I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying getting back making my mixed media collages.  I’ve had to think about Christmas since September for my Featured Artist First Saturday  Artwalk show this weekend.  Christmas ideas have been endlessly swirling out of my head!

 

Her bracelet was made with broken necklace parts and a vintage Ford key fob piece. I used an Altoid lid and some odds and ends to decorate plus I made an ArtEmboss hand for the base focal.

 

I purchased this chicken png. image last year and have had fun dreaming up ways to use it. I think the chicken is a perfect focal point for the theme of this collage: adventure.  In the 80’s I had a stint selling Mary Kay Cosmetics.  We had to go to sales meetings to get “bribed” into holding a certain amount of “classes” per week.  I could win all kinds of prizes and I admit they did get me motivated.

My Mary Kay career lasted about 6 months and I didn’t get rich, but it was a good experience for no other reason than the two words that got burned into my brain by our regional sales manager at those sales meeting:  STINKIN’ THINKIN’.

So often we go on automatic pilot…we react….we don’t think….when life throws us a curve.  I have never understood it when folks say “why me?”  However, for many years than I care to admit my reaction was “poor me”!  If you know life is intended to be an adventure you can get rid of any “stinkin’ thinkin’ ” because the battle is in the mindset.

Now back to the chicken.  Way back in the 1500’s folks started taunting perceived cowards “You’re chicken hearted.” Today no one wants to be called “chicken.”  I put my darling chicken as a subtle hint that the way we respond to life is in our hands.

I believe that God is good and no matter how hard your adventure seems, there is a good reason for where you are and what you are going through!  Read the Old Testament and refresh your memories of the adventures of Abraham, Rahab, Joseph, Esther and many more.  Non of them were chicken hearted, they put one foot in front of the other and lived their adventure.

There is freedom in understanding each life has a purpose and plan, and God is watching you on this great adventure.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philipians 3:13-14