The Merry Month of May {I've been published in a lovely magazine...}
Since I was a very young mom, I’ve nurtured and nourished a dream of being a published writer. My very first article I ever submitted to a publication, was an op-ed piece…
…to Glamour magazine…
…about the beauty and advantage of sexual abstinence before marriage.
They sent it back. Rejected.
Shocker, I know.
But I had just enough people in my life who continued to encourage me in my nascent gift of putting pen to paper. All they did was circle back every year or two and ask me, “Are you still writing? You have a gift, you know! Keep using it. Keep writing!”
Seriously, that’s all they did, and that’s all I had (there were only 2 or 3 people) and that’s all I needed.
In 2017, I gestated and birthed (both wrote, edited, self published and self-launched) the book "The Women of Advent". Now, before you run and buy a copy, please know that there are one or two glaring “clerical errors”.
For one, my auto correct would not stop changing the name of the character “Rahab”…
…to “Rehab”.
Epic
Fail…
…a failure deserving humiliating self-flagellation, thus I share with the whole world, this accidental selfie. Complete with popcorn ceiling and “boob light”.
Again: I deserve it.
{…now, please go and buy the book…because otherwise, it is actually very good, so I am told.}
On to even better news. This past week, I published a {beautifully written, completely polished and professionally edited} piece, with the gorgeous full-color women’s magazine called Eden And Vine
{click on the image to purchase the issue featuring my article, plus much more inspiring content
The title of my article is “Unafraid To Ask”, and it’s the vulnerable story of my own coming into my full identity as a daughter of the Most High. I’ve heard it said, and I believe it to be so, that if you deeply resonate with a Biblical character, that is because there are things tucked inside the identity of that historical figure that you are meant to live into, and embody.
My Bible character is Achsah. To whom only a scant 4-ish verses are devoted, in all Scripture.
Still, I’ve been carrying her message, and embodying her essence for twenty years, and feel like I am just getting started.
No spoilers. If you are so inclined, please go purchase issue 7 of Eden and Vine, and in so doing, support a female-owned, Christian small business. Eden and Vine is turning the niche magazine space on its ear! Tens of thousands of subscribers, and they are barely getting warmed up.
a (sold) piece of art that I created almost ten years ago, in a style I have since outgrown. But I will never outgrow living into this Biblical historical figure, named Achsah.
…my grandson, glancing over his grandmother’s article…be still my heart.
Honestly - I’m so proud. I haven’t been able to get to the messages and emails, all telling me that these words have impacted them profoundly. The Father LOVES His daughters. Never be afraid to ask largely of the Lord.
An In-Depth - Somewhat - Tour of My Studio {...which means a partial tour of my home...}
My friend Jeanne Oliver recently invited me to participate in her once-a-month “Artist’s Studios Tour”. I quickly jotted down the date, and made a mental note.
There was my first mistake. ha. Mental notes don’t do me much good these days, because apparently “menopause brain” is a thing. But I did manage to move the big, ugly portable studio lights out of my main studio space, and straighten up a little bit.
So consider this your invitation to join Jeanne and I both, over on her blog, where you will find an over ten minute long, hopefully quite encouraging, tour of my creative spaces. These areas are where all my good juju happens. You’ll hear all the many ways my Preacher has come alongside me, as I chase beauty…(because the deep, dark secret is he is a beauty-chaser himself. Give him an afternoon with a beautiful landscape and his Nikon, and he is a happy, happy man. Preachers are just artists masquerading as ministers. It takes the soul of an artist and the heart of a writer to see the wonder in the Gospel, to remain untouched by cynics, and to pen messages every single week.)
some of the various pochades, easels, etc that I take with me when I paint out-and-about
And while you are over on Jeanne’s website, do join her “Creative Network” (it’s free!) where you will find dozens (and dozens) of gorgeous art classes (three of them are by yours truly - just do a quick search on the site for my name)…
…and the BEST selection - a curated selection - of FREE instructional videos that you will find, anywhere.
I’ve been part of this network since it began. Jeanne just keeps getting better. She keeps on showing me what is possible. I love that, in a friend. I love that in an art instructor.
Enjoy! Here is the link, once more.
And, if you can, please join me over on my instagram where I’m most active, in terms of social media, and leave me any thoughts, questions, observations, or comments you may have about my spaces. I’ve figured out many low cost/no cost solutions to the problems we artists bump up against on a regular basis. I’m happy to share my tricks and tips with you.
excited to show you this piece of vintage furniture that The Preacher turned into my packing/shipping station…