Hi Everyone, Today was an incredibly sad day… not because anything bad happened to me personally, but because people I love are suffering, and there is little I can do to ease their pain. One of the most difficult lessons I’ve ever learned is that I am not in control of anything except my attitude. … Continue reading Coping with Heartbreak

Hi Everyone, Although I generally prefer the interaction of ink on paper to digital design, I’ve discovered some things– like animation– which are a lot easier to do in my iPad than on paper. I recently got a cool new program, iOrnament Crafter, and have been having a blast making kaleidoscopic versions of my art. … Continue reading Making Time to Play

Hi Everyone, Valentine’s Day, a holiday which focuses on L*O*V*E, is fast approaching, and I invite you to join me on a quest to Share the Love… by sharing our creativity. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. There is a light inside each of us; when we are able to reach out … Continue reading Share the Love!

Hi Everyone, Thank you to everyone who left a comment on last week’s blog, My Prayer Journal. I greatly appreciate your suggestions, and will try to incorporate as many of them as I can into the final version. Congratulations to Annie Bolick, who will receive a copy once it is published. As a life-long spiritual seeker, I have … Continue reading Make Your Life a Gift

Hi Everyone, This week, during the sacred season of rebirth and renewal, Christians & Jews the world over are observing Passover, Easter and Greek Orthodox Easter. For those who walk in faith, it is a time for remembrance, reverence and reflection; an opportunity to allow our hearts to become open to possibility and to invite … Continue reading Season of Miracles

Hi Everyone, I come from a musical family, and Psalm 96:1 is one of my favorite scriptures. Given the growing interest in Bible Journaling, I decided to feature a scripture in my 2018 Earth Day design: I started blogging sporadically in 2012, but it wasn’t until April 22, 2014 that I made a commitment to share … Continue reading Sing a New Song

Hi Everyone, I’m really excited to announce that after almost a year in development, the Zenspirations® Care-Moji Sticker Collections are available for both iPhones & Androids!!! I can now fulfill the promise I made when I wrote, “I will give everyone who leaves a comment with their thoughts a free sticker pack of their choice … Continue reading Zenspirations® Care-Moji™ App for BOTH Android & IOS!!!

Hi Everyone, Valentine’s Day, a holiday which focuses on L*O*V*E, is fast approaching, and I invite you to join me on a quest to Share the Love… by sharing our creativity. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. There is a light inside each of us; when we are able to reach out … Continue reading Share the Love!

Hi Everyone, Valentine’s Day, a holiday which focuses on L*O*V*E, is fast approaching, and I invite you to join me on a quest to Share the Love… by sharing our creativity. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. There is a light inside each of us; when we are able to reach out … Continue reading Share the Love!

Hi Everyone, I’ve spent time this week reviewing and reflecting on the meaningful words which were shared as either personal or group ‘word-of-the-year’ options, and even included some in my morning journal. Ultimately I decided to create a piece featuring all the suggestions… I call it Transformative Journey. I used a brighter blue for the … Continue reading Transformative Journey

Hi Everyone, I was shocked, dumbfounded and horrified when I heard the news about the Las Vegas shooting. How do you maintain your equilibrium during the seemingly endless onslaught of challenging events we’ve been facing? Texas, Florida, central Mexico, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, are still dealing with the devastation caused by back-to-back natural disasters… we … Continue reading Sometimes There Are NO Words…

Hi Everyone, This Sunday I awoke with a powerful Easter image in my head, and felt compelled to bring the design to life. Instead of reaching for my ‘morning journal’, I reached for my iPad Pro & Apple Pencil. Using the Procreate program, I lettered and colored He Is Risen, then switched brushes to create … Continue reading New Zenspirations® Care-Moji Stickers!

Hi Everyone, This week I was blessed to rediscover the importance of doing what calls to your soul; of making time for the things which bring creative and spiritual satisfaction. After several months of focusing on the new book, it was a true pleasure to be able to create some art this week just because … Continue reading Complete Guide to Bible Journaling Available for Pre-Order!

