what I'm thankful for

I’m thankful for forgiveness, grace and mercy becuz I am in dire need of them all.

I pray that I will practice forgiveness, grace and mercy with others.

I'm thankful for my mistakes as they've made me who I am and I like who I am now.

I pray that others will learn to forgive themselves, live without regret, and, most of all, like themselves!

I’m thankful that I live in this time, in this country where women have the same freedoms as men to vote, to speak, to pursue their dreams.

I pray that this will continue here and that all people everywhere will be free from oppression & repression.

I’m thankful for the constitution that guarantees my right to practice my religion.  Or not.   Where I am guaranteed the right to speak my mind, to protest my government, to assemble.

I pray that we will remember the price paid for those freedoms and value them accordingly, that all people everywhere will have these same freedoms.

I’m thankful for my parents, Uni & Bill Ball, who not only taught me the rules but taught me to love without condition, to think for myself, to value the thoughts of others, to have compassion for those less fortunate, to appreciate the differences – not to mock them.

I pray that I might be a loving parent, spouse and friend as modeled by them; that I will value what makes people different from me and not try to force them into a mold.

I’m thankful for my husband, Patrick Schoenfeldt, who loves me, not inspite of all my weirdness but becuz of it, who tells me I’m beautiful so often that I believe him, who knows my dreams and works toward them with me, who inspires me to be loving, who understands that domesticity is not as important as passion.  (If you want to know more you can read the blog posts about how he saved our marriage here)

I pray that I will love him as well as he loves me and that he will always be here with me.

I’m thankful for my children, Nathan Opdyke and Dani Turner, who give me so much joy, who actually like to spend time with me, who are affectionate and smart and kind and good friends to their friends; that I can see myself in them yet see how different they are from me and from each other (tho this took me some time to see).

I pray that they can learn from my mistakes, that they will know the love I’ve known, that they will have all they need and then some, that they KNOW they are loved beyond measure.

I’m thankful for my home that is a haven from the craziness of the world, that’s cooler than the summers and warmer than the winters, that is often filled with family & friends, fun & laughter.

I pray that people everywhere will have a safe haven, a place to weather storms; that they can too be surrounded by those they love.

I’m thankful for art – both in the big sense of the word and that I am pulled to do it; that I now have time & space to do it; that it’s brought me in contact with other creative people who contribute so much to my life on so many levels.

I pray that I will never cease to have new creative ideas and the time to try them.  And that people will “get” it and be willing to pay for it.  J

I’m thankful for work for both Patrick and myself; that Patrick loves architecture & gets to practice it at a firm that actually has work; that I’m good at accounting & that in these tough times I am able to pick-n-choose between assignments; that I don’t have to do it 60 hours a week any more (see the previous section).

I pray that we will always be able to do what we love and know that that is more valuable than money.

I’m thankful for friends, the ones in-person and the ones on-line who I’ve never met up close; for all they contribute to my life and my art; for the support they’ve given me and the times they’ve set me straight.

I pray that I will be a good friend, honest, loyal and giving.

I’m thankful for Facebook & Blogger where I’ve reconnected with old friends, met new art friends and been able to get to know two younger cousins.  I’m also thankful that I can hide, unfriend, block or ‘mark as spam’ those who only contribute negativity.

I pray that I will be a positive contribution to the online world and appreciate the differences in our great, vast world.

I’m thankful for my mind.

I pray that I use it well and it lasts as long as my body – or longer.

I’m thankful for Diet Coke™, margaritas and dark chocolate (tho not margaritas with dark chocolate).

I pray that I can learn to exercise moderation.

I’m thankful for high heels.

nuff said  J

I hope you have a wonderful day with family, friends and food

filled with laughter and memories

and that your grattitude is known by all

Happy Halloween

I can't believe it's been over a month since I was here ~

I'll blame it on work tho I haven't done any since the filing deadline on 10/17!

I've been teaching some beeswax classes yet
struggling with the pieces I've been working on.

Don't you just hate it when your great idea just won't become a great piece of art?

