I just know we’ve all picked out our WORD for this shiny new year. My word last year was RELEASE. I am sure I didn’t do it justice. Once my father died, I felt that my WORD was to be FREE. Now, I’m not sure. It keeps feeling like it is supposed to be ME. As in, it’s all about ME.

This has prompted me to hook up again with 3 in 30 (see button in sidebar). For this first month, my 3 goals are:

Get dressed every morning (don’t judge me)

Brush my hair every night before bed (stop judging!)

Eat one meal a day as a family, at the table (what did I say??)

I think this gives you a clue about how depressed I’ve been. I am also committing to take my meds and my vitamins every day. Whew!

DD24 and I will be embarking on some kind of diet. Last year, calorie counting was my friend. Let’s see how that goes this year.

We also want to organize our art supplies so we can use them. I’m aiming to make art for 15 minutes a day. Today I did art warm-ups with Dina Wakely, thanks to Nat Kalbach and the Creative Jump Start Summit (http://nathaliesstudio.com/tutorials/creative-jump-start-summit-2012/).

I am taking several classes and participating in several workshops this year. I hope you are, too. I WILL complete each one, not leave a bunch of projects half-done, to add to my Closet of Shame. I am learning not to let my Gremlin suckerpunch me; I just refuse to let him in on stuff!!

Let me know what you all are up to – I really am interested!

Additionally, I pray that 2012 will be the best year ever, for all of us, filled with art, family and friends!!

Lest you think I am awful, horrible, callous, what have you, please remember that, though I have forgiven him, this man abused me physically for 18 years, and verbally and emotionally abused me even as lately as the last time I spoke with him. I was/am at peace with his passing because I felt nothing, by the time he died. It was a blessing.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention that there is another “reverb11″ group, ably led by Kat, at http://isawyoudancing.blogspot.com. Her prompts are wonderful and her button is also in my sidebar.

Weverb11, http://www.weverb11.com, whose prompt for the day is:

“Choose one word.

Choose one word. Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why. Imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you?”

Resound11, http://www.resound.jaemie.com. Her Prompt 01 is:

“What is one word to describe your 2011? Why does that word sum up your year? (We’ll be writing about our one word for 2012 later, so just focus on this year!)”

Last but not least, we have Reverb11, http://www.reverb11.geekinhard.com. The first prompt offered is:

“Day 1 – One Word. Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word.  Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you?  If you did Reverb10 then bonus points for also re-posting your 2011 word from last year along with how you feel about that in retrospect. “

For those of you with artier persuasions, Shimelle is offering her class Journal Your Christmas, and Ali Edwards gives us December Daily.

Lain Ehmann’s sound advice is:

Use a quote a day, or maybe a Bible verse.

Create a tag a day, like Tim Holtz’ 12 Tags of Christmas.

Try something new every day and document it. A recipe, a restaurant, etc.

Write a memory a day, of Christmas or not.

Take a photo a day, holiday or just from life.

Write about someone special every day.

Document a song a day.

As for me, I cannot (will not?) prioritize, and it is making me nuts.

My daughter is doing much better, thank you for all of your prayers. On the other hand, my father (who made it to 87 last Friday) was not expected to make it through last night. He did, but obviously, every moment draws him closer to the end. He has rejected the Gospel, but only God truly knows his heart.

I leave you with this quote from Seth Apter of The Altered Page: “In the midst of the fog, illuminate your own path”.

I turn this concept over and over in my mind, as I would inspect and wonder over the facets of a huge diamond, or a prism. Such a gift, so much grace, shown unto me – a woman so manifestly unworthy.

I have not yet lit the Advent Wreath’s first candle. My middle daughter is quite ill and I’m trying to give Him the worry I carry. I will light the candle when she is well enough to smile by its light.

My father has been in the hospital since  the middle of the month, at least. He was briefly in the nursing home wing of the Assisted Living facility where he was moved over the summer, but had to be rushed to the ER and from there to ICU. He celebrated his 87th birthday in the Step-down Unit. My brother went to see him on Saturday. He reports that yes, Dad is confused (he has some dementia), but knew he’d made it to his birthday – which made him the longest surviving sibling of his family. My brother gave him another goal, to make it to Christmas. We shall see. He has rejected the Gospel, almost all of the people he knew thru his prime are dead, he most likely will not go out in public again. Being placed in the nursing home is something he definitely didn’t want – no freedom, none of his things.

