I designed this larger canvas some years ago after my husband’s cancer diagnosis. I drew inspiration from my original piece, “Believe,” which I had created at least 30 years earlier. If I were to assign a logo representing my life philosophy, the original “Believe” would be it. I published a post about the original piece in June 2024. It makes sense that I would turn to it for inspiration during such a difficult time. Finding a way to believe in hope, possibility, and…
The background of this canvas, painted in blotchy shades of blue, tells how I felt as I cut and stitched a heart from a grey felt. It was a day when I had to dig deep to believe in hope and possibility. My collection of colorful gems and crystals glittering from their storage jars on a shelf in my studio inspired me. This piece represented looking beyond the bleakness I felt to the treasure trove of inner peace and inspiration…
We often need to draw on our inner strength and resilience to face whatever life brings our way. I have discovered that creating art and leading a meaningful life after a loss requires me to “show up,” whether confronting a blank canvas or any other challenge. It involves being receptive to the whisperings of my heart and remaining open to inspiration, even when it seems elusive. Sometimes, it consists of sifting through uncomfortable feelings to find a tiny sparkle of…
I’ve always wanted to listen to my heart, but it wasn’t until I began to heal from the most traumatic loss of my life that I truly started to hear what my heart was telling me. Now, I’m following a path guided by its messages. Although the path is not clearly defined, an essential part of being the queen of my heart involves taking the time and giving myself the space needed to figure things out. This means practicing self-compassion…