New Art Releases: Moments of Renewal and Echoes of Joy

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These past two weeks have been a whirlwind, but I survived! 🎉

Long story short—my computer crashed, and I was nearly in tears thinking I’d lost all of my work and photos. 😢 Thankfully, everything was recovered, and I now have a brand-new computer—yay! The downside? It came with all-new software, including a different version of Windows and my photo-editing program, so there’s definitely a learning curve. But I’ll get there😅

While my computer was down, I still managed to get some work done from my phone (which was not easy on that tiny screen!). I did, however, manage to list two new pieces in my Etsy shop:

🎨 Moments of Renewal – A 5×5-inch abstract painting that glows with depth and movement. Layers of luminous color and expressive brushwork create a radiant composition that feels alive—evoking both serenity and inspiration.

🎨 Echoes of Joy – A vibrant 4×12-inch modern abstract that bursts with rhythm and harmony. Energetic strokes and shifting layers of color capture a sense of celebration and motion, like joyful echoes reverberating through light and space.

✨ Both of these one-of-a-kind abstracts make a bold statement as wall art or as a shelf accent in your home, office, or creative space. Their vivid hues and dynamic energy invite reflection, spark conversation, and add a touch of contemporary elegance wherever they’re displayed.

Stop by my Flowing Waters Art Shop on Etsy to take a closer look!

Thanks so much for stopping by—wishing you a truly wonderful rest of your week! 😊

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Thoughtful Thursday 5 Easy Tips to Decorate Your Entryway for Fall

As the crisp air and vibrant colors of fall settle in, it’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your home’s entrance with seasonal charm. Your front door is the first thing guests see, and with just a few simple touches, you can create a warm and welcoming space that reflects the beauty of autumn. Here are five easy tips to transform your entryway into a festive fall haven:

  1. Wreaths with Natural Elements: Swap out your summer wreath for one featuring fall staples like pinecones, dried leaves, and pumpkins. A wreath with a mix of orange, gold, and deep reds instantly signals the change of season.
  2. Pumpkin Display: Arrange a cluster of pumpkins in varying sizes and colors around your doorstep. Mix real and faux pumpkins for texture, and don’t forget to include unique shades like white and pale green for a fresh look.
  3. Mums and Lanterns: Place a few pots of chrysanthemums on either side of your door for a pop of vibrant color. Pair them with rustic lanterns filled with candles or string lights for a cozy evening glow.
  4. Layered Doormat: Add depth to your entryway with a layered doormat look. Start with a plaid or buffalo check rug underneath and top it with a simple welcome mat for a cozy, farmhouse feel.
  5. Seasonal Signage: Incorporate a fall-themed sign that welcomes guests. Phrases like “Hello Fall” or “Give Thanks” painted on wooden boards bring a personalized, inviting touch.

Whether you keep it simple with a few well-chosen décor pieces or go all out with a full fall display, touches like these can transform your front door into a festive focal point that welcomes everyone with seasonal cheer! I’d love to hear how you’re decorating for fall—feel free to share your own ideas and inspirations in the comments and let’s celebrate the season together!

I hope this inspired you to spread some seasonal cheer! Thanks so much for stopping by!

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“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!” ~Humbert Wolfe

Thoughtful Thursday Dryer Sheets vs Dryer Balls

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Laundry is never ending and so is the expense. But if you want your clothes to feel soft, be static free and have a nice scent you need to add a new dryer sheet to every load of laundry and that’s costly.

The majority of dryer sheets are made from a thin polyester material that’s coated with a softening agent and lots of chemicals including fatty acids, fatty alcohols, alcohol ethoxylates, stearic acid plus harsh perfumes. None of which are healthy for your body and the waste isn’t healthy for the planet.

Luckily there’s an alternative to these sheets, dryer balls. The dryer balls work by bouncing around in the dryer, separating clothes and allowing air to circulate more efficiently. As a result they soften your clothes and reduce drying time, wrinkles and static cling. Plus there are no harsh chemicals.

I’ve used dryer balls for years and love them. I started with the plastic kind shown below on the right and they worked great. But eventually they broke down and had to be replaced with new ones that gave off a slight plastic odor which I wasn’t crazy about.

I thought there had to be a better way so I did a bit of research for a natural alternative and found wool dryer balls (shown above on the left). I followed an online tutorial at DIY Natural to make your own set which required roving wool and that can be hard to find in South Florida.

Fortunately, there are quite a few companies that make and sell dryer balls online. This is a link to the set I purchased a year ago on Amazon and they’re still going strong! The best part is you can add your own essential oils to wool dryer balls and freshen your laundry, naturally without harsh chemicals. Plus you’ll save loads of money and reduce waste. It’s a win-win!!

Hope you enjoyed this post today, thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that you’re enjoying this Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family and friends, creating special memories.

I’m so very grateful for all of you who are following me on this creative journey! Thanks for your love and support, it means the world to me 💖💖

Wishing you a Very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Thoughtful Thursday – Welcome the Slumber of Autumn

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In just 2 short days, summer will officially end and Autumn will begin. This is such a wonderful time of year with cooler temps, changing scenery and delightful crisp fall breezes. It’s a time to slow our pace, get out the blankets and relax with a cup of hot cocoa in front of the fire place.

