The Lettered Cottage

Wow! It has been ages since I posted. So much has been going on in the last couple of years. I am excited to announce that I finally decided to make the "leap" into the art world. For several years I had been encouraged by friends to pursue selling my art, but I always hesitated because of fear.  After much dreaming and support, I jumped! I would love to say that it has been all roses and gumdrops, but that is not an accurate description. It has been hard, trying, lovely, encouraging, challenging and humbling all at the same time. I am grateful and blessed to be on this art journey.

Through out this journey I have met so many amazing fellow creatives! People that have come into my life at the exact moment I needed to meet them. God has not only given me a new way of experiencing Him, but He has also grown my creative community. One dear friend that He has brought into my life is Layla Palmer from theletteredcottage.net Layla has graciously included a frame that I made in her latest design project for her show "The Lettered Cottage" on thedesignnetwork.com If you want some eye candy head on over and check out Layla's blog and show! You will not be disappointed!

Ahhh Spring!

Woo-Hoo! This semester is OVA!!! To say that it was a challenging is an understatement! I am grateful that I got to experience it, but I am even more excited to be finished with it. Learned MANY lessons along the way. This picture is a representation of one of the main lessons I learned... it was taken at The Waters. A dear friend of mine went with me to have a pic-nic and to breathe. I have learned that in the middle of craziness, I need to remember to take time to nurture the inner Heather and special friendships. To always trust that my steps are ordered by Jesus. To trust that He has prepared and equipped me...to TRUST Him, in EVERYTHING...yes even school assignments.

I have also learned that I need to be surrounded with nature. Being in His creation does wonders for my soul, especially when I am stressed... He has blessed me with a wonderful little city garden that I enjoy most days, but sometimes I need to go experience places such as The Waters.

This gorgeous beauty came from my rose bush!!!! A former neighbor gave this rose bush to me... a military acquaintance of his was leaving Montgomery and knew he loved roses.  He decided that he would share it with me :-) He no longer lives here either, but I have a piece of his generosity and a constant reminder of our friendship every time she blooms....Thanks Jason!



LOVE this time of the year....working in the garden, going to the garden center's, just being outside is wonderful!  Also been enjoying taking pictures with nifty iPhone apps, Instagram, OldPhotoPro & Retro Camera. (what did I do before my iPhone?)

Trying to make the most of each day! More to come...

Grad School

Theatre Side of the
Comm. Arts Building 

I'm "back in the saddle again" of Grad School! I am in a M.A. program @ Regent University, in Virginia. In the summer of 2008, I lived in Virginia and attended classes on campus. This semester I am doing work online. (I prefer face to face classes.) I am taking a Textual Analysis class & wow, is it CHALLENGING me! I have to read multiple plays throughout the semester & turn in several projects. I am excited (& nervous) about that though, because I believe these challenges will truly help to refine and hone my ability to understand what the playwright's original intent is. (Extremely important for a design team to grasp!) This process of attempting to discover the playwrights original intent is a journey & I haven't always clearly known where to start or where I will end up. This class is teaching me navigational tools; starting points and refueling stops along the way.

Very Colorful!

Our 1st play we are reading is The Colored Museum, by George C. Wolfe. I originally was in this class in 2009, but had to drop out early on in the semester, due to the uterine cancer moving to my spine. I had read this play in January, 2009, and it was a bit shocking & uncomfortable, as it is intended to be. However, this time, as I did a bit of research about George C. Wolfe, I got a feel for more of why he writes, what he writes. When I re-read the play, I had a MUCH greater understanding of what I believe the ESSENCE OR SPIRIT of the play is. I want to read it again before I give my official post for the class, but I actually have ideas instead of cluelessness; that is huge!

"You know I love u
 more than my luggage!"

Not only am I taking a class, I am also doing an internship @ Faulkner Theatre. I am officially the Theatre Graduate Assistant! I am really excited to be back @ the Theatre, for I have missed it so. (I had originally been the intern in 2009.) I can't believe it's been two years; time has flown! One of my goals for this Internship, is to assist in the classroom; Costume History, Technical Design 2 & Make-up. Also, I am hoping to assist in the research, design & construction of costumes for Steel Magnolias & The Scarlet Pimpernel. 


Woo, I am a bit overwhelmed thinking about everything that has to happen by April 30th. Yet,
I am grateful that I am back in the Theatre world again. It has been a passion of mine for many years. Never thought when I laid it on the alter 10 1/2 years ago that God would bring me back to it. Now I see that He took me away from it so He could be God of my life, not theatre. Now that we have a deep relationship, He has brought me back to it, as a place to serve, encourage, teach & learn! I love Him!

