The Blackberry Briar

A New Doll

It has been a LONG time....I haven't felt so excited about releasing a new doll in a

very long time.  It feels really great to have found the time to create. 

I have to admit in the daily hustle and bustle that is hard to carve out the time to

sit in my studio. 

Most of you who have been reading my blog, know that this year I have been

committed to a work out program.  I have felt a strong need to have physical exercise in my life

for a variety of reasons.

To fulfill my need, I have been consistent with my routine each and every day. 

As a result, I have achieved success.   A total loss now of 12 pounds and 14+ inches.

This success may be small to some, but to me it is proof

that I can do anything I put my mind to.

Has it been easy?  Well, nothing really is.  I have just committed and made it

part of my day.  It was hard to get into the routine, but I am determined, not to mention hard headed and stubborn, but that is a whole different subject.  :0)

I have also learned so much about myself these past few months of 2011 through my

Soul Restoration online class that I took.  I highly recommend this class to

everyone!  It is eye opening and soul touching.

Anyhow, I have learned that along with the physical exercise, I need Creative

Exercise each and everyday. 

When I create, I am able to retreat to magical place.  It is where

my soul sings.  My heart comes alive. 

When I don't create, often times I become frustrated.

So, as I have committed to the physcial I will be committing

to the Creative Process in my life.

I have gone off subject a bit so thanks for sticking with me.

Back to the New Doll.   She is named Alice and she has a Bunny Friend.

Alice is Available at the Brand New Website devoted to just DOLLs!!!  It is heavenly.

Please stop by Doll Town when you get a chance.  You won't be disappointed.

Alice is available for Sale HERE.   

 

I will also have a couple more dolls for sale on the TDIPT Website March 1st.   Please join us in celebrating TDIPT's 4th Birthday!

 

Nature

This is a poem written by my 9 year old Daughter, Charlotte.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.  She amazes me everyday!

 

Nature

Nature is a soft

and delicate thing,

but watch out

nature can

be wild like

a party animal.

It can bite and

scratch and paw

at you.  Be

careful, I think

that's poison Ivy.

I'd love to stay

but I can't play.

I've got the measels

and the mumps.  So

I can't go to school.

You've caught me

now.  I've got

to run but watch

out there's a stinging

tongue.  I've come

to far.  I can't stop

now. Oh I guess you

caught me.  I give

up now.

 

Isn't she amazing!!!  SO PROUD!

Playtime!

I cannot believe it has been 10 days since my last post!   Goodness gracious, I tell you.  I had another sick baby home all last week!!  Please pray that my family remains healthy for the rest of this winter.  I can't handle anymore.....although I am going to be faced to handle more snow...We are expecting 3-5 inches this evening!!!  Uggghhhhh.

Today I had the privilege of having my amazing artist friend Mystele over to my home for a "playdate".  It was so inspiring and fun!!  We had girl talk and coffee with Banana Nut Muffins (fiber one for my diet) and we had PlayTIME in my studio!!!   Mystele and I have so much in common.   Our children are at the same stages/ages.  We both love to create and we totally "get" each other.  I adore Mystele's art and her style.  Check out her site and her You Tube Videos.  She is simply amazing and magical when she paints!

It took us a little while to decide what type of art we wanted to play around with.  In the end we chose collage.   Some of you know that I used to collage a lot.  It is something I miss and would like to get back into.   Here is a pic of the collage I made.  I just finished it up....

Anyhow, THANK YOU Mystele for such a lovely day!!!  I hope we can do it on a more regular basis!!!

For those of you waiting for my shoppe update...I am working as quickly as I can.  It will be soon!!!  Thank You so much for your patience!  Have a wonderful weekend.   I will be posting a poem that my sweet little daughter wrote.  She amazes me everyday!  You won't want to miss this poem!

Happy Valentines Day

Today is a Day that I am choosing to Count my Blessings.  (amongst all the craziness of life).  I am so blessed to be loved by my wonderful Husband and my two beautiful Children.  It is overwhelming when I just stop and treasure the feeling of it.   Instead of losing touch with the Love in between the hustle and bustle of life.    This way of consciousness is something I have been practicing hard at.  When time gets tough, when I am in a flurry of overwhelm.  I need to stop and take a moment and center my heart on beautiful treasures that mean the most in life. 

Wishing you all a Beautiful Day filled with Love!

Please enjoy 15% off TODAY ONLY when you place a candle order on my Website

Enter the Code valentine11

Trying to Dig Out!

Literally!!   OMG!!  Now I tell you I have lived in several different states where we used to get snow like this every week, but here in Illinois....this is rare!   You can see that the snow in front of our garage was piled SO HIGH!!!  OMG...My husband in the background is no small fry.  He is over 6 ft and could stand chest deep in that pile!

