Winter Inspiration

On a very cold morning I sat in a coffee shop and watched cars driving carefully while the snow continued to fall. My car guys repaired an unfortunate meeting of the under-bumper of my car with a very big chunk of ice in a parking spot on the north side. This happened to my husband, Rich, while I was at a Mindfulness & Miracles Retreat at The Center last weekend.
While he was driving on Lake Shore Drive, I was eating breakfast in silence after taking 15 minutes to mindfully enjoy eating a single grape. While he ate breakfast with our daughter and went to his class at Lillstreet, I followed deer tracks in the snowy woods and walked the labyrinth for a second time. First time was by candlelight, second in the fresh, bright daylight.
I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to slow down and focus on the tiny miracles that surround us every day. I'm sure my meditations from the labyrinth will appear in the artwork I do this year.

Holiday Art Shows

Some of my framed art work joined that of other Chicagoland artists in "Art for the Hungry," an art show at Jacob's Well in Evergreen Park, from November 14-16. A portion of the proceeds from the entrance fees helped support the local food pantry.
The Center's Christmas Art Show and Sale was November 16. I joined the talented and creative art instructors from The Center to display and sell my cards and mounted and framed artwork.
McCord Gallery in Palos Park accepted my work in their juried show from November 22 - December 27, where over a dozen of my pieces sold.

A November Demonstration

Little Company of Mary Hospital hosts the CHEER program to support and encourage patients and families who are living with difficult diagnoses. I met with them on November 12, demonstrated the papermaking process and showed some of my framed art work. The people attending then made their own unique bookmarks out of recycled pulp, adding pressed flower petals from my garden.