A Map Of Your Heart

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful for you to read this post. Thanks for visiting.

To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Knowing what you truly love is the key to loving how you live. A simple way to begin to know what you truly love is to gather beautiful images that speak to your soul. So, let's do just that.

Gather scissors, glue, your favorite magazines and your art journal. Place them all together in a basket or other container and keep it by your bed. At night after the kids are asleep, the day's responsibilities are (hopefully) taken care of and you can devote a few minutes of relaxed down time (stop laughing), crawl up on your bed and flip through the magazines. When you see a picture you love, cut it out and paste it in your art journal. Spend several quiet moments doing this. When finished, put your journal away for another night.

I realize that night may not be your relaxing time or your bed may not be your comfy contemplative place, adjust accordingly. Find your spot.

Now listen to me because this part is very important. Do not over think your choices. You do not need to have a reason why an image speaks to you...it simply must speak to you. Also, do not plan or fret over the arrangement of the images on the page, just paste them on a page one at a time. Let your collages happen, evolve.

Now listen to me again. If you begin this one night and the love is not flowing, drop it. You will know if you are forcing the process. Also, do not feel like you must work on this every night.

At the end of two weeks, (yes, do this for two weeks) crawl onto your bed, snuggle up with your art journal and look at the pages you have created. I expect that you will find colors, patterns, themes, styles, things...something...which reveals loves, hopes, passions you've never realized. Your collages will give you directions where your heart wants to go...a map of your heart.

Try it.

Tell me, where does the map of your heart lead?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are the specifics of weekly participation:

* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight, support, encouragement or comfort.
* A new prompt will be posted each Tuesday.

Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post.

A Map Of Your Heart ~ Mr. Linky

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' prompt, A Map Of Your Heart, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Please note, this prompt is for two weeks.

Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. Sheila of My Memories 2. Kim @ TheBitterBall 3. 2nd2theright(Mandy) 4. Liv

5. Julie @the Surrendered Scribe 6. Bridge 7. Angie @ Sonflower 8. Mimi/pz5wjj

9. Bonnie @ Simple Beauty 10. EA 11. Michelle Pendergrass

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Be Compassionate With Yourself

As we face the New Year, my hope for you is that you will be compassionate with yourself. This is the one New Year's resolution I have made.

In being compassionate with myself, I will not think reactively. I will let go of my mistakes and simply begin again...no matter how many times I must begin.

In being compassionate with myself, I will be understanding, loving and giving to others.

In being compassionate with myself, I will honor God.

As women (human beings) we judge ourselves harshly, set standards which are nearly unattainable and beat ourselves up when in our own eyes we fail. Please, be compassionate with yourselves...allow yourself to begin again.

"Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over." ~~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Mid-January we will begin again with the prompts here at Wrapped Emotions. I'm allowing myself time to regroup after the holidays while the family strives to become healthy; we prepare to celebrate two children's birthdays; and I keep several follow-up doctors' appointments. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts during the month of December. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and the love of friends. The camaraderie which has formed between Wrapped Emotions ladies is a blessing to me, and I hope you feel a bond with and encouragement from one another.

I look forward to a year of creating, connecting and expressing ourselves together...of living with our hearts.

Blessings to you.

The Gift of Every Moment, Week Three ~ Mr. Linky

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, The Gift Of Every Moment Week Three , please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your post. Comments are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. Melissa@BananaMigraine 2. Julie @the Surrendered Scribe 3. Jen @ Unique But Not Alone 4. Donetta Sew and Sew 5. EA 6. WindowsWideOpen

7. melody is slurping life 8. Sheila @ My Memories 9. killlashandra 10. beingmade 11. Kim @ TheBitterBall 12. Jenny is Live & in Color

13. Childlife @ In The Life Of A Child 14. Angie @ Sonflower 15. Jodi W 16. Sara~ its not about that anyway

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Lucubration

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, this post will tell you more.

lucubration \loo-kyoo-BRAY-shun; loo-kuh-\ (noun) - 1. The act of studying by candlelight; nocturnal study; meditation. 2 : That which is composed by night; that which is produced by meditation in retirement; hence (loosely) any literary composition.

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons the boys and I stop our "formal" homeschooling schedule. We unschool, learning as life leads us. Yesterday was a day full of errands with my boys in tow. We had two doctors appointments and a therapist appointment. We literally ran in and out of several stores exchanging lighted Christmas garlands that failed to work (a yearly haunt for me), clothes that did not fit and picking up a few necessary items. When I awoke Monday morning the day looked like anything but fun or inspiring. How wrong I was.

