Sunday, November 13, 2016

and now...THANKFULNESS AND OTHER THINGS

It comes to mind about this time every year that I really need to be thankful for so many things, and I am (or should be) more thankful each year.


LARGE MANDALA
SMALL MANDALA

While I have been recovering from head surgery I have been drawing. I have never been able to draw Mandalas because they just seemed too complicated. Well, I guess I figured out what I needed to do....I actually love them. 



So Thanksgiving is on it's way and I am very reflective this time of year, even more so now that the elections are over and I am thinking about what the future could hold. First of all, I'm so thankful for my whole family....outlaws, in-laws, and other laws....all are fabulous and I'm very thankful for them being in my life!! Without a doubt, I would not be able to do the things that I do without them helping and encouraging me.

I was reading Bella Grace publication and came across this article about things that folks are thankful for. I thought that I would make a list too....and then I thought "blog"! The article is about Gratitude.

A GUITAR I DREW ON FOR A FUNDRAISER

MY GRATITUDE LIST (Partial).....I AM THANKFUL FOR:

* My ability to draw.
* The 5 other artists in the Artists' Studio at the Landing in Port Angeles, WA.
* Close friends, both near and far.
* My ability to learn new things.
* The ability to see things on the bright side most every time.
* My ability to keep on 'keeping on'.
* My hands to draw, my feet to carry me where I want to go.
* Autumn with all its colors.
* My studio at home and the studio at The Landing in Port Angeles.
* My computer, phone, and tablet.
* Snail Mail
* Books, especially audio books. 
* My voice.
* Random acts of kindness - giving and receiving.
* Body spray
* Christmas 
* Creativity

I am hoping that the new year will bring new opportunities to be my better self, that I will continue to grow in my love and understanding of my fellow man and in my creativity. I am hoping there will be peace and happiness in the world....knowing that we don't always get what we want, but there isn't anything wrong with trying to achieve it, now is there?

Janie

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

MY NEW ADVENTURES....IN ART AND FLOWERS

I have been so busy that I haven't had the time to even update my blog. I am so excited to tell you about my new and exciting business....FLOWERS ON A MOONBEAM.


I have always loved flowers....any kind, any color, any smell, well....yeah, flowers of all kinds. I decided to include small bouquets for the bride and the bridal party in my studio at The Artist's Studio at the Landing in Port Angeles, Washington. One day a lovely young woman and her fiance came in and she pointed to one of my bouquets and said that that was the one she wanted for her wedding. 

Just so you aren't confused, my arrangements are silk flowers with lovely sparkling brooches. So, the flowers were as beautiful as the first day she saw them earlier that month. 

I was thrilled that she loved the bouquet and then she asked me if I would do the flowers for her wedding! I was so pleased and working with this sweet gal has been a joy. The wedding is in March and it has given me plenty of time to get the flowers she wanted and to work on them as time has permitted. 

I am associated with Wedding Wire on the Internet and you can find me at
 Flowers on a Moonbeam


 Please let your single friends know about my web site. I will do weddings from Seattle to Forks, WA.
CHRISTMAS CENTERPIECE

========================================================================

I have been busy in the studio as well....doing several new things. People come in and drop this or that on my desk and say "I know you can figure out something to do with this". Well, the latest acquisitions were some darling little mirrors from Italy! I will include some photos here.....



 And I'm still working on Steampunk Dolls....aren't they cute??? They are about 9" tall and have all the accessories as well as an envelope with their own story inside.

FATHOMLESS TILT
Explorer from the Ocean
MINERVA DUPINE
Private Detective














I have also been collaborating with a couple of my artist colleagues and one of them is with my friend, Cherie Wilson who is working with Alcohol Inks. Her work is spectacular and she invited me to work with her on a piece recently. This is our first collaboration....and more to follow.....


I'm just in love with the colors!!!

Well, friends, this is all for today. I'll try to update a bit more often, but how many times have I said that???

Loving you all and hoping that you find in your lives that you are thankful for life and all that it has to offer, including the trials for they are what makes us stronger, right?

