The Sweet Spot, Why Blog???

Yesterday I was reading

Ecclesiastes

The teacher is giving a speech on

how useless things of the world are.

What in the world truly brings joy?

Wisdom?

Wealth?

Hard work.?

He exclaims it is all useless and

in the end anything apart

from God is Useless.

"The best that people can do is eat,

drink, and enjoy their work. I saw

that even this comes from God,

Because no one can enjoy life

without Him. If people please

God, god will give them wisdom,

knowledge, and joy."

Ecclesiastes 2: 24-26

"The Key" 2006 Watercolor canvas

Ah Ha Moment!!!

Why do I blog?

I blog because I want to be used by God.

I blog because I want to make a difference in someones day.

I blog to self promote and promote my art.

What is wrong with those three sentences?

 (  I  )

What I just realized is, it is not about what I want.

My selfish nature wants to know I am making a difference.

My selfish nature want instant gratification...

Acceptance, Recognition

Thank you mainstream society and technology.

I haven't been getting many comments lately.

COMMENTS....(sigh)

I was using that as a measure of my success.

Bad,Bad Idea.....

I just realized this it is NOT the plan God had

for me....This is not the Spot!

I just realized that joy comes when I bridge the gap between God and I.

This gap is bridged when you are in a place with just you and God.

Just you and God.

God working in you and through you in his perfect will.

 True joy is meant to come from God and the time

 we are spending on our relationship with Him.

 The gap is closed when I am still, quite and listening to

God. 

When I am writing what he has placed

 on my heart and honoring him with

my talent and devotion.

Nothing else matters. Time stands still or slips by.

It's also referred to as the, " sweet spot".

A moment in time where there is no fear and no worries.

JUST YOU AND GOD.

Max Lucado writes about this in,  

A Cure for The Common Life

To find your "sweet spot" ---

that place where your passions and talents intersect.

"For a person to really live in their sweet spot,

they have got to discover the

joy of pleasing and honoring God.

It's less about themselves and more about honoring Him." 

"Your sweet spot is that unique combination

of abilities and strengths God has given you.

 It's the zone out of which He intended for us to operate,

 and in which we're most fruitful.

 It's different for every person, and the closer

we can come to understanding our own unique

 sweet spot, the more fruitful

and satisfied we'll be in our work and life..."  Max Lucado

This book is a GREAT read...Check it out!

Leave it to me to miss the point of writing this blog.

Well not completely... Or get caught up in the hype!

Working hard for comments...Not important! Useless

Working hard for Recognition... Not important!Useless

Working hard for approval...Not important! Useless

Living in my creative "sweet spot" and honoring God is where I want to be.

I really do want this to be less about me and my selfish needs.

But, I also want this to be a vehicle where I can share my faith

 and promote my artwork.

I really feel like it is a fine line. 

God is my passion

 and my writing and artwork

 is the place where I feel they intersect.

Welcome to My,

"SWEET SPOT"
This is where I
live Life to the fullest!
In the spot God has prepared just for me.

What does that mean for my blog?

I am taking the follow me... off.

I am not gonna check 5 or 6 times a

day to see is If I got a comment.

I am gonna put it out there

and trust God to use it

however he wants too.

If he wants to?

I will share what is on my heart.

I will share my art, my dreams

and my journey.

Hopefully sell some art too!!!

I will try to inspire others to

create a meaningful relationship with

God through His

son Jesus Christ.

With His help!!!

In God Alone I trust.

Many Blessings Deborah

Aah Love Love Love....

February the month
Of...

Love.
What do you Love?

Here is a few of the things

I love to Love.

The foot of the cross

and the open arms of Jesus.

The Cowboy, My husband and

part-neer.

I LOVE, My wonderful family!

All my children

My mother,father and

brothers. 

&

The blessings of Friends

I Love

Watching my girls bloom into

beautiful women right before my eyes.

I Love...
 Making art that reflects the relationship

I have with Jesus Christ. 

 Messy Art and Soul Studio.

My collection of boots! Luv um!

I confessed to a boot addiction
in a prevouis post.
The truth will set you free! (Right?)

P.S. The Cowboy got me a new pair for

Valentines Day with some flowers.

Crayons!!! 

 The colors of the ocean. 

The color Aqua. (I heart)

 Painting Roses in watercolor.

The color Pink.

Looking out my window to see

our Horses.

I Love.....

 AMERICA and all she stands for.

Hope, Promise & Freedom!

Just a fun and quick pictorial of

what I heart!

Picture by Rebekah J. Ruby

John 3:16 (New International Version,

16 "For God so loved the world that he

 gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him

 shall not perish but have eternal life."

 I Love...
GODS LOVE

“It’s difficult for our limited minds

to comprehend an unlimited God.

Don’t allow the limits of your mind

to limit what you will

 allow God to do in your life.”

 – Elmer Laydon

Love one another!

Happy Valentines Day!
Many Blessings, Deborah

Saturday Link up at
It's Grace
Come join the Fun!
http://www.itsgrace.com/

Renewal, Painting and In life...

Renewal...

