art

Miss Marie and Her One-of-a-Kind Pillows, Handbags, and Purses Now on Etsy

Miss Marie and Her One-of-a-Kind Pillows, Handbags, and Purses Now on Etsy
Marie with her dog Indy surrounded by her pillows and tons of fun fabric in her home

My artistic and lovely friend, Miss Marie, who lives in the big two-story white house on the corner, one block down from the post office in our quaint town of 947, shared some exciting news with me today.

I like to think I had a little to do with this as I bugged her gently on and off about this for awhile now. But over tea for me and coffee for her, she told me she finally has an Etsy shop. I’m so excited for her!

And I’m excited for so many others who can now buy her beautiful handmade one-of-a-kind pillows, handbags and purses. She has just a few things up in her store right now at Marie Monica Designs. But I’m sure she will be adding to it as she can. And I was lucky because I got to see her new style of handbags this morning which are very, very fun!

You might recall that last year I shared a photo of my gorgeous dragonfly pillow that I just had to have. It resides in honor on my peach wicker chair in my writing cottage where Gidget often keeps it company like she is today.

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If Gigets looks a bit tired here it’s because when I got home from tea with Marie I found the rug in the kitchen chewed up with a long fiber thread trailing it. I’m not sure what all went on when I was gone, which isn’t like her or Kylie. I don’t know if they were in this together or what in the world happened.

I’m praying like all heck though that none of the chewed up rug fiber ended up in her belly! Please say a little prayer. I’d hate to have a repeat of this as this very similar thing happened to Frankie ten years ago. She ended up having to have emergency surgery… and just in the nick of time.

Holding my breath here this won’t be the case for Gidget, while also trying not to worry as that does not help anything. No sense worrying unless there is truly something to worry about, right?  At least I know the signs to watch for.

But I digress… back to Marie’s exquisite, whimsical, finely sewn works for art…

This is a new design on Marie’s Etsy site of a bee hive pillow. What I especially love is that all her piece’s are one of a kind, so you won’t see it anywhere else and it means it’s the only one like it she will make.

It’s always such a treat to spend time with Miss Marie. To be surrounded by all her art, petting her dog Indy, and catching up on what’s new for each of us always leaves me inspired…and grateful to call her friend.

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I Imagine A World Someday with Art as the Way

I imagine a world someday with art as the way
Two Fish Gallery/Elkhart Lake, WI

The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art. -Junot Diaz

Last night I started reading, Art as a Way by Frederick Franck – A Return to the Spiritual Roots.

He talks about how it wasn’t that long ago that an artist did not rate high on the crew-cut scale of American values. That they were seen as long-haired hippie types and you needed to protect your daughter from them.

And I still see this in the world at times. Though I try to only surround myself with those that are striving toward the heart of their art.

I imagine a world someday where art is the way. No longer will it be considered something one may do on the “side” or thoughts that someone couldn’t get a “real” job so they took up art instead.

I imagine it as weaved into the very core of who we are, integrated into every aspect of our lives.

I imagine that others will value it greatly and want in on it, too.

When creativity is a big part of my days its as if minutes and hours don’t exist. I never see or feel them tick by. I am just in the flow. Rather like nature – just being as I’m meant to be. Like I am right now writing this post, eager to talk about something I’m passionate about.

Though, in our culture I sometimes feel as if I’m swimming against the tide, not keeping up with the materialistic world. But wanting less so it does not weigh me down and yearning for more authentic experiences that light up my soul.

But I keep at it. Making choices that are right for me. Pushing away the naysayers and silently blessing them with peace.

And the thing is, art comes in so many forms.  My husband, John, is a carpenter and a very good one at that, if I might add. But it is truly his art because it is weaved into the very nature of who he is. Most days he can hardly wait to get to his job site. This is a garden shed he built which is almost complete.

This morning I saw a photo that someone posted on a Facebook group I belong to called, Creative Group at Bedlam Farm. It is a group of people living creative lives with a wide range of artistic talents.

Justin Lynch, from the group, shared these pies he baked. Check out the decor on these! Now that is art!

And fiber artist, Maria Wulf from the group received a bag full of someone’s dresses and skirts they no longer want, and she is turning them into beautiful scarves.

When I see photos of someone’s art or listen to my husband talk about his art in the construction business, there is an undeniable feeling of joy that comes from the pictures and the thoughts being shared.

They are living from that place inside where peace and happiness reside – they are at the heart of their art.

And I imagine a world someday where more find that sweet, spiritual spot of existence and live from it so that it creates a wave of peace that washes over our world.

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Goddess Paintings Now Grace My Studio. They Have Much Wisdom to Share.

Goddess Paintings Now Grace My Studio. They Have Much Wisdom to Share.
artwork by: Barbara Techel

I did it. I painted three large paintings (24 x 48). I kind of can’t believe it.

I always said I couldn’t paint. But then one said wonderful artist, who I also happen to call Mom, inspired and encouraged me to give it a try.

The day spent with my mom a few months ago learning how to do what she calls “paper towel” painting is a memory that fills my soul with love and joy.

“Paper towel” painting is mixing acrylic paints together and then dabbing a scrunched up paper towel into the mixed colors and dabbing it onto the canvas. The ground, middle, and sky portion of each of these paintings is this technique.

I was inspired to do these tree Goddess paintings after seeing another painting that incorporated this idea.

My Joyful Pause Studio where I teach SoulCollage(r) workshops and where I happened to have a very long wall I needed something for was where I knew I wanted my Goddesses to reside.

It’s a space where I want to continue to welcome women to take time for themselves, tune into their own inner wisdom, create, and discover new things about themselves that I hope will help them to live a more meaningful and joyful life.

I felt a wave of emotion surge through me when I hung the last Goddess painting on the wall yesterday afternoon.

It took me some time to complete these paintings and at times I was frustrated. But it also made me think about this new place I’m at in my life which has been something I’ve envisioned for a long time.

Just like times I was frustrated thinking I didn’t know where I was headed, but could sense a new path wanting to emerge, I knew I had to have patience and trust in the process.

Just like doing the paintings. And just like SoulCollage(r) teaches – trusting in our own process-moving to the rhythms of our own inner soul whispers is what I believe we are all being called to do.

I also find myself fighting the urge to say my paintings are not perfect, they could be better — that I am not an artist in this sense.

But I know these are conditions I’ve been taught to believe about myself. And I know they are not true even though I must fight the urge to think so.

I am not perfect, nor do I want to be. I want to continue to grow and learn. I am an artist. I am a Goddess.

A Goddess who wants to continue to stand in her feminine, artistic, womanly wisdom and open her arms to other women seeking to embrace the power of their inner Goddess.

And together we will form a circle of love, joy and peace that will radiate out into the universe and set the planet aglow.

Now didn’t I tell you? These Goddess have much wisdom to share. I, for one, plan to keep paying attention.

If you’d like to learn more about my workshops, I have a special page set up on my website for information. You can learn more here.

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