I'll Never Forget That I Love You

[caption id="attachment_1010" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]I'll Never Forget That I Love YouPrints Available Here I'll Never Forget That I Love You
Prints Available Here[/caption] "I'll Never Forget That I Love You" I was asked to create a piece for the upcoming Alzheimer's Association Wine & Chocolates Auction.  They told me their slogan for the night was "I'll never forget that I love you".  What powerful words.  I hope I did them justice. These eternal words inspired me to paint a piece depicting enduring love despite the loss of precious memories that are stolen when someone has Alzheimers. My goal with this painting was to convey the sharpness of the mind by altering the features in the face..... sharp features - sharp memories..... faded features - faded memories. I added words on her shirt to remind us that those with this disease may not be harshly suffering, they often have very tranquil hearts and light, flowering spirits. I have added letters, music & butterflies to the background. Letters and words are some of the first things a person learns. Every life has a score of beautiful music that winds through it's many stages and ages. Finally, the butterflies are there to show that as one stage of life ends, all of us may emerge into a new and lovely place where our soul can fly free. The softly blended heart between the two shows the love that is shared, now and forever. My hope is that this piece brings peace to your soul and a smile to your face while you remember the best part about loving your special someone who is challenged by Alzheimer's or Dementia.  Never forget that you love them.  

If You Get The Inside Right....

[caption id="attachment_962" align="aligncenter" width="804"]Get The Inside Right Get The Inside Right
Prints Available Here[/caption]   "If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place." - Eckhart Tolle How true this is. In a world that places so much emphasis on the way our physical body looks, it is sometimes hard to remember that the real work is done on the inside. I know that I have spent many hours in my life trying to look a certain way....to fit a certain standard of beauty.  I have exercised like a fiend to fit into a certain size.  I have worn my hair in styles to emulate the current celebrity look.  I have spent a lot of money on clothing that was "in".  In fact it took me until my mid thirties to even recognize what my own version of beauty was - until then I was trying to conform myself to whatever my husband or boyfriend thought was attractive.  What I learned was that until I could define what beautiful meant in my own eyes, then I would never feel beautiful in my own skin. I also learned that defining beautiful did not mean the size of my jeans or the number on the scale.  I found that the real meaning of beauty lay deep inside of me.  For a woman to feel she is beautiful, she must be at peace within her own soul.  She has to become confident in who she is and what she stands for.  I have learned that when a woman recognizes her own amazing worth, that she will begin to accept the body she inhabits.  And when you accept your body as it is, it creates the space for it to change in healthy and permanent ways. So when I saw this quote by Eckhart Tolle, I knew I had to turn it into a piece of art.  And I wanted that art to be all about love...loving yourself...loving your life.  For all of my Body Fab-YOU-lous friends out there....I dedicate this piece to you and your journey towards getting the inside right.

Body Fab-YOU-lous Love Notes...

[caption id="attachment_732" align="alignleft" width="298"] Believe In Your Beauty
Print Available Here[/caption] I delighted to share with you a new adventure from Just Mary Designs!  I have just launched the Body Fab-YOU-lous Love Notes - a daily email designed to help women find peace with their struggle with weight and body image issues.  The Love Notes will all include a lovely piece of inspirational art to brighten your day. I believe that peace CAN be found in the body you inhabit - right now - today.  I don't think you have to loose those 10 pounds first.  Or fit into those jeans.  Or attract the eye of that special someone.  Peace is waiting there inside you, patiently waiting for you to hear beyond the negative voice in your head and find it's whisper. I invite you to subscribe to our Love Note mailing list - do so by clicking here.  I would love nothing more than to remind you each day that a brighter future awaits you! The daily Love Notes will feature each feature an artist - both my Body Fab-YOU-lous series of work, along with inspirational art by a multitude of talented artists.  If you would like to be featured as our Artist of The Day submit your 72dp image, no more than 200px wide to mary@justmarydesigns.com.  Send me whatever is inspiring you in your life that you created, and include your weblink and any shop link you have.  I can't wait to promote your art while I spread my message of body peace and a brighter future! Take a peek at the first Body Fab-YOU-lous Love Note....
Welcome to the very first Body Fab-YOU-lous Love Note!
Body Fab-YOU-lous is all about helping women find peace and end their struggle with weight loss and body image challenges.  I don't care if you are a size 2 or a size 20 - the harsh and negative feelings most women have about their bodies are very real.  Sometimes they dominate our lives and do so for years.  I want to help show you a path towards peace with your body, which leads to freedom in your heart.
  How often have you looked in the mirror and had nothing but negative thoughts? "Ugh - look at my thighs!"  "My butt couldn't BE any bigger!"  "I hope no one notices how tight my pants are"  "God I'm so huge."  And on, and on, and on....   But the reality is - beauty and your body are not mutually exclusive.  You might know this logically, but most of us don't really believe it.  We think beauty is for other people.  Thinner people.  Happier people.   I'm here to tell you that the first step in laying down the constant struggle with your body is to start paying attention to the negative thoughts in your head.  First we have to notice the track that is playing in our own mind daily, and then we can begin to change the thoughts that fill up our own minds.   I hope this love note will be a beautiful reminder that a better future is possible - one filled with belief in your own beauty!  You truly ARE Body Fab-YOU-lous!   Warmly wishing you a brighter future, -Just Mary

A Little Bout Love...

[caption id="attachment_479" align="aligncenter" width="692" caption="Available for sale in my Etsy store"][/caption] Love is all around us.  We see weddings, engagements, and anniversaries happening all of the time.  People honoring their love with celebrations. [caption id="attachment_480" align="aligncenter" width="692" caption="Available for sale in my Etsy Store"][/caption] Sometimes it is easy to overlook the love around us....to feel lonely.  Sometimes it feels like everyone else has the love we desire.  When that happens to me, I begin to look inside.  I firmly believe that we have to have love inwardly for our own selves before we can love outwardly for someone else. [caption id="attachment_481" align="aligncenter" width="692" caption="Available for sale in my Etsy Store"][/caption] When you love someone, you do make promises.  And you create expectations.  I have yet to figure out the secret of loving someone unconditionally, without expectations of what THEY will do for ME in exchange for my love.  But I am working on it!  I believe in the power of love.  I believe that love can help create positive change.  It can inspire people to be the best version of themselves possible.  Love can change a person from the inside.  I hope this brings a little love to your day!! [caption id="attachment_482" align="aligncenter" width="692" caption="Available for sale in my Etsy Store"][/caption]

When You Love Someone...

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What does loving someone mean to you?  For many people it can mean the joy and bittersweet sorrow of being a parent.  For some, love has brought heartache and tears.  Love lifts us up and inspires countless songs and works of art.  Wars have been fought and lives have been lost in the name of love.  

The writing on this painting says "When you love someone with all your heart, you give it away."  So true.  We can loose ourselves in love.  How many women have lost themselves in a bad relationship - only to rediscover their own essence upon becoming single again.  How many mothers have wearily looked up when their toddler turns two and ask themselves in a sleep deprived haze - where did the last two years of my life go?  Where did I go?

When we love with the ferocity of a mother, a lover, a friend, or a family... we give our hearts away. 

(Mixed media acrylics using a masking tape technique!)

August 19, 2011 by 1