Happy Father's Day

I am eternally grateful for my son who shows us every day what it is to be a great Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

soul letter...

From Behind the Silence~

It's funny where life takes us sometimes ~ looking ahead from this time last year I knew my life would be different. With my youngest finally venturing off to college in September it was inevitable that life would bring many changes.  While I could feel the waves of change pulling me in new directions, I never imagined exactly how different my life would be and how very grateful my heart would feel.

"War Reenactments" by Kendra Binney

Life had grown quite stagnant, personally speaking, and those who know me best knew this to be a sad reality.  There's flight in these wings, with room to soar and carry others as well, so being spiritually grounded for so many years had become a huge burden to bare.  I adored my art and this lovely business of creating beauty and helping others, but as we all know there are many sides to a faceted diamond that need light in order to shine.

skeleton print by Kendra Binney

My approach was to take the tides as they came and remain open to where they would lead me.  It's tough to go with the flow, let go, and not question. I think we all know that, but I must admit that whenever I do, it tends to take me in directions I could barely have dreamed.

"This Can't Go Another Way" by Kendra Binney

Where I might have envisioned a lovely island filled with delicious fruits and flowers ~ life would more likely deliver a chain of islands filled with beautiful white sands, lush greens, and tropical songbirds, all living among those envisioned fruits and flowers, and nestled snugly between gorgeous blue seas and sky.  It's simply a case of this little human not having the sight of the gods.

yellow bird by Kendra Binney

And so, where is it this journey wound up for me? Well, here I sit ~ in a new state, with a new job, in a new home, with a new life. And happy? Oh my...
It's been a very long time since I could say I feel peace in my heart.  Where the slow steady rhythm of tranquility and gratitude strum a gentle melody through my days and nights.

tiger print by Kendra Binney

It took nearly a year to get here, really a lifetime, but here I stand ~ joyfully, courageously. The best part is that even though this life is interwoven with others, many of whom were crucial in helping me gain this freedom, at the core is the spirit of independence. For the first time in my life I stand on my own two feet ~ solely and squarely and happily.

While my "To-Do" list is miles long and I still feel the pull of many tasks on my wings, I finally have a calm heart, the necessary fuel to soar highest in this life and catch the best dreams.

"Rose City Till I Die" by Kendra Binney

So where does this leave my little plumrose dream? As with all good dreams, they never truly die and so neither will this fruit of my heart.

Scaling back from a team effort to a solo woman biz, I've got big plans in the works ~ with finishing up the website, creating an in-depth blogger video library, adding more prefab graphics, and offering a bigger selection of trinkets and treasures.

"Hummingbird Mansion" by Kendra Binney

And so this is me... peaking out from behind the silence and this veil of fruity pinkness to say "hey, I'm still here"... better than ever.  Thanks to all of you who've helped me get to where I am ~ gratitude doesn't even begin to express my heart, but thank you will have to do.  Thanks for sticking by, for waiting and wanting, and now.. off we go ~ let's fly!

This post features the beautiful artwork of one of my favorite artists, Kendra Binney. For more information and to purchase visit:
www.kendra-binney.com and www.kendrabinney.etsy.com

Summer Bug

Just a quick little posting to let all my customers know that I'm under the weather.  I'll be back making graphical magic just as soon as possible.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing Dad I've ever known, my son...

Selflessly working three jobs (no kidding), he still finds time to...

 1. cook for the kids 2. daddy play time 3. trips to the park, 4. toy construction (w/anxious onlooker) 6. birthing coach 7. ear piercing stabilizer 8. photo shoot clown 9. teacher rather than user (note he's not on the phone *smile*)

I've never known a more amazing man and the truth is it's simply an honor to call him son. 

Happy Father's Day!

Graduation Day

Today is my youngest son's graduation from high school.  I simply can't believe how quickly the years have gone by and that we've finally arrived at this place.  Having our days filled with all the typical errands of a graduating senior, it's easy to get caught up in the chaos, but the heart of a mom pulls me back during quieter moments and bathes me in a sea of memories.

a favorite summer treat

The truth is life hasn't been what I'd wished for my young ancient soul ~ he's already faced hardships I would never wish on anyone but through these experiences we've both learned that we truly are not defined by these moments and we can rise above great odds to maintain a sense of purpose and integrity.

taken the year he won the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence

Like any mom, I'm immensely proud of his accomplishments ~ from taking leadership rolls in GSA and YAG to performing in our local summer theater and regional Latin convention, our little (not so, anymore) star has shined as bright as he could.  His love of Latin and excellence in Calculus has left us a bit perplexed at times but they give-way to our immense admiration for his achievements.

running Youth and Government meeting

This fall he'll be moving on to accepting his college scholarship and our home will be that much quieter.  It's strange to face the pending future of an empty nest, but for now I have the pleasure of relishing in these final few months of playing mom to a resident teenager.

