Latest Lines from Laura

Love Defined

2012-02-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

Love is the smile you offer another.
Love is listening patiently to someone and then choosing the words you share next wisely.
Love is a choice, the act of giving your time, your resources and your compassion to others regularly.
Love is the hug you give a friend or relative when you meet.
Love is what makes the world rotate amongst the stars!
Love shared regularly benefits many. :)

Have a blessed and wonderful day!

I love you!

2012-01-27T09:25:00.000-08:00

Sure Valentine's Day is next month,

but there is no time like the present to say "I love you" to those you care about. :)

Afrikaans - Ek is lief vir jou!
Creole - Mi aime jou!
French - Je t'aime!
German - Ich liebe dich!
Greek - S'ayapo!
Italian - Ti amo!
Mandarin - Wo ai ni!
Norwegian - Jeg elsker deg!
Spanish - Te amo!

2012-01-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to report that this wonderful musician performs many Sundays at my place of worship.

Check out his web site and if you are so inclined, please support his talents by attending a future concert or buying a CD! :)

http://www.alwilliamsmusic.com/home.html

God’s Guidance

2012-01-13T10:39:00.001-08:00

This excerpt is from my favorite devotional book called
HUGS Daily Inspirations Words of Comfort –
A Howard Books product: ISBN – 978-1-4165-4181-3

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23 NLT

God is intensely interested in your life, your faith, and your future. And He will guide your steps if you let Him. When you sincerely offer heartfelt prayers to your heavenly Father, He will give direction and meaning to your life. If you humbly seek His will, He will touch your heart and lead you on the path of His choosing.

Will you trust God to guide your steps? When you entrust your life to Him completely and without reservation, God will give you the strength to meet any challenge, the courage to face any trial, and the wisdom to live in His righteousness and in His peace. So trust Him today and seek His guidance. When you do, you can take each step with faith and confidence.

A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow His guidance. – Henri Nouwen

2012-01-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

Photo taken by me - copyright Jan. 2012.

Over the recent holidays, a friend gave me an Aunt Sadie’s Rosemary scented candle http://www.auntsadiesinc.com/ purchased from this store http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-kcavanaugh/StoreFront.bok .

The candle continues to offer a wonderful aroma each time I light it and I am really looking forward to visiting Bella Funk and New Hampshire one day!

May 2012 offer wonderful opportunities for you!

Get Healthy!

2011-10-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

In your efforts to get well, forming good habits is the key!

I have been reading several books lately, including the one called “Healing through Cleansing” by Dr. Yakov Koyfman.

Daily your body encounters life on planet Earth which can tax it greatly. Our mission should be to help it exist as best it can!

Tips for this week –

· Drink water with lemon first thing in the a.m. and drink a cup of mint or chamomile tea before going to sleep at night.

· In the mild months, sleep with a window or two open to let fresh air in.

· Don’t exercise next to cars spewing exhaust fumes!

View more information about this book and Dr. Koyfman’s institute at his web site - http://www.koyfmancenter.com/

Wishing you a fantastic day!

The Powerful Cranberry!

2011-09-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

Add Lakewood Organic Fresh Pressed Pure Cranberry juice to your diet.
It’s yummy year round!

Here is an excerpt from their web site and the information also appears on the label of their beverage:

- Essential Micro-Nutrients support Urinary Tract Health
- Excellent source of Natural Anti-Oxidant Vitamin C and Vitamin E
- Natural Source Minerals Help Restore Vital Body Electrolytes and Support Metabolism
- Juice absorbs slowly into the body - minimal taxation on the Pancreas for insulin production

Modern research confirms that Fruit Juices contain a wide range of Micro-Nutrients which are essential for supporting and maintaining good health.

No supplement alone can provide the important complex nutrients found in a variety of fruit and vegetable juices.

USDA Daily Recommendation: Nine servings of fruit/vegetables for a 2000 calorie diet.

Learn more about this company by visiting their web site:

http://www.lakewoodjuices.com/about

Happy Fall! :)

Benefits of Vinegar!

2011-09-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

What a terrific natural product… can be used around the house in a variety of ways, from cleaning to cooking.

Check out this site for more details, suggestions and tips!

http://www.heinzvinegar.com/tips.aspx

Treat Yourself!

2011-09-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

Remember to form GOOD habits and become their slaves.

