At last -- 2012 is here!

It's been a good year for me in many ways.  A year filled with endings and new beginnings, and I'm looking forward to starting the New Year.

I have a "ritual" I do every New Year's Eve, and I'm getting ready to do it again tonight.  I start with 2 sheets of paper.  On one sheet I make a list of the accomplishments I've done this past year that have made me happy or proud; on the other sheet I list the events or situations I'm not overly enthused about or that want to move past in addition to the names of people I need to forgive (or forget!). 

I take the first sheet and read it out loud 3 times.  After reading it aloud for the 3rd time, I burn it over my gas stove in a metal pan.  I do the same for the second sheet.  After the ashes quit glowing, I douse them with water, take the pan outside and toss the contents into the garden. 

This is my version of turning these memories over to the Universe, and wiping my internal "slate" clean, to start fresh for the new year. 

Next comes the Vision Board (or collage or Treasure Map).  This is the fun part......I cut pictures and words from magazines and start arranging them on a piece of heavy paper.  I sometimes add photos of people I know, and once I'm happy with the arrangement, I glue everything down onto the paper base.  After everything is glued, I trim the edges; turn the board over to start writing down my intentions and accomplishments I want to achieve in the coming year.

I got a head start on this last part of my ritual yesterday when I made a Vision Board at my friend's house.  Unfortunately some of the content is cropped off on the right hand side......but basically I want to achieve several things in 2012: start traveling again; regain my confidence in myself and my business that I feel I lost over these past few years; find an emotionally healthy man to have a romantic relationship with; sell lots of paintings and make lots of money; start meditating and practicing yoga again and get a furry friend (the 4-legged kind).


Here's a photo of the Vision Board I made:

HAPPY NEW YEARS

and I hope each and every one of you has a

 safe, healthy, fun and prosperous 2012!!

A Glimpse of Spring

"Glimpse of Spring"

20" x 16" acrylic on canvas

There is ice on the neighboring rooftops, clear blue skies above, scarlet red berries on the Heavenly Bamboo shrubs and a handful of bright red leaves still clinging to the Japanese Cherry tree in my backyard.  I'm enjoying a steaming hot mug of tea as I finish wrapping a few small gifts that I'll be giving my niece and nephews at my Mom's house early this afternoon.   On the way to Mom's I'll be stopping by the cemetary to deliver a small hand-picked bouquet of flowers, Lavendar, Rosemary and red berries for my Dad's grave, and to say a prayer of thanks for this special day.

In the midst of this cold Winter morning, I find that I'm already longing for the warmth of our next season.  I stop and consciously remind myself of Eckart Tolle's powerful and wise words -- "live in the now." 

Today is Christmas and I hope each and every one of you has an awesome time celebrating with your friends and family!!



Happy Holidays to All!!

"City Celebration"

60" x 48"

I'm absolutely amazed that the Holidays are upon us already and Christmas is just a few short days away.  My Jewish friends are celebrating Hanukkah, and millions more will begin celebrating Kwanzaa next week. 

No matter what religion or spiritual belief a person has, it is our time of year to give thanks for our many blessings and to spend time with loved ones, making memories and celebrating traditions.  For me, it's a time of reflection, family, and preparation for the coming year.  It is my time to reflect on what worked for my life this past year; and what didn't; and fervid anticipation of what I want to manifest for the coming year. 

Happy Holidays, my friends, and may you all have a wonderful time celebrating this special time of year with your friends and loved ones.

Slideshow of paintings for you!

About Passion.....

It's been a month since I've left the "day job" and concentrated on following my passion, which is being an artist.  Well -- a month and 2 days, to be exact, since my 1st day off the job was 11-1-11, and today is 12-3-11.  I've accomplished a lot during this past month, and in a nutshell here's what has transpired:

My glass ornaments and glass art are now in 7 stores:  Arareity Jewelers, The Flower Farm Inn, both outlets of Fire & Rain Galleries, Trezhers Gifts, Krazy Mary's Boutique, and Christmas & Company.  I will be licensing my paintings to be put on metal art for All My Walls, and was interviewed for an upcoming article about women who leave a successful career to follow their passion by MORE Magazine. I also updated my website and decided to give my ETSY shop another try. 

Busy month, busy girl.  Yet I'm feeling it's not enough.  Inside of me is this little child that is saying "I want it now" which essentially means do more, more, more.  And the adult side of me is saying "Be patient -- some things take time."  Thus ensues the inner battle which probably sheds a little insight as to why I'm prone to burn out, and why I need to take conscious steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.

While working in my glass studio the other day, I was listening to a fascinating program on Hay House Radio about burn out by Joan Borysenko, PhD.   During the show, she mentioned that people burn out  because they are passionate about what they do, and when they don't feel appreciated or validated by their efforts by their self and/or others, burn out happens.

So -- my goal this month is to stop the negative mind chatter and focus on taking care of the new accounts I've gotten.  Get ready for our upcoming Holiday Boutique & 2nd Saturday Sale at Bell'Arte Studios as well as the show "Glowing" at Arareity, and enjoy the heck out of my family during the Holidays. 

2012 is going to be a kickass year for me, and I hope for each and every one of you too.