Creative Breaks: Studio Life and New Artwork

With the holidays seeming to arrive faster each year, I’ve been super busy managing the ongoing holiday sale and updating my Etsy Shop. Unfortunately, this has left me with limited studio time, which is such a bummer because creating brings me so much joy. 😥

Despite the holiday hustle, I’ve managed to carve out little pockets of time to work on these two abstracts! 😊 The first one, shown above, is a 3×4-inch cutie that’s starting to take shape. The second is a 5×7-inch canvas with a 1.5-inch depth, making it perfect for either shelf-sitting or wall décor. Both need quite a bit more work but I love where they’re going!

There’s still more to do in my Etsy Shop, but I’m prioritizing studio time because it keeps me grounded and happy. I’ve realized that even a small dose of creativity can make such a big difference in my day.

What about you? What do you do to lift your spirits when you need a quick boost?

Thanks so much for stopping by—wishing you a joyful and creative day!

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Thoughtful Thursday Childhood Wisdom

Artwork by Maria Vidaurre

John Lennon once shared a profound childhood memory: “When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

This simple yet powerful anecdote underscores a timeless truth often lost in the hustle of modern life. As children, we inherently grasp that happiness is the ultimate goal, unclouded by societal expectations and pressures. Lennon’s mother instilled in him a wisdom that many spend a lifetime seeking—valuing happiness above all else.

When young Lennon responded with “happy” to the question of future aspirations, it highlighted a profound understanding that fulfillment isn’t about titles or achievements but about joy and contentment. His teachers’ reaction exemplifies a common misconception: equating success with external accomplishments rather than inner well-being.

Lennon’s words remind us to realign our priorities, to seek joy in our everyday lives rather than in the relentless pursuit of societal standards of success. In essence, understanding life truly means cherishing happiness as our ultimate aim.

Hope this inspires you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Gratitude Words of Wisdom

I am passionate about self improvement and feel there is always room to grow. This is a heartfelt quote I wrote which resonates deeply with me and is displayed on my art journaling page:

“Life is precious and if you’re not careful will pass you by if you don’t stop to smell the roses.”

These words serve as a gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of life. Even though there may be days filled with chaos, it’s important to remember special moments, no matter how small and reflect upon them with gratitude.

As we journey through life, let’s cherish each moment and embrace the beauty that surrounds us. May we find solace and inspiration in the simple joys of everyday life.

Hope this inspires you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Words of Wisdom

I’m an avid collector of inspiring quotes and found these beautiful words by Maya Angelou and thought I’d share them with you. They’re featured on one of my abstract watercolor paintings:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou

A gentle reminder to treat others with simple gestures of kindness and touch their heart.

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

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Thoughtful Thursday Words of Wisdom

As you know I’m a collector of inspiring quotes and came across this quote by Marilyn Monroe which is featured on one of my watercolor art journaling pages. It’s a gentle reminder to be true to yourself and be uniquely you as only you can be!

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” ~Marilyn Monroe

Don’t forget there’s still time to take advantage of the Exclusive Sale going on now my Etsy Shop, just enter code MERRY25 at checkout to receive 25% Off Original Paintings and Christmas Ornaments (Sale ends 12/15 at midnight).

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Photo by Egor Kamelev on Pexels.com

Thoughtful Thursday Words of Wisdom

I’m a collector of inspiring quotes and came across this one which I wanted to share with you. I added it to one of my abstract paintings with bold autumn colors. It’s a motivating quote that rings so true:

“Your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.” ~Unknown

You can set all the goals you want but if your heart’s desire isn’t in it, if you can’t envision your dream or get discouraged after a few bumps in the road you can bet your bippy, you won’t be successful at it.

Hope this inspires you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Poem by George Cooper

I painted this Autumn abstract a while ago but thought this beautiful poem by George Cooper fit it perfectly:

“Come, little leaves” said the Wind one day, “Come to the meadows with me and play. Put on your dresses of red and gold; for summer is past, and the days grow cold.”

Hope you enjoyed this today, thanks for stopping by!

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Thoughtful Thursday – Welcome the Slumber of Autumn

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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 Words of Wisdom by Tom Ziglar

As you may know I’m a collector of quotes. These “Words of Wisdom” have the power to lift your spirit when you need it most. I thought it would be fun to create a collection of inspiring quotes on a deck of 3.5×4.5 inch watercolor cards with art. So this is the first one in the deck by Tom Ziglar:

“Never put the key to your Happiness in somebody else’s pocket.”

These words are simple yet so true. Sometimes I think it’s just easier to put your happiness in some else’s pocket. But the truth is happiness comes from within and we all have the ability to create our own happiness. Some days can be a struggle but but it’s well worth the effort.

On days when I’m feeling off, I’ll meditate, go for a walk or create some art to get that happiness powerplant inside of me a kick start. When your day goes sideways, what do you do to create happiness?

Hope this inspires you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Perspective

Photo by Jeremy Perkins on Pexels.com

Have you ever been in a situation where the other person upsets you with harsh words or failed to see your point of view? I think most of us have experienced something similar in one way or another.

Don Miguel Ruiz has written several books and in “The Fifth Agreement,” he makes an excellent analogy using movie theaters. The gist of it was that you go into a movie theater that’s showing a movie about your life. You recognize everyone in the scene and remember it playing out exactly that way because this was from your point of view.

After a few minutes you go to the next theater and the same movie is playing. However, this movie is different than the last because this is your mother’s point of view. You see yourself differently because this is how she perceives you to be. You also notice your mother’s character is quite different from your movie because this is based on her story and how she feels about herself and perceives everyone and everything around her.

You go from theater to theater and the story keeps changing as the main characters and points of view change. What you need to remember is that each person you engage with in your life will have their full attention on themselves and what they create and believe to be true in their minds. Once you understand everyone has a completely different point of view it will change how you view the world around you. And when someone uses harsh words or does something that upsets you, understand that what they’re projecting onto you isn’t about you, it’s about themselves and what they perceive to be real. Dealing with conflicts from this point of view will be much easier but it will take lots of practice.

Lots of food for thought in this post but I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Photo by Simon Berger on Pexels.com