art therapy

My career coaching has been an amazing thing.
We've just had our third skype session and I'm
beyond excited about the tools and tips I've learned so far.
Little short cuts and ways of doing things I had never
learned, and it may have taken me months to google
and find them in tutorials.

Making the whole digital painting process that much
easier and more freeing and useful.

Pretty much since childhood I've turned to art as a release.
Things have been a bit stressful with circumstances I haven't
talked about much here.
It's not super important what they are, just that what it means
is my pencil has been flying off my paper.
It's my therapy.
Just after prayer and turning it all over to God,
it's my way of calming and centering.
I turn on my Sara Groves pandora station and I pray and paint.
And just wish I had more time to paint and pray and paint and pray.

I'm trying to make it all work and am hoping to have new things in the shop soon.
Here's a teeny sneak peak of one thing I'm working on.
And a clue of more to come.
I've been slightly obsessed with sea animals
since it's our whole science unit this year.

I love how cozy she looks snuggled up with him.

career coaching

You may have noticed that adding new prints to the shop has been a bit on the back burner for me lately.

Not because I want it that way.  Just because my kids have been needing so much of my time and energy that I'm falling asleep at night and with homeschooling, my daytime creative hours are no longer an option.

But I'm making an effort to carve out time for creating.
(Side note here....but I had a request to make a boy on an eagle so I started this.. I felt like a boy would much rather be standing with an eagle that looked way more fierce.  At least I know my ten year old son would much prefer it this way.)

Back to the title of this post.  And the fact that If I'm not intentional about literally putting creative time in my calendar, it so sadly is one of the things that can get cut from my schedule.

Back in August I noticed that one of the illustrators I have loved following, whose work I think is adorable was offering career coaching.

stephanie fizer coleman

Ironically, I so often have wished for something just like this where I could talk with someone further along than me and ask them how they do things.  She also is completely self taught and her story is pretty amazing.  Her first illustrated children's book was just released.

I love success stories like this.  So often I think people wouldn't want to share their short cuts or tips.  But she is and honestly, I can tell that we would be real life friends if we lived close.

We started our weekly skype sessions yesterday afternoon for me, night for her.  Over the course of the month, she's basically doing one on one tutorials with me as well as answering loads of business related questions.  It's perfectly catered to all those questions that apply directly to what my needs are at this time.  It's like having a private class.  And I'm so excited about it.

Generally I google things when I want to learn how to do them and then follow a tutorial.  Or I'll spend lots of time going to paper warehouses and researching online, finding what I like best.   But my free time being so much more limited with homeschooling, I thought this would be more efficient and well worth the investment.

Most of all, it's making me carve out time for something near and dear to me.  I've set it up to have a babysitter every Friday afternoon from 2-6.  It's giving me time to draw and work on the things we talk about in our skype session.

It's inspiring and fun.  And just what I needed.  I pray you'll see the fruits of these sessions very soon!

super girl

I've been inspired a lot lately.


So many ideas, but so little time.


However, I stayed up late the last couple of nights in order to finish


SUPER GIRL.... she makes me smile.


She was inspired by this photo of my youngest daughter.

I thought it went perfectly with 2 Timothy 1:7.

This was one of the earliest scriptures I memorized.


Because I can be prone to a spirit of fear.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

I love this reminder that fear is not from God.


Because of Him we get to have a power greater than our own.


I especially love that I get an opportunity to instill this in my girls.


Super girl is available in the shop.

Feel free to convo me if you'd like her with a different hair color.

art love

This summer has been a lot about lessons & appointments for us.


We've been very scheduled.. more so than I would have liked.


Ed therapy, language therapy, tutoring, swim lessons.


But my most favorite of all has been Ava's art class.

With this lady who adores her as though she's her own grandchild.

She was our neighbor for eight years.


The kind that brings you soup when you have your tonsils removed.


The kind who truly cares about you and your kids.


And it shows in the way she teaches Ava art.

And the way she praises her work.

It has been so much fun watching her pride over what she has created.

And I love how each morning, she asks to eat her cereal from her special bowl.

summer art club

Summer art club.

So cool.

I don't think they realize how lucky they are.

This art club is run by our neighbor.

She used to live right across the street.

But back then, our kids weren't old enough.

Now two of them are, so we're officially her students.

She has known them since the day they were all born.

And loves them like they're a part of the family.

 The class is really for this little lady who absolutely lOVES art.

 But today her brother joined in.  They both made a pot and each are working on an animal. He's making a horse, and she a cat.  I can't wait to see how they turn out.

Trust In The Lord

 

I've been busily working on a logo for a friend's new business.


She suggested I take it and turn it into a print with this scripture.


I loved the idea and so a new print is born.


I think I mentioned before I work well with deadlines.


This was a deadline for me, due today.


I'm happy to share it with you.


These children and this scripture make me smile.


