Here is my word for the week!!
FILLED
Seemed fitting following my word last week - EMPTY!!

Looking forward to seeing how this shows up in my daily life this week and in my art!

Will share with you on Friday!!

Have a great week ~ FILLED with lots of laughs, smiles, and happiness!!
Sandy

A WEEK OF EMPTY?

Well.....my week has been anything but empty! Has been a busy week preparing for my art classes. I've so missed teaching and seeing my students - many that travel up to 4 hours each way to get her to paint with me! How BLESSED am I that someone would take that much time from their daily life to come and spend it with me!!

I've gotten some interesting emails and messages about my word this week - some didn't understand it and some thought it was the perfect word for them to focus on. I think I explained it to those that didn't understand what I was thinking when I chose this word. As I've been doing since I started A Weekly Word I wrote down some things that SHOWED themselves to me whilst focusing on this word - EMPTY.

 My first thought hit me when I stopped to get gas. We don't let our cars get below 1/2 tank usually before filling them up. Not what I used to do in my younger years when I prayed for the fumes to at least get me to work on time and I'd fill up afterwards.
Well.....I want to apply the not below 1/2 tank to my daily life! Starts first thing in the morning. Getting up early enough to have quiet time with God, quiet time to really wake up and plan what I need to get done that day. I usually have a LONG list and think I can knock it out in no time to end the day and feel defeated because I didn't get as much done as I thought I could get done - sometimes there is only one thing checked off.
So....I've adopted a trick my husband taught me - start your list with the last thing or two you just completed and cross them out! That starts your list off with tasks that have been completed and gives you a little positive boost to keep crossing them off. I also can't fill my day thinking about ALL that has to be done because that certainly makes me feel like my peg is on E - EMPTY. I have to concentrate on the task at hand and get that peg over to the F (FOCUS) line.

Another thing I really wanted to focus on this week was to empty myself of negative thoughts - especially when it comes to ME - mainly my body, my artistic ability, being a good wife or mother, etc! Those thoughts that creep in and can change my mood in a nano second.
Well.....I realized that I will most likely always have those thoughts but I have the CHOICE to not believe them, not let them affect me and move on.  Sometimes that is easier said then done but that is something I'm certainly going to work on.

I've always felt I was a glass half FULL kinda girl! See the positive! Be Optimistic! It's a choice and it's my choice! There are too may things in day to day life that could make us feel defeated or empty because that glass isn't full - just turn on the news. However, if that glass is EMPTY - I have ways I can fill it up! There is some food for thought huh?

 

Have a BLESSED day!!

Sandy

My forth word for the year  is ~ 
EMPTY
It's a word that might stump you a bit. So, let me explain where I'm coming from and what I'm hoping to really focus on this week with this word.

This word EMPTY has really been on my heart since November. Some might view it as a negative word but I'm really looking at it in a more positive light.

There is a song by Christian artist Chris Sligh that I love! This is a snippet of the lyrics ~




Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition 
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So i can be
Filled with you

I want to empty myself of fear that is holding me back for whatever reason from doing things whether it's in my business or friendships. I think a lot of times it's fear of rejection, fear of failing, and also fear of being hurt that hold me back.

I also want to EMPTY myself of the negative thoughts that sometimes creep into my head like - your not skinny enough, your not good enough, etc. I know when I EMPTY myself of the NEGATIVE things I will make more room for the POSITIVE things! 

I'll write more about this word and how it showed up in my week on Friday! 
Have a great day!
Sandy

ACTION

ACTION

ACTION














That's what I've had to repeat to myself over and over and over all week!!
I get a lot done but I also know that I procrastinate a lot too!  Especially if I don't want to do something. I'll start cleaning my closet out, tackling those junk drawers, etc. to avoid doing what I really should be doing. This week I seriously had to stop myself from doing this by repeating the word - ACTION - ACTION - ACTION!

INTERUPTION ~
Sorry.....
I had such a great post all written out in my head and was ready to sit down and write but then I had to take ACTION on something that has been on my heart for a few months now. I took ACTION! So glad that I did - just wish I had done it earlier. Went straight to the friend that I needed to have this conversation with and I'm glad I did.  Was way too in my head with my thoughts and emotions and I'll admit - it STOLE my JOY yesterday!  It's NOT today though!

