Complete Journal- May 2014 through November 2014

I have never done this before, but I figure, they could be a blog post all by themselves.  This is the journal I finished November of 2014.  Page by Page.  Several of these pages were published in the Spring 2015 edition of Somerset Art Journaling, article titled "Now You See Me"

Guest designer at Stencil Girl!!

So today I am a guest Designer over At StencilGirl.  I met Mary Beth Shaw at CHA this year, and fell in love with her fun loving spirit.  I have always loved the stencils they put out, and it was awesome to meet her and spend some time with her.  When she asked if I would consider being a guest designer, I jumped at the chance.
I looked through the site and picked a few that I liked and they shipped them off to me to play with.  Head on Over HERE to see what I came up with!!
Here is a sneak peek :)

Discovery of Self

Well it has been a rough 6 months to say the least.  I have been in the midst of some hard stuff and I have not always walked with grace or self control...or any sense of self whatsoever.

Did you ever have a problem, and while you needed help to fix it....you wanted to fix it yourself before you asked for help?  You know, the old "I can do this on my own and I don't need a bunch of people all up in my business"  Well, I was there and sometimes I still am.  But it was too much.

I needed help.  Once I made the decision that it was way over my head, I didn't know what to do and would probably drown in the process....I stopped, I prayed and I listened.  And then the journey really started. Peter Gabriel explains it perfectly.

I won't go into details, they don't matter anyway.  What matters is- it took a weekend of me running away from home, alone, to the beach...to just...be.  Be alone, be with God, be in my own skin.  To not depend on activities and events and commitments to keep me busy and BUSY.  I just needed to stop.

Once I did that I was able to see things a little more clearly.  What did I want?  What was best? What would HE want me to do.  HE would want me to let Him help me.  So I did.  I cried and I screamed, and I let Him wash over me.

During this time...I did not paint for weeks...anything.  I to this day, have only painted on canvas one time, and it was such a struggle.  Colors didn't work, feelings we scattered.  Nothing worked.  But my journal....oh my journal has once again saved me. I couldn't stay out of my journal.  Art saves...I believe this, I know this.

So fast forward, I am in therapy.  Lots and lots of therapy, and I enjoy it.  My therapist asked me one day: "Carrie, how do you see yourself?  How do your friends and family see you?  How does God see you?"

I honestly did not have an answer, I knew what I HOPED would be their answers, but I didn't know for sure. I know I have people that love me, I know God loves me.....but I didn't know who I was through THEIR eyes.

So being an artist, I tend to work internal things out.....with paint, or pens or canvas.  I just had to work it out.  Ever since she asked that questions, the only thing I can paint in my journal....is me.  I am in a self reflection place.  I tend to think of it as self centered....but I know down deep that it is not.  I am trying to visualize how the world sees me....to me.

As if I could just look in a mirror and the answers would come.  That would be great.  But sometimes the mirror is a savage place to be (shout out to Lisa Cheney for this realization) But I gotta keep looking.  I have to keep diving in and going deep.

Sometimes I feel like it is all too much.  That I keep seeing the same things over and over again, and they aren't pretty.  I let the chaos of the world around me, sometimes take up too much space in my head.  And I have to let it all go.

I know that I am a daughter of the King.  I know that I am precious in His sight.  I know that He loves me to the moon and back.  I know all these things in my heart, and I can put them down on paper.  I am just learning how to actually walk in them.

And the times when it is all too much.  I remember something my friend Diana spoke over our church last week.  That we are Daddy God's favorite, and He wants nothing more than to dance with us.  Even if it means we have to step on His toes to do it.

Personal Geographies with Jill K. Berry

This is my entry for Jill K. Berry's "Personal Geographies" map challenge!! Map your year, life, trip, goals....whatever you wanted.  This is mine, titled "Faith and the things that follow".  It is a page in my journal with map collage, stitching, acrylics, inks, stabilo pencil, watercolors and paint pens.
Lots of folks have responded to the challenge, so head over to Jill's blog and see them all!!
Check it out here.  Happy Mapping!!

Shop open at Fine Art America!

Well, I went and done it! I held out as long as I could, but now I have finally opened shop at Fine Art America!! I am still in the process of getting everything uploaded, but I am loving the look of their products!! If anyone has bought from them in the past, please let me know, I would love to hear feedback!! So it is a work in process and more stuff is coming, like, more art and Ireland photos!  Take a look here

And Here is a link for the page for Praise canvas prints from various artists!! Beautiful work!!!!  Stop by and let me know what you think!!! My work is featured in the third Row!!!

vincent's belog ! :)): What is Worship.....to me?

vincent's belog ! :)): What is Worship.....to me?

This is my blog post and my artwork on this blog...stolen from my blog. this person has taken an entire post, and copied it word for word and reposted on his site without credit to me.  I have reported it to Google

Almost Spring

Well it seems to be almost Spring around here.  Days that vary from 90 degrees, to cold and foggy.  Mother nature can't make up her mind and neither can I.
I am now into my 9th week with this cast on, and it seems hard to believe that I broke my leg 3 weeks after Christmas.  And here we are on St. Patrick's Day and still, I limp along.  so frustrating and humbling and annoying and...and...and.... whatever!!

The second cast! Doc put it on for another 4.5 weeks!! Ugh!!

I am trying not to focus on the cast, the lack of exercise, the itching, the leg hair, the disgusting condition of my foot or the weight gain.  No really!!! Well, maybe!  So lets focus on the good!!!

My booth at Art in the Alley, Augie's Coffee House, Redlands

Had an amazing day at Art in the Alley 2 weeks ago.  Downtown Redlands has a very cool vibe, and the people, the artists, the music, the poets, the EVERYTHING was so cool!! I sold 7 originals, and some photos and prints as well.  Hubby and I had a great time, and tons of friends came by to see me!! It was awesome!!

The happiness of the day, shows on my face!

Met some AMAZING people, new friends!! Here are some of them with their purchases!  Art I love, going home with awesome people!!!

Vanessa, Sylvia, Carrie and Rachel

I have also been mad journaling, thanks to the new Gelli Plate, that makes for amazing backgrounds.  You can find out more about that HERE.  I have been making backgrounds on deli paper and then pasting down in my journal.  Loving the look!!!

And I finally got the advanced copy of the new Art Journaling magazine, that I wrote an article for.  Six pages of fun!! The article is titled: "Praying in Color", and it came out beautiful!!!

Title page of the article

The issue should be on news stands April 1.  Get your copy!! This issue is jam packed with some amazing artists!! I am humbled in their company!!!