I am where I intended to be...

Isn't that a powerful statement? I was working on this collage and ran across the text on Painters Keys; a wonderful site to use when you are looking for inspiration. This piece was a bit different than the first three beeswax collages I did. I veered away from the instructions and tried some things that were in my head...some worked and some didn't but I learned a lot and had fun! For me, there is so much symbolism in this collage; travel, journey, flight, hard work, and even a bit of aging. The end result is this "I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be." ~D. Adams

I hope you are heading in your intended direction...even though you may not know it. I certainly didn't! Namaste, Carol

Encaustic Wax

I recently joined an online group featuring current trends in Mixed Media Arts and this week I learned about using beeswax on collage. There were several steps & layers involved but I didn't start out with any particular concept. The wax process is totally addictive; here are the three canvas boards I created.

And here there are all in a row as one long collage...

What Tarot Card Are You?

Since I just celebrated my birthday and feel all these changes occurring, I thought it might be wise to check and see if my Tarot Card in the sidebar had changed...and it has! For the last year I was "The High Priestess". Traits associated with that were...

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.
The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

...and that described me to a tee! After taking the test again, my card has changed and while I am all the things listed above I am now also...

The Star
Hope, expectation, Bright promises.
The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised
The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future.

...how interesting, huh? I have spent the last several years looking back, being introspective and healing and now I am still healing but I feel a sense of hope that I haven't had for a very long time. I don't expect any major changes in my life this year...just refreshment! Enjoyment! Hope!Wee-eee! Have a great day dear friends...Namaste, Carol

Today is my Birthday...

...and I am so excited about the changes taking place in me...I am happy! It seems like a silly statement to make doesn't it? I mean after all, aren't most people happy? Don't most people have moments of happiness in their life? Don't they feel happy?

This is different...it's inside...down deep...in that special quiet place of my spirit that I don't share with anyone...a place that's just for me and a bright light is shining there and I...AM...HAPPY! Eight little letters that add up to so much. I want to shout them out to the universe. You can't break me! You can't defeat me! You can't soil me! You can't push me down or aside or over! You can't!!!

I win! So there!

Oh no! Have I jinxed myself with those proclamations? I don't know the answer to that but I do know this...I can survive anything. I am strong! I am smart! I am beautiful!

So happy birthday to me...I have lived my life and only I truly know what I have been through. I am happy...will you be happy too? I hope so, it's wonderful!

for a long time it seemed to me that
life was about to begin - real life.
but there was always some obstacle
in the way, something to be gotten
through first, some unfinished
business, time still to be served,
a debt to be paid. at last it dawned
on me that these obstacles were my
life. this perspective has helped me
to see there is no way to happiness.
happiness is the way. so treasure
every moment you have and
remember that time waits for no one.

~souza

Vintage People With Wings

Oh dear...I have a confession to make. Currently I'm working on the next AB in the ICE RR entitled "Vintage People With Wings". The owner of the book said "do what you want...just have fun". Did she really know who she was writing to when she wrote those words inside the cover? So far all the vintage people have lovely butterfly wings...soft, feathery, satiny, romantic fluttery butterfly wings and what did my muse create? hmmm.....

Well yes, they are vintage people with wings BUT.......well see for yourself. Did I follow her instructions? But of course! Mary, I hope this tickles your fancy; it's just a tease of what's to follow! ~Hugs, Carol

How The West Was Fun

As part of the International Collaberative Experiment (ICE) round robin, I have been working in Kathy Park's altered book "How The West Was Fun". I finished it tonight and here it is! I love this wicked girl and the wild boys....I have a feeling they would all have fun together in the west. Hope Kathy likes the collage...her book is FAT and gorgeous!

Hilda Conkling Moss

Gale Blair at Paper Whimsy is hosting a year-long art challenge and is generously providing participants with gorgeous collage sheets and Hilda Conkling quotes to challenge us twice a month. In order to participate you must be a member of the PW forum...come on over and join us! The current theme is green, and OH what a green it is! Scrumptiously delicious and the poem is delightful. "I too have felt that softness" six words from the poem that just make me shiver. I am humbled to share my "Moss" collage with you. Enjoy! Hugs, Carol

I've been TAGGED!

I was tagged by the mischievous Christine to play this fun little game --

Go to your computer photo album.
Go to the seventh folder.
Go to the seventh image.
Upload to your blog and tell what it is.

So here is the photo..... it's my sister, Diane & I on our vacation last week! We stayed at the French Quarter Resort at Disney World and an adorable lady named Ethel asked if she could take our photo standing in front of the Sassagoula sign at the cafeteria. Of course we said "YES!" and here it is! We had such an amazing vacation; laughing, singing and dancing our way across Florida...an absolute blast and tons of inspiration for future art projects. Love ya Diane!