Embracing Fall

How often do we get so caught up in dreading the future, that we forget to embrace the present? Yes I know that statement could have a lot of meaning behind it....but I want you to go beyond what I said...I want you to think!

Fall is, and always has been, one of my most favorite seasons. The colors, the warmth and briskness combined, the crunching of the leaves. I have wonderful memories of jumping in large piles of leaves as a child, and even losing one of my Thom McCann shoes! (who remembers those?) I love the smells. It is such a tactile season.

Lately I have found myself dreading fall, because I feel the ominous looming of winter. Now winter in and of itself is not a bad thing, but when you live in Michigan winter becomes grey, grey and more grey. Yuck. See? It makes me depressed to even write about it!

But this year I am CHOOSING to love fall. I've decorated for it....the candles are filling the house with the scent of pumpkin and cinnamon....we enjoyed halloween to its fullest...and Thanksgiving will be wonderful!

So welcome to my home...and welcome fall.

ArtPrize - the world's largest art prize

On August 28 I wrote a blog post that expressed my deep concern and fear for the upcoming "contest" I had entered called ArtPrize. I knew it was going to be big, I knew it was going to be something I would kick myself if I wasn't a part of it...but truly I had no idea.

This last week has been a whirlwind of receptions, parties and viewing incredible art. Beginning tomorrow I will post some of the sites I have taken in. There has been so much.

But first I want to introduce you to my entry. I labored over this piece for so long, I wrestled with the story behind it, I wrestled with the execution...then I even wrestled with how to display it. When it finally sat in place, the evening of its "unveiling" so to speak, I was EXHAUSTED. Mentally and physically.

But again, I am proud to be a part of this amazing event. ArtPrize is exactly what Grand Rapids, Michigan needed. And here I give you...

The Journey

This design was created as a personal journal entry. A visual depiction of the mental and physical journey I have taken over the last year, as well as a journey further into my medium - pushing boundaries, taking risks.

The central stone of blue lapis is a representation of myself. Strong, poised, confident for the eye to behold...but surrounded by chaos. Sometimes that chaos would try to make sense. Sometimes the paths would have meaning and direction, but most often it was my life spiraling out of control.

Then there were dreams, nightmares - hammering at my foundation begging me to crumble. But the foundation....the very core of what held me up was the God who saved me. I did not always see it, nor did I always want to acknowledge it - but when it was most chaotic, most out of control...that is where the base of the piece is the widest...that is where He carried me. And all along my journey He followed me, twisting and turning as I sought to help myself...unsuccessfully.

The faceted stones and the gold balls represent different milestones along my journey - people...places...things. The 5 silver bars that cling to the base and help bring stability are my children and my husband....constants who waited and prayed. These components each played a part and helped me to move ahead and fall back in step with a Savior who loves me.

Although my journey will not be totally complete until I take my final breath, I now look hopefully to the future that lies ahead. We each will face trials, there is no question in that...but we can become stronger, more confident and more beautiful by facing and marching through the challenges life presents, knowing we never have to face them alone.

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So let me know your thoughts - honest thoughts. And hey, if you feel so inclined, sign up to vote and give me your thumbs up! One catch, you have to be able to confirm your registration IN Grand Rapids...so if you're an "out-of-towner" this might just be the perfect time visit our city. Right now it really IS the place to be!

Today is my Birthday...

...and not just any birthday. Today I begin another {gulp} decade. Yes, it is true...I have reached a milestone. Today I am 40.

When I say it out loud, it seems surreal. How can it possibly be that I am 40 years old? Sure I have 4 kids. Sure my oldest is almost 14. But 40? That is old! Or at least I USED to think so. Right now I'm thinking it is very, very young! Right now I'm thinking 50 is a whole 10 years away and I'm in the prime of my life. Right now I'm thinking the future is very, very bright.

In all actuality I'm looking forward to my 40's. I will NOT be pregnant ever again, and as much as I can, I have reclaimed my body. After training most of this year for a mini triathlon, I'm in the best shape of my life. My hair has finally recovered from 4 pregnancies and is regaining it's life and curl once again ...albeit there is a bit of grey in there...but no one will never know! My jewelry business is thriving, and I more creative ideas than I know what to do with.

And I have a family that loves me, and even likes me most of the time. After spending the last year in "traditional" school, my kids have asked to come home for school again. They like me, they really, really like me! So I will treasure this year. Treasure having them all to myself. (and in the middle of the year if you hear me say otherwise, please remind me of this post!)

So instead of bemoaning and dreading the fact that I have reached the big 4 - 0. I'm going to be grateful....and I'm going to CELEBRATE. I'm going to chase my dogs, play frisbee with my kids, throw a baseball so hard it stings my son's hand! I'm going to jam out to tunes from the 80's... because I know all the words. I will climb trees, and swing high and I will laugh out loud...often.

So wish me a Happy Birthday, 'cause I'm in the mood for a party!

What was I thinking?

I received this in my Facebook account today

Do you know what that means?

Apparently I was disillusioned enough to think I was capable of creating an art piece of jewelry worthy of this competition. Apparently I entered.

What was I thinking?

Here is the thing...I don't have a great deal of self-confidence. Yes I just admitted that out loud. And I know there are many of you who are saying, "you? Lisa?" yeah right. That only proves the fact that I am the queen of deception, not really a flattering title...but we all need to be good at something right? And I am very good at making you all think that I am a very self confident woman. Truth is, being tall helps...people make lots of assumptions about tall people! Bet you didn't know THAT did you?

Anyway, back to ArtPrize.

This is such an amazing event. A true crowning achievement for the art world. I just wanted to be a part of it for the inaugural year...just to be able to say I was. And I am an artist...really. I have a degree to prove it - a Bachelor of Fine Arts...even sounds fancy doesn't it?

But I haven't done "real" art for way too long.

I worked in the field of graphic design for many, many years, and NEVER considered that art. It was a job that paid the bills. Then I embraced the love of fire within me and became a jewelry artist full time. Once again I felt like an artist - creative, artistic. But to pay the bills my jewelry became my occupation. Don't get me wrong, I am blessed to sell to galleries, boutiques, jewelry stores and even art museums. But the truth? I feel like a whore. I design and create each piece, but I make the same things over and over and over again. I hardly have time to make the new designs that crawl around in my head and ache to come out and become something tangible.

And then along came ArtPrize. The artist within me screamed to be a part, to once again create art for the sake of art. To be a part of something amazing.

But I am terrified.

I lie awake at night mulling over the design, tweaking the details in my brain. I sit at my bench and caress the metals - allowing my fingers to feel the design within agonizing to come out. But this piece, this design - is more than art. It has a story. And that story is mine. It's the story of a journey I have been on for the last year, and it's not pretty. So not only is this art...but it is an unveiling of my soul.

What was I thinking?

So here goes.

Hello.

My name is Lisa J. Visbeen-Lehmann.

and I....I AM an artist.

Welcome to Colorado!

Last Wednesday I embarked on my yearly adventure to the mountains of Colorado...north