A Blueprint for Kindness

I’ve been struggling lately with my health and usually this would get me down. I’ve insisted on new patterns in my life. I don't want to return to my old ways of allowing what ails me to determine my outlook. I knew it was time to create a new blueprint. One that would create new patterns and behaviors. To get unstuck.

One of the best ways to indirectly boost your own mood is to focus on those around you instead. I learned this after the kindness project I completed this past summer (Kind Over Matter – An Opportunity for Kindness). Focusing on others can bring joy to the lives of all involved because it feels so, so good to do random acts of kindness. After seeking much inspiration from the Brave Girls Club, I knew I needed to work on a new kindness project.

I simply decorated cardstock with paint, stamps, and glitter and cut into cards (I’m not one to measure). I then added phrases and words of wisdom for the recipient and attached with DecouPage. Once dry I used a Stabilo pencil and Tulip Crystals dimensional paint to outline the text.

Deciding where to leave these is the most fun! I personally didn’t want to physically hand them out to people. I like the thought of a person stumbling upon exactly the right words they need at exactly the right moment. I mostly hit up bookstores for this past summer’s project and thought that would be a great place to start. It’s fun to match up the cards to what book they might be looking for.

I left cards at other places as I ran errands like Michaels and Joann’s Fabrics. My absolute favorite place is on the mirror in the bathrooms. Everyone looks in the mirror and this is when we usually need the most encouragement. You could also leave them in newspaper stands, soda machines, on a clothing rack, on a street sign – the possibilities are endless.

(Aren't you starting to feel better already?)

“In every person's story there are unknowns – struggles only they know about, fears they've tried to overcome but still harbor, disappointments and sorrows they bear.” ~Jane Clayson Johnson, I Am a Mother

Oh, by the way. There are no rules! Just show a little love, share a little kindness – in whatever form that manifests for you. It will be exactly what the recipient needs.

Happy Halloween!

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Quote - Add color to my sunset sky

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Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~Rabindranath Tagore

Note To You

In case you’ve forgotten…You are destined for great things. You were made with a purpose. Although you may not know what that is yet, have faith that it will find you.

You are an amazing creature. Every detail, every layer, every cell of your being was considered before the finished product of YOU was created. Never doubt your place in this crazy thing called life.

Creating you was a deliberate action. You are one-of-a-kind, not a prototype but the real deal top-of-the-line exquisite YOU. There are no remakes and there are no mistakes.

Only you.

Precious you.

Quote - Happiness Dwells in the Soul

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Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.  ~Democritus

TGIFive on FridayI

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Happy Friday Lovelies! It seemed like we'd never get here. Do you have crafty plans for the weekend? Quality time with family? Fun times with friends? I hope you have a good one!

Here are this weeks fabulous finds:

1) On not being a "real" artist on Scoutie Girl

2) Slowing Down from Vivienne McMaster

3) Pink Ribbon gorgeousness from Amy Atlas

4) 42 ways to be of service on The Receiving Project

5) Gratitude Journal (diary) app on Kind Over Matter

Hugs,

Juicy ebooks Part II

(Part 1)

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Time to add a few more succulent ebooks to the list!

::Free::
~ Making Space, letters from me to you by Hannah Marcotti (Hannah's Harvest)
~ The Mind's Eye, Making & Keeping Creative Visual Journals by Elli Metz (Peony Blue)
~ 50 Ways to Leave Your Karma, Freedom, Fear and the Art of Getting Unstuck by Eric Klein (Wisdom Heart)
~ Less Ordinary Living by Amy Palko

::Worth Every Penny::
~ Rise & Shine (an ebook to help others create a path in a handmade world) by Allisa Jacobs (Quiltish)
~ Big Dreams Small Wonders Workbook & Planner by Louise Gale

Have you stumbled upon any that should make the list?

Hugs,

Quote - A love like theirs

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Even after all this time
The Sun has never told the Earth
"You owe me,"
look what happens
with a love like that,
it lights the whole sky.
~Hafiz

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to let go of?

Thanks for joining me for this week's Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

Today's prompt:

What do you wish to let go of?

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I wish to let go of my hurts and my fears. I wish to drop the baggage of the past that I carry with me. I wish to release myself of my past mistakes and the blame I burden myself with. I wish to feel the lightness and freedom of letting these go.