Happy Thanksgiving.....Janie















Tuesday, February 24, 2015

I HAVE MET THE UNIVERSE

 

Part of my "fine motor skills" therapy



Each day over the past three to four years I have been meeting the"Universe" on my computer. I meet him/her on my e-mail and I have been stunned, over and over again.

Today the Universe said to me:

Well, well, well, look at you! Janie Brackney is back on top of the world! What a picture! How splendid! Hallelujah!

New friends to cavort with, wild critters sensing your confidence, and children holding you in awe. Laughter ringing in your ears, happy tears streaming down your face, and arms aching from all those hugs. My goodness, if some of your old friends could see you now, Janie, they'd faint.

You've been visualizing, haven't you?

Beaming for you,
    The Universe

Now, this may seem odd to some of you because.....really? The Universe?  Really? It's just a computer program or app that I have subscribed to that sends me uplifting (for the most part) messages. Right? I know that, yet there have been so many times that I have found myself laughing because the Universe's words have been funny but true; I have found myself crying because the Universe's words have been sad but yet true. I have been stunned because the Universe has told me things I needed to hear right then at that very moment.
 

"WHAT SEQUIM FEELS LIKE TO ME"



You see, I have always been one to try to think "outside the box", to believe in things that most might find odd or silly or unexplainable. For one thing, it certainly is a way of keeping life interesting and for another, it has been a way to cope with the difficulties I have encountered in life. 

When I met the "Universe", I was skeptical but open-minded enough to think that this might just be FUN!! 

Well, I'm here to tell you that it has and is more than fun. It is inspiring and uplifting and uncanny how "right on" the messages are for me. Take the message I got today......

Well, well, well, look at you! Janie Brackney is back on top of the world! What a picture! How splendid! Hallelujah!

New friends to cavort with, wild critters sensing your confidence, and children holding you in awe. Laughter ringing in your ears, happy tears streaming down your face, and arms aching from all those hugs. My goodness, if some of your old friends could see you now, Janie, they'd faint.

You've been visualizing, haven't you?

Beaming for you,
    The Universe
 

This message is so "RIGHT ON" for now, today, this minute!! It makes me want to reach out and grab the world and say, "Yes, I'm back among the living, back among those who laugh and create and love."

"TULIPS"

Not long ago I found out that these gems that arrive in my inbox on my electronics are written by a man by the name of Mike Dooley at www.tut.com. 

Mike Dooley is a former PriceWaterhouseCoopers international tax consultant, turned entrepreneur, who’s founded a philosophical Adventurers Club on the Internet that’s now home to over 600,000 members from over 185 countries. His inspirational books emphasizing spiritual accountability have been published in 25 languages and he was one of the featured teachers in the international phenomenon, The Secret. Today Mike is perhaps best known for his free Notes from the Universe e-mailings and his New York Times bestsellers Infinite Possibilities: The Art of Living Your Dreams and Leveraging the Universe: 7 Steps to Engaging Life’s Magic. Mike lives what he teaches, traveling internationally speaking on life, dreams, and happiness. 


Part of a new piece I'm working on

I want to thank Mike for coming into my life because he has brought the power of positive thinking back into my life, especially during a few years of great struggle for me. I have no idea how many lives he has touched with this little free note in inboxes all over the world, but I'm so glad he leaves me notes in mine.
 

"RECOVERY"

 


I invite each of you to investigate "NOTES FROM THE UNIVERSE" and see how unbelievable it is that he 99% of the time speaks to you about what you need to hear on that certain day, at that certain time, about that certain subject.


 Thank you for reading today and I hope your day is the best ever!!

Janie 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

What A Year!!



Posted on Facebook on a very hard day, which helped me so much!!

I have thought many times over the past, well....two years....that life is just too hard. The trials and tests that I have had to go through have been enormous. Things have happened in my life that I never dreamed were possible, but I always try to look on the bright side of things and learn from those things that aren't so "bright". 

