My WEBSITE, unveiled!!!

So here it is......the great unveil...the result of confusion, expletives, and so much hard work. I am no techie by ANY means...but, I can honestly say that I am SO proud of my website and that I did it ALL myself!

I had a meltdown a couple of weeks ago. I was so close to getting it done and then I hit a wall and I couldn't move forward with the progress. I was STUCK! I called out for anyone to help, anyone with a better understanding of this world than me.... The Universe on the other hand had other plans... No, not this time Danielle, you are going to do this all by yourself.... You are capable of finishing this... You got this!

So, in the end, I persevered, I contacted the help desk three times and all three times they answered my questions and I chugged along like the little train... I think I can, I think I can... OH NO I CAN'T.......&*$#!!!!! I think I can, I think I can... OMG! NO WAY! I DID IT!!!!

So, here it is!!!!!!!!!!! (Major SQUEALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

"You must do the thing which you think you cannot do". -- Eleanor Roosevelt

(Or in this case, the thing I never thought I would EVER accomplish in this lifetime, especially by myself)

Welcome to www.herpaintedword.com

Diary of a Mad Scientist...

Do you have a collection that has gotten out of control? Why not create wallpaper with it? Welcome to a Diary of a Mad Scientist and Obsessive Insect Collector by artist Jennifer Angus.

This display has been at our local ART Gallery this summer and Owen and I had to go and check it out. It is not for the squeamish, but it was beautiful in a gross sort of way.

The patterns were flawless. From a distance, the texture was very beautiful.

But once you got close, you were reminded in a BIG way

that these were bugs and VERY large ones...

This is one look we won't see
on any DIY home decorating shows anytime soon...

I wanted to let you all know that I have finally created a monthly NEWSletter mailing list. If you are interested in receiving the inside scoop along with monthly promotions and bonus savings, be sure to sign up. It's on the top right corner of my BLOG.

Also, after many hours of scratching my head, I am FINALLY (almost) ready to unveil my website... stay tuned for more...

Thank-you all for your continued kindness and words of support. xo

Introducing my JOURNALS...

Remember I told you I was collecting these books and rescuing them from the landfill?

Well, this is why!

Here are the newest additions to my shop! Upcycled journals made from beautifully worn hardcover books. I have been collecting old books for a while now with the purpose of making new journals with them.


I have been obsessed all my life with journals. Ever since my first red diary with the gold trimmed pages and the golden lock, I have been smitten with writing my thoughts and my dreams down on paper. After forever hunting for the RIGHT journal I have decided to make my own handcrafted bounded books.



These journals were created using upcycled book covers, irish linen red thread and bookbinding cloth. I inserted blank pages along with original pages from each book to honour the previous authors. I also added rice thin pages from the dictionary with circled words to add even more meaning to the journal.


The inside of the journals are lined with beautiful contrasting paper if the original linings were not in great condition. I have to thank my husband for teaching me how to stitch these books. After reading the instructions in a book and seeing it done on Youtube, I still had trouble mastering this technique. Thank-you Steve for your patience. Thanks for helping me get these done. (Yes, I promise to sew you rowing pants now...)



Each book comes with a lovely ribbon to be tied in a bow. There is something so charming about this. The romantic in me just beams when I tie my journal closed. There are 80 blank pages in each journal along with the other pages and surprises inserted throughout.



I hope that people will use them to write down their dreams, goals (short-term and long-term), their fears, and their longings or use them to draw. These journals were carefully crafted with LOVE and kindness and I hope they will accompany many people on their journeys.

These books have already been so rewarding to make and I look forward to making more.

They will be going into my etsy shop tomorrow. (Shriek!!!)

Body Love...

'Honour Your Body'
9 by 12
...good food can fuel big dreams...

The journey I have been on since January 2010 has been AMAZING! I started this Blog and have remained committed to my greatest LOVES; my ART and my writing. While this has been the greatest blessing for my creative expression, I found myself wanting to align other areas in my life that had been neglected. Remember this post? Well, since then I have remained true to my body. I have been eating breakfast everyday (after not having it for five years), I have been exercising consistently and eating clean food. I have finally given my body what it has deserved all along. I realized that with all of my hopes and dreams, I needed to make sure to fill my body with goodness to help fuel these dreams.

So, after almost 14 weeks, I am 13 pounds lighter, I have more energy and I am appreciating my body in a whole different way. We haven't been friends for a long time. I was so critical and mean but things are different now. I am more patient and definitely more kind. And this is just the beginning...

Here's to loving our bodies right now as they are... LOVE does a body good....

'Go Within'
9 by 12
...honour your spirit, listen to the whispers, believe your intuition, trust...

