Soul Full Hearts

"Believe You Can" (2011) Mixed Media Original by Harmony 

AH-MAZING!   I did it! I survived the show at 9 months pregnant and am now finally resting for a long lazy morning with my family.  I believed that I could do it, and I did (although I will admit there were points along the way, that I was sure that I would not be ready in time, but wonderfully it all worked out).  We had a good show day, the weather in FL was incredible, my team was stellar, and the crowd was a joy to watch and interact with.  I had lots of plans to video and take pics throughout the day to share with you, but the truth is, I got caught up in the set up and selling process and just plain forgot.  We had a pretty great response once again, and I was so excited to see some familiar faces that I had met in my booth the last year we did this festival.  I absolutely love connecting with other creative women and soulful hearts.  It is the reason why I started seriously doing this and the inspiration behind all of my original works, like these recent paintings.

 "Soul Full Heart" 2011 Original Mixed Media Painting by Harmony Lenasbunt

So now all my boxes and displays are packed away ready for the next show in Dec.   Now I get to take a bit of a break to rest, play, create just for FUN!, and get ready to have this baby.  I am really looking forward to blogging again each day and really appreciate you sticking with me as I took the time I needed to focus on this show.  I will also be stocking my Etsy Site with lots of new things, art journals, wood block prints, lace necklaces, and embroidery pieces, so keep checking for those updates.  If any of you are new visitors to my blog after meeting me yesterday, please leave me a comment or send me an email, I'd love to connect further and hear more about your creative dreams.   Have a wonderful and restful Sunday everyone!

XO, HARMONY

Made With Love: More Mail Art!

It's Mail Art Day!  I cant tell you how much this project has blessed me, especially right now while I am experiencing a very hectic and stressful month in my creative world.  I truly believe that reaching out and connecting with other creative in whatever capacity you are able is the best way to stay positive and motivated in your own artistic work.  We all need encouragement when pursuing our passions and to know that we are not alone in our struggles and triumphs, and the journey of art making is no exception.  Here are the beautiful creations that were sent to me this week, by some very lovely and talented women. 

First up is the amazing Micki Wilde of the Secret Hermit.  I met Micki online about a year ago, through our blogs and just fell in love with her sweet and whimsical girls.  She was also a huge encouragement to me as she is also a mom and totally understood my struggle to balance making and selling art and being a stellar mother.  Micki, your package truly brightened a very stressful day for me and brought me new energy and perspective.  Thank you, thank you for your sweet and generous spirit! I adore this piece you sent and it will continue to bring me daily joy as a part of my inspiration wall in my creative space. 

This beautiful digital artwork came from Maureen of The Starry Me.  I love the shapes and colors she created from this flower photo.  I literally got a instant huge smile on my face when I pulled it from the envelope, such a peaceful and calming image.  Thank you so much for sending it to me!  It is a very special piece. 

***(This leads me to mention that you dont have to be a painter or a sketcher to participate in this mail art exchange.  Whatever your medium of creative expression is perfect, and there are no rules or restrictions, OR LEVELS OF TALENT required.  As long as it is something you created from you heart, it is welcome!)

And finally, I received a beautiful piece of collage art and a very sweet note from a new friend Tina.  I love the way she uses commercial images to create something completely different and truly her vision.  I am honored to have been sent such a lovely collection of her work.  Thank you Tina! Your images and sweet words were an encouragement in my week.

If you want to know more about this project, just click HERE or on the Made With Love button on my right sidebar.  For everyone who has sent me mail art so far, THANK YOU, what a wonderful way to encourage each other.  I mailed off all of your mail art envelopes from me on Friday (except for Micki, which will mail tomorrow), so keep and eye out for them.

XO, HARMONY

Made With Love: Mail Art!

