Click here for a Creative video by my son Cory Bigham from my latest art show

Integrity will protect you

Finishing up a couple 30x30 paintings today! It's been an interesting process....layers upon layers upon layers of acrylic not knowing what the final outcome will be. It's a process that I'm learning from Flora Bowley through an e-course....Brave Intuitive You.

The painting below, "Inspiration Within Gives Strength", makes me think of all that is going on creatively inside each of us, giving us wings of bravery. She may be going through struggles on the outside but will decide to choose fearlessness and not let anything hold her down. Her special creativity has been given to her by the Creator Himself and she will let that give her strength.

Below is the same painting before adding the last few layers. I have no idea how it got from there to where it ended. It just evolved itself .

This next painting, "Carry Beauty Through it All", also deals with bravery and struggles. The Bible verse from Psalms 25:21...."May integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope is in you" repeatedly ran through my mind as this painting was emerging. The beautiful bird, carrying burdens, soars with her head held high and wings flying strong through troubles maintaining integrity trusting a promise.

Below, the same painting before it decided to 'fly'.

I have a very good friend who is going through extraordinary struggles right now. These paintings are dedicated to her. May you trust, remain faithful, courageous, and strong.

New, Unique, Adventure!! Art By Murder....

I've been so quiet over here because there has been a murder to solve! Please check out Art By Murder at www.artbymurderevent.com to get a better idea of what is consuming all my time.

The eyes of a child

It's Spring Break!! A great reminder to notice all things new around us. The new green, the flowers blooming, trees budding. Fresh and new....

We were reminded this week, as we had the special privilege of having our grandson stay with us, how special every moment is through the eyes of a child. They don't take anything for granted. Everything is fresh and new!

Seeing and riding on an airplane.....

Loading his pickup truck with playdoh.....

and loving every minute outside!!

What a joy to watch!!

heARTs + cLOVER

My little gray cells are working overtime here. An idea has formed somewhere in there and is bursting to get out! Hours have been spent researching, planning, meeting, and visualizing to complete the total package. It will match perfectly with my 'WHY' (providing fun and adventure while expressing and radiating encouraging inspiration). I am alllll....mo....st ready to share it. Just a little more finalizing and officializing to go. And to add to the great excitement, I have found the perfect 'WHO' with whom to collaborate. News coming soon!

With all the super duper concentration, I decided to get outside for some fresh air and a walk through our little nature trail in the neighborhood. I discovered I was absolutely surrounded by love. Hearts were everywhere I looked!!

Big green hearts......

Pretty yellow hearts.....

And then I started noticing the clover. The color was so fresh and green.

It looked soft and cool. I just stopped and really looked and realized.....

Each clover is a grouping of 3 hearts tied together. HE must have put millions of hearts there for me to see and feel loved at that moment. It was then that I realized I was on a very special walk....a heARTs + cLOVER walk.

I will be going on many heARTs + cLOVER walks from now on.

And the greatest of these is love.

Chips and business = thriving culture

How? How do you want to be perceived in business?

I want to be perceived like CHIPS!!

The culture of your business is where all the pieces of the puzzle come together. I know my mission...

WHY I want to do what I do... To freely & independently provide for fun adventures while expressing and radiating encouraging inspiration.

I know WHO I would prefer to work with...my peeps. Those willing to grow, be positive, try something new, with a good sense of humor, respect, and encouragement for others.

And I know WHAT I want my product to be...original artwork, prints, and maybe a few surprises in the wings.

Now it's time to decide HOW I want the culture of my business to be perceived.

• How do I want those I work with to feel?
• How do I want my customers to feel?
• What are important values to me?

I've decided I would be best represented in "itty bitty" CHIPS.

"Creativity"-always looking for innovative ways to interpret ideas

"Hospitality"-going the extra mile to make someone feel special

"Integrity"-honesty, truth, trust

"Positivity"-a smile, an encouraging word, being a friend

"Servility"-humbleness, serving one another, giving attitudes

Next it's time to get going...take action....learn how to commit, communicate, market ideas, and flourish! I think I can....I think I can....I think I can......