This is the original painting I

began in 2008...

I say began because I realized

the other day it wasn't

finished...

Titled,

"Scout and Cheyenne, Splash"

Another Stroke of the brush...

Renewed ....
I added some warm colors on the
backs of the horses and lightened the
fronts of the horses.  I also cropped the
original size to Matt it. I added more blue wash
over the hoofs in the background to
create a better feeling of distance.
Can you tell a difference?
Before I kinda felt the painting was a little
flat. I (think) I am happy with the renewed piece.

 Speaking of....
Renewal

This time of year reminds

me of new life.

We are reminded & many celebrate the birth of

Jesus and all that His birth meant

for us as Christians.

Hope

Renewal

Forgiveness

A precious Gift from

GOD.

What gift could top this???

All this hustle and bustle

shopping for the perfect gift.

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by

the materialism in my life.

I get caught up in the idea of

something new...

New Furniture

New Car

New jewelry...

I have more so much more than

I need, Really!

My Family,

My Friends,

 A Savior...

This morning I told my children

we weren't having Christmas...

Whooooa!

That did not go over so well, try this at you own

risk...

Here is what I heard...

"You can't do that,

That is not fair...

You can't just not buy us stuff."

That is what Christmas is all about!!!

Whoooa! (Me)

Mind you my children have been privileged

to attend  a christian school

until the 8th grade.

Sure, we have made many sacrifices to pay that bill!

But It was important to the cowboy and I.

My thinking at this moment...They know better than this...Right?

The answer is a resounding no!!!

They are normal children living in a material world.

They may not have as much as some,

but they have more than many.

So where did this feeling of entitlement come from?

Really, Can youTell Me!!!

I can only hope and pray that one day they

will realize how blessed they are.

With age and maturity comes wisdom, Right?

I am counting on this scripture,

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I really wouldn't take Christmas

from my children...

But it did open up the opportunity

to have a great conversation with them.

Lets call it a little training session!

One Point for the Parents....

Many Blessings, Deborah

Sometime a piece of art isn't finished

even when you think it is....

Art, Seeds and Petals Series and The Brave Girls Club, Go Now and Check them out!!!

Seeds and Red Petals

Art and Soul

Loves...

Creative souls...

Women Inspiring each other...

Growing in my Creativity

 and

Sharing...

My Creativity

My Faith...

My Experiences

 and

New Blog Finds....

I found a great blog a couple months ago and I wanted to

share it.

These Sisters are creative and inspiring...

They offer

mountain retreats and are getting ready to

 launch their  first online

 workshop, which will be 6 weeks long.

http://www.bravegirlsclub.com/

I myself would looooove to go to one

of their retreats in the Idaho Rocky Mountains...
the perfect setting for 5 days of life-changing fun!
It is officially on my bucket list!

Click on the link to check it out...

I know you will love them too!!!

Another Stroke of the Brush...

I have been busy getting my art into some

local shops for the holidays!

 

My family and I are getting ready to go and

visit family in Kansas City and Sikeston, MO

For the Holidays.

Praying for CLEAR weather!!!

Amen!
(not leaving the house if there is even a hint of band weather)
Here is Why?

2 years ago we attempted to go visit my cowboys/husbands

family in Sikeston, Mo. 2 hrs south of St. Louis.

We were about an hour and a half out of town

when we came upon some sleet on an overpass.

All at once the car in front of us hit their brakes

and in turn we had to hit ours. We had our Ford Excursion

filled to the brim with luggage and all 6 of us...Plus our little

white dog, a Westie. We proceeded to roll down an embankment

3 times, Yes 3 times. Our little dog was air born in our truck like Toto in the

Wizard of Oz. We were all shaken and a little banged up

but, NO one was seriously hurt...It Was A Miracle!
It all happened in slow motion....
 No.....

Really,  A real Miracle!!!
 Not only was our dog flying around

but there was also a ball hitch airborne. For those of you who don't know

what that is...It goes in the back of the truck under the bumper to

attach a trailer. Don't ask why my cowboy needed

to bring an extra one for this trip? But it was now located

on the dash board in the front of our truck.

These ball hitches must weigh at least 5 to 10lbs. I can not

believe it did not hit someone in the head.

MIRACLE!!!

Needless to say our truck was totaled and we had to call our friends to come and pick us

up and take us back home. All this happen the day before Thanksgiving, I did not

have any groceries to cook a Thanksgiving meal, we weren't supose to be home.

Another Miracle... Neighbors brought us all their left overs after their main meal....

We sure had a lot to be THANKFUL for that year...

Hence the prayer for good weather!!!

We have not been to see the cowboy's family

since the accident and it is a 9 1/2 hour trip.

Thankfully going south is a good thing because

the weather gets better the further south from Iowa we go.

The crisp colors of fall...

Here are some pictures I took

in one of the shops my art is currently in....

I though it would get me in the spirit of

of Giving Thanks!!!

I also thought I might do a still life???

What are you thankful for?

May you be thankful for family and

friends and share your many blessings
with others.