Here is another painting I finished this week reminding us to take some time to go within, to be still, to listen to our heart and our body.


These changes have not been easy. It has meant planning ahead, bringing my own food and traveling with a ziplock full of veggies wherever I go. It's really about treating your body like you do your bff... I have struggled but I remain committed to my promise. Like my ART and my writing...I will never turn my back on my body again.

PS. I am listing seven new paintings today, including the ones above. Two new BOY paintings and three 5 by 7 will be available for purchase later on this morning. Have a wonderful Friday!

Double Rainbows

The weather around here has been so erratic this last week. Threats of tornadoes and hail mixed with lots of rain, humidity that won't give and sunshine. This is exactly the way I feel sometimes... In the past, I would of judged this, now I just ride the wave, sit with it and embrace it.

Peeling the layers of the onion is not always easy but sometimes there is a beautiful reward just waiting to be seen and felt.



Last night, we were blessed with not one but two rainbows. A double rainbow, a sight rarely seen. It was still raining, the sun was shining and the skies were the backdrop to the most beautiful true reds, yellows, greens and blues.



It lasted less than five minutes so I was so happy to be out there to have witnessed this beautiful expression dancing across the sky.

Today I am so grateful for the friendships in my life. The kind of friendships that keep me grounded and feeling deeply loved, unconditionally.

Today I am grateful for new friends with generous hearts and spirits. (Marianne)

Friends who listen to the whispers and make decisions that feed their higher purpose. (Kelly)

Friends who you miss so much, that you promised you would wait to see Eat, Pray, Love, only with her. (Melanie)

Friends that live far away, but who always stay close to your heart. (Catherine)

Friends who call you up, out of the blue wanting you to join them on their trip. (Perreault)

Friends who you have met in North California on an ART retreat and friends you have met in this blogosphere that fill your heart with so much gratitude and LOVE... you wish you could have one big party to see them all at once!

Today I am grateful for this soft place to fall. A place supported by women I respect and adore. Without these women in my life, there would be no double rainbows.

I Walk Because I Can

I walk because I can.
One foot in front of the other.
Hitting the pavement. Each step bringing me elsewhere. Away.
I walk because I can.
My body holding up my legs.
My legs holding up my body.
My head forward.
Each step reminding me that I belong to the walking world.
To the world of those who walk.
I walk because I can.
Sometimes guiltily, angrily, I walk.
Each step bringing me farther away.
But closer to the truth.
The reality.
I walk because I can.

I walk because you can't.
I walk as you roll through this life.
Wheels on ground, hands on metal.
I walk with my head facing forward.
Facing the sun and the sadness.
I walk, each step bringing me closer to the truth.
The truth I hide and bury.
I walk to overcome.

I walk because I can.
Alone.
As you roll.
I walk this life.
Still dealing and healing.
I walk because I can.
Still hurting and praying.
I walk because I can.
Each step bringing me towards the pain I deny.
I do not cry.
I walk because I can.

ART Studio Tour

So here it is, in full view! I wanted to give you guys a personal tour of where I will be spending my days. I have been collecting stuff for a very long time. Owning two stores (Creative Balance and mimi & lulu) also helped in the furniture department. The ONLY new things I purchased to make this happen was a large bulletin board and two cans of paint. The other secret weapon was having my Mom help me. Without her, I would still be painting... that I can assure you. SO THANK-YOU MOM for helping me with such a monumental task!



I am extremely lucky to have such a large room to create in. But, what I have noticed in the last four months is that it was no longer functional. Whenever I was in a deep painting frenzy or was getting ready for a show, I was literally jumping over paintings on the floor... I was starting to lose my mind in all this creative mess... So, I decided to create ZONES, just like they have in kindergarten class...

This is my primary painting table. My paints and brushes are close at hand. And the lovely tower with drawers purchased at IKEA many years ago houses all my stamps and ink pads. I have also labeled the drawers to make it super easy to find what I need. (I LOVE my labeling machine).

I am surrounded by ART I love and respect, as well as pictures of my son.


Here is ART desk # 2. It also houses ART supplies and a bulletin board filled with positive affirmations and ART I LOVE and things that inspire me. This extra desk makes it great for drying paintings, spreading out papers, or having a friend come and paint with me.... Oh! How I would LOVE to have you here painting with me....you ALL know who you are!!!!



This zone is the scanning and printing zone. I have my paper in the drawers and my radio is always on CBC. It's the Canadian Broadcasting Radio Show. I am a CBC junkie and I have been known top call into Rex Murphy a couple of times...

Looking over me here is the lovely print I won from the amazing artist Peggy Petit. She sent it to me all the way from Paris. I LOVE IT!



