I have been a little slow to blog and paint due to stinky ick going on at our home.  My kiddos have both been sick with all of the crud that has been floating in the air and now my son has the rotavirus.  Yes, that is a real word – look it up.  It is the worst smelling stuff you could have ever imagined. . .and yes, I am talking about diaper stench.  It could peel paint off of the walls.  My husband and I are actually counting how many diapers we change just so one doesn’t have an extra diaper to deal with.  We are that bad.

One good thing that has gone on this week is that I have signed up for an art workshop.  The workshop is in August at Wenmohs Ranch.  Very cool setting just 20 minutes down the road.  Robert Burridge will be teaching two classes and I have signed up for both – back to back.  I am hoping to immerse myself into abstract painting and hopefully walk away with a smidgen of knowledge.  I have always loved abstract painting and hope to learn how to let go and really express myself.  The workshop is all done in acrylic and I have only painted in oils – any pointers out there?

"Steer Me Right"
16"x20" Oil on Canvas

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area is my January charity.  "The National CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate Association) Association is a network of 1,000 program offices that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom and other settings.

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes.  Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.  For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives.

Independent research has demonstrated that children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care and less likely to reenter care."

To find out more about CASA or how you can help go to www.casaforchildren.org

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area had their annual fundraiser in January and my husband and I attended.  The theme was Casino Royal – James Bond.  Guests dressed in their favorite Bond flick attire.  Luckily no one wore the string bikini that so often graced the scene in so many of the James Bond movies. 

My painting was auctioned off in a silent auction – pretty exciting I must say!  It was a great evening and the Highland Lakes Area raised a lot of money to help CASA.

Stay tuned for my February charity.

Since I have not posted my January charity yet, I thought I would fill in with a little history about me. . . my very first art workshop and dreaded art critique. 

My mom and I have always been art admirers - ever since I was a little girl she would take me to amazing art museums around the world.  I was hooked.  Although I had never really pursued "real" art lessons, I did take a few drawing and sculpture courses during college - only because they were required for my interior design degree.  My mom on the other hand had NO experience whatsoever!!  So, naturally we signed up for a professional 5 day art workshop in Asheville, North Carolina.  If it hadn't been for the beautiful scenery, awesome weather and wonderful people we probably would have faked some super contagious disease and fled after the first five minutes of arriving.  We knew we were in BIG trouble when we had to go around the room and say how long we had been painting and what galleries we were showcased in.  WHAT????  We didn't even know what alizarin crimson was - we thought it was some joke about a lizard.  It really got bad when we started taking our paint tubes out of the box for the very first time.  You can always tell the newbies - their stuff is spotless.

After 5 days of torture and many, many, many laughs we had our art critique.  This is when all of the students place their weeks worth of paintings on the shelf for the art instructor to critique.  This is no sweat for someone who actually knows what they are doing or at least what alizarin crimson is.  For us, it was torture.  My work was actually placed upside down by the assistant on the shelf.  Bless his heart, the poor thing was trying hard not to offend me and took a guess.  Although my infamous masterpiece was upside down, it honestly looked better that way.  I did the walk of shame when it came my turn to be critiqued and proceeded to the front of the class and turned it right side up - the room erupted in laughter.  I almost wet my pants!!!  It was a very humbling moment, but also a motivator to get my butt painting and quick. 

At the end of the workshop this awesome painter and classmate came up to my mom and me and told us a story about her son.  She told us that when her son was young he went to summer camp.  At his camp they had mandatory quiet time after lunch.  They were allowed to write letters home and listen to the radio - no talking.  He wrote home and told his mom, "Thank God for the radio - it has been our only source of entertainment".  She then proceeded to tell us that we were the "radio".  I think that was the best compliment I have ever had.  We may not have painted worth a darn, but at least we got everyone laughing - even if it was our "art" that provided the humor!