Hi Everyone, I want to start with a colorful welcome to everyone who has recently discovered Zenspirations®. Our community is comprised of blog subscribers (click here if you’d like to subscribe) and members of the Zenspirations® Create, Color, Pattern, Play Facebook group, and together we have created a forum where people can share their work, their hearts, and where we support … Continue reading Planning the 3rd Zenspirations® Blog-versary Celebration!

Hi Everyone, I wanted to share something I have been doing for the past few months: Ensō circles, an ancient Japanese art form. According to Wikipedia, “In Zen, ensō (円相, “circular form”) is a circle that is hand-drawn in one or two uninhibited brushstrokes to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body … Continue reading The Expressive Power of Ensō

Hi Everyone, It’s almost time to CELEBRATE! The Zenspirations Create, Color, Pattern, Play Facebook Group turns three on the 21st. We’ll be celebrating all week, and I hope you’ll join me on Saturday at 4:00 eastern time, for the ‘kick-off’ event: a Facebook Live behind-the-scenes tour of my studio, and a sneak peek at some … Continue reading Time to Celebrate!!!

Hi Everyone, A friend reached out with a special request this week: Can I commission you to do one of your beautiful Zenspirations® Care-Moji designs for a dear friend who was just diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer after 10 years in remission!!!! I’m heartbroken for her and her family. She loves your work and her … Continue reading #defy, #pray, #believe

Hi Everyone, Three years ago this month I started the Zenspirations Create, Color, Pattern, Play Facebook group and invited ‘Color & Creativity Enthusiasts’ who submitted inspiration samples for my coloring books to join. The following week, in the Live in Color blog, I wrote: “And what a great first week it’s been! We already have 121 members, and I … Continue reading Total WOW!

Hi Everyone, Considering how much I love the interaction of ink on paper, I’m somewhat amazed to discover that digital design is fun, and allows me to create images that aren’t possible using traditional art supplies. Last year I got a new design tool– an iPad Pro, and I have enjoyed exploring it’s capabilities. Long time blog … Continue reading Embracing the Journey

Hi Everyone, This week, during the sacred season of rebirth and renewal, Christians & Jews the world over are observing Passover, Easter and Greek Orthodox Easter. For those who walk in faith, it is a time for remembrance, reverence and reflection; an opportunity to allow our hearts to become open to possibility and to invite … Continue reading Season of Miracles

Hi Everyone, One of the very first greeting card sentiments I ever wrote– just after I graduated from college– was for my parents: “I love coming home because you are there“. My parents still live in the house we moved to when I was in second grade, and I was thrilled to be able to … Continue reading A House Filled with Love

Hi Everyone, A big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to leave a comment with their top choice of collection themes and prizes. The prize is a private art lesson, and the winner is Sandy Laipply! Congratulations, Sandy! I look forward to our group connecting on Saturday, July 21st at 4:00 pm Eastern … Continue reading Collaborative Care-Mojis

Hi Everyone, Welcome to my World! It’s a world of Color, Creativity & Connection where artistic exploration is encouraged, shared and celebrated. For those of you who are newcomers to the blog, Zenspirations® is a combination of my personal philosophy and art style. I try to pair my drawings with scripture, or with my own … Continue reading Welcome to My World!

Hi Everyone, In my September 5th blog post, Zenspirations® Emoji Stickers, I shared some of the designs I’ve been working on, and was delighted to get a lot of positive feedback. I am hoping to be able to launch the emoji collections before the end of the year, and thought this would be a good time to … Continue reading Zenspirations® Digital Downloads & Emoji Sticker Update

Hi Everyone, As part of my commitment to making a difference in the world, I try to create ways for people to reach out in love and kindness, to acknowledge and celebrate milestones, and support one another during life’s difficult moments. So I’m delighted by the initial response to my latest project: Zenspirations® Care-Moji Stickers, … Continue reading Butterfly Greetings: New Care-Moji® Collections!

Hi Everyone, At long last, I finished My Prayer Journal, and sent it off to press! This book is really close to my heart; I have based it on some of my personal prayers and journaling prompts. For example, I try to start each day with a prayer of thanksgiving, such as “Thank You, God, … Continue reading My Prayer Journal is Off to Press!

