Brrrrr~ Staying in, finishing old sketches and beginning a great new project

WOW!!! What a frigid start to the year here in western North Carolina.  We were are 6º  this morning with a wind chill below 0º... definitely NOT the norm for us!   Late yesterday afternoon, I donned all my warm gear and filled up the feeders for my birdie friends.  This morning, they were right there to eat a hearty breakfast on this super-cold morning.

Since it is so very cold outside, I have stayed in quite a bit... enjoying finishing up some sketches celebrating the Christmas season.

Christy Tomlinson inspired me to create this little JOY watercolor...

a fun star-shape sprig and quote...

A dreamy window view of a snowy scene...

"Keep a green tree in your heart... and perhaps a singing bird will come..."... and indeed he did!!!

Ole Buttons LOVES to spend time snoozing on my bed... when the sun spills in through the windows...especially on these chilly days...

I do plan to keep on sketching these winter scenes and messages... They warm and fill my heart during these often bleak, short days.

My new project, one that I am LOVING, is documenting my life on a daily basis, whenever possible.   It gets the creative juices flowing and is a fun thing to look back on as the year progresses. It's a great way for me to stay organized and use up some of my stash of paper goodies such as tabs, washi tape, tags and other fun stuff!!!

Mine is beginning to take shape...

Making fold-out additions to the planner... I just LOVE the unexpected additions to my book... the "surprises"...  I found this quote and thought it was such fun...

In the first week, we are sharing my "front door"... to welcome in the new year and all that it represents to us... in my heart.

I am "at home" with my creative energy and how it inspires and lifts me every day of the year.  I am so blessed to have time and space to express my creativity.  Wherever you are in your life, it is  my wish that you can love your life and find some moments every day to savor the sweetest and best moments.  

Stay safe and warm...   sending some frosty snuggles from my buddy Buttons..

xoxox

Happy 2014!!!

Where in the world did 2013 go??? The days seemed to whirl by for me... and here we are in 2014.  It's frigid here today, and the forecast for the next week is much of the same.  No snow on the ground, but some mighty cold doggie walks several times a day.

I'm trying to get all the glitter, paint and glue put away in my art space.  It was the most fun ever to glitter and glitz everything that would stand still!!!  One of my creations for the past holiday season was a glitter globe... loads of fun to make and give away...

From dearest Junelle, I got the bug to paint these FUN FUN FUN blocks... with gingerbread houses or reindeer.  These are the BEST, because they are made from scrap lumber (It feels great to re-purpose!)

With a recipe for some "real" gingerbread included...

... a snow-covered "Charlie Brown-type" tree...

some gum drops... YUM!!!

Since the gift-making and giving is over for now, the art studio is getting a bit more orderly... or at least for a few days...

I am excitedly starting a new year-long project this week... I am cutting, taping... and about to begin "gessoing" my 2014 Moleskine planner... as a part of the Documented Life Project... (more on that in a later post).  I am loving this project... my buddy Tonya and I have been talking, planning and swooning over all the possibilities...

This is another little canvas creature I painted a few days ago.  He's dressed for the cold winter days... and giving a sweet, uplifting message for these "new year" days...

"live free"