Deborah

 



These Boots Were Made for Walking, My First Tutorial

                          And when I start too

walking, these boots will be like NeeeeeW!

First a pair of my boots...

And a some inspiration.
I'll let ya all in on a little
secret........                             

I have a western boot fetish...

I have, Black, Brown, Red, Aqua, Dark Purple,

 Just to name a few!

Some people collect trinkets, I

collect Western Boots.
No worries, I only buy boots when they are on sale!!!!
shshshshshshs!

 This Pair is a "little" worn out!

So I figured it is time for a make over.

Supplies:

Paint, Brushes, textile medium, a pair of boots and 

the rest is an open door for creativity. 

First a base coat... With Folk Art Paint and a Textile medium..

How about some Southwest style....

A Lizard, I made a pattern and traced it on

the boot  

with a Watercolor Pencil.

It is easy to erase the outlines from

a watercolor pencil.

I use them when I do Mural on Walls.

Draw a Cactus, I cut out, traced around edge  with

a watercolor pencil. 

It took about three coats of paint to cover the base coat 

of pink. 

The textile medium thins out the paint.

Make sure the paint and textile medim is well mixed.

3 Coats done, now time to dry and when it is dry,

it is time to add

 some detail...

A little Cactus Detail...

Some bright colors for the lizard detail...

Wah LA! a "like" New pair of boots.

I will need to do some rearch and figure out

what I can use

for a top coat and a protectant

Any suggestion are welcome!

I think I will wear them to the annual

Pony Express Dance!!!

I might even need a new outfit...

I Love your comments, let me know

what YOU think?

BE BLESSED WHERE EVER YOU ARE!!!

DEBORAH

New Art Dancing Sunflowers, Recycled Whimsy Blooms & Inspiration

New Art

From the Art & Soul Studio

Watercolor painting
on watercolor canvas...

Titled "Dancing Sunflowers"
Sunflowers are one of my favorite subjects
to paint. Not sure if it is quite done?
Have any of you used watercolor canvas?
What did you think of the experience?
Any Tips and Tricks out there?
Please!

New ... Painted on fabric

A light cotton scrape fabric painted with

acrylic with a textile medium added.

I use the stretcher bars

from a piece of  old shabby art I found

at good will for $1.19

I removed the old canvas

and then attach the fabric to the wood frame.

No fear the old art was a mass produce

piece from Target of somewhere.

Titled "Whimsy Blooms"

Size 8"x8"

I finished the 1" sides of this piece with old jeans I

cut a strip from.

I am liking the idea of recycling old mass produce

art into something new and original.

Another Stroke of the Brush...

MAKE TIME TO NURISH YOUR SPIRIT...

YOUR SPIRIT NOURISHES YOUR ART.

If you ever experience a creative block...

Try something new,

Believe in yourself...

Believe in your art...

Seek inspiration from,

God, Nature, Other Artist

and in the simple things in life....

"Be Faithful in the small things, because

it is in them you will find your strength."

Mother Teresa

Enjoy the spirit of creativity!

Many Blessings, Deborah

Fresh Paint from the studio...Fresh Water from my Soul...

New Art

Fresh Painting

This piece is another Acrylic and Plaster..

Mixed media

Title "Moon Light on the Water"

It is an 8"x10" canvas Gallery Wrapped

Sides are painted Black.

I just love how the plaster gives the

art & water

another

Dimension,

Texture,

Depth

and

Movement.

I am really having fun with this plaster technique...

It is a medium by Golden products.

This time I intentionally manipulated the plaster.

I had a vision in my mind.

I will be listing this later today on

ETSY

http://www.dlrubyspalette.etsy.com/

Fresh Water... For the Soul

I painted the ocean because..

I love the ocean, it calls to me..

Come and rest by the shores,

come and listen to the waves.

Come and you will find peace

on the edge of  God's vastness.

The waves come forth and

touch my toes and my soul.

The waves can be calm and

cleansing,

washing away the weariness

within my soul.

So cool and refreshing,

so alive and invigorating.

Reminding me how small

I truly am.

Reminding me how

BiG

 God IS.

For just as I can not perceive the depths

of the ocean.

It can be equally hard

to perceive the depths of Gods

LOVE.

From the shore the waters of the

ocean appear never ending.

From the foot of the

cross I can see God's Love

IS never ending.

The rhythm of the waves

remind me of the

rhythm of life.

The rhythm of

give and take,

the rhythm of

the storms in life and

the times when life is

peaceful and calm.

Water...

Water Gives Life

Water washes away the sins

of the world.

Water restores

the dying seed.

Jesus is the Water Of Life.

The ocean reminds me

of the peace

I have found in

Jesus.

And that my friends is why I love the ocean.

I hear it calling me.

I hear God calling me into

 his vastness of LOVE.

And God Loves YOU Too!

John 4:14 (New International Version)

14 but whoever drinks the water I give him

 will never thirst.

 Indeed, the water I give him will become in him

a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Have a creative and blessed

weekend.

Remember God Loves You and He will

meet you where ever your at.

All you have to do is reach out,

His arms arms are open and waiting

Just for YOU!