Welcome March 2015!

Today we find ourselves snowed in a bit, and enjoying the comforts of home. Where are you at on this day? Are surfing the internet for new blogs, and pinterest pins? That's what I do on day's like this. We have it pretty laid back today. The boys had fun running around the house in shorts and no shirts or shoes this morning...10 inches or more of snow...that's my boys. They love to have fun and go on adventures.

I have been doodling on index cards recently, and thought they turned out cute. This one was done with a Gelly Roll pen. My husband and I are doing a study right now and having to write down our verses to memorize. Sometimes I can get carried away with it. :D

My art table is always a mess! How about yours? What are your favorite tips on keeping organized. Well honestly, I am just not organized in there at all. I know where everything is, but it drives me nuts that I can be so disorganized. I guess it's what I call an organized mess. (insert a giggle here) :D Anywho, I have been journaling here and there and even made my own stencils out of heavy watercolor paper. I have on my site some supplies that I love! Hope you check it out. Going to leave you with a picture that I painted for a fund raiser. May you be blessed and know that God loves you greatly. Will be posting a video soon, and just a reminder my Hobby Lobby Mixed Media Class is scheduled for March 14th, 2015 in Clarksville, same time.

Joyfully His~~~ xox Meagan

Busy - Happy - Blessed

Busy, happy and blessed, I am, all of those wrapped up in one.  My kids keep me on my toes.  I seem to roll with the punches, as life happens, as school and music lessons fold out into one busy, happy, blessed life. I love my boys. 

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The Lord is always working on me...so glad he never gives up, aren't you?  I find myself practicing His presence and wanting my kids to know how to practice the presence of God.  I am way not perfect, nor do I have it all together.  I am  on a journey, just like you, to discover what God  has for me, and my family.  What is his perfect will for us?   YES...I have lots of ideas, and dreams and things I want to accomplish....but I am waiting on His direction.  

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As far as the studio::::had some gals over who wanted to paint "Fields of Poppies"....We had a good time painting and chatting....This month I will be teaching a Mixed Media Poppy Inspirational artwork at Hobby Lobby.  Can you join me?  It's Feb. 21, in Clarksville, IN at 10:30 - 1:00...Supply list is available on my facebook page.

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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Other fun things are always happening around here.  Many art designs going on in between school time and life in general.  Life is always happening.  Just have to learn to roll with the punches...the distractions...and the boys and their wrestling extravaganza's that go on around here.  There is never a dull moment.

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Be sure to take time today and create something beautiful, even if it's messy...beauty comes from making a creative mess first!  Have a blessed and joyful day.  

Joyfully His~~~~~~Meagan

Called to Home!

Called to Home...

"100 Days of Change"

May 17th I started a "100 Days of Change"...change as in drinking more water, making good choices in what I eat and how I spend my time.  I have found change does not come easy.  They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so that means by the end of my 100 days, I should have many new healthy habits.  One of my new habits is drinking more water.  Crisp, clean, water, with sliced lemon...totally refreshing and totally good for you.  Lemons have great benefits like,vitamin C, it helps the body fight off infections and is low in calories too.

Something else I am doing for me is consciously setting aside time to be creative in My Joyful Art Studio.  I sneak away from all the other "stuff" like my "To Do List",  and sit down with my paper and pen, my bible, a journaling book, my media of choice, which  lately has been, watercolors and writing pen's and pencils  This is a time for me to "be still'" write, think on paper, and dream, and pray.  

   I have been wanting to create "How To" video's for awhile now.  One night this past week, I got an unction to create a video, so I Meagan, rigged it the best way I could...now that would be a sight to post...haha.  But I won't for now.  But, yes the video turned out okay.  I will show it to you here: 

I really enjoyed creating a journal page "off the cuff" so to speak.  I didn't really plan on anything elaborate, it just happened.  I know this is the first of many video's to come.  So keep checking back to see what will be next.   

Something else I love to do, and never thought I was very good at, was writing.  I love to write.  I've never been one, (so I thought) who had many words to share, and if I did, didn't know if anyone would want to read them.  So out of boredom, maybe, I don't know how a wife, mom, artist, homeschooler, christian, busy momma could be bored, but I was, so I decided to create a BLOG.  I had ideas to share, words to speak and write, and my faith in Jesus Christ to share.   Yippee!  I love it.  I love to be able to go share with the world all that I am learning on my journey in life.  There is so much to learn, the world to see, things to create and people who need to know that there really is a God who cares about us.  There is a world out there that needs to know God's Not Dead, and that people like you and me, need a Savior, and can live and breath in this world, knowing God is with us and wants a relationship with you and me.  I want to encourage people all over who love the Lord, and those who are seeking Him to be encouraged through my blogging site.  Practicing the Presence of God, has changed my life.  I recognize that He is with me everyday, whether it's me doing the dishes, and housework or teaching my boys, or creating in my studio, God is with me.  I talk out loud to Him, saying things like,

"Lord I know you are with me..."

and thanking Him for my life and family...and sometimes, I say that out loud, and just feel Him near.  My relationship with the Lord, is most important in my life.  That is why I saved the BEST part for last.  

Hope you enjoyed this blog, be looking for new video's and new creative ideas, and journaling techniques.  I want God to be glorified in all that I do.  I am on a journey with Him, won't you join me in Practicing His Presence?

Joyfully His-

Meagan Boone

Happy June Everybody...

Hello again.  June is a month of business with family and friends gathering for fun and fellowship... It's a month to relax and regroup.  I am actually re-grouping.  I want to do something a little different on my blog and that's encourage you towards life changes that will truly help you to become the best YOU, you - can possibly be.  