You can see the kids here.  BARELY...and they are having a blast!!!   Well they were.   Now we have gone into the sub zero arctic temps.   I tell you you -23 without a wind chill is just nuts!  

Needless to say I have HAD IT with WINteR!!  Go AWay...and as a matter of fact....don't come back another day!

The Puppy is getting big quick!  She is a little handful!  I have been busy trying to keep up with her and last weekend we had a real bad scare with our little Mini Dachshund, Harley.  We almost lost her.  She had a UTI but the meds they gave her really threw her for a loop.   I am so happy to say that she is back to her spunky little self.  14 1/2 and still acting like a puppy!

Well it is officially February, and I am declaring that I am DONE with sickness!  DONE with it.  I am welcoming healthy bodies and spirits and sunshiney days from here on out!  

Great news on my weight loss/ fitness journey!!  I am down 11 lbs and 13.75"!!!!  SO excited about that!!  So many have been wondering what I am doing!  So go here and look for yourselves!  If you are beginner though, I would highly recommend starting out with this.

I started out using the Turbo Jam and then upgraded to Turbo Fire.  Both are amazing.  If you want to order them, go to my Coaches Page and show her some love so she will get credit for the sale and she is an amazing woman who can help you attain your fitness goals!  She is an amazing woman and Mom who understands all the Mom junk that can change us as women and somehow make us lose ourselves.  She has a new book out that she co-wrote.  You can buy it on Amazon.  It is amazing.

I want to extend a special Thank You to Jen at Earth Angels!    She did an amazing Blog Write up about my Candles!!!  She is so super sweet and I am over the top Grateful and Honored!!   Check out the Blog Post.    Also be sure to shop Jen's Earth Angels Toys Website!  Some of the most talented Folk Artists and Friends are a part of this amazing site!  You will drool for hours at the art offered here!

On the art front for me...well I haven't had much time lately.  BUT I did manage to finish up this new little design!  My first doggie sculpt ever.  She and 2 others will be available for sale soon on Etsy!  I will announce the shop update just as soon as I can get into the groove to finish up the other two which are really close.  I am shooting for this Sunday the 13th.  Keep an eye out on my blog because I will be announcing.  If you would like to be the first to know, email me to be added to my mailing list.   theblackberrybriar@gmail.com 

Also, don't forget to order your candles!  They can be an amazing mood lifter on these cold dreary days!   I have some amazing spring/clean scents available! They are available anytime on my WEBSITE.

Please note that I am working on the shopping cart as well.  You DO NOT NEED a Paypal Account to order and pay with a credit card.  There is an option to enter any credit card below the sign in section for paypal account users.

Hope you are gearing up for a lovely weekend!  I am planning on relaxing with my family and staying warm with some comfort food. 

 

New Puppy

Well, the kids are finally all feeling better....but now I have a nasty head cold.   It is better than the flu though...still able to function and excercise!!!

It was an exciting weekend for our family.  We added a new pet baby to our house.   The kids along with Jamie and I all fell head over heals for her.   We adopted her from the humane society locally.  She was transferred here out of Oklahoma.   Her Momma is a German Shorthair Pointer and her Daddy is a Springer Spaniel.  (I used to have a springer spaniel when I was a girl and she was my best friend)    We have named her Fenway or should I say Daddy named her Fenway.  :0)  Can you guess which team he cheers on?  Here are a few pics of the kiddos loving her up!!!  

She is the sweetest little gal you ever met.  Wants to be held and cuddled all day....We are in the process of crate training and potty training.  

On the Art front I hope to have some new things finished up soon.  It seems like I can't catch my breath lately and find the time I need to get things moving....It is a goal of mine to be better at that.  I hope to announce a few new items for sale tomorrow on the TDIPT Mercantile.

Winter Blues

Hello Friends.   It has been an interesting year so far.  Our family seems to be feeling icky more this year than in the previous.   It seems like my daughter just got over being sick for 2 weeks and now the Flu has hit both of the kids.  Yuck.  Praying that they are better soon and that Jamie and I don't get the bug...

A Friend of Mine   post the following status on her facebook yesterday........Did you know that Yesterday (monday, jan 24) was calculated the most depressing day of the year?   They say it is a combo of of the weather, new years resolutions failing and wintertime yuckies.  I think we are all ready for spring.  I know I am for sure!

I have been attending to the kids and trying to keep up with my resolutions.  Which I don't feel I have failed at and don't want to go down that road.  I have also been really inspired by a new Blog that another one of my friends introduced me to.   I am especially loving her post from today which describes exactly how I have been feeling trying to juggle being a  Mom, Artist  and a really big Dreamer.    Hope all you other Moms can relate and enjoy her post as much as I did.  I really love her Spirit and her art as well.

