zionah

it is the 25th birthday of my beautiful daughter zionah! how she has changed from this sweetie by the sheller, when we lived on the cotton plantation in the hills of tennessee. she loved sitting in the early mornings, listening quietly to the mourning doves and whippoorwills, frolicking in the hills and dales with her 5 sisters (she was the 3rd in birth-order), dancing with the fire-flies.

i had wanted to get her a pair of doves as a birthday gift, and yesterday a lady called from a 'potting shed' nursery nearby to ask if i wanted a flock of doves (around 15!), newly hatched baby, and the beautiful handmade cage...for free!! listening to the doves will bring back memories of those precious chapters of our lives...and zionah is so excited as well!!

this photo was taken about 6 months ago, when zionah moved from our home in nw montana, to so. montana, where she now lives and works. this is her wolf-malmute dog 'cheveyah', meaning spririt-warrior.
and here is my spirit-warrior woman-child in a day of play. my heart prayer is that she continue to seek after the Great Spirit Creator God, and know and walk in the miraculous way of the Almighty One, in love & truth...all the days of her life. i love you zionah.

shariyah & ellen

recently my daughter shariyah had a birthday, and though far from her montana home, living with her kiwi hubby in new zealand, she was being thought of in a most special way by our long time friend in alabama, ellen goode. i received this beautiful card that ellen made, with shariyah's childhood photo on it that she took when we lived in tennessee, and where most of my six daughter's sweetest childhood memories are still. ellen is a master cornhusk dollmaker and taught my girls how to craft cornhusk indian & pioneer girl bookmarks, and for around 20 years they had a very successful home business, 'shuck art'. visit shariyah's beautiful blog: http://www.shariyahgarner.blogspot.com/ where she is having a 50% off sale...and ellen's website of cornhusk doll art: http://home.hiwaay.net/~jegoode/shucks/

(click on photo for a larger view!)

love ya'll!

in honor of mothers and children~

recently i created a painting for a dear friend's birthday, Dr. Annie Bukacek, who is a vigilant advocate for the unborn and a powerful voice for the voiceless in this state of Montana.

this painting depicts a beautiful mama who caresses her 16 week old baby within, which i found in a photograph of a fetus at this age who looked as if it was praying. then i found this scripture that was a declaration of a child ..."the Lord called me from the womb~from the body of my mother He named me...He formed me from the womb to be His servant" (isaiah 49:1+5) and then from the declaration of independence, a statement of the right to life for all.

with "mother's day" upon us, i am thinking too about a quote that used to encourage me (and still does) as i birthed and raised my six daughters...

"there is a God above, and the light and glory from His throne rests upon the faithful mother...no other work can equal hers in importance. she has not, like the artist, to paint a form of beauty upon canvas, nor like the sculptor, to chisel it from marble. she has not, like the author, to embody a noble thought in words of power, nor, like the musician, to express beautiful sentiment in melody. it is hers, with the help of God, to develop in a human soul, the likeness of the Divine."

what a high and holy calling it is to be a mother. and even those who have no children influence children surrounding them, and can bring the touch of love and light into their hearts, and assist the angels in guiding them in the path of beauty and truth. blessings be upon all 'mother hearts' who shelter in so many ways, and bring heaven to earth~

with love.

sunshine on a grey day

it's been grey for weeks now...snowed the past 3 days, after the earth was finally visible and we really thought that spring had held her ground. but this dance of the seasons continue, and winter is not letting go easily this year. my being longs for warmth and light...for eternal spring.

and then this ray breaks through...a treasury with my painting 'the glance' featured... and the title, bringing hope and reminding me that behind the clouds the sun is always shining.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4dab6a14a1c86d914344990e/sunshine-on-a-grey-day

OWOH giftings!

i have been waiting to post my winnings from the incredible One World One Heart gathering of bloggers until all had been received, but though one prize has still not made it's way to me, i can wait no longer!! it has been exciting to find each of the 5 gifts i won so specially created by such a unique array of artisans! i love each and every gift and encourage ya'll to check out their blogs to see more of the amazing works of their hands!!

1. a very exquisite bracelet by Debi Levine of www.oneheartsblog.blogspot.com where you'll find such lovely jewelry and art with a message of peace and harmony.

2. a most beautiful felted landscape i treasure created by Michelle Wilkinson, an incredible fiber and mixed media artist @ http://socr8v.blogspot.com

3. lovely handcrafted clay beads of my favorite color by claymates: Carolyn & Dave Good, who make beautiful wearable art pieces & jewelry for the home you'll have to check out @ www.2goodclaymates.blogspot.com

4. a whimsical beaded art doll 'far out' by Laura Obiso, using a tie from Jerry Garcia of the grateful dead for a dress! far out! aside from other art dolls, she is an amazing mixed media & fiber artist @ http//makeminelemonade.blogspot.com

5. such an amazing signed copy of Kim Nugent's own book: "Interactive Art Workshop: Set Your Mixed Media in Motion" which is full of incredible projects to inspire any artist! Kim also creates beautiful journals of her art, and does unique assemblage works which you can see @ www.kimraenugent.blogspot.com

Thank you again each one for your wonderful gifts from your hearts!!

happy birthday tammie!

today is the birthday of one of my oldest, dearest long-time friends (over 35 yrs.!!) mz. tammie lee (of 'spirithelpers', and 'beauty flows' blogs). we met while in our 20's when our old boy-friend's were musical partners in so. california. then 6 years ago tammie came to visit me here in montana, and ended up living in a little log cabin next to our home, and she has never left!

we had a beautiful evening toasting in a new year, and sharing a delicious meal at wasabi's, and i created this painting for her as a birthday gift. since her 'word' for the year is 'listen', i painted a heart with the word, held close to the heart of the listening lady. my sister lori (lori-diane blog) had given me some vintage wallpaper that became the background for this painting.

'knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens' ~jimi hendrix

'since in order to speak, one must first listen, learn to speak by listening

i should sell my tongue and buy a thousand ears when that one steps near and begins to speak'

~rumi

'be still, and know that I AM God' ~psalm 46:10

And the Winner is....

This years OWOH gathering of artists and art lovers has been such a sweet blessing! I have received so many loving comments from over 400 bloggers, and know many will be a continual inspiration as our friendships grow.

One comment from a lady in new South Wales, Australia touched me deeply and i was so excited when the random number generator pulled her out as the winner of the mixed media painting i created for this event!

Congratulations to Suzyqu, lover of the beautiful, and very talented, creative fabric & fibre artist! This 'Little Bird' will be winging it's way to your home 'down under' shortly!

My deepest thanks to Lisa Swifka for bringing this gathering of like-minded artful souls together and giving us so many precious moments of joy on this journey! And like Lisa said in her recent post, WE MAY BE CLOSING THE DOOR TO ONE WORLD ONE HEART BUT WE ARE OPENING A NEW DOOR TO OUR WORLD OUR ART in 2012!