2015

Hi everyone, I hope everyone is well! Lots and lots have happened since I last posted.

MIKE GOT A JOB! Ever thankful for this miracle and for every small miracle that happens. As the winter days come, I am thankful that I started my Christmas Cards and my 2015 Calendar back in the summer, as I am dealing with some serious hand issues.

Here are a few of the designs that will be in the calendar. Its going to be beautiful. So my calendars are $25.00 and if preorder prior to Dec 1/14 you receive a set of my Goddess cards with envelops. Shipping is actual cost. So that will range from 4-6 dollars. (Canada Post went up) :(

Here are a few art pieces that are destined to be in the calendar. All parts of this calendar was created by me, the angels, the quotes, all my heart and soul went into it. I hope you enjoy the sneak peak.



Please leave me a comment I would love to have my art in your home.

Heart hugs,
ANg

JUST BE

For the last month or so I have been on a really deep soul searching, life altering heart path. Something happened at the beginning of summer that was sad to me, and it was sad to my husband.
Like most life lessons they are learned whether we want to or not.

I have a tendency to hold onto harsh moments in my life. So I prayed to the Mother Goddess to show me how I can "Just be" When I feel myself reliving harsh moments, I pray my "Just Be" prayer. A reminder to stay in the moment, a reminder that all is not lost. That I can "just be" in the moment and enjoy whatever joys that moment can bring.

I have to be honest, It was not easy. I released Facebook, I released it. I no longer am on there, now I may go back, I miss my art friends and the inspiration. However the drama drives me crazy, SO maybe something like Flickr would serve that for me better.

And I just discovered by signing into Goodreads I reactivated my Facebook. ~sighs~

Anywho I will work it out. Here is a journal page I did while mulling all this over.

Take care and ART on !

ANg

Colors of Nature

I have tried a new art supply Colors of Nature - Professional Quality Earth Friendly Artists' Paints. They have 13 colors and as the name of them imply they are very earthy looking. They are really nice paints, work just like your traditional paints. Very vibrant, great for washes and traditional WC'ing.
I really really like them. Mark Stryker the Manager has been very pleasant to deal with
providing information as needed.
They have Vegan Art Supplies , I am really wanting to try the brush cleaner.

Above is an angel I created using only a few colors, I think about 5 of them in the line.
They are based out of Toronto and if you order using my name Angie Westermann you can get
20% off! Contact me for the discount code.

Its a great world when small companies serve communities with really great supplies!

Art on my friends,
ANg

Art Adventures

Over the last month I have taken a few in person art workshops. I have hosted a sold out class at the Quirky Crocodile, a small wonderful shop here in Hamilton Ontario.

I love to teach. I love the buzz that happens when everyday people recognize that artist that lies in waiting.

SO here goes everything.

SO putting this out there to the world and all its possibilities. Home Art Workshops.
I will come to your home with all the supplies! You and your friends will leave with Goddess Art . $50.00 a person, minimum of 6 people which includes yourself, the hostess class is free! PM if you are interested, classes run around 2,5 hrs to 3 hrs. Loads of fun will be had by ALL! I promise I can teach anyone Art. You can look through this blog  and like me on FACEBOOK PAGE to see my style. I also do Birthday parties for children, that price per child will be lower and at a group rate. Universe I am calling out to my angels to help me make this happen.

 

I consider myself a mixed media artist. I can do acrylics, watercolor, collage , Really anything. I do mean anything. I call myself a Crafty Artisan. I LOVE ANYTHING ARTSY FARTSY.
So would love to hear from you.