Senior Prom

No one really ever prepares us for these moments and even though we see them far off in the distance they have a way of appearing at our door, always a bit too early and seemingly unannounced. So just as so many other moms have done before me, I'll cherish these moments, wish I had the past ones to live again, and look forward to the future milestones that I'm certain will arrive too fast themselves.

Best~

Birthday Time

I know I've been really MIA lately, what with finishing up custom orders, starting a new job and housing a busy high school grad,  life has just been w-a-a-y too busy to get in here and post. Work continues on the website though and we're nearly ready to go live, so that's super exciting too!

In the meantime, it's my birthday today and so I'm just popping in to give a shout out for our free birthday theme, "Birthday Bash".

It's chalk full of free goodies to help you celebrate your own special day and you can view those by clicking the title or image above.  And if you're looking for a special button to spread the word then we have several to fit the day ~ I've included a few below or you can view the entire selection by visiting our "Blog Buttons" page.

<center> <a href="http://www.plumroselane.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.prl-images.com/images/prefab/buttons/PrL-BlowWish.png" alt="It's my Birthday" /></a></center>

<center> <a href="http://www.plumroselane.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.prl-images.com/images/prefab/buttons/PrL-WishmeHappy.png" alt="My Birthday" /></a></center>

                

Enjoy~

The Roles We Play

In the midst of a busy work schedule I've also been playing mom to a high school senior this year. My son's life has been filled with all sorts of extra activities from Community Dramatics and Youth and Government to  GSA and church choir. All of these make for a pretty full week but coupled with a recent day visit to his future college and preparing for his upcoming Latin Convention, it's a wonder we've had time to breath let alone shop for Prom.

But Prom night finally came last night and I got to play several roles including proud parent, florist, and photographer...

The florist came with the creation of my son's boutonniere and corsage for his date. Since her dress was aqua blue we went with fresh hydrangeas and small white orchids. I chose a selection of white feathers, stemmed pearls, and delicate white ribbon to add depth, whimsy and elegance. I'm sorry I didn't capture better close-ups but they were both happy with the end results and that's what matters most.

The photographer came into play when I captured a few shots of them before they headed off for dinner and the Prom.  I love the natural setting by the wall and how beautiful (and handsome) they all look.  It was such fun to see how proud (and nervous) they all were.

The proud parent comes into play through every step of the journey.  It's amazing to see the years blur by as you can't help but reminisce about where they've gone.  You think about your own prom, watch them grow in your mind's eye, and marvel at how they've arrived at this day. You feel this amazing combination of sadness for past years you can never get back, coupled with a heart full of joy for the futures that lay ahead of them.

I know this is just one of many steps along life's journey but what an amazing time we live in ~ that I can not only share it with my son, his friends, and our family but all of you as well.  I hope you're all making your own memories this weekend ~ whether it's watching a little one take steps or reminiscing about your own journey ~ life is filled with countless moments to be treasured.

Enjoy~

Thank You~

I just wanted to say thanks so much for all the supportive comments I received in followup to my "A Few Bad Apples" post.  It's easy to forget that we're really not alone in this crazy world and that if we're going through something, chances are a lot of others are too.

Sure it's disenchanting to hear about each other's trials, and some even make us feel our own woes are "less than", but I like to tell myself it's the friendship and support that brings us all together and that is the truest treasure of all.

So thanks so much to everyone!  You sure make this little corner of blogland a brighter place to be!

Best,

The Daily Journey of Creativity

"Whatcha doing?"
"Making a faerie... and a pot bellied pig."
"Weren't you making a mermaid?"
"Yeah, that was yesterday."

And so goes the path of any given chat here at Plumrose Lane.  I have to laugh at the places I go in my day-to-day work. From fantastical creatures to mystical meanings, it's a fun job and one I truly enjoy, most of the time. Of course there are those projects that take a temporary tailspin but the universe usually manages to kick-in at the last minute and save the day.

The work can be challenging at times, especially if I'm venturing into uncharted waters  ~ case in point, this custom project I'm working on for a lovely return customer.  Her beautiful landlubbing lady was created by an artist to represent a certain part of her business and while it fits, she also needed a water fairing version too.  My job was to come up with one that fit well within the artist's original work, to then use in a custom theme.

Working on these type of projects is always a discovery process ~ in part I'm discovering the image hidden within the original work, but at the same time I'm discovering more about my own skills. You see, I honestly haven't a clue whether I can actually accomplish the task and I really don't even question it.  I just go on a sort of blind faith that the skills will kick in when I need them most.  It's a gift I readily accept from the universe and one I treasure immensely. And so it's the delicate path I walk each day in my creativity and although there might be more secure paths to follow, I rather enjoy this one ~ it's laced with uncertainty but filled with the sheer delight of new discovers and bringing happiness to others.

Enjoy~

Easter Family Time ~

It's not often I get to spend time with my kids and grandchildren.  It's been 2 very looong years since I've been out to visit them, they usually make the trek out here, so yesterday was extra special as we made our way out to visit my son and his wife.

Easter 2013

My granddaughter is such a cutie pie ~ always bubbling with happiness.

I was joking that since I spend so much time on the computer for work, I seem to be the only one who isn't glued to an electronic device in my free time.

Tablets seem to be the hot commodity these days and no one's too young to enjoy them.  Can you imagine how different our childhoods would have been with them!?

My son is a tattoo artist by day and a micro-solderer by night so daddy time is precious indeed.

This was exactly how i wanted to spend Easter!

There are always loads of faeries (orbs) in the photos of my kids but they seem extra active in this shot!

My "surrogate" son was there too (my son's best friend from college) and it was great to catch up with him as well.  They all did such a wonderful job of feeding and showering us with love and conversation ~ we simply couldn't have had a better day!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing day as well!

Best~

Winter Jar Swap

A while back I announced that I was going to participate in my very first challenge and found this fun Winter Jar Swap through Glitter Tart Designs.  Today is the big day where we share what we created and received so we go...

Even with the wonderful challenge theme it was tough nailing down exactly what to create and so I allowed the project to take it's own direction. Finding that most of the winter items had been removed from my local craft store I chose to go in a "do-it-yourself" direction and made most of what I used.

What I wound up creating was a wintery scene of fairies in the woods...

First I lined the jar with a coating of "frost" throughout the inside of the glass, leaving only a small oval "viewing" area.  Then I added moss to create a hidden wooded feel which I frosted with white paint and shimmering glitter.  Using dowels, moss, paint, and glitter, I created a selection of small trees to add a sense of depth and dimension to the scene.  A small "frozen pond" cut out of glitter paper was added as a focal point in the scene.

Next I created a selection of tiny faeries which I printed and cut out, placing them in different locations throughout the scene.  Along side the "pond" I used a rusted antique key as a found object, wrapped with golden wire and a few small shimmering crystals. This provided a resting place for the faeries, along with a few natural gemstones as "rocks" to frame the pond.

On the outside I added some finishing touches, including paper "silhouettes", mesh flowers, snowflakes and vintage jeweled pieces.  While putting the final touches on everything a poem came to mind and so I included that with the completed package as well.

The second part of the swap was receiving the jar someone else made for me and that was equally as exciting.  Like any blank canvas the options are endless so I had no clue what to expect. My partner created a darling winter scene with a polar bear nestled in a glittery, wintery scene.

The touches of deep red flowers and grass blades she added were a perfect compliment to the cool green, white and silvery elements she used throughout.  I've been fond of polar bears for a long time ~ to me they're a symbol of tremendous strength yet still dependent upon our actions as caretakers of this planet.

I love that my partner included the swap title and her name, handwritten at the top. I didn't think to include this in my own creation and I think it's a great way to mark these different creative events.

This challenge was super fun and I really enjoyed reaching out of my usual comfort zone to create something whimsical and fun and the joy of receiving a  handmade gift from another creative soul.

Best,

Saying Goodbye

I had the chance to say goodbye to my friend Linda last Friday.  The card to the right is from that occasion.  You could easily see her kind and gracious heart through her children, husband, and friends.  Making my way around the room I saw a myriad of photos ~ all showing her smiling, laughing, and hugging those she shared time with.  Meeting her sons and husband, I had the opportunity to let them  now what a wonderful affect her presence had on us here in blogland and what an inspiration she was to so many of us.

It was the hug I received from her daughter after telling her I was "Plumrose Lane", that really touched my heart.  I knew the time we had spent writing to one another meant as much to my friend as it had to me.  What touched my heart the most was when her daughter said, "My mother was one of the lucky ones; she got to see her children grow and marry and spend time with her four grandchildren".  I believe the heart of gratitude my friend Linda passed on to her children and shared with all of us here in blogland, is the greatest treasure of all.

