Ann~Margaret

Artist ~ Writer ~ Photographer

 

Get Messy Art Journaling ~ A Season of HAPPY

I am so excited to tell you about a fabulous art community I have joined! It’s called the “Get Messy Art Journal” community, and I am so HAPPY I decided to join this fun and creative group of artists! I had seen some of the art on Instagram months ago and reminded myself to check it out later. Last Sunday I was busy but just happened to see the email they sent out about registration.  I paused a moment from whatever it was I was in the midst of and took time to read all about it.  I could feel my heart smiling, but mostly, I could feel sweet Kaylee giving me a nudge, encouraging me to sign up.  You see, my heart has been so heavy with such heartache and sadness since we lost her {3 months ago yesterday}, and if I’m being really honest with you, I will tell you that I have had a bit of a difficult time focusing at times.  My heart and mind runneth over with all of my goals, new ideas, and plans for by business and time in the studio, but when the heart hurts so…well, it’s true what they say ~ grief can steal your focus.  I have been having these little nudges in my heart and soul telling me that I have to be true to my core…get back to my painting, follow my heart, live the “Kaylee Joy” that I so encourage you about ~ that I have to hold onto my dose and let it work its magic.  And, I assure you ~ “Kaylee Joy” is quite magical…Kaylee truly was pure magic wrapped in the most beautiful soul, and this is my way of honoring her and helping her legacy of love and light to keep on shining! But, goodness, some days the sadness…the missing my chats with her…the longing for her hugs ~ well, it is just too much for my heart to handle.  It can certainly feel that way, but if you know me, then, you know my faith is what carries me through.  Each day I hold this image in my heart of me walking with God…Him holding my hand…letting me cry…letting me share special memories of my time with her…expressing just how much I miss my best friend, and, then, He reminds me about this beautiful thing called “Kaylee Joy” that I created…that He laid on my heart.  Yes, I came up with the phrase, but it was so easy because she was so full of life, love, this beautiful light that led so many people to see how her heart loved Jesus, and this amazing compassion that engulfed everyone she came in contact with the moment they were greeted with her smile.  Oh, how everyone talks about THAT SMILE…the one that has brightened so many days, touched many hearts, and continues to give hope and beauty to all those that knew her.  As the minutes ticked by, and I reread that email, I could hear her saying, “Auntie {in our fabulous French accent we often used!}, you must join this…you must let your heart be a part of this special community! It will be so good for you! I want you to do this…I will love watching you create, and I will be a part of it all! You turned me onto art journaling, and I so loved sharing how I was falling in love with it…do this…so we can continue to share this journey.  It will help your heart to heal a little bit more each day…I promise you! You need this…do this for YOU!”  And, so then my finger hit that registration button, and my heart smiled because I knew it was just the thing to do! And, I knew it was going to be such sweet therapy for my soul! 🙂 Yep, that’s my DIVA bestie below…oh, how we loved being at the beach together! 🙂 One of my happiest days ~time spent with her!

kaylee-joy-diva-bestie-beach
So, back to the “Get Messy Art Journal” Community ~ this is their mission statement: “An art journaling program that is a school, art playground and family. We are a group of like minded art journalers who have come together under this art form to learn, share, practice our skills and push past our creative limits with hopes to inspire. Our community values consistent creating, encouragement and support and trying new things. We would love to have you join us as a member of Get Messy Art Journal.” {Click on the link to find out how you can become a “Get Messian”!}

GetMessy-ImaGetMessian-2The theme for this season is HAPPY! How perfect is that?!! 🙂  I am all about some HAPPY now!! I just love how my sweet girlie below turned out.  I had started the background before and done a quick sketch on it but had not finished it.  I remembered I had left the word “happiness” visible on her face and just knew it needed to be the first piece I did for my get messy art journal.  This sweet girlie stands for so much…she is the messenger of “Kaylee Joy” ~ she knows that if it is spread then hearts will experience more happiness and go out and spread JOY to all those around! She is inspired daily by one of the sweetest gifts God has ever blessed her with…the love of a niece that she continues to feel on a daily basis.  And, this girlie is determined to help her love and light continue to spread!

kayleejoy-happy-get-messy-journal-closeup-artjournalShe knows that JOY lives in each heart, and sometimes we just have to nurture it a little so it can truly show us just how magical it is!

kayleejoy-butterfly-artjournal-get-messy-artist-mixed-mediaShe knows that life needs to be CELEBRATED ~ and, yes, this means beyond our birthdays! 🙂  She knows that cupcakes are needed often, and they are the sweetest when shared! *Oh, how Kaylee and  I loved sharing cupcakes, and she loved baking them and surprising others with them!  🙂 She wants to let others know that they must hold a dose of “Kaylee Joy” in their hearts at all times, because they need to be fueled by it first  ~ then, they are able to go out and spread it to all those around! She knows hearts feel a flutter, they smile, and, they feel the deepest warmth of love when they are touched by “Kaylee Joy”! This girlie ~ she is YOU ~ she is ME ~ she is the HEART OF MY PRECIOUS KAYLEE!  She longs to inspire others, help them find their way through difficult times, learn what it really means to cherish the “little things”, and know just how infectious a SMILE is! She wants YOU to know how special YOU ARE…and, she wants YOU to know that you touch more hearts than you will ever know! SMILE ~ Let YOUR light shine!  🙂

kayleejoy-cupcake-bday-celebration-2016I love that I found paper that said “Celebrate ~ Happy Birthday” on it because I just celebrated my birthday! I just think it makes this girlie even more perfect for the beginning of my art journal with “Get Messy”! I know this community is going to be such a special part of my journey of grief and navigating ways to heal.  Everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging, and committing to this is truly what I need right now.  So, my heart is CELEBRATING about making that decision to join! 🙂

kayleejoy-mixed-media-happy-get-messy-journal-artist
Since our prompts are all about HAPPY, well, it’s quite fitting for me to include a beachy page! If you’ve been following me, then, you know we moved from my fave spot…the BEACHes of Florida…to Virginia in September.  I do love living in Alexandria, but of course, this mermaid (I declare I am one!) does miss wiggling her toes in the sand so the beach finds its way into my journals quite often! 🙂 For this page I had fun using some of my photography, splashing paint about, and just getting messy!

mixedmedia-seagulls-journal-artjournaling-florida-beachOh, how I always loved watching the boats go by!!  And, my feathered friends…my fave!

mixedmedia-art-florida-ocean-boat-segullsAnd, then, a single line drawing that is not quite finished but is all about that same HAPPY place…the beach! I love sailboats and anchors, and I’ll add a quote/verse to this one and share as soon as it’s all done! 🙂

beach-sailboat-contour-oneline-drawing-artist
I’ve always loved art journaling and probably have a few too many journals ~ but, who’s counting?!! 🙂 If you’ve been watching some of my YouTube videos then you know I’ve been talking with you about them and how I want to help you learn more about art and maybe give art journaling a try if you haven’t before.  Stay tuned…I’ll be sharing lots of fun stuff here, on Instagram, and Facebook! And, being a part of the “Get Messy” community is just perfect because my heart has been craving being a bit more messy in the studio!

Hugs and Happy Creating!

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Copyright 2016 Ann-Margaret, Artist~Writer~Photographer/Ann-Margaret’s Visions
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Ann~Margaret

Artist ~ Writer ~ Photographer