I am 60 now, and struggling with it. My daughter and I were trying to make some art before she became ill; I painted pages with black gesso and blood-red Twinks. . .

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

I gifted myself with this year’s 21 Secrets, and have learned and grown a lot, and met some amazing artists. I’ve tried things I didn’t think I’d like, only to love them, and have learned to trust teaching artists – a big deal, for me. I even bought some art!!

Many of next year’s teachers are artists whose blogs I already follow, people who feel like “bigshots” to me.

CHRISTINE MASON
MILLER

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica based
writer and artist who has been creating, writing and exploring ever since she
was a little girl.  Her mission to inspire has provided the foundation for all
of her creative work; the desire to encourage others to pursue their passions
and create a meaningful life is the common thread throughout an expansive body
of work that includes mixed media collage, commercial illustration, photography,
writing, teaching and
speaking.

Christine’s art and writing gives
viewers a peek into a variety of details from her life, details that grab her
attention on journeys around the world as well as within her own self.  Using
materials as varied as acrylic paints, ink, coffee, mannequins, vintage
photographs and other ephemera, Christine’s creations are full of color, texture
and hidden stories.

Her latest book ~ Desire to Inspire: Using Creative
Passion to Transform the World ~ was recently published by North Light
Books.

CHRISTY TOMLINSON

Christy Tomlinson is a mixed media artist who
has  no boundaries when it comes to creative art play! She loves mixing all
types of mediums in her art..from wax mediums to cloth projects, jewelry play to
sewing techniques .. she loves creating just about anything, though her one true
love is creating with paint and paste mediums on canvas! Christy’s latest
adventure has been teaching online classes to thousands of students all over the
world through her blog and personal  website. She recently started licensing her
art designs onto fabric, dishes, wall-art, home decor and more!  Christy has
been in the art industry for over 10 years:  first working for a papercrafting
manufacturer, Chatterbox,  and then for Scrapbooks Etc. Better Homes and Garden
Magazine as a contributing editor. She has traveled and taught her art
throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, and even South Africa. She has
been asked to come this following year and teach in Israel, Germany, Italy and
Sweden.  Besides creating art full-time, she and her husband also own two online
stores: Scarlet Lime, which is a  mixed media/papercrafting website and Scarlet
Lime BeadArt which carries pre-designed jewelry kits that Christy and her
husband design and package. Christy also loves social media both through her
blog and facebook.  She uses both as a way to share her art , offer tutorials
and just her everyday life story to thousands of followers daily. She feels
blessed to be able to create art and support her family at the same
time.

CONNIE HOZVICKA

Connie Hozvicka is a FEARLESS™
Painter, Yogini and also the founder and director of 21 SECRETS. Through her
FEARLESS™ Painting workshops, retreats, mentoring, and soon to launch
FEARLESS™ Painting Teacher Training Program, Connie awakens
FEARLESS™ creativity in women all over the world while helping them trust
ruthlessly in their innate wisdom and grow confidant as Artists. She lives a few
inches under the sun in Arizona with her beloved husband Hansel, sweetie pie dog
Nyla, and two mellow kitties Theo and Noche. She is also currently pregnant with
her first child she affectionately calls “Gummi”,  due to arrive in May 2012 to
a home full of love, paint, and laughter.

DALE
ANNE POTTER

I am Dale Anne Potter, a Positive
Thinking, Inspired, Textile Mixed Media artist who lives in a small town in SW
Saskatchewan.

I make Art because it brings me JOY every day!!!

I
am inspired everyday by the world around me — nature, its textures, rhythms and
colours, the materials at hand, fabrics, paper, found objects, and the movement
of life — provides me with the ideas and enthusiasm to create new work. I teach
workshops in my small town,  your town or city or online, from Beginner Quilting
to Mixed Media and everything in between.

My artwork has been exhibited
locally in Morse and Swift Current; nationally in Alberta, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Ontario; as well as internationally in Florida, California,
Wisconsin, Vermont, and  Washington. My artwork is in private & corporate
collections in the US, Australia, Germany, England, Spain, as well as in Nova
Scotia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada.

