My interview with Madcap Logic

Thanks For Giving Art, Bailey Earith

"Bailey Earith, first found joy when she discovered fiber art. A broad term that covers quilts but is more than that. Her creations involve beads, vintage buttons, feathers, hand-painted fabric, manipulated fabric, cords, yarns, and found objects.Her work is viewed and collected globally.

However, she continues to find, and share joy. As an Artist In Residence with the Tennessee Arts Commission, she uses art to reach kids with disabilities...."

Read rest of post http://blog.madcaplogic.com/?tag=bailey-earith

My interview with Madcap Logic

Gratitude: Commit Random Acts of Art

I found this neat posting. I invite you to leave your "random acts of art" experiences on my site.

"Gratitude is a practice of giving thanks, appreciating others, and acknowledging the wonders of life. It's time to make a gratitude adjustment and carry out random acts of art - a commitment to compassion in action through creative imagination.
In Buddhism, a powerful expression of compassion in action is..." http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healing-arts/200811/gratitude-commit-random-acts-art#new

Gratitude: Commit Random Acts of Art

My Gift to You: World Peace & Prosperity Activation Recording

I lovingly invite you to take a few minutes for yourself and listen to this EnergyRICH® World Peace and Prosperity Activation Recording. It is very powerful and meaningful. It was gifted to me and now I gift it to you. Enjoy!

http://www.energyrichcoach.com/audio/specialcall11032008.mp3

My Gift to You: World Peace & Prosperity Activation Recording

Harmony: Gift from a friend

As I mentioned, my goal is to bring peace to the world through art. My good friend Janet Edkins gave me this beautiful card that is hand beaded with the Japanese symbol for "Harmony". I will enjoy it at my desk until the beadwork finds its way into one of my art pieces (probably in the near future). See more of Janet's gorgeous cards at: http://janetedkins.jaydesigns.net/

Harmony: Gift from a friend

My Interview at "Layers Upon Layers"

An interview I did with Layers Upon Layers: Mixed Media Art blog has just been published. Lots of pictures and thoughtful answers about art and my creative process. I hope you will read it (its short and sweet). Feel free to comment. http://www.layersuponlayers.com/

My Interview at "Layers Upon Layers"

Autism: Making Education a Positive Experience

"...an increasing number of parents and educators want to ensure all children receive a positive educational experience. As no two autistic children display precisely the same autism symptoms, it becomes impossible to create a standardized program that creates positive experiences for children with autism at school. Therefore, it is likely that in order to receive the best possible education an autistic child will need to undergo an ever-changing educational strategy throughout their entire learning career. ..." (Excerpted from http://www.126126.info/autism-and-school-aged-children-making-education-a-positive-experience/)

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about managing autism and school successfully. http://www.essential-guide-to-autism.com/?source=is

Autism: Making Education a Positive Experience

Wanted: Art Supplies

In the spirit of "ask and you shall receive," I could use some specific items for my Special Needs Art Class. If anyone has bricks (25) or Used children's cardboard books (25) they'd like to get rid of, We would be happy to accept and repurpose them. Thanks for your support!

Wanted: Art Supplies

Special needs art class

Today we made colorful turkey centerpieces. There's always room for more at this party. Contact me to join.

Special needs art class

World Kindness Day

Today is World Kindness Day. Since I am commited to bringing peace to the world through art, I tought I would share exactly how this works.

Our philosophy:
The world is full of turmoil, anger, and strife. These negative energies are very draining and destructive. It is our mission to combat these negative forces with positive energy.
Each work is created in a peace-filled, uplifting, positive, joyful environment.
This inspiring energy becomes infused into the art piece.
Those who view the finished art, experience a sense of joy and serenity.
They then carry that positive energy out into the world
where it is multiplied.

I invite you to share your ideas for spreading kindness by clicking on the comments.

"Dare to be bold, different, and always kind."

World Kindness Day

Marmot Quilt

This quilt started with a photo of a Marmot that I took out west. I trasfered the photo to fabric then used hand dyed fabrics to extend the photo beyond its frame. This replicates the view from a wide angled lens. Isn't he cute?

Marmot Quilt

Is art Therapy?

"...Engaging in the creative process, the arts, is healing and should be integrated into healing environments - into hospitals, outpatient treatment centers, doctors’ offices, the VA, residental centers, long-term care facilities (nursing homes), home care, and hospices.
When you engage in a creativity activity, aka the creative process, you become your own therapist. The therapy (which you facilitate) is to access that space that is intuitive, invisible, intangible, healing, and brings you comfort and pleasure by creating a tangible object..." (Quote from Marti Hand)

Is art Therapy?

The science supporting creativity in healthcare

The Benefits of Integrating Creativity in Healthcare

A growing body of research demonstrates that creativity and spirituality can heal by changing a person’s physiology, attitudes, emotional states, and perceptions of pain. Engaging in creative work has been shown to lower blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Creative acitivities rouse the hypothalamus to activate the autonomic nervous system, which balances vital signs and hormone level. Engaging in the creative process stimulates the amygdala in the brain to release endorphins and other neurotransmitters, thereby, reducing pain and triggering the immune system to function more efficiently. Creative interventions shorten hospital stays and decrease the use of pain medication. In addition, by engaging in creative work, patients and family caregivers experience reduced stress and anxiety levels, and a heightened sense of well-being.
Scientists are taking a closer look at the effects writing, painting and listening to music have on the body. ... http://martihand.wordpress.com/creativity-in-healthcaremarti-handarts-in-healthcarehealthcarenursing-3/

The science supporting creativity in healthcare

Buy My Art at VSA Charity Auction

My friend Claire Presnal with Rebecca Claire photography and I have several items up for auction to support the VSA. The VSA supports artists with disabilities and brings art opportunities to special ed classrooms. See items #59-75. http://news.vsaartstennessee.org/2008/10/auction.html is where you go to bid. Now the only trick is that they aren’t able to post photos on their site, so they asked me to post images of my auction items on my own site. They have the links for my work and Claire’s listed, but here are active links for you to click. To see Rebecca Claire Photography’s auction items http://rebeccaclaire.com/album_designs/vsa/VSA.html or Bailey Fiber Art’s auction items http://baileyfiberart.com/VSAAutionitems.aspx. This is a great group, and to learn more about the VSA visit their website http://vsaartstennessee.org/index.htm. Bidding is open until midnight on the 14th, which as we all know, is going to sneak up on us. This is their first ever on line auction, so please help support this great arts program!

Buy My Art at VSA Charity Auction