Art on Lovilies,

ANg

Gypped and Jaded

Today I am home sick, so I decided to check out the Art Lessons on the Art Lessons - Interweave which owns Cloth Paper Scissors , Quilting Magazine etc everything is 40% percent off and by the way they describe it well it sounded like gold....hmmm Fools Gold I'd say.
I got 5 Lessons for $10.00 (BONUS) however one of the videos is 4 minutes long, the PDF is 8 pages long which did not live up to the description of what I was going to learn. I actually watched someone fingerpaint most of the video. Disclaimer # 1 - this is not a direct reflection on the "teacher" I think this is how Interweave has set the Program up. Disclaimer # 2 These are completely my Reviews on what I bought. The videos are super fast time. It makes me think of what my dear husband has been going through, he has been in college for 5 years the college is doing something called "Blended Learning" They get some classroom time (minimal) a you tube video to look at, and ALOT of reading to do.
So Interweave has created this "Blended Learning" Watch a video in super speed time, read a PDF and then go on the big world web to really learn. I guess its like a diving board for creativity. Sounds good, I guess. BUT don't write this nice detailed description on what I am going to learn. That's more like a workshop and ends up being what they call a Lesson, which really was a mini lesson.
Don't waste your time. Go on Youtube and you will find all sorts of videos that will teach you what you want to know. Everyday artists sharing their knowledge.
Some years ago I went against the Cloth Paper Scissors Trading cards and spoke up, I still feel that was poorly handled by Interweave, in the beginning the participants were told they would have to buy the book, in the end I think they got a percentage off, really not sure how that ended up working out.
I just spent ages trying to find the post but I think I deleted the journal. If anyone finds the direct post I wrote please do put it in a comment.
Now with all this being said , I may or may not get backlash from this . I don't really care, just so you know that.
I long ago quit buying CPS magazine, I really should have known better this time.
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
My title is gypped and jaded. I have to laugh I can be over dramatic at times.
I am not jaded.
I just wanted everyone to know how I felt about these "Lessons"

Now onto better things.

MIKE passed all his classes, graduation is in June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am really proud of him. Winter Camping is done. Still working my way through the Creative Grief Grief Coaching Certification, its a really long way for me, I start and stop thank goodness there is no time line on this.

If you really wanna get real visit Mother Henna, follow your own beauty Goddesses.

Here is a piece of art I created

Art on sistahs,
ANg

Disappearing Act

My sweet friend Judie left me a comment "You have disappeared again!" Oh Judie I am so sorry, I keep forgetting your are not on Facebook and because my family is so far away that's where I post a lot of things. So my blog gets pushed aside.
I will try better.
I am going to catch you and those that follow me up.
I am now the proud owner of two little poodle puppies, my new puppy is almost 10 months old, Her name is LULU , ohhhhhhhhhhh how sweet she is. Funny and very very very....did I say VERY energetic.
And then there is little Bella who is almost 2 years old. We have known her since she was 5 days old. WOW! Time just slips through my fingers.
Mike is done school. FIVE years, we are waiting to find out that he passed all his classes and once this happens WELL graduation is in June and he will be a Mechanical Engineer. Can I just say how very proud of him I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So here is a sweet pic of my little pups.

I have been doing a lot of art journaling. I really find it freeing. Mike bought me the journal last year, its lined and I watercolor in it , markers, and really whatever I feel like doing. NO RULES!
Awesome!

And last but not least amongst those pics is a pic of Mike and I , we spent a lot of time this past winter in a program called the "Winter Warrior Program"! Yes we did Winter camping, now while we have a hard camper with heat, Ontario had one of the worst winters in over 2 decades. Very very cold.
We had a wonderful time, there is nothing like having a warm campfire under the stars while beautiful snowflakes swirl around. It truly was magical.

thanks for stopping by and I will try my hardest to stay appearing.

ART on lovies.

ANg

Art Love - Duality

I am the sort of artist that everything I do has a meaning. I pour my heart and soul into everything I do. Every painting I do, has an underlining meaning. It may not be visible or told but its there, So I have decided to tell some of these stories.

