On this past Valentine’s Day morning, as our family headed to the airport, it was especially warm and sunny outside.  Light seemed to be guiding us along (you can see how it beamed so beautifully behind me as we waited for the plane to take off). And I was hopeful that I would soon see my ailing father in Hong Kong.

We arrived sixteen hours later – at night – when all light was absent.

We went straight to our hotel and I immediately went to the concierge desk to get translation help calling the hospital. I was hoping to visit my father that night. But the conversation was not at all what I had expected. The nurse on the other end of the phone told me that at 3am, Hong Kong time, my father had passed away. This was around the time we were taking off from Newark Airport to see him. I wonder, was he heading towards the light as we were moving away from it? Or were we basking in the glory of it at the same moment…on opposite ends of the earth.

We planned this trip more than six months ago, knowing my father was ill, but that I had time to get to Hong Kong and see him at least one more time. So I ask myself why is it that I arrived literally within hours of being able to see him, and yet it wasn’t in time?

I know that he left peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by relatives and loved ones and this blessing is what matters to me most. I’m also very grateful that several days before his passing, I was able to share loving words with him over the phone.  Also, my mother told me that on the day that my father passed away, three nurses on three separate occasions read out loud a letter I had sent to him.  Although I wasn’t able to be with him in person I would like to believe that he could still feel my spirit through my words.

The days following were a blur…the crowded and intense Hong Kong energy mirrored what I was feeling inside.

Yet, I kept noticing peaceful signs of encouragement…around the streets…

…and all the way up the mountain top.

This sign was a whisper to me as well…and I know I should be still and listen.

Faith tells me that whenever there is darkness on the path, there is also light…

…and signs of hope.

It is also true that our paths are not always clear – sharp and painful obstacles are inevitable.

However, it’s good to keep going…one step at a time.  And all the while spreading light as we go along.  This is what my father taught me, and this is what I know to be true.

Before I end this post I would like to thank those of you who’ve left me such wonderfully kind and supportive messages on my last post and through your emails.  Please know that your good energy is well received.

Also, you can visit Create Mixed Media, where I have shared some further thoughts on light and love…in art and in life.

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Tomorrow Bill, Brook and I will be traveling to Hong Kong to see my father, who unfortunately has fallen terribly ill.  He is in the hospital, but there is nothing more that they can do for him.  My mother is there by his side, trying to nurse him with Chinese medicine and has been praying for him non-stop…with hope in her heart.

My father has been ill for a while and he’s been getting treatment, which has given him some time…but now I fear he is running out of time.  It is up to God now to decide.  I want him to see me and my family…to know that we are okay and not to worry.  I want him to know that my mother will be okay, and that I will take care of her.  It has been over 6 years since I’ve last seen either one of them (getting to the other side of the world has not been easy to do).  But I am able to go now…and I want to bring him peace.

Last night I was able to reach him by phone (my mother had to hold the phone to his ear so that he could hear me).  And although he could not talk to me (his cancer has spread to his lungs and he is on oxygen), I could hear him breathing as I spoke…and I could hear him trying to speak in response to the words that I so desperately needed to tell him.  I asked him to save his energy and not try to speak…I only wanted him to be able to receive my words of appreciation for him.  And to know that the love he has given me throughout my growing up years has been well received, and has been passed on to his granddaughter Brook.  His love lives within me and will live on within her as well…and it will stay strong and bright and beautiful, I promise.

My father (Reverend Philip Lee) spent his entire life as a pastor and spiritual leader…a devoted Christian through and through.  For over 6 decades he’s preached all over the States and has continued to spread messages of God throughout Asia and much of the world.  I so very greatly admire his deep devotion to God.

My father has taught me so much about the true meaning of life and all through example by living every day with love in his heart.  He has always been kind and compassionate towards everyone, and he always lent a hand whenever possible.  Growing up I watched him share his amazing gift of being able to move others to do the same.  My father’s light is giving and beautiful and warm, and I love him.

May the power of “one love” forever live on.

I don’t know if I’ll make it to my father’s side in time to see his sweet face one last time…I hope so.  Yet I trust that God will grant us whatever is best.  I trust this because it was God who gave me my father to begin with (he adopted me and brought me to America at the age of four).  I believe that this has all been for a good reason…and perhaps a more deeper understanding will reveal itself to me as I move through this marvelous life on earth.

May we each find peace on earth…and beyond.

