Kindness scatters beauty whenever it is shared.

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,
the master calls a butterfly.
~Richard Bach

EEEK! I am officially addicted!

And no rehab for me, thank you. My latest addiction is the social media craze called “Pinterest”. I avoided it as long as I could, but about a month ago or so, I tiptoed in…and believe me, the water is fine!

I thought Facebook (which I also avoided for a while, but then couldn’t resist) had captured any downtime I could find, but Pinterest is really tempting to me because it is so visual. If you are a magazine junkie like me, I think you will love Pinterest (that is, if it hasn’t ALREADY captured you!) Tearing inspiring pages out of magazines has been a hobby – or habit- of mine for years. Of course the magazines cost a pretty penny and you can’t buy just ONE…and then there’s the chore of filing those tear sheets …and whoever remembers what they have squirreled away in a file drawer, anyway?!

With Pinterest, you can peruse images that others have “pinned” from websites and blogs, or pin your own. Setting up your pin boards can also be creative. You can identify and name the categories that interest you. Some of my boards are called “Makes me feel good”, “Paintings I love”, and “For the Home”. Below is a screen shot of  the way some of my boards look. Eye Candy, right?

For me, Pinterest is a fun and easy way to stay inspired. I try to treat myself to 5 minutes every morning. It’s a happy fix for me!

SOOOO…I have decided to share my Pinterest boards – and latest finds – with YOU – right here on my website!

Just click on the Pinterest icon that appears on the right side of the screen with all of my other social media logos. I also plan to feature my favorite pin of the week each week. Won’t you join me?

Do not go where the path may lead,
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mom,
Ever since I was a child,
I've always known how lucky I was to have such a great Mom…
and, now that I'm older, and a wee bit wiser,
I've come to treasure you as a wonderful friend too!

Create a life you love.

With each choice you make
and every step you take,
you are creating your own reality.

Remember that you deserve only the best.

"The simple pleasures are life's truest treasures."

Friend - such a simple word for one of the great necessities of life.

Lastly, whether large, loose portraits are a trend in South Africa...I can’t be sure, but I was just lucky to find several… and they knocked my socks off!

These first two paintings by Lionel Smit grace the walls of a wonderful winery and lodge in the Stellenbosch region called the Delaire Graff Estate and Gardens.

Click here to see more of Lionel Smit's artwork

These exciting graffiti- inspired portraits, below, are by artist Kilmany-Jo Liversage. I found them in the Worldart Cape Town gallery. The calligraphic and colorful brushstrokes exude such energy!

Click here to see more of Kilmany-Jo Liversage's artwork

I hope that you agree that there is much joy to be found in the art from South Africa!

Pow! Everywhere I looked pottery and textiles popped with bold color and geometric pattern! It was eye candy for a color aficionado like me. My favorites were pieces from The Potter’s Workshop. I stocked up on as many of these colorful and functional gifts that I could fit into my already bulging luggage!

Click here to visit The Potter's Workshop

While perusing a local magazine, I discovered a group of textile designers living and creating in South Africa called the Threadcount Collective. The five women work independently and have vastly different looks. Their collective gives them a way to market with more impact. I contacted one of the designers while in Cape Town and she pointed me to a local store that sells her work. It was impressive!

Here is a small sampling from the Collective.

Click here to “meet the designers” and see more.

Check back on Friday for part 3 of Joy Through Art in South Africa...

You may have viewed the slideshow of my recent trip to South Africa that I posted on my blog. It has been a month since I’ve returned, and now I'd like to take the opportunity to share with you some of my reflections from this amazing trip.

I plan to write and post some thoughts over the next three weeks. This series will reflect my brand promise - to Scatter Joy: joy through art, joy through living, and joy through giving.

Please enjoy...

No matter where I travel, I am always on the lookout for local art and inspiration. Believe me, South Africa did not disappoint!

Prevalent among the many colorful handmade treasures I found was a wide assortment of beautiful beaded crafts! There were functional beaded items, including beautiful chairs, belts, mugs… and animal sculptures galore! (More on them in a later post!)

Woven baskets made of colored telephone wire were another fun find! These intricate baskets are created by the Zulu people, the largest ethnic group in South Africa. The finished product appears to be fashioned from natural materials, but the telephone wire that comes in every color provides a wide palette for the creations!

Singita, an impressive group of safari lodges in different locations, uses charger plates and accessories to decorate the lodges. Each lodge has a different color scheme and pattern, helping to create a distinctive personality for each location.

http://basketsofafrica.com/wire.html

Check back on Wednesday for more Joy Through Art in South Africa.

"You don't need to wait for happiness to find you...
plant some seeds and grow your own."

"Wishing you days of endless wonder,
inspiring dreams and new adventures,
and quiet moments for reflection."

Hello and Happy September!

As sorry as I am to see the true summer months pass us by, September is a
time that makes me thing about fresh new beginnings.    The air is crisper,
the sky looks clearer, and the season begins its change.   Since I spent
many years in the classroom – as both student and teacher – I also feel
programmed to think about back to school and a switching of gears to new
schedules and priorities.   September means “change” to me.

I must admit, my recent two-week trip to South Africa has also made me think
a bit differently.   I do feel that this experience has changed me, but I
think I have yet to discover just how.   For one thing, it is rare for me to
completely detach from my work.   On most of my vacations or beach getaways,
I can’t resist packing some unfinished business.   Whether its writing,
painting, or business based communication, I usually feel best when I am
productive.   But on this trip, I resisted, instead letting the experience
take me over.  Sure, I brought back some ideas and inspiration, but for the
most part, I allowed my unique setting to overwhelm me… and it DID!

Another thing I realize is that this time off has taken some of my “edge”
away.   I return feeling less anxious and driven …recognizing that I want to
be a sailboat capturing the right wind currents, rather than a motorboat
plowing my way toward some unknown destination.  I guess this is what
vacations are supposed to do.   I am seeing the bigger picture – the
important things rather than the seemingly urgent things that nag at my
daily "to do" list.

As for how this African adventure may influence my artwork… I have yet to
discover.   One thing I can promise you though, is that you won’t be seeing
any Kathy Davis style animal prints coming out in my work (as some of you
have predicted!)…or at least I don’t think so.

I hope that each of you, too, had a chance to detach a bit this summer and
were able to take a fresh look at your life's priorities. This month is a
great time to adjust your outlook!

May you embrace all of the changes that September may have in store for you!

All My Best,

(fabric from the Kathy Davis Journeys Collection)

each flower comes into bloom
in its own time…
in its own way.

Believe in your dreams
Reach for the stars
Discover your path