested a tutor, help from the teacher rather than soliciting a friend to do their work.  In fact that statement always bothered me.   Probably because I never understood that train of thought until this week!

While promoting his book David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell mentioned how a third of the highly successful entrepreneurs are often dyslexic. Learning vital qualities for entrepreneurial success early in life......grade one, befriending the smartest kid, learning to delegate and negotiate early, having people  do their work for them. Skills they nurture compensate for their condition, sometimes leading to a life of extraordinary accomplishment. I'm now  feeling less ambiguous about my friends response twenty years ago. Maybe that's was how she coped too! 

I find it fascinating to be able to change my mind and perspective no matter how old I am. It certainly pays to be open minded! I look forward to eventually reading David and Goliath!

How about you, have you come to a realization, changed perspectives   or found answers  years after the fact?

Hypocrisy alert!

Not everything is easy to accept!

 Incandescence

I knew you over fifty years 

I loved what you had to share

We turned you off  automatically

or parents would stop and glare

You worked perfectly for decades

We dimmed you, to fool around

Didn't have to replace you very often

or call hazmat if you fell to the ground

They say the new ones are more efficient

in the end there will be  less to pay

Sadly incandescent they've banned you 

The dreaded  ugly CFL's are here to stay

I'm not as comfortable with them
  they don't last as long as first implied

The CFL  bulbs are so expensive

I  fear the powers that be, may have lied

Now I have to drive dead bulbs 

where things with mercury go

I hope they're being recycled

But we'll never really know

When we see new creatures

sporting five heads and sixteen toes

ears like califlower, 

one eye upon their nose

We'll know for sure they've fibbed

you should have never been laid to rest

because anything  without mercury

really would have served us best!

RIP Incandescent..... 

so glad I have a few of you left!
Even if it's not politically correct
I don't mind paying for the luxury
of a bulb without mercury! 

However I reserve the right to change my mind!!

 This is my contribution for Paint Party Friday!

Who are you? Paint Party Friday!

This is my contribution for Paint Party Friday! 

 Illustration Friday "Beginnings"

 

Did I ever tell you how glad  I am that you're here? Well I am so grateful for all your kind comments and some of our personal interactions over the years! This  blog  was started with my compiled thoughts and lessons as a legacy for my daughter!  But it took a completely different turn. This week someone close to me said my blog is my ego. Maybe so.... but I feel it's more my soul spread out on the page shared with like minded people kindly willing to read what I have to share! 

Originally I just wanted to get my thoughts  and poetry on the page without interruption! It's turned into so much more. Amazing Friendships across the miles that  I never expected. A new direction, creativity I never thought possible,  inner satisfaction and peace that can't be measured!  Only another blogger can truly understand what blogging means to the creative soul! I would love to have read my ancestors blogs to see what their life and thoughts were  back in the day! How about you, would you be interested in discovering the minds and hearts of those in your lineage?

Check this out!!

 It's super fast and fun!! 15 seconds!

 You can see how all the color changes work so well here!
 I love how this quick little flipagram
of my artwork, titled

"Color Delight"

turned out!

I summon the universe to move this year in a better direction.....  not only for me, but everyone!! 

 This was a challenging week for those around me which can leave me pensive for days on end, even affected my sleep. So my original ideas end up in draft mode.  While I end up in completely different direction!!! One night before bed after a bout of creativity struck I started thinking what three words I'd use to describe myself and others!  Then I realized three words wasn't enough, so I added another!! You know, an abridged version of yourself.....what would that be? 

For Beardo I'd say Gentle, Kind, Helpful, Creative. 

He is such a kind gentle giant, always loving and helpful, creative in every avenue of life, this man hates confrontation and wouldn't harm a flea.  He's stylish and if I ever need a clear unique perspective I can count on him to have a profound answer!

Cupcake is Ethical, Practical, Generous, Caring.