Hello dear readers, and welcome Freckled Nest Fans (i know you are all checking in from her giveaway right now) :)  Just FYI: for more giveaway fun, today is the LAST day to enter my sponsor giveaway!  There are 8 gorgeous prizes available for one winner.  Take a sec and enter your name in the fun.  Well, I hope you had a wonderful week and have a restful weekend ahead of you today.  Despite my ever expanding pregnant body and the mounting stress of being WAY behind in my schedule for getting ready for my craft show in 3 weeks, I had some truly soulful moments of connection and creativity that I wanted to share with you.  As my 3 year old son loves to say for no apparent reason, "Ta-Da!" It's my first post from my Made With Love mail art project with three amazing creations sent to me by some incredibly talented and beautiful souls.  I am so excited about this project.  If you are new here, click HERE or on the button that says MADE WITH LOVE, on the Right Sidebar for more information.

Now on to the loveliness...

There are no rules for what you send in the mail art project, just that it be something you created that is intended to lift and encourage the recipient's spirit!  I have to say, nothing lifts my spirit more than beautifully decorated envelopes sitting in my mailbox.

Love this sweet Creative Soul and her pink and blue hair! Thank you so much Nessa! She is just lovely and now sitting on my shelf reminding me to believe in myself.

This sweet little collage was made by Karenann.  I love vintage illustrations used in artwork, and the mother and children was a truly sweet touch.  Thank you dear girl, I cant wait to add it to my art journal that I work in for my kiddos.

This one was sent to me by the lovely Bonita Rose.  She made this fun and gritty little card and included this incredible vintage crochet scrap.  You have no idea how happy this made me!  I collect vintage scraps like this for use in my artwork, and this one will have a special meaning to me when I decide to use it.  Thank you Bonita, this was really special!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the end of a week, with friendship.   I cant wait for you three to get your mail art from me!  If you want to connect with fellow creatives, give and receive encouragement to each other to keep following our creative dreams, join my Mail Art Project!  It's simple and fun, and I will feature all the art that I receive on my blog.  Have a wonderful day everyone!

XO, HARMONY

A Friendship Created through Art... Mail Art Exchange

I recently jumped in on Mindy Lacefield of Tim's Sally call for a mail art exchange that she put out on her blog.  I absolutely love the idea of exchanging art of all kinds with other creative people and didnt hesitate to whip up a fun 4X4" piece for her and send it out in a brightly painted envelope.  Yesterday, I received my reply from her! Isnt it adorable?  I have always loved Mindy's art, have been honored to get to know her a bit through the internet, and she has consistently been a huge inspiration for me to take risks and follow dreams in my art process.  Getting an envelope full of her artsy goodness this week made me feel more connected to her and more in general with artists like me trying to live out their dreams.

Then I started thinking, what if we just kept this thing going and many more artsy/crafty people needing connection in their creative process started exchanging mail art?  We could spread smiles and encouragement all over the world!  I know that I dont have many artistic friends here in my hometown working to make a living from their creative passions, and often I feel a bit isolated in my journey.  I am also in the phase of my life where I am growing a family, and my babies are little, so this Mommy is pretty tied down for a few years, no matter how badly I want to attend an art retreat or creative connection event somewhere across the country and find my creative tribe that way.  This is exactly why the internet connections and friends I've made through my blog have been so important to me, and help me feel a part of something greater than just me alone in my art room making things I think are pretty or important.  So here's me saying, let's connect!  Send me your art!  I'd be honored to send some of that magic back your way to encourage you as well.  Let's call this project MADE WITH LOVE because it will be exactly that!

I hope to post pics, of the art I receive, here on my blog and would be honored to include a bit of a story along with them.  If you feel brave and want to share a piece of your heart with me, send me some art and tell me a bit about you as well... why you created it or what your creative journey has been, or whatever your spirit desires.  It's all about connecting and creating an encouraging network of creative friendships.  This is will be an open on-going call, so at any time, this week/next month/next year, that you want to send me something you've created, I will receive it with a grateful heart and be overjoyed to send something back to you.

My Address:
Harmony Lenasbunt
2401 SE 12th Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32641

**FYI: If you are interested in joining Mindy's mail art call, (which you totally should, because she is amazing!), just visit HERE for the details.

XO, HARMONY