Just a quick little drive by posting, to wish everyone a magical  holiday!

Blowes to Kisses to All!!! 

Yeppers I did, I did!!! Giggles...I have this cool little program that sets on my desk top that has bouncing little icons that I can click on to get to certain programs, like IE...My IE icon in this program is a globe.  
Well you can get rid of an icon by double left clicking. When you do this the icon turns into a little leopard spotted cloud, and then it explodes into bits and vanishes.

So yesterday when I was in a hurry I missed my click, and my little globe blew right up. Which causes some rather loud growling type of noises to come from my office.
So around two hours later one of the hubby's friends called him and they were talking, and I heard him say quite matter of fact," Oh we aren't up to much really, just the same old, same old. I had a usual day at work and Gina blew up the world."

I about fell off my chair laughing, and today I still find his comment hugely amusing.

I need to get to work, have loads on my plate today, but I wanted to pop in and tell everyone about my minor adventure yesterday when I blew up the world.

Blows Kisses to All!!!

I rented a movie yesterday, to combat a blue mood I felt settling in. Therefore, I went for a Disney movie I had not seen yet.
Isn’t it amazing how a children’s movie can take you back down memory lane while inspiring you to move forward! Yesterday I had the privilege of watching “Meet the Robinsons”
I was very enchanted by the characters, the story, the animation and the artistic talent in this movie but more than anything I found the message of the movie the most inspiring part.

“Keep Moving Forward” What an awesome message to send out to children and adults.

Being an adoptee this movie brought back memories of wondering where I came from, and who I was when I was in my early teens. It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I learned to forgive that part of my past, opting instead to move into the future. I learned to let go of an imagined family and appreciate the one I already had. My husband and children taught me that lesson.

The message that every failure is indeed something to celebrate, is wonderful. Each and every failure pushes us to learn. This movie has the most positive message I have heard concerning failing. It is so true that you don’t learn much from your successes, but failure is one of the best learning tools there is, as long as we look at those failures with the right attitude.

I also traveled down memory lane into my late twenties, when I almost lost my right hand. I was staying at my SIL and BIL’s house just outside of Indianapolis so I could afford to get back and forth from the daily therapy my hand and arm required. It was a terrible time. I couldn’t see nor feel any progress with my therapy at the time. My right hand was lifeless; I couldn’t even hold a pencil. I felt like it was the end of the world.

My SIL and BIL had this old farmstead outside the city with a huge garage they were not using for anything, so they let a local band use their garage for practices. While I was staying there I met a young man named Rob who had an incredible voice. A warm smile, a head full of shaggy hair, and talent for writing that to this day is unbelievable.
I couldn’t do all that much during this time, because it was crucial that I not bump or disturb my healing arm, so when the band practiced I would make my way to the garage to listen to them practice. Rob always asked me what I thought of this riff or that chorus, and always had a nice word for the shy, quiet, strange woman with the mummy wrapped arm.

I remember the light of eagerness that shone in his eyes when he talked about his music and where he wanted it to go, and I remember how supportive he was of me. He told me that I would hold a pencil again,
in addition, he poured over my sketch books giving me praise when the piece deserved praise and construction criticism when he seen something that he felt needed it. He would laugh and tell me he was going to make it big and that whenever I saw his face or heard his voice in the future that I should remember to believe in myself the way others believed in me.

Eventually my therapy ended, they won’t keep an un-insured person in therapy any longer than necessary. My SIL and BIL spilt up, and moved, and the days of therapy and listening to the band where over.

I went back to my home, raising my children and learning to use my arm on my own, and I lost track of Rob. Yet I wasn’t surprised when I heard that his band and he had a hit song hit the airways about two years later.
So I don’t know why I was so surprised when I rented this movie, and heard his song “Little Wonders”. I was again reminded of his words so long ago “that when ever you see my face or heard my voice in the future you should remember to believe in yourself the way others believed in you.” That has what has been missing of late in my work and me. I had forgotten to believe in myself, the way those supporting me emotionally have believed in me.

One single children’s movie caused me to look back over the years, and see just how far I have come. I can use my arm again. Although it will never be the same, I can and do hold a pencil once more. My children are grown and raised, and fill me with awe and pride. I have a lovely home, and a wonderful husband. My fur babies fill our empty nest with their love and antics and I have a wonderful group of online friends to hang with, find inspiration with, and to laugh with. I am indeed rich beyond measure, and a lot farther along than I was back when I couldn’t even use my arm. I kept moving forward, and learned to only look back in gratitude and in fond remembrance.

So I am lifting my glass to everyone, and wishing you all many brilliant failures! May they lead you to learn, to move forward, and to appreciate every single little gift life gives you. Cherish those failures. Every single bump in the road should be cherished as well as the “Little Wonders” that appear along our life’s path. Each makes us what we ultimately are meant to be.
Blows Kisses to All!!!

A Bright Morning Everyone,

 Looks like we might have some sunshine here today....does a small dance of joy. Some sunshine is just what we need around here to perk things up. It has been rather wet, chilly, and rainy of late. Which is nice but after a few days of it, you begin to long to see and feel the sun once again.

I finished a new piece called "Unfettered"

 

 Everyone dreams of being able to fly,
with no boundaries wild and free.
This fairy floats among the butterflies
natural, unbound, and completely unfettered.

Stock Inspiration: FaeStock

Watercolor: Yarka, Daniel Smith
Paper: 300 lb. Cold Press

May everyone's day be "Unfettered"! Free from the little bumps in the road, and all the stress they might cause!!!

Blowes Kisses To All!!! 

Getting ready for an intensely busy day today, 
but I wanted to pop in and spread my personal happiness 
at a bit of news that lifted my spirits this clear, chilly, and bright morn.

My painting Moon Song (seventh one down in the article) 
has been featured along with several other wonderful pieces 
by many talented artists  in a DA Stock News article.  
http://news.deviantart.com/article/36114/
 


I have been feeling a bit down on myself as an artist of late, 
and having this pop up this morning fed my bruised ego 
just enough to sooth my doubtful inner child. 
She needed a hug, and this feature made her feel that hug of approval
 plus feel all warm and fuzzy inside again.

A huge HUG and BIG thanks goes 
out to Doubtful-Della: http://doubtful-della.deviantart.com/
for her feature on stock and tradition art. 
She made my morning!

Wishing all a bright and magical day!
Blows Kisses to ALL!!!