One item that I purchased recently is from Pacifica.

I periodically use their body butter on my feet before I go to bed.

I then place socks on to keep the product from touching my bed linens while I sleep.

I wake up and they are silky smooth!

http://www.pacificaperfume.com/fragrance/brazilian-mango-grapefruit

Worth it!

Ahhh - Lemoncello!

2011-09-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

My favorite new dessert can be found at Cheesecake Factory.

Have you tried it yet?

If you are a fan of Lemoncello, do try their Lemoncello Cream Torte!

They serve it with strawberries on the side - yummy!

http://shop.thecheesecakefactory.com/order/cheesecakes/lemoncello-cream-torte-10-inch-dessert.html

PAPYRUS quote - Hummingbirds

2011-09-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

This is a lovely sentiment that is posted on the Papyrus web site.

It is often included in the packaging of cards that they sell:

Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time,

carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration.

The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich,

beauty is everywhere,

every personal connection has meaning

and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.

http://www.papyrusonline.com/about-papyrus/about-us

It's about L-O-V-E! :)

2011-09-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

Quote in the Italian language:

Amare è mettere la nostra felicità nella felicità di un altro.
- G.W. von Leibnitz

The same quote in the English language:

To love is to place our happiness in the happiness of another.
- G.W. von Leibnitz

Spiritual Health

2011-08-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

It's not just your body that needs to be kept healthy but your mind and soul too!

Check out this site to hear and view some wonderful sermons by some dynamic individuals:

http://www.mcleanbible.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=84375

(The Discipline of Delight on 8.28 was a good one as well as the one by celebrity sportscaster James Brown on 7.24 - What Do You Do When You Come to a Dead End?)

Not going to church lately? No worries - visit this link as sermons are shared every weekend via the web: http://www.mcleanbibleinternet.org/

What a wonderful technological day and age we live in!

Grace and Peace to you!

Gardening 101

2011-08-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

Alright – it’s official!

My latest coloring book for children,

tentatively titled “Plant a Home Garden and Watch it Grow”

will be available on Lulu.com soon!

The book will show kids and parents what tools are needed for the task,

share details about different flowers and plants,

as well as feature instructions on how to place both seeds and seedlings in the ground.

Stay tuned! :)

Inspirational Quote from HUGS

2011-08-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

“You’ve got to continue to grow, or you’re just like last night’s cornbread: stale and dry.” – Loretta Lynn

Love those words. :)

Here is more information about the devotional book that featured them:

http://books.google.com/books?printsec=frontcover&id=ZZH5ryzMOVkC#v=onepage&q&f=false

Outrageously Healthy Business!

2011-08-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

It is so important to keep your body healthy.

What you consume and breathe matters; hygiene matters.

The indoor and outdoor environments that you work and play in dictate how well you live and how successful your body is in performing as it should, or would if it could!

My new friend Alyse is a part of this organization, whose tag line is "We help people get Outrageously Healthy"!

Take a look: http://www.hhwellness.com/

Flower Study

2011-08-19T07:45:00.001-07:00

Flowers are so special...

depending on the setting where I am viewing them,

they remind me of memories past

or offer an opportunity to dream about what will be.

I thank God for them!

Beautiful Smile

2011-08-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

“Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain,
laughter and pleasure, teardrops and pain.

All days can’t be bright, but it’s certainly true,
there was never a cloud the sun didn’t shine through.

So just keep on smiling whatever betide you,
secure in the knowledge that God is always beside you.

And you’ll find when you smile, your day will be brighter
and all your burdens will seem to be much lighter.

For each time you smile, you will find it is true,
somebody, somewhere will smile back at you.

And nothing on earth can make life more worthwhile
than the sunshine and warmth of a Beautiful Smile.”

- Author Unknown
- Reprinted from The Messenger
- Published in a little periodical called

Voice for Health, January – February 2004 issue

Latest Painting

2011-08-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Proud New Owners – Chris and Tekla

Thank you so much for your support and kindness!

Want to commission a painting for yourself?

Contact me by becoming a follower of my blog

and posting a reply to this entry.

Cheers! - Laura

Your body – A gift!

2011-06-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Have you started thinking about what you consume regularly and how those foods and beverages affect how successfully your body functions? No time like the present!