DIANA
TROUT

Artist, author and teacher, Diana Trout, lives and
works just outside of Philadelphia. She has been sharing her passion for art
journaling, book arts and painting since 1993, teaching from her studio, at art
retreats, libraries and art centers and online.

“I am passionate about
making art and about encouraging my students to live a life filled with wonder.
Creating art can be an accessible, enjoyable hobby and you don’t have to be an
‘Artist’ to do it.

My mission is to educate and pass on my storehouse of
ideas and techniques to guide you along your path of strengthening creativity.
It seems that I’ve gained wisdom and insight into dealing with my critical
left-brain. I pass this on to my students.”

Diana’s work and writing has
been published in various magazines.

DINA WAKLEY

Howdy…I am Dina Wakley and I live in sunny
Arizona with my husband and 3 boys. I grew up in Ohio, Michigan, and England, so
it has taken me awhile to get used to desert living. I love absolutely
everything about art. I love looking at it, I love thinking about it, I love
teaching it, I love creating it. I started scrapbooking in 1995, and that
evolved to stamping, and then to art journaling and mixed media art. My studio
is an utter mess, but I love it and it’s where I spend most of my time. My
family teases me because there is paint on everything I own…including the
steering wheel of my van, my clothes, my sewing machine, and even my camera!

A little bit more about my “professional” life:
I make scrapbooking projects for Maya Road and Jenni Bowlin Studios. I have a
line of stamps, available through Stampington. I love to teach, it is a passion
of mine! I teach both online and in-person workshops. I’m a docent (tour guide)
at the Phoenix Art Museum where I give tours to school kids and get them excited
about art.

DION DIOR

A fulltime, mother, artist, writer, and teacher
(not necessarily in that order), Dion was born and raised by the ocean in
Australia. She grew up alongside three very talented and vivacious siblings,
each with their own unique potential. Dion graduated from Swinburne Institute of
Technology and spent several jam-packed decades working and travelling the world
as a woman alone, exploring, sketching and writing about her life-changing
experiences. She met her husband on the roof of the world, trekking to Mt
Everest Base Camp. They now share their love of adventure with their two wild
and crazy children. Far from her homeland down-under, she now lives in rural
Iowa where her attempts at growing a veggie garden have been disastrous. Dion’s
work, known for its color and vibrancy, is held in private collections around
the world and her journals and sketchbooks, filled with luscious, shimmering
pages, are treasured expressions of her endless adventures and experiences.

GINA ROSSI ARMFIELD

Gina Rossi Armfield is a painter and
photographer whose greatest loves have always been family, animals, b/w
photography and painting. Gina received her degrees in Fine Art and Education
from CSUN. She resides with her husband, two sons, and many furry critters in
Southern California.

JENICA
McKENZIE

Jenica McKenzie is first and foremost a woman, a
creator of life and beauty, a mama to 4 littler ones, a wife, a partner,
a companion. She resides in Utah and never ceases to be amazed by the beauty
around her. Things that make her heart sing include: paint, paper, glue, canvas,
the whir of a camera clicking a moment of life into eternity, hammocks,
trampolines, sprinklers, morning light streaming through blinds, voice,
connection, laughter, spirit, guts, yoga, breath, movement, dance, and bringing
life into this world. She is the creator of Random Art Workshops, a grassroots
movement to bring the power of creativity into your own hands with monthly
meetups; a chance to get brave among friends.

JULIE FEI-FAN BALZER

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a self-taught mixed
media collage artist and avid scrapbooker. She has been making art for as long
as she can remember and loves the process of creating. “I believe that mistakes
are creative opportunities and hold fast to the notion that enjoyment of the
process is just as important as the finished product! I like to think outside of
the box — experimenting with paper, paint, and fabric— always trying to find a
way to push my supplies further and see all the possibilities.”

Julie has been published in many magazines
including Cloth Paper Scissors, Quilting Arts, Creating Keepsakes, Better Homes
& Gardens’ Scrapbooks Etc., Memory Makers, Scrapbook Trends, Somerset
Memories, Somerset Digital, scrapbooking m.m. (Sweden), Scrapbooking &
Beyond, Simple Scrapbooks, Histories de Pages (France), books by Leisure Arts,
F&W Publications, and Quarry (upcoming), as well as multiple e-zines. Julie
is currently the co-host of Scrapbook Soup TV (PBS) and has appeared several
times on Quilting Arts TV (PBS) and hosted the “Artist to Artist” segment on
Scrapbook Memories TV (PBS).  She will also be appearing on the upcoming season
of Crafting at The Spotted Canary (PBS).  Julie’s hour long instructional DVD
“Collage Fast &; Furious” was released in July 2010 by Interweave.  She will
have two more hour long instructional DVDs released by Interweave in 2012.

