Beautiful Observations
Do you ever feel like the sweet creatures of the world navigate toward you like they did in the movies toward Cinderella and Snow White? They aren’t afraid to get close & look you in the eye like they are telling you something very important? I experience this quite often …
There is a beautiful Quail that visits me in the mornings on my kitchen window sill… with his colorful feathers he watches as I prepare my morning tea as if to say “Good morning sweet child, you have got this day”! On my walks or hikes, the birds, bunnies, and bees are not frightened by my presence …they walk or fly alongside or in front of me as if to guide my way.
On hard days when the world feels like it is caving in, walk outside, listen for a minute, find that Sparrow, Woodpecker, Hummingbird, Quail or Cottontail bunny and simply observe. That tiny act, that brief pause from the hustle and bustle resets and refreshes us. When I am still and observe, I start thinking about their resilience, their focus on immediate needs. If they can’t find food, they continue on until they do. If they lose a nest, they build another… there is no time or energy for grief. They call to one another to keep the group going or simply just sing their pretty tune.
I believe that birds and bunnies and the sweet creatures that roam are God’s gift to us all …accept it and take it all in! The more you do you might find the sweet creatures will seek you. Maybe those princesses were on to something…
xo, Jana
photo credit: Disney
Art Speaks
It brings great joy to my heart knowing that the kind people who have purchased my art over the years continue to cherish it! It is also a testimony to how art speaks to people on a personal level …one knows when a piece has touched their soul. The owner of this painting, Black Flowers 2011, shared with me that it has made a few moves with their family and they will always treasure it! I am honored!
xo, Jana
Jana’s Bandanas
A while back I had a bandana business offering head coverings for women and children experiencing hair loss. I know deeply what this feels like has I have experienced this off and on since the age of 7 due to an auto-immune condition. I wanted to provide comfort and support.
I met with beautiful & precious women and children going through Cancer, Environmental Illness, Diabetes and many other Auto-immune disorders. We would meet at their home, in my home or wherever they were most comfortable. I would show them how to tie the bandanas in fun ways and my favorite, how to create a cute bun in the back. I showered them with empathy, support and lots of love! “The eyes, (I would share) are the most gorgeous part of our face and when the hair is gone, it is our eyes that shine bright!”
I put great thought into the designs using fabrics like organic cottons, cotton velvets, and some poly blends. I had so much fun going to market shopping for the textiles choosing a wide range of patterns and solids to fit many tastes. I began by sewing them myself and then had a seamstress on board for more production. I also created cute caps adorned with little rosebuds or pretty lace as an easy throw on option.
I know that I said I had a “business” but it turns out that this was truly a compassion project. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to provide some support for so many lovely women and children. It truly warms my heart whenever I think about that time… and those sweet humans with the most beautiful eyes …a true blessing!
xo, Jana
Glorious Sky
Arizona sunset…the weather is turning, can you feel it! Fall is in the air…Glorious!
sunset credit: God
1970
Somewhere on a beach in the 70’s…. no plastic, no cell phones, no umbrellas, no headphones, no pollution in the beautiful blue sky… just towels and people talking & enjoying themselves on a sunny day … there is nothing, but it is everything!
xo, Jana
photo: unknown
Working Hands
There is great strength that comes from working with our hands. Our sense of touch is fed, affecting the brain in a powerful way. As we work with our hands, either through our professional career or hobby, how often do we stop and think about how incredible this God-given gift is?
A line worker, an artist, a farmer, a chef, a writer, a baseball player, a carpenter, a housekeeper, a baker, a mechanic, a hairstylist, a musician, a florist, a quarterback, a music conductor, a seamstress, a doctor, a golfer, a make-up artist, a gardener, a sign language interpreter, a volleyball player, a massage therapist, a knitter, a draftsman, a barber ….and on and on and on!
Our “handy” work honors the human spirit and gives purpose and meaning to our lives. It brings a sense of accomplishment and pride. Our hands are not always spot on but that is where we learn and grow. Our hands get tired and need rest… they also need praise for a job well done and grace when lessons are being learned. Take the time to stand in awe of your hard working hands …. praise them, praise God for them and then give yourself a round of applause for acknowledging & appreciating them!
xo Jana
photo: Mollenkopf
Ford Tough
If this 1965 Ford truck could talk I think it would say:
“Remember, hard work pays off…Freedom was fought for & is a gift that must be protected…Quality over quantity…Lessons learned from the past make for a stronger future…. Share the road but be aware of your surroundings….Never give up… Speak truth… If built well it will stand the test of time… Humor is good… A little rust on the fenders brings character & wisdom…. Be kind … Stay Strong… Love God, family & friends with all your heart….A good tune on the radio, a basket of daisies & a country road is good for the soul!” xo, Jana
Soul Expression
Play in a child’s developmental years is imperative to their “joy, freedom and contentment” (Where Children Grow, Froebel). We must not let it stop there! As adults, we must gift ourselves permission to carry out this same soul expression. It may seem like it is trivial or even immature to do so … quite the contrary! Swinging on a swing, twirling in a flower field, dancing in the rain, digging in a garden, singing in the shower, spattering paint, building a sand castle…. all beautiful ways to let go, bringing a sense of peace, freeing the soul!
When my clients ask me what they will be experiencing during our Intuitive Art (The Art of Surprise) session, I share that no matter your age, it is this free expression we will tap into, allowing your soul to soar:
~ Where Children Grow, by Friedrich Froebel, inventor of kindergarten. Cover, Justine Maendel, The First 2022
Just Because
A compliment, a smile, a flower plucked from the garden. It doesn’t have to be an occasion to shower an act of kindness upon someone. A thank you for “just being you” note, a little extra tip, holding the door, finding the owners of a lost dog, listening, a hug… the list goes on and on. And the beautiful thing, kindness grows like wildflowers, like dandelion seeds blown into the wind. With each new day brings opportunity, opportunity to shine these beautiful acts upon others…just because!
xo, Jana
photo: stock image