Behind the Art with Felecia

My final share for our month of Perspective is for my Lens of Faith layout.

This is a deeply personal project – on the subject I value as much as my own life – my faith. I believe completely it comes before all other things. I hope that it is evident to others that this faith is the lens through which I want to see all things.

There is a song by Brandon Heath that says:

Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing 
Give me Your love for humanity 
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted 
The ones that are far beyond my reach 
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten 
Give me Your eyes so I can see

My faith has quite literally changed my life. I’ve struggled with so many feelings of inadequacy…or interestingly enough, being far too much. And as I’ve dug into God, He’s taught me to see things much differently. While I realize that my kind of Faith is not perhaps for everyone, I just couldn't side step this perspective in my own life - how much it affects my life. 

Sometimes, when we get very involved in what others think of us, the fear that we are just not “right” is crippling…and my faith has carried me through that. 

The camera stencil is an amazing symbol to use for the "lens" idea...plus I wanted to use the subtle contrast of the Distress paint against kraft paper. Faith is like that - its a step away from where you are, a different angel, a new understanding of the same situations, the same people, the same obstacles, the same challenges that life presents. The thing is that its one step today and then one step a month from now, and then maybe one step another year after that. You sort of don't realize how far you have come until you look back at the snap shots and see...

I choose to believe that Love wins...I call this my "rose colored" lens...to view life through the lens of love, to assume (and expect) the best possible outcome, to point my feet in a direction and go, dealing kindly with all I meet along the way - THIS is what a Lens of Faith has done for me. 

In all honesty, I hope my life shows this...that people don't have to see a layout to know these things about me. BUT, its revealing to write it down, to expose it for myself and to understand fully how much this is part of who I am.

Do you have a lens through which you either aspire to or actually see the events around you? Has there been something in your life that caused you to step to one side or another of where you were and look again at the world around you?

Behind the Art with Sofia - Guest Designer

Here and There

This layout is a very personal one and I actually still can’t believe that it is up on the web for everyone to see. 

This story was a fun one to tell. The past 7 months of my life have been taken over be a long distance friendship/relationship. The reason why it’s crazy is because this is really my first relationship. I’m not freaking out really, I am taking things one step at a time. As I am writing this before I leave for the airport, I can tell you that I can’t really eat my breakfast and I am not interested in eating (which for me is crazy because I would marry food if I could) and I have the most active butterflies in my stomach. But it’s all excitement and will hopefully die down a bit as the day goes on.

I used a lot of symbolism in this layout. I first want to point out how many patterns and colors and stuff there is on this page. Feeling nauseous? That was the idea. Whenever I tell people Max and I’s story (which you may read on the journaling close up), I pretty much always get the reaction of, “Oh my God that is so cute! Barf…” So I sort of wanted to put that on the page. 

Another symbol would be the clouds on the bottom of the page. I put everything above the clouds because when I am on my way to him, I will be literally flying above the clouds! Also, the top pink calendar is situated to show January to June which are the full 6 months that we have gone without seeing each other and keeping in touch through Skype dates and Whatsapp.

I really enjoyed doing this page. I feel pretty good about the way s came out. The one thing is I still don’t feel like it is finished! I have never felt this way, I usually always feel done but not with this one. I’m wondering f it is because I’m still not sure where this relationship is going quite yet. Even though I have a pretty sure feeling about where it’s going I’m not totally sure! 

Enjoy!

Sofia

Behind the Art with Felecia

Honestly…truly…I will admit I like sincere compliments. I own that this is something I like.

Perhaps it’s a weakness to need all this external affirmation, but I like to be told that my work is good, that I’m a good friend, that I look nice, that my make-up is pretty.

So, when the males in my life started calling me “beautiful gorgeous” I was overwhelmed with endorphins…

THEN…THEN…I found out that Beautiful Gorgeous is a super villain from the show Jimmy Neutron, which my family had recently discovered on Netflix.

Instant deflation…HAHA!!!

I would like to tell you that I thought deeply and made internal changes so that I don’t need all that positive reinforcement…but – well…I didn’t!

I still like my compliments.

However, I did reflect upon my life as the only girl among a house of males. I tried to put myself inside their minds and see the world the way that they do.  Let me tell you, imagining life from their perspective isn’t easy for me!  But to really think about it made me smile.

The beautiful background paper from We R Memory Keepers Inked Rose collection was already a fantastic background. Its kind of like my life with these males– pretty in a messy, spattered, chaotic way. I really love how this paper works for layouts…Its fantastic!

There is huge love on this page…plus I love the way they see me – so I used the heart pieces form the kit along with my own punched hearts and some cut outs.