Julie and her husband live in a tiny apartment
with a big art studio in the middle of New York City.

KARIN BARTIMOLE

I have always thought of myself as an
artist, beginning early as a child. My formal training was completed in 1985
when I graduated cum laude from Kent State University, with a Bachelor of Fine
Arts degree. Upon graduation I began my career as an exhibiting artist,

working primarily as a wood and fiber sculptor. The work I did was very labor
intensive, detailed, and painstaking, and it began to take a great toll on my
body. I scaled back, shifted gears, changed materials, techniques, but pain
progressed, fatigue increased, and I began losing my hair. Obviously, this
wasn’t about my materials! Eventually I was diagnosed with Lupus. As an artist,
my body is my most important tool; my hands my most appreciated friends, and I
felt I was losing everything. Betrayed by my body, I was in fear of being
stripped of my passion and my ability to create. Instead, I began to use these
symptoms and sensations as guides and as another set of tools. My body has been
my inspiration, my challenge, my frustration, my obsession! And with each new
challenge, I readjust to accommodate and follow where it leads me. I continue to
work with the symptoms of Lupus, have overcome three back surgeries, breast
cancer, and a few hand surgeries, as well as emotional traumas that needed
releasing and processing through the creation of art. To me, art is healing; the
process of creating heals.

KATHRYN ANTYR

Kathryn Antyr (also known as the Collage Diva)
is an artist, educator, and web professional whose work focuses on the
expressive and contemplative arts. Kathryn explores her inner landscape of ideas
and feelings using collage, mixed media painting, photography, and creative
journal keeping. She founded True North Arts to share her creativity and guide
others on a journey of the heart. Kathryn’s workshops are designed to awaken
your spirit, inspire you to play, and offer you an opportunity to look within to
discover your true self and true path.

KELLY
BARTON

Kelly Barton is a mixed media artist and graphic
designer who brings sass to her home base of middle Indiana. Most days you will
find her in the studio with music playing and colors flying. She is inspired by
the inner-workings of a girl’s nutty mind and believes that growing up girl is
enough inspiration for any artist. Kelly’s creations can bring out the joyful
rebel in any person or space. Kelly created Kelly Barton Art +Design to remind
people that we’re all connected, and because she believes we all need a bit of
happy.

KEN
ROBERT

Ken Robert is the creator of MildlyCreative.com
where he writes about lessons learned from his own creative journey.  He writes
poetry, draws black ink portraits, has recently taken up photography, and is
never quite sure where he’s going to wind up next.

MARTHA LEVER

My name is Martha Lever and I am a
calligrapher, letter designer, painter and mixed-media artist. I love it all!! I
really do. If I am not creating something, my hands get very restless and I
start to sweat and foam at the mouth. Yes, I am addicted to creating art! I have
a degree in education and I have always loved to teach. I love to show people
whether children or “adult children” how to create things whether it’s
calligraphy, watercolor or acrylics.

Ok, so just a bit more about me, I
am a southern girl from Georgia but I live in the sunny state of Florida. I have
a wonderful hubby and a precious Corgi named Bucky. If you take any of my online
classes you will always hear him bark. I also have two children and two
grandchildren. I also have a studio called the Red Door Art Studio that is a
1922 bungalow where I create until my heart’s content. It’s my own grown up
playhouse. I started my art journey 30 years ago with my first calligraphy class
and never stopped creating art and never plan to stop unless, of course,
something stops me. But like Scarlet, I’ll think about that
tomorrow.

NOLWENN
PETITBOIS

I am a self-taught Mixed Media artist. I came
to Mixed Media because I could not decide on only one medium to use for what I
create and it makes me feel more free to experience whatever my heart feels
called to.