Here are a few web sites whose businesses offer tasty products to consumers.
I have purchased their items from my local Whole Foods grocery store.

www.theochocolate.com
www.republicoftea.com
www.rawindulgence.com

Enjoy!

Coloring Books for Sale!

2011-06-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

eBook - http://www.lulu.com/product/e-book-download/time-for-peace---a-coloring-book-to-download/5268599

Hard copy book -
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/animals-and-insects-a-classical-latin-primer-and-coloring-book/5187953

eBook - http://www.lulu.com/product/download/animals-and-insects-a-classical-latin-primer-and-coloring-book/5187955

Hard copy book -

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/time-for-peace/4142327

Thank you for your purchases! :)

Food and Drink Tips

2011-06-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

Looking for healthy desserts?
http://www.goraw.com/

Looking for herbal tea?
http://www.tripleleaf-tea.com/

Learn about the benefits of oatmeal!
http://health.learninginfo.org/benefits-oatmeal.htm

Be well by forming healthy habits!

Your body will thank you for it. :)

Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice! (A wonderful read :)

2011-04-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/VenusOnFireMarsOnIce?sk=app_4949752878

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Venus-on-Fire-Mars-on-Ice/John-Gray/e/9780978279738

Bottom line – Eat healthy because you and your body are worth it!

2011-04-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

“Life is not easy for any of us. But it is a continual challenge and it is up to us to be cheerful and to be strong so that those who depend on us may draw strength from our example.” – Rose Kennedy

2 More Scenes :)

2011-02-18T16:35:00.001-08:00

Interested in owning them? Let me know by commenting on this post!

Ocean Paintings on Dark Wood

2011-02-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

As you might have guessed, I am a huge fan of reducing, reusing and recycling!

When you purchase these paintings, you a helping in this vain too!

These beautiful tranquil images are painted on kitchen cabinet doors. :)

Have questions? Interested in purchasing one or both?

Post a query or comment on my blog! - Laura

Exercise tips, Money tips and Final Thoughts on this Topic :)

2011-02-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

Exercise

- Exercise at your home with free weights, your own exercise dvds or videos (or rented from the library) or do sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks (walking the neighborhood, jogging, gardening and dancing also burn calories!)

Additional $$$

- Participate in your company’s 401K
- If you earn under $50 K a year, do your taxes online at the Freetaxusa.com web site
(you are able to file electronically for a small fee)
- Look for pennies and other spare change in the parking lot… :)

Final notes

Be generous and others will respond accordingly, which usually equates to unexpected, useful and timely gifts!

What ideas do you have?! Share them with us!

Money Saving Tips with regard to Entertainment / Communication

2011-02-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

- Give up cable; watch DVDs or listen to CDs, both of which can be checked out from the public library

- Listen to the radio (some wonderful radio shows are on public radio stations, generally on the lower parts of the dial)

- Have friends who play instruments (free entertainment for your parties!)

- Use the Internet at the public library

- Plan potluck events with your friends (generally cost less to make your favorite recipe and to share, than to buy pre-made dishes from restaurants or grocery stores)

- Free Wi-Fi at Starbucks, Barnes and Noble and McDonald’s

- Go to your public library for reading material

- Sign up at Groupon web site (deals on fun things to do at a discount)

- Request a free phone number from Google Voice

- Send special occasion greeting cards from web sites that offer free eCards

Have other ideas? Share them here, on my blog! :)

Money Saving Transportation Tips!

2011-02-10T14:21:00.001-08:00

- Buy a used car and take care of it!

- Compare home and auto insurance policies every couple years to make sure you are still getting good rates.

- Make friends with mechanics.

- Live within walking distance of a grocery store, restaurant, bar, movie theatre, billiards.

- Live within walking distance of a train or subway station.

- Run errands during the week when you are already out and about!

Got more ideas? Share them by commenting on this blog entry! :)

More Money Saving Tips :)

2011-02-09T09:42:00.000-08:00

Personal items / Food items

- Learn to comparison shop at grocery stores - Trader Joe’s and Shoppers generally have the best prices on my everyday items

- Eat less, but more frequently, of fruits, vegetables and nuts during the day and save the larger meal for the evening

- Learn to sew

- Join your local community at Freecycle.org (ask and you shall receive!)