Surrounded by peeps of like mind

When you are surrounded by people who have the same values as you do, it is such a secure feeling. Trusting those around you to know you and like you for who you are speaks volumes. It allows us to be real. Pouring energy into and receiving energy from people who want to do better everyday is rejuvenating. We all have our down days too which is all the more reason to be surrounded by people who you trust to pick you back up, and set you on your way again.

This illustrates who "My Peeps" are in my life and those who will be in the future. I want to be these same things for my peeps as they are for me. It's not always easy but strength in numbers proves true when one is weak, the others are strong and won't leave anyone behind.

I am so blessed to have a family who cares so deeply for one another and believes in each other.

I have a wealth of those around me who are creative thinkers and are ready to take it to the next level.

One of the things I love most about my hubby is that he loves to go and do. That's our hobby....seeking out things to see....creating our own adventures.

I am really trying to be conscious about being these things and more for those around me.

I love you, my peeps!!

Soaking it in like a sponge....not!

They say the mind is like a sponge....ready to soak up knowledge and information. Absorbing little bits here and there. Always hungry for more.

I am in the middle of learning so much new information and trying to dream big and play the 'what if' game and making lists of ideas no matter how crazy and looking for ideas that haven't been thought of that.....

I feel my mind is as slick as a rock. My sponge is full. I need time to absorb all these great new thoughts. I know why I do what I do, I know who I want to serve and work with but I haven't yet figured out completely with what or how! Original paintings are in there somewhere but I want to do more with them....somehow incorporating them into a bigger picture. Lots of abstract thinking going on right now and I'm just waiting for the light to come on, the information to make me say 'ah-ha, I've got it'. And when that happens, the rock breaks open....

and reveals treasures waiting to be shared in the world. Treasures that will make a difference and radiate encouragement and inspiration.

Brave Girls Club

Everyone should know about Brave Girls Club by developer Melody Ross. She is an incredibly gifted entrepreneur who, out of her own need, began a business/movement that is helping women all over the world. Just spending time on the website is inspiring. The letter above is today's daily truth written by Melody. Read. Be inspired.

Who do I want in my Who-Ville?

HSHB is encouraging us to choose those around us carefully. Who do we want working with us.....from our customers, to co-workers, to our team such as accountant, lawyer, supplier, marketer, etc.

It is of vital importance that we choose those people who have the same values. Would I want to sit down and have a meal with them....do I like them? Protecting who I am surrounded by will play a major role in the success of a business. This is just as important in our personal lives. It is so much more uplifting to be surrounded by positive, uplifting people who want to enjoy life than......

grinchy, negative people who steal the energy out of the room the moment they enter!

So who will make my light shine the brightest??? I want to be careful to be the kind of person for them that I want them to be for me. Knowing the type of people I am looking for ahead of time will help when the time comes and my business is ready for those steps.

Thanks, Dr. Seuss, for a little visual imagery.

Knitting a detour

This program has been temporarily interrupted due to the fact that.....I think I just learned to knit!! I made this scarf! I love this scarf! My sister-in-law taught me and I actually finished it and love it and will wear it! I can't wait to make some more.

The colors show more true in this picture. It's so light, lacy and frilly. I went to www.yarn.com today to order some more. I hope it comes in soon before I forget what I learned!

Okay, back to my regularly scheduled program.

HSHB is going well....just deep soul searching right now which is challenging for a shallow soul like me! Will share more later.....when I discover what's hidden way down in there.

Where's the Soul?

"Stand Tall. Stand Strong." (24x48)

I am on a mission looking for the Soul of my business. Passion and why we do what we do are two different things. Passion = the WHAT (my art) Why = the reason I am passionate about my art. Passion alone is not enough to fuel a business.....it goes deeper.

Through a series of exercises we were asked in Hello Soul Hello Business to list the common words that kept popping up. Oddly enough, my most common words were: independent, adventurous, free, fun. I know....kinda shallow..... but FUN!! Right now it adds up to this statement for why I am passionate about having an art business:

"To freely and independently provide for fun adventures while fulfilling a need to express and radiate encouraging inspiration to others."

How awesome it is to use art as an avenue to create a positive feeling in someone else!

