Ornaments! Minis! Open House! Crazy Busy!!! Big News!!!So Excited!!!

My Open House was a huge success!!!
So many people stopped by!
I was overwhelmed with gratitude!!!
I really felt loved!!!
My stars where sold before they hit the tree!

Please everyone that came out, know that I appreciate each and everyone of you!!
It means so much to me to send my art out into the universe and make people happy when they look at it. That's all I want in life. Is to spread the love!

I had been working really hard.  Trying to get as many affordable original pieces that I could.
So I decided to make Mini Canvas. (Which is really a switch for me I like to work large)


Here are a few of my Minis and Ornaments.

Still working on ornaments for this weekend . I have a show. And then I can relax for a little.
Look at the mess!!
It is all worth it!!
I love making Art!
Woooooooooo!!!!  Big News

 

I am in the Somerset Studio Jan/Feb issue

Featured Artist!!

I was so excited to see that I was used for the advertisement in the Dec Issues! 

What an honor!

Can you imagine when the magazine comes out?? Crazy!!

This has been a dream come true for me!!! 

REALLY!!!

I even put it on my Vision Board 2 years ago.

I just had to feel the fear and do it anyway!!!

Dreams do come true!

Skies the limit!!

Don't forget to pick up a copy!!!
(Click on the word copy and order a copy for yourself!)
Or you can pick it up at any AC Moore, Michaels and Barnes and Noble.
EEeeeeeeee!!!!

I am going to leave you with a little poem today
It is the true meaning of success, I am truly blessed and thankful for everyone and everything in my life
I have such Gratitude!



The Meaning of Success

To laugh often and much;
To earn the respect of intelligent people
and to win the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate the beauty in nature and all that surrounds us;
To seek out and nurture the best in others;
To give the gift of yourself to others
without the slightest thought of return,
for it is in giving that we receive;
To have accomplished a task,
whether it be saving a lost soul,
healing a sick child,
writing a book,
or risking your life for a friend;
To have celebrated and laughed with great joy and enthusiasm
and sung with exaltation;
To have hope even in times of despair,
for as long as you have hope, you have life;
To love and be loved;
To be understood and to understand;
This is the meaning of success

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Peace and Open House

Each person has to find peace within. And peace to be real must not be unaffected by outside circumstances.

~Mahatma Gandhi~

Here is a  little progression shoot for you.

Always starts with the sketch

Add a little color

Add the Christmas Carol Music Paper.

I always use Golden Matte Gel Medium

Make sure you use the brayer to get all the bubble out from under the paper

Added the hair with some paper that I made.

Used a stencil to make the letters.

Again out of the paper I made.

Glued the Peace with Gel Medium

Also added some swirls in the background to add some glory

 

 "Let us forgive each other - only then will we live in peace"

~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy~

Also I wanted to let everyone know that I will be having an open house on Dec 1 from 1 to 4...

You are all invited!

Yay!!

There will be lots of goodies for sale.

Also door prizes.

Good food!

Yummmmm!

Come and join us!

Don't be shy!

  

Also wanted to remind you that I have a 2 for $35 sale going on in my Etsy Shop right now.

Any 2 prints for $35.

Click on the below link and it will get you to my shop

Etsy Shop

Fasten your seatbelts!!!! Tis the season!!!

Give Thanks Goddess

 

 When we arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and joy of living.  If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.

~Tecumseh Shawnee Chief ~

Progression

 

Scrapes of paper glued down with Golden Soft Gel (Matte)

 

Working on the face

Like to get the face just right 

 Cut the paper for the feathers

Paste the paper feathers on with Golden Soft Gel Medium

 Paint the butterflies

Just adding the details.

 Softened it up a bit with Golden Titanium White

and added some scribbles.

I am also working on a new piece. 

This is the biggest piece I have ever worked on.

I love looking at the possibilities.

So much fun!

Can't wait to see what it turns out to be. 

Also it is my husband I my Anniversary!

26 years!

So indulge me a bit because I have to dedicate this post to my lovely husband.

I have been posting this song for the last few years.

It has become my song to him.

It tells it all!

Love you Stephen Foust!!!

It's true, I was made for you.

Happy Anniversary!!

Mish Mash......Busy Busy Busy!!!!! Yay!!!!

 Ohhhh how busy I am...................

The busy time has come upon us.  Tis the Season.... My favorite time of the year.  I am getting ready for a Open House at my house on December 1st.  Nelly is organizing it. She is selling her Sabika and I will be selling Originals, Prints, Postcards, Tablets,  and Magnets.  There will be other vendors like Pampered Chef,  Is it 21???.,   Tastefully Simple.  If you are in the area please stop in. Everyone is welcome. It is for sure going to be a fun day! 

So my house has to be ready for Christmas too. 

I have never been ready that early.

I think I will like it though, Starting the Holiday Early.

Also getting ready for another show on Dec 7.

I am working on 2 commissions this week.  Just have some tweaking to do.   One I can show you but the other I can not because it is a surprise for someone for Christmas. (I simply adore it. Can't wait to show it!)  Started 3 other paintings.