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Very often during the cold winter months, since I spend a lot of time indoors, I find myself reorganizing my studio.  It’s amazing to me how much stuff gets piled up and up and all around throughout the year.  I guess with all the different things that I enjoy making, most of which involves bringing home stuff and more stuff, it makes sense that my piles would grow larger and larger as each month passes.  I’ve been trying to minimize by only hanging on to “very special” materials, but I don’t always succeed since I consider practically everything special.  Anyway, while sorting through my pile of past projects I came across this collage (11″ x 14″) that I created last winter.

The number 3 is very special to me because it represents the members of our home, and I still use it all the time in my artwork.

I also still like to add a single button here or there.

Below you’ll see that I used a metal strip saved from a box of aluminum foil.  Along with some nails I think it makes a good roof divider.

Below are some more layers and strips of this n’ that…

…and a knotted string detail ties in and highlights the red color along the bottom of the composition.

You can always count on melted beeswax to add texture and a bit of roughness.

And a wash of wintry-icy colors as the background base feels sort of story-book dreamy to me.

Coming across this collage again reminds me that it’s been a long while since I’ve played around with watercolor paint.  I’m glad that this came up…and I love how sorting through the old stuff can inspire you to make new stuff again.  If you happen to be stuck for some inspiration, I’d suggest taking a look around your art making space…perhaps you’ll find something interesting that you forgot about also.

Wishing you much inspiration, new or rediscovered.

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I’ve been having some fun using up my cloth strips (from my previous post), and I recently created this 3″ x 3″ canvas.

And I also made this.

And then I mixed things up by making this cozy little heart.

There’s been a lot on my mind lately and making simple little things has been great therapy.  There’s something comforting about letting the mind wander as I work with my hands, and sometimes in spontaneous brief spurts…and without any expectations for the outcome.  Busy hands have always been a good remedy for me, keeping me calm whenever I feel anxious.

[Random thought coming…]

I’m pretty sure that I have some slight form of OCD (this is most apparent to me when I have to rearrange my tv remotes just so, in order to feel fully relaxed).  I’ve grown to accept this little quirk and I don’t see it as a big flaw anymore.  And actually, I find it sort of amusing…and very much like me in general, which is a bit of this and a bit of that…just like my artwork.  The combination of our best and quirkiest qualities is what makes us each unique.

Maybe there’s a connection between the two…making things creatively and putting things in order at home.  I haven’t thought much about this in detail, but there’s something there…

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If you’re like me, you have an abundance of scraps such as cotton cloth lying around…I save just about everything. Last week I took a pillow case (this one was used till practically bare thin) and tore it into strips.  And then I cut teeny-tiny hearts in a row.

I placed some of these hearts inside a mini glass jam jar, which I had saved from a country inn breakfast while on a family vacation.  Bringing home half-used jars isn’t so strange, right? Better to use them in my projects and save them from the garbage heap, I think!

I adhered a segment from the cloth strip to the outside of the jar, creating a heart shaped window.

And I used a single heart cut out to make this mica necklace.

If you want to keep it even simpler, the strip on its own makes a sweet little bookmark.

With Valentines Day coming up I’ve been making many multiples of heart things…I’m guessing you all have been doing the same.  Imagine how lovely it would be if we strung all of our hearts together…all in a row and all across the world.  It would be such a fantastic sight!

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Hi there friends…I hope all’s been well.  And to those of you who’ve come back to see about the giveaway, the winner is Patricia Williamson.  Patricia, kindly contact me with your mailing address so that I can send things your way.

To everyone who participated in this giveaway…I very much enjoyed reading all of your comments.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me and for the ever so kind comments regarding my artwork and jewelry.

Moving on to sharing 2 new necklace projects (see, I really do like to make things in two’s!)

I used keys and keyholes made out of sustainable wood, from ArtChix Studio…

…to make these two necklaces.

Here are a few close-ups.

To get the dark finish I painted the key (front, back and sides) with black acrylic paint, and after the paint dried I used sandpaper to distress the edges.  The keyhole received a layer of gold paint (for a slight color contrast) on top of the black paint before I distressed it.

I only used gold paint to cover the key below, and then distressed it with sandpaper.  There’s something appealing to me about the idea of a “golden key”.  I think it has to do with thoughts of opening up the door to something new and wonderful…or maybe the possibility of unlocking the potential within.  Either way, I envision light coming in.

Wishing you an abundance of golden, glowing light…flowing both in and out, and all around.

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I enjoy making things in twos…one rarely seems enough.  Are you this way too?

Over the holidays I made a special “om” bracelet for Brook’s yoga teacher, and as usual I made an extra one.  Here they are side by side.

Also, with Valentines Day coming up I made these two “cherish” necklaces…just because. Making things for the sheer pleasure of it is a luxury that I very much enjoy, and try to do regularly.

