"The Wise Men" Old Post worth repeating

This is a painting my mother painted when we were kids. We always knew when the holidays began when this painting was placed over the mantel.

The year my mother died I painted four of these paintings. For my sisters Heidi and Jamie and my daughter Nelly and my niece Keely. My mother died in October so I started painting them soon after and by Christmas they were done. It was very cathartic almost necessary for me to do. I cried alot during the process. And I managed to keep it a secret. It was wonderful to see their faces when they opened them up. They sooo appreciated the gesture. There was not a dry eye in the house. It is a beautiful memory. I miss my Mommy...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Joy to You and the Winners are.........

Wishing you all Joy in this Holiday Season.

And the winners are......

(These where picked by Random.org)

Jaime Haney

http://artsyfartsyus.blogspot.com/

Pam Tucker

http://pamtsartloft.blogspot.com/

Bren

http://esynergy.blogspot.com/

If you girlie's will please email me your addresses to shfoust@msn.com. I will send them out to you.

Don't fret if you did not win because I will be having many more giveaways

 in the near future everyone!!!

Don't forget to visit Paint Party Friday!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Kwanzaa!

Happy Holiday!

Seasons Greetings!

Journal Pages, Paint and last chance to enter into my first Giveaway!

I am still loving my Copic markers.

I have been so busy this week. Trying so hard to get things done for Christmas.

Burning the candle at both ends.

Everyone knows what I am talking about.....

I had a great surprise this week. My Dad came walking into the door the other night with another box of paint!

Hallelujah!!!! Hallelujah!!!!

I am singing!!!!

If you remember my Art Saves Story from Cresendoah. These are the paints I was talking about. My Dad got a whole new batch from his friend.

What a wonderful friend she is!!!!

Every color that you could imagine!!!

I am loving it!

It makes my mouth water!

I could eat them!!!

Also wanted to let everyone know this is the last week to enter my Giveaway

Enter here.

Just follow directions and I will be drawing names on Dec 15th.

There will be 3 lucky winners

Hootie Clause (Nelly my beautiful daughter named him)

And also everyone please visit all my lovely friends from Paint Party Friday.

Join in the fun!!

Have a great week and try to enjoy it .  Don't get all stressed out.  Take deep breath!!!

Ahhhhhhh!!!!

Christmas Owl and Paint Party Friday

Happy Holiday to Everyone!!!

Meet my new holiday Owl!

If you have any suggestions for a name I would appreciate it.

Ok this is the deal if you leave a comment and you are a member of my Google Account I will put the names in a hat and in 2 weeks I will pull out 3 names and they will get a free 8 x 10 print of my little Holiday Owl.

Sounds like a deal!

Had a bit of a rough week.  Thank you all for your well wishes. I know my friend Marilouise is wrapping her arms around all of us.

She was a sweet soul.

And I am so sorry to everyone at Paint Party Friday. I did not get around to anyone.

I will this week though. Thanks again to all of you!

Copic Markers - And a Goodbye Song to my Friend Marilouise

I have never been a fan of Markers. Just did not like them.  But I took Jane Davenports Class. Supplies Me.  I loved it. I learned so much about pencils, markers and acrylics that I didn't even know as far as brands. Copic Markers.  Ahhhhhhh I am soooooo in love with my new Copic Markers!!!! I could sing!!!!

Especially if you Journal you need to get these pens.  

Really if you are looking for a class that will teach you about supplies and what they do you have to take this class. I would recommend it to anyone. 

Fantastic! 

These are just a couple of samples of journal pages using Copic pens

It is a very sad day for me I have lost a friend of mine this weekend. Very unexpectantly. I was just talking to her on Tuesday at lunch.  We were talking about how only certain people can get away with short hair like hers. She had spiky red hair. And she looked fantastic. She had a smile that could light up a room. And she just had a special energy about her.  She loved her daughter Sarah and her Royal Hockey Team. I just can't quite get a grasp on it yet.    

She has touched so many lives, She will be missed.

I know she is surrounded by love.....

We both had a special love for Brandi Carlile

Here's to you Marilouise with love....

My Houseful of Love is Loud

A Houseful of Love

My Houseful of Love is Loud

 

Loud Laughter

Loud Music

Loud Dogs barking & playing

Loud Talking

Loud Children playing

Loud Opinions

Loud Bickering

Loud Love

I am definitely living OUT LOUD

I love Loud!!!!!!! Makes me feel alive!