The hectic day left me full of happiness, love and gratitude. The night found me pondering, meditating over the blessings I had received. I'll share the story along with my Wrapped Emotions project this week.

This week's prompt is "lucubration" with the emphasis being on the following portion of the above definition...

The act of studying by candlelight; nocturnal study; meditation. That which is composed by night; that which is produced by meditation in retirement.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or another religious holiday or no religious holiday at all, you will have to agree that this time of year lends itself to good will, blessings, giving, loving...experiencing miracles small and large...go now and inhale the beauty and gifts of the season. Then one night find your sacred space within your home, light a candle...a hundred candles if you choose...and practice lucubration.

Finally, share your experience with us in whatever creative manner inspires your soul. Don't worry. If you truly slow down and inhale deeply, you will be inspired.

*NOTE: Because I am later in the day than usual posting this week's prompt, you have through midnight EST on Monday, December 3 to share your posted project on Mr. Linky.

~~~~~

Here are the specifics of weekly participation:

* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
* A new prompt will be posted each Tuesday.

Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post.

Mr. Linky ~ Lucubration

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Lucubration, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. As always, thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. Kim @ TheBitterBall 2. Stacy 3. Sheila @ My Memories 4. Melody is Slurping Life 5. killlashandra

6. Sara - its not about that anyway 7. WindowsWideOpen 8. EA 9. beingmade 10. Julie @the Surrendered Scribe

11. Sarah @ Real Life 12. PhoenixTheBloggingMama! 13. Bonnie @ Simple Beauty 14. Jenny is Live & in Color 15. Childlife @ In The Life Of A Child

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Today I Love...

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful to read this post first.

With Thanksgiving being next week everyone begins to ask the traditional question..."For what are you thankful?" This week let's put a little twist on that thought.

What do you love today?

For this week's prompt you will need to set aside a small block of uninterrupted time. *gasp* You can do it. You need to do it. Allow whatever amount of time you think it will take to complete the project. Get any art supplies ready ahead of time. Open your art journal to a clean page, date it and begin listing the things you love today...or whatever day you do the project.

No typing on the computer and printing words. It should be done in your handwriting. Make it neat, make it sloppy, make it uniquely yours. Doodle the words, fine line print, bold line print, scribble. Write horizontally, diagonally, backwards, upside down. Give the page some color and pop...paint the page first...collage the page first...color the page with marker. Do not be limited by these suggestions. But WRITE the lists...no typing and printing. What is important is that you know what you love today.

One more twist...in a creative way include a wrapper from one of the things you love today (or the day you do this). Remember, if a week's project is not completed on an actual journal page, take the time to lovingly place each one into your art journal.

So...What do you love today?
~~~
Here are the specifics of weekly participation:

* Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
* Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
* If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
* Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
* After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post here at WE.
* Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
* A new prompt will be posted each Tuesday.

Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post

Mr. Linky ~ Today I Love...

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Today I Love..., please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. As always, thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. Bonnie @ Simple Beauty 2. Sheila @ My Memories 3. Jenny is Live & in Color 4. Julie @the Surrendered Scribe 5. beingmade 6. Lynne\'s Somewhat Invented Life 7. EA 8. Nesting Momma

9. Angie @ Sonflower 10. Mandy@2ndTTR 11. Violet 12. phyllis (i\'m back!) 13. melody is slurping life 14. Kim@TheBitterBall 15. Irreverent, Barefoot Ragamuffins 16. Mimi/pz5wjj @ The Things We Do

17. killlashandra 18. Chelle 19. Tricia @ AlteredSchoolmarm 20. Donetta@ A life Uncommon 21. PhoenixTheBloggingMama 22. WindowsWideOpen

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Mr. Linky ~ Re-Create Your Face

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Re-Create Your Face, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. As always, thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. Bonnie @ Simple Beauty 2. Mandy@2nd to the right 3. Tina at Tattered Too 4. sara - its not about that anyway 5. Julie @the Surrendered Scribe 6. Sheila @ My Memories 7. Donetta@ A life Uncommon

8. PhoenixTheBloggingMama! 9. Mimi/pz5wjj @ The Things We Do 10. killlashandra 11. melody is slurping life 12. Beverly 13. Angie @ Sonflower 14. Nesting Momma at My Nesting Place

15. Kim @ TheBitterBall 16. Chelle @ Triplets Are A Joy 17. Jenny is Live & in Color 18. beingmade

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Beautiful Family Moments

Ladies, you made me smile by sharing your special, squishy family moments from last week. Thank you. Hold on to the good feeling and remember to say yes to your children, husband or other family members when at all possible. You never know what precious moments await.

