Category: Video

Food for the Creative Soul

6/23/2025

If you have a few minutes for some gentle, yet powerful encouragement, check this out. I loved it! ❤️
Let me know what you think!

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Evan spotted this fledgling bluebird in our yard yesterday. We could see his parents watching him in the trees above. He (or she) was so still and perfect. Such beauty in a tiny package. Not sure if the video captures it, but his tiny tail feathers were so cute! Later, Evan saw the mom feeding him. Fly high little birdie!!!

You can teach an old bird new tricks! After 15 years of using the Weebly platform for my website/blog, I just learned how to add emojis to the text. Yahoo!! 🤣😍🎉🐦❤️

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Need a smile? Check this out!

5/14/2025

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This is our new daily therapy. :) Totally agree with the name of the YouTube channel:
FUNNY ANIMALS HEALING. You won't be sorry!

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Calvary Animation Video--What Happened at the Cross

4/19/2025

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Happy and Blessed Resurrection Sunday!

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Happy John 3:16 Day!

3/15/2025

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"For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life...
John 3:16

...For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him
might be saved."
John 3:17

"What more could God give?"
Corrie Ten Boom
https://youtu.be/N7nYuItcsC4

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Ringing in the Mew Year!

12/30/2024

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Thought you might enjoy these silly kitties just as we did!
They remind us of our Purr-Tater and Hobbs :-)

Wishing you a Joyful and Blessed 2025!

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Blessed Christmas Week!

12/23/2024

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May the love of Christ warm your heart with heavenly peace and joy now and throughout 2025

In case you didn't get enough Christmas, I recently found some of my favorite Rankin/Bass Christmas TV specials on YouTube! Do you remember these?? I absolutely loved them as a child and still do. Maybe these beautiful productions inspired my interest in 3D paper art-- Probably!!! :) Here's also an interesting video about Rankin Bass Productions.

I recently started writing devotionals. If you'd like a word of spiritual encouragement, please read on!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Yes, and no. Yes, celebrating the birth of our King of King and Lord of Lords-- the magnificent Lord Jesus Christ, who redeems our lives from sin and death. No, because we live in a fallen world with not-so-picture-perfect relationships and circumstances, and a mixed bag of experiences. Things seem to be amplified around the holidays. Especially when gathering with family, we have good memories and sad ones, victories and difficulties, surprises and disappointments.

We’re living in a dark world, much like at the time of Jesus’ birth in the town of Bethlehem. As the lyrics of the song O Come O Come Emmanuel suggest, the Israelites were looking for a powerful, conquering King to save them, and the mystery of the Son of God being born in modest circumstances and living the life of a human was utterly unbelievable.

What about our circumstances today? I used to think I was an oddball— the rare one who dealt with multiple family losses (through death, divorce in my family, or estrangement). Now, I’m finding many friends are also dealing with the unexpected loss of their loved ones as well. Some losses are more traumatic than others, but all require some type of energy and support to process through. Nothing ever prepares us to deal with death; It’s a thief and foreign to us, probably because when God created us we were never meant to die.

Lest this blog post send you in a downward spiral, I wanted to make the point that it is in the very darkness that the Light-- Jesus Himself-- shines brightest, and with Him there is always hope (I Timothy 1:1). It’s in our valleys that we can become more acquainted with Jesus, the Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon 2:1), as He seeks to draw us to Himself with his fragrant love. After numerous tragic losses, I came to find and cherish many references that refer to God as a perfect father, mother, brother, and sister (as well as best friend and bridegroom)! As the great I AM, He is all about relationships, always drawing us close to receive and experience everything He has for us. I'm glad we have forever to get to know Him!

Somehow God promises to work all things together for good, even in our darkest times. One of my favorite names of God is the Holy Spirit referred to as “The Comforter” (John 14:26). Wow - a Holy Comforter! Imagine being wrapped in holy comfort!

Another favorite scripture is “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 24:18. We have the promise of his nearness always, even when we’re crushed. God isn’t put off by our breakdowns or neediness, but rather He longs for us to receive and experience the overflowing goodness of His shalom (completeness, wholeness, welfare, prosperity, peace), that His Son, Jesus, died to give us.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, reveal yourself to me. I invite you into my heart and ask you to fill me afresh with your presence and goodness. Thank you that your shed blood cleanses me from all sin. In the midst of my tragic circumstances, I receive a holy Comforter hug. Thank you that you wrap me in your arms of love and meet me exactly where I am, especially when I’m hurting. Help me trust that You have a miracle for me. Amen!

Thank you that you're working miracles in our dark times, Lord.
Believing wonderful things are coming your way in 2025!

If you're interested in receiving daily inspiration in your Inbox, click here!

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New Work & Video: [There's A Lion in the House]

7/2/2024

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I recently had the pleasure of completing my largest lion collage to date! It's about 22” x 30” and I used assorted acid-free, Color-Aid, and magazine papers, plus gold leaf. It took about a month from start to finish. It was a request from a client in Canada.

This is my first video of me talking about my process, so thanks ahead of time for your patience. Lots to improve for next time! This is Kelly's website. I've learned a lot from her book and blog!