 

"Duality"

 

This particular painting was finished the summer of 2013. My husband Mike and I had a fantastic summer, camping, enjoying nature, building lots of campfires and eating lots of spider dogs and S'mores.
I would sit and stare into the beautiful campfire mesmerized by the dancing flames and my mind would wander into the weird and wonderful mind of an artist.
Monday would come and I would find myself sitting at a desk, typing typing typing and more typing. LOL.
I looked around and everyone was typing. I again wandered into my weird and wonderful artist mind and thought " All of us are SO much more than what we see and present to the world."
We live, love, feel joy, sadness, we dance under the moonlight, giggle till we can't catch our breath, cry so hard it feels like our hearts have broken.
 While I really like my job, I LOVE my life.
We all have such a "Duality" to us.
So this goddess gurl reminds me of that.
One side of her is purple and the other side is green. And somehow it works, this crazy wonderful duality of each and every one of us.
Art on my friends,
ANg

Goddess and Angel Gurls

Angel #1

As promised here are the angel and goddess gurls, for sale.
They are 5 for $20.00, Size A2 - 4.25 inches x 5.50 inches, they come with a envelope.
They have been professional printed on linen cardstock.This makes the print match the actual art,  like a the painting and reminds me of the watercolor that I begin all my paintings with.
I am also working on a calendar, there will be a goddess/angel gurl for each month, with the calendar part being hand made by me. The size would 8.50 inches by 11 inches , which does not include the calendar part. These would be $28.00. I would have to at least get 10 orders of these to do another print run, as the first run is ALL but sold, I have 8 more left. SO if you are interested in these let me know ASAP.

Shipping for the cards is $3.50 and for calendars is $5.00, I charge actual shipping cost.
Monies can be sent through paypal. My email is altermyworld(dot)angw@gmail(dot)com
The wonderful part you get to choose which angel/goddess gurls you want.
SO you can pick  5 different ones or you can have all the same, it does not matter.
Rocking cool eh?

Goddess #2

Angel#3

                                                  

 

Goddess#4

Goddess #5

Angel#6

Goddess#7

Goddess#8

Angel#9

Goddess#10

Goddess#11

Goddess#12

Goddess#13

Angel#14

 

  

If you are interested please email me - altermyworld(dot)angw@gmail(dot)com
To my art friends, I am always interested in a trade, only for the cards, as the calendars would be too costly .
Art on my lovies and Merry Christmas! And OHHHHHHHHHHH I make Christmas cards also, Crafty Artisans type. Very pretty. Let me know if you are interested in those as I can post some pics.

L. ANg

Deva Curl- "Calling all Curls" but NOT all gurls!

8 months ago i started using a product designed especially for us curly hair gurls. I really liked it, I liked it SO much i told everyone. Trust me, when i get excited over something I can be very persuasive! Early this month DEVA CURL, put out a call for Curly girls, in Niagara Falls. I was pretty excited I submitted my pictures of my hair and a week or so later I got a thanks but no thanks sorta email, we'll keep your picture on file.
and THEN yesterday on their facebook page, they posted another call, this one was alittle more specific.

A direct Quote:
"Could You Be the Next DevaCurl Top Model? DevaCurl seeks curly models for an upcoming, pro photoshoot in NYC. Selected talent to receive compensation, travel expenses, customized DevaCurl products and curly services by NY Guest Artists. REQUIREMENTS: Must be available November 11-13 and fit size 2-6 wardrobe. Please submit 3-5 photos of you and your curls to colleen@mydevacurl.com by Thursday, November 7th."


Can you imagine the reaction? A size 2-6 wardrobe. Loads and loads of comments came in.

Here are just a few.

"I never comment or post on here but the whole 2-6 sizing is disappointing to see coming from a company who claims to encourage natural. Though that size is natural for many it's not for all of us and even the fact that you'd post that is offensive" ~Ana~

Ya! I second that Danielle! What about us curvy girls?! U better rethink those sizes devacurl people!

"lol. my hair alone is bigger than a size 6!!"~Audrey~

"I Cannot believe this.... Now you are asking for a specific size!!!! Why??? You should be ashamed!!!!!! deva curl was introduced to me by my friend who is not a size u are asking about neither am i!!!!!!! She was all exited to submit her photos!!! She posted this on her facebook She has introduced your Products to the whole office. Now you insult her!!!! How dare you !! You should apologize etc!!!!!!!!!~Rita~

"Disappointed that this is only for size 2-6 ladies. What about us larger curly-haired ladies?"~Clara~