It's available here in the willow of wonder etsy shop.


Happy Wednesday... we head off tomorrow for a little vacation in the mountains.


Lots to get ready between now and then.


xoxo,
Jackie

I'm Attempting...

to embrace the camera.

I ought to more.

My husband is a cameraman after all.

But I don't.

Ironically for some reason when 

you do things like this for a living,

you sometimes are prone to not do it at home.

I'm great at photographing my kids,

but often times just forget to include myself.

So I'm attempting to join in on this challenge.

Thankfully a mom photographer friend at

the older kids school took this pic at the art show.

It's so much fun seeing all of their creations.

There are no limits when you're a child

and everyone, absolutely everyone is an artist.

I love that.

Soaring On Eagles Wings!!!

This seemed the perfect print to include with the announcement that the etsy shop is now OPEN!!! It took me seriously a few hours to resize the photos, upload, describe them etc.  But now that the learning curve is over hopefully it'll go more quickly.

I'm super excited to be able to finally say it's open.  I'm still working on lots of half finished pieces so keep checking for new additions.

www.willowofwonder.etsy.com

Enjoy!

I Have Set You Apart

I've been feeling this ache in my heart over how every time we turn around there are headlines about corrupt businesses, organizations, leaders, the list goes on.  It feels overwhelming. 

I think about how many people are just lost and walking down paths that only lead to destruction.  I think of the hundreds of thousands of hurting souls that don't know Jesus.  The ones that do, that are also hurting.  The hurting people that are hurting others. 


You see glimpses of it everywhere.  At the grocery store when a customer is rude to the checker for no good reason.  On the road when you're trying to merge and someone speeds up, so you won't 'get ahead' of them.  From giant corporations, to neighbors who don't even say hello.  We are called to love, to be a light, to be different, to not cave into these worldly ways.


I hear startling statistics of young adults turning away from their faith.  I hear it from pastors, on Christian radio, from my bible study teacher.


We just began the book of Judges, following after Joshua.  I am astonished at how often the Israelites repeat the same cycle.  They have a time of peace, they become complacent, they break God's rules,  and do evil things like the people around them.  God no longer fights for them and they fall into destruction.  They cry for help.  The Lord hears their cries and rescues them.  He provides someone to help and a way out.  They are pulled out of their destruction.  They are in a time of peace and then they fall into the world's evil ways once again.  Over and over and over.  

The elders, those who personally saw God's faithfulness in crossing the Jordan into the promise land, did not keep their testimony alive.  They did not share with their children the amazing power God showed in delivering them out of captivity.  They didn't embed in their children's hearts a sense of awe and thankfulness for his sovereignty and the many blessings he gave them.

 "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel."  Judges 2:10

It's convicting isn't it?  I've heard some say this could be exactly why those in their 20s and 30s are turning away from their faith.  Are we making it a habit to show how active God is today and how faithful He is to us today.  Are they growing up learning bible stories, and memorizing scripture, but without an active faith that is alive and personal to them?  Let's make sure this generation grows up knowing how faithful He is, with specific, very personal stories that show the God who rescued Israel rescues us too.


Back to the Isrealites.  Looking at it on paper, I'm thinking, "Man why don't they just get it?"  Don't they see their wicked ways and see how simple it is to stay in the path that God has clearly laid out for them.


But then I think about how many ways our society today does the same exact thing.  People get lazy during times of ease.  Standards slowly slip away as little compromises are made, that lead to bigger and bigger compromises.  The worlds ways blend together until you cannot tell the Christian apart.


I know I'm sounding kind of heavy.  But even just driving the roads I have to take to get my kids to school they see billboards with images their eyes shouldn't take in.  Driving to ballet this weekend I looked over to see something I shouldn't have.  I don't even want to explain what it was and sadly it wasn't the first time this has happened.  I was struck with the feeling that we are living in a wicked and perverse generation.


My initial feeling that day was I just want out.  But really there isn't an 'out' until Jesus returns or I go to be with Him.  I also know we are not meant to 'run away' even though sometimes I feel like it.    We were chosen to be in this time for a purpose.  God ordained our days and he has called us to stand strong and to stand apart from the world's ways. 

Sometimes I don't know what to do with the frustration I feel about things.  When I'm stressed or anxious or working something through, I find I need to create.  It's a release.  I pray and talk to God and listen to praise music and as things come together I feel a peace wash over me.  

This idea had been mulling around for awhile and it seemed a fitting way to express how I'm feeling.  We are to stand high above and take the narrow path, set apart from the circus of the worldly nations around us.  

Oh, please join me in standing strong against the world's ways, and praying for repentance and changed lives.  Because we too have been set apart, and are chosen to be His own.  This isn't an exclusive club either.  He loves you even if you don't know Him yet.  He's tapping on your heart, hoping you'll be His own too.