So any of you fellow aspiring artists who are in a slump or discouraged, my advice is either get over it and keep on trucking - we all started out not knowing what a crimson lizard was or relax and enjoy being the radio.  I choose both!!!  Happy painting.

"Sir Upright"
6"x8"
Oil on Canvas



"Lucky Fella"
6"x8"
Oil on Canvas



First I want to say, “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”!  Needless to say, I took the holidays off!  We had a wonderful holiday season and great recovery.  I am back into the swing of things and look forward to a great year.  I have had some wonderful responses to my blog and I get really excited when I don’t actually know the person who has responded – it is like my mission is being accomplished!  Thanks to all who have read and responded.  Please keep sending in your charity nominations.  The nominations do not have to be big or famous charities – your local ones are great too.

These birds belong to my dear friend who lives in Mason, TX (are they called birds or cocks?) - and yes, the roosters are alive and kicking.  I took some great pictures of the roosters while visiting one day.

For December, I honored Greenhouse Ministries.  My great aunt and uncle started the organization in Murfreesboro, TN several years ago.  Greenhouse Ministries is a 501(c)3 faith-based, inter-denominational, non-profit organization.  Greenhouse Ministries serves the community in so many ways.

Food Pantry Program – Serving families

Adult Education Classes – Classes include computer skills, GED tutoring, financial skills, literacy, parenting, and many more.  Classes are free and meet once a week.

Volunteer Opportunities – Volunteer opportunities vary from stocking the food pantry, sorting clothes for the thrift store, moving furniture, teaching classes, meeting with clients, and serving in the Garden Patch.  Greenhouse also partners with the community to accept community and court-ordered volunteers.

Cottage Housing Program – A housing program for men that includes career and life advancement classes while Greenhouse Ministries covers the cost of rent, utilities, transportation vouchers, etc.  Greenhouse currently rents 3 apartments with room for 7 individuals.

ZOE House – A housing and mentoring program for single moms that includes career and life advancement classes.

Garden Patch Thrift Store – Thrift store.

Other Help – Greenhouse Ministries provides assistance with various needs including transportation, obtaining an I.D., etc.  They also provide referrals to many community agencies.

For example, this is what Greenhouse does in an average month:

Helped over 1,000 families from the food pantry.

Gave gas vouchers to 20 families to get them to work or to the doctor.

Offered computer classes to 20 people to improve their job skills.

Gave GED tutoring to 10 people.

Counseled with 50 people.

Offered literacy tutoring to 10 people.

Offered parenting classes to 10 people.

Offered job referrals to 25 people.

Provided bikes for transportation to work for 5 people.

Networked and referred 300 people to other services in the community.

Assisted 100 people in donating furniture or appliances to others.

Assisted 15 people with some kind of advocacy.

I would say that is pretty amazing!!!!!  Congrats to Cliff and Jane Sharp of the Greenhouse Ministries.

Please check out their web site for more information www.greenhousemin.org

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving full of peace, laughter and love.  Ours was full of FOOD!  As always, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – I love getting together with the family (our family is humongous) and visiting without all of the stress of getting gifts and “did we get the right one”?  Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, but there is just something about Thanksgiving that sets the mood for the rest of the holiday season.

This month I am working on 3 large pieces.  I am really excited and I will hopefully share as the work progresses!!  I am also trying to put together our family Christmas card.  This is not my favorite thing to do – only because we can never get the picture just right.  With small children involved it seriously takes a village to get the right shot – meaning everyone looking somewhat toward to the camera.  Usually we get a lot of the back of my son’s head!  For the families that have the “perfect” family photo – what is your secret?  What drugs are you giving the children?  And God forbid you have the dog in the photo looking at the camera.  One year I want to put in a real life photo of everyone “trying” to get into place for the picture and put something like, “Hope your holiday season is as chaotic as ours”!!!!

December is here and I will post this month’s charity winner soon.