"Wow... Curly haired girls have struggled for years with their hair ... Now we have to think about size 2-6 ...agreed not nice!"~Kathryn~

"Just like hair comes in all shapes, so do the gals who are rockin' it. Come on Deva, you're better than this."~Colleen~

"Ya! I second that Danielle! What about us curvy girls?! U better rethink those sizes devacurl people!"~Carol~

" I am also extremely disappointed in the body size restriction that perpetuateske the notion that only a very small fraction of bodies, that in no way actually represents curlies realistically, are beautiful/ worth capturing"~Ellen~

" I'd totally do this but I don't fit those sizes. If I am a curly HAIR model why the size restrictions? I am more representative of the majority than a size 2-6 person. No offense meant to thin women but this is very upsetting. I only use Deva products "~Rennie~

"Yeah, don't discriminate against those of us who may be a little bigger!"~Candy~

Now these are the ones my friends and I captured on our phones, prior to DEVA - don't want no big gurls, CURL , taking down the Facebook Post.

HERE IS THE TWO RESPONSES, AGAIN THE TWO WE MANAGED TO CAPTURE FROM DEVA - don't want no big gurls, CURL

"Diversity is a DevaCurl priority and one that will be well reflected across all our brand communications. This is just the first of several professional photoshoots planned for 2013/2014."~DevaCurl~

THIS IS THEIR INITIAL RESPONSE:

"Fret not, Curly Girls! Please know, we value and welcome the views and opinions of the collective curl community and want the conversation to continue. Diversity is a DevaCurl priority and one that will be well reflected across all our brand communications. This is just the first of several professional photoshoots planned for 2013/2014."~DevaCurl~

My response: FRET NOT?????????????? Do we look like children to you? You speak as if we should be patted on our heads and everything will just go away, we will be satisfied. I can well imagine there are alot of women who are totally disgusted by you, by the perpetuation of this sterotype of "Who is beautiful?" I think you owe alot of us an apology.
Society has a lovely way of trying to put all of us women in this little bitty tiny box, as i read online "Dont' try to think outside the box, Understand that there is NO box" So dear DevaCurl, stop trying to put us curly gurls in the box.

We have mothers and sisters and daughters and neices, AND we have husbands and fathers and sons and nephews that love us just as we are! By putting a number on who is accepted and who is not, it again tells society who is beautiful. DO you know that we have children ages FIVE that have body image issues. I am not asking you to change the world, but i am asking you to be the change. FRET NOT?????? Oh you have opened up a whole can of fretting, see its not just about this one show in New York. Its about a collective soul of women that YOU have offended.

You can take down the Facebook post, you can try some crowd control. However a whole group of us will not forget. And remember in the beginning when i said i can be very persuasive, if anyone ask me about DevaCurl I used to say how awesome the product was, now the first thing i will tell them is about how you are part of a societal problem, thinking inside the box.

This takes me to one more point, the trend setting show in Niagara Falls Canada, the one i politely got a no thank you, i wonder if i was not selected based on your idea of that 2-6 size.

Just makes me realize how small minded that post was.

Proudly no longer a DevaCurl gurl,
ANg

Never enough time

Today My furry friend Lucy died. My heart feels broken, but really its not. It has another crack in it.
It reminds me that there is never enough time, there was never enough time for me to give her all the love i felt for her.

The death of my son, and the death of my dear furry friend Sasha two yrs ago taught me, you only give one chance to witness the death of someone you love.

So as Lucy died i was holding her in my arms, as they shaved her little paw, and put the needle in she growled and hissed like her alter ego "Rattlesnake" I cradled her and told her to let them have it and to be a brave girl. I sang to her.

A song i have sung to her since she was 8 weeks old

Mamas gonna buy you a diamond ring and if that diamond won't shine.

Mamas gonna buy you the sun in the sky,

And if that sun don't shine,

Mamas gonna buy you the stars and the moon.

I sang it and sang it, i told her How i was so lucky to be her mama, how she had healed parts of my brokeness. I told her she was going to be reunited with Sasha her BFF (best furry friend). I thanked her. The ride to the vet she purred and purred, something she had not done for weeks.


