Thursday, August 30, 2012

GOOD is just fine... PAJWLH

I have been sitting on this project for sometime now. I can't really explain why except that for some reason or another...my thoughts or heart were not ready. Today is a great day to share it.


I made this canvas about a year and a half ago while I was on staff at my second Brave Girls Camp. Even as a staffer, I came to camp with the same openness as a camper. I needed to be there. I didn't think that I could love more women after my first camp. I left my first camp with a love, real love for my friends that I had made there. The kind of love that you know, loves you just as much if not more than you love them. The kind of love that gives, takes care of and treasures you. Yup... that kind of love. I was fortunate that both times I attended camp I had made true heart felt connections that I still treasure to this date. I have always had a tough time maintaining friendships with women and this experience made me forget all of that. Well now I am totally off topic, but as you can tell... these ladies mean a lot to me.

Back to my story...

At this camp, I created art from the heart. I chose words and images that were me at the time. This is one of them.

Let me back track to 6 months before I left for camp...

It was the end of summer, I was in transition; leaving a situation that was not good for me. I was letting go of friends, work, art... a whole lot of things that I loved dearly. Deep in my heart I knew that God had brought me to this place and that He would guide my heart through it as well (even as I write this, I CANNOT believe just how good He is to me and just HOW MUCH my heart is full of joy now) but at the time it seemed like a long and bumpy uphill battle.

At this time, a lot of my close friends were calling me up or emailing me to check in on how I was doing. The most common response from them was don't worry...everything will be alright or you are doing the right thing. And it was all true, everything was alright and yes I did do the right thing. One of my friends phone call is what stuck with me still to this day.

One of my friends who called to check in on me was having a really tough time at his job. For him to call me and check in at this time meant a lot to me since I knew that he was going through his own trials. When he first asked me how I was doing, I said. "I'm good I guess". His response to me was... "Well, sometimes good is just fine".

These words hit me to the core. I couldn't shake them, I could not let them leave my mind. They couldn't even if I wanted to.

Up until I heard these words, I had slowly allowed my life to be taken out of my own hands. I had not realized it yet, but my life had become something I didn't even recognize. Hearing these words reminded me that my life didn't have to be exciting, adventurous, over the top amazing. It just needed to be good. And that was just fine. I immediately felt my heart change. I looked at my situation and realized that what I saw as bad, God saw as good. I didn't know it at the time, but God was working His way toward making a better life for me and this was the first step towards that. I needed to change my perspective on what I needed out of life first and in order to do that, I had to hear these words from my friend.


GOOD IS JUST FINE- 6x6 Mixed Media Canvas





 

 This image shows the layers that I placed as the base of my canvas. Dress pattern tissue and music note paper.


Here is the layer I placed on after, Mod Podge mixed with Smooch Spritz with gold glitter. I allowed the tissue paper to remain wrinkle and sealed it with bees wax.


 For extra flair, I used gold foil on select places to create a tarnished patina look.
 

Here is the title, I textured it with Chip Art embossing tools, painted it with gold paint and glitter and distressed it with pen and ink.



This art piece sits in my studio as a reminder that Good is just fine. My life doesn't need to be what I had always dreamed it to be or as adventurous as my friends lives seemed to be. It just needed to be good. I am not exactly sure at what point the words good became not enough for me, but I have a feeling that it involved me being around the wrong people and listening to wrong things. Wrong is never right, as much as it may make sense... wrong is wrong and we have a feeling deep down inside of us that reminds us when we are confronted with wrong. I have for the longest time tried to tell myself that wrong was ok or maybe wrong wasn't too bad. But wrong always has a way of getting to you... luckily for me, God saw that I was surrounded by wrong and paved my exodus from it all. That little voice (feeling) deep inside of me started to speak up, speak louder and soon became loud so loud that I couldn't deny what it had been telling me for so long. I am forever grateful for this. So many lies, fears and insecurities made me feel that wrong was right, that I couldn't do better... but again God knew better and eventually I learned too, but that is another story.

So for this art journal prompt it is simple.

