Happy Holidays

Friends, family, fellow bloggers, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I have had a year's worth of joy to thank you for. I love receiving your encouraging comments, thus helping me to focus more on my art, my family and the blessings of life. I am so grateful for my health and the unpredictable joys of each day.

We all know that these are stressful times and I pray that this message finds you at a place of peace. My prayer for you and your loved ones this Christmas is that you can focus on the abundance and make it a point to chuckle now and then.

Take care of yourself this year!

Merry Christmas to all.

Nancy

Butterfly Tree

Deep in the heart of the countryside,

Two moss maidens look on in awe,

As a miracle of creation takes place.

The spirit of the tree watches,

As her leafy offspring take flight.

Each magical leaf transforms,

Into a beautiful butterfly.

As it is shaken gently from the boughs,

Woodland fairies seize the moment,

To soar gracefully over the meadow,

Nestled safely in the delicate wings.

~Ramath Rajaram

Edited by Nancy Van Hoose

This butterfly tree has been a work in progress for my niece's wedding. It will be a decoration beside the cards for seating at her reception. I even have it done way ahead of time! And, of course, these wonderful little butterfly images are available through Moonlight Journey.

Angels Among Us

Last Monday was no ordinary Monday.

Half asleep, I groggily crept towards my office computer. The first thing I do every morning is click on my email icon. Was I reading this right? I re-read the first sentence.

"Lynne and I would love

for you to be on our Design Team

for Moonlight Journey."

Am I awake or dreaming? Pinch myself.....I realize that I am awake NOW. Just conceptualizing that the idea of doing this is so unbelievable, I am sent straight to Heaven by pure excitement.

I am extremely grateful to Becky Loyall and Lynne Tears, partners in the web-site, Moonlight Journey for this opportunity to make objects of art using their colorful collage sheets and for the chance to reflect publicly on my personal life and share my work.

I hope some of you who see these pieces will be inspired to create and share treasures of your own. I am so humbled by the fact that the Design Team includes artists I have respected and admired for a long time. I would also like to thank my dearest friends, Deb Abel and Terri Gauthier, for all your inspiration and motivation, and obviously guiding me towards this fabulous opportunity. You are the best!

Thank you so much for your faith in me to become a Moonlight Journey family member! I think I have finally grasped the meaning of truly "living the dream!"

Share a Little Sunshine

Wow! I was certainly honored and surprised to receive "A Sunshine Award." This adorable photo sure makes me imagine the warmth of spring, summer vacations, and the time change. This award is really very very flattering.

It is awarded to bloggers whose positiveness and creativity inspires others in the blogging world. I am so humbled to be considered in this way. For me, visiting blogs that make me happy is basically the reason why I started blogging.

I love escaping to some foreign land, viewing photos of places I will never be able to visit, becoming inspired from the talents of others, and sometimes just loving the music on a friend's blog. I adore finding exciting new recipes shown in breathtaking photos in hot summer places. It's all about attitude when it comes to being happy. Blogging can sure let you escape to something really fun when you need it.

My "Sunshine Award" was presented to me by Diana of "Adventuring Through Life"

The rules for accepting this award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.

2. Pass the award to 12 bloggers.

3. Link to the nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to the person whom you received this award.

Thank you, Diana, for such a loving award. I am so honored to be considered someone with a positive attitude plus having creativity to share.

My nominees are:

Over A Tuscan Stove

Cucina Cara Mia

Beach Vintage

Verona Daily Photo

Lost in Sicily

Sicilia Through Images

Bella Vita In Liguria

Two Crazy Crafters

Happy Loves Rosie

Panini Girl

Life in St. Maarten Blog

Join in the fun by visiting a new blog today. Take a look at these blogs with beauty and enjoy the ride! You may just find a place to bring YOU a little sunshine!

Nancy

Play it Forward Thank You and Giveaway

Last month, I offered three giveaways for the One World One Heart event. Not only did I give away, I also will be receiving two gorgeous gifts. There were an astounding number of artful blogs to visit this year, and it is pure luck to have won two of them.

A big bear hug goes out to my dear friend, Debra Abel, from "It's All Good." She did the random generator, and I was the No. 2 comment. What are the chances of this happening? She insists that it was legitimate, and I'm sticking to it! I have always admired the image of her sweetheart of a mermaid piece. I love the sea, the ocean, and what lies beneath. Please visit Deb's blog to get a glimpse of some of her beautiful pieces of art, plus a mixture of her thoughts on what is happening in her world. I am so excited to own this brilliant print and all it's fine detail!

And it won't be long before, I will be receiving another package from across the Atlantic Ocean. Linda Woolford, of "The Briar Rose Gate," painted a magical moonlit crow image in winter, "Nobel Gwynan, Raven of the Dark Woods Clan." She says it's on it's way. I think it is just stunning! Her site is wonderful with photo images of her town, family, and neighboring villages. You will even meet her lab, Poppy and his new pal Prince. I love the music she chose for her blog.

As a thank you to the above blogs, please leave a comment for them by clicking on these links. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with your email address. On Friday, March 5th, I will choose 5 lucky winners to receive one of my hand knit coffee cup cozies that are shown below.

Thank you so much Deb and Linda!

Nancy

Filled With Hope

Yesterday I read a post on a friend’s blog and it got me to thinking more than usual.

She said during these hard times, she found herself fretting and worrying more than ever, unable to enjoy herself at all. She found herself wanting to hide away. If there was ever a time for womankind to honor their creative selves it is here and now!

Through art, I can find the obvious, which is beauty and FREE expression. Art is the only way I know how to face my fears and let it all out! Focusing inward, creating art, will definitely help a person to survive.

When I feel overwhelmed, I like to look at the art that others have made. It ultimately leads me to create something of my own. Artists like Helen Frankenthaler, DeKooning, Pollack, O’Keefe, and Robert Rauschenberg lived through World Wars and the Great Depression. Thank God they never thought that when times are gloomy, they should stop doing something as self-centered as making art. Even looking at art can fill you with hope and keep you focused in a forward motion.

I look at a ball of yarn or a stack of papers and feel an obligation to make it into an object of color and texture, giving it life. I honestly believe we are created in God's image and therefore we who have been given a vision to make something out of nothing must CREATE. It's what He did.

He set the example and I will follow.

Sign up for a class, take a walk with your camera, and make sure you share with others. Don't lock yourself up in your room. You have no control over what might come, so why not enjoy what is happening right now, right at this moment. So, get going, and create!