P.S.  I'm linking this to gitzen girl's 'You Create' this Thursday.  Feel free to go over there and check out the other posts.  

Creative Deadlines

I work best when I have an assignment.  This was a project every family had to do for our child's preschool class.  We get this assignment every year and I actually love it.  I love to scrapbook, but sadly this creative outlet has found its way into my life only a few times in the last year.

I love to paper scrap, hybrid scrap and digital scrap.  I go in and out of doing them all.  One day I'll upload some of my work here, but if this link works you can see some of them on my flickr account.  But I stopped doing it for awhile last year while my joints were hurting so much from the lupus.  

I am feeling so much better now, praise God.  But I tend to 'let' myself scrapbook only once the dishes are clean, the lunches are made, the house is tidied, the laundry is done, and the closets are organized.  You know all of those daily necessities.  And honestly by the time that's all done, I generally want to just crash and read or spend time with my husband watching a movie or talking before going to sleep.

But I forget that when I don't create and don't have this kind of outlet I get kind of cranky.  I realize after the fact that something has been missing.

So assignments are good and this one came just at the right moment.  I had to sit down and go through pictures to find the people and things my daughter loves right now.  It was fun and therapeutic and just plain made me happy.  It's all digital using a kit I had purchased long ago from designer digitals.  (This link is to the accessories that went with the papers, but I don't actually see the papers there anymore.  It's a cute school days kit).

So with this knowledge about myself, I'm taking my little window of time while the kids are in school today to sit down and create... to draw and work on my dream.  Because the dishes and papers that need filing and the fridge that needs cleaning will still be there and in fact they'll need to be done again shortly after I've finished anyway.  So why not let them wait awhile and set aside time to create.  I really need to make this area of my life a part of my 'to do' list with a deadline. 

So with that said, this is brief because my pencils and my pandora are calling me. ;)  I hope you're finding time to create today too!

This is linking to gitzen girl's YOU:create so go check out the other entries for inspiration!

Edible Art

 (from Happy Little Bento)

I recently bought some of these bento boxes from amazon.  Last year I used those fabric/washable baggies, but they got too yucky.  This year I've been meaning to buy more, but in the meantime have been terribly un-eco friendly.  

Is that proper English?  No.  But we'll let it slide ok.  

So I decided instead to do the bento boxes.  My friend recommended them to me.  They're on their way and should be here by Tuesday.

Man I'm excited about them.  They're bpa free and this site, Happy Little Bento,  I can't stop clicking from one post to the next. 

So adorable and scrumptious looking.  And her post says this one is all raw.  

My three year old's review, "That looks really yummy."

 (from Happy Little Bento)

I think these works of art would entice any 3, 5, 8 year old to dig in and try some foods they haven't before.

It makes me want to make one for myself!  Do I have it in me to be this creative at seven in the morning?  Probably not.  But maybe with some preparation I can do it every once in awhile.  

In the meantime, I'll just keep clicking and oohing and ahhing over her amazing designs.  My kids are right alongside me saying, "look at that one, and that one!" 

What a creative way to make food appetizing 

to the eye and the tummy!

A Gift

I think I mentioned I love personalizing gifts.  My best friend's son is turning five and his party is TODAY!  We're about to leave for his circus theme party.  But I quickly wanted to share.  

I did these silhouettes for my kids about a year ago.  

She has wanted one for her son so I finally did it.

It's super easy if you want to try.  You just paint the canvas.  Take a profile picture of your child, print it out, cut it out and then trace it on the dry canvas.  Then paint it in black.

I liked how it looked doing the outer edge black too so I did that for her as well.  You have to be pretty careful with that part so it doesn't bleed onto the front.  But when it does I just go around again with a little green.
I didn't realize my husband snapped some shots of me painting.  This is me, no make up, still in my jammies, enjoying being outside doing something therapeutic.  Is there any better way to spend a Saturday morning?

I know she'll love it.  As for her five year old.. one day he will.  But in the meantime we got some fun books for him too.  Oh and a stainless steel water bottle that can also hold hot drinks like tea too.  My sister is selling them custom made from her etsy shop.

Hope you're enjoying your Saturday.  We're off to celebrate, sing happy birthday, play carnival games and eat popcorn, hot dogs and yummy treats!

A Little Bit Of "Free" Time

Today my last 'peanut' (that's what I have called her since she was a baby bundled in a swaddle because she just reminded me of a peanut) started her first day of preschool for the year.  She was so excited to see her friends and to be back at her school.  There were no tears thankfully.  Just a high five and an I love you mommy.  She was settled in with her friend Ry Ry and the baby dolls.  That's all she needed.

So I am home.  Two hours really is all I have till I pick her up.  But it's the first uninterrupted two hours I've had since last June to be home by myself.  Yes we go out on date nights or I'll have a meeting.  But I'm talking about being ALONE.  I crave it.  Is that bad for me to say?  I don't think so.  Because without it I'm not as good a mommy or wife, or anything for that matter.

