heavy hearts make art

On the hearts and minds of many these days...

As disheartening as this is

we can't lose sight

of all the LIGHT

that finds its way through the darkness.

Good people doing good things -

opening their hearts & homes to strangers.

Picking up the pieces.

Refusing to live in fear.

I have no answers.

I only know that it makes me sad

that so many people suffer at the hands of hate.

Nos coeurs sont avec vous, Paris. xx

This was a 'decluttering/organizing' kind of week for me.

I changed a few things in my blue room,

including my table/desk.

(I used to have the yellow one)

Love the black desk (bought used years ago).

It's not as wide but it's longer, 

so I have more space for my brushes & paints.

This beautiful print (below) by Mae Chevrette

is on my wall to the right.

If you don't know her work,

you can check it out here.

It's so important

to surround ourselves with inspiration.

Whatever speaks to you.

Another little corner in the room...

Because my table is more narrow

and I moved things around a bit

I now have more space for the easel.

(still not done the veteran painting.) :(

This little guy always makes me smile.

We played marbles a lot when i was younger.

Dad's dirt driveway was filled with mini pot holes. ;)

There are too many book shelves in this small room...
said no book lover EVER! ;) 

my little winter bird...

all dressed up & ready to go.

I went to Chapters (book store) last week 

and got this fabulous book.

It was in the "young readers" section.

I find a lot of great illustrated books there.

I loved the illustrations 

so of course i had to buy it.

The story is about a young Russian girl in the 1990s
who lives with her grandparents for a year
while her mom is in the USA,
getting an education and 
trying to make a better life
for herself (and eventually, her daughter)

 The illustrations are simple and beautiful...

and the story carries you through
as if you were there with her,
on this journey without her mom.
It's the kind of book that you finish
and want to buy the sequel right away,
to know "what happens next"?
I highly recommend it.

And speaking of books...

COLOR FOR CLARITY is now available on Amazon!!

Grab your copy HERE.  

Six different artists from around the globe

came together to fill this 50 page colouring book

with beautiful images that encourage

a calm and peaceful heart.

Colouring is meditative
and all around great for your health,
so if you're one of these people
who can't sit still on a cushion for a 15 minute meditation...
this is for you!
Every page has a thought or a question
to help you focus on the moment
rather than worry about tomorrow
or next week, or next month.
They are selling for $11.66 US on Amazon.com
- a bit higher if you order from Canada,
but still much cheaper & healthier than valium! ;)
A great Christmas gift idea
for yourself or a friend!
Get your copy at: http://amzn.to/1MQ49eQ
and prepare to feel
like you went on a mini vacation!
Feel free to share! #colorforclarity

Thanks for being here.

PEACE to all of you

wherever you are on this big, blue ball.

xx

fall colors and edith piaf

hello peeps.

Sunday night already... 

where did the weekend go?

 a few pics from my morning walk at the beach

Sometimes i think i live in the most beautiful part of the world
and other times, i'd do anything to leave, just for a bit.

I suspect most everyone feels like this now & then,
when things just feel heavy.

Whenever i start to feel the weight of the world
on my shoulders, i come to the ocean.
This is Parlee Beach.
It's about a 10 minute drive from where i live
and at this time of the year,
there's hardly ever anybody there.

 the sand finds its way to the grass...

...a calm and cloudy morning

so nice & quiet here

the tide coming up 

 tiny waves... ;-)

 another tiny wave...

i love this one... 
it looked like it was gonna rain.
I was walking in the opposite direction
when i turned around to look at the view
and saw this blue piece of sky...

seaweed, sand, ocean, tire tracks...
(one of these things is not like the other) ;-)
This is a provincial park,
so they drive around the beach to keep it clean
and to keep the sand level
at the beginning and the end of the summer.

A little watercolor i did this morning,
as the rest of the house slept
and i enjoyed a good cup of coffee.

 this is the view i see from the window in my blue room.

i love these calm mornings
when the bay looks like a mirror
and each cottage/house is reflected in the water.

it was very windy this weekend,
so the fall colors are slowly disappearing.

still pretty though...
i love the fall.
Still my favorite season.
Something about the cool, crisp air
and changing colors
makes me feel more creative.
Wishing you all a good week ahead!
xox

and for all Edith Piaf fans out there...
la vie en rose :-)