- Check out Craigslist.org (free and for sale sections have some great deals)

- Purchase what you need at local thrift stores or yard sales

- Clip coupons and also search for them online before making a big purchase

- Shop at discount stores and always check clearance racks at mainstream stores

- Buy powdered soup to use at your whim when sautéing veggies, making casseroles or use it as a base for broth when making soup

- Make your own salad dressing with vinegar and oil and spices in your pantry (look for recipes on the web)

- Ask for tropical plant cuttings from friends and relatives…pothos plants and philodendrons are hearty and root in water if you make a cut just below a root nub…

Got any other ideas?! Comment on this blog :)

Money Saving Tips Equal Living Rich!

2011-02-08T15:56:00.001-08:00

It is always prudent to watch what you spend... here are some tips on how to stretch your dollar. :)

Home Tips

- Compare home and auto insurance policies every couple years to make sure you are still getting competitive/inexpensive rates

- Buy and insert an adjustable thermostat for your home

- Unplug lamps, nightlights and laptops when not in use

- Make friends with people who enjoy fixing up houses

- Learn to fix things by researching your projects first on the Internet, at the library

- Clean with vinegar and baking soda

- Plant a garden

- Go to sleep early and wake up early, keeping the house at a cool temperature with no electronics on!

This is the first part of a series. Come back again to see what I share next!

Got tips of your own? Post them here!

Soft Landing in Spite of His Choice

2010-11-19T15:40:00.000-08:00

My domestic cat Scooter is an adventurer. He likes to explore, whether it be out back taking a tour of the mini-forest or in my own kitchen, jumping right in the thick of my dishwashing, which translates to always visiting the inside of the dishwasher before it is completely full.

Recently I purchased a power washer for some yard maintenance. It’s a nice useful tool that came in a decent size box that of course, has lived in my kitchen since it came home with me.

One night, I woke up half way through my sleep cycle and was parched. I went downstairs to pour a glass of water. While at the frig, I hear a small meow coming from an unfamiliar place. Scooter had fallen into the power washer box and landed on the bedding that I had precariously placed on its edge when I was doing laundry earlier that evening.

He looked up, rather sleepily and seemed to be trying to explain that he was stuck, but looked very comfortable in spite of his circumstances.

I thought to myself, isn’t that just like God and His plans for us? Even though we may make choices that seem like good ideas at the time, there is always the chance of them back-firing and having consequences we had not considered. And yet, there is our loving Father, catching us when we fall and providing comfort in the thick of the mess. All we have to do is Thank Him and wait for His Will and guidance to lead us back on track.

I was happy to lift Scooter out of the box and place him on a chair, but do you know that he rather liked it in there after all? He had climbed back in after I left the kitchen and of course could not get out when I came back. Silly kitty! So I rescued him again and put the box in a different place.

As humans, I hope it will not take most of us too long to learn from our initial mistakes. Repeating the same destructive or unwise patterns over and over again is not only a waste of precious time, but it does not allow us to grow as quickly and successfully as we could or should. God wants so much for His followers to live full, productive and fruitful lives. We would do well to heed life’s lessons and respond with vigor and grace, rising from our transgressions and morphing into more learned individuals.

I am so glad to be living in the day and age of blogging! It is wonderful to be able to share stories. The re–telling of events often helps others to recognize better choices in their own lives. Blessings occur for both the storyteller and the recipient. I hope you live well, have many adventures and become very, very wise!

Og Mandino – Have you ever read his books?

2010-11-02T15:57:00.000-07:00

Be sure to search for his name on the web. His organization has a wonderful web site and it is chock full of positive information to assist us in this journey called Life!

One thought featured in his book called “The Greatest Salesman in the World” is “I will be master of my emotions.” While it is so important to put on your best face in spite of circumstances, I also believe that it is so very necessary to give yourself time to experience and take in what has just been divulged, what you must be forced to accept, what you have just learned that caught you off guard in a positive or negative way.

(Notice that I say positive or negative… as surely either could have consequences.)

I received some sad news today and lickety-split my synapses went into overdrive. I went down the path of imagining what might happen next, what choices I should make and when. These are all good things to consider, but they were absolutely an immediate reaction to the news. As the day ended and I had time to wind down, I realized that perhaps those morning thoughts ought to be cornered for a spell…not an eternity mind you, but just tabled for the short term.