I have been in and out of the studio, but nothing truly committed with all this sickness flying around.   I am feeling the need to go down for a day or two and hang out with my paints and brushes....and my clay.   I have been having creative visions of new things I want to bring to life.   The above painting was one I finished last weekend.  It is done in acrylics and sealed with beeswax.  It is pretty small....i think it measures about 5x7...maybe smaller.  It was fun to work a little smaller and finish up a painting in a weekend.

Hope you are all remaining true to your Dreams and Resolutions AND keeping healthy.   I will be sharing more with you soon.

 

2011

(This is the Cover of my Journal for Soul Restoration Brave Girls Club)

This 2011 year is already going by very quick!   My sweet little girl is FINALLY feeling better and for this I am thankful!   I hope to return to regular blogging from this point on.   I am however exremely thankful that I can be home with my children through the times when they need me most. 

Thank You SO MUCH to all who entered my giveaway with such wonderful new years resolutions and goals.  It was so uplifting to read them all.   

My 2011 Word for the Year is BELIEVE.    I chose this word for so many reasons that are personal and close to my heart.   I am tired of struggling and wish to move forward in the confidence department.   I need to believe that I am Loved and that I am blessed with a Gift from God to Create.  With that said, it is a goal of mine to bring 2011 and my Art / Candles to a whole new level.  I BELIEVE in my heart that this is going to happen and I am trusting God because I know he is the only way to achieve this.  It is kind of fun sitting in the passenger seat and I am going to start enjoying my ride!

I also have a goal to be more fit this year.   A couple years back some of you may remember that I started doing the P90x workout.  It worked so well and then I went on vacation and fell off the ladder for about a year and I've recently found my way back to tight fitting pants and feeling like poo.   So I am back on board with a workout routine.  I am up most morning at 5:30 committing to this and it will be a part of my lifestyle that I won't turn back on.  I am already feeling light years better and I am looking forward to the pounds melting away.   I feel accomplished and more confident each and everyday!  I recommend this to all of you if you don't already do it.  The hardest part is starting.  Once you commit to about 2 weeks you will be in the groove and feeling amazing and won't want to quit.    Watch The Biggest Loser for inspiration.  Go online and read success stories on Beachbody.com.  It will give you the motivation you might need to get started.

I have been taking Mystele's Gut Art Class and I also am taking the Brave Girls Online Soul Restoration Class!  Both which are amazing!!   They have reminded me to Play everyday with art and supplies.  Step out of my comfort zone and try something new.   Practice something that I am not good at (like sketching) to improve and amaze myself!!!   I am having the time of my life using supplies that I have been hoarding now for years!!   I am also journaling and learning to set boundaries for my soul.  I HIGHLY recommend BOTH of these Classes to anyone!

Another one of my goals this year is to start video logging some of my creating process to share with you!   It is going to be a big step out of my comfort zone, but one that I am looking forward to.

I look forward to a year full of amazing changes!  Personally and professionally.   I can't wait to share these things with you throughout the year on this blog.   I look forward to a year of creating with the mindset of playing!   And last but not least.....I look forward to a year of Peace and Happiness, Light and Love.  WISHING YOU ALL THE VERY SAME!!!   Thank You so much for joining me on my journey.   I appreciate you all so very much!

 

The Winner is.......

This past week has been a whirlwind.  My little girl has been sick with the flu, and her GI tract is so irritated that she is still vomiting in the A.M. with boughts of D. as well.   She is feeling better later in the day, but not able to eat much.    She is home again today recovering.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. 

To lift her little spirits, I let her help me cut up and fold the entry names, put them in the jar, AND Pick the WINNER!!!!   Here you go!  She picked it!! 

Congratulations Elma!!!!   She is coming to live with you!!!  Hope you Love her when she arrives!!!

I will be posting more pictures of what I have been up to.   I am taking Mysele's Gut Art Class   It is AMAZING!!  I just LOVE Mystele and her approach to art....I am learning so much and it is just the first week. 

Here is my journal cover that I finished a couple nights ago.

I also did a journal page, playing with Reds and their contrasts...

Totally LOVING the OWL.  My sweet sister gave me the stamp for Christmas and it

came with the cute little gems that I glued on her headband.  :0) 

 

Hope you are all staying healthy.   Blessings to you and Yours.

 

 

Giveaway!!!

I think this may have gotten lost in the last post.....in case you didn't see.......

To start the New Year off Right I am Hosting my BIggest BEST Giveaway EVER!!!    Please enter here with a comment.   What are your goals for 2011?   Please include your email address to win THIS Girl!!!! 

Birdcage is not included.   Winner will be announced on Monday January 10th!!  Best of Luck!!  Can't wait to hear all your goals!!