  • Creative - Use texture... whether you build up with paper, tissue, foil...whatever, get messy and build up some layers.
  • Prompt - What does the word GOOD mean to you. Do you need it to be EXCELLENT all the time like I did, or is good just fine?
I struggle sometimes sharing some of my stories, but I can't help but feel obligated to share my imperfections and insecurities in hopes that others will know they are not alone. I am not a counselor nor a therapist, so this is in no way meant to be therapy... but art has a way of helping us find truth, in ourselves, in our surroundings... in our relationships. It took me almost two years to develop from this beautiful message shared to me, but I can see the difference in me now and fully appreciate it. I pray that open hearts read this and that you find a story that doesn't necessarily speak to you, but that allows you to see that you are not alone.

We are all on our own paths, some ahead of each other, some behind... but our stories are our responsibility to share in the hopes that we can assist those to further their path in peace, love and comfort.  Judgment isn't always something we feel from others, most of the time it is something that we conflict on ourselves. I pray that sooner rather than later these hurts and fears are extinguished and that life can be lived as it was intended too.

I believe it will ♥

If you didn't get a chance to see this weeks My Craft Channel video and this weeks giveaway, check it out here. For the giveaway make sure to use the widget, you may need to refresh the page to use it.

thank you for your visit today :)

~Liz

16 comments:

  1. What a wonderful story! Love the canvas and what a great reminder for everyday life! TFS Liz ;)

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  2. Liz, you just blessed me so much with your post. You expressed yourself beautifully!! I just recently found you and I know it was a God-thing because of your banner at the top!!! I mark every card I make with the words SHINE!
    I love your art and I love your the real-life struggle you dealt with--your transparency is inspiring.
    Keep up the great work in all you do--for His glory!

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    1. Thank you Ms. Lucie :) transparency is a beautiful thing!

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  3. This post is beautiful and so very true of many people. I recently made a decision to transition into a new position with the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Part of the need to make the move was the unhappy state i found myself in at my old job. I loved the people I worked with and I even loved the work I did...but it wasn't the right fit anymore and I was starting to get angry about it. My transition brought face to face with individuals who lived by the princile of enjoying every moment that you have (despite the curveballs). so I quickly realized that my bad = good but my good = great (in relation to many of the people around me). So I complain less, I smile even more, i laugh a ton, and I LOVE BIGGER. We all need little reminders and I'm blessed to have gotten mine through work. I love what I'm doing, but I appreciate even more that it has shown me to love how I live.

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    1. So beautiful Nubia! LOVE BIGGER :) I love that!

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  4. What a beautiful post Liz, and exactly the reminder that I needed to hear today. I am still trying to figure out my path -- and the creative people that I want to surround myself with. It's so easy to feel not good enough -- and the struggle to feel like I am good enough is always so hard to push from my mind. Thank you, for your post today.

    I like my life, simple as it is - it's good and that's just fine with me. xo sweet friend!

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    1. Me too Cat... I have had a very exciting few years, but finally I am right where I need to be. I know that I had so many fears letting go and moving on... but it was all worth it to be here now. Thank you for being a part of this with me my friend :)

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  5. Wow...I have recently gone through a huge change in my life, losing a job that was my highest priority and it consumed my life but I thought that was what I was supposed to do. The same day I found that my dad's cancer had spread and we will have some rough days ahead. This week school started back without me (the teacher), my baby started high school and my best friend may have breast cancer. BUT God has used these difficult days to draw me to Himself..."Be still and know...". I know that God has different plans for me. I have decided to have peace in my blessing that I don't have to work and can now be available for the ones I love (because I wasn't before). Thank you for sharing that today...right now, I'm good and good is just fine!

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    1. I am the kind of girl that God literally has to grab me out of a situation and put me into my new one... I am a little timid when it comes to change, so I really wait till the last minute! Glad this spoke to you Cheri and will be praying for your family.

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  6. You are beautiful and perfect inside and out. I am blessed to call you my friend..xo

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  7. Thank u for the chance to win some graphic 45 goodies and loving ur work nice style
    -Harumy

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  8. It is truly amazing how God works in our lives. thank you so much for sharing. Sometimes I feel I'm too involved and need to step back a little. I like your story about "good" being okay. I also find that creating something takes my mind off all the day to day aggravations and brings peace. Thanks to our Creator for making us like Him in that respect. May God bless you!

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