Take a moment for someone else... Mail art and Postcards

"Sunshine Daisies"

 My life has been so full of blessings and love lately that I suddenly stopped and realized not only how lucky I was, but that I really needed to "pay it forward". I remembered that I had the address for the perfect way to pay my debt...

I have decided to start making some greeting cards and postcards and sending them to the "Card Care Connection" for cancer patients. I love working in that size anyway, and it is the best "excuse" I know of to take a little time out from "me stuff" and think about someone else for awhile. The address, if you are interested in doing the same thing, (which would just thrill me to death if you would...) is below:

Card Care Connection
112 Saddlehorn Court
Fenton, Missouri  63026

I bet if you took a little time and examined your life, you would realize how blessed you are, just like I did. I have the bad tendency to get way too inside my own head, and an ongoing project like this is just the thing to get me thinking about others that may not be as fortunate, or are sick and possibly lonely and down in spirits. I have spent my share of time in the hospital, and I know how depressing and lonely it can feel at times, and a cheery postcard or greeting card, especially from a total stranger, sounds like just the thing that would have cheered me up! Especially if it was a handmade one!!!

Here are a few of examples of the postcards that I sent-

Hopefully, these will brighten someone's day just a bit. I know it makes ME feel happy sending them out and thinking of making a person's day just a little easier for a minute or two!

I love doing mail art, and the next time that I send some out in the mail, I may decorate the envelopes as well. I think my mail lady likes it when I do that... Well, I have kept you distracted for long enough, so back we go to our normal lives...I don't know about you, but I sure do feel a lot happier now than I did before I sent out those cards!!

Happy creating!

Laura Thykeson

FREE Art Journaling Class starts March 15th!

The new classes based on the book by L. K. Ludwig, "True Vision-Authentic Art Journaling" starts on March 15th, 2012 over at "Art From Your Heart". The workshop will be loosely based on the book, with a heavy emphasis on developing and nurturing your own unique style. This workshop is designed mostly for beginner to intermediate art journal lovers. The class is FREE but donations are always appreciated!

Winning, Painting and Writing

I have had so many wonderful things happen to me this week! I can't ever remember such a week where I have felt so blessed and grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life...I just found out this morning that I had won a copy of the book "Courage and Croissants" from Jennifer Hutchins, after leaving a comment on her blog about how much she has inspired me. Then, a couple of days ago, I got an email from "Creativity Portal" and they are going to add me to their site and want me to contribute articles on a regular basis. The "Art Instruction Blog.com" wants me to write articles for them as well! Finally, "The Art Colony" is going to feature my interview and artwork for the "Artist Profile Of The Week" on their NING website in the month of April.

Last but not least, I have my own NING group "Art From Your Heart", which is growing slowly but steadily, and we are getting ready to have a FREE class where we go through the book "True Vision-Authentic Art Journaling" written by L. K. Ludwig. We are going to explore the book together. I have some other books lined up for other classes after we finish this one. You can become a member of the site and sign up for the FREE workshop by clicking this link- Art From Your Heart

It feels a bit like Christmas, with all of these new and exciting things happening! I have been working night and day getting ideas for articles written down, as well as getting pages and canvas prepped to do some new artwork done for the articles I will be writing. I am including a page I am in the middle of working on, just to show you a little bit of what I am doing right now. The page is so large, the whole thing wouldn't fit on my scanner, but you can see the main parts of it. This one is a combination of collage, mixed media, watercolors, acrylics, Permanent ink and white gel pen. You should be able to click on the image and get a better look at it. I still have a lot of detail work to do before it is finished.

I truly hope that life finds you in a good place right now, busy creating and happy with your work! Join up with me on my Facebook page, "Laura Shelton Thykeson" as well as my "The Altered Book Nook". See you there!