from my heart to yours

My hope is that you are surrounded by love this holiday season!

May the Warm Winds of Heaven
Blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there.
May your Mocassins
Make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the Rainbow
Always touch your shoulder.
-Cherokee prayer



This past year my journals were filled with....
laughter
tears
hope
fear
belief
uncertainty
faith
happiness
but mostly love



I only have two pages left in this journal. It's been quite a journey. I look forward to working on new pages and paintings in the next year.

This will be my last post until early January. I'm going to enjoy checking in on your blogs while taking a break from mine.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

fill your hearts with love, joy, gladness and art

manon
xo

the light within

7"x 10" mixed media journal page

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
- albert schweitzer

As the year draws closer to an end, I'd like to take this opportunity to say "thank you" to all of you for your support. I know I've already said this at Thanksgiving but I wanted to say it once more. I feel that you all encourage me to keep pushing myself, provide guidance and inspire me. You give me the *spark* that I need!! I am truly grateful. Merci beaucoup to all!


fill your heart with art

-manon

some decorations and a camera

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.”
-charles dickens

I know many of you were starting to wonder if I'd ever get around to decorating this year....lol! I'm going to admit that I didn't do as much as in past years but it still looks lovely, (well... I think so anyway)!



I got a new camera!! I'm stoked!! What a difference a camera makes. I need to spend time getting to know it so I can take some decent pics. I'm sure this will be like when I got my panini maker.... there'll be posts of random photos all the time just like my making panini sandwhiches 32 days in a row. lol



For the past few years I've been making these ornaments. I usually get one or two done a season. Yikes.... I better get on this!!



Have a great day everyone!!!

Please join me on Linkedin if you're there!!

fill your heart with art

-manon

tears of love

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for my life you're a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
-leon russell and sung here by donny hathaway (excerpt from A Song For You)

These lines sung by Donny Hathaway tug at my heartstrings. To be honest, I was working out at the gym the other day and it came on my Ipod. I immediately got teary eyed. A friend walked in and asked if I was "ok"..lol! Yes.... I'm officially a nutjob! Who cries at the gym? There must be a *no cry zone* sign somewhere. They may have to start leaving Kleenex at the squat rack. I need to leave the Ipod at home....lol. There I was.... Donny and I.... feeling those beautiful words. My god this is one incredible song. Please listen but don't cry like me! : )



fill your heart with art and beautiful tears

-manon

you believe in me

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

Belief, makes things real.
Makes things feel, feel alright.
Belief, makes things true.
Things like you, you and I.

Tonight, you arrested my mind.
When you came to my defense.
With a knife in the shape of your mouth,
in the form of your body, with the wrath of a god.
Oh, you stood by me, Belief
-Gavin DeGraw ( excerpt from Belief) Btw... this song is worth a listen.



I play the piano. I used to play the piano. It stands alone in my living room. It's been calling me for many years now. I haven't answered. I don't deserve it. The keys beg to be played. It's emotional. I'm emotional. So last night I opened it up. I have the perfect hands for playing. Long fingers. I touch the ivories. It sounds loud. I'm rusty. It's not tuned. I'm not a great player. I never will be. But it still loves me. I can feel it. My piano has belief in me. So do I. I will return to it. To love it once more.

fill your heart with art

-manon

hearts and a rose

i love you with all my heart
7" x 10" mixed media journal page

There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea.
You became the light on the dark side of me.
Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can be seen.
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the gray.
The more I get of you,
The stranger it feels
And now that your rose is in bloom.
A light hits the gloom on the gray.
-seal (excerpt from Kiss from a Rose)


inner beauty
6" x 6" mixed media on board

Seems like lately I'm in a painting fever. I love when this happens to me. I feel like I'm in the painting groove.... in the zone.... on a roll throwing nothing but sixes and eights! LOL! I'm realistic and know that I will eventually hit a wall but right now I'm enjoying the moment and thanking the artistic gods for their guidance.

fill your heart with art

-manon