I'M MOVING!!...

Jan 12 2012

...Well, not really ME, but my BLOG is moving! After six fun years of writing SIMPLE*BLESSINGS & calling this my home on the Blogosphere, I've decided to move to some "New Diggs"... really just around the corner!

WHY??? you might ask... Well, mostly for practical reasons. For a while now, I've wanted to share BIGGER pictures & to change the background on my blog to a more neutral WHITE. But, even though I've learned a lot about HTML over the years, I finally reluctantly decided that tweeking my current blog was waaaaay beyond my Geeky abilities! If I wanted these changes, I was just going to have to pack up & move!

So, that's what I've been doing this past month... and my new blog is almost ready to launch! The BIG CHANGE (besides the moving part) is that I'm also adopting a NEW BLOG NAME so my artwork can be found more readily online. Instead of SIMPLE*BLESSINGS, my new blog will be called PHOLKART*BLESSINGS, just like my Etsy shop. Google seems to think that's a good idea, too! ;)

I'm going to keep SIMPLE*BLESSINGS online... It's been such a cozy place, & I love the idea that I can come back to visit anytime I want to! Lots of stories & life lessons here I don't want to forget. But now, it's time to turn down the heat, lock the old front door, & hide the key under the front porch mat...

THANKS for the sweet memories, SIMPLE*BLESSINGS!... It's been so good to call you HOME! :)

I hope you'll come on over to PHOLKART*BLESSINGS & follow me on my NEW BLOG! :) The coffee is brewing & I'm busy creating!... As always, I would LOVE to hang out with you !!

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD...

Dec 06 2011

I hope you'll bear with me as I show off my family a bit! We're delighted that our oldest son, Ben, has just married his true love, Sarah. Their wedding took place in November on Anna Maria Island in Florida, which is where Sarah was raised. Their wedding reception was held at her family's home, overlooking the water... such an ideal setting, a beautiful day, & a joyful occasion!

My husband, Joe, and I could not be happier to welcome Sarah into our family! She is a caring young lady, so fun-loving, adventurous, & a dog-lover too!... the perfect match for Ben!

Congratulations, Ben & Sarah!... Blessings, Love, & Much Happiness to You!!!

The wonderful photos are courtesy of Doerr Photo Inc.... Thank You! :)

OCTOBER SKIES

Oct 22 2011

"Autumn Tree"

Without a doubt, October is my favorite month of the year! I always look forward to seeing the leaves don their bright hues & feeling those very first crisp-y breezes. This Autumn has been especially welcome after an unusually LONG & HOT summer season!

The other day, my husband Joe surprised me with two colorful chrysanthemums to enjoy on our old bungalow's front porch. He chose a rusty red color, which goes PERFECTLY with our newly painted front door! Somehow, I'm sure he knew I'd love that!... He is so thoughtful & such a sweetie!

I hope this season finds you enjoying all the GOOD things that Autumn offers!... Pumpkins & the sound of crunchy leaves underfoot, cozy socks, scarves & sweaters to keep the chill away... Clear blue skies, apple crisp & cider, bonfires & the State Fair.

So many blessings!... I wish you much Harvest Happiness!! :)

I had so much fun creating "Autumn Tree"! It's an original 4" x 6" frameable piece of artwork, sure to brighten any corner of your home. You can find it in my Etsy shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS.

CREATIVE THERAPY

Jul 04 2011

Some of you may wonder if I've fallen completely off the face of the Blogosphere!! Thankfully, no!... But April & May were filled with many family events and needs that kept me both from writing & from drawing much.

In April, my husband & I had the JOY of traveling north to celebrate my nephew's wedding with family & friends. As co-pilot in the front seat of our little red Corolla, I happily counted the miles by knits & purls as I practiced my new knitting skills on a cozy blue scarf.

Home again in May, we learned of my mother-in-law's unexpected hospitalization & quickly repacked our bags (along with more yarn) and headed to the farm for 3 weeks. During that time, my mom also had knee replacement surgery... a very difficult experience for the whole family. My life felt upside-down & in limbo... and so I knit.