"Morning Stretch" 16"x20" Oil on canvas


Hello Everyone,

The November winning charity is Camp Phoenix, a non-profit organization that serves Hill Country youth with mental health needs through free of cost:
 
·                Individual Counseling Services - Phoenix Center
·                Group Counseling Services - Phoenix Center
·                Therapeutic After School Programs – yoga and art therapy groups
·                Therapeutic Yoga Program at the Highland Lakes Crisis Center’s Shelter
·                Therapeutic Camp Phoenix Sessions at Candlelight Ranch – equine therapy, 
                           adventure/wilderness therapy, art therapy, and yoga/wellness programs

Camp Phoenix fills a critical need for additional mental health services for all children in need in the Highland Lakes - mental health needs ranging from Autism Spectrum, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, anger management, ADHD and PTSD.  All youth and families in need qualify for our services.

Camp Phoenix collaborates with & serves youth from the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center, Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center, Boys and Girls Club of the Highland Lakes, CASA, Spirit Reins and Candlelight Ranch. 

Camp Phoenix is a sanctuary – a safe, positive, therapeutic space that provides hope and healing for children with mental health needs.  

My dear friend Sarah Rosen Garrett is the Executive Director of Camp Phoenix and plans to auction the painting during their March 26, 2011, 2nd Chance Prom benefit.

You can find out more information about Camp Phoenix at: 

www.supportcampphoenix.org
info@supportcampphoenix.org
 

 

Here is my donation for the month of October.  I donated “Bluebird of Happiness” to my Meme’s local PEO chapter.  The painting is 16"x20" oil on canvas.  Meme was the high bidder, of course!!  Thanks Meme!

PEO is an international organization with a Sisterhood of more than 250,000 members and have donated over $180 million to help 78,200 recipients continue their education.  PEO was founded in 1869 as a philanthropic education organization.

Mid November is almost here, so please continue to send me your charity nominations.

Hello Everyone.  Thanks for the GREAT response to the new blog.  I am really excited about this new adventure.  I have already had several charities nominated for the November painting donation.  If you haven’t already, please check out my web site at www.heatherlehmberg.com for more information and to also see my paintings.  There is a link at the top of the blog. 

I will soon post my “unofficial” donation for October.  I already donated a painting last month to my Meme’s local PEO chapter.  My blog was still in the making at that time and wasn’t open for donations – so I just decided where to give October’s painting.  It was received with great response and will help their cause – to educate women.

I hope you are all enjoying the fall weather.  We sure are - minus the allergies!  To get into the giving spirit and the fall season I am going to share my favorite apple cider recipe.  For those of you who know me, you will know that I DO NOT like to give out recipes.  I know what you are thinking, “you can give away a painting, but not a recipe”????  Crazy, I know.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy and stay warm.

Apple Cider

1 quart apple juice (not cider)

1 quart cranberry juice

1 cup orange juice

4 cinnamon sticks

10 allspice balls

¼ cup sugar (optional).  I never add the sugar – it is sweet w/o it.

Mix together, heat and serve.  Enjoy!

I absolutely love to paint!  I have been painting like a mad woman for 5 years.  I have my studio set up in my “air conditioned” garage (I live in Texas!) and my paintings are often interrupted by “Mommy” being shouted from inside and the all too often diaper change.  My husband and I have 2 little ones and 2 dogs.  We live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country in Marble Falls.  I am also a Registered Interior Designer and run my business from my home.  My life is surrounded by creativity, music, laughter, love and the craziness that life brings just because it can!

 

I wanted to start this blog as a way of giving back.  I wanted to pass on what I LOVE to do and have it reap benefits for someone else.  That is when the idea came to me – I will donate a painting to YOUR favorite charity!  I will select a different charity each month for a year.  Your charity can use the painting for auctions, gifts, etc.  This allows me and my family to give on our behalf and your charity the opportunity to raise money for a great cause.  A kind of “Paint It Forward” if you will.  So please send me your favorite charity and their contact information.  I will select a winning charity for each month and write about it in my blog.  Let’s pass it on!

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.