My artwork usually represents powerful
whimsical women (my Nixies) who have a strong positive message to deliver to the
Universe, to you. I believe in the power of Positive Affirmations and of
Gratitude, that both guide me all along in my creative process.  I guess I am an
eternal learner, I love to unravel new ways to make my path lighter and
stronger. Healing is a huge part of my life, I am now also a Practical Reiki
Master and I noticed how it shifted the way I do my paintings and my
journaling.

But before discovering this, I started with Art
Journaling. This is where my Soul soars and lets go of everything and anything.
This is how I heal. This is where my Nixies were born at first… My Art Journal
is the only place I feel safe to tell my Story the way I want, with words, with
images, combined or not. My Art Journal is my sacred temple.

TRACI BUNKERS

Traci Bunkers, author of “The Art Journal
Workshop” and “Print & Stamp Lab,” is a passionate mixed-media & fiber
artist who loves rusty things, glitter glue, old books to cut up and cheap
cameras. Since making her own books and art journaling have been a long time
passion of hers, she always feels better after getting her art on by slapping
some paint down and working in her journal. Through her one-woman business
Bonkers Handmade Originals, she sells her nifty creations such as hand-dyed
spinning fibers and yarns, original rubber stamps, handmade books, kits and
original artwork. She has been teaching workshops across the US since the early
90s and has branched out into online workshops.

TRACIE HANSON

I’m a transplanted Texan, now living in sunny
Southern California.  (I regret losing my southern drawl – it used to get me so
much attention.)

I’ve taken the long route to becoming an artist
– stints in archaeology, geology, banking, gallery co-owning, television
advertising and real estate make me either a person of varied interests …. or
one lacking in focus and direction. I prefer to think I’m “colorful” and
“well-rounded”!

I’m married to the long awaited love of my
life, Derek, and we share our lives with his two growing “artful goddesses” and
a dog named “Flea”. They are all teaching me much about art making and living
juicy!

ZOM
OSBORNE

Zom Osborne is a traditionally trained fine
artist. She works mainly in oils and drawing, although she has also used
watercolours, coloured pencil, pastel, acrylics and various mixed media. Zom is
an experienced teacher. Most recently she has been leading workshops in
creativity, and has had an ongoing weekly art journaling class for the past 3
years.

“I tell my students that I am an artist who
teaches, rather than a teacher who creates art. This is so they won’t have
expectations that I know the ‘right’ way and am going to tell them how to do
things. We are on an exploration of creativity together. I may have a little
more experience in the journey but we are going somewhere new.”

Is this not absolutely AWESOME???!!

I sold my dear Eulalie McKechnie Shinn to help with my son-in-love’s Legal Defense Fund. I am still thinking that bake sales may be the way to go. . .

We now have 3 drivers and 2 vehicles on our insurance. And we still have Roadside Assistance and a marvelous agent. We’re in good hands. . .

I turn 60 next week. I am taking it hard, especially because I’ve been having a rough time with my hip, suddenly. Somewhat better now. At any rate, I bought an 8×8 Theresa Collins Notations album to document my year, along with Gina Armfield’s No More Excuses journal class. If I would just bite the bullet and get a smart phone, so I can do instagram and hipstamatic, I’d be 2 kewl. However, I cannot justify the money. But, my poor little pink Nokia is held together by washi tape and prayer, so I am thinking I will be making a change in the new year. I have AT&T, so, it’s pricey.

Been trying to get thru the DVR. New shows from this season I’m loving: Unforgettable, Person of Interest and A Gifted Man. DH, DD24 and DD29 make a point to watch Once Upon a Time together. (It is so nice to see more of DD29, since she and her sister now work together at Wal-Mart.)

All of the kittehs are well, as is the grandpewpie. OK, if you don’t ‘get it’, say ‘grand’ ‘pew’ ‘pee’. Now do you get it? Well, we think it’s funny. . .

Nifty is offering a Moleskine ruled notebook as a prize. Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/uV9DKV!

There is a petition prepared for people to sign, asking that pets have GPS-enabled collars, harnesses or leg bands if they fly on commercial planes. Did you know that in 2010 alone, 39 pets died and 5 were “lost” (presumably FOREVER!!), who were to be transported by commercial airlines? It is one thing I can help with, so that Jack will not have died in vain. http://www.change.org/petitions/create-jack-the-cats-law

I am not abandoning this blog, or my art, but I am trying to figure out what self-care means, if it isn’t eating an entire carrot cake. Please pray. God bless you all.