Hi Everyone, For the past week I have been wrestling with whether or not I should mention the election in tonight’s blog. I ultimately decided that I have an obligation to do so, not from a partisan standpoint, but in hopes of helping people heal. I believe that part of my ‘job’ is to try to … Continue reading Be a L.I.G.H.T. in the World!

Hi Everyone, Selecting a Word of the Year– both personally and for the Zenspirations® Community– has become a treasured annual spiritual practice. Part of this process involves reviewing my core values, and ensuring that my actions and my values are in alignment. This leads me to reflect on what’s missing in my life, so I can … Continue reading Live with Intention in 2019

Hi Everyone, Considering how much I love the interaction of ink on paper, I’m somewhat amazed to discover that digital design is fun, and allows me to create images that aren’t possible using traditional art supplies. Last year I got a new design tool– an iPad Pro, and I have enjoyed exploring it’s capabilities. Long time blog … Continue reading Embracing the Journey

Hi Everyone, I appreciate all the nice comments I’ve been getting about the calendar pages I’ve posted, and would love to know the different ways you are using them. A few people mentioned that they missed January’s page, which was included in the first Zenspirations® blog of 2017. Here’s a link to that blog post … Continue reading Birthday Bonanza!

Hi Everyone, Considering how much I love the interaction of ink on paper, I’m somewhat amazed to discover that digital design is fun, and allows me to create images that aren’t possible using traditional art supplies. Last year I got a new design tool– an iPad Pro, and I have enjoyed exploring it’s capabilities. Long time blog … Continue reading Embracing the Journey

Hi Everyone, I just got back from the Atlanta Gift Show, where I was delighted to see old friends, emerging trends, and some of my licensed products– including my soon-to-be-released 2018 Expressions of Faith Calendar– on display! I also did a book signing, which was lots of fun. I remember when I attended my first … Continue reading The Dream Keepers

Hi Everyone, I’ve spent most of this week working on visuals for a new presentation, The Journey from Grief to Gratitude, which I’ll be giving in Pennsylvania on Thursday. It’s a talk I’m giving in conjunction with my first book signing for the trade edition of When You Lose Someone You Love. For those who haven’t … Continue reading Crossing the Great Divide

Hi Everyone, I appreciate all the nice comments I’ve been getting about the calendar pages I’ve posted, and would love to know the different ways you are using them. A few people mentioned that they missed January’s page, which was included in the first Zenspirations® blog of 2017. Here’s a link to that blog post … Continue reading Birthday Bonanza!

Hi Everyone, Today is the international Random Acts of Kindness Day, and since kindness is one of my core values it seemed like a good day to go back to blogging. I haven’t blogged since my spinal fusion surgery almost a year ago– so there’s a lot to catch up on! In addition to healing … Continue reading Grow in Love

Hi Everyone, I love being part of different creative communities, and as a lettering artist, one of my favorite communities is my local calligraphy guild, the Scribes of Central Florida. Some Florida scribes who live more than an hour from where our guild meets recently founded the Ocala Calligraphy Guild, and I was honored to be asked … Continue reading Watercolor Washes that WOW!

Hi Everyone, More than a decade ago, when I was going through a difficult time, my mother said four simple words which made a huge difference: You are NOT alone! I remember the comfort that her words brought me, and ever since I have wanted to share that sense of comfort with others who are … Continue reading You Are Not Alone

Hi Everyone, In my September 5th blog post, Zenspirations® Emoji Stickers, I shared some of the designs I’ve been working on, and was delighted to get a lot of positive feedback. I am hoping to be able to launch the emoji collections before the end of the year, and thought this would be a good time to … Continue reading Zenspirations® Digital Downloads & Emoji Sticker Update

Hey y’all – It’s the last week of October, and since Joanne’s on a whirlwind East Coast tour, she asked me to do another guest blog post and share the Zenspirations® calendar page for November. I know that I’ll use mine to record the things I’m grateful for each day, and I hope many of you will … Continue reading Heroes in Our Midst

Hi Everyone, Springtime is all about rebirth & renewal, and since it’s the last week of March, I wanted to share April’s Zenspirations® Word of the Month: Renew, which I lettered with an Apple pencil in the Procreate program on my iPad Pro. I drew the art for April’s Word of the Month page with … Continue reading A Time for Renewal