born to fly

after yesterday's prettiness...

PHOTO BOMB!

Hee, hee.

Sorry.

Had to do it.

xoxo,

cs

finishing up summer...

I stumbled upon the most beautiful

of sunflower fields yesterday.

Less than a quarter mile from where I live.

I thought it was a gorgeous way

to breathe in the last days of summer

in all of its beauty and splendor.

I cut as many stems

as my two arms could carry.

I'm going to hold onto

these last days

of sunshine 

as long as possible.

Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.
Henry James 

xoxo,

cs

getting back to my creative groove...

sometimes we have to take a hiatus

from parts of our lives.

we're overstretched

focused on other tasks

without inspiration

or simply without a voice for awhile.

i've been on a hiatus of sorts

from my artistic voice.

though i've never stopped creating.

i simply haven't felt the desire to share.

nothing bad, just needed some time

to internalize and refocus

on me.

it's funny how you can leave certain parts of your life behind

for awhile

and not really think about them

and then

bam!

that part comes swinging back in

and swings for the fences!

i'm so happy to welcome the artistic side

back into my life. 

and have been just

exploring

playing

creating.

just for the fun of it.

without a goal

or mission.

just simply feeling and creating.

it feels great.

i'd love to hear and see what you've been creating.

this mixed media piece was created with inspiration from Christy Tomlinson and her Scarlet Lime mixed media kits. i <3 her, her message and her artwork. 

i <3 you too!

go create something today!

xoxo,

cs

 

at least I think about blogging every day...

truth.

every day something sweet, tender, beautiful, sad, touching or funny reminds me that I should blog. 

that I MISS blogging.

and writing.

truth.

every day my

kids

house

job

<insert anything here>

sweeps me away from that thought

and the blogging does not happen.

as I'm sure all of you do

I'm trying to find that balance

between

work

family

life

and my creative soul.

without my art

drawing

painting

sewing

cutting

creating

I am not everything

I want to be.

and desire to be.

Art makes me whole.

It's my voice.

The voice of my soul. 

The voice I find so much JOY

in sharing with all of you. 

So.

I shall try again.

To blog.

And write.

And share my creative voice.

Love and admiration

to each and every one of you

that is able to find that balance.

Balance.

:)

xoxo,

CS

"What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue."

Henry Matisse

thoughts on the exquisite joy & pain of being a mother...

I can't remember exactly where I heard this quote from

but it went something like this...

having a child 

is like taking your heart

out of your chest

putting arms and legs on it

and watching it walk around on its own.

 

no one tells us, as mothers,

how very much pure, true love and joy

we will have for our children.

nor do they tell us,

how very agonizing it is, when that same child 

makes a wrong decision or is hurt in some way.

these are lessons we learn along the way,

as our children make their own way

through the path of their life.

My oldest sweetpea is 20 years old 

and has just made the most courageous decision

to enlist in the US Army.

This is truly an amazing opportunity for him

and his wide open future.

While I am thrilled and excited for him

as his mother I am also,

just plain scared for him,

and the knowledge of what may befall him. 

I have newfound respect and understanding

for every single

mother, father, grandparent, sibling

and loved one

of any member of the armed services.

Thank you for your sacrifice and support.

There goes my heart...walking around outside my body, on his own. 

You got to leave me now, you got to go alone 
You got to chase a dream, one that's all your own 
Before it slips away 
When you're flyin' high, take my heart along 
I'll be the harmony to every lonely song 
That you learn to play 

When you're soarin' through the air 
I'll be your solid ground 
Take every chance you dare 
I'll still be there 
When you come back down 
When you come back down

"When you come back down"  lyrics by Nickel Creek

xoxo,

cs