Some of the things that I learned were:

A. I'm soft and kind but I'm also a warrior.
B. It's really true that what doesn't kill me can make me stronger.
C. I found out who my true friends were in this time of crisis and need.
D. When one door or window closes, another opens but I have to be looking for it.
E. What I take for granted can be taken from me in the blink of an eye.
F. What can appear as a "bad" thing, can be an opportunity to learn more or grow from.

While I'm sure there are a lot of other things, these are what's in my mind now. Twice in the last two years I almost lost my life and twice something happened that I feel was a miracle that happened to save it. That tells me I have things to do, people to meet, and growing to do before I leave this earth. 

During the time I waited for the surgery to remove my brain tumor, I received such love and support from my Landing Artist Studio "family" that I'll never be able to thank them enough. I was terrified and they did all they could to let me know that I was cared by them, that I was missed, and that they were there for me. 

Since my surgery, my fine motor skills have been slow to come back enabling me to do the kind of art I did prior to the tumor. I have been working on learning new things and the photos from here to the end of this blog are just a few examples of what will be in the studio in Port Angeles this weekend.

A "bird box" which can hang on the wall. The front (or lid) comes off and a little gift or candy can be inside for that special someone - perhaps as a springtime treat or for Easter. (I have several and they are all different.)
 
My family drew together and encircled me with love and support, including my youngest daughter flying down from the interior of Alaska to be with me and Alan for support. Not the least, has been my wonderful husband, Alan, who has cared for me, who has held me while I sobbed for fear I would not live, and who was beside me every waking moment and watching over me many times in the nights that followed the surgery. 

I have a new friend here on Mains Farm and though she was just in my life for a short time when all this started happening, she was offering me her love and support through it all. She even gave a donation to "Caring Bridge" in my honor that will help someone else. The most important thing is that she and her husband had us over to their home on Christmas Day and she prepared a wonderful meal, gluten-free (for my husband) and gave me a lovely bracelet that I will cherish. 

Even my own therapist called the hospital checking on me during surgery, and called me once a week after I got home to help me over some rough patches. 

When my dearest Alaska friend, Lori, found out about the tumor she told me that if I had to have my head shaved that she would shave her's in support of me. She has long, beautiful blond hair and I know this would have been a serious gesture on her part as we are like sisters. Just having her say this touched me deeply. Thankfully, she still has a full head of hair!! LOL

My first ever hand-painted canvas shopping bag. There will be others and I hope they turn out as well as this one. This was my own design.



These are but a few of the special things that happened this past couple of months. I had visitors to cheer me up; I had almost daily emails from others, and the list goes on and on. I want them to know how thankful I am that they are all in my life. That just knowing they were there helped me when I would wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if I would see the light of the morning. 

Now, don't get me wrong....I do not advocate brain surgery but I have had so many blessings because of it, and it humbles me, but mostly it helps me not take today for granted, to make the most of the day, and to do what I can now and hope that I can do  other things later on. If I tear up and tell you how much you mean to me, it's because I have decided that there is no way for you to know that unless I tell you and I do not ever want to leave this earth without you knowing my feelings for you.

My first attempt at work with Resin.
A wood box with a scalloped front stating, "I have
decided to be happy. That . Is . All"

We all live busy, fast-paced lives until something happens to stop us in our tracks and causes us to take inventory of our lives and what we are doing with them. I am one of the lucky ones who has had that opportunity. Oh, believe me, there have been lots of times that it didn't feel like an opportunity....but it was.

A felt handbag with lace and tiny dark pink flowers hand-sewn on with a matching coin purse with an antique pearl attached as a zipper-pull. I have some other colors as well.

Anyway, I wanted to take this opportunity to declare that I will never take it for granted again that tomorrow the sun will rise, and I will never take for granted all the wonderful friends and family that I am blessed to have surrounding me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

8" x 10" Black canvas with my drawing in white pen and ink and highlighted with acrylic paint.

