A Few Special Moments

Hello Lovelies!

Did you survive the holidays?

I didn't get a chance to wish you all a Merry Christmas, so I thought I would share a few  of our holiday moments with you.

 

And, I Hope yours was lovely as well.

I can honestly say, that this was just the best Christmas ever, with baby Kaia. We had such a ball spoiling her, and watching her opening up all of her presents.

 

My goodness, and the food... don't even get me started on that. I need to eat salad for at least a week, more like a month, after all the goodies we munched on.

LOL!

 Seriously.

 

 

I meant to get photos of all of our yumminess, but it just didn't happen.

I think I baked for 3 straight days, and then there were all of the meals in between.

 Such fun.

 

We got Kaia a sweet little owl ornie this year, she has a special fondness for owls.

Every time she see's one, she says:

"who" "who."

So of course, that was reason enough for us.

The lady at the shop said, maybe it is her spirit animal.

"Who" knows.... :)

 

 

 

Little kitchens, with tiny food, tiny dishes, and the lot. She loves it!

 

 

 

Little people houses, little cars, and even a pet grooming station. They have all kept her busy, having fun, and on the move. 

Truly a magical Holiday!!!

I just LOVE her so much.

 

 

 

Now with New Years approaching, I have been trying to decide on my One Word Resolution this past week. The word that has chosen me this year, is:

 CREATIVITY.

I plan on utilizing this word during this next year.

And I am excited to see what this New Year will bring.

 

Thank You for following along with me this past year, and my hope, is to be even more connected in the next.



My wish to all of you, is, good tidings, and a  healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.

Hugs,

~Susan

 

 

 

 



So many things to be Thankful for

Hello Lovelies!

I haven't been a very good blogger lately. Keeping up with a toddler, and all of life's little happenings, have had me quite busy. After loosing my baby bulldog just before Halloween, I just needed some quiet time. Some time for just enjoying all the moments with baby Kaia, and soaking up all of her love.

She makes the best snuggler. Hard not to smile, and feel a joyful heart when I am with her.

 

Trying to get back into the studio these past few weeks, and do some creating. I had lost my mojo for a bit, but I am happy to say, that it has returned. Yay!!

I have a new addiction to these floral beauties...

 I just cannot stop making them!
 I was so inspired by a recent you tube video I watched, made by Angela Holt.Just the whole process of this Mixed Media canvas is memorizing. I love getting lost for a few hours in pure bliss.

I LOVE how this one turned out.

  A few frozen Charlotte ornaments, using Vintage tart tins. These are so pretty on the Christmas tree.

And a little vintage inspired treat cone, made for a friend. I love the sparkle of white, gold and glitter.

So Magical!

 

My studio time is my happiest place to be.

 

This past Monday, we received to most wonderful news!

Our daughter has been working so very hard in her recovery progress, as well as in her parenting skills. She was awarded custody back of her daughter, little Kaia.

We are both so proud of her for achieving this accomplishment. DHS doesn't make it easy, and she has successfully gone above and beyond to have her back in her life, and she is thrilled to take on the most important job one can ever have, of being a mother.

 

 Our plan, is to all live together as a family, as a transition into, someday, them having a place of their own. We can all still continue to love and spoil Kaia, and now, I will have a little more time for myself. It is the perfect plan.

Me and Mr. sweetness are both looking forward to being Grandma/Grandpa again. :)

She is just such a doll.

Such great news!!!

 

"Us" at Halloween this year.

Kaia "The Duck."

She had the perfect waddle.

 

Hard to believe that it has been just a little over a year since she came to be with us. So tiny, and so incredibly sweet...

 

How fast a year can go. So may blessings to be Thankful for this year.

This has to be one of my FAVORITE pictures of her!

So Thankful for all of our blessings this year. From my family to yours...

 

 

Many Blessings, and big hugs,

~Susan

 

Healing Art

Hello Lovelies...

Today I wanted to share a new project that I finished this past week. I had such a joyful time working on this piece, it was something just for me, from my heart.

A celebration of life, and to cherish the memories of someone that is no longer with me. My Dad.

I have been carrying a mighty heavy load this past 7 yrs. with the passing of my father, trying to straighten out a big probate mess that has involved lots of icky complicated things, with attorneys, accountants, and the like.

 

Living in this negative space has been tremendously overwhelming at times, hard to breathe, stuck.

 

I have just had to put one foot in front of the other, wait, and have FAITH that it will all work out.

After a year of trying to sell his home, and 3 almost sales, it finally sold this past month. 

FINALLY...

I can start to feel some closure, and begin healing this part of me, that could not be healed before now.

It's time to move forward, and has been a long time coming.

  

This floral beauty, is done on a 12 x 12 canvas. I started with my background, adding lots of texture with stencils and modeling paste, fabric bits, and acrylic paint, inks, and stamps.



 I selected a vintage image that I liked for the profile, and started building the piece with things I had in my stash. Metal embellishments, old jewelry pieces, a stained butterfly, millinery flowers, a Tim Holtz metal clock, and vintage buttons.

 

 A special element I used in the piece, was to  incorporate and add the key to my Dad's house, and the cherish metal charm.

 Beneath the colorful blooms, I added a secret letter to my Dad, and a promise that I intend to keep.



 To celebrate each and every given day, and to be Thankful for the time I have been given.



 I don't think you ever "get over" loosing those we love. For me, to celebrate the memories I can hold in my heart, and to have a keepsake to reflect upon, is healing the bits and pieces slowly, that have been buried under all those layers until now.

 

It's hard to tell from the photos, but there is a lot of sparkle in there too. In the evening light, it's purely magical!

I used Antique, gold paper doilies, at the bottom. I absolutely love the texture of these. They are just so pretty! A copper and bronze was also added for some more interest, and contrast. 



 I really love the way this canvas turned out! I used many colors of fall in this piece. Gold's, bronze's, burgundy, oranges, yellows, all in various shades, to reflect my favorite time of year.



 

 

 I finished it up with a pretty, petite, vintage style frame, and will be happy every time I look at it. I could just stare at her for hours.

 

Thanks for following along, and I hope you enjoyed my post today, as this one is rather special.

As for me, I intend to CELEBRATE the rest of the day, and hope you do too.

 

Hugs,

~Susan Xo