I recently read and am re-reading this book Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst and decided to highlight things that really stand out to me and this is one of them:

"Spending some time getting quiet can really be the best remedy for tangled situations. Taking a step back from all the emotion, frustration, and exhaustion to sit quietly with Jesus will do more to untangle a mess than anything else I’ve ever found." ~Lysa TerKeurst, Unglued Book

I highly recommend this book!! Only wish I had read it a couple of years ago!

So back to my regularly scheduled post (lol).......

While focusing on this word ACTION ~ I wrote down some things that really stood out to me.

1. Action - means FORWARD - keep doing things and moving forward and STOP looking back.
Often times I get drug down and almost feel paralyzed when focusing on past mistakes - that not so nice way I spoke to my husband, or the ugly look I gave one of my sons, gossiping with a friend about something that shouldn't have been said, talking out of hurt and frustration about a situation, etc. etc. etc.
I'm sure you get the point and might even relate to what I'm talking about.
Thank goodness I have a God that forgives me for my imperfections. It's a fact that I know I will continue to make these and many more mistakes but by the grace of God I also know that I will learn from them and make a conscious effort to not repeat them.

2. Intention & purpose in my actions - in all actions I take I want them to be intentional and purposeful and I have to understand that I may not get the results I want but if I do them with full conviction then I have to look at that as forward action!

and lastly....

3. My Actions - that I am fully responsible for my actions. I OWN them all! The good, the bad and sometimes even the ugly.

I feel like my paint brushes have been in FULL ACTION for about a month now and I wish I knew how I could keep that going!! I LOVE to paint - it's what I do. Ask my kids....."what did you do all day mom"...."oh yeah, you painted"! As if they had to ask.
However, there are days that I don't paint, can't paint, not inspired to paint for whatever reason (usually because I'm so caught up in my head with other things, emotions, etc.) and those are the days that I need to take the most ACTION!!
It's my business but more than that it's my passion and I love that I get to share that with people.

SO.....I have a couple more days in the week that I have to take FULL ACTION and get lots done and that starts now by saying bye for now - I'll see you back here on Monday with My Weekly Word for next week - it might be a word that stumps you but it's one that has been on my heart and one that I am looking forward to focusing on daily!!

How did this word ACTION show up for you this week? Hope you took some good, intentional and purposeful action that moved you FORWARD!

Have a blessed day!
Sandy

My word for week 3 of 2014 is ACTION!!!





















Hope you have an outstanding day and make sure to check back on Friday to see my post on how this word "ACTION" showed it's self to me this week!

Some of you have written and said you are having a difficult time leaving a comment. Not sure how blogger is set up any longer - you used to be able to leave a comment as anonymous if you didn't have a google or blogger acct. Well....it doesn't seem that is the way it is any longer so if you have a google log in or a blog you can use those accts to sign in and leave your comment or you can keep emailing me at sandymctierdesigns@aol.com


Have a GREAT DAY!!
Sandy

Just some thoughts on my first word of the year ~ JOY

I have been filled with so much JOY so far in 2014! This mom has ben filled with the JOY of having her not so little ones anymore home from college for a month! I feel like I've gotten a renewed creative energy and the brush is making some little pretties that I'm excited about! Blessed and humbled too that others want a little piece of my art and like them enough to purchase them and display them in their homes!

 

I did have a couple of moments where I felt like something was about to steal my JOY! I'm sure you've been there and can relate - you hear something someone said about you and then instead of letting it roll right off our back you repeat it over and over it your head and before you know it it's stolen your joy for the day and your whole attitude changes, etc. etc. etc.

 

Well........I've decided in 2014 that I will do everything in my power to NOT allow that to happen any longer! It's hard - can't change it overnight - but every time I felt I was going there with my thoughts I prayed about it, prayed for that person and moved on with my day! It really did help and I know if I'm consistent with how I handle situations like that it will be easier to do each time something tries to steal my JOY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My second word of 2014 is BELIEVE!

 

This ties into so many goals that I've written out for myself for this coming year!

