Let me Encourage You!

Olivia Dorazio's (thats meeeee)... Blueedge Frame

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These aqua themed frames will coordinate perfectly with my (Olivia Dorazio's) new Tsunami Blue Kit which will launch Monday at our Sophia Sarducci Shop (which happens to be Monday Madness ... $$$ off!) Olivia (Barb) is certain you will find countless ways to use these excellent quality frames to accent your favorite projects. Stay tuned for another giveaway tomorrow, which will also bring you a taste of the Tsunami Blue Kit. To get to the shop ahead of time and beat the stampede on Monday (being MADNESS and all) just click HERE.

layout by Judy Forsyth
(my sister in law - *beaming here*)
created using my (Olivia Dorazio's) Olivia's Kitchen Kit,
available at SophiaSarducci

This is layout Judy made of my other sister in law, Neti, whipping up her delish pizza when Judy and Barry visited recently. I bet it was AMAZING! Neti is a fabulous cook, and we miss you Neti! If you cook this good, I bet there will be MORE of my brother to see when Miles and I come to visit.

Judy has done countless layouts with my kits, and I'm so proud when I go to her site and see them. I forget to post her layouts here, and that makes me sad. Isn't it funny how we often neglect those who are close to us? Anyways, I'm hoping you will visit Judy's blog and say a big hello for me! Just click HERE to visit. You are very precious to me Judy.

local beauty!

I spent a fun morning with my husband, going to yard sales. I had no idea when I woke up, but he suggested it over my awakening cup of coffee, which he brings me every morning. He grinds it fresh and I am awoken each day to the strong and lush aroma of rich java. Only the 'greasiest' beans are hand chosen by him when he shops. He 'hand picks' them from the bulk section, after carefully scrutinizing the glass windows on the bulk dispenser. They are stored in the cool of the fridge the moment they're brought home so I almost never have to experience a 'normal' cup of coffee. Ya, I'm a pampered princess in the first degree!

After I was sufficiently 'perky' enough to face the world he chauffeured me into town and put up with me at several yard sales. Oh, its not that he is not infinitely patient with me, or even that he would not enjoy a good sale himself, no, it was the fact that I got all 'geeky' and have decided you all will have to come along with me. Yes, my next podcast will be our yard sale experience of today, and it was HUGELY successful. I'm not going to tell you any more 'bout that for now, other than to say Miles is a lot more discrete and shy than I am when it comes to recording total strangers. He is teaching me tho... haha! Stay tuned in the near future for that audio adventure!

I am going to focus on some encouraging thoughts for you today. In case you're in a dry period right now, and because I just went through one, I would like to share this quote that I came across. It came right at a time when I wondered if I could truly ever make anything unique, anything that hadn't already been done. Sometimes it all seems so futile, so pointless and its easy to fall victim to these types of thoughts. I'm not into preaching at anyone, but I do want to point out that the enemy loves to work in this area of your spiritual being. If you're not careful to deal with it, or ask for help, its a slippery slope down to a place where its very difficult to come out of. Remember that God gave each and every one of us gifts and talents of our very own and we need to trust in Him to work through us. LET HIM. Let go of looking over at someone elses work for it will always seem we are unable to meet their levels.

That best picture has not yet been painted;
the greatest poem is still unsung;
the mightiest novel still remains to be written;
the divinest music has not been concieved even by Bach.
In science, probably ninety-nine percent of the knowable
has not yet been discovered.

- Lincon Steffens

And its not WHAT you do, creatively, artistically - or compared to ANYONE else, its HOW you do it. be PASSIONATE. Enjoy. If it does not feel GOOD, or RIGHT, fun, fluid, satisfying, challenging or you can't say it comes from your gut, then don't do it! Your finished project will reflect as much your will as your ability.

Have a creative weekend!

ART AND HEART

Though critics may bow to art, and I am its own true lover,
It is not art, but the heart, which wins the wide world over.
Though smooth be the heartless prayer, no ear in Heaven will mind it,
And the finest phrase falls dead, if there is no feeling behind it.
Though perfect the players touch, little if any he sways us,
Unless we feel his heart throb through the music he plays us.
Though the poet may spend his life in skillfully rounding a measure,
Unless he writes from a full warm heart, he gives us little pleasure.
So it is not the speech which tells, but the impulse which goes with the saying,
And it is not the words of the prayer, but the yearning back of the praying.
It is not the artists skill, which into our soul comes stealing,
With a joy that is almost pain, but it is the player's feeling.
And it is not the poet's song, though sweeter than sweet bells chiming,
Which thrills us through and through, but the heart which beats under the rhyming.
And therefore I say again, though I am an art's own true lover,
that it is not art, but heart, which wins the wide world over.

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox