Motherhood...(sigh)...

I love most everything about being a mom.  My two kiddos make me laugh and keep a smile on my face almost all day long.  Then we have our off days, the fussy, impatient, needy, clingy, crying, off days.  That was today, and I am mentally and physically exhausted.  So a little photoshop therapy in the form of what I am calling digital art journaling, and I feel much better.  I've been playing with layering vintage photos and different textures and colors.  Its really fun when you want to be creative but you dont have the time (or the space) to get messy just then.  So with a baby bouncing on my knee and a 3 year old building structures on the floor behind me, I made this.  Hope it inspires you too, and I wish you (and myself) a stress-free day tomorrow.

XO, HARMONY

She Helps Me Be Better

Yesterday was kind of a hard day for me.  For various reasons, there was quite a bit of sad news from people that I care about, and my heart feels so heavy for them.  I was playing around with an old photo of my great grandmother and her sister when they were in their 20s.  I started thinking about those people that we become connected to in our lives, and how we effect each other and force change and growth for one another often even without knowing it.  It is through their experiences and our relationship with them that we feel challenged and supported and motivated to change, be better, try harder, and love more fully and be less selfish.  A family that I love lost a loved one yesterday, and as my heart breaks and weeps for them, I am also finding myself wanting to be a better mother, a better friend, a better sister and daughter and wife.   I want to do these things because I am reminded so acutely that our time on earth is limited and our relationships are the one true good thing that we have while we are here.  People matter, they matter more than stuff, more than experiences, and more than our individual accomplishments.  When I work hard to love someone really well, with truth and an open heart, I become the best version of myself that I can be.  I was reminded of this again yesterday when a beautiful young soul left this world.  She had very little time here on earth, but I dont believe that makes her life tragic, but instead makes every moment that she brought joy to those who loved her that much more special and important and life changing.  I hope to keep being reminded of this.  I pray that I can always keep striving to be the best version of myself, and I have many many amazing people to thank for that lesson.  Thanks for letting me ramble a bit today.  I made this artwork to thank those amazing people who inspire me in this way.   I hope this message blesses you where you are at.  It is definitely what I needed to hear today.  Who inspires you to be better?  Find a way to thank them and bless them today.

XO, HARMONY

Something old, Something new

I was really hoping to have an Art Journaling video finished for you today, but I need a bit more time to edit it.  Everything just seems to take me a bit longer to complete these days, but I guess I have the excuse of being almost 37 weeks pregnant.  So I thought I'd give you a sneak peek into some other artsy fun I've been experimenting with lately.  Remember the Flower Embroidery Hoops that I did a while back? Well, that particular idea has morphed into using vintage photos and "painting" on them with thread.  Here is one of them.  I did some fun close up shots of the stitches on the piece.  I am really having fun with a new macro extender tube on my camera.  It gives an unusual perspective on something typical, and I like that. 

 There she is...isnt she so lovely? The photo was an original of a newlywed couple from Germany all dressed up in their wedding attire.  Here's the original photo...

 Arent they gorgeous?  I love how serious people are in old photos.  Most likely because they have been holding that same pose for a ridiculously long time waiting for the image to expose, and couldn't hold a smile the whole time.  So, I scanned it and cropped it down to just the woman's upper torso, printed on fabric, and framed in a vintage metal hoop.  Then I spent days and days with her just letting the colors, shapes, and stitches present themselves to me organically as I kept adding and adding.  She measures 5" across and is hung by a hand dyed silk ribbon.  I have several more of these I will be sharing soon, so stay tuned.  If you are interested in her, send me a message, otherwise I will be saving her for my next show.  Have a splendid day, and remember to look at something typical today in an unusual way! 

XO, HARMONY

A Sweet Little Book Made with Love

Hello! It's Friday :)  Which for me means the opposite of most other people.  The weekends are my time to get as much work done as possible in my art room, while my husband and little boy are off playing.  So I am gearing up for a few days of creative play and crafty work, but I wanted to take a few moments and show you what I made yesterday.

Here is the finished journal that I made from the pages you saw me make yesterday.  When I started putting it together, I really felt like it needed some vintage flair, so I added lots of extra pages from vintage wrapping papers from the 50s and 60s, and several vintage photos from the 40s and 50s, along with a few pages from vintage fairy tale books.

Overall there are 35+ pages of color popping goodness, lots of bright pinks and blues.  The cover is hand painted much in the same way that you saw me paint the pages, with a vintage wrapping paper layer underneath that peeks through, and I layers some antique lace trims on the edge of it, just in case it wasnt girly enough ;)

 The book is hand bound with a black metal spiral and embellished with a mix of recycled sari ribbons, hand spun yarn, and hand dyed silk.  It is a truly precious little book measuring 4.5"w X 6"h.

 This one of a kind entirely handmade journal is up for sale in my ETSY SHOP now, as well as lots of new prints and originals, at reduced prices.  I will be offering Free Shipping on everything through Monday, just use the FREESHIPPING code at checkout *(see store announcements for details).  Thanks for looking and I wish you a very happy start to your weekend.  DIY Saturday is tomorrow, with a super fun project in the works, so perhaps I'll see you back here for more creative fun in the morning.

XO, HARMONY

New Works! The Sojourners Series Begins

I began a new series of paintings that I am really excited about, and since my husband is completely useless to me in reflecting an honest reaction to my art ("That's nice." - worst description of how you feel about an artwork ever!) and my sister (who is always the most blunt and honest with me about my work) is currently overseas for the next 4 months, I wanted to share them with you and see what you thought.

"Sisterhood"

2011 by Harmony

Original Mixed Media Painting

8X8 done on wood panel

I created this (above) painting on commission for a lovely pair of sisters to celebrate their journey both separate and together.  It really inspired me to think about each of us and our individual journeys that almost always have at least one "other" that makes us brave and gives us strength to be our unique selves.  My little sister does this for me.  We are almost exact opposites in personality and style, this led to lots of competitive behaviors and fighting when we were young, but as I have grown alongside her, I have discovered it is the beauty of our differences that I love the most, and that she helps me be who I am today.  So I was inspired to create a few more pieces of each sister on their individual journey, to reflect the duality of their spirits (connected together yet living separate lives). 

 "The Dreamer"

2011 by Harmony Lenasbunt

Mixed Media Original Artwork

6X6 done on wood panel

 "The Seeker"

2011 by Harmony Lenasbunt

Mixed Media Original Artwork

6X6 done on wood panel

More about how I made them: Each piece is totally unique, full of texture and  layers, as well as color and patterns.  I used vintage wrapping papers to create a base layer which I kept overlaying with paint, pastel, inks, adding more and wiping away over and over until the background was built up with as much character and beauty as the figure herself.  There are vintage lace pieces affixed to the edges, and the images are actually done on fabric, giving them a soft dreamy appearance. 

I am absolutely over the moon with how my vision for these paintings turned out in reality and am currently working on several more pieces for the series of Sojourners.  Thank you for letting me share them with you.  They are very dear to my heart.  Prints and wood mounted prints of them will be available in my Etsy Shop later today.  If you are interested in the orginals, or a commissioned work like this, please email me.

If you were represented in an artwork like this, what would your title be?  I am definitely the Dreamer, while my sister is completely the Seeker.  Any Wanderers, Pranksters, Mother Hearts,  Thinkers out there?  Tell me what word describes your current journey best?

XO, HARMONY