Always reliable this strong, ethical woman is savvy, practical and efficient in every measure of life. Her generosity and caring of others is upper most in her mind. An amazing cook she is also very creative and able. She was born so grateful and could be heard sincerely saying thank you mommy for everything from as young as two! She thinks of the less fortunate especially single moms constantly!!

I'm Whimsical, Wise, Creative, Nurturing.

I was called mother earth from a very young age, there is a quirky side to me that was more evident when I was young! Long before I attempted to do artwork I was creative in every area of my life, but since childhood I loved to write! I have always nurtured others from as young as six where the teacher was annoyed that I helped another child pick up their dropped crayons! I care deeply about the minds and spirits of young people!

My Bestie is  Creative, Thoughtful, Generous, Loving

Everything my bestie does is so creative, this dreamer can make anything she touches beautiful!  She has an unique wit that's a step above others. I admire this thoughtful   hard working woman's tenacity! Another out of the box thinker I can always get an interesting wise loving perspective from my friend who is also a very nurturing fair soul! 

Of course we are all so much more than four words and a small paragraph. What if we had to quickly say who we  are to the world....what would we want people to understand about us? How would others describe you in four words! 

How would you sum yourself up in four words..... Who are you in one paragraph....? I'd love to hear in the comments!!  

" Wear it Proud" Paint Party Friday

 Ever since I can remember I have loved hats. Every summer I picked out the brightest most unique fluorescent colored  hat for my little girl to wear on the beach so I could spot her instantly out of a crowd! 

 Cupcake loves hats as much as I do. She'd even spent her own money on them when she was young!! Now I vicariously live through her since I rarely wear them anymore! Only because my attire doesn't really suit them!! One day I may just spot the perfect hat that calls my name, I'll wear it proudly!

This collage was made several years ago capturing Cupcakes teen years!..

If it wasn't hats, it was hair pretties, or colored hair....but there was  always something decorating my daughters head!! Here's a where's Waldo type collage where you can see me peeking out behind Cupcake wearing a hat as well!

 Beardo is not much of a hat guy however Cupcake and Beardo 

bought matching toques which is a Canadian term for hats this winter 

and have been wearing them frequently and I love it! 

Makes me so happy when people wear hats!

Recently I read a few  blogs where artists were afraid of drawing 
attention to themselves by wearing a hat!  That made me so sad!
I can understand disliking hats, everyone has their own taste, but
not wearing them strictly because you feel self-conscious 
is such a shame.

Years ago  my mother, in my presence told my two year old I was a kook wearing my hat! My relationship with mom was never the same after that! Years of criticism compiled into that one moment where she would now sculpt how my daughter saw me! I refused to let that happen. She'd not label me to my child, she'd not diminish my love of hats, she'd not squash my spirit!! I didn't let her!   I learned not to have  judgement in my eyes, in my voice or in my heart when it comes to my child .....for they will read it and it WILL hurt!! Instead...... wear your hat proud and let them wear theirs too despite what others may think....because people like me will love it...you will bring us joy, you will seem interesting, fun, and I will always wonder if you're an artist too!!

Do you wear your hat proud? Do you just plain despise them for other reasons, or are you simply afraid to wear them!!

This is my contribution to Paint Party Friday and Mix it Monthly

where there are many other wonderful artists participating!! 

Happy Art Paint Party Friday, Art everyday Month

My daughter has asked me three times if my blog is up yet! I'm working on my Christmas cards so I  had to steal this post  from  my drafts. Not  sure if it's a repeat or not. Sorry if it is! I'm a little under the weather the last two days  so my blog felt like a bit of a chore.  These two images came together this morning starting with scribbler then popped into a paint program to finish them off!! I didn't want to miss paint party friday! I am also joining in on art every day for the month of Nov....hope I can keep up!!

Over the years I’ve seen happy marriages, seemingly contented children, living in perfectly groomed homes with elephants in room, pooping. Metaphorically of course! I’ve seen misery and laughter melding into a fire of complex deceit. Addictions carefully honed into wallpaper glue as part of the decoration, stabilized and well concealed behind layers of insecurities.  