So I put the art aside and started playing with a few Halloween projects ~

I started this tag book 2 years ago (yes, I'm slow at doing a lot of things)

and I made a couple of charm bracelets ~

one for me and one to put on Etsy

and the last project I've been working on is altering this fabulous book
(you really have to check out this line of books ~ they're full of vintage images

and stories and are perfect for to use in lieu of scrapbooking.
I've used the Christmas one & the Love one.  I have the boy & girl ones
for that day when I figure out how to quit being so slow at everything.  LOL)

Have a happy Halloween
or a scary one ~ whichever you prefer

Easter

This video is sooooooooo cool – you get to see the artist’s process of making this picture of Christ. And the picture itself says a lot about how Christ is for everyone.

It’s about 6 minutes long but it goes very quickly.
You may want to turn your volume down before you play it



"You are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. HE HAS RISEN!!!"

Sin has lost its victory; Death has lost it's sting.
Have a wonderful Easter

Joyful 2011

While we know so many have had setbacks and  even loss the last few years,
our wish is that 2011 will bring you peace and joy, love and friendship,
laughter and great memories no matter what your circumstances.   

We celebrated our fifteenth anniversary in December and had photos taken to commemorate. We both agree that while last year wasn't the easiest in some ways,

it was the best year of married life yet and we hope to top it this year!!

Photo by Katelyn Swanson

Our wish for you is that 2011 will bring you joy in whatever you endeavor to do ~

Sherry & Patrick

************************************

All the way back in early December when I made the heARTfelt gifts, I made this collage just so I could use it on my Christmas cards. HA!!!  Then, when we decided to have some photos taken for our 15th anniversary, I decided I'd use both in New Years cards.  Then sick. Then tax season. blah. blah. blah.  You've heard it before.  Well, I finally mailed the cards yesterday so I thought I'd share them with you as well. 

I truly do wish the very best for all of you.  Thank you for joining me on this art journey, even when I don't post regularly.  I hope you know how much it means to me to have this community.

Thank you ~ and have a Joyful 2011 ~ Sherry

Bye-Bye 2010 - Hello 2011

It's time to say good-bye to 2010 and hello to 2011;

time to reevaluate our goals and the steps we're taking to achieve them;

time to look back & analyze and to look forward & hope.

What are your goals?
Are you going to go a new direction?
Do you care if you sell or do you only create for yourself?

 After moving at the end of 2009, I didn't enter many art shows
and didn't do a single craft show in 2010.
Yet as I look back, I realized I actually SOLD more art during 2010 than any other year
(thank you FaceBook!!)

I took an online class, went to a conference and read lots of articles

in order to learn more about how to do this art business. 

Blog.  FaceBook.  Etsy.  Twitter.

Some of these are easier for me to do than others;

some I haven't even tried yet.

What about you?

But the biggest thing I've learned is the thing I've always known -

the thing that's easiest for me to do cuz I get lost in it,

yet hardest for me to do consistently cuz I'm so easily distracted -

get in the studio and

CREATE

and then get the art in front of a lot of different people so the

right person can see it at the right time and make it theirs.

So, my goals for 2011?

GET IN THE STUDIO!!!

I want to continue to explore this abstract thing - I feel so free while I create - 

and I want to take some encaustic classes - I think I'm in love with wax!

GET IN SHOWS!!!

That's why I've joined every local art association I could find and

I'm so excited about getting five pieces in the show next month.

PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE

(ok, I lied earlier - this is the hardest part!)

If you've already taken steps to change/grow next year, please let me know -

after all, we're all in this together.

As far as non-art decisions, I've decided to try to STOP eating when I get full.

If I accomplish that, I'll work on reducing my diet coke intake.  Again.

ps ~ the pieces above are the ones that I sold last year

pps ~ I have a FaceBook page now if you'd like to come LIKE me

(remember: promote, promote, promote - hehe)

Happy Christmas

I absolutely LOVE Christmas.

I do it up really BIG.

