Catalyst Two

Catalyst Two

March 23, 2008, 5:19 pm
Filed under: catalyst

 

First of all, thank you to all of our visitors and all the encouraging comments you left for us. For those of you who did, thank you for playing along with us. We will do a drawing for the RAK and announce the name mid-week. And if you didn’t join us last time, we hope you do this time. 

 

Ok! It’s time for catalyst number two:

 

A place you go to find your center. It can be imaginary or real or anything in between.

 

We’re incredibly thrilled to have Kristina Contes as our first Guest Designer.  Kristina’s work is bold, personal, and absolutely stunning. Her art and honesty is always inspiring to me and I hope you find it inspiring too. You can read much more about Kristina and see more of her art at her blog: sounds of science.

 

Kristina’s work with this catalyst is below and you can click it to see the larger version.

 

 

Kristina says:

When things get a little crazy and I need to reel in my emotions, I always go back to my roots: paint. there is nothing like mixing the gorgeous colors, creating texture on canvas, and just feeling free.  painting always helps me de-stress, focus on the core and just get in touch with my heart. There are many physical places that I visit, people I go to or things I like to do to find my center, but painting is always my surefire way to regain my sanity.

 

Thank you very much Kristina, we’re honored. 

  

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Here are some interpretations of the catalyst from members of our team. Click on the photos to see the bigger versions.

 

Becky:

 

 

Journaling Reads:

Sometimes, I lose sight of what’s important. I may over react to little things, or be impatient with my family or friends. When I begin to complain, gossip, or just act ungrateful I know that I can take my daily sins to the foot of the cross and leave them there and be forgiven. That is the beauty of the Christian life. I’m not perfect, not even close, but I have a Savior who died to save me from my sins. What could be better than knowing that at the end of the day, after all life’s daily garbage you can go to Him, lay those burdens down and be renewed and refreshed and best of all forgiven? With my Lord as my center, what could ever be that bad in life? Nothing will ever be as bad as what HE endured for ME, to save me from my sins. Everything else in life pales by comparison. The reminder of what he did for me is what keeps me centered and focused on what is good and important in my life.

 

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Karan:

Journaling Reads:

When I am stressed, I long for water.  Especially the beach.  Something about sitting on the beach and watching the waves crash.  Maybe it is my past lives in Hawaii, but the beach takes me deeper.  It cleanses and refreshes my soul. It grounds me and it also helps me feel lighter.  If I can’t get to the beach, (which is silly because I live 30 minutes from one) I will take a bath.  Bathing or swimming, immersing myself in water, helps me to wash all the negative energy off and out of myself.  When I am upset, or have a stressful problem, a bath, or shower will really shift my energy and give me a new perspective.  Just the act of cleansing with water.  In old days, it was used for purification in many pagan rituals.  It is used now to avoid contamination and infection. If cleaning can do that to the physical body, it only makes sense that it would do the same for the spiritual body.  That reminds me, I am long overdue for a trip to the beach. The battery needs recharging.

 

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Karen:

Journaling Reads:

when i feel like my problems are huge

and about to swallow me

i visit nature

i look at the towering trees

the endless ocean

and it reminds me 

that i am a very small part of this earth

tiny

and my problems, i realize

are not so big.

 

 

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Christine:

Journaling Reads:

Nothing compares to the peace I feel knowing that the God who created everything  from the smallest insect to the grandest mountain has His heart set on me knowing Him and the wonders of His grace. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the trials I face in this life, I remember the awe and wonder that I feel when I am surrounded by God’s creation.  It reminds me that what I’m going through is only temporary that it will pass, and by His grace I know that the One who made these wonderful things cares about me and my struggles. Being among the things He has created reassures me of His love and that He continues to be mindful of me. What an awesome God He is to have given me this peace and to glory in His love. He reminds me that He is always with me, and that I am truly blessed by Him! My help truly comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

 

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Brenda:

 

Brenda Says:

This is definitely where I go to find my center.  Two fold….The Beach and The Ocean…  What a wonderful place!  Home of some of the most beautiful creatures that ever lived.  Dolphins, seahorses, starfish… Every color of the rainbow is found in these waters.  And salt water-ahhhhhhhh…..so healing….and waves..crashing waves, mesmerizing, calming, peace-filled.  The smell………………..YES!   The smell………….. Seashells…I love to collect seashells. Often I go to this place in my mind to fill up on energy and peace, as I am landlocked in Tennessee.  When I lived in Southern California a stroll on the beach was a joy and easy to accomplish.  Now,  once in a while we are able to physically go to “the beach” and it recharges my spirit.

 

I made this necklace to remind me of the bliss that the beach brings to me, with abalone, coral, a dolphin, a starfish…The turquoise stones represent some of the beautiful turquoise waters that I have witnessed ..in Florida, Hawaii. Mexico…..off to the beach in my mind….  

 

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Anita:

 

Journaling Reads:

Someone had to point it out to me.  I don’t always see the obvious.  It was right under my nose. 

 

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Now it’s your turn: show us your therapeutic art around “a place you go to find your center.” Give it a try. Embrace the healing power of art. It can be any form of art as long as it speaks to you. Leave us comments with your work and we will send a RAK to a random participant. You’ll have to link your work by Sunday night, March 30th, midnight PST to qualify for the RAK.

 

For our RAK for catalyst #2, we’re incredibly thrilled to announce that A Million Memories generously donated one of their April kits to the lucky winner. These kits are packed with amazing papers, a ton of beautiful embellishments, ribbons, a minibook, and so much more. Here’s a photo of the kit and you can go here for more detailed pictures.

 

 

 

Remember, this is not a competition. If your art makes you feel even a bit better at the end, you’ve won.

 

Until next week, enjoy each and every moment.

 

 

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