Word Of The Year

Word Of The Year.

Also known as 

WOTY.

(who knew?)

I caught on to this about three years ago. I can't stand New Year's Resolutions. I LOVE words and a word for a year seemed more personal and less like an unknown someone standing over me with a pointed finger saying, "You're not sticking to your resolution."

So I picked a word.

 Intention. 

I wasn't clear what to do with this word, but I liked it's definition:

an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.

 and I liked the way it sounded in Italian- intenzione.

I made it into a sign so it would be a reminder to me of how I desired to live that year.

WITH intention. PAYING attention. Focusing.

It came and went over the year, but the sign always drew me back to my original thoughts and seemed to have a gentle and quiet way of drawing me back to living intentionally. It expanded it's definition in my life over the months and became a back bone of sticking with decisions, believing in my actions and my dreams and how I loved others.

The second year, the word was surrender. It was a tough one, but I needed it. 

I would tentatively pick it up and hold it and look at it and think about it through out the year, wanting very much for the word surrender to mean something beautiful in the outcome of holding my hands open instead of the feeling of being stepped on in the act of surrender.

At the end of 2013, during a beautiful bike ride in San Diego, I came up with my word for 2014:

CONFIDENT.

oooh.

That's a balls-y word to me.

Could I do it?

Could I develop it over the year?

I decided yes and enveloped the word Confident into my life.

Some one on Instagram gave me the latin break down of the word early on in January and I have had it taped up next to my sign all year:

con: (assertive) with

fident: latin is federe or TRUST

So, not just trust that I can do things, but TRUST that my Heavenly Father has all good intentions for me and promises to guide and direct me. He never changes, and there is no shadow of turning in Him. The best One to have trust with!

It's meaning has morphed over the year, which isn't surprising, as that's what these words tend to do.

I have been more confident in defining my abilities as an artist, in trying new things, applying to new shows. The word confident has been in my face even during the season of a broken shoulder, when art work basically came to a stand still. 

I have used it in sentences in my head when making decisions, rolling the word around to see how it feels, how it makes me feel. 

I love it.

This year, my word is 

GATHER.

 It's the best. I love everything about it and what it conveys.

Bringing people together. 

Bringing beautiful things to be in one place. 

Gathering around a table for a meal, to make art, to have coffee and talk.

It's a word that says, "Come on in!" "Welcome!" "Come as you are!"

I haven't made a sign yet, but it's coming as I prep this week for the upcoming class!

Doug and I can't wait to GATHER at our new Summit House and we can't wait to see what happens when we do. 

So we have begun gathering there before we have even found an architect! 

An art show with old and new friends, Christmas day with friends, a sleep over with a fire in the fireplace, New Year's Eve with friends, young adult's group, it's the best. Throw the doors open wide!!

This New Year, I'm gathering people at the Summit House to find their word for 2015.

I'm partnering with my friend and Life Coach, Sue Robson to bring an evening of friendship, fun, painting, dessert and coffee and we will help your bring your word to life.

We would love you to join us!

Our first night has sold out, so we are offering another class on  Friday, January 23rd. 

Won't you come? Gather a friend or two, gather your daughter, gather your spouse or significant other, gather yourself and meet new friends.

Sign ups are HERE

It's $35 for the night, all supplies included and no artistic experience needed.

Thank you for following me in 2014~ I'm looking forward to GATHERING through the blog in 2015!

Happy New Year, my friends!

Gather and Create

Summit House Welcomes:

HEART COACHING

An Evening For Creating, Coffee and Laughter

Join life coach Sue Robson and artist Lynn Richards 

as they guide you through a unique experience 

of bringing your 

Word For The Year to life.

Friday evening, January 9

7:00-10:00 pm

464 Summit 

Redlands, California

Cost: $35.00, which includes all supplies, coffee and dessert

no artistic experience required!

Space is limited!

Sign ups are
HERE

Leave any questions in the comment section and we will get back to you A.S.A.P.

Makes a great stocking stuffer!!!!