Above all, praying must occur before any actions take place. Living in the moment, making decisions at the drop of a hat, certainly those times happen, but I am reminded that God loves people and has a plan for each of our lives. He wants what is best for us, irrespective of what might seem like daunting circumstances. Asking for His guidance is prudent and leads to more time spent in peace than otherwise. His will shall always be done and I trust that those who love God will be lead where He sees fit!

Paint, Raincoats, Stain and Beauty

2010-10-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that those 4 words had anything in common?

Last weekend, at a home improvement store, I walked down multiple aisles trying to make sense of the rows of paint and stain in order to choose the right can of chemicals for my outdoor fencing.

I enlisted the help of an employee who shared a wonderful analogy with me when describing the difference between paint and stain.

He said, “Think of the paint as a raincoat. It covers the wood up and protects it. The stain however lets the beauty of the wood shine through. It is protected by the stain but it does not cover it so much that the beauty does not shine through.”

I replied, “Then that is all the more reason people should not wear raincoats. Their beauty would be covered up.”

The employee laughed and we both smiled as he handed me the stain for my back fence.

It rained all week here and I only wore my raincoat once.

Miracle's Website

2010-09-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

My friend's child Miracle must have multiple surgeries in the next few months.

Please view her website for fundraiser details and prayers.

www.his-miracles.com

Thank you!

Perfect Portraits!

2010-06-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know nothing is perfect in this world!

However, if a subject is in an environment they prefer and enjoy what they are experiencing, no doubt the image the photographer takes of them will be very reflective of the person who is being photographed!

If you are interested in securing my photography services, just e-mail me at lamocreations@yahoo.com . Place "perfect portrait" in the subject line!

:) Laura

Time, Creativity and the Ultimate Goal!

2010-06-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

“Time cannot be influenced by mankind. It gives each of us a beginning and an end.
And this makes us question the significance of what comes between.
But if you can create something time cannot erode, something which ignores the eccentricities of particular eras or moments… something that is truly timeless, this is the ultimate victory.”

Dr. Ing. h.c.F Porsche

Pennies from Heaven and Faith as small as a Mustard Seed

2010-05-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

Matthew 17:20 says, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

I have been praying for many people and circumstances lately and God has seen to it that I am not disappointed.

He loves us more than we can ever imagine!

He even gave me a reminder today that He heard my concerns. A penny for my thoughts was lying right there in my path as I began my evening walk. I picked it up and placed it in my pocket.

What a wonderful promise from our Lord and Savior.

Faith is our Trust in Him that He hears our prayers and is more than willing and able to provide for our every need.

Hallelujah!

Upcoming Art Event!

2010-03-08T15:20:00.000-08:00

My friend Rob is having an open house this month.

Check out his web site for details or just see below the link for details :)

http://www.robertkentwilson.com/exhibitions.html

pixel by pixel ten years of mixed media exploration.

ON VIEW AT:
RAANDESK GALLERY OF ART NYC
March 18 - April 16 2010

OPENING RECEPTION:
Thurs, March 18 7-9 PM

GALLERY LOCATION:
16 W. 23rd Street, 4th Floor
(between 5th & 6th Ave)
New York City

MORE INFORMATION:
raandeskgallery.com info@raandeskgallery.com
212.696.7432

1 Corinthians 13

2010-02-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

Love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

An excerpt from Bible Gateway web site.

For Sale - Still Life Painting - $700.00

2009-11-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

E-mail me to purchase: lamocreations@yahoo.com

Portraits...

2009-11-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

Just a sample of what I have done in the past and an example of what I hope I will be commissioned to do in the future.... Contact me to commission your own unique portrait!

Business Logos and Window Painting!

2009-10-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

My latest venture!

Contact me to discuss how we can improve your business through color advertising!

Let me Decorate your Storefront Windows for the Holidays!

(or to promote your next big event!)

Window Painting by Laura

$100 per large pane (4 feet x 6 feet)

Email me at lamocreations@yahoo.com

visit my web site www.lamocreations.com
and e-mail me from that location.

Place “Window Painting”
in the subject line of your transmission.

Thank you for your business!

Live !!!!

2009-10-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

"In the time of your life, live....so that in that wondrous time

you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world,

but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it all... "

- William Saroyan

Life is Short...

2009-10-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

So remember to smile often...it will make others feel better and benefit you too!

http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm

Latin Primer Uploaded on LuLu.com!