I want to share with the lyrics for Marc Anthony New song, the salsa version

VIVIR MI VIDA (LIVE MY LIFE) - The song is in Spanish so here is the translation

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

[I'm gonna] live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy

live my life, la, la, la, la

Sometimes rain comes

to clean wounds

Sometimes just a drop

can overcome the drought


And why cry, for what?

If it hurts bad, forget it

And why suffer, for what?

If life is like this, you must live it


I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy

live my life, la, la, la, la


I'm gonna live in the moment

to understand the fate

I'm gonna listen in silence

to find the way

And why cry, for what?

If it hurts bad, forget it

And why suffer, for what?

If it hurts bad, forget it

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy

live my life, la, la, la, la

My people!

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

Why mourn? Why suffer?

Start dreaming, laughing

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

Feel and dance and enjoy,

you only live once

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

Live, always keep moving forward

Don't look back

My people, you only live once

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance
live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy

live my life, la, la, la, la

So my friends, connect with one another, there really is never enough time. Connect with your loved ones, connect with yourself.
Really thats all there is in this life and to be honest its all too short.

Love, ANg

Return to Zero

"RETURN TO ZERO"

Please click on link to make the pledge

My name is Angie or as most of  my online friends know me, ANg, my mom and dad call me daughter, my sister, calls me sissypoo, my neices and nephews call me Aunt Geegee. My husband calls me, mama, sweets, lover girl, friend and Ang.

My son, calls me Mama, He is on the other side. He died October 22, 2001, almost 12 years ago.  His name is Andrew.

Somewhere along the line of being a bereaved mama, i have become an activist, an educator.

I talk to social workers, i talk to doctors, i speak at work about my experience and have met so many women that are battling the death of their child and trying to incorporate that into their lives. This week i had the honor of listening to the story of a woman who is exploring the possiblity she may have permanent infertility.

Somehow or another we have stopped telling our story as a societal whole.
And if we tell our story, mine is 12 yrs in the making then i must not be "getting over the death of Andrew:" or i must not have found "closure".

Please know love does not get over, love does not find closure.
Love goes on and on and on, even in death.

There is movie called "Return to Zero" It is about "RETURN TO ZERO is based on the true story of a successful couple preparing for the arrival of their first child. Just weeks before their due date they discover that their son has died in the womb and will be stillborn. Lives and relationship forever altered by the loss, they try to cope through denial, escape and alcohol, but nothing can save their marriage. And that's when they discover that they're again pregnant (from a last ditch 'save the marriage' getaway to Las Vegas), and must come together to face a turbulent and terrifying pregnancy" ~ imdb.com

I have become a local leader and all that means is i have pledged to spread the word about this film. Breaking open the societal silence. I am asking each of you to pledge to see the movie if it should come to your hometown and please please when pledging use my name as the local leader you are under. This requires a quick name address etc, no money is involed just you pledge to see this film.
Imagine the compassion you will learn. Please in memory of every little boy and girl who have died and the families left behind, please sign the pledge, by doing so it could possibly be shown in all theaters.

"Ang Westermann"
Here is the link - RETURN TO ZERO

L.
ANg

And Furthermore!

Hi my lovelies! Remember last week i wrote a post about SHAMED BY SOCIETY- FREE TO BE ME

Then I saw this video REAL BEAUTY DOVE SKETCHES -  A video designed and with the intention of having women celebrate their own beauty.

And of course it led me to DO THEY EVEN KNOW REAL BEAUTY?

FURTHERMORE!
I just want to add there is this misconception that if a woman has acceptance for her body, especially if she is fat, then she has to be unhealthy and is promoting being unhealthy. Its not the same thing! Its a basic human right to be treated with respect, fat, skinny, tall, short etc. Its ok to give thyself permission to love your body . PERIOD END!
So today, this moment in time give yourself permission for self love, for body image love, give your body a hug everyday from YOU.

TONIGHT  I found the most awesome site  THE BODY IMAGE PROJECT.

What follows are  DIRECT Quotes  from "The Body Image Project" I could not have said it better, Jes you are a hero!

