Turning Your Home Over to Autumn...

I LOVE Autumn. The sun is at a low pitch in the sky and the light seems to sparkle through the windows as it reaches deeper into our homes. It always reminds me that winter is not far behind. Autumn is a fleeting season filled with magical colored leaves that are jewel-like and create a perfect contrast to the extra blue Autumn sky backdrop.


Driving past all of the garden centers and farm stands filled to full with Chrysanthemum's, Pumpkins, Gourds and various varieties of Squash and other bounties of the season always inspires me. This time of year I turn my spaces over to Autumn and create still-life's reflecting the magic of the season.
After the first hard frost it is always fun to go out into the woods and abandoned fields and collect Bittersweet vines, Acorns and Moss. I love to make Bittersweet wreaths and fill little silver bowls with Acorns lying majestically on a soft bed of Moss. The next major holiday is more than a month away and it has to do with Candy, Witches, Costumes and Pumpkins turned into Jack o' Lanterns. Embracing the next 30 days that embody the alchemy of the season is a tradition I re-visit year after year, it feeds my spirit.
Inside our homes it is time to get out our comfy throws, and deep jewel colored table linens, and warm throw rugs. Decorating by the season keeps me in touch with the inevitable cycle of the Earth it is true alchemy. If you have not embraced seasonal decorating yet, give it a whirl and see if you don't feel the magic. I always do and that explains the perpetual smile on my face!

The Baroness of Art Revisited...

Nancy Barron is an artist who works in many mediums. Whether she is painting a still life devoted to nature or the human figure she does it with energy and panache. Nancy is the Assistant Director for the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell, Maine. She revels in the daily challenges of working with other Artist's and people who buy the Art. She has a sunny can do personality and enough energy at the end of the day to come home and nurture her school age twins, teenage daughter and darling husband. She makes her home on the shores of the Kennebec River. Nancy is an Artist who embraces the seasons and interjects her art with the colors of the natural world that surround her home. This time of year her Hydrangeas are in full regalia I wonder when she will start creating her Autumn series. Hmmmm.
Nancy can be seen in person at the Harlow Gallery most any day and her work can be viewed in three different adjacent towns.Keep up the inspired work Nancy.You can drop her an email for more info,
or to read more...

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Is Your Glass Half Full?

Happiness lies within all of us. Is your glass half full? Did life turn out the way you had expected? Has your adventure in living been passionate, fun and delightful?
I have been asking myself these questions most of my life only to make sure I am living up to the mantra of “quality of life”.
The other day I was talking to my mother about a friend who has been going through some tough times lately. She listened and after a few moments she said “you know your life is not easy and is full of challenges”. I laughed and thought about it. I never looked at my life situation as hard or unpleasant. I have spent years living in the world of possibilities and beauty.
My mothers statement made me think hard about what was really happening in my life. I let these thoughts roll around in my brain for a few days. I have always chosen to find the good in a situation, the beauty and the bright side. It has been said that my achilles' heel is being too optimistic. However I do not believe this can be so, I think it is a choice to live a vibrant and positive lifestyle.
I have always viewed things as they are. My personal philosophy is that everything in life is a lesson. I have always taken the opportunity to learn, grow and nourish my soul, my thoughts and my personal being.

I have had the luxury in the past several months to take the time to think honestly and contemplate my past, present and my future. It is a lot of hard work. I have been delighted, uncomfortable, happy, sad, regretful and even remorseful. I think life is best lived in the present with an eye towards the future. Think about this if we drove our cars only looking and obsessing about the rearview mirror it would be impossible not to crash the car. Life is like driving that imaginary car, a cautionary look once in a while is the best policy. Keeping your eye on the road not yet traveled is the key.

I encourage you to stop even if for only a moment. Take a breath. Take the time to contemplate the tender blessings in your life you have many more than you think. The most important thing to realize is your own ability to create a life that makes you happy. You see if you are happy everyone around you is suseptible to your mood and outlook that happiness brings. Living in possibilities, trust and the present is a gift we can only give to ourselves. There is no better time to start than now, your present becomes your past minute by minute. Make each moment count and tell those people you love that you love them. Make it a point to be kind to a stranger, understanding of your family, helpful to your co-workers. Try to be caring and sensitive to the world around you.
You do make a difference, we all do.
After all these years my glass is still half full and my life is filled with beauty.
I am blessed.

Home Is Where The ART Is...

Pam Fawcett is a very talented artist who now lives in Charlotte N.C. I met her through an "Arty Group" of women. She is fun, delightful and so well versed in many different mediums. I was treated to a tour of her home and studio and was absolutely inspired by her fearless artistic approach. She attends many workshops and applies the knowledge she has picked


up along the way to create magical mixed media canvases and "found object" sculptural pieces.
Her home is filled with her own Art as well as a few other well placed pieces by other Artist's who are her friends or whom she admires. The actual style of her home is eclectic and lovely. The colors are bold and neutral and the furnishings are comfy and inviting. The overall atmosphere is a truly creative and inspiring one. Pam is an artist who loves actually doing all kinds of Art following whatever her inspiration may be on any given day.
Pam I look forward to hanging out in your studio again, soon. You inspire me.


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