Home is where the heart is...

Many of us will take time to travel away from home this summer, perhaps going to visit family and friends, perhaps seeking adventures in far away places, or perhaps looking for some peace and solitude in a mountain cabin or by the ocean. Wherever you go, and whoever you choose to spend this time with, you will find yourself rejuvenated and refreshed... and usually ready to return home. Our feelings about home and what that means will vary... and change as we change. Home is where you choose to settle your heart and gather all that is good around you.
(Click on the images for an enlarged view.)

"The House of the Rising Sun" is a playful 3D painting which explodes with the warmth of the sun and carries the heart of the home on its door. The house is a little off kilter with all the energy it holds, and it's rays stretch out and beyond to find something new in each day. How are you reaching out this summer to find new adventures?

"Sandcastle Dreams" is a fantasy that lasts in the moment... standing tall and beautiful on the beach until the tide comes in and washes it away. But, we continue to hold that dream in our hearts and return and rebuild it again. It is the home of our childhood and the dreams we create with our children and grandchildren. Be sure to dream this summer... and play!

"The River is Flowing" speaks to where I go to restore my soul... the sweet air in the mountains and the chill of a mountain stream bouncing over the rocks and around my feet. I love to smell the rich earth and to touch the green mosses on the ground. When I was a child, my mother would kneel down and tell me, "This is where the fairies come out to dance at night!" I still believe her. Returning to the mountains and the woods and the massive rocks is like returning to my mother. I can almost feel her heart beating against mine in Mother Earth. The song of the streams as they flow by are cleansing and clear.

"Rose Colored Dreams" reminds us to take the time to dream... to plan... to reassess... to consider what is important in our lives and perhaps look for a different path. Step back from your busy life and be grateful for all that you hold dear... a roof over your head, enough to eat, family to laugh and even quarrel with, friends to share adventures and stories with... all of these things fill our hearts and bring us home.

"Come and Sit By My Window" is an invitation to those who come in and out of your home and your life. You may offer a cup of tea, or a sympathetic listening ear, or a great joke for some good deep laughter, or just sitting and being together. In this world of emails and cell phones and facebook, how often do you invite a friend over for lunch... just to talk and hear each other's stories?


"Hearts Filled With Love" creates a repeating pattern that knows no end. Find your heart and your home wherever you are... and let's create an endless pattern together!

Have a wonderful summer!
In peace, Heather

Dancing in the sunshine!

We're basking in the heat of summer now... finding ways to keep cool and enjoying the lazy days of vacations, camp, and sipping iced tea in a hammock. Does the sun fire up your creativity? Here are some images I've created over the years that speak to the inspiration of sun and fire in my life... do they bring out the dance of your life? Who are you dancing with?

"Dancing Full Circle" was originally created as the logo for UU Womenspirit's 10th anniversary celebration. I later changed the colors to give it a more vibrant and firey feeling. Women of all shapes, sizes, and ages dance to the same rhythm... and that resonates when women gather to share their stories and find a common heartbeat. (Click on each image for an enlarged view.)

Another image of dancing is "The Dance of Life." I participated in a mandala workshop and was so totally immersed in creating this image with pen and pastels that later in the day I couldn't remember who was in the workshop with me or who had led it! We are able to claim the exhuberance of this dance as we negotiate our way through the daily labyrinths of social norms and expectations. But what joy we find when we can let go and dance with total abandon! Don't forget to give yourself these opportunities whenever you can... your life will spiral out from you!

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"Spiraling into the Center" is a familiar chant we sing as we dance in a long chain of hands and hearts... spiraling in and spiraling out. This watercolor and pen drawing shows faces only, but still illustrates the connections of our lives and souls as we join together in our life journeys. Let it be a dance... and don't forget to be amused!

And finally, at day's end, gather with your sisters around the fire and share the stories of your lives by "Calling the Circle." Soak in the warmth of the day and the glow of the fire that burns at the center of your circle. Feel the energy that moves around the circle as you join hands and hearts in common understanding.

Dance and create your life in the sunshine of the summer!

In peace, Heather

"Go to your studio and make stuff!"

When I say I'm an artist, the first thing I'm asked is, "What do you do?" or "What is your media?" A glazed look comes over my eyes as I search for a profound answer, but all that comes is "I make stuff... whatever I can get my hands on to create with or from." The beauty of the creative spirit is that there are so many materials to dabble in... and so much to say visually!

This photo of "Stick Your Neck Out" speaks volumes for me. She began as a lovely old porch post given to me by a friend as we cleared out her house following a fire. I studied this post for several years, considering many options before I settled on this one. Adding an old film reel for her halo and other pieces of wood (from leftover paddle ball bats to wooden beads) brought her into her full glory.

The arts are a universal language. Music, dance, and visual art require no translation from one culture to another. The message, if clearly created, speaks to all. "STYNO" constantly reminds me to engage my passion for art as a voice in our search for a better world... pushing myself beyond my comfort zones. Whatever your passion, find the courage to "Stick Your Neck Out" and help create a better world... whether it be in your own back yard or globally.

It is my intention with this blog to share art that I have created over the years and to tell the stories behind the imagery. Perhaps now and then something will resonate with your own life journey and we can smile together in recognition.