"Body Image(s)" is a photography series by Jes of JSPhotography that showcases the many sizes, shapes, and shades of beauty.
​
We often lose ourselves within the concept that the ideal body image is unilateral; that it excludes all save a few. The reality is though, that when you step away from societal norms, you start to see that “ideal” is relative and that beauty is ubiquitous. There is no “right” or “wrong” shape or size; Kate Moss is just as stunning as the “Venus of Willendorf” and vice a versa . This is not a personal opinion, but rather a fact.
​
By photographing the diversity of the female body, Jes' hopes were to empower women by embracing all beauty and educating others while eradicating exclusivity.  Wondering if she could gather a dozen volunteers to bare their skin, she was overwhelmed when her mailbox filled with women willing to embrace body acceptance and self love.
​
This series has turned into a two way gift. A gift to the photographer, as the models donated their time and offered an intimate invitation to be photographed, and a gift from the photographer as the images were given to each model as visual proof of their exquisiteness. Each session was lovely, but as they progressed, Jes noticed that each woman left with a renewed self-confidence. This, she felt, was the greatest outcome she could have hoped for.

This project is still living, breathing, and growing so check back regularly for new images"

To all my woman friends, I am hugging each of you.
L.
ANg

Enchanted Once Again

I love anything to do with the Fairy Realm.

This card is again a celebration of a fairy and the enchantment of them.

Take a piece of watercolor paper, mix together blue and purple Watercolor paints
Wet the entire piece of paper and drop in the colors of paints and while the paint is wet, sprinkle salt in the wet salt.
Let it dry and then rub the salt off. Then stamp the images using any kind of dark black pigment ink. I find the pigment ink much darker
Embellish with some stickers (flowers are outline stickers) Color in with coloured pencils.
  I just love to embellish cards.
Always remember to be enchanted by life, find wonderful moments to make you smile.

Art on my fairy friends,
ANg  -

Here are the stamps I used
MOON LADY and ENCHANTED

Shame induced by Society - Free to be Me

I came across an article this week on FaceBook. Mocking a Fat Person, its about a Fat girl who set up with a friend and had that friend take pictures of people looking at her. Its a really interesting article, its about how people look at a Fat person and feel entitled to make faces, say things, and or make gestures concerning " FATNESS".  There is over 200 comments, which are just as interesting to read.
Some of them include -"'Projection"   She is "projecting" what she thinks others are thinking about her."
Some go on tirades about how a fat person is unhealthy and delusional in thinking that she could not be even remotely or possibly happy or healthy being fat. ETC. ETC.

Personally, I have had people blantantly make fun of me, as i am a fat woman.
I have had my husband witness it, I have had my sister and her husband and my nieces and nephews witness it.  Old men have made gestures, young kids have laughed at me, group of young adult boys have said awful things to me. And i certainly was not projecting, I knew and anyone around me knew what they were referring to.
What always surprises me is that why do these people think they have the right to bully me?
When it has happened it has produced feelings of guilt and shame. Society has a lovely way of doing that.

This young woman has taken that shame and turned her response around to creatively starting a world wide web of conversation.

So i am going to talk about this. As a fat girl i have the right to be on this earth, much like a skinny girl, much like an Indian person who has dark skin. I have the  right to live and breathe the same air as anyone else.
Much like a grieving person, they have the right to grieve exactly as they need to, without shame, guilt, fear of judgement etc. People are people, they are different, individual and yet we ALL belong here.

Lets make a conscious decision together, ok?  Enjoy our differences, Embrace each other just as we are.
It will change your life, and it will change the world.

The above art piece was created by me, its called "Free to be Me" It was in an exhibit here in Ontario, celebrating the 100 annversary of the 'International Womens Day"
The curator told me a story of a class that made a trip to view the 100 paintings.
They were between the ages of 8-12. One little boy called the curator over and said someone had written on my painting. I don't think you can see it, but on her green shirt i wrote the word "BELLY", and painted an arrow pointing to her belly.
The reason i did this was to bring attention to an area that causes alot of shame for women. Our bellies.
Oh the shame of this eh?
We rock our babies on our bellies, our lovers lay their head on our belly after sweet lovemaking.
Our bodies are sacred, Every little or BIG part of them.
Lets promote love and honour for each other.
Its really important.

