Getting My Sketching On!

Hi sweet little neglected bloglet!  I'm b a a a c k !

Honestly it has been awhile and lots of odds and ends have been going on.  Let's see, on the arts side, I am doing Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way". I started an on-line group, "Exploring The Artist's Way" to go through it with (can you say accountability)  There is about 60 participants, of course realistically I'm sure much fewer will stick with it.  It has been interesting.

The primary activities are morning pages (a 3 page long brain drain each morning) and a weekly artist's date (a solo creative outing) and weekly writing tasks to go with the readings.  It has been more time intensive than I anticipated.  I'm not sure how much I've gotten out of it yet but I plan on following through as much as a tangible show of will power as creativity unblocking.

I've also been in a major reading and sketching mode. Figured I'd share a few here. Not even Art Journal drawing, more random doodles on whatever I can get my hand on. I really should keep true drawing paper with me as usually I'm drawing on grid or lined paper but of course the advantage is it makes me stay loose and not precious which is really nice.

Finally, the most exciting general life thing is that I just got home from Nashville for Thanksgiving! Such a wonderful time with family! It is what I miss the most about living so far away (yes, even more than my bath tub) My girls will be down in Key West for Christmas so even more wonderfulness to come. There is nothing in this world that I care for more than my kids.  I am so proud of the amazing young women my daughters have become.  Yet seeing them bloom and fly, reminds me just how fast time is zooming by and how important it is to make each moment count.  Goodness, it feels like they were my messy little munchkins only a few years ago.

On the topic of time rushing past -sometimes when I see myself, I am surprised, I expect to see a face maybe 20 years younger.  I don't think you ever actually think of yourself as older (well except maybe when the aches and pains kick in) What a mixed blessing aging is.  I do think that I've finally started becoming comfortable with myself, well at least most days anyway. My next goal is to try to become more comfortable in my actual skin - my body issues are so big. Literally as well as figuratively. besides wanting to become physically smaller, I want to let it matter less.  Not judge myself so harshly.  Well, that will be an on going task but hopefully this time I'll make it stick!

I'm going to try and be more regular in my posting so I'll be checking back in soon.  Of course, if you like you can catch me on Facebook as Artfulbitsandbytes and Instagram as as artfulbitsandbytes_laurieanne  -I tend to be a bit more active on these venues and would love to connect with you there.

Music for November:
Thanksgiving Song - Mary Chapin Carpenter

(Oh Yes, we went roller skating in Nashville & it was not quite as easy as I remembered but still just as fun -hence the following roller disco youtube links, lol!)

So Electric - Lifelike
Moves - Tahuna Breaks
Get Lucky - Daft Punk

Ciao Bella! Sweet Dreams!

W E D D I N G B E L L S

This past weekend, my amazing daughter, Autumn married Matt Brasher in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at my brother David's house in Nashville!  What a joyful occasion!!!

First Dance

Here is a very quick wedding recap with a few photos (just phone snapshots -I can't wait to see the real one's from the photographers) Be prepared, you know I'm going to be sharing more.

First off, this was a major DIY deal but everything came together perfectly! I flew up Wednesday afternoon and until Saturday morning, it was non-stop, From etching the mason jars to the making the games, photobooth, tablescapes, painting signs, cards, globe, arranging the flowers, hanging the lights,... Autumn and Matt even built the tables themselves! (I didn't take many pics but take my word, WOW -just wow! All the family pitched in. Thoughts of Mom, Dad, and Patrick weren't far from my mind. (It was Mom's birthday) Oh, she would have really loved all this.

Wedding Preparations



Friday afternoon was the rehearsal and then rehearsal dinner. Mexican -super spicy & yummy! Matt and Autumn's friends were so adorable coming in from literally all over the globe. As for me, exhaustion was definitely setting in. We continued working on Do-It-Yourself projects until past midnight.

Rehearsal Dinner

The "girls" stayed at a precious bungalow airbnb Friday night. Autumn had the next day totally planned out. First hair (& Autumn's make-up) then nails then late lunch then girl photos then the wedding. Whew, non-stop! I was so impressed at how calm Autumn remained!!! She looked exquisite -like an elegant fairy princess!