Here is to a new year, filled with bright surprises, joyous adventures, and profound happiness. Most of all, here is to a year filled with good health and an opportunity to grow as an artist, grow as a friend, grow as a sister, grow as a wife, grow as a mother, and just grow into the person I need to be. 

Love and thank you for reading my ramblings, Janie


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

PATIENCE

This is not finished, but it's a start
The dictionary states that "patience" is:

patience

[pey-shuh ns]
noun
1.
the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
2.
quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence:
to work with patience.
3.
Obsolete. leave; permission; sufferance.
 
I don't like any of those because I don't have any of those where I am concerned. I have so much patience for others that it drives my husband crazy, but for myself? oh,no, honey....it ain't happening!! Well, at least until this week. 
 
For those of you who only follow this blog, I had a benign brain tumor removed about a month ago, yup, three months after the back surgery. I'm no young chick and this is NOT fun!! I feel so different with the brain surgery than I have with any of the other surgeries I've had....and I've had about 14 surgeries in my life....but who's counting. At this point in my recovery from any of those, I would have thought OK, pain....pain tells me I'm not ready to get out and get moving yet. This is different!!! I don't have a lot of pain, I'm getting the use of my hand and arm back, but all I want to do is sleep!!! I do one little thing, and wham, here comes the pillow! 
 
Please, oh, please send me patience because I really, really need it. 
 
This is more of my "therapy"....I'm not back to where I would like to be or where I had planned to be by now, but I'm not complaining...really....I'm not.....
 
 huggs to you all,
Janie 

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Random Thoughts


"Buddies"

I have been at this "healing" process for almost two months now and still have a small place on the incision in my back that just won't heal. I'm hoping that it will soon be a misery of the past so I can get on with my life!!

I have had several things on my mind lately....random things.....

A. Friends....old friends that I dearly miss and would love to spend time with and new friends who are just waiting to be made. We can't have too many friends!!! I am a fairly private person, but I still need friends...people I can confide in or people I can have some fun with.

B. Age....yeah, it rears its ugly head periodically. I am going to be into a new "century" of my life in six months. It scares me....because it's the "century" that my parents both passed in. I know I'm not my parents, haven't lived like they did, didn't abuse my body the way they did theirs, but nevertheless, I'm bothered by this coming event. Thank goodness I have a therapist on a retainer fee. LOL

"Blue Garden"

C. Family....I am so proud of my family and my family by marriage. I am lucky to have such wonderful children, who though they are grown will always be my children. They are living their own lives as well they should, however, I love spending time with them and knowing they are happy and well is more than I can ask for. My "children" by marriage are special to me too....and their successes are important to me as well. I dearly love my grandchildren....from my married grandson to my little 3 year old grandson....all so precious.

D. Art, art, and more art....I am really missing being with my "studio family"....while I get my back healed and my strength back. A couple other physical difficulties have come up and I hope to have them straightened out soon. I want to be able to get up in the morning and go to Port Angeles and sit and work in the Artist's Studio at the Landing with my "art family". I love rubbing shoulders with these talented people, and knowing that I belong there means more to me than words can say.

E. World Events....I can't believe that there is so much violence towards others in this world. It is like an epidemic....too much to even believe what I'm hearing and seeing. I have always been of a mind that we must let each other live as we each see fit and not try to change what is working for those around us. I am frustrated by the powers that be in some areas in that they are not setting good examples for us to follow. The world would be a much better place if women were running the show, I've always thought. Egos would be less likely to get in the way and so much can be taken care of over a nice quiet lunch....Don't you think so? Are women perfect? No, but we are more gentle by nature and fighting is pretty appalling to most of us. Women can be strong peacekeepers because it is in our nature.

I just want to leave this world a better place than when I came here.I want the earth to be healthy, I want my friends, family, and neighbors to have all that they need....no more and no less, but to be comfortable. I want something that is ideal and feel frustrated by the knowledge that that will never be. The older I get, the more important it is to me to feed the hungry, to care for the sick, and to make sure no one goes to bed hungry or wakes up in fear. I spent a good deal of my childhood in fear and no one should ever have those feelings....either young or old.