Here is my writing desk. It has been downsized, but I really don't need much room. This table belonged to my Memere. I ADORE it. I love the little drawer.



My ART studio is actually in the basement. I still get a lot of natural light but in the winter it's chilly. So, how cute is this little fireplace! It's electric and it heats up the whole room in less than seven minutes! I love having the mantle to store my collection of dolls and it also houses my dreams written on the scroll tucked inside the ceramic cup!



This zone is one I desperately needed! It's the wrapping, packing and shipping zone. It provides a clean and dry place to wrap all the goodies to send out. I still need to organize this zone but I am SO grateful to have it!



Now this bookcase used to have some old toys on it...toys that my son no longer plays with. Big trucks and Thomas the Train.... It now organizes my canvases, supplies, magazines, and everything I might need when I do a show. It's easy to find and will not get damaged.

The smaller bookcase holds some ART books, writing books, and sewing and quilting books (There is just not enough time in the day).

Here is a long shot showing you the sunlight.

The bulletin board and white board you see serve as IDEA Headquarters. The white board is my GOAL board...Short term, long term, Mondo Beyondo...

The bulletin board shows the progress of the book I'm writing. More about that later this week.




I know I am a lucky girl and I am VERY grateful to have such a space to create the paintings that are sitting inside of me. I am SO HAPPY to have painted this space with a color that brings me so much JOY. (Vivid Lake for those who missed it last time).

Thank-you for taking the tour with me. I can't wait to get this room MESSY again...

PS. I PROMISE to have NEW paintings to show you SOON!

A Room of Her Own (BLISS)

(click on the pic to enlarge for close-up!)

Here is a sneak peek of my NEWly painted and semi-organized ART studio! SO so so excited to show you this! The colour on the walls is called 'Vivid Lake', a light luscious aqua that totally makes me feel awake, alive and inspired! Many more pics to come Monday. I am off to Manitoulin Island to spend some time with my Mama and family. I am TOTALLY enjoying this summer and I cannot wait to see how this time away from painting will influence my work in the weeks to come. I am feeling SO grateful and I am carrying a heart FULL of LOVE and appreciation for all of you. I hope that someday I will be able to articulate the joy I feel being part of this artistic community! Happy weekend! See you all on Monday! Can't wait to show you all the NEW zones in my studio! xox

Big Boy Room

When I was a kid, I LOVED redecorating my room. I was obsessed with changing it around and making it look different. I think I moved my bedroom into every room of the house at least twice. I couldn't resist it. I don't think I was in a room for longer than a year. We did not have alot of money growing up but my Mom ALWAYS managed to make our rooms feel special.

I remember the wall paper I had with my brother when we actually agreed to share a room. It was the Jetsons. Super fly, even today... Then, there was my Wonder Woman phase... I just ADORED my Wonder Woman sheets. And of course there was Strawberry Shortcake and all of her friends...They were also a staple in my childhood...

My childhood bedrooms house alot of good memories for me. I guess that's why it's so important for me to make Owen's room equally special.



As I mentioned in an earlier post, it was time to say good-bye to the trains, plains and automobiles. They served us well, but we had to say Adieu... and hello to these vintage men with super powers of course...



Owen is a lover of colour like his Mama... and like most kids he LOVES to create... So, I was so excited to buy this bright red tool chest to store all of his ART supplies and colored duck tape.

He no longer needs to ask me for paper or anything else for that matter...
It's all in here and it's on wheels!

The possibilities are endless with so many supplies...

I started collecting children's books before he was even born. Maybe it's the school teacher part of me, or just the lover of words and the appreciation for story and wonder. It's so fun to finally see my son starting to learn to read (in both official languages)... A whole new world is opening up to him...

This is a print I bought on Etsy from Black Apple.

I put it over his bed. I just adore this print.

Here lie a few stuffed animals from his collection.

Some handmade and some were gifted. The large one is a monster
called Owen made from Monster Factory.

Here is a stuffy I made for Owen last Christmas. I followed the pattern for the Hound Dog in the absolute sweetest book Sew Me, Love Me. I hope to make one every Christmas for him...





Here is the NEW wall! The mural is gone and the large map of the world has been erected. I want Owen to know just how BIG the world is. I want him to know that he can be anything he wants in this world and that there are so many AMAZING places waiting for him to discover.

I plan on painting a legend and also adding flags to show where his Mama and Papa have been so far. All three of us will have our flags tacked to the map.

I hope that he can think back to his room and remember that his Mama loved him and tried to make it special. That would make me very, very happy.


*Stay tuned for pics of my NEWLY PAINTED and ORGANIZED studio... Friday I will give you the tour!