As I mentioned the other day, Patrick and I have been married 15 years. 

But it's a wonder we even dated after that first Christmas becuz he walked in and asked

"Who barfed Christmas in here?"

I guess I decided he had a sense of humor!!

These days he does way more than half the holiday decorating here so I guess I'll keep him

*WINK*

I thought about walking around the house and counting how many Santas and Nativities

and Reindeer I have but the thought of all that work wore me out. 

So instead I'll just share a few pictures of just a few decorations and

wish you the very best Christmas day ever.

heARTfelt gift idea

I'm sure you are all crazy busy right now so the last thing you need is another Christmas gift to make!  That's exactly how I felt when this idea popped into my head when I should have been sleeping Friday night.  I already had some gifts that HAVE to be finished THIS week (we're celebrating on the 19th at our house).

So what did I do Saturday morning?  I started three new gifts!  I was even diligent to take photos of the steps so you could see.  Unfortunately I messed up with renaming the files and my computer ate them so you only get to see the finished product and hear about the steps. 

The idea behind this is to give something very personal yet displayable (is that a word?); to share my thoughts and feelings with them in a way where neither of us would feel too exposed if others saw it; to give them art and feelings at once.

Those of you who do art journaling and collage might want to make these using your regular techniques but with the twist of a hidden personal note written just for that special person.  

Here's how I did it (again, sorry there are no pictures):

1. adhere book pages to heavy paper -- I used watercolor canvas because I didn't like the watercolor paper in my stash
2. do the masking tape technique
3. hand-write a personal note to your friend -- I used pencil but you could use a pen as long as it's not water-soluble
4. paint with white gesso -- this will cover a lot of the writing but not all
5. adhere assorted papers on top -- I really like to use tissue papers and hand-made papers for this step
6. your message should be pretty much obscured - if you want to be sure nothing too personal shows, scan it and look at it on your computer screen - it's amazing what shows there!!!
7. add paints as desired
8. if anything is water-soluble, hit it with a coat of clear matte spray paint
9. think of one word for them for the coming year - your wish or prayer for them - and add it to the collage either with calligraphy or your printer -- guess which one I did?
10. present to your loved one by telling them what you wrote

Anyway, after making these and destroying my schedule even further this week, I've decided that in the future these would be perfect for birthday gifts - sort of a blessing and prayer for the coming year.

I also realize some people might not feel artsy-fartsy enough to make them and am trying to figure out how to make them for others - perhaps they write the feelings down and I put that as the first layer on a collage and end with the word of their choosing.  Any ideas on that?

Okay.  Better go.  Still have those original gifts to finish in six days!

THE great debate

Do you call it dressing or stuffing?

Do you put it in the bird or bake it in a pan?

And, most importantly, white bread or cornbread?

Yesterday I made three batches of sweet cornbread cooked in bacon grease. 

Today I cut it up and mixed it with lots of melted butter, sauted red onions,

chopped jalepenos, chicken stock and spices.  Right now it's baking in a covered pan -

later I'll remove the cover so the edges can get crispy.

It is easily my favorite part of the Thanksgiving feast.

My family is from Michigan and I was raised on white bread stuffing which I also love;

once when my son was young he called it white boy dressing. 

My brother still makes it with the wonderful addition of sausage -

you can't go wrong with pork products if you ask me. 

However you make it, and even if you don't (tho why wouldn't you?  hehe)

enjoy your feast with your family and friends today.

And thank you for sharing part of your day with me ~ Sherry

Night Sky

This is a piece that my son and I created together. 

It's taken me a few weeks to do my part cuz life has been
crazy hectic for absolutely no known reason!

Does this ever happen to you?  You're rushing around all day and exhausted at night. 

Then you look at your to-do list and you can't cross anything off?

Well, that's where I've been for awhile now.

