Art Journal Page

"Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength for the journey that still lies ahead."
--Frederick Buechner

You've been warned...this one's a tearjerker, but it does have a happy ending!

I don't usually post many personal stories, but I'm long overdue for an art journal page and this is on my mind.

My little niece would have been nine years old this month. This is the only picture we have of her looking at the camera with her eyes open. Within a few hours she was unconscious, never to open her eyes again.

She was a perfectly healthy baby, full term, but due to a tragedy during delivery (and a good dose of medical negligence) we lost her. The placenta ruptured and the baby lost 75% of her blood volume during the birth.

It's been a long hard road since then, trying to understand why, then trying to understand that I'll never know why, and learning to accept it. Just this year, after nine years, I am finally making peace with it.

Which makes my newest little niece's birth so sweet! I would not have the deep joy of seeing her healthy and strong had I not experienced the bitter contrast of her sister's tragedy. Now I never take life for granted and realize what a miracle life is.

Exciting News

I have been busy with some behind the scenes work with my blogs. Yes, "blogs", plural! They're blossoming and multiplying!

semi relevant photo here...one of my hydrangeas blossoming last summer...

In truth, I'm just missing warm weather!

I am in the process of separating my blog--One half will be my Emerson Bindery guest books, and this half here will be for my UberArt journals. You'll be seeing some changes in the format here also. Good changes, I hope! ;)

There is some exciting news on my new blog, I'm getting my work published, so go take a peek!!

Books In the Works

Some of what I'm working on in between orders. I think gray is my new favorite color!

Moss and Porcelain Book on the Front Page!

...Third row, last item...

I hoped this book would eventually make it to the front page...it's in about a million treasuries. Wouldn't you know it though, the paper has been discontinued so I only have 2 books available! :P

Incidentally, I ordered some hair clips from HotPinkChick, featured just above my book. I'll have to show them to you!

In The Vault

This was too cool to pass up photographing to show you. A clothing boutique in an old bank building, and they even used the vault for display! I'm sure the clerks thought I was a bit off my rocker photographing their store, but who cares! I got the photos!

Very steampunk! The door itself is a work of art.

From a marketing standpoint, I'm not sure their interior decor is working for them though. I was so busy looking at the vault door that I don't remember anything about their clothing line! 

So In Love

I am totally in love with this new book! I just had to show it to you even though it's still in the works.

Several weeks ago I was unpacking a new paper shipment and these two papers happened to fall together on my work table. I had one of those "Ah-HA!" moments and made a mental note to myself to pair those papers together for a book cover.

What do you think I should call it? I was thinking of something like Chocolate Mint. Yum yum!
Any other thoughts? :)