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

The Ecstatic Joy of Heaven

This is my card 'studio' (aka the corner of my bedroom). It's been a pretty lonely place lately. It's been just over a month since my sweet little kitty, Bliss, lost his battle to cancer.
Every Friday, we had a tradition to sit on my floor together and bust out some new Lisscat Creations cards. Well, thinking back, I did most of the work, while Bliss would oh so helpfully chew on paper, ribbons, paint brushes, and whatever else was necessary in the making of that card.
In Bliss' absence,  I taped a picture of us to the wall in the corner. The only problem was, it didn't help inspire me, but only reminded me of how much I missed him.

So, needless to say, the card 'studio' has been quite neglected. For those of you who have received cards in the past month, its miraculous those ever got done!

Whats funny, er, not funny, but ironic is.... The night before Bliss died i started writing a blog (it was never posted). I was grieving, but was ready. I was ready to let him go, and ready to let his constant playful joy in life inspire me to keep actively following my passions. But as soon as he was gone, any joy I thought I would have was overshadowed by grief, loneliness, anger... all those feelings no one likes to feel. So sadly, I confess, I let myself grieve, and ignored my art that I had wanted to create inspire others.

Then on Wednesday I received a text from a friend. The preview of the text read "In memory of Bliss".
When I opened the message, I saw this....

My dear sweet friend and her amazingly talented husband thought to draw this out for me. I was floored! Aren't you? Its so freaking amazing and beautiful!
For the first time in a month, I was reminded of how a little drawing (made with a little love) could evoke such joy. When i opened the text, i smiled. Really smiled, like one of those big cheesy grins that make your face sore. :-)
So.... THANK YOU so much to Laura  and Marco Garcia for the beautiful picture, and for digging out a part of me that needed to breathe.

On a final note: Since he was young, Bliss endured so many surgeries, procedures, medications, etc. But he was a fighter, and he chose joy. Despite all the pain and sickness, he was always playing and NONSTOP purring. I want to be like that. I want to ignore the circumstances, and CHOOSE JOY.

bliss  (blɪs)
— n
1.	perfect happiness; serene joy
2.	the ecstatic joy of heaven

Fighting with a paintbrush...

I always try to make my blog titles way more interesting than they actually are, but hopefully you all enjoy them anyway! :-)
This week's title is a play off of 'get art.give hope' and our featured charity. This month LC is donating $5 of the featured "wings of hope" card to help fight Lupus. We are donating to a great charity called the Dorough Lupus Foundation, founded by Howie Dorough after the passing of his sister to Lupus. (For more information please visit www.doroughlupusfoundation.org)  I really do believe in our little slogan 'get art.give hope' and I guess thats how it came about so naturally. By getting art from Lisscat Creations, you are helping to give hope to the charity we are donating too. You are also giving hope and inspiration to the soon to be receiver of the card you purchased. May sound cheesy, but we really can help fight this Lupus with a paintbrush!
Please consider picking up one of these cards over the next week. Maybe you have a friend or family member effected by Lupus. One of my 'adoptive grandma's out in Arizona is living with Lupus everyday. She is a strong and beautiful woman and is a shining example of hope!
I hope this card can touch you or someone you know. Right now we are at $15 raised for DLF, thanks to all of you who have contributed.
As always you can order your card at www.lisscatcreations.com/cards

God Bless!!

Playing around can be successful

So last week I shared my excitement over the shopping trip to the art store. This week I just wanted to share some of the results of last weeks' "play time".
I have had it on my heart for a long time to make these cards, and get them out there. The making them part is fairly easy (other than trying to find the time!)...its the 'getting them out there' part that seems to be hard for me.
Last week I was particularly motivated to create, and stayed up late to finish some cards for a few co-workers. I just wanted to take the time to say "thank you" to them for who they are, and let them know how blessed I am to work with them.
Coincidentally (or not) a lot or drama and hurt feelings broke out in the workplace the day after the day after I handed out the cards. This is the second time I felt pushed to get the cards out to people, right before a chaotic event broke out.
Now part of me wants to think, "Ok last time I give cards to people! They are bad luck!" But it in my right mind, I know God had me create these for a reason. I am not sure how or if the cards helped those involved in the drama last week, but I do trust that God will use them to bring some healing and comfort. After all, that's why I created Lisscat Creations...everyone needs a pick-me-up now and then.
Go do something nice for someone this week. Don't wait until a chaotic event to happen. What you do might just brighten their day, or give them the strength they need on stormy day.