Come visit Paint Party Friday!

Say Hello to Happiness

I really think that you choose to be happy or you don't.  Things can make you sad and circumstances happen, but you can choose to dwell on it. 

Or Just feel it and let it go.

I know at one time I thought " If I get this house or this car or  this job or wait until i loose the weight and then I will be happy" It never comes.  You are always chasing it. You get these things and you find out your still not happy.  

You have to invite happiness in.

 It is inside you!

You choose it!

So oooo" Say Hello to Happiness"

It's in there. I know you can find it.

Choose it!

Don't forget to visit the people at Paint Party Friday!  They always make me happy!!!

Random Art Journal Pages.

Some of you may remember the journal I talked about that I bought at the Fish Market in Seattle.

Here are some of the pages in the journal

I have had so many journals through the years.  Watercolor Journals,  Portrait Journals, Big Moleskins, Little Moleskins.   And I still have not found the ultimate journal yet!!!  Still searching .    

Anyway these are some of my pages.

I think having an art journal is so important.  Just trying out new ideas.  Seeing what

works and what doesn't.  They are a learning tool.

Everyone get your Journals out and start learning!

Only way you get better is by making the mistakes.

 You can see how it is piling. (Am I spelling that right?)

Collaged on paper. I think that is what I will have to do with this journal from now on the paper is too flimsy.

Just some ink (Watercolor seeped through from other side)

Mixed Media (acrylic,watercolor,markers) Just playing.

INK

But I had such high hopes.  It was so pretty!!!

Oh Well, I will make it work!

Happy PPF everyone!!! Come and visit the other wonderful artist and look at their wonderful work.  I am always inspired every week.

There are so many people now it is so hard to get to everyone every week.

Paint Party Friday

Happy Halloween!!!!

Every Halloween friends of ours have a Halloween party. Sandy always has some kind of great invitation. This year was so unexpected.  This is what I got in the mail. When I first read it for one split second I thought what is this? The blood rushed from my head. Then I realized it was one of Sandy's great invitations. See last years post and invitations. VOODOO Dolls. 

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Then a week later when I did not RSVP. Because I am really bad at that!

This is what I got!

YUCK!!!!!

Sooooo clever!!

Here are some highlights and costumes from the party!!

We had so much fun!

Care Bear Tamer!!

Clock Work Orange Guys.

Check out the cups.

I love his eyelash!

 

Tara and Don!

A lot of spanking going on!

Roller Derby Girls.

The Hosts!

Brian's boobs would stay up.

Where are the rollor skates??

Maren and Ken

Cow People!

Peanut butter eyeballs! Yummmm!

Hulk and Jailbird.

Punch!

Mod Squad

Zombie Jenn

Lori the Ninja

Cave People

And the whole party was blessed by the Nun and the Priest.

Everyone have a safe and Happy Halloween!!!!!!

Feels Like Home

Journal Page

I am a firm believer that home doesn't just have to be were you hang your hat or live ..........like.............. It

Feels like home when I see my friend Pat, even when I don't see her for a few months.

No matter how long we are apart it always feels like home to me. Like we have never been a part.  We just pick up were we left off.  Feels like home...

Feels like home when I go to Port Townsend WA to Artfest even though I am thousands of miles away from home it feels so familiar to me with all my friendships I created through that journey. Feels like home.....

Feels like home when I go to Ocean City Md to our condo on the beach. And I hear the Ocean waves. Feels like home.....

Feels like home when I go to a Wilson High School Football game. Feels like home...

Feels like home when I go to Panera's and have dinner with my sisters, daughter and grandson. Feels like home....

Feels like home wherever I am with Steve. Feels like home.....

Say Happy Birthday to Steve! It will be his 51st Birthday week!!

We celebrate Birthday weeks in this household.

(Use to be month but we had to cut down)

Don't forget to visit everyone at PPF!

This week I am reading 2nd book of the Hunger Games.

Catching Fire

 and listening to Ryan Adams new album Ashes and Fire

Favorite songs are Rocks and Do I Wait.

Have a fantastic week!!!