I am all over the place

 Yay!!!! I am so grateful.....

To be able to bring joy to people's lives, by doing something I love.

So Grateful!!

 

This painting I did for Marci. She lost her Beloved Copper. She has bought 3 of my originals paintings before, So she knows my style. When she asked me if I would do this, I was scared, because this is such a personal thing. She has all the memories and I wanted to do Copper justice.  So I really procrastinated. 

I hope she loves it as much as I loved making it for her.

 

Working on Portraits

I also was playing around with Tissue Paper

 

 WIP - Christmas Queen

Still working on the face.

Not quite there yet. 

Getting one canvas ready 

Not sure for what....

It will come to me.

Look at this crazy table!!! 

Working on a still life

Working on a portrait

It was organized earlier in the week!

No kidding!!

I love it this way!

Makes me feel alive!!!

With that I will leave you with this quote.

If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. 

The more things you do, the more you can do.

~Lucille Ball~

Dia de Muertos - Day of the Dead

DAY OF THE DEAD

Dia de Muertos is a  Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. It focuses on gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family who have died. Building altars consisting of gifts to there loved ones including  pictures of the deceased, sugar skulls, marigolds.  Also leaving possessions of the deceased.  I left jewelry that my Mother had given me and that I got when she died. The celebration takes place on October 31, November 1 and November 2.  

Today I will be celebrating all my family and friends that have gone before me. 

My Sisters and Nieces will be here to Celebrate and honor our loved ones. 

It is also my Fathers 86th Birthday. Halloween Baby.

So glad he is still around.

Also the little kiddo's will be going Trick or Treating in the Neighborhood.

Lots of Candy.

Lots of Love.

Oh what a day we have in store for us. 

 

I painted these skulls from left over skulls from Halloween. You can get them really cheap at AC Moore or Michaels after the holiday. 

Just make sure you gesso them really good before you paint them. 

I honor them all and I miss them.

They will be in my heart forever.

True Love Never dies. 

Take some time out in the next few days and honor the ones you loved and lost. And honor the ones you love.

Both are so precious.

Bewitching Hour

 

Bewitching Hour

Happy Halloween!!!

This is my most favorite time of the year!

When all the trees are changing to orange, red, purple, brown.

Piles of leaves to jump into.

Candy Corn, Caramel Apples, Popcorn Balls.

Smells are wonderful, Burning leaves, Apple Cider, Candy

Witches on broom sticks

Pumpkins made into Jack o Lanterns.

Hay bales, Corn Stalks on porches, dried corn hanging on the doors and Mums in pots.

I remember the Halloweens of the pasts and the future ones to come

Costumes, Masks, Face Paint.

Children with smiling faces coming to my door. 

Chill in the Air

Squirrels and chipmunks running around gathering  nuts preparing for the winter.

Oh how I love it!

In our family there are so many Birthdays! Steve(today), Jamie, Keely, Isaac, Dad(Halloween Baby), Reece, Darylanne, Betty's Birthdays.

We have been singing Happy Birthday Every week it seems!

So blessed by my family!

Here are some of my other Halloween Prints that are available in my Etsy Shop

 

I would rather have the treat

It is also the Anniversary of my Mothers death.

11 Years I have been with out her.

It seems like yesterday.

  

I would like to dedicate this post to her.

She is why I am the person that I am. 

I was watching Soul Sunday on OWN and I saw this short film 

Super Soul Short: How a Long Hike Led One Man to a New Passion

When architect Brad Goldpaint's mother died suddenly from a routine surgery, he was left with a huge void in his life. He decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in search of answers, and he found one—in the night sky. Watch to see how Brad turned to photography to process his tragedy.

I watched this on the day of the anniversary of my mothers death. It was so poignant.

 Please take the time to watch it.

It is very inspiring.

Everything that happens in your life, good or bad adds value to your life.

Use it!

Much love to all!

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope that somehow I can add value to your lives!

Listening to the Moon, Stars and the Sky

 

Listening to the moon, star and the sky

That is what I will be doing for the next week.

Listening

Steve and I are going away for a much needed vacation

We celebrated our 25th anniversary this year (Nov 14) and we told ourselves we would go somewhere fun where we don't have to think about anything.

 He is my Greek God with a Beer

He's a good man.

When he was younger we would be strolling along and someone would stop him and they would ask him "Did anyone tell you that you look like the Statue of David?? (In the beginning we would laugh but then it got a little old.) 

Believe me the man has the same body that he had when I first met him

Me not so much........

So we are going to the Hard Rock Resort in Punta Cana. ( My Dad is going to stay at the house with Lulu, We wish we could take her along)

Sooooo

I will be listening to the moon, stars and the sky.

And think about how grateful I am to have been with this wonderful man for 27 years. (including our dating days)

He is my love and my light. He can also be my frustration (German stubbornness)

Things I love about Steve

 He works hard and plays hard 

He understands me

He lets me be me. 

 All he wants is for me to be happy.

He has made my dreams come true in so many ways.

He is a good Father to our Daughter.

He is a great Grandfather.

He takes the trash out without me even asking him

He can build and fix anything.  So talented

Everyday he tells me he loves me at least 2 times a day.

