Changes

Hello Everyone.

As you can see, I have been quiet absent from the blog this summer. After taking Kim Klassen and Xanthe Berkley's class Behind the Scenes, I decided to try and revamp the blog. I went all out and got a new domain name all my own and was prepared to start "renovations" on the blogger blog. My husband suggested that instead, I should start a website. As scared and vulnerable as it made me feel, we decided to go for it. We have been working hard (and slowly) over the summer to get the new site up and running.

The day is finally here. The site went live today so this will be my last post here on the blogger platform. I do hope that you will come over and join me in my new online home at www.debbiemercerstudios.com. I want to send out a big thank you to my husband for his support and encouragement, and also to Kim and Xanthe for a great class.

See you over at Debbie Mercer Studios!

xo,

Deb

What I'm Reading

Hello. I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful summer.

I thought it might be fun to put together a list of books that I am currently reading. Yes I am working my way through more than one book at a time. I usually do unless I am reading a novel.

You will notice that all the books here are either photography books or self help books. I must confess that I am a self help book junkie. I do love to read a good novel, but I will mostly turn to self help first. Maybe it is a quest to always better myself. My "addiction" to self help books began in my 20s. I was going through a lot of big changes in my life and I ended up becoming depressed. I searched for ways to help myself get out of this depressed state and turned to books that I thought would offer me guidance and peace of mind. Since then, I am fascinated by them and can't help but purchase the ones that I think will open my mind, heart, and eyes to something new.

Having said all of that, here is the list of books that I hope to get to in the near future. The ones photographed here have already been started.

Jodie Lee texture used on photo

Other books on my reading list include:

• On Writing by Stephen King
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
• Creative is a Verb by Patti Digh
• A Weekend to Change Your Life by Joan Anderson

What's on your reading list this summer? I hope you will find time to enjoy a great book!

Deb

It is finally finished

Hello there. The canvas that I started months ago is finally finished. Truthfully, it has been finished for a little while now. I was having trouble getting a good picture of it. I wanted to take a picture to post when it was hanging on the wall but alas, it is still sitting on my easel so for now, this picture is as good as it gets...

I am happy with how it turned out. Unfortunately, this picture isn't as sharp as I would like it to be. I need to stop taking so long to make decisions. I also need to have more than one project going at a time. That way, I will be able to move on to something else while I contemplate my next move with a particular project.

I am working on some canvases for my daughter's room. I will post pictures of them when they are finished. I will also be working on (3) 20"X20" canvases for my nieces bedroom as well as some hooks for her bathroom. 

Hopefully, these projects won't take as long to complete.

What are you working on this summer? I would love to know.

Deb

Making Memories

Hello there.

It is finally summer and my children are home from school. Yesterday was the first day that they were all home and that my niece and nephew were here. It was nice to have them all here and to watch them playing and getting along.

This past weekend was a long weekend here in Canada. It was a busy weekend but on Monday we made time to go up to my parents' trailer. The kids can't get enough of being up there and they love to be with my parents.

We went out on the boat, the kids were hoping to go swimming in the shallows but it was too busy and we couldn't get a spot.

My Mom and Justin were sitting up on the bow of the boat and decided to stay there when we went for a tour of the lake instead of swimming.

Sitting on the stern of the boat, I could see my Mom and Justin sitting together. I watched as they talked and noticed my Mom was pointing out shapes in the clouds.

It made me happy to see them spending time together like that. It made me happy that they are able to bond like that and that they are close. It actually brought a tear to my eye.

It made me nostalgic for my own childhood. Nostalgic for memories of sitting on the bow of our sailboat with my sister, dangling our legs over the side trying to get our legs wet. Nostalgic for the memory of finding shapes in the clouds with my parents, sister, and brother.

It made me want to be a child again, even if for only a little while. I thought about going up there myself and taking Justin's place, but I have my childhood memories already and these are the memories that my children are need to make with their grandparents (and us).

So, I will sit on the stern and observe my son making his own memories with my Mom. I will continue to make memories as well, they will just be the grown up kind, like going to New York City for the weekend. They will be different but just as good. I will also have the memory of watching my children make memories with my parents. Who could ask for more?!

We are truly blessed! What memories are you reliving or in the process of making right now?

Deb

A Moment of Stillness

Right now it is 10:55 a.m.

I am sitting outside on this beautiful sunny morning watching my niece dance around, delighting in the
freedom of childhood, a beautiful day, and seeing all she is doing in the reflection of the van parked in the
driveway. In moments like this, I too wish I could be a carefree child for just a little while.

Instead, I sit on the bench under the shade of the tree in the front yard, thoroughly enjoying the breeze that
is blowing. It feels calming and renewing, like new life or new attitudes are being carried along the breeze waiting to be absorbed into my mind.