Since May 17th, I started a 100 day of change for me.   I have decided to drink more water, exercise, eat healthier, read the my Bible and memorize scripture, plus get some "Einstein Time" in the studio.

It's really about taking care of Body, Soul and Spirit.  God made us into 3 parts.  Therefore each part needs a different activity to help it function in the way God intended.  Our body needs  proper nutrition, rest and healthy choices of food  to maintain our energy throughtout the day.  We need creative time too.  Whether it's creating through art, gardening, decorating, or your choice of creativity, you just feel better doing something you enjoy.  

Exercising:  I do have a confession to make.  I hate to exercise.  How about you?  I do love to dance and was on a the drill team in school.  With that said, the only exercise I have found  to enjoy with my personality is Zumba.  It's fun and fast and has a lot of upbeat Latino style music and even some of the instructors throw in upbeat christian music.  Zumba is pretty popular these days and can be easily found in your area or local YMCA.

There you go...some new changes going on around here...Don't forget to check back in and look for something new.  Change is good, especially when it means we are going in the right direction.

Have a Joy filled June!

Meagan

Life Happenings...

How in the World are you Anyway?

May 24th- Happenings.  

Hey there friends, hope you are doing well.  Life is so crazy busy, please slow down and breath...Yes, we all need to slow down, breath, smell the roses, and take in the sweet smell of honeysuckle growing in the fields and forests.  Enjoy every little moment, because, they pass so quickly.

My oldest son and his wife will be having a baby soon, and it just seems like yesterday, I brought him  home from the  hospital.  Zach and Sasha will make wonderful parents.  We are very excited about a baby in our family.  (mi-mi is doing a happy dance).  I love this photo of them.

Well as you know Summer is just around the corner...June 21st is the beginning of Summer.  For me June will be filled with tons of fun, art classes for kids, Ladies Journaling classes and more.  Going to enjoy the busy, bustling summer extravaganza's we have going on as a family.   My calendar is filling up with a wedding, a grandson's birth, art shows, and mini stay-cations here and there.  Did I mention me and my sweetie will be celebrating 16 wonderful years together in June as well. 

I have been one busy gal, planning summer classes, and art projects, and creating new ideas for the next school year.  I love being on the go, and busy, and overloaded-haha, that is the only normal I know.  But no matter how busy I become, I always make time for my Lord.  He has blessed me in ways I could have never imagined.  God constantly loves me and forgives me.  I sure do fail.  God knows, I am surrounded by 4 males!  My boys and my husband have been the best thing to ever happen to me.  Although they don't quite understand my  pink ways, and that's okay.  So I eat my chocolate, and sometimes have a good cry for no reason at all.  Then I am fine!  They seem a bit confused at my female behavior. 

(I love these boys of mine!)

 I tell my boys, this is just preparing you for what is to come, when you get married! (haha-They aren't impressed with my advice, since they are 14, 13 and 10 years old.)  So, I will just "Keep on Keepin' On " in this journey with my Lord, and my blessed busy life as a wife, momma, artist, soon to be mi-mi, daughter, sister, friend, and daughter of the King.

~~~Have a Happy Summer~~~

Have a great summer and remember to check back here for updates on what's happening at My Joyful Art Studio.  Just want you to know, Jesus loves you best.

Joyfully-

Meagan

JANUARY 18th ~~~ SeRiOuSleee ~~~

I seriously can't believe it's the 18th of January.  How has your new year gone so far?  Hope it's been well.  Time flies when you are  having fun. 

 Today, was a great day with the kids in My Joyful Art Studio...I always love to hide away in there, especially, after I have cleaned up my creative messes...and able to find my supplies.  It's my "woman cave" so to speak.

I have been taking online classes, and just loving the experience of meeting, and reading about different artists.  I am a small town girl, living in a country setting, in Southern Indiana.  Just me...laid back, and free-spirited so to speak, loving my days with the boys, and counting my blessings.  

One artist imparticular that I have started following is Danielle Donaldson.  I discovered her somehow on facebook and watching an interview she did with Jeanne Oliver, from www.jeanneoliverdesigns.com.    She does amazing watercolor paintings and has inspired me to create some different style techniques in my journal that I am working on.  She is a very talented woman.  She wrote an article on her website about creative practicing...I believe she put into words the thoughts of many artists, and why we have been afraid to show our work for fear of someone copying it.   Creative practicing to me, is important.  I have taught for many years now, and when I first started it was with some ladies from church, who knew I was an artist.  It was a step of faith, because, I really wanted to  teach kids, but with their persuasion, I took the step.  It was a success.  Anyway, if it weren't for artists like, Bob Ross, and Dorothy Dent, I wouldn't have known really where to start.  But start I did, I painted like theses artists.  Then would gradually get my own ideas, from photographs I would take around the country side, and then put them on canvas, or sawblades, or anything that didn't move.  I support Creative Practicing, and think it's wise, and honorable to pay it forward so to speak, so other artists, won't be afraid, to share their gifts and talents with the world.

I also teach a Master's Study for Kids...I love Wassily Kadinsky, and Claude Monet, and Paul Klee, the list could go on and on.  However, as we study these artists, we are able to know them as a real person, and can practice their technique, until it becomes a part of us, then we are able to put forth our own personality and flare onto canvas.  By experimenting with different colors, and technique we are able to discover our own style of painting.  It may be that we discover we love the feel of the brush in our hand as it glides across the canvas with short brushstrokes like Claude Monet, or painting with "loud" colors of circles dashes or lines, like Wassily Kadinsky.  However and whoever we study, and become an apprentice under, we are sure to add some form of charisma to our own style.  Remember to check out Danielle's website...www.danielledonaldson.com.

HUGE BLESSINGS to you and yours.

Meagan 
Phil. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.