Friday Ramblings: Last Show Of The Year

The last show of the year is this Saturday!!!!

At the new/old house.

I have garland and twinkle lights, treats and fire logs.

New friends, old friends and tons of beautiful product for the young and old.

Vintage, hand crafted, repurposed and made with love.

My fellow artists and I are busy preparing for you!

I'm doing some new prints, but the rest of life? Well......

I photographed the original pages and still need to mat them, but have not done many dishes....

I stamped my deer again, but haven't see much of the outside world....

I like the new brown color on the deer, but, um....my studio still looks like a bomb went off in it.

I've made cookies, but I haven't a clue as to what's for dinner.....

I can't wait to see you at the show.

And don't worry-I'll have the coffee ready!

Joining the fun at

Christmas Garland Tutorial

Have you seen these adorable garlands?

I think they have been "around" for a while, but I've never made any.

Until now.

So be forewarned.

It's easy-peasy and addictive.

Which says a LOT for someone who doesn't sew-except for on paper.

Gather up all that old Christmas scrapbook paper.

Yep, you know-the stuff that's been stored for three or four years, "justincaseineeditforsomething".

Here is your something.

While your children are watching Elf or the Santa Clause movie for the 10th year in a row,

take out your circle punches. 

I used larger,  2 inch and 3 inch punches as these will be hung from a ceiling.

In the new house. For the holiday market. On the 13th.

Punch away.

I don't mind this step. Some don't like it.

The step I don't like is keeping the garland from getting tangled.

Get out your trusty sewing machine and put in coordinating thread. Or not. Who cares.

I have seen on some sites where they put masking tape on either side so the stitch stays centered.

hah ah ahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Life doesn't stay centered very often, so I like this approach.

Pull a long length of thread before you begin-you will use this to tie your garland onto whatever you hang it from.

Run the cut out circle and stitch somewhere in the middle.

Keep going and pull just a bit as the needle is running, maybe an inch or so and feed the next circle in.

Continue until a) your thread breaks, or b) you think it's long enough.

If your thread breaks and it's not long enough, don't despair. Just start again with the circle that the thread broke off of and pretend it's the beginning.

Make sure you pull a long length of thread at the end so you can finish hanging.

I'm keeping it on an old post that was from my father's garage until I get it hung. I would imagine draping it over hangars would do the trick as well.

ALL DONE.

From punches on the couch to quick-stitched goodness.

Can you imagine the possibilities?

Layered tissue, stars, squares, arrows.........

You could use magazines, old books, sheet music. 

Endless possibilities!

Put these on the tree, across the ceiling, on the patio, wrap up your gifts, your kids....

 Whatever you do with them, just make sure you have fun!

Sometimes Dreams Change

Right?

Dreams change.

Ours was to move Brenna into an assisted living home in Laguna Beach in the coming year.

We were ready.

We looked for ways to rent, move, buy a trailer, whatever it took to move down to the beach area.

My dream. Our dream.

It changed. 

It looks like this now:

It's not the O.C., I can tell you that much.

And it's nowhere near the beach.

Instead, it is smack in the middle of community that's been forged over 29 years.

Our dream now looks like a 1956 ranch-asian fusion-orange-and-avocado-tree property.

Complete with 5 different floorings and two different ceilings and a 100 yr. old oak in the back.

This. 

This is our new dream.

A dream where I /we have been impressed to dig in and stay: to "drive the tent pegs deep". 

(isaiah 54:2)

To gather and bring community together.

 We will gut and demolish. Build different dreams, different rooms, make new ideas come to life.

So I'm inviting you in.

I'll be showing at the Redlands YMCA Holiday Fine Art and Craft Boutique Dec. 6-7 and on 

December 13 from 10:00-4:00 

I'll put on a fire in the massive fireplace, have some coffee ready and invite you over to shop some unique and beautiful creations that I will be showing along with others.

Gorgeous crocheted items, amazing repurposed art, vintage aprons and pillows, hand made jewelry and more.

We will gather.

It's part of the new dream.