I strive to BELIVE that relationships will be restored, BELIVE that I can stop drinking Diet Coke/Soda once and for all, BELIEVE that I can inspire others through my art and so many other things that I've written down!  I've read my list daily so that I can remind myself of what I WANT this year! I do BELIEVE they will all come - probably not as easily or as soon as I'd like - but in God's timing they will come and I BELIEVE that!

 

Another thing I've really tried to focus on with this word BELIEVE ~ is that I can't always BELIEVE the negative things in my programmed brain!

You know what I'm talking about? Those negative thoughts - I can't, I'm not worthy of that, that will  never happen, etc. I also can't always BELIEVE the stories I create in my head about a person, situation, etc.

 

Back to my point I made earlier about the JOY of having my boys home from college for a month. I have had some not so great moments since they've been home - mainly with our oldest. I feel like there were days that I was just on him for one thing or another and started 'believing' that he's so ready to go back to school and get out of this house and away from his mother! Well, that is certainly a story I created in my head, he hasn't said that nor has his daily actions shown that. Every morning he comes and hugs me, checks on me throughout the day and gives me hugs as he passes through the house and I know that as much as I probably get on his nerves he loves me and loves being home with his sometimes overbearing mom.

 

Look forward to hearing how these words showed up in your daily life these last two weeks!!

 

I'm trying to not get a head of myself and really just have that one word for the week but in reading my list that I made for all the things I WANT & BELIEVE will happen in 2014 - some words have made themselves known and I've written them down - mainly so I don't forget! I'm hoping being off the Diet Coke helps with that issue! lol  SO, just to give you a heads up - my next word is ACTION!

 

Oh....I almost forgot ~ I'm keeping a journal too with these thoughts and more for each week! Adding touches of art and doodles, etc. and will share some of those pages throughout the year! :D Hope you'll keep a journal too - it really does help to see it written and to write out your thoughts - good or bad! Think of it as a healthy way to vent too! Sometimes words shouldn't be expressed to other ears but they are still feelings you might be having at the moment and writing them will help you see them, examine them, and deal with them!!

 

BELIEVE it and you can ACHIEVE it! 

 

Have a BLESSED day!
Sandy

My second word for 2014 is

BELIEVE

Looking forward to how this word will show up this week in my daily life and artwork!

Check back on Friday and I'll tell you all about it here on my blog!

Look forward to hearing from y'all too so make sure to get those blog posts ready and send me your link or leave a comment on my post Friday!

Have a JOY FILLED day!!
Sandy

I have been hearing a lot about how people pick one word and use that word throughout the year in their daily lives. A word that they can focus on, meditate on and have as a daily reminder.
I wanted a word! I thought about it and thought about it but I was stuck - on December 30th I told my darling hubby that I needed a word and told him about the story I saw on The Today Show. On January 1st I told him I still hadn't come up with ONE word that I wanted to be my "mantra" for 2014. On January 2nd it came to me - the word that I was going to focus on and meditate on throughout 2014.

HOWEVER.....today while waiting for my son's car to be fixed at the dealership, I was writing down some things I wanted to accomplish in 2014 and it hit me!!! I needed more than ONE word.

I needed at least 52 words and in that "A Weekly Word" was created!  Each week I'll pick one word that I want to focus on and apply to my life and my art work. I will of course blog about it and I hope you'll join me each week when I post (to include this post of course) and let me know what your word is for the week! 

Feel free to right click on the "A Weekly Word" button above and post it on your blog, FB, Instagram, Twitter, etc. if you'd like and link my blog so we can all be encouraged by our words of the week. I only have one request if you participate! No foul words please! Thanks!

My word this first week of 2014 is "JOY"
























When this word popped into my head so did the song that I used to sing as a little girl.....I've got the Joy Joy Joy Joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart ~ do you know it?  One of my childhood favorites!

When I told my husband today about my "A Weekly Word" idea and told him my first word, that song popped in his head and out of his mouth as well!

These are just some things that I've thought about when I think of the word "JOY"

My family brings me so much JOY! I love having my boys home from college but also am thrilled that they are furthering their education and deciding what they want to be when they grow up! They both made the Deans List this past fall semester! Our youngest one also had all "As" in High School and his dual enrolled college courses he's taking. My heart overflows with JOY and I'm so proud to be their mom!