Below are some close-ups of the intricate paper work.

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Spring Hugs!

4/22/2024

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If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video is worth a thousand hugs! Saw this yesterday and felt like I experienced a little slice of heaven. Spring hugs and blessings to you!! :)

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Day 1410: Photos from the Show & New Work!

3/14/2024

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Women's Work: Unique Visions By Women
*Springboard Art Show at the Clifton Arts Center, Clifton, NJ •*** Through March 28th

From L to R: Lydia Baldassarre, Elizabeth Robles, Emily Gilman-Beezley, me, Jennifer Merz, Vicky Katzman. (Not pictured--Dr. Joy Yoo)

It’s an honor for all of us to show our work at the Clifton Arts Center Center (cliftonartscenter.org) during “Women’s History Month”! It's a joy for me to be part of this group of unique, beautiful, and incredibly talented women!! I showed some older work ("Three Girls", 1985, "Blue Crab" 2006, and "Fuzz 'N Bunny and the Jellybean Tree" 2010 (www.kathleenrupff.com/childrens.html), along with some new mixed media pieces. Here's some local press about the show: thecliftontimes.com/g/clifton-nj/n/242920/commemorating-womens-history-clifton-arts-center. A video crew from the Clifton cable station was there to record us talking about our work. What?! :) CLICK HERE for the video!

Below are some shots from the opening last Saturday and some close-ups of my work on display. (Thanks Jenn and Liz for sharing your photos!) Below are links to the Springboard websites:

Emily Gilman Beezley - https://www.emilygilmanbeezley.com/
Jennifer Merz - https://www.jennifermerz.com/
Vicky Katzman - https://www.vickykatzman.com/
Lydia Baldassarre - https://www.lydiabaldassarre.com/
Dr. Joy Yoo - https://www.joyyoofineart.com/
Elizabeth Robles - [email protected]

The entryway of the show. Sculptor Lannie Hart also joined us!

Lovely piano music added so much to the reception!

Artist Emily Gilman-Beezley (Leader)

Artist Jennifer Merz (Leader)

Standing next to "Three Girls" & "Fuzz N' Bunny" illustrations

Artist Lydia Baldassarre talking on camera!

Nervous much?? Yes!! The piece to my right is a portrait of our first bunny Tyler.

Artist Elizabeth Robles

We're thankful for everyone who could attend!

Artist Vicky Katzman

Some of Dr. Joy Yoo's pieces (who could not be present)

Two new pieces in show

Recently, I've been taking formally completed pieces and embellishing them with paper collage with 3d effects, giving them a totally new look. It's been a lot of fun to transform the into something 'new' and I'm thrilled with them! Regarding these two pieces, I'm intrigued by the wisdom of trees, the lovely life they give and hold within their branches, and the joy they bring through the different seasons.

"Five Birds" This is a new 3-D paper collage mixed media piece

"Springtime" Another new 3-D paper collage mixed media piece

These are some older pieces in the show...

Though my current emphasis is on digital painting, my roots are firmly in traditional media. I made the acrylic painting, "Irises" while taking a class at the Baum School of Art in Allentown, PA (2009). It was inspired by local Warren County irises. "Three Tomatoes" was completed around 2012 while taking an oil painting class with Lena Shiffman. "Blue Crab" was completed while taking a watercolor class while I was living in Delaware (2006). I made "Three Girls" during college. The blond-haired girl with her back to the viewer represented my friend Sarabeth, a good friend of mine. I was experimenting with flowy lines and the theme of friendship. Friends are such a gift and the love and support a friend offers during difficult times is invaluable. I also love the golden light before dusk at the beach and was trying to capture that as well.

"Irises" acrylic, 16 x 20, 2009

"Three Tomatoes" oil, 5 x 7, 2012

"Blue Crab" watercolor, 8 x 10, 2006

"Three Girls", watercolor, 16 x 20, 1986 (The matted and framed image is above)

If you have any questions about my art or inquiries about purchasing, please contact me.
Thank you all for your support!

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<<Previous

Food for the Creative Soul

Little bird / Big world!

Need a smile? Check this out!

Calvary Animation Video--What Happened at the Cross

Happy John 3:16 Day!

Ringing in the Mew Year!

Blessed Christmas Week!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

New Work & Video: [There's A Lion in the House]

Spring Hugs!

Day 1410: Photos from the Show & New Work!

Women's Work: Unique Visions By Women
*Springboard Art Show at the Clifton Arts Center, Clifton, NJ •*** Through March 28th

Two new pieces in show

These are some older pieces in the show...

If you have any questions about my art or inquiries about purchasing, please contact me.
Thank you all for your support!

Archives

Categories

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Women's Work: Unique Visions By WomenSpringboard Art Show at the Clifton Arts Center, Clifton, NJ • Through March 28th

Two new pieces in show

These are some older pieces in the show...

If you have any questions about my art or inquiries about purchasing, please contact me.Thank you all for your support!

Archives

Categories

Women's Work: Unique Visions By Women
*Springboard Art Show at the Clifton Arts Center, Clifton, NJ •*** Through March 28th

If you have any questions about my art or inquiries about purchasing, please contact me.
Thank you all for your support!