Now this week's luck of the draw (random.org) goes to Jenn of All Natural Mommies. This was Jenn's first week joining Wrapped Emotions, but she is a long time reader of my other blog, Slurping Life. Jenn, email me with the snail mail address and I'll send you a little gift.

I've been thinking...yeah, my husband laughs when I begin a sentence with that phrase...that I will discontinue the weekly drawing for a gift. Honestly, getting people to donate prizes has not been my top priority and for me to remember to purchase gifts each week is taxing my brain. You know, the one more thing I don't need to have to remember...bet you understand that, huh? I believe everyone who participates in our weekly prompts is doing so for the fun, creative endeavor, as well as connecting with self and others...not for whatever little gift I have to give. Don't you?

I do have a great little gift for next week, so check back, but at least until after the holiday season that will be the last drawing for weekly prizes. However, should someone or some company say "hey, take our stuff and give it away" I will so grab the opportunity and share it with my WE friends.

As always, thank you for sharing my journey to rekindle the creative juices and unwrap my emotions. You are inspiring me more than you will ever know, and your posts tell me that you are truly taking much more than works of art from your weekly projects.

Tomorrow, a new prompt. See you then.

Mr. Linky ~ Enjoy Your Family

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Enjoy Your Family, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. As always, thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. Sara - It\'s not about that anyway. 2. Natural News - Family Time 3. Jenny is Live & in Color 4. Julie @the Surrendered Scribe 5. killlashandra 6. Sarah @ Real Life 7. Kim @ TheBitterBall 8. tiff @ three ring circus 9. Sheila @ My Memories

10. Mama Zen 11. babyamore 12. phyllis 13. Pinky 14. Lynnae @ From Under the Clutter 15. melody is slurping life 16. Nesting Momma at My Nesting Place 17. lesley 18. Stacy

19. Donetta@ A life Uncommon 20. Melissa@Banana Migraine 21. PhoenixTheBloggingMama 22. Bonnie @ Simple Beauty 23. EA 24. Mandy@2ndtotheright

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LIVE! And In Color

For last week's roundup and winner, click here.

I did not know how else to title this post because I have no clue what this week's challenge is all about. In my absence this week Jenny of LIVE! And In Color has graciously stepped up and posted a Wrapped Emotions challenge. She will not allow me to peek until Monday. Do you know how hard it is not to look at a blog when told not to? Honestly, I only posted the link...I did not peek. But you should click over there and see what's up.

Which leads me to wonder, did Jenny post a Mr. Linky or ask for comments with links at her place or should I post a Mr. Linky here or what? Hmmm, I don't know, so do whatever she told you to do. *smiles a big goofy grin*

Again...thank you, Jenny!

We Felt With Our Hands and Hearts

Has anyone noticed that I am behind here? I spent my weekend away from the computer and out and about with my family. I touched a lot of things and people and will post my project this afternoon...late, and I apologize.

Also after our homeschool day is complete, I will post a bit of a recap of last week and the winner of this week's gift from Wrapped Emotions.

Wow, ladies! Your rubbings and words were amazing again. But then I've come to expect no less.

Guess what? Our new weekly prompt goes up tomorrow morning from our first guest blogger. You do not want to miss this one.

Back later today with my project and a more coherent post. Thanks for your inspiring creations.

Edited to add: Ladies, did anyone notice how everyone chose items from home or close to home to rub and share? I think this speaks volumes of our love of home and family...that or we could find no one to watch the kids while we escaped.

Seriously, I continue to be inspired and impressed with every single artistic creation and the emotions each of you eloquently share. Your projects, as well as my own, are opening my mind to new thoughts and my heart to a plethora of emotions. Thank you.

On to business, Random.org says the winner of this week's gift is Donna of Nesting Momma. Guess what? I haven't photographed your prize yet, so just wonder about it. But I will post a photo tomorrow. If you want to claim it, email me with a mailing address.

Do you remember that a few weeks ago I told you there would be a monthly guest blogger chosen from the ranks of WE participants? In few short hours the week's prompt goes up from our first guest blogger and you do not want to miss this one.

Legal Graffiti

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful to read this post first.