I have no illusions about what I REALLY look like (or them for that matter) so I used some pictures that were less than perfect – an early morning shot of them and a post-pool shot of me…just to keep it all real.

And seriously, to be seen the way they see me…as Beautiful Gorgeous…a hawt supervillain from a cartoon about really smart nerds and genuine friendships - its perfectly dead-center.

It’s a fantastic compliment!

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art With Felecia

Hello, searchers, sojourners and story tellers!!!

Let’s explore some more of his Perspective kit!

Have you ever been in the midst of encouraging another and realized how really amazing your own situation is?

I fully discourage comparing oneself to others. I believe the saying that we tend to compare our behind-the-scenes to the hi-light reel of the lives of others.

BUT I found myself comparing the “what is” to the “what could be” in terms of how good things were for my seven year old son.

My boy, like most boys his age, is keenly aware of positive attention and fiercely competitive when it comes to games and sports. Put simply, he has a strong desire to be first, to win. We’ve been working a lot on graceful losing and being truly happy for others who do well.

Even as an adult, this can be hard to master. I find myself regularly talking through how to get a healthy perspective about losing or not being first or not meeting a goal, or whatever situation provides this opportunity.

In the midst of one of these conversations, I suddenly realized how critical a healthy perspective is on my own well-being…because I, too, tend to push hard, try harder, work hardest all for the sake of…well…winning, achieving, checking things off my list! (where did this boy of mine get this, after all!!?!?)

I think the journaling on this was really an internal dialog I was having with myself for some time before it reached paper. When we don’t “win” taking stock of how really blessed we are, having gratitude for where we are and who we are and the relationships in our lives that are precious puts all of it into the right order. 

I chose to fussy cut the butterflies and then give them dimension like they are taking flight of the page. When I get my heart in the right place, when I have the right perspective, I feel lighter, and beautiful, and like I could fly myself. It’s very simple imagery…but so effective to illustrate that we can live a life that is flat or one that isn’t and that our perspective dictates that.

For ME, this whole theme is further cemented by the picture I used…the photo is of an award ceremony where my sweet boy was given an award for being caring…now THAT is the sort of award I find worth in striving for!

Behind the Art with Sofia - July Guest Designer

Wanderlust

To be perfectly honest, the word perspective really scared me. I didn’t think I had anything to scrap about or a story to tell. I then realized that Perspective can be anything because it is how you see things! 

How do you see the world around you, people, things, experiences? I think that is a really good thing for you all to hear in case you are thinking that the theme this month is impossible to scrap about. It was definitely a challenge and made me really think. I then found that my journaling was really hard to make short, I had tons to say!

I am a world traveler and always am looking for my next destination. Ironically I am in Germany as you read this! From the moment my mom dragged me (pretty much by my hair because I really didn’t want to go) to Europe I was hooked! I saw things that I loved and the world became bigger. I had no idea what was out there! I had once been a home body; never wanting to leave my Santa Monica bubble but now I just want to leave all the time! But I also do love my home and my city and am very proud to live in Santa Monica. I feel grateful for what I have every day.

The photo that I used is a photo I took on my last travels to Germany. This is an amazing place called Rothenberg ob der Touber. It is my favorite place that I have visited on my travels so far because it’s not only Christmas time all year round but it’s breathtakingly beautiful!

I have to admit that this page was more fun than anything. I didn’t really dig deep on this page like I have in the past but it was still fulfilling. I always enjoy scrapbooking and I think that this page is very pretty. I am super happy with how it turned out. 

Have a great day!

Sofia

Behind the Art with Felecia

My knee-jerk reaction to the PERSPECTIVE emotion was to look back on my life "from here" I've done a number of these kinds of layouts from various ages, so wanted to approach it differently.

During a little cropping session with my friends, we got to talking about imagery associated with looking at things from a distance - planes in particular...as we conversed, hot air balloons came up. The more I thought about this topic, the more I believed my journey has been far more balloon-like than plane-like in nature - sort of floating with a purpose.

Problem for me - I don't have a lot of hot air balloons in my stash...I toyed with some stamps, and cutting them from different shapes. I drew some and also downloaded some clip art from the internet to perhaps fussy cut them...

And then I got to playing with my new Cricut Explore and found these amazing balloons...

And my layout was born...

I approached the journaling as a pretty simple list and just arranged them in a way that flowed for me. There are so many things I've come to realize about myself and my journey when I reflect on the many different "lives" I lived before now.

From 44, I have to say, life is pretty amazing.

There are a lot of things I have "discovered" and it seems like maybe this is the time in my life I am most at peace with what "is" vs. perhaps what was or what will be.

