Guess Who's back?!

Hi kids, welcome back to the Lisscat Creations BLOG!

A lot has happened in life since the last time I posted but I am back, and wanted to share with you a few updates....

1) We now have a store on Etsy!  Click here to visit!
This should be a fun way to get our name out there, as well as make the ordering process even easier for you! We are slowly added our paintings to the store so keep checking back for what is new!

2) We are bringing back the "charity of the month". Each month Lisscat Creations chooses a well deserving charity and donates 10% of all profit back to that organization. In the past we have raised money for "To Write Love On Her Arms", "147 Million Orphans", American Red Cross, and many more!
So leave a comment and tell us which organization you want to see us donate to!

3) Here is one of our newest paintings, which has gotten a lot of popular feedback.

FEATHERED HAZE - 14" x 11" Acrylic on canvas ($95) Free shipping!

And as the holiday season is approaching (how does it come so fast every years!?) we are looking forward to taking your commissions and painting requests!

4) What do you think of the new logo (in the header?) Its a cleaned up, fun version of what we used to have!

Thanks for coming back to visit, have an awesomely blessed day!

Updates and pumpkin drinks

Hi Friends,
Hope this Fall is treating you well. Sit yourself down, grab some sorta pumpkin flavored drink (in your favorite mug that you keep saving for a 'special occasion') and breathe! Remember to enjoy the simple this in this new season.
Just a few updates for you here....

1. Our newest hand painted Halloween Plaques are now available...

SPOOKS II - (2) 4" x 4" hand painted wooden plaques. With decorative ribbon for hanging. ($45)

2. Just completed a couple of new cards - for a baby boy and a birthday card!

3. We are still donating 10% of proceeds from all artwork sold this month to "The Joyful Heart Foundation." This great organization was started my actress Mariska Hargitay in order to help victims of sexual abuse.

4. As you are enjoying that pumpkin spiced chai latte, please take 30 seconds to watch our new promotional video. A fun and quick way to see some of the paintings we have available. 

Remember, there is free shipping and 10% of your money goes to help a great cause!

Recapping: The Heart

No doubt that art moves the heart. It sure did this week!

Please click the link below to read the blog of a young mom who's baby went to be in Heaven just 9 hours after birth. I sent her a surprise painting to help heal her heart in memory of her baby.

http://www.happinessatthecore.com/2012/08/28/better-days-and-a-lovely-surprise/

This is the painting I did in memory of baby Maya:

I was reminding of my own story of how a surprise piece of art helped heal my heart after losing my precious, Bliss, last summer.
You can check out our post from last year right here. It will no doubt touch your heart!

http://www.lisscatcreations.blogspot.com/2011/09/ecstatic-joy-of-heaven.html

Up next...

Before we announce our next "Charity of the Month", here is what we have been up to this summer....

1. Lisscat Creations donated a total of $35 to help transform an ordinary cargo container into a beautiful  classroom for children in Rwanda!

2. We had quite a few art shows this summer! We had alot of fun, met a lot of great people, and want to send a special thank you to all who helped and participated in these shows! We will post pictures from this summer's shows in a new blog post coming soon.

3. And now for our biggest update, the next charity of the month.......*drumroll please*......

Lisscat Creations will be donating 10% of proceeds to the "Joyful Heart Foundation"

Started by actress, Mariska Hargitay, The mission of the Joyful Heart Foundation is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to she light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

JHF was suggested to us by a friend. After digging in and researching this organization we felt so very drawn to support them! 
Many of you probably saw the 20/20 special on the other night that featured an interview with Jaycee Dugard. How could it not touch your heart to hear the story of this young girl who was kidnapped and held captive for 18 years. She endured rape, birthed two babies, all while living in a small enclosure in the rapists backyard. But she is now free and back with her family. Jaycee is overcoming what happened to her, beginning to the process of healing and is still ALIVE.
After watching this program, this was sure confirmation that Lisscat Creations supporting Joyful Hearts Foundation was the right move!