Wrapped Emotions is thrilled to again feature artist Zuda Gay. One lucky participant will win their choice of one of her handcrafted creations of beauty.

*Guest Blogger* I'll be emailing you...I chose from last week's participants...hey, get back here! You can't hide.

This week let loose...get edgy with your style...free your spirit...absolutely no fear. We had enough of that last week. This prompt is not associated with any tangible or figurative wrapper. I simply want you to experience the fun of creating. This week we're working to feel the emotion of JOY. Not necessarily expressing the actual word or symbolism of joy in your art...you can celebrate shoe polish if you choose. But enJOY the process. Let's create our own graffiti.

Graffiti artists develop their own styles. They work quickly, intuitively, randomly and never stop the process to think about what to do next. You should try anything, everything...collage, paint, stains, spray paint, markers, colored pencils, markers, stencils, doodling, marks, lines, swirls, symbols, written words, calligraphy, images (photos, magazine cutouts, photocopies, sketches), stamps, prints...whatever.

Think of urban graffiti walls. The art is vibrant, multi-layered, freestyle, textured. Do not over think as you work, and do not think neat, orderly. Think juxtaposition. If you have time, go on a search for public graffiti walls in your city or search online for images. Get inspired.

Here are examples of Traci Bautista's art journal graffiti pages...







Don't you feel fun and funky just looking at them? Wouldn't it feel joyous to let loose and create whatever? Yeah, let's do it!

Our pages are not expected to look like Traci's. Remember...no fear...no intimidation...no boundaries...

~~~
Here are the specifics of weekly participation:

• Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
• Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
  
• If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
  
• Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
  
• After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post at WE. I will be drawing for the weekly gift from comments.
  
• Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
  
• Check back each Monday to see if you won the previous week's gift, which will be chosen by random.org from the comments.
  
• The new WE prompt will be posted each Tuesday.

Do you have an online store? Would you like to feature it at WE?

Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post. Questions about specifics to prep any art/paper surface, mediums, what to have for dinner, anything...just ask. I love it when you talk to me.

*If you have completed your Legal Graffiti project, sign Mr. Linky here.

Mr. Linky ~ Legal Graffiti

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Legal Graffiti, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. This week's gift is again a choice of one of Zuda Gay's handcrafted brooches.

As always, thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. HolleeAnn @ TheVasquez3 2. Jess 3. Ju 4. sara 5. Angie @ Sonflower 6. Melissa @ Enjoying Life 7. Mandaroo @ Second to the left 8. Mandaroo @ Second to the right

9. EA 10. Stacy 11. SingForHim @ RealLife 12. Lynnae @ From Under the Clutter 13. killlashandra 14. Nesting Momma 15. De in Paradise 16. Kim @ TheBitterBall

17. phyllis 18. Jenny is Live & in Color 19. melody is slurping life 20. Melissa@BananaMigraine 21. christy

Learn more about Wrapped Emotions here.
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Finding A Place Of Trust

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, it would be helpful to read this post first.

• Read about this week's featured artist, her shop and the beautiful choice of prizes she is offering the winner of this week's random draw.

• Last week's wrap up, news and winner of the weekly draw is posted here.

• *Note* We are shifting. Monday's are just crazy at my house...how about yours? It is also a busy get-back-to-it day in the blogging world. Tell you what we're going to do. The weekly prompts are going up on Tuesdays with the opportunity to complete and post them remaining open through midnight EST each Sunday. That actually gives weekend days to work on projects, and that could benefit many. I'll post a wrap-up and the winner of each week's gift on Mondays.

~~~
Now, about this week...

Finding a place of trust...I'm trying. Being a Christian (and this is not a push to those who are not) I know my peace within is found in God. I also know that I must learn to trust myself and to release many fears. This week's prompt is taken from Jen Lemen. Jen to me is the vision of a gentle, peaceful oasis in the center of a maddening world. I want that. Let's follow Jen's prompt this week to find A Little Ritual of Letting Go of Fear and Other Things That Weigh You Down. Go ahead, click the link and read an inspirational and deeply personal post. Jen put herself out there for all of us to see and to help us experience letting go of our personal fears and other emotions that are blocking our path to genuine peace and moving forward in our lives.

Maybe you do not have a beautiful natural wilderness in which to seclude yourself...I moved away from mine. But there is a place somewhere...a place you can pray, meditate, think and quietly face the reality of what is holding you back in life. It could be the bathroom...a corner in Starbucks...your front porch...a park bench. But go there. Quietly open up to trust. Take a pen if you feel led and, like Jen, write your fears...be honest with yourself...make them into words...see your fears.