I get so much JOY from picking up a paint brush and seeing what happens to a blank canvas! It's been a journey - one that hasn't always been joyful but certainly one that has also brought me great JOY! I'm hoping each week to some how some way incorporate my weekly word into a piece of art!

This week when I go through my daily life and I think and pray about this word I will make notes and "update" my list. I'm sure there will be things that bring me joy and things that try and steal my joy and I'm anxious to see how that word helps me this first week in January.

Have a JOYFUL weekend!
Sandy

Finished up some paintings that I started in 2013!
I painted this "custom" castle for a sweet little girl that my middle son used to teach drum lessons to.  She was specific about the colors she wanted as well as the fact that she wanted water and a dachshund.  I had a blast painting it for her and can't wait to see where she hangs it!

I painted this one evening to use up some of the paint on my palette from the roses I had painted the day before (see roses below).  I was wrapped up in an afghan that a friend handmade for me and sent me for my birthday and I kept thinking about how nice and cozy I was having it wrapped around me - so I decided that this painting should be hers ~ for her birthday which was in December! Maybe it could find a nice cozy spot in her new home too!

I met a sweet lady (Patsy) and her daughter (Sandy) from Georgia while attending the Nancy Medina Workshop in TN and she asked me to paint her an apron - well - it was in the midst of all my shows and then holiday painting orders, etc. and needless to say I finally got it painted and can't wait for her to get it!

I decided that in the new year I was going to have a Rose Study workshop so I had roses on my mind! Decided to paint some gifts and was thrilled how much each one loved them!




Hope you have a BLESSED DAY!
Sandy

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

WOW!! Didn't realize how long I have been away from blog until I tried to log in and couldn't for the life of me remember my password! Sad I know! Thank goodness for backup information!

We had a wonderful Christmas and for a change I actually stayed up long enough to ring in the New Year ~ can't say the same for hubby though - was in bed by 10:30p.m.

We've so enjoyed having our boys home from college ~ and I know their girlfriends certainly have!
I love to hear them chit chat about games, TV shows, etc. as well as listen to them jam out on the guitars and drums!


I forgot to write about my last class of the year ~ my Basic Strokes Art Journaling class! We painted roses and leaves in blue & white! The word that really spoke to me when preparing for this lesson was "BELIEVE" I remember not believing that I could paint a rose - and now - even though I am still figuring them out and how I like to paint them ~ I BELIEVE now I can paint a rose!

 




Dee, Susan, Deborah, Fran and Sherry! Missed some ladies due to school programs and sickness 

 
 

Gloria & Patti
This was Patti's first class and I know Gloria and I truly enjoyed having her there. Again, a couple ladies had to cancel due to sickness so we were a small group but full of laughter! Loved how tickled Patti got when she painted something she liked and how tickled she got when she painted something she didn't! Look forward to having her in more classes!

I also held a workshop at my home with 4 ladies that were painting gifts for family and friends for Christmas.

 Ellen painted a garden scene for a friend and I think "finally" she impressed herself!! She certainly impressed us all and I know her friend will treasure this forever!

Ellen also painted gourd for a friend that matched her china pattern. Simple and sweet design!

Pictured (missing Ellen)
Ann - she painted her daddy's rose garden! Such a sweet story and she did such an amazing job!
Lisa - painted a scene from a picture that she took on a trip to Ireland. Everyone wanted to paint this luscious green landscape after seeing hers! Jenny painted a couple of things - this one here was a tropical medley - with a hibiscus & plumeria. Hard to see with the angle but it turned out so soft and pretty! She also started on a log cabin painting after this one.

A sweet friend of mine asked if I would paint some aprons for a friend of hers in California. I painted 17 aprons - all similar but different and had a blast painting each one! They wore them for a cooking class just before the holidays! Hoping to get a group shot of them wearing them and will of course share if/when I do!






Worked on my planner today for the year and really hoping to get more blogging in!! It's on my calendar to do and with a couple of new projects I have going I am hoping to be more consistent with posting! Hope you'll stop by often and catch up with me!

Have a great day!
Blessings,
Sandy