2009-08-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to view the cover of the item and to learn more about pricing details of either format.

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/animals-and-insects-a-classical-latin-primer-and-coloring-book/7430353

Art to Own, Art to Give!

Laura Moody Creations

Thank you for your support!

The Optimist Creed

2009-08-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Promise Yourself-

· To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

· To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

· To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

· To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

· To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

· To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

· To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

· To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

· To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

· To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Visit this web site for more information: http://www.optimist.org/

Time for Peace - A Coloring Book to Download!

2009-08-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

This version of Time for Peace - A Coloring Book may be downloaded to your computer. Thank you for purchasing this item!

Visit this link to place your order:

http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/time-for-peace---a-coloring-book-to-download/7504417

Wise Words

2009-08-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

As a person who loves to garden, I was struck by this quote that I received today:

-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
_\ / QUOTEMEAL from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

Unless we know the difference between flowers and weeds, we are not fit to take care of a garden.

It is not enough to have truth planted in our minds.

We must learn and labor to keep the ground clear of thorns and briars, follies and perversities, which have a wicked propensity to choke the word of life.

-- Clyde Francis Lytle

New Discoveries!

2009-07-20T07:09:00.001-07:00

This entry has more to do with daily living, than art.

(Although one could argue that the way one lives their life is art or an art!)

SHAMPOO - If you are a guy or gal with extremely curly hair, try this shampoo.
Works great – environmentally friendly and no conditioner needed.
Whole Foods store sells it as well as other places.

http://www.jrliggett.com/who/

LOTION - If mosquitoes are bugging you this summer, buy some of this lotion.
Those insects don’t like the lemon smell and won’t come near!
Shoppers Food store sells it as well as other places.

http://www.avalonorganics.com/?id=94&pid=61

Wishing you a wonderful summer filled with much joy and happy times!

Christmas in July!

2009-07-10T17:03:00.000-07:00

Why? Because it can be!

Pictured are some festive holly leaves and berries on gold colored wire.

Comes with plastic backing.

Lightweight and attractive!

$5 a pair.

E-mail Laura to buy one or some! lamocreations@yahoo.com

Visit her web site to see more creations:

Laura Moody Creations

More Paintings on Display :)

2009-06-27T09:36:00.001-07:00

Are you able to guess what these images are painted on?

Would you believe..................................... kitchen cabinet doors?

These paintings are fun conversation topics. Their attached hinges make them easy to hang on your wall.

They are currently on display at Springfield Chiropractic, Springfield, VA. Interested in buying one?

Contact Laura at lamocreations@yahoo.com

Thank you!

2009-06-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank these patrons for supporting my creativity!

They recently purchased my earrings, coloring book and paintings.

Susan –
www.tranquilitybreak.com

Craig -
http://www.jaxkennel.com/Littermates.asp?dogname=Kelsos%20Sandyman&Sire=Gable%20Dodge&dam=Whitefort%20Spot*

Cyndi and Maggie –
www.strayer.edu

Staci –
www.cengagelearning.com

Ellalyne - http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Labella.Bridal.and.Consignment.Boutique.LTD.703-494-2929

Laura Moody Creations - Art to Own, Art to Give! - www.lamocreations.com

Earrings :)

2009-05-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of my latest earring creations.

Smaller earrings (on the top row) - $7 each pair.

Larger earrings with pearls - $10 each pair.

Own them or give as a gift!

E-mail me at lamocreation@yahoo.com to purchase :)

One of My Favorite Online Magazines

2009-05-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.pology.com/about/

Striking photos and ideas about where to travel next!

Earning extra $$$

2009-04-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

It’s a crazy economy out there…

None the less, I am trying to be pro-active in taking on commission work that will allow some extra cash-ish to come my way.

Hoping to become debt free in the next two years…impossible?

Nahhhh…it’s a goal I really hope to achieve!

In pursuit of this endeavor, I have come across a couple web sites that I thought might be useful to others.

May the information be of benefit to you too!

How to Get Unstuck
by Rita Gunther McGrath and Ian C. MacMillan
http://hbr.harvardbusiness.org/2009/05/how-to-get-unstuck/ar/1

Capitalizing on Your Strengths
http://www.briantracy.com/newsletter/default.aspx

Laura's Art on Display!