I watched my mother admire everyone and anyone with more education, more money, and more status than her. Unable to recognize what a gifted cook and humanitarian she was. Not to mention wise, creative and intuitive!    

I’ve seen too many people living a facade, with partners oblivious to their needs. I have watched children acting out, while parents blame everything, and everyone instead of looking within.  I‘ve witnessed a melding pot of anger brewing below deep seeded pain, with no release. I’ve heard so many false cries of injustice; I’ve listened as words and situations have been totally misconstrued. After fifty seven years on earth the message I’ve received is, “NOTHING IS AS IT APPEARS TO BE!” Behind each visual and every word hides a complex story peppered with pain, insecurity, and shame.

So my art reflects that. I surround myself in a home of unconventional colors, and happy art. I paint things whimsically, deflecting from what appears normal. It seems fruitless for me to aspire to normalcy when it’s most likely an illusion. Sadly I see prosperous people walking around in a fog of discontent. I wish I could encourage people to  find joy in the small things that  money can't buy!  It’s sad when I hear people aspiring to be like others when they are so gifted themselves.  Besides we all have different crosses to bear during periods of our life. I dream of a day when people revel in their own personal individual gifts and beauty. It takes so much energy to live in a world of constant desire, when waiting within, is a vessel of internal bliss! 

What is a simple pleasure that gives you more joy than anything money can buy? 

Sending loving healing thoughts to my friend Tracey Fletcher King during her journey to fight Breast Cancer! Tracey you are truly in my thoughts every single day! Big hugs across the miles!  Also Sharon you are sent love and healing thoughts! Faye,  Netty  and my friend Janet you dear ladies are missed too, hope you are well!

Birthday Paint Party Friday

 Last week Beardo and Cupcake went to Mumford and Sons

 and this happened...it's a  three minute happy story!!

Worth the watch 

 Beardo /betterbrother is a singer songwriter, 

  his instagram photo was used in the video

along with his following words, which cupcake responded to.

  betterbrother Boyfriends all around the park sighed in frustration as this banner floated around the sky above the park right before Mumford and Sons setting a new standard in their girlfriends eyes..... I apologized to my wife... we had a chuckle. Go get him, Natalie Helm!      

pepperpf no apologies needed! babe we could buy nice shoes with that money! ;-) betterbrother And that's why i married you! :)    

 Last Wednesday the goddesses took me out for an early Birthday dinner!!

 Dream goddess made me this beautiful cake that was even yummier than it looked!!

Photo credited to Gypsy Goddess

  

This is six days before I turned 57.

 It's fun to have a photo commemorating my age.

With my fat staving off the wrinkles....phew....

Actually I softened the light with a photo process

fooled yah!

Then I  painted this digital with imaginary pink hair.  
I'd probably have pink hair if I was thirty years younger,

 working in a non conventional job!

  I'd have to try these colors too, cuz I'm fun like that!!

                  On Tuesday, my actual  Birthday, Cupcake made me Cupcakes.
                                  In my imagination they looked and tasted like this!

 In actuality they were delectable chocolate cupcakes

stuffed with reeses peanut butter cups,
topped with crumbled peanut butter cups on the icing!!

I was treated like a goddess, but to be honest I am 

treated like one most days!!
There were many fun surprises that day, flowers left on my step,
some loose, some in a planter, a cool pink pedestal dish, 
a britto spoon holder and a lipstick!
I LOVED IT ALL!!!

 A week ago I started cleaning out drawers in my en-suite bathroom

and hadn't quite finished.  I've been fighting a head cold. 
The evening before my birthday Cupcake cleaned

  my large bathroom from top to bottom. Silly as this seems to

some, It was a total surprise and more than thrilling for me! 

I love a clean house but find it difficult with my bad hip. 
 

If only I could wear heels, best I can do is wedgies!!

Now to put on my party shoes cuz I have way more celebratin to do!!

What is something that may seem silly that you would love

 your family to do for you on a special occasion?

This is my contribution for Paint Party Friday!