Becoming...

We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.

Max de Pree

Merry (Blessed) Christmas

There are just some things in life that are way more precious than silver or gold! Today I have been blessed with two such things. First, my kids are home from college. The second was a surprise. My cousin sent me a Christmas card that my mom had sent to their family in 1958. The verse she wrote was:

'God's love to enfold you, His wisdom to guide.
May these be your blessings this glad Christmastide.'  

What else is there to say? That is my wish for all of you this 2011 Christmas.

That's me on the right.

Quote

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Albert Einstein

Friday's Quote

Oops - I guess it's Saturday - oh well!

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Friday Quotes

This is one of the views from my porch.
I love the fog this time of year.

We got a call from my aunt and uncle this morning - the roof was leaking. They rent my husband's parent's home. So he got in the car and drove down to fix it. They sent him home with squash, tomatoes and, for me, a wall plaque that had the following saying on it:

God put me here to accomplish
a certain number of things; right now
I'm so far behind I will never die!

I love it!!!

Friday's Art Quote

All art requires courage.

~Anne Tucker~

Friday's Art Quote

Creavivity and Art

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Art is knowing which ones to keep.

~Scott Adams~

This morning my friend, Kim and I drank plenty of coffee and created art together - I still feel a bit buzzed!  She was talking about this very thing - creating art along with mistakes and imperfections. So when I ran across this quote, I just had to make it my 'Friday's Art Quote' for this week.

Kim just started a new blog today. I'm sure she will have many interesting and fun things to say...
You can follow her new blog at: http://kimwendlandt.blogspot.com/

Quote

My Coneflowers

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."-Anais Nin

Another 'Friday's Art Quote'

My Bee Balm
(Phyllis Diller hair as my friend, Joan calls it)

It's still Friday, so I want to add another quote:

'One person with passion is better than
forty people merely interested.'

~ E. M. Forster ~

My husband, David and I just got home from seeing the movie Julie & Julia. After seeing the movie, I thought of the above quote. It is one of my favorite quotes. I think the reason I loved this movie so much, (David wasnt' as thrilled as I) is first, because of how they lived with such passion for what they loved to do, and didn't make excuses of why they couldn't do it, just went ahead and did it. Also, they both had such a commitment in their relationships with their husbands. If only I could live with such passion and commitment - I hope I do!

Friday's Art Quote

Winter's Cotton Candy
Waterolor - 18" x 24"

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,
and paints his own nature into his pictures.

~Henry Ward Beecher~

This is one of my favorite art quotes. It is so true. It took me a very long time to become comfortable with people looking and and commenting on my work. It was almost as if I felt that they could see right into my soul. I have somewhat become used to it now.

 

The painting I chose for today is called 'Minnesota's Cotton Candy.' There is not a person who has grown up in Minnesota who has not at least once eaten snow. It's the best in the world! I just started the almost empty nest era of my life - in less than a year both kids will be gone off to college. I have become a bit sentimental and have been painting pictues of my kids to help survive. This is one of those paintings. My paintbrush dipped deep in my soul when I painted this painting. I doubt there is a stronger love (except God's) than that of a mother.