2009-04-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

My friend Tony has 2 of my paintings on display in his waiting room! The images mimic the beautiful colors that we will soon see during the warmer months of this year. The paintings are for sale, so please contact me if you are interested in securing them for your own!

When hanging them in his office, Tony and I were discussing selling and marketing. He came up with a great tag line for his chiropractic biz: BYOB - Bring Your Own Body :)

The next time I go for an appointment he may have the water jug dispenser replaced by a keg!

Besides his fine sense of humor, Tony is also an excellent doctor. To schedule your next chiropractic appointment, contact him using the details on this site:

http://www.chirodirectory.com/dir/va/springfield/anthonyplatas/

Happy Easter! - Jesus is the reason for the season!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Learn more at http://www.heartlight.org/

Earrings for Spring!

2009-04-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

I am making earrings these days!

They catch the light and come in various colors.

Here is a photo of the green glass variety.

More photos are forthcoming that feature other glass bead styles.

I also have for sale plastic bead hoop earrings. They will match those colorful summer outfits well!

$10 or less, each pair.

Look for more photos soon!

Ahhh Music!

2009-03-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence. ~Robert Fripp

As I am a fan of both, I submit below the web sites of my pals who are making the stuff, music that is. :)

So pour a glass of your favorite beverage and have a listen! - Laura

Pete - vocals, guitar, songwriter
http://www.purevolume.com/petestrayer

Josh - vocals, guitar, songwriter
http://cdbaby.com/cd/einwechterjosh

Brian - guitar and mandolin
http://mouthfulofwax.com/lowrez.html

Andy - keyboards and vocals
http://www.myspace.com/rulucid

Mike - bass
http://cdbaby.com/cd/cingedblues

Scotty - songwriter, vocals
http://cdbaby.com/cd/scottyemerick

Other quotes about music: http://www.quotegarden.com/music.html

Do we need art galleries anymore?

2009-03-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

As art becomes the only viable option for investors, Annie Deakin argues whether the internet is a help or a hindrance to the art market.

Damien Hirst’s decision to bypass his dealers and take his work straight to auction rocked the art world last month. With the growth of online art, the relationship between artist, dealer and gallery was already endangered. This October has been the highlight of the art calendar (Frieze Art Fair, the Turner Prize and Saatchi’s new Chelsea space) but there is a real panic - can galleries survive?

The week preceding Sotheby’s record-breaking Damien Hirst auction, I went out for pizza with my friend Becca who assists a West End art dealer. She was stressing about the impending auction: “If it flops, it’s bad news for dealers and the art market as a whole. If it succeeds, it will change everything for contemporary galleries. Will artists need galleries in the future?” With real estate such a burden and art readily available online, heavy overheads like rent are fast becoming a luxury.

It is heady days in arts cyberspace. This autumn, E-literature soared with the launch of the Sony Reader, youtube brims with clips from musicals and paintings sell fast through the web. Sites like 55 Max and The Real Art Company are cropping up and the blogging revolution discusses paintings. Among my iPod generation, if an artist doesn’t feature on a website, do they exist?

The art market seems the only safe bet for investors right now. Traditionally, in difficult economic climates, the middling art world struggles while the high and low ends thrive. The very same day that Lehman brothers collapsed and the American financial markets tumbled, Russians were blowing their billions on diamond cabinets and gold butterfly paintings. I wonder if the oligarchs actually viewed their purchases first – do they even care? I can only hope that they, at least, caught a glimpse online.

Is the internet a help or a hindrance to the art world? Traditionalists abhor that we buy paintings without seeing them in the flesh. Will Ramsay, founder of Will’s Art Warehouse and the Affordable Art Fair (23-26 October) says, “Buying art is touchy feely. You need it to be 3-dimensional and in the right light. You can’t get that on a screen.”

It’s controversial stuff for a man who runs a website selling art. “Well?” he backtracks laughing when I probe. “Online art works because you don’t need to venture into a gallery. People dislike walking into a silent, wooden floored gallery where you feel self-conscious. But if you buy art online, you need the ability to send a picture back if you don’t like it.” One in ten of Ramsay’s paintings bought online are returned. Fairs like Frieze initiate the unfamiliar to the often patronising art world. Earlier this month, I scribbled notes of artists I admired (Rosie James, Michele Del Campo) at Art London to later investigate – and self-assuredly buy from - online. The web is a springboard to art rather than a medium in its own right.

