You don’t have to save the whole world.
Today's reading is from 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6. Well, not really. I’m afraid I got mixed up and painted for NEXT Monday's reading. Too late to re-do, so I'm going with it! We’ll save today’s for next week. Pope John Paul II once said, “As the family goes, so goes the...
Your Purpose Will Find You
Today’s Advent meditation is on Jeremiah 33:14-16 Today is bill-paying day. I have a hard time with this task, not because I can’t handle simple subtraction, but because it’s so dang boring, my mind wanders. I often find myself, pen in hand, realizing that 10 minutes...
This Little Lighthouse of Mine
The reference for today's Advent Art Mediation is John 1: 6-9 John is introduced as a man sent from God to bear witness to the light that was coming into the world. It is clarified that he is not the actual light, but merely here to testify. If we continue on past...
In the Beginning was the Garden
Today's reading, John 1: 1-5, was much more comforting than yesterday’s. Yesterday was all trials and tribulations. Today is about the Light that outshines darkness. Thank God. Today, my darkness was time. I ran out. I needed more time, but I don’t have it, so I’m...
Look Alive!
Today’s passage for my Advent art meditation is Mark 13: 33-37. The apostle warns us “stay awake” and not be caught unaware when the Master returns. This passage comes at the end of a chapter on all the trials and tribulations to be expected in end times. I find the...
The Season of Family
In the flood of Cyber-Monday media, it’s easy to overlook that we are also in the season of Advent, the beginning of the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the four weeks leading up to Christmas. In an attempt to be more present in this season, I got my...
Celebration of Craftswomen!
Join me this Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday, November 11-13 for the Celebration of Craftswomen at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. If you come, be sure to print this postcard for $1 off the entry fee. To get your postcard, go to the Craftswomen site, click “ABOUT...
Traveling the world for inspiration, with my slippers on.
I love painting food and recipes, but the driving force beneath my current work is the desire to reach out and encourage families to spend more time together around the table. I have lots of ideas about how I might do this...Too many ideas to keep straight! One...
Find Yourself on the Road Less Traveled
One of my daughter’s friends recently remarked about my daily attire, “Jen, you're like a pre-schooler. You don't care what you wear!” It's true…I’m sure I’m lowering my neighborhood’s property values by wearing 20+ year-old sweats and paint-stained t-shirts. On most...
To everything, there is a season*
This is a story about patience. Like the five years it covers, it’s a bit long for a blog entry, but I wanted to tell it because sometimes the best things are worth waiting for. And sometimes we’re just not ready to receive blessings when we think we are. I’m not much...
The Santa Cruz Grows Seed Library
Seems I'm on a bit of a role with this painted furniture work…and I'm having a great time with it! Take a look at my latest art project, the “Santa Cruz Grows” Seed Library. Commissioned by the Santa Cruz Reskilling Expo, this piece will be permanently housed in the...
A Serenade in Lavender
Normally my work is confined to two dimensions, but every once in a while I get to expand my flat universe. Such was the case last week when I was invited to submit a painted chair for the Symphony League of Santa Cruz’s “A Rare Chair Affair.” Creative chairs...