With one of the hottest summers on record, this Autumn is a welcome change. We don’t normally see too much color changing this far south in Florida but I can at least dream of the magical hiking trips I’ve taken in the past. The breathtaking views that Mother nature blessed me with on my autumn hikes was to say the least, awe-inspiring.

Being outdoors during this time of year has a way of slowing your thoughts and offering your more clarity in return. It gives you the chance to refocus on your goals and what’s most important to you. We live such fast paced lives and this process of slowing down is literally a breath of fresh air.

🍂I took these photos while hiking the Appalachian Trail. I hope you enjoy them🍁

What do you like most about autumn?

Thanks for stopping by!!

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“Notice how autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.” ~Freidrich Nietzsche

Thoughtful Thursday – Show Dad Your Love

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I can’t believe that Father’s Day will already be here this Sunday, June 18th. This is a special day to celebrate those great dads who are here with us today and also to honor and remember those who are no longer with us.

Dads have a unique style all of their own in how they handle life and teach us what they know. I learned so much from my dad and he was the one who inspired me to create art. My love for photography, roses and birds all came from him. So how will you show your love to that great man?

Here are a few ideas for Father’s Day:

  • Make a handmade card with a personal photo.
  • Make a photo collage of memorable moments.
  • Have an outdoor celebration in the park, beach or your own backyard.
  • Take dad out on a sporting adventure of his choice.
  • Go camping for a night.
  • Cook his favorite dinner.
  • Have a backyard movie night.
  • Build something fun together.
  • Spend an evening star gazing.
  • Spend a nice day together talking about fun memories.
  • Take him on a fun road trip.
  • Go to a sports game together.
  • Tour a vineyard or brewery.

Wishing all Dad’s a very Happy Father’s Day!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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“A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.” ~Unknown

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Family Art Journaling

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I thought I’d share these special journal pages with you. They were created by my family 😊

It was a fun time talking and laughing as we passed the journal around. The idea was that each person takes a turn drawing a line in the journal. You keep passing it around and adding more lines until it’s mostly filled up. It’s pretty funny to see the images that emerge from all the random lines. You can add some color if you like and you’ll end up with a fun family art journal that you can keep as a memento for your special day.

Hope this inspires you to create some fun memories this Thanksgiving. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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Stay on the Sunny side of Life! Art Journaling

I’m almost done packing up the studio and I had a lot more supplies than I thought. So in the midst of the chaos I thought it would be fun to share one of my older journaling pages with you.

I created this fun whimsical design using Derwent Inktense pencils. I love how bright and bold they are. I like that I can create and finish a journal page in a short period of time. It’s satisfying to complete a piece of art that makes you smile 😊

I’ll do my best to get back on track with my blogging now that the packing is basically done 😅 I’m very excited to get the new floor in!

Hope this inspires you in some way today.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Mission Organization

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Imagine going to the library and the books are randomly placed on the shelves. You’d get frustrated because you can’t find what you’re looking for. If you were the person in charge of getting new books for the library you wouldn’t know which books to add because you don’t know what’s already there.

We all have a tendency of acquiring “stuff” that seems to pile up and multiply all on it’s own if we don’t tend to it. Maybe we’re just not an organizer by nature or we’ll get to it later but then later never comes. All this “stuff” stops the flow of energy causing you to become unhappy, stressed and lose clarity to name a few.

I’m getting ready to do the floors in my studio. It’s something I’ve been putting off but needs to get done. I’m not looking forward to packing everything up because I have a lot of art supplies I use. On the other hand this is going to force me to really look at what I have and ask “do I really need this, does it bring me happiness.”

I wanted to get some new ideas and a fresh outlook to organizing my studio so I purchased a book by Desha Peacock, “Your Creative Work Space” which is available on Amazon.

I started reading the book and love it so far. Desha shares examples of creative work spaces from different people in different professions. She also shares her wisdom for organizing your sacred space and keeping that way. I’m already very excited to put some of her ideas to use and create better energy flow in my studio.

I’m not sure how this is going to work out but I’ll do my best to keep posting and sharing the happy with everyone. Wish me luck 😅

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Amethyst Crystals

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Amethyst is from Greek which means unintoxicating. This crystal belongs to the Quartz family and is associated with the Crown Chakra. A fun fact, in ancient times these crystals were made into wine cups because people believed these crystals would help keep them more sober.

But these crystals are much more than that. Amethyst Crystals are said to be excellent in cleansing and absorbing negative energy. They emit a calming energy which aids in sleep, spiritual awareness and helps to balance the energies of the mind, heart and body. Amethyst crystals are also great to use in meditations. Additionally, they work well in healing the body.

If you want to calm the energy in your home try placing a few Amethyst Crystals around and see how it feels. They’re stunning to look at and the energy they emit is absolutely wonderful. Start small with a few pieces placed around your home or you can try wearing jewelry made with the crystals to get a feel for their energy and go from there.

My sister introduced me to these crystals many years ago and I fell in love with them, so much so, that I have a large 40 pound Amethyst Crystal in my bedroom, plus several smaller pieces placed throughout my home. I love the way they feel and hope you will too.

If you give them a try, let me know how it goes. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of the one who sees.” ~Rumi

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