I wish I had known this peace and settled feeling earlier in life. I like how things are calmer, that I understand that people let you down and that is ok, that love is risky and worth every heartbreak and that health is more important than appearances...

Its a tremendously encouraging exercise to list the things I've learned on my journey this way and to think of my life as if looking down from a hot air balloon. I don't think we give ourselves enough time and space to appreciate our own growth and the many things we come to appreciate in our lives. This was certainly an inspiring way to take stock.

Behind the Art with Jen Matott

Hi artsy friends!  Jen Matott here to share one of my layouts from this month's kit, "Perspective".  I knew I wanted one of my pages to be about my new found love of running.  My perspective about exercise in general has changed.  My need to run and be active has become a priority in my life.

 

 I knew I wanted to use the cloud paper because it reminds me of the many days that I've run outside in beautiful weather (I've also run in not so great weather too!).  But I wanted to also add a lot of color too.  I am wearing more brightly colored clothing and sneakers lately because of running. 

 

 This is a photo of myself with two other art teachers who love running too!  We ran the Corporate Challenge recently on an extremely HOT and muggy day in June.  It was my first official race and it was a difficult one! Almost 4 miles of really crowded and hot pavement. There were over 8,000 runners and walkers!  I had always admired people who ran this race and thought I could NEVER in a million years run in it!  I was wrong!  After 3 months of training, I ran most of this race.  I did have to walk about 1/4 of a mile towards the end because my hip started really hurting me.  I developed hip bursitis because of the weaving in and out and long running on the hard pavement.  However,  I ran over that finish line into the fire truck spray that was cooling the runners at the end and I was so proud of myself!  It was a huge accomplishment for me in my journey to a healthier lifestyle.

 I love these words from the papers in the kit and cut out these two words, "adventure" "life", because this journey of finding a fitness type that I love has been amazing!  I never thought I could run.  NEVER! Actually, my motto in the past was "I will only run if my kid's lives are in danger".  I meant it too!  I really didn't think I could run. 

So, how did my perspective change so drastically?  I'm going to turn 40 this year.  I am starting to look ahead to what I want to do for the next decade of my life and realized that I felt really unhealthy.  I was overweight, not eating healthy, sluggish, and irritated all the time.  It was really frustrating because I would start an exercise routine only to quit after a few months.  I would get discouraged because not much would change in my body.  I didn't feel fulfilled or inspired.  One day at a Weight Watcher meeting I attend, a woman came to speak about a training program locally. She was from Fleet Feet and they are part of a No Boundaries running program.  It's a couch to 5K format and gently trains you to run safely and in a healthy way.  I was so inspired! Something in my mind clicked.  I signed right up!  I was so nervous coming to that first "run" session at our local park. It was a cold, windy, nasty day in March.  I could have not come but it was the first day.  I couldn't miss the first day.  What would that say about me? I bundled up in long yoga pants, long sleeved shirt, fleece jacket, fleece headband to cover my ears, gloves and had bought my first pair of real running sneakers.  I HATE sneakers!  These were even hot pink which I hated at first but have come to love!  When I got there, we had the most amazing coaches. They grouped us up by experience level and I was placed in the beginner group (group 4).  We started out learning how to stretch (quickly as it was so cold there!) and off we went to walk for 5 mins.  Then we ran for 1 min. and walked again for 2 mins. We repeated this 6 times. By the end, I felt awesome!  Frozen, but awesome! The whole group of about 20 people was in it together! One minute did not feel long enough and I felt like I could do this!  They were so inspiring and cheered us on the whole way.  The next week was equally chilly but not as windy.  I went every run session except 1 over the entire 10 week training.  I am up to running 3 miles straight and only walk when I need to, which isn't much.
I've run two 5k's and am signed up to run two more this summer!  It is now a challenging fitness goal and I love the way I'm feeling.  I'm sore, achy, and have had some set backs with hip and achilles issues but I am learning a lot about my body and how it responds.  I'm seeing changes that make me feel really good about myself!  Clothes are fitting better, my confidence is high, and I am stronger!  My family cheers me on and is so proud of me!  I am so proud of myself!

My first race was so hard but when I finished, I felt empowered and strong!  My run time is slow but now my motto is "It doesn't matter how slowly you go, but rather that you keep going!".  I will keep going and keep training.  I am even getting better times each time I run.  I am taking care of myself in my eating, drinking more water, going to the chiropractor for my aches and pains, making time for ME and training safely.  This is a life long journey for me.  I know there will be obstacles (literally and figuratively) but I want to keep going around or over them!  I will reach my goals with this new perspective.

What have you done that you never thought you could do?  I'd love to hear about how your perspective changed!