Autumn Rose and Carey Anne pausing after a bit of pre-wedding pampering

Finally, the WEDDING!!! The ceremony was so beautiful! The bridesmaids were in long dresses of grey tones, the groomsmen in vests and bow ties (handmade by Autumn of course) The bouquets were gorgeous in whites, creams, lavender, and soft peaches (created by my brother Patrick's friend, Karen) The flower girl was adorable throwing and picking up rose petals. Pete and I accompanied Autumn down the aisle while an acoustic version of "Here comes the sun" played. (OMG which just came on the radio right now! Goosebumps, all up my arms) A good friend of theirs officiated. They emotionally recited heartfelt vows. They looked so happy!!!!


Photographer's Picture of Autumn and Matt, the new Mr. & Mrs. Brasher!

The reception was fabulous. For the social hour, live music played while photos of the bridal party were taken. Lots of games were played (Peter made an pretty amazing large scale set of Jenga) Pictures taken (I did a pretty kickass photo booth), Popcorn with lots of tasty sprinkle and drizzle options was devoured, and fancy waters, lemonade, wine, and cold beer was sipped. The food was honestly some of the very best I've had at any type event -a buffet of Bar-b-q brisket & chicken, corn pudding, greens, and scalloped sweet potatoes catered from Bacon & Caviar. Yum! Seriously my mouth is watering right now as I type. We added a great big salad -no one went hungry that is for sure! Then DANCING! I love it when everyone dances and man oh man oh boy did they -young & old alike! A DJ manned the music and the dance floor stayed packed. Like -who knew my nephew had such impressive dance moves!



Then there was the late night milk and cookies. (Yes, David, the little milk bottles  were precious!) Oh and an unexpected hit with my amazing (slightly umm... unusual) friends -the Fire Pit! Yea, kind of cleaned out all the combustibles with reach including the remaining popcorn.

What a wonderful wedding -and now my baby girl is all married! I am so proud of the lovely young woman she has become. I wish her and Matt the most Magical of Marriages -full of Adventure, Laughter, and Love!

Today's Song:
"Hear Comes The Sun" -George Harrison & Paul Simon

Extra Music Just Because:
"Have I told You Lately That I Love You" -Rod Stewart
"Ring of Fire: -Johnny Cash
"Come Away With Me" -Norah Jones
"Hooked On A Feeling" -Blue Swede

And a Few Love Quotes:
“There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.” – Martin Luther
“Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it be rather a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” – Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.” – Plato
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” -Henry Ford
"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart." -Helen Keller
"Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity." -Albert Einstein
^"9 Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. ¹⁰ If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble.¹¹ Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone?" -Ecclesiates 4:9-11
“ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.⁸ Love never fails..”  - I Corinthians 13: 4-8

Post Thanksgiving

I am home after a wonderful trip up to Nashville to be with family and friends for Thanksgiving. I was looking forward to it with mixed anticipation. Yet another family member gone. I knew it would be particularly hard on my brother David and Patrick's friend Karen but it felt good to be among the group.  

I say it each year but I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful family. I can't imagine them not being there and it is funny, we don't necessarily talk or get together as often as other families but I know should something truly be needed by any one of us, another would step in. What a glorious diverse and eclectic mix of personalities, we are! My greatest thanksgiving is this and even if it should be all taken away tomorrow, I would still consider myself one of the luckiest girls to have lived just because is was.

Ah and now for the challenge of keeping a spirit of gratitude for the rest of the year - to take nothing for granted, to see everything through the lens of Eucharisto, thanksgiving to God for ALL things. I am rereading Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts" and have started a new list of blessings -I whole heartedly recommend this book.  There is something in the counting that makes God's nearness all the more tangible. “The practice of giving thanks...eucharisteo...this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes. We don't have to change what we see. Only the way we see.” 

What a joy to live noticing all that is present and abundant, from the tiniest to the grandest. What a blessing to live open to possibilities, acknowledging the gift of life and being grateful for the hard things as well as the easy. Living a grateful life means letting the values of respect, responsibility, and generosity flow though us. It means being a conduit for blessing others, whether through large weighty gestures such as mission trips and volunteering or small tokens such a smile at the stressed grocery clerk or grumpy car driver (as he takes the right of way). Even the seemingly insignificant acts can bring encouragement and actually make a difference. Let us change the world one small smile at a time :)