The internet helps artists grow and nascent collectors dare to spend. You can pick up a signed Hirst for £6k (rather than £100k) at Eyestorm, the leading online retailer of limited edition contemporary art, through mydeco. My friend Pia Munden, an interior designer, succumbed to their ‘make us an offer’ policy. “My husband will freak – he doesn’t know yet. I fell in love with a photo of pink roses by Vanessa Warren. It said ‘Buy now for £375 or make us an offer’. I emailed saying that I want to pay £250.” The picture is now en route from America. “I don’t know what made me do it. I’m not the kind of person to spend whimsically.” By not consciously pressing the buzzer to a daunting gallery – let alone negotiate price in person - Pia invested in a piece of art to treasure.

It was probably a shrewd judgment. Word in exhibition halls is that "art is the new gold". My father, a goldsmith for over forty years, says, “Gold has more than doubled in value in four years. People bury it in the garden and it won’t corrode. They can touch it.” In a world where financial markets are alarmingly ‘virtual’, a painting, like gold bullion, is reassuringly tangible.

True to form, Damien Hirst left the art world in a pickle by setting the benchmark for the commoditization of art. But reality is that the internet will most transform the future of the art market. Blogging, a wider market, competitive pricing and the stock market crash is fuelling the cyberspace art revolution. For infinity and beyond, art will be worth something – which is more than can be said about a Lehman share.

- Annie Deakin is acting editor of mydeco.com

Peace...

2009-03-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

In this busy, busy world that we live in, be sure to give yourself a break.

A break from the everyday routine!

Even if a full-fledged vacation is not an option, remember to strike out on the weekends and do something a little different from your norm.

Your brain needs the change and so does your soul!

Inspiration comes to fruition as you explore your new surroundings.

Posted are a few photos from my recent day trip. Once home, I picked up the paint brush and begin some new pieces. Stay tuned for the finished products!

Good Ideas and Networking

2009-03-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

A godly mind prizes honor above worldly good. -- Rembrandt

http://www.heartlight.org/quotemeal

Love this quote. Many others are sent to me daily by the above service. They keep me motivated. They keep me grounded. They remind me of what is most important in this wild world that we live in!

That said, I am trying to make a living while on the planet. Networking is key. So I decided to join some groups like these online – www.linkedin.com and also www.facebook.com .

Get out there and mingle people - Talk about your hopes, your dreams, your ideas!

May the best ones become a reality!

How's Your Risk Limit?

2009-01-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

As we settle into our daily routines, sometimes we tend to take fewer chances. The following suggestions may increase our tolerance for change and risk:

· Think of four things you have always wanted to try and then schedule one every four months.

· Rearrange furniture. Take a new route to work.

· Take a course, class or seminar that will help you learn a new skill.

· Upgrade computer skills by learning how to use a new piece of software. If you’re not using a computer, sign up for a class to learn how to use one.

· Discuss assumptions about your job, co-workers, etc. Listen to comments and challenge your assumptions.

· Improve your health – diet, work out, stop smoking.

· Reward yourself when you try something new. But reward risk, not success. Success is its own reward.

· Try skiing, softball, basketball or some other sport. The idea is to expand your self and try new things.

· Pick out one thing you’d like to change in your life and go after it. Write it down, list the steps you need to take to accomplish it, set deadlines and take the first step!

Source: Excerpts from communication briefings, Sept. 1993, by Jim Kutsko, writing in The Denver Business Journal.

Feeling so Present!

2008-12-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

Alright - so it is almost New Year's Eve! Have you made your resolutions yet? What will you do next year? What steps will you take to live out the dreams that you have been comtemplating since grade school, since last week?! There is no time like the present! Thank goodness for the holiday season! I was able to finally publish the coloring book that I originally developed in 1992. (Yes, long before each home had any pc living in it. Kinko's Copies and I worked well together and I sold the first versions in a Venice Beach, CA. bookstore that decade.) LuLu.com now offers my item on their web site and I look forward to it being the first of many publications in circulation this year. Also on my list is to paint more canvas, promote more of my creations and to make more contacts in the art world and add more friends to my life! You can never have too many of those. :) So thankful for blessings I recieved in 2008 and so excited for those yet to come in 2009! - LaMo