©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 90
Spending today (mostly) painting. It’s my happy place.
Blessings,
Teresa
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©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 89
Oh boy! I have set the bar HIGH this year!! I have many goals in place and many tasks at hand. I seriously need to make hiring a VA (virtual assistant) a priority.
I am preparing for Atlanta (coming next week) as well as preparing for the Needlework Show in Nashville. With all that’s coming up I am being very productive! Which I love 
Wishing you a wonderful day!
Blessings,
Teresa
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©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 88
I’m really lovin’ these flowery border. I think they’ll make great punchneedle and rug patterns
Not much to say today…still cleaning my studio, getting organized and getting educated so 2016 will be AMAZING!
Blessings,
Teresa
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© Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 87
About this Sketch:
This sketch is going to be a large punchneedle pattern. I’ve been wanting to do a large pattern using 6 strands and 3 strands for the details. I am thinking of making it approx 8″ x 10″. Also, to help keep the cost of the floss down, I will use a combo of Weeks Dye Works and DMC. Can’t wait to get started!!
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Sunday’s Homily Reflection:
I just wanted to share with you something our Priest said during his homily yesterday. This isn’t word for word because I don’t have a photographic memory but it went something like this:
Fr Roy told us that he was happy when he read the headline in the paper, Americans are anxious and afraid for 2016. He continued to say: people are arrogant, prideful and think they’re are in control but are realizing they have very little control of what happens in the world because of all the unrest and terror going on around us. Their arrogance and pride will turn into humility and they’ll be brought to their knees in prayer asking for help and mercy. People will realize God is in control, not us. God has always been in control since the beginning of time. People will seek God and His mercy. We as Christians will have greater opportunity to share the good news of Jesus, our Savior, with others and help bring them to Christ. Souls will be saved.
Wow…..that really hit me yesterday and as soon as I got home, I wrote it down because I really wanted to reflect on it and share it with you. Throughout the Bible, God’s people turn from Him, then something always happens to bring them back to Him. Is that what’s happening in our world today? All the terror attacks, people killing others with no remorse, school shootings, etc? The Devil is running rampant. We need to be vigilant in prayer. We need to call on God for protection, mercy and help. We need to be strong and share our beliefs with others.
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Clearing up any confusion:
Now anyone that knows me knows I believe and write about setting goals and working hard to achieve them. That we create our future by our thoughts, visualization and beliefs. This may sound contradictory to what Fr Roy is saying about God being in control but I assure you it’s not. I believe we DO create our future but in harmony with what God wants for us. Through prayer God’s plan is revealed to us. We work with God.
For instance, in my business, I have tried things that seemed to me like a great idea but they didn’t work out, why? I believe because it was something I wanted but it wasn’t in line with what God wanted for me. There are also times when opportunities arise what seems like out of no where, or during deep thought and prayer ideas come to me that I act on and they turn out to be a major success – that’s working with God’s plan.
Some people go through life on auto-pilot. Never making plans or setting goals. Maybe they believe things will happen because God is in control and he will see to it his plan is carried out. Maybe so, but I feel if we don’t seek His plan and then set goals, visualize that plan coming to fruition and work hard to insure that it does, it may not happen at all.
Anyhoo, I just wanted to share this so you understand where I’m coming from when I post about setting goals, thinking positively and visualizing your future. These things are all very important, but it must come from a place of a partnership with God. He is in control, but he needs us to be his worker bees in order to make it happen.
Blessings,
Teresa
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©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 86
Amen! Love is the meaning of life. We are human. Humans need relationships and connections with other humans. Love needs to be the center of those relationships.
Wishing you a happy Sunday and a wonderful week ahead.
Blessings,
Teresa
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©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 85
Happy Saturday! Today we are having our daughter, Bri, soon-to-be-son-in-law, Eric and my Mom over for dinner. Can’t wait to spend time with them. Wish both our boys could be here, too. Kyle’s working in KY for a week or so and Ryan is working but will be home after 9 so at least we’ll get to see him.
It’s so hard when your kids grow up. I just like it when we all can be together and it gets harder and harder as time goes on. Cherish every moment!!
Blessings,
Teresa
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©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 83
Today is my 49th birthday! This sketch is kinda how I feel. I am racing for the new year! I have so many amazing things planned for my business and personal life! I will share a little with you here.
Business
Self-representing my art in licensing as of Jan 21, 2016
Going to the Atlanta gift mart after being away for a few years
My first coloring book will be published
My first e-course will be available the end of March
Taking Gather Dream Create to new heights in 2016!
Hiring my first virtual assistant to edit videos for me
Personal
Our daughter, Briahnna, is getting married in May!
Our youngest, Ryan, is graduating in June!
Our house will be paid off in November!
I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. God is Good! Counting my blessings every day! Loving my family and friend with all my heart!! Excited to help and serve others in 2016!
Blessings,
Teresa
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Sisters Painting
Sisters acrylic painting. 24″ x 30″ wrapped canvas. ©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
My sweet friend that I met back in middle school asked me if I could create a painting for her as a Christmas gift for her niece, Tara. It was less than two weeks before Christmas and at that point I hadn’t even gotten my shopping done! I told her as long as it doesn’t have to arrive at her house before Christmas, I was pretty sure I could pull it off.
The painting is a representation of Tara’s three beautiful daughters, Victoria, Chloe and Marley. The hair and eye color match the girls but otherwise the angels are created in my style.
Here’s the crazy part – Kristin lives in Tennessee and I live in Michigan….her niece, Tara, and her daughters also lives in Michigan but will be at Kristin’s house for Christmas. Kristin really wanted to be with Tara when she opened the painting so I had to ship it to Tennessee and then they’ll ship it back to Tara’s house in Michigan. (a well-traveled painting for sure)
Below you can see my painting process. I had hoped to video tape the entire process but I was having major technical difficulties with my GoPro and didn’t have any time to waste trying to figure out the problem.
Hope you enjoy!
Just getting started!
I always start with the faces.
Once I get the faces almost done, I start filling in color everywhere else.
I really wasn’t sure if I was going to paint the background in a light or dark color.
The dresses….
I decided to paint a red background…not as a final color but so that it will show through when I sand. You’ll see….
Adding detail to the dresses. And notice the middle angel’s nose and lips from the last photo…I reworked them and now she has a bit of a smile.
I put a watery light yellow wash over the flower dress to tone the pattern down a bit. Lightened the background again.
After the painting was almost complete, I felt the background was too boring. I have never used the Sharpie white oil painting pens but thought I would give them a try. I LOVE them! I drew flowers on the lower half of the painting to add more interest.
Close up before antiquing.
After I sanded (see the red showing through?), crackled and varnished. I added gold shimmery paint to the halos for a special touch.
Close up after antiquing.
Chloe (teenager)
Victoria, the oldest sister.
Marley, the youngest
Another closeup
Detail of Chloe’s dress. I didn’t plan this floral pattern. I just started painting flowers. The best surprises happen that way!
Now for the BEST part! Below is a video of Kristin and her niece, Tara, opening the painting. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed seeing the process of creating “Sisters” acrylic painting. I had so much fun painting it and I am thrilled beyond words it has a loving home.
Blessings,
Teresa
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©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 82
Are you an early bird or night owl? I’ve always been a morning gal. I tried to come over to the “dark side” so I was more in tune with my hubby’s schedule but it just wasn’t natural for me.
So that’s the inspiration for Rise and Shine sketch. I am up with the chickens!
Blessings,
Teresa
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