Anyway, here's how we created Night Sky:

Nate sprayed some of his paint onto water and dipped in a canvas

(don't you love how the heart just showed up?):

Then I sanded it to remove some loose paint globs and added gel pen:

Next came washes of various iridescent blues:

And I finished it off by adding some more depth to the outer edges with golden acrylics:

When Nate and I collaborate on a piece, we mark it Pashnada

on the front and then we both sign the back of the canvas.

Well, now I really do have stuff to do - I actually cook a lot for Thanksgiving (I know, don't die of shock).  We moved into our new home the week before Thanksgiving last year so we didn't do much here during the holiday season.  This year we're having a couple of functions so we have to start putting up the Christmas decorations immediately after Thanksgiving.  And boy, do I have a LOT of Christmas decorations to put up.

So all of that is my way of saying I might not see you for a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, have a happy, relaxing time with your family and/or friends

and a blessed time remembering all the good that we enjoy even during hard times.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Bye Bye 2009

Out with the old, in with the new.

Oh. Wait. I'm the "old" so forget that cliche.

I have so much to do in my house still. So many projects to finish. So many ideas to turn in to projects. If I were to make a list of resolutions, I wouldn't even be able to finish that!!

That's why I was inspired by Becca's blog at Blue Cricket Design to just pick one word as the inspiration for the coming year.

Should I pick DIET? or FINISH? how about DEBT-FREE? hmmmmmmmmmmm. This is going to be difficult! Maybe it should be CONCENTRATE (lately, it's like I've developed ADD or something).

May you all have the time you need to reach your goals, the family and friends you need to carry you through the hard-times and laugh with you at the good-times, the money you need to provide for your family, good health, fond memories, and the insight to see that this is all just temporary.

Happy 2010 ~ Sherry

Merry Christmas 2009 & Happy 2010

I've unpacked enough in my new studio that I can see some actual creative time coming in the future. We took time to celebrate our 14th anniversary. All my shopping is done except the potatos for Christmas day. And the only line I have to stand in today is at the post office.

So I thought I would take this time to wish y'all a

Merry Christmas
and a
Peaceful & Prosperous New Year

I know 2009 has been difficult for so many. But I KNOW that I have been blessed. Even those of us in the USA that are hurting are better off than most of the rest of the world. So let's take this time to give to others who are struggling - give our time, our prayers, our small change if that's all we have - give food to the hungry - give hospitality to the lonely. Most importantly, share the most important gift of all, the ORIGINAL Christmas gift, that a baby was born in order to restore us to God.

I hope and pray that 2010 will be better - less war, more peace - less unemployment, more security - less selfishness, more sharing - and that we will all have what we NEED plus some to give away ~ Sherry

Happy Holidays

Some of my friends think it's wrong to say the generic HAPPY HOLIDAYS but considering it's after Christmas, I thought it might be the best expression. It was a great Christmas. And a couple days before that, a great 13th anniversary.

Here are some photos of my family on Christmas. I sure love them.

I hope you were able to spend the day with those you love.

Have a blessed New Year ~ Sherry

Happy Thanksgiving

I just want to say that I am so incredibly thankful for my family and friends. God is so good to me. We had a wonderful day at Dani & James' new home - they hosted twelve of us today. She did a great job in the kitchen, everything tasted delicious, and I am so proud of her.

And now I am soooooooooooo sleepy that I think I'll go lay down on the sofa and watch some tv. Probably UT vs A&M (the only point of contention at the festivities today was about who should win the Big 12 South!!!)

Also, just have to share about a "fun" comment from a store employee last nite while I was out doing a little Christmas shopping:
----- her - is that a piercing?
----- me - yes
----- her - I've never seen one on a person of your ... maturity
My ex said I should have responded "not bad for a 64 year old, huh?" and left her REALLY wondering but instead I said "thanks" and had someone else check me out.

Oh the pleasures of getting older. Scratch that. Of getting more "mature".

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I know the year has been rough for many and that next year could be too. But we really have so much to be thankful for even during rough times. And I'm thankful for you, my friends ~ Sherry

Halloween

Just a few fun pics from Halloween:

What a wicked witch!!

Have a happy ~ Sherry