Digging Deep

During the course of Hello Soul Hello Business, we will hear various conversations with leading entrepreneurs. They will provide us valuable insight and advice, as well as cause us to think about our own business in a new way. Today to prepare for that, we are asked 10 questions.....revealing questions. The questions are designed to 'dig deep' and get to know ourselves as a business owner. This is the soul part of the class. We are uncovering layers all the way to the heart. No hiding here. Exposure is absolutely necessary to continue.

I still haven't completed all 10 questions but question #1 sets the stage. I am so glad to know that we have two teachers who aren't afraid of getting to the heart of things and encouraging those taking their course to do so as well.

My answer to question #1:

1. What do you believe in?

First and foremost, Jesus. I can't separate that belief from myself and my business. That is who I am. That is Who has given me talent. That is Who gives me strength. That is Who I want guiding my life. I believe in using my talents in a way to make people feel better. I believe in encouraging and lifting each other up. I believe that we all play an important role and that our choices directly effect someone else whether we realize it or not.

Kind of unexpected for a business course, right?! We are encouraged to share our answers with our classmates who happen to spread out over 18 countries in the world. I'm really interested in what the others are brave enough to share.

Hello Soul, Hello Business!!

It's here! A business class I have been waiting for....combining creativity with practical business. Hello Soul, Hello Business by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls is a 9 week course that I can't wait to dive into with both feet. As we begin, we are looking at our creative business as a living, breathing thing. We are digging deep to uncover the WHY it is what we are doing so that will sustain us through the times of low inspiration and frustrating times a business goes through. If we don't discover the true meaning of "WHY" then the so called passion will fade and the business will die.

I am remembering my initial mission statement:

• To evoke a feeling
• Trigger a memory
• Start a conversation
• Create a meaning behind each original piece of art

I want to 'pay it forward' and allow my work to be an encouraging avenue to create a positive feeling in someone else. It's the butterfly effect - everyone makes a difference to someone. I think this 'WHY' ties in to my love of teaching and why I went into education. I want to help others in a positive way, to make an impact in their lives. It's relational. It's lasting. It matters.

Art Exhibit + Ribbons = $$$

I won some real US dollars! We had an art show this past weekend. I entered 3 ink paintings and the judge liked one enough to award $$ to it!! Very cool indeed. These are my first ribbons. ........I kinda like it!

Happy Merry New Year 2012! + new word

Happy New Year, 2012!! Long time no blog......and here's why.....

So proud of our son-in-law....a college graduate!

A very cool coaches party at our house with a few twists and turns. They filled out a menu for a three course meal with all items disguised under another name (icicle point=knife, Santa's sleigh=twice baked potato, etc.) Not knowing what they might receive for each course, they were good sports!

The basketball team played 17 games in the month of December.....whew! Only 3 of those were in town. Lots of travel! But.....they won 15 of those!!! Go Tigers! District gets underway for the month of January.

Christmas in Amarillo and Houston. Awesome time with family. Love. Love. Love.

Worked in a little ink painting with my sister, mother, and cousin.

Our family Christmas picture. Cheese!

Of course, the center of attention at all times........grandbaby! So adorable.

My new word for the year is ACTIVE. Last year it was Seek. I really enjoyed having a word to focus on so I'm doing it again.

Active: 1. engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits

2. (of a person's mind or imagination) alert and lively

3. doing things for an organization, cause, or campaign, rather thansimply giving it one's support

Actively pursue the use of my time in the best way possible.

I have just registered for two classes that I am very excited about that should help me focus on my new word. First: Hello Soul, Hello Business by Beth Nichols and Kelly Rae Roberts and

Second: Bloom True by Flora Bowley.

So looking forward to both of these starting in just a few weeks!!

Am I the last one to discover this????

Am I really the last one to discover the fabulous social bulletin board Pinterest??? Their website describes it as a virtual pinboard — a place to catalog and share the things you love. Pin anything that catches your eye.

This is a screen shot of what I have started pinning to my board.

It's amazing what you can learn! Tutorials and ideas are everywhere!!

This is my favorite....a great way to tie a scarf so it's not so bulky. A lifechanger!!!

Style ideas...

Tons of great recipe and presentation ideas for your family and company....

Another one of my favorites! This blog has so many tutorials for how to fix your hair in cute ways.

Organizing tips....

and so much more art, entertainment, travel, you name it. A fun thing to explore while waiting on paint to dry!!