It's interesting now, looking back on my whole May experience... Much as I wanted to draw & create, I found I just wasn't emotionally able to concentrate. And yet, my hands still yearned to "make stuff"... so knitting did indeed become my creative therapy! Nothing very complex, mind you!... Just miles & miles of colorful scarves! It was one of those times when I wondered if I'd ever be able to draw anything again. But God is GOOD!... and I'm once again able to put pencil to paper & let my "sillies" out in living color.

Thank you so much, Lord, for your faithfulness to me!!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 NIV

KNIT & CROCHET 101

Apr 13 2011

"Cutie-Patootie EtsyKids Knit & Crochet"

I've been having so much fun over the past year learning how to knit & crochet! It's fascinating to me that you can take a ball of colorful yarn & some very simple tools and end up with a delightful hat, a cozy scarf, or even a soft baby toy! It seems like magic to me to watch the yarn transform into something warm, useful & very personal.

Now admittedly, I'm still at the "Cozy Scarf" stage! I've just about mastered knitting in a straight line & I'm well-into creating Scarf #6! Can't wait to move on to something a bit more challenging... Maybe I'll try baby hats next! ;)

The picture above is a little peek at an EtsyKids Treasury I created yesterday featuring kid-friendly crochet from a variety of talented EtsyKids members. These ADORABLE monster & animal baby hats make me smile & inspire me to keep creating! I hope you'll hop on over to see the rest of the Cutie-Patootie EtsyKids Knit & Crochet Treasury!

RAINY DAY ADVENTURES

Apr 01 2011

"Pirate Adventures"

One rainy day recently, I was thinking about when my two boys (now all grown up!) needed to create some "Inside Fun" for themselves on rainy afternoons. They loved Playmobil & Legos (with all those gazillions of little pieces!)... and I loved listening in on the stories they'd create as our house became the scene for little boy fun, adventure, & imagination!

MEET WINNIE!

Mar 20 2011

Meet Winnie!!... She's our lovable Labrador Retriever! My husband & I are so blessed to have just passed the one year mark of adopting her into our family!

Winnie came to us through the Lab Rescue of North Carolina last winter, a few months after we said an unexpected goodbye to our sweet dog, Salem. Our home had felt quite lonely during those months between Christmas & February... and since both my husband Joe & I had grown up in dog-loving families, we became eager to find another companion who would "fit" into our family.

Unfortunately, we don't know much of Winnie's story. She was quite sick when she was rescued by the Humane Society & needed to be treated for heartworms. She also had recently had puppies... and though we tried to track down what had become of her little ones, we were never able to locate them. I have to think that she was a kind & gentle Mama!

This week Winnie & I went to the vet for her one year check-up... and I'm happy to say she is back to full health! With the exception of a few extra pounds she gained over the winter months (something we have in common!), Winnie is doing just fine! How thankful I am that the Lord has provided such a loving, laid back, & faithful friend for us to enjoy!

I hope you will consider whether or not you might be able to open your home to a rescued pet in need of love & kindness!!

I (HEART) ETSY

Mar 10 2011

I admit it!... I am totally NUTS about Etsy!!

As a "Maker of Things" at Heart, I have sometimes wondered if other people were as obsessed with creating colorful arts & crafts from simple everyday materials as I am. I love everything about colors & textures and taking what's at hand & making "something out of nothing!" The process of creating simply fascinates me!

So, you can imagine my great delight to first learn of Etsy's Handmade Market Place! Suddenly I had access to an incredible, ever-changing online gallery of creativity from around the globe! What's more, I could learn about other artists & crafters like me, and virtually "peek over their shoulders" as they skillfully create their wares.

I find it so inspiring & encouraging to have found so many other "Makers of Things" in this world!... And I'm grateful to know there are so many others like me who share the joys of creativity!!

The art & handcrafts above were created by Etsy sellers whose colorful & whimsical work I admire! :)

FOLLOWING MY HEART...

Feb 01 2011

Just recently, after investing considerable time & energy pursuing an Artful Direction, I came to realize that "something" was just not quite right. I wasn't really sure what was wrong at first... all I knew was that I wasn't very happy.

I imagine the feeling I had was similar to trying on an ill-fitting piece of clothing. As much as I pulled & tugged & tried to make it work, the "garment" just didn't fit me.