I have learned about myself that I need time to be quiet.  Well, maybe not completely quiet.  I love turning on my pandora Ginny Owens station.  I love getting to read an inspiring blog or two and I sit here wondering which project to start first.

There are so many.  That's the problem with a personality like mine.  I can't just sit.  Part of me wants to.  But I am too excited to embark on all of those projects I've been putting on the back burner.

I prayed the Lord would let me be wise with my time.  Not waste it because it goes so quickly.  I felt the Lord telling me to get to this first.  So today is a day of new beginnings for me.  A day to pursue those dreams that have been on the back burner for a little while.

I drew it a little over a month ago.  It should have been colored in by now... but sometimes life gets in the way and sometimes I'm too tired at night.  Ok a lot of times I'm too tired at night.  A little note that I'm almost afraid to speak out loud.  But my hope had been/still is to have enough drawings done to sell prints and possibly other things on etsy by the end of October.  I really would love to have a whole calendar worth of drawings ready before the holidays so it can be a gift option.  Oh... I need prayers that I'll be able to achieve this dream.


But back to this drawing...

It is inspired by Isaiah 40:31.  

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles..."

I currently have this scripture with the famous Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker painted in my daughter's room.  But rain water damaged it awhile ago and we're about to have to paint over it.  I'm ok with that because I did it six years ago.

At that time I wasn't confident enough to try my hand at my own drawings for a mural so I copied hers.  I love those fairies and think she was an amazing artist.

When we chose Ava's name I learned it means bird, but specifically Eagle in Latin.  I love this scripture.  I also found this story about how eagles use the storms and rise above them, they allow them to carry them higher.  It's very symbolic of how through God we can be renewed in our strength and rise above the storms in life. 

I never knew how many times I'd look up in her room and need to see it.  It has served me more than her to this point.  But I wanted to choose this as a scripture for her to hold onto throughout her life.  

Ok.. that was kind of a side note.  But I wanted to explain why I wanted to do another painting with this scripture since we'll be painting over the mural soon.  

 I also was inspired by Daisy Love who is fighting her second Wilms tumor right now.  She is a six year old little girl and the daughter of Pastor Britt Merrick from Reality Carpinteria.  They have quoted this scripture on their blog through this journey.  

She is an amazing little girl.  I don't know her personally, but can just tell by what has been written.  I wanted to capture that feeling of soaring free with your faith in the Lord.  He will lift her higher, above this storm.  He will do that for all of us.  And even in her trial, others are being brought closer to the Lord.  He is amazing that way.  And praise God her second tumor recently shrank enough to be completely removed.  My girls especially are set on praying for Daisy every night.  She has a place in their hearts.  We continue to pray for her full recovery and a long faith filled life ahead.  I actually just checked and her fever is rising.  So please join me in prayer that Daisy Love will be completely healed.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future." Jeremiah 29:11

Creativity For Creative Sake

I hear people say they're not creative or not crafty or not into that kind of thing. But it's because they've let that negative inner voice tell them so. I really believe we all have a desire to create in some way or another. How can't we? We were made by a creative God who has made us in his likeness. So by nature we've been made to create things.

It's how you look at creativity. It can be anything where you take something empty or blank or that didn't exist before and make it into something new. It doesn't have to be relegated to typical 'art' things. Someone who has a knack for putting a cute outfit together, or organizing a room, or cooking a delicious meal, taking a great photograph, writing, singing, acting, putting together a great party. It all takes creativity.

Yesterday we went to the Skirball Center Noah's ark exhibit and the "Monsters and Miracles" exhibit. The "Monsters and Miracles" exhibit was amazing. It was all about illustrated books connected to Jewish history and Jewish artists/authors. I loved all the displays and interactive things for kids to do. I wish so much we had gone earlier in the spring so we could have visited it more. The exhibit leaves this Sunday. But I'm glad we caught it while it was there. I would have loved to show pictures, but I only had my cell phone on me and it died early on. :(

Each week they rotate a different craft for the kids to do in the Noah's Ark exhibit. This week was a repurposed craft that you didn't take home. You created something using what they had and you left it there to decorate an Ark. The thing that threw us at first and I noticed it threw quite a few people. No scissors and no glue. So you really had to use your mind when designing and connecting and creating.

I sat down with my girls and we all just played for playing sake. And it was fun and therapeutic and relaxing. I get lost when I do things like this and I find my spirit is lighter. I'm happy. There was no point to it and you didn't take it home. We were creative for creative sake. And look at how proud they are of their creations.

Don't you just love that feeling. Even in the simplest thing like creating new order out of a closet or a drawer. That feeling where you want to stare at it a little while longer and share it with someone?

God gets it too... "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.". Genesis 1:31