Best~

My Valentine

I simply can't thank all of you enough for the heartfelt comments on my last post ~ you touched my heart and comforted my soul. I've no doubt your prayers and healing thoughts for Linda's family will be heard and are appreciated.

It's Valentine's Day here in the U.S. and although I'm more of a "spread the love all year long" kinda gal, I can't help but say that in truth your friendship here in blogland is the best Valentine anyone could ask for ~ thank you so much!

Whether you celebrate this day or not I hope you feel the same comfort I do in knowing we are never truly alone in this world. We share it with a sea of other loving creative souls ~ they may be hard to find sometimes but they're always there if we're willing to look beyond the thorns.

Wishing you all a wonderful and very Happy Valentine's Day!
Best~

Losing a Friend

We lost a good friend in blogland today ~ Linda of Stealing Mom lost her courageous battle with lung cancer.  Linda was one of those remarkable souls who touched our lives ~ filling our hearts with laughter and gratitude at every turn.

I knew her first as a customer but Linda quickly became a dear friend.  It was her warm generous heart that always seemed to find the happier side of personal experiences that will have the most lasting affect on my heart and mind.  I admired her courage as she moved through the beginning stages of cancer treatment, sharing thoughts and feelings with a sensitive personal insight, laced with humor, grace, and a perpetual sense of gratitude.

It's always so striking to me how profound an affect someone can have on our lives, even if we never meet them in person.  I will finally have the chance to "meet" my friend on Friday when I say goodbye to her in person but like the best of friendships it's one I know will never truly die.  I have no doubt Linda is spreading her own joyous sense of humor and kindness in that vast blogland up above and for all of us still her I can say wholeheartedly that we will miss you very, very much.

Brazil

I had the immense honor of living in Brazil for a year when I was in high school.  Never have I met a more beautiful land or people ~ hearts filled with kindness and the love of music and laughter.  To all of my dear Brazilian friends...

Creating Our Lives

If I were to take a snapshot of this week I would have a few choices.  The question is, would it be the beginning ~ when the car died, my coffee maker broke, and I broke down in sea of frustration, or would it be the end ~ with a new car, a new coffee maker, and an overflowing heart of thankfulness.  At first glance it might be an easy choice but in truth, I think it's the middle that had the most impact ~ the part where I kept going and kept an open heart and mind of gratitude.

I think life is like that ~ it's not so much about what happens to us as much as it is about what we do with those events.  Case in point... I have a friend who's been slowly slipping away ~ not because of some insidious medical condition but because she allowed a few bad apples into her basket.  Once there, they rotted and spread.  I've been there and I understand how it can happen.  But standing on the outside watching someone you care about grow angry and withdraw is painful and saddening.  Over the years I've watched her slowly move away; stepping back from things that made her happy and exposed to other creative souls.  Each time she drew back to "stand up" for her principles she slowly pulled her beauty, her creativity, her intelligent insight, away from those of us who've appreciated it most.  I miss her musings and I hope one day she returns.

In the end I think the one thing we have is our perspective. I could be the arrogant debutante I was raised to be, or  the woman I was 12 years ago ~ broken by a heartless man, or  the woman I was 10 years ago ~ stripped of all hope or the woman I was 8 years ago ~ impoverished; washing my children's clothes in our kitchen sink or the woman I was 6 years ago ~ realizing I'd stepped into the arms of another liar or the woman I was 5 years ago ~ barely choosing to stay alive but for the sake of my children or the woman I was 3 years ago ~ desperately trying to change my mistakes or the woman I was a year ago ~ betrayed by the one I'd tried so hard to help.  I could be all of these or any one of the stepping stones along my own life's journey.

But you see, somewhere along the way, each time I picked myself up, dusted off my mistakes, and kept moving forward, I learned the valuable lesson of gratitude. Feeling grateful for the treasures in our lives, no matter how small, is one of the greatest tools we have.  It enables us to create beauty from nearly nothing and as an artist, I love to create.  I remember a counselor telling me years ago to find happiness in my current life ~ I thought he was nuts.  But in this sense we're all artists; painting the pictures of our lives that tell the stories of our own journeys through this world.  I believe the paintings we create, with the brush strokes of our thoughts and actions, are the most beautiful creations we'll ever possess. They are as open and new as a pure white canvas and possessed with nearly endless possibilities.

So while this week may have started off in some dark place in my mind's eye, it wound up being another stepping stone in this journey, another part of the beautiful creation I'm working on that's called "my life". My own canvas is filled with countless shortcomings and wrong turns but it's the change of colors and brush strokes that have brought me to today and help ensure I live with a heart of gratitude and a desire to continue finding my own meaning of success.

Best~