Recent gift listings:
6. Bumped to First Class on the way to Nashville
7. Making the second part of the flight after a delay with only minutes to spare
8. Thanksgiving Feast!
9. Music making in the living room
10. Visualizing Autumn & Matt's wedding
11. David sharing the Warehouse-y art space in Nashville
12. Remembering Mom at the Garden & Brew Supply Shop
13. The Spirit Bags from the Grandchildren (really my kids and the nieces and nephew but I think of them as Mom & Dad's grandchildren when they gather together to bless us like this ?!?)
14. Roasted Broccoli with lemon aioli
15. Bumped yet again to First Class on the way home (I am not a "special" or "frequent" flier -so crazy)
16. Finding a taxi driver who takes credit cards because I forgot and had no cash at all)
17. Comfy bed when I am so very tired
18. The clear blue color of the noon sky, neither too light nor too dark

Today's Prayer:
"I bless this day in the fullness of good it already contains, in the many occasions it offers to listen deeply, to be of service to others, to express gratitude moment by moment and to keep my mind so filled with love, beauty and joy that no negativity can find even the tiniest crack in which to set foot. I bless this day in the infinite opportunities it gives me to love: to love and bless every human I meet, every beast or bird I pass by, every plant I behold, for all are but the manifold expressions of the infinite Life that undergirds all. Truly, I bless this day for the wonderful adventure it can become as I walk through it with the eyes of wonder rather than boredom, use every opportunity to express peace rather than irritation, and chose love over fear. Thank you, Life, for this day." - Pierre Padervand

Music: 

Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time

Creativity takes Courage ... and Effort.

Good morning blogosphere!

Henry Matisse said, “The artist begins with a vision - a creative operation requiring an effort.  Creativity takes courage.”  I agree creativity does take courage... and effort.  Certain people seem to naturally be more creative. I think sometimes it is just that different folks express their creativity differently.

My mom for instance, she is a born decorator and hostess. She is always saying how unartistic she is, but really it is just for her creativity expresses itself more with pillows and plates and paints. My dad on the other hand, could jerry-rig anything. His creativity generally was of the MacGuyver variety. Although he did machine embroidery a little wash cloth for me when I was born -cool, huh?

I think People are born with natural inclinations. I have two amazing daughters. They couldn’t be more different. They have always had their very own style. Ever since they were quite young I could tell whose art was whose. And really it is opposite of what you would expect.  One daughter tends to have a more openly expressive personality.  Her art was always simple, clean, each line intentional and pure.  My other daughter has a slightly more cautious personality.  Yet her art leans to the exuberant and vibrates with energy. No coloring inside the lines for her.  More is more is more -especially when she was younger. Both are fabulously creative.

In fact sometimes I wish I was as secure in my style as they seem to be.  It really shows up in how they put together outfits. They dress as themselves. I flounder in every direction -clothes and art. I want to try everything. Somehow wanting it to all to come together cohesively. To make sense and be "me". One of my brothers once called me a seeker. I think it is a good description.

In art, Mixed Media seems to personify this seeking mentality. There is such a freedom to this genre. I remember when I first picked up a Somerset Studio magazine; I felt a connection to each artist represented in it. There was something intrinsic to the artwork shown inside that touch my heart deeply.

I'd dabbled in oils when I was quite young and watercolors more recently. I adored children's picturebook illustrations, especially the old ones. I had collected some amazing whimsical artwork, mostly through local arts and craft shows. But this marvelous mixture of paints, pastels, and collage..... Wow!  I felt I could do this.  It felt real. This is what I was meant to do. It encouraged experimentation and play. Hallelujah, this is "me".

Then a year or so later I was doodling with my girly drawings and I happened to google "big eyed girl". My Mam-maw had the iconic low-brow ballerina and harlequin boy on the walls of her guest bedroom and I wanted to see if they looked as I remembered. I was wanting to stylize my girls more as they tended to be more realistic than what I usually draw now. 

Well, I found more than the two pictures I was looking for; I found the Willowing ning site and I was astounded.  There were all these other people who were drawing girls and adding words in the same vein I was and I didn't even know they existed. I'd never seen artwork like this. How could others be going in the same direction as I? I learned of Artist Trading Cards and began to swap a little. It was such a positive and encourage tribe. I felt like I could belong in this group of like minded ladies. My art wasn't so strange after all. Even the simple and "cute" had value. I haven't looked back and can't wait to see where it eventually leads!