I realize this is pretty intense, but I honestly feel that fear is blocking many of us from trusting ourselves...from being ourselves.

This week find your ritual. Experience it. This is a personal journey. Whatever you take from this, take it to your art journal. Create what you feel. No, there are no suggestions, no list of materials...this is freestyle. This is you...

What you create...be it a page of jumbled words, mingled colors, introspective images...should be intimately yours. If you are not comfortable posting your completed journal page, no problem. Write a blog post with what you are comfortable sharing. Should you find yourself trying, yet not completing this ritual, share that...it is not failure to try.

My heart hopes we will share...that we will trust ourselves...that we will uncover more of our wrapped emotions.

~~~
Here are the specifics of weekly participation:

• Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
• Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Tuesday through Sunday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
  
• If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
  
• Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
  
• After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post at WE. I will be drawing for the weekly gift from comments.
  
• Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
  
• Check back each Monday to see if you won the previous week's gift, which will be chosen by random.org from the comments.
  
• The new WE prompt will be posted each Tuesday.
  
• Do you have an online store? Would you like to feature it at WE?

Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post. I love it when you talk to me.

*If you have completed your Finding A Place of Trust project, sign Mr. Linky here.

Mr. Linky ~ Finding A Place Of Trust

Bloggers participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt, Finding A Place Of Trust, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. Thanks for sharing.

Wrapped Emotions Participants

1. Angie 2. Jess 3. Stacy 4. Julie @the Surrendered Scribe 5. Mandy 6. Melissa

7. De in Paradise 8. Lynnae @ From Under the Clutter 9. killlashandra 10. Kim @ TheBitterBall 11. EA 12. melody is slurping life

13. phyllis@imabima 14. sara 15. Childlife @ In The Life of a Child 16. Jenny is Live & in Color

Learn more about Wrapped Emotions here.
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The Creations and Etsy Shop of Zuda Gay

Each week Wrapped Emotions will be featuring the shop of a craft person, artist or retailer who has generously donated their creation or product as a gift for the weekly drawing.

I am excited to have as our first featured artist, Zuda Gay. Zuda Gay's medium is polymer clay, and the two words that come to mind when I view her work are beautiful and amazing. Her love of the clay and talent are expressed in the delicate, intricate details of her pendants, brooches and ornaments. Zuda Gay's Etsy Shop is a feast for the eyes and soul. Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy relaxed browsing and shopping.

I asked Zuda Gay to tell us about herself...

I have been so very blessed to be raised by parents who lived creatively and raised their children to believe that they could do whatever they wanted to do. Then I married a boy who seems to think that I can do anything I put my mind to and encourages me to fulfill any creative notion that pops into my mind. I have always loved the feel of clay in my hands. I played with Play-dough like most children and was so upset when it dried and ended up with a white haze covering my beautiful sculptures. Anytime there was mud nearby, I was in it.

When our daughters were tiny and we were poor and young, I discovered making my own clay with flour, salt and water. I made Christmas ornaments, painted them and sold them at craft shows to make money to buy our babies Christmas gifts. I discovered polymer clay about 12 years ago and have pretty much been working with it ever since. I have evolved and grown, as all artists do, but it is still color and the feel of clay in my hands that move me and all of creation that inspires me.

I seem to gravitate toward flowers. I love flowers!!! I have a brown thumb and kill every living plant that comes into my possession. So, for the most part I make things with flowers on them. Flowers that don't wilt or die for lack of care.....or too much care. I believe that we are made in the image of the Creator and one of His traits that He has put within us is the desire and ability to create....something, or be creative in some way. I need to be able to use my God given creativity, and this is one of the ways we have chosen to use it.

My husband and I will celebrate our 33^rd anniversary the end of November. We have two beautiful grown daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law and six absolutely beautiful, brilliant and adorable grandkids….with number seven due January 10^th. I am abundantly blessed.

~~~

Thanks, Zuda Gay. Your creations and your spirit are amazing.

Zuda Gay is graciously offering one of her beautiful brooches as a gift to the winner of this week's random drawing at WE. Go ahead, click and take a look. All participants in this week's WE project will be entered for a chance to win a choice of one of the five brooches.

You will find last week's wrap-up and winner of the draw here.

