Artist of Joy with Shay Michelle

 05/15/22

5x7 mixed media on paper

Daisies in May

 05/17/21

14x11 mixed media on canvas

All is Bright

07/24/20
8x6 mixed media art journal page

Charlotte’s memorial daisy

09/12/19
5x5 art journal page

Thoughts for Another Day II

11/27/17
11x17 mixed media on paper

Everyday Flower

05/28/17
5x7 watercolor postcard

Only Moving Forward

9/18/14
11x15 collage on paper

Only Moving Forward

Love the knowledge that, the way kangaroos are built, they can only move forward.  This guy knows it too. 

Interconnected

2/27/14
11x15 collage on paper

Interconnected

Had a couple of positive completions on design projects at work this week.   The end result helped make the building more colorful and gave me a chance to experiment with some new ideas.  

Same day my projects installed, I was leaving the house to drive to work and ran across two huge vultures snacking on a squirrel in the neighborhood.  Though vultures aren't completely unusual in our region, they are definitely not common inside my neighborhood.  
Got to thinking about the symbolism of vultures.  Some say they are good symbols for the interconnectedness of all things and the constancy of change.  They reassure us that transformation is inevitable.  On some days, things go well... on others, not so much.

Day 350 Peaceful haven

Day 350 Peaceful haven

350:365

09/15/13

Louise Hay affirmation:   “My home is a peaceful haven.”

Inspiration exercise from 365 Daily Creativity Journal:  Have someone else start something and then complete it yourself today.  

Media:  Magazine  and Patience Brewster Catalog photos, Mod Podge, Tissue paper, Watercolors, Acrylic paint

Time:  2H

Comments:  Today's collage features a few greeting card creatures, illustrated by Patience Brewster, that remind me of ways that My Home is a Peaceful Haven.  

Day 254 Go, Harry Truman

Day 254  Go, Harry Truman

254:365

06/11/13

Louise Hay affirmation:   “Every problem has a solution.”

Inspiration exercise from 365 Daily Creativity Journal:  Create something involving, or inspired by, a pet.  

Media:  Scrapbook paper, Magazine and Calendar photos, Graph paper, Mod Podge

Time:  1H:10M

Comments:  The pet featured on today's collage, Harry Truman, turned up in an ASPCA calendar and magazine and has the look (and the name) of someone who can solve problems.  Go, Harry Truman.

Link for more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman

http://btc4animals.com/btc-news/4animals-stories-to-inspire-6/

Day 236 I Know Someone

Day 236 I Know Someone

236:365

05/24/13

Louise Hay affirmation:   “I forgive myself.”

Inspiration exercise from 365 Daily Creativity Journal:   Carry something with you all day and document it in a variety of locations.

Media:  Scrapbook paper, Company flyer, Project team logo sticker, Daisy embellishment, Copy paper, Mod Podge

Time:  1H

Comments:  This collage features a few artifacts from my day.  Parts of a company flyer, logo from a project team, a sunny daisy that gives no hints of the frustration behind it.  

Today at work I found myself doing an unexpected task, after delegating it to others that are typically responsible for the help I needed.  I found at the last minute that not only had the work not been completed by the ample deadline given, it hadn't even been attempted.  

I found myself getting angry and frustrated as I regrouped and simply did the work myself. This was the second time this week, both completely different incidents and different people, that similar circumstances and feelings came up for me.  Both times, I wondered what I did wrong that the people who were to help completely missed the intent of the instructions that I gave.  I wondered how I could have said or done something differently that would have influenced the outcomes differently.  I couldn't help feeling tested, and that I was failing each test miserably.  

I forgive myself for being angry and frustrated, for thinking everything was my fault, and for not passing the tests set before me.  The reality of corporate life is... sometimes people let us down, and sometimes things just don't go as planned.  I can choose to respond differently next time. 

Day 138 Pushing up daisies

Day 138 Pushing up daisies

138:365

02/15/13

Louise Hay affirmation:   “My life is ever new.  Each moment of my life is new and fresh and vital.”

Inspiration exercise from 365 Daily Creativity Journal:   Make something inspired by a fictional character. 

Media:  Scrapbook paper, Grid Vellum, Watercolors, Magazine and Catalog photos, Modge Podge

Time:   1H:30M

Comments:  My fictional character is a cartoon goon from a magazine ad that, in this case, is using his big hammer to push up pretty flowers.  Above the ground, all is new and fresh and vital.   Below, mysterious.  

Day 47 Breath of fresh daisy

047:365

Day 47 Breath of fresh daisy

11/16/12

Louise Hay affirmation:   “I love life.  It is safe to live.” (breath)

Inspiration exercise from 365 Daily Creativity Journal:   Work with flowers- artificial or real, live or dried, picked or bought.

Media:   Magazine photos, flower & glitter stickers, Sharpie

Time:   45M

Comments: My favorite flowers are gerber daisies.  

Day 37 Stapled memory

037:365

11/06/12

Louise Hay affirmation:   “Intelligence, courage, and self-worth are always present.  It is safe to be alive.” (amnesia)

Day 37 Stapled memory 

Inspiration exercise from 365 Daily Creativity Journal:   Make something with a stapler. 


Media:  Magazine photo, auction catalog photo of Mario Merz “8 case” painting, staples, glue stick.

Time:   40M

Comments:  Ran across this brain picture on the internet one day and liked it. Seemed a fitting image when thinking about how the mind works to retain memory, or not. The background painting by Mario Merz made me think of how we sometimes try to pinpoint dangling threads of thought in the recesses of our minds.