L.ANg

Collecting Loss

I wanted to take a moment to thank each of you who took the time to answer my questions around "Bereaved Parents Rights" I really appreciate your honesty and bravery.

Here is another way in which I continued to be a mama to my son, Andrew. See, I don't believe in closure, I don't believe because he died, i ceased to be his mother and i should just "get over him"
I do believe that my entire life and beyond i will be his mama. And in this big ole crazy world I finally got something right. Him.

I believe it was back in 2007, a call went out, I somehow found it, not really sure how, probably a link that someone posted but it was called "Collecting Loss" Two wonderful ladies invited people to send in clothing from their deceased. They then took each piece of clothing and sewed it into something else, shirts, skirts, a teddy bear. "This project is being created with the intentions to: Preserve and honour memories; Provide a visual and verbal gathering place for grief; Explore change by weaving individual threads of cloth and story into shared fabric; Offer healing, education and stimulation of dialogue around death of a loved one." I sent in Andrews onesie. It is now 2013 and the exhibit went live in Toronto 2012, I unfortunately was not able to attend. Mike was going through exams and I could not go alone. One of these days of will purchase the book, i just found out there was one. Here is http://www.collectingloss.com/gallery_index3.html - Andrews onesie and a letter from me. Here is http://www.collectingloss.com/home.html - The official link And here is the http://www.collectingloss.com/sharing.html - Sharing my Story. L. ANg

The Fairy Realm

I love anything to do with the Fairy Realm.

This card is again a celebration of a fairy and the enchantment of them.

Take a piece of watercolor paper, mix together some Blue and a wee bit of black, have a little army green on the side, I am talking about Watercolor paints.
Wet the entire piece of paper and drop in the colors of paints and while the paint is wet, sprinkle salt in the wet salt.
Let it dry and then rub the salt off.
The stamp the images using any kind of dark black pigment ink. I find it much darker.
Add a piece of ribbon . I just love to embellish cards. Add a small gold brad and a lovely layered card is born
Always remember to be enchanted by life, find wonderful moments to make you smile.

Art on my fairy friends,
ANg

Discussion Time- Bereaved Parents Rights

Baby Andrew and his Mama holding hands
Oct 22, 2001

I am taking a certification online it is the  Creative Grief Coaching Certification. It is a course that is taught by  Experiential learning which is the process of making meaning from direct experience, i.e., "learning from experience".  In relation to that kind of learning a huge part of the whole process is Reflection, through the Refection, my own grief is being examined.
So lets start at the beginning, October 22, 2001 my son was born 22 wks gestation. He died shortly thereafter in my arms.
His name is Andrew Joseph.
Here I am 11 1/2 yrs later taking this course. A lot of learning, a lot of thinking, re-thinking and reflection is happening.

I am posting this discussion on my blog and I need your help. I hope to understand through the answers I receive to understand and know the fears or misconceptions or even truths that come from this discussion. Remember this is how you feel, the only thing I need from you is A. the truth and B. to be respectful, if someone post something that you do not agree with this is not forum for bitter arguing, it is the place for discussion and learning from each other.

 All over the world babies die at birth. Afterwards parents are stunned, shocked and grieving. When a baby dies gestationally 20 wks or more these parents are required by law to bury that baby, by cremation or burial.

Many forms of funerals happen or even no funeral happens.

This is my question.
What if the parents want to take the baby home?
I can think of several reasons.
Maybe to spend time with the baby alone, in a place of love and not a sterile hospital or a funeral home.
Maybe to have a home funeral.
Perhaps the parents want to take the baby home to meet pets.
Maybe to give the parents a time to parent that baby at home, to make memories and to soul connect without strangers around.
Maybe the funeral they want to create is non conventional, one they want to plan and to happen at home.