Binding Loose Ends Of The Week

Just binding loose ends of the week and saying thanks again for playing at Wrapped Emotions. This week's project seemed simple, but in reading your posts, apparently it was not so easy. However, the final journal covers were as creative and varied as the emotions which accompanied them. I have been impressed and inspired once more. If you have not visited this week's links, they're still there...enjoy.

• The blogroll of WE participants to date is now in the blog sidebar. You will find it under "Expressive People". If I have omitted your blog link, please let me know in the comments or by email.
  


• Monday morning will be Wrapped Emotions' first featured artist and shop. Be sure to read all about her and visit her lovely Etsy Shop. She's donating a choice of one of her gorgeous, handmade creations to the winner of the draw at the end of the coming week.
  


• The winner of this week's little gift from WE is Melissa of Enjoying Life. Melissa, you will receive the personal journal pictured below. Just email me a mailing address.

This week's prompt may be posted a little later in the day than usual on Monday. You know, life sometimes messes up schedules.

Guest Bloggers

Beginning next month each WE artist (yes, you must now call yourself "artist") will have the opportunity to be a guest blogger at WE . One week of each month I will randomly draw from the WE blogroll the name of one blogger to take over the prompt for a week. You are not required to accept the guest blogger role, but please do not let fear of failure or judgment stop you. There are no right or wrong ideas, none better than the other. I believe fresh viewpoints and voices will keep energy flowing and further encourage creativity. Plus it is an opportunity for each of you to step out of your comfort zone, and that is a big part of unleashing creativity...unleashing inhibitions.

I'll give you another week, maybe two, to roll this around in your brains a bit. Do not run and hide (no person will be forced as a guest blogger). Remain on your journey to create, connect and express yourself.

Necessary Bindings

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, welcome and thanks for coming. You should begin by reading this to learn what it's all about.

Here's the wrap on last week's project.

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This week I want to correct a mistake made when I first explained my thinking behind Wrapped Emotions...

Many of the completed projects will be in a final form that can be kept in a binder...an art journal...if you so choose. Or you may simply enjoy them for a while and disperse or dispose of them as you see fit. I have chosen to purchase a spiral bound art journal 10"x10" whose pages will serve as the base for many of my creations. Some 3-D projects will not be suitable for the journal.

There was a flaw in my thinking. Having our completed WE projects be disposable, not bound firmly in some manner, diminishes their importance...gives them no validity. So I am changing my mind because...

Loose pages can be shuffled, crumpled, lost, trashed. Loose pages can be stuffed here and there. The wind can blow them out of your hand. They are less important when disconnected.

Our WE creations should represent something substantial. A book has substance...pages bound together...like your day to day life. Your creations and thoughts deserve the same substance. The time you set aside to create, connect and express yourself should not be treated loosely. It deserves a proper binding to signify it's substance.

This week I want you to purchase or make an art journal in which to create your projects or to put photos of your creations which are not worked on paper. An art journal being a (spiral-my choice) bound book of sturdy blank pages of any dimensions you choose. You can find them at an art supply store, arts and craft store, even T*rget and W*lmart. You may construct your own book of bound, blank pages in any manner you choose.

Once you have the journal, take your first WE project (the collage) and mount it in the book. Trim it, cut it into pieces if you need to, re-collage it, but put it in there. Then from your blog print a copy of your photo and post for your last week's project and mount it in the book. Do any additional art work, embellishment or collage you choose as you add these creations to your art journal. You're creative. You can make them fit. You do not need a huge book. If this is your first week participating, wonderful. Simply purchase or construct your art journal.

Next, make the journal your own. Decorate the cover. No specific instructions. No list of materials, no specific medium.

Now snap photos of your journal's cover and the two completed pages. Post the photos on your blog. If this is your first WE project, you'll post a photo of your journal cover.

What you are creating now has substance. It is real. It is not being treated loosely. The wind cannot blow it away. As time goes by you will better understand the importance of the binding...the wrapped emotions.

Links to enjoy and inspire:

How To Collage In Your Art Journal
Teesha Moore Art Journals
Art Junk

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Here's the how-to of weekly participation:

• Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
• Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Monday through Saturday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
  
• If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
  
• Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
  
• After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post at WE. I will be drawing for the weekly gift from comments.
  
• Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
  
• Check back each Monday for the new WE prompt and to see if you won the previous week's gift, which will be chosen by random.org from the comments. (Do you have an online store? Would you like to feature it at WE?)

Questions or comments about this week's prompt...please let me hear from you on this post. I love it when you talk to me.

*If you have completed your Necessary Bindings project, sign Mr. Linky here.