He makes me laugh at least once a day.

Now I could make a list of the other things that drive me crazy but I won't.

I choose to think of the positive today.

So I will see you in a week.

And forgive me for rambling on about my husband. I can't help myself!

Have a lovely, fullfilling week!

Do something you haven't done before!!!!

Prints of Listening to the Moon, Stars and the Sky are on in my Etsy shop now.

Come and visit at shfoust.etsy.com 

(I just showed him what I wrote and he asked......"How many people are going to read that")

He had a smile on his face and asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner......Things you got to do to get the man to take you out to eat.

You Are Safe - Cancer Awareness Month

 

YOU ARE SAFE

Nelly and I went to the "I Can Do It "  Hay House Conference.  It was wonderful.

We saw many speakers the whole weekend.

So up lifting!

Cheryl Richardson, Anita Moorjani, Nick Orner, Kris Carr, Brian L. Weiss M.D., Caroline Myss, 

Iyanla Vanzant, Kate Northrup.  What a line up!

Also we stayed at the Gaylord Resort. It was a city in itself!

Anyway

I wanted to describe what happened to me when Brian L. Weiss MD hypnotized us. 

I know this is going to sound bizarre to some of you but I can only tell you what happened to me.

It was mind blowing!

First he told us that 50% of us would be hypnotized and 40% will not, other 10% will fall asleep.

I meditate so I don't know if that is why I could go so deeply. But I did.

If you are familiar with Dr Weiss he believes in past lives. You need to read his book for his whole story.

His story is amazing.

Well first he had us go back to a point in our childhood. 

I vividly could remember a time in my mothers cousins  basement with my cousins and my sisters. Laughing. I wanted to laugh out loud. It was so real.  Who knows maybe I did because I was out of it. 

He then told us to go deeper.

This scared me a bit. 

I felt like I was sinking

But I remember what Dr Weiss said " Just let it happen, you are safe and you are going to be OK, just go deeper, You will come out of it, you won't stay there"

I could see a orange glow.

I was surrounded by grey smooth stone building.

( I assume a castle)

And then I saw her. A beautiful long black hair, with ribbons in her ponytail, hanging down her back. Long beautiful dress. She was holding her hand up and out like she was waiting for some one to take her hand. 

Now I was thinking to myself "I always told Nelly that I knew I was a queen in my past life" 

This must be her!

But then all of a sudden I realized with shock,  I was not the Queen.  Oh Nooooo! I was the King!!

I was in a mans body!

Can you imagine!

I was a huge man with a big bushy brown beard,  I had on some kind of red breast plate. Huge feet!

I was tenderly holding my beloveds hand, walking

Well then Dr Weiss told us to go deeper, to a moment in that life (The King) that was very meaningful.

At that moment I went to a memory of  my Beloved in this huge wooden bed. 

She was dying.

 And I was across her bed holding her hand. 

I was sobbing!

I felt the real emotions in my body. 

I was devastated.

I could feel his pain!

REALLY!

Dr Weiss then asked us what did we learn from this life experience.

I realized that I learned Love from this man.

I know, I know , I know, It sounds so crazy!!! But it happened to me. 

Could it be a dream???

My imagination??

Who knows??

All I know is it Shook me up!

When we finally woke up.

I looked over at Nelly and I said "Nelly I wasn't a queen. I was a King"

And you know what my kid said to me??

" Doesn't surprise Me!"

Made me laugh!!

She knows me so well.

There were people all a buzz when I woke up.

You could see the people that had similar experiences.

People crying, People telling there stories to other people.

He was right, half the people had some kind of experience.

WOWZY!!

Nelly, fell immediately asleep. She said she could hear him counting. She asked me if I heard the guy fall off his chair.  Didn't hear it???

She said when she heard the guy fall off his chair she immediately woke up, she said her head was bent all the way back and her mouth was hanging wide open. OMG! That made me laugh!!!  So typically Nelly. She can sleep anywhere! I asked if she was snoring??

We giggled on that one!

 Anyway, It was a great weekend!

So many wonderful moments spent with my daughter.

My painting this week is a mixture of the lovely women that I saw and the Mantra that I say to myself all the time.   "You Are Safe" 

I said that mantra to myself when I was being hypnotized when I was going deeper into another realm.

I say that affirmation almost everyday of my life. 

It soothes me.  

"You Are Safe"

When I am driving done the highway

When I am going in a group of people

When ever I feel uneasy, I say it to myself

I am a firm believer of affirmations.

I adore Louise Hay.

My life changed after I read my first Louise Hay book. 

I am a firm believer that you are what you think about.

Change your thoughts. Change your life.

I did, so can you!

If you ever have the chance to read her story, please do.

It is amazing

Sorry that I went a little long.

I just wanted to tell you about my peculiar experience.

If you are still with me and reading this.

Thanks for being there.

Also I wanted to remind Everyone that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Everyone if you can give to the Cancer Society

I lost too many people in my life from cancer.

Please help them fight the fight!!

Give hope to her!

 

  Wishing you all Love and Peace!!!