Lights

Merry Christmas, friends!

During this time of festivity & celebration I am reminded how wonderful light is. I take great pleasure in seeing how people decorate their inside & outside spaces. 'Tis the season for people to pay attention to sometimes neglected spaces. All in the hopes of bringing joy to those who view it. Late last night as I was making a mad dash to the pharmacy, my attention was momentarily diverted from the physical discomfort I was in by a neighbors's simple but beautiful light display. Although I enjoy looking at my neighbors Christmas lights, I have never attempted to decorate the outside of my house with lights. 

In the last few years I have been rather inconsistent with my Christmas decorating. Last year I was determined to have a Christmas tree, because I didn't have one the year before.

2009

But this year, I just well, the time got away from me and well I didn't really get a tree and so this is what my living room looks like today

Although there is no Christmas tree or stockings hung, it is still a pretty magical place to me, especially with the candle's lit :-)

Continuing with the lighting theme:

Several years ago when I became the caretaker of my dream house, built circa 1929, there were a few updates that needed to happen. First and foremost, central heat & AIR had to be installed...living in Montgomery with no central air in mid August, is unbearable. I know there are people who do it; they are better people than I because I only lasted one summer without it.  Second, I, with help (through the years) of my best gal-pal, Liz, ripped up carpet & three layers of linoleum (in certain rooms), to expose the fantastic hardwood floors. My best boy-pal Trey, sanded & refinished the said hardwood floors. Third, over the last year & a half I have had my electrical wiring worked on, in different phases. The latest phase has included making my doorbells functional & changing every 2 prong plug to grounded plugs....WOW! Mind you that not every plug in the house needed to be changed, but because of safety's sake, every plug was at least checked to make sure it was in proper working order. There are 45 outlets in my house. 38 or so had to be changed! That is A-LOT! (I have a great electrician, who is friendly & affordable... email if you live in the area and need one)! I am grateful that all of my outlets are now safe & functional!

'Ode to Irony

Considering that I have been in an UBER creative mood lately and inspired by the "great plug changeover 2010" I created my version of a candle scape I saw in Anthropologie, earlier this year------>


I hope your Christmas season is filled with warmth, joy, peace, love and most importantly, The Light of the World!

Punkin' Babies

Darcy & Norah 

Ginger & CoCo 

I am (un)officially a cat shelter. I added Ginger & CoCo to the family this summer.

They were born in my future Guest cottage but current garage.  

Sometimes I wonder what it was like just to have Darcy & Ella. 

Both so laid back. Hmm, it's been a few years. Ella has decided to permanently move outside to my neighbor Bonnie's house, again, due to the fact that she does not appreciate the new "punkinhead's." Although she comes "home" for daily treats, she no longer wants to stay inside. I miss her. She will always be my first girlie kitten. She is very laid back... the exact opposite of

Opera Diva, Norah

Norah does NOT care for the new kittens, at all.Unlike Ella, she does not run outside to escape from them. Oh no! She makes anyone within ear shot aware that she is NOT happy about the ingenues trying share the same stage as she, the most supreme Opera Diva Norah!

I must admit, I am NOT a fan of Norah's operatic tirades. She sometimes feels the need to share her aria's 3 & 4 times a day. I am at a loss of how to stop her from having an aggressive attitude towards the "cat babies." Although she has not actually hurt them she has screamed at them, numerous times. I have tried the plug in that is supposed to "mimic" the mothers sent. I have made loud noises, used the water bottle, tried to distract, even had to get her in a submissive position, because she was taking her aggression towards the kittens out on me, all to lackluster results.

 I miss the Norah who sat right by me during my sickest part of chemo, last year. The Norah who would not leave my side unless I got up. She doesn't let me pet her for very long anymore. I am frustrated with the current state of affairs. I am LONGING for the day when there is a relatively peaceful co-habbitation amongst the feline members of the Winona Ave. Parrish's☺

My Ode to Joy

I ❤ Creating, I ❤ Designing!

I ❤ Art , I ❤ Painting

I ❤ Music, I ❤ Playing!

I ❤ Songs, I ❤ Singing!

I ❤ Books, I ❤ Reading!

I ❤ Stories, I ❤ Writing!

I ❤ Dance, I ❤ Boogieing!

I ❤ Theatre, I ❤ Acting!

& I need all of these artistic treasures

2 express the deepest parts of who I am

& who I am called to be!

Double Rainbow