New Paintings, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Oprah

Such a busy week! I have not been able to visit very many Paint Party Friday Members please forgive me!!

I started 2 new paintings.  I started a very large one. I love working large! (Above peek)

and a smaller one. (below)

Working full time, going to football games, painting and taking Oprah's Lifework Class. So many Bing Bings and Aha's. Wow have I grown in the past week. Do yourself a favor if any of you are seekers like I am go to Oprah.com and sign up for the after the show webcast.  All I can say is fantastic. I have learned so much about myself.

I had taken the Oprah "New Earth" with Eckhart Tolle class a while ago and it changed my life. I don't think I would have gotten out of my "I am afraid to show anyone my art" funk if it where not for that class.  So powerful! It was funny when I started that book I read the first 2 chapters and thought "what is this s***".  But as soon as I started reading that 3rd chapter I had such a shift that it totally changed my life.  POWWW!!! Just like that! I could not get enough of it!! It really helped that my sister and daughter where doing the class also.  We had so many discussions.  Heidi and I went to the beach and we took our books and discussed everything we had highlighted. What a revalation!! One of my dreams is to one day see Eckhart in person.

Also again I wanted to remind everyone that this is Breat Cancer Awareness Month.

Don't forget to give your Donations to Breast Cancer Society

I am donating my painting to the Berks County Breast Cancer Society. She will be auctioned off at a silent auction at a fundraiser.

Also this week I am reading The Creative Habit by Twyla Twarp. And I am listening to

Laura Marling. Can't get enough of this song!

Have a great week everyone!!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I think it is a really important thing to discuss.

And because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 Early detection is the key to Breast Cancer. 

Give your donations to the Cancer Society

I lost my sister-in-law Darylanne to cancer. She was 42 with a 8 year old little boy. 

That was 12 years ago.

She was the bravest and most courageous  person I have ever known.

Unfortunately she was not a miracle but you can be!

Get your mammogram!!!

I care about all of you!!

XXOO

Please!

One Day At A Time

"One day at a time - this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone: and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

~Ida Scott Taylor~

Sometimes I forget about this and get caught up in the day to day.

Remember to live in the moment.

Don't forget to visit everyone at Paint Party Friday!

I hope everyone has at least one moment of joy and happiness this week and everyday.

It is there!

Look for it!

You will see it!

This and That

I had a fantastic week!!! It started with Fall Art on the Ave. It was wonderful!!!

So many family and friends came out to see me.

I also ran into my very first boyfriend. He said he was looking in his parents attic and he found some big eyed girls I had done when I was 14.  I told him he better get them for me so I can scan them I would love to see them. What a hoot!!

I sold some of my pieces and lots of prints and cards.  It was so much fun!!! It is so great to meet people that you meet though your blog or facebook.

Could not be able to do this without my wonderful daughter Nelly.

People on the Ave.... 

The magician that was making a flea disappear.

I think I saw this show about 20 times.

He was a very nice man. From Atlantic City.

One side of my stand.

Time ticking piece. Found a fantastic frame for it. Perfect!!

I finally traded out my Leaning on a Friend Painting from Alex at Hello Bluebird. I gave her the "Look Within" for a while. Have to change it up!

She said that there is a lady saving up to buy this. Ahhh I feel bad.

My postcards and prints.

I have been working on a piece for my Circle Journal.  I will just show you a bit.   The theme is "Time"

Just a little taste of it. Not completed yet.

I bought these Clock faces and gears from Ebay they are so cool to work with.

I am really into the Steam Punk stuff. All the clocks and gears.  Love all the assemblage art.   I want to take a class with Michael deMeng someday. He teaches at Artfest but I  would have to trek all that stuff all the way across the US.  Not so easy.  But someday!!!  So fun!!!

And to top the week off I went to see the Avett Brothers  last night with my sisters.  It was so fun!!!!!!! If you haven't seen my facebook page. Go check it out my sister took a lot of video of them.  They were soooooooo good!!!

They are one of those bands that I knew I had to see once in my life. The energy that they bring is so unique!!! When you leave the concert you are changed!!!

Every video she has is of the mellow songs because when they do there fast songs you can't help but to start jumping.  Wayyyyyy Fun!!!!

I am still high!!!

Thank you Heidi for the use of your video!!!

Please join the  Paint Party Friday. See all the pretty art!