My copy of Liz Lamoreux's Inner Excavation is sitting in my lap. My intention is to be reading the first chapter so I am prepared to play along with the Inner Excavate-along that Liz is having on her blog starting Monday (June 11,2012). I try to concentrate, but I am distracted by my niece and feeling tired which is causing all my thoughts to feel jumbled and stuck in my head. So, instead of reading, I close my eyes and let the breeze clear my mind. It feels freeing and refreshing to be still.

Maybe some art will come out of today or maybe the moment will just BE and I am fine with that. I am fine just having this delightfully mind clearing moment in an otherwise busy life. I am reminded that finding the time for stillness is essential and I am hopeful that the summer will provide more of these moments.

I hope that you too will find time for moments of stillness and clarity. What will those moments look like for you I wonder?

Deb

Where Did the Nice Weather Go?!

Hello. Well, it seems that the beautiful weather we were having has disappeared and winter is back. It is cold outside today but I won't complain about that (as I sit in my warm house in front of the computer) since it is bright and beautiful and sunny. It always lifts the spirits. The funny part is that the kids bundled up more today then they did all winter when it was actually colder out. Amazing how quickly perspectives change!

I started working on a new canvas for one of the walls in my house (not sure where it will go since I think it is too big for the wall it was intended for). Unfortunately, I started it about a month ago and the progress is slow going. I am at the stage where I freeze up because I am afraid that the next stroke of paint will be the one that ruins the art.

Here is what I have so far...

I am going to get up the nerve to finish this. Hopefully it will get done this week. I am going to have to make the time to do it and then just be brave. I will post more pictures as I work on it (hopefully I will remember to take them).

Here's to being brave!

Deb

Things I am Loving Right Now

Hello there. It is beautiful and sunny out today and it is making me think of things I am grateful for and loving at this moment.

Right now I am loving:

• that it is March Break and my children are home with me all week
• that the sun is shining and it is beautiful outside
• that I could sit in the living room and listen to my children having fun outside 
• That Justin loves to read so much 

• that I am learning new things in Christy Tomlinson and Junelle Jacobsen's class The Art of Wild Abandonment
• that there are so many talented people in the world who are willing to share what they do and what they know
• that my fabulous husband upgraded my iphone to a new one that isn't as slow as molasses
• that this wonderful new iphone has been delivered and works wonderfully
• that I have such an amazing family that fills my life with joy (and a few headaches, but mostly joy!)

What are you loving on this almost Spring day?

Goodbye 2011...Hello 2012!!

Hello there. I apologize for my absence here. I have come to discover that failing to keep up with blogging is like failing to keep up going to the gym or a workout routine. Once you stop doing it, it is really hard to get back into the swing of it. I am going to try and be better this year.

I can hardly believe that an entire year has gone by already. Time seems to fly by me on a regular basis. Every year I tell myself that I am going to enjoy the year more, that I am going to slow down and take notice of the people and things around me. Every year, life goes by in a blur.

For 2012, I am really going to try to rectify this problem. I have decided that I am going to participate in the one little word class by Ali Edwards at Big Picture Classes. My word for this year is BE, as in:

• BE present in each moment
• BE creative
• BE attentive
• BE kind
• BE understanding

The list could go on and on of course but my main goal is to be more present and aware this year. I don't want another year to pass in what seems like a blur. I want to spend more time being creative and not just spend time thinking about it. I want to enjoy each moment with my children (because lets face it, before I know it, they aren't going to have time for dear old Mom).


In my efforts to be more creative I have signed up for a number of online art classes (maybe too many at one time! Oh well it will be fun). I am currently taking Jane Davenport's I heart drawing. I am also enrolled in her Draw Happy class that starts today. I have also signed up for Alisa Burke's Create Daily class.

I am planning on being much more attached to my camera this year as well. In 2011 my camera didn't get picked up much, with some months seeing only 1 or 2 new photos added to our enormous photo library. This year I am thinking about making each of the kids a photo book of their year and giving it to them for Christmas (yes I am already thinking about next Christmas--maybe that is why time flies by so quickly!!!)

New Year's resolutions never seem to make it past the first few weeks so this year I am not making any. I am going to stick with the plan to keep up with my word for the year and hope that in doing so, I will find this year full of accomplishment and joy.  How about you? Are you making any resolutions or participating in a one little word project for the year?

With all of this in mind, I am going to go and spend some time with my family. The kids seem to be going wild in the other room. Time to go and join them in a little fun. I wish everyone a great year! May all your  hopes and dreams come true this year!

See you soon.

Deb