Since I made extras (1 “om bracelet and 1 “cherish” necklace) I’d like to offer them as a giveaway (1 person will receive both pieces).  If you’d like me to include your name in the hat, please leave a comment to this post by next Friday, January 18th, and I’ll be back the next morning to announce the random winner.  Thanks and have a wonderful week…I hope it’ll be twice the fun!

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It’s been weeks since I’ve last been here.  I’ve been busy with holiday activities and everyday life…and the days have flown by.  And now that things have tapered off, I am ready to get going again…slowly and calmly.  I hope that you’ve entered the New Year with a peaceful mindset as well.

January is usually a very quiet time for me, and I like this unhurried pace very much.  Tranquility really suits me and is something that I try to hang on to throughout the year. It’s not always easy, but I like to try.  Sometimes this desire comes through in my artwork, as you can see in my article (“With One Palette”) in the current issue of Somerset Studio (Jan./Feb. issue).

Here’s a look at my quiet creations.  These were all inspired by my Bill.

The whispers of a single feather…I am in awe of this delicate beauty from nature.

And faithful love…

…how it shines…

…quietly, yet powerfully.

Wishing you a glowing year of light and love.  And may this love bring you peace and calm.

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The subjects of stars and light have been blinking on and off in my mind a lot lately. How this came to be I do not know…and yet I do not question it.  I know it is a sign of some sort.

I thought I’d show you a little something that I recently created (of course it has to do with lights and stars).  About a week ago while my family and I were decorating our Christmas tree we came across an old string of lights with burnt-out bulbs, so unfortunately this strand could no longer fulfill its main purpose and had to be thrown out.  However, before I tossed it all away I removed several bulbs to keep in case I could use them in future projects.  A few days later when I found myself with a bit of spare time I came up with this.

To make the star I used these bulbs.

Begin by removing the green tops (gently pull them off with your hands).  You’ll need 5 bulbs for each star.

Each bulb will have some loose wires at one end (as seen in the right-hand side bulb shown above).  To form the star, wind one of the wires coming from the bulb to another bulb’s wire, and then repeat this until all five bulbs are attached at the center.

Then wrap 24 gauge wire around the center of the star and add beads (salvaged from old, broken necklaces) as you go.  The wire will keep the star more securely together at the center if you wrap it snugly. TIP: To add a subtle dimension to the star I first wrapped a length (about 3-4 inches) of gold wire around the center, and then layered some silver wire on top, and then another short length of gold wire at the end.  Use a pair of flat nose pliers to tuck the wire ends into the center to keep things tight and tidy.

The star can be turned into an ornament simply by adding a wire hanger or a chain at the top by attaching it to the wrapped wires at the back, center of the star.

It feels great to repurpose these bulbs and I like how they are ending up back on our tree…in another form, but still bright.

Wishing you bright star light glow throughout this holiday season and into the New Year.

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This past October Bill’s amazing Grandma turned 102.  I love this lady…so many do.  At the time, Grandma Marion was not doing so well as she was struggling with some health issues.  However, with some love and support from her family as well as around the clock care from her aides and medical team, she has miraculously improved.  We’re all extremely happy and relieved that Grandma’s days are no longer spent in suffering.  I think this turn around might’ve started right around her birthday back in mid-October.

About a month after this wonderful occasion, Bill, Brook and I had the pleasure of dining with Grandma on Thanksgiving at her nursing home.  We had a lovely time together…eating, talking and enjoying the festive table decorations (there were autumn colored artificial leaves scattered across the tables along with some pretty flowers).  I wanted something to remember this special time spent with Grandma so I took a couple of leaves home, with the intention of making some kind of artwork for her.

Happily, Grandma recently and unexpectedly started up with her reading again.  This was a favorite pastime prior to her falling ill, but she had given this up for about a year as she was struggling with her health.  Thank goodness that stage seems to be over, and now that she’s interested in reading again we see this as a great sign.

I used the two leaves that I saved from Thanksgiving to make bookmarks for Grandma.

One with a dangling tail…

…and a loving, hopeful message.

And one in a cheerful, sunny yellow…just like Grandma.  Her name is Marion, and ones that are close to her often refer to her as “Lady Marion”.  She is the ultimate when it comes to charm and class, and not just for appearances or on the outside.  All around she is kind and thoughtful, gracious and warm…she radiates true beauty.

A sparkly tail embellishment at the top represents Grandma’s shining spirit.

Placing the two bookmark tails together and seeing this photo made me think…

Our lives are intertwined…let all be lit with love.

I’m learning more and more these days about the real power of love, and how it can heal (like in Grandma’s case).  And how it sometimes really does take a village – if everyone chips in the power magnifies exponentially.

Give love and watch it grow.

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