It took me a long time to come to a decision... but I finally realized I needed to follow my heart. And so now, I find myself in a sense, "back to my beginnings" art-wise... back to colored pencils & markers & scissors & glue. Back to blogging just 'cause it's fun & I have a story to tell. I'm simplifying too... and you know, even though I'm not quite sure where it all will take me, I'm feeling lighter & happier. And for that, I'm very thankful!!

** Lord, I don't know how many artists find themselves needing to "reinvent" themselves,... but that is how I'm feeling right now. Please lead me as I seek to make new decisions in following my heart & following You.

TAGGED!!!

Nov 10 2010

My sweet CaaT art friend Katey (blueyeduckstudios) has tagged me! :)

Here's the scoopidy-doopidy: When you are "tagged" please give 7 random facts about your sweet self on your blog.
Please write things that are a habit, unusual, or that no-one else knows, as well as the rules of the game.
You then need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog.
Please leave a post on the blogs of those you tag so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog...and tag 7 more and so on.
No worries. No pressure. No time constraints - just enjoy ~ xo ~

And so, Katey Duck, here I go!...

1. I met my husband in high school when I was 15 and he was 17. We had a mostly long-distance relationship before we got married 8 years later.

2. I took ballet lessons for 10 years and was sure I'd grow up to be a ballerina!

3. I didn't know I had any drawing ability 'til, as a young mom, I started drawing to make my son happy.

4. I'm the oldest of five children and grew up in an Italian family.

5. I majored in nursing and worked as a pediatric nurse before our children were born.

6. I have planned (and lived through!) two major old house renovations... with more to come!

7. I am "Aunt Patti" to 7 nieces and 4 nephews, who live in New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas.

OK, now it's my turn!... I tag these wonderful CaaT artists: Larin, River, Aubry, Dixie, Michelle, Deb, and Susan.

TIDINGS OF COMFORT & JOY!

Nov 10 2010

My husband, Joe, and I have recently received several New Years cards in the mail from friends near and far. They've helped me realize that there are others like me who are still wrapping up Christmas, "UnDecking the Halls", and sweeping up tinsel in mid-January!

As always, these letters have told our friends' many stories... a new baby, a job change, a wedding, a family vacation, graduations, goals achieved, many ordinary moments, and extraordinary milestones. And sometimes the most honest of these letters have also brought news of difficult life changes and personal losses. Truly, for each of us, every new year holds something new...

And so, as I pack up the manger scene and take down the Christmas wreath, I think about how comforting it is to know that, into our everyday lives, Jesus was born. He is our Emmanuel ~ God With Us. He invites us to walk with Him into each new day.

May your New Year be filled with the comfort and joy of walking with Jesus each day!

From my sketchbook ~ Prismacolor pencil & micron pen on graph paper

TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH

Nov 10 2010

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do for my birthday was to go to the circus with my family. I loved everything about it! ~ the smell of popcorn, the festive music, the funny clowns in their colorful costumes. I looked forward to watching the jugglers and acrobats perform their amazing tricks in their sparkley outfits. I held my breath as the animal trainers confidently stepped into the ring with bears and lions, tigers and elephants...

...But my favorite thing by far was watching in awe as the fearless trapeze artists performed far overhead on the flying trapeze! Back and forth, they would leap from one trapeze to another, always trusting that their partner would catch them in mid-air!

Sometimes life calls us to be daring and take a similar leap of faith. At the beginning of this summer, I found myself needing to make a BIG decision... would I find a ho-hum minimum wage summer job in order to earn some much-needed extra money for our family? Or would I follow my heart and invest myself in "really doing something" with my art? For me, it felt like a choice between the cautious "sure thing" and the riskier "possibility with no guarantees."

Happily, as I talked with my husband Joe about what to do, and as I prayed about this choice with friends, it seemed clear that God was saying YES to taking a creative leap of faith.

And so, I'm very pleased to announce the opening of my new online CafePress shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS. In my shop you will find my original folk art and illustrations on a variety of products... from bibs and onesies for the little people in your life, to T-shirts, coffee mugs, and calendars. I will frequently be adding new designs and products, so please come take a peek and check back often as my little shop grows!

I hope the designs I love to create will be a blessing to you and bring you joy!!

Thank you, Lord, that you are the one who is faithful and who loves us beyond measure. Thank you that I can trust you to catch me as I take a creative leap of faith.