Though 10% of all artwork sold this month with be donated to JHF, we would like to show you our two newest pieces made specifically with this organization in mind....

SINGING TRANSCENDENCE - 11" x 14" Mixed media on canvas. ($100)

TRANSCENDING JOY - 5" x 7" Hand painted watercolor paper set on grey cardstock, adorned with sheer ribbon and rhinestones. With envelope. ($12.50)

To purchase these pieces, contact me or visit the shop page at www.lisscatcreations.com

Guess What We Just Did?

Thanks to everyone who purchased artwork in the last month, we were able to donate almost $15 to To Write Love On Her Arms!

It makes us feel great to know our artwork is bringing joy to you, while also donating to a great organization!

While we are busy preparing the website for our next "charity of the month", we will leave you with one of our newest paintings below...

La'Li - 16" x 20" Mixed media on canvas. ($85)

Also, be on the look out for updates concerning new art shows and appearances from Lisscat Creations around town!

As always, stay blessed and keep smiling! 

Revive

Please forgive me for the lack of posts lately. But it is true that with the supposed absence of activity, there is usually a lot going on behind the scenes.
That's how God works, and I am finding the increasing importance in trusting Him with my life and work! It's when He is quiet that I know He is working on big things "behind the curtain."
Lately I have been taking more chances, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, which honestly, is not the easiest thing for me. BUT so worth it.

Incase you haven't heard I am having a show in August (first once since my college days 6 years ago). The show will display some of my favorite Lisscat Creations paintings, along with my freakishly talented friend Jason Duran of Elegant Interior Painting.

For years, its been on my mind to get back out there and display my art. Fear held me back. But pushing that aside, God was faithful in providing divine connections and some great opportunities.

The show is August 3rd in Franklin, TN (and dont worry, I will be sending you all many friendly reminders as it draws closer) :-)

But for now, I leave you with a brand new painting titled "REVIVE" and the ever comforting reminder to go after your dreams because GOD IS FAITHFUL!

It comes in THREE's...

Whenever the good Lord is trying to get my attention, he alway's does it in sets of threes. The topic of this week's post was brought to my attention, not surprisingly, 3 times before I thought "maybe I should write about this!"
1) To Write Love On Her Arms - The featured "charity of the month" that Lisscat Creations is choosing to proudly support. TWLOHA is an organization that brings hope and healing to those who are suffering from depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. www.twloha.com

2) Whole Body Grace - My favorite health and wellness blog out there! (Ok, its my sister's organization, so I may be a little biased, but still, its awesome!) Last week WBG shared a blog post that was not only personal, but very deep, comforting and inspirational. Click here to read a young woman's struggles that almost brought her down, and how she bounced back from them.

3) Death - Recently we have lost two young, beautiful and talented woman.  Leslie Carter Ashton and Whitney Houston. Each of these woman had impacted the lives of those around them. They each shared a passion for music, had beautiful daughters, and both sadly lost their lives this past month.
I do not know them, and am only going off information released by the media, but it appears drug abuse may have played a role in these tragedies. Drug abuse is an addiction and often associated with feelings of depression or dark thoughts.

And so three times, I was reminded that there are so many people out there who are hurting. Just because they are smiling, does not mean their hearts are not silently breaking.

I feel a strong confirmation about donating to TWLOHA this month. As taken from TWLOHA's vision statement:

You were created to love and be loved.  You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story.  You need to know that your life matters.


Please consider purchasing an original Lisscat Creations "ARMED WITH LOVE" handmade card.
Each card is only $12.50 and 10% will be donated directly back to To Write Love On Her Arms.
Keep it for yourself as a reminder of your self worth on your 'rainy days', or even better, purchase one for a friend who needs a smile.
You can order "ARMED WITH LOVE" cards directly at www.lisscatcreations.com/shop or email me at melissa@lisscatcreations.com. I'll even ship it for free! In the continental US only.


Be blessed,
Me-