F. On Being Creative....I am busily engaged in making Christmas ornaments, Christmas wreaths, and even doing some Christmas pictures done with pen and ink. I love the holiday season and all that it entails. I have lots of ideas and not much energy yet, but it is getting better with each passing day.

"Under Sea Garden"


G. The Microsoft Band....my son gave me the new Microsoft Band. It is a health tracker, more than anything and I love that he worked on this project. It monitors my sleep, my calorie burning, my exercise, steps taken, etc.....as well as texts, emails, Twitter, and Facebook. I am amazed at technology and how far things have come since I was a girl of 14 and my family got their first television set. What a magical thing that was! Now I carry the world around in my pocket on my phone and on my wrist in the Microsoft Band. I am very blessed to have been able to live long enough to see these marvelous inventions and will see many more, I'm sure.

All for this time....I'll leave you with this thought:




Janie



Saturday, September 20, 2014

DOWN BUT NOT OUT


Not a very good picture, taken at an angle...."Tip Toe Through the Flowers"

One of the best things about having to be "down" (recovering from back surgery) is that it gives me time to draw, which is my passion, and which I always put on the back burner until I have the time to do it. That, of course, is crazy! I should just be drawing whenever I feel so inclined, correct?

Well, this past week I really have been turning out the pieces of art. It feels great, let me tell you. For the most part I have been very happy with the results. I have a one-woman show coming up in October at a local art supply store/gallery and I think it would be fun to put some of my newer things up.

Doing my kind of art puts me in a head space of total relaxation and almost gives me an out-of-body experience because of the intensity of what I'm creating. It is also distracting from any and all discomfort I'm having from the surgery, while I recover.

I am finding that my form of art is being accepted more often, and in very diverse places. This past month (September) I have pieces at the Art Center in the Sequim Museum and at a Port Angeles Cafe. I was pretty excited about getting into the cafe as artists from our Studio had pieces in there in August too (everyone donated a piece to the cause of showing). I was just barely back from Seattle where the surgery was performed, and I got a phone call from a lady who lives in Seattle. She had been in the cafe I mentioned, and saw a piece she wanted to buy, and the proprietor wouldn't make the sale for me!! I lost the sale, even though I told the lady I would ship whatever piece she wanted. They were on their way out of town, headed back to Seattle so she declined.

These things should not happen. In the future I will make sure that the proprietor of whatever place my art is at, will take over the selling of my work.

I know that being able to draw is a precious gift that I have been given. I do not take it for granted and I hope and pray that anyone who buys my work will love it long after the sale.

I am trying to make a piece to give to my doctor who literally saved my life a couple of months ago...just as a little way to say a "Thank You", because without his expertise, I would not be here today.

I also did a couple of pieces with hearts in them...hearts have always been a favorite theme of mine.

Not sure of the caption yet and it hasn't been cleaned up yet or framed...."Heartbeat"

This is done on a piece of scrapbook paper with raised French writing...and again, not cleaned up or framed...

"French Hearts"


Then, I finally decided to try my hand at doing a dog and a cat, plus I have an idea for another cat piece:'' The cat photograph didn't turn out very good but here is the dog:

You can still see the sketching lines and not much shading yet, but his name is "Scotty".

And, finally, I saw some work by a couple other Zen artists online and put their elements together to come up with this really fragile "Brain Circus".

Not a very good shot....I'm calling this "Brain Circus".



Today I think I'll start working on some Steampunk jewelry. I have lots of materials now and a couple of instruction booklets so now is the time to "jump in". Also, I need to finish up my christmas pieces...I'll show them to you when they are finished. I think they are pretty cute....

I really like this one...it's really on white paper but I couldn't make it show that way with my limited software, but the name of it is "Recovery", since it was the first piece I did after surgery.




Last, but not least...."Summer Bouquet"...done on pink paper...I love the colors in this. It was fun to do.

Peace and Love be with you all.

Thank you for reading my blog today.

Huggs, Janie