Yuletide Greetings!

Wishing everyone a magical Christmas!

Peace on Earth

Poem and art by me.

Dark Whisper Challenge: Gypsy Soul

This is for the Dark Whisper challenge at Digital Whisper :Gypsy Soul .  This is what came to mind when I saw the challenge post.  

Thanks for looking!

"Blinded by Winter": Dark Whispers' December "I Can't See" Challenge

This is for the Dark Whisper Challenge at DigitalWhisper .  Although winter can be a beautiful time of year, I have trouble seeing the beauty through the ice and bitter cold that accompany it.  This year, so far, is no different.

Model is Ida Mary Walker (a.k.a. Mizzd-Stock at deviantArt). Winter background is by NeedANewName at deviantArt. Many textures used in this piece, all my own creations and photos.

Thanks for looking!

Where's my inspiration?

How I'm feeling today. Enough said.  

Noir

This is my entry for the Dreamer's Challenge Black and White at Digital Whisper

The model is Jessica Truscott (a.k.a. FaeStock at deviantArt), background is by FaerieGoodMother at deviantArt.  All work done in Photoshop CS6.

Thanks for looking! 

Art Journal page for the day

Need I say more?  Hoping that tomorrow is a MUCH better day...

Winter's Return

I was inspired by our weather forecast to create this tonight. Snow is supposed to start falling within the next couple of hours here in Minnesota, and we're looking at about 12 inches of accumulation. I am not ready for this.  To say I'm not really excited about winter's return is an understatement...This past winter was brutal and long, and I'm hoping that this winter isn't as bad.  We shall see what happens...

Helter Skelter Challenge

This is for the Helter Skelter challenge at DigitalWhisper. I was a very small child when Charles Manson had so many people murdered, so I don't remember anything about the actual events.  When I got older I saw a documentary about Charles Manson and the murders and I was horrified at how evil a person could be.  When I saw this challenge posted I immediately wanted to steer clear of any blood and violence, instead focusing on the sorrow  that such darkness and evil leave behind. I hope it came through in this piece.

Thanks for looking.

For my Dad

My father died on October 12th after a year long battle with leukemia. It was the saddest day of my life.  My Dad was my hero, he was always there for me and never judged me or made me stupid, even when I did the most ridiculous things. He taught me what it was like to be kind, compassionate, and patient.  My father was the embodiment of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  I am so very blessed to have had such an amazing father, and I have no doubt as to where he is now.
The following is a scrap page that I made for him. The picture in it was one that I used to take from my mother's night stand when I was a little girl and carry around with me until he came home from work.  This photo is how I will always think of him. Healthy, strong, and the best smile in the world.
I miss him so much, but I know he is now at peace and I will hold him in my heart, and I know that one day I will see him again.

 I leave off with one of my Dad's favorite songs, My Way by Frank Sinatra...

I love you, Dad...

Autumn Grunge

This is for the Rust challenge at the Digital Whisper blog.  Rust texture set by Yaensart at deviantArt.  Autumn background by Sveva at Renderosity.  Flying leaves by Zememz at deviantArt.
Plants and fairy were rendered by me in Daz Studio 4.6.

Thanks for looking!

Everything changes

For the past 7 years I've worked from home doing data verify and entry for a company. It was a good job, allowed me to be home for my kids when they were growing up and paid well.  I live in a small town quite a distance from the main office, so when they notified all of us that they will be phasing out their at home contractors by the end of the year, I had to make a change.  I found a job only a mile away from my home working in an office. My children are all grown, my youngest has moved to Minneapolis and is in college, and as much as I enjoyed working in my jammies, it was time to move on. I was really stressed about driving into work at my previous employer at such a distance in the winter, but now that worry has been removed as my commute time is only 3 minutes (maybe 15 on a terribly snowy day).  

This decision to work outside the home has been met with mixed thoughts from family. My children and husband are excited for me, my in-laws who live in Minnesota as well are happy for me, but my family in California (mom, sister, brother), are not happy for me.  This is normal for me, I've always been judged by my family, everything I do is never the "right" thing.  When we moved from California to Minnesota 13 years ago, they were unhappy and made rude comments. When I grow my hair long, they hate it. When I cut my hair short, they think I'd look better with it a little longer.  "Too much makeup", "Not enough makeup", "Too fat", "Too skinny"...I just can't win with them. When my middle child went into the Marines they made comments and asked me why I didn't stop him.  Like I have a say in what my 21 year old son does with his life.  The only person who has never been judgmental with me is my Dad.  He's always been my biggest supporter, and even when he doesn't agree with a decision I'm making, he supports me. If not for my Dad, I don't know where I'd be today.

The above collage captures how I feel most of the time about (most of) my family. I often wonder when, or if, this will change.  It's funny, even though my family's opinion of me doesn't bother me as much as it used to, it still hurts a little. But this life of mine is exactly that...Mine.  I love my family, but I can't let their opinion of me hurt me anymore. I guess I've finally come to the realization that this is their problem, not mine.  I'll always love them, and I know in their own weird way, they love me as well.

Summer's End

A poem I wrote a few years ago.  

Hanging On

It's been a long time since I've updated this blog.  I could give a few reasons for why I haven't updated, but the simplest is this: I am a terrible blogger.  I'll try to do better though...

The above picture was pained in Painter X3. It was done quickly, and is not the most detailed, but it describes how I've felt for most of this year.  So many things going on in my life right now, I am just trying to hang onto faith and hope with everything I am.  I know I am not the only person with problems, and for that reason I keep most things to myself, but sometimes I just feel overwhelmed.  I am thankful that I have art in my life, the creative process really helps me work out things that are difficult. The creative process and walks in the woods and prayer. Lots of prayer.

As I said earlier, I will try to update this blog more often, especially now that Digital Whisper is here and I would love to participate in some of the challenges.  Hopefully I can stick to this because I think blogging can help me work some things out, even if I'm the only person who ever reads this.