Two Cards | Appropriate for These Times | #WordlessWednesday

June 10, 20206 Comments

Art by Nola C. Specially colored for me by Christine B.

I read a Washington Post article this morning that reported the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is rising in several U.S. states.

The card says it all.

It’s hard not to worry, but I am consoling myself with the hope that we are giving birth to something new and healthy.

About the Images: I received the cards in this #WordlessWednesday post from my friend and fellow Love Noter, Christine B. One arrived in April and the other late May. They are so appropriate for these times. The über cute “Socially Distant Hug” coloring card features the artwork of Nola C. She designed a number of free Corona coloring pages. You can find this card and others on her Facebook page. The pretty “This Sucks” card is from Paper Raven Company.

Out of the Zone…

March 9, 20209 Comments

Last week, during the spring break that didn’t feel much like a break, I stepped out of my comfort zone. Gasp!

I did three things that required a bit of a nudge and a bit of courage:

I participated in a two-hour online “intentional creativity” class. I thoroughly enjoyed the class, especially the tools and techniques offered. I even created a piece of art (which I will not be sharing here). 😀
I completed and submitted a tiny sketchbook for the Brooklyn Arts Library Sketchbook Project!!! If you know anything about how I feel about my artistic skills, then you know that this required a huge PUSH. The first push came when my friend Christine B sent me a sketchbook to complete. Then, she made sure to remind me periodically of the March 5th deadline. I finished almost half of the book during a church service one afternoon. Doodling helps me to focus and listen, but [still] shh…don’t tell. I’ll share more about the project and a link to my sketchbook when it is digitized and uploaded to the site.
I put a couple of my doodles up for sale!!! I designed two coloring cards [see image above] for Women’s History Month “just because,” but I realized they are really cute enough to sell. Plus, this parent of a teenager who has 8th grade graduation and a class trip coming up could use a few extra dollars! I decided to sell the set of two cards for $3. My “little sister,” social media influencer, Brittany of Ordinarily Extraordinary Mom, shared to her page. I saw lots of positive feedback and interest there, and guess what! I sold ONE WHOLE SET! 😀

It’s a start. Besides, marketing and selling any type of creative work takes a lot of time and effort.

My friend Cy is encouraging me to keep at it. She strongly believes in the power of my doodles. As a matter of fact, she had me design her business card with one of the doodles. Wanna see? [I “erased” her personal details]

I crossed off very few of the items on my extensive “to-get-done-during-spring-break” list, but I can’t even feel [too] bad about that. Life is so much more than the lists, and look at what I did accomplish!

What about you? Have you stepped outside your comfort zone lately? Tell me all about it…

Hang in There…

July 9, 2018July 9, 201810 Comments

Someone needs this today…

Daydreams Illustration by Hanna Karlzon. Colored by Rebecca M, a Love Notes pal.

When Difficulties Arise…”Hang in There”
by Douglas Pagels, from Positive Thoughts Every Day

Difficulties arise in the lives of us all. What is most important is dealing with the hard times, coping with the changes, and getting through to the other side where the sun is still shining just for you.

It takes a strong person to deal with tough times and difficult choices. But you are a strong person. It takes courage. But you possess the inner courage to see you through. It takes being an active participant in your life. But you are in the driver’s seat, and you can determine the direction you want tomorrow to go in.

Hang in there…and take care to see that you don’t lose sight of the one thing that is constant, beautiful, and true. Everything will be fine–and it will turn out that way because of the special kind of person you are.

So…beginning today and lasting a lifetime through–Hang in there, and don’t be afraid to feel like the morning sun is shining… just for you.

Autumn Play

November 4, 2017November 5, 20171 Comment

An autumn forest is such a place that once entered you never look for the exit. –Mehmet Murat ildan

I think Eileen V, one of my Love Notes pals, has a crystal ball that allows her to see what I’m going through at the moment. She sent me a bit of autumn cheer recently that arrived on a particularly difficult day.

Im Garten des Zen 2017. http://www.harenberg-kalender.de

Eileen playfully watercolored the postcard to capture the colors of the season–beyond the browns, reds, and yellows.

It’s not simply that she sent mail that celebrated my favorite season, but that her message–which included “sending loads of positive energy”–was perfect for the moment I was in.

The card also arrived when I was going through a brief spell with digital coloring, so while waiting for a meeting to begin one morning, I had a little fun with Eileen’s postcard and altered it in an app. [Click an image for a closer look]