I'm very proud of this post I wrote last week, "This much I know is true..." and believe you may find a comforting word or much needed insight within the list just waiting for your eyes to transfix. Please enjoy, share, link to this post, and above all, have a beautiful day!


Much <3,

Weekend Recap - Mixed Media Explorations

Mixed media explorations - now that's an understatement! Not only have I been working at my art desk but also in my kitchen too. I decided to make something special for my son for Halloween when I stumbled upon these adorable brownie spiders that Bakerella created for Paula Deen's website. They didn't seem too difficult when reading the recipe but what a train wreck!

Epic fail! I felt a bit defeated until I came across these Frankenstein marshmallow pops and gave them a shot.

Not bad. I couldn't find green candy melts so I put 10 drops of green food coloring into white (vanilla) Wilton Candy Dips (in it's own microwavable container). The black edible food marker wouldn't work correctly due to the oils in the chocolate so I used a Betty Crocker black gel decorator. I used cupcake pearls for the eyes. The gel would have worked better had it been a fine line but they're still cute. Let me tell you, if I ever had illusions of being a cake/candy decorator that dream has now been thrown out the window. LOL.

I also tried making fabric flowers for the first time. The very first one I made was with burlap and didn't turn out so well. The second one I made was with regular fabric which worked much better.

Next I made a button flower with 8 folded fabric circles. I like it the best.

Maybe I should just stick with what I love the most... :-D 

I worked on these two small pieces for our local artist's group:

They're collecting pieces for a hanging display (and sale) for the holidays. The doodle piece was color washed with Caran d'Ache artist crayons. A few more details are needed before it's complete.

Don't you just love getting goodies in the mail? Here are a few lovelies I've received the last few days:

Clockwise from top: "Free Your Beautiful Soul" shadow box art from Melody Ross for Demdaco (Amazon), 73 Lessons Every Goddess Should Know by Goddess Leonie Dawson (Amazon), Brave Girls Club gear (Zazzle), and a limited edition hardcover of Ordinary Sparkling Moments by Christine Mason Miller ((Etsy) at the softcover price!). Love!

Oh yeah, the German inspired desserts from Friday's luncheon were a hit! The containers were scraped clean, possibly licked clean. LOL. In fact, I made another batch of the black forest dream dessert since I bought double the ingredients and it was devoured during lunch yesterday. You have to try it!

Since I've babbled on long enough...I'm leaving you with a picture of a sign I saw in World Market to ponder.

Have a wonderful week!

XOXO,

My Favorite Things - Halloween Edition

1) Solar hanging lights from Treasure Again

2) Spooky Halloween blocks from Summer Scraps

3) Spider clay tags from Lila O

4) Little monster house from Little Houses & Painted Things

5) Hanging spiders garland from Wish Daisy

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.

Quote - The fairest blossom

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Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Quote - Every moment of my life

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I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I've wanted to do.  ~Georgia O'Keefe

TGIFive on FridayI

Hello Lovelies! I hope you've had a wonderful week. My creating has mostly been in the kitchen this week. I came across a recipe for red velvet pancakes and had to give it a chance.

I put a touch of whipped cream cheese and drizzle of (leftover) Cracker Barrel syrup on top. They weren't as fabulous as I thought they would be. They were a bit cakey which is fine for a cake but not a pancake. That could be fixed but they're a little too sweet for my pancake tastes. If you like super sweet pancakes these might be right up your breakfast alley. Okay, so mine were for dinner. :-)

We have a German-themed luncheon at work today so I made these two desserts:

This one's apple kuchen (cake) which will be served with a vanilla sauce and/or vanilla ice cream. It's kind of an apple cobbler of sorts.

This one's called black forest dream dessert which is a take on the black forest cake. It has a crust on bottom and layered with a cream cheese and cool whip layer, a cherry pie filling layer, a melted chocolate chip and vanilla pudding layer, and topped with cool whip and chocolate shavings. I can't wait to give them a taste!

This week's sweet finds:

1) Goddess Leonie's book launch of 73 Lessons Every Goddess Should Know

2) Kind Over Matter's *free* iPhone & iPad wallpaper, Build Your Wings on the Way Down

3) Eye Popping Halloween cake pops from Bakerella

4) Beautiful post, At the end of the line from Brave Girls Club

5) Caramel Apple Cupcakes from The TomKat Studio

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,