Dead babies do go home, for these reasons and many more.
It happens all over the world.
BUT in some places it is not happening, mostly because in the deepest darkest moments grieving parents don't even realize they can. Nurses, doctors,social workers, the ones who have been given the job of holding the hearts of grieving  parents do not recognize this as an option. So parents are never given the chance to make that decision. Fear fuels this.

How do you feel about moms and dads who want to take their baby home? Does this scare you? What are your fears? Concerns? Do you see this as an option that moms and dads should have?
Would you go to a home funeral?

I need to know what you are thinking. I am wanting to advocate for this and knowing what  discussions, thoughts and questions  that may come back at me. would help me tremendously.
Please be honest, please don't write what you think I want to hear. Write from your heart. I will hear you, and I will honour where you are, without judgement. Please be brave and help me.

L.
ANg

Enchanted by the Moon.

HI! My project today is one of my favs, i made a whole card set which i will share my over my next few post.

The one today is

Pretty Moon and Fairy stamp, along with the Enchanted Stamp.

Here is the link to the "Fairy on Moon" and to "Enchanted".

The background was made using 140lb watercolour paper using ShinHan Tube Watercolous.

Using a wet brush cover the entire piece of paper, let it sit for just about 45 seconds and then dip your brush into the watercolour and begin dropping colour onto the paper. Letting the watercolour paints fluidly move and blend.
I then stamped my chosen stamps using Stazon Ink.
I then used my prisma coloured pencil to add shadows and colour to the card.

Honestly stamp art is easy, just have fun and play!
L. ANg

Enchanted

I think like everyone, I am ready for spring. I am ready for the gorgeous flowers that smile at me everyday.

I am one of those goddess women who believe in fairies and sparkles and smiles.

So when i came across this most awesome stamp I went literally all warm and fuzzy.

Yummy eh?

I created a couple of pretty cards.
My favorite this one.

And its super simple to make. The butterfly is an outline sticker. Place the outline sticker on a piece of watercolour paper.
Get out your favorite watercolours; twinkling H20's, Peerless Watercolour, Pencils etc.
Choose your favorite colours, using a brush wet the paper, and then start adding the colours, they will mix and blend together. Let it dry and then i used Prisma pencils to accent the butterfly.
Then i stamped "Enchanted"with a black dye ink, on a small piece of watercolour paper, and painted it to compliment the larger area.
Attach to a card and you have a lovely card.
Take care my art friends
L.
ANg

Create Peace

Art by ANg coming to you from her new lazy boy recliner!

I love the color combination of pinks and browns. So when I found this AWESOME stamp, patterned heart  and this CREATE PEACE at my favorite stamping store VLVS I just knew I could create something very pretty.

 I am just tickled pink! I love how they turned out!

1. Select the colors you want. I used a bronze/brown cardstock, pink cardstock, and some sticky back fabric. (From  DCWV - Die Cuts With A View)
2. I selected the papers I wanted as my focus, rubberstamped the Patterned heart Stamp with Timber Brown Stazon.
3. If you notice it created a very subtle look. I wanted it like that. So that I could accent the parts of the stamps by using Prisma colored pencils .
4. "Create Peace " was stamped on each card.
5. Layering - Your Base card, a layer of pink cardstock, patterend paper, base color again, switch it up, use those little pieces of paper that are left over.
6. Attach some pretty brads, to accent.
7. Embellish - I used some pretty pink flowers to embellish the cards. I bought some Mica Flakes by Stampendous. OMGosh! These are super pretty. Use any glossy varnish/medium/glue and put a small amount on your card and then sprinkle the Mica Flakes in the glue. Let it dry. I even used pretty ribbon.
Cards are perfect for those embellishments that you only have a few of.

I used MIRACLE TAPE to attach the layers.

I used the following stamps :

Patterned Heart

Here  is the link for the Patterned Heart.
Here is the link for the Create Peace.
Here is the link for the Ribbon.

Art on my friends.
L.
ANg

P.S. These cards are available to at a very affordable cost! Each one of them are handcrafted by me.
They come with a pretty envelope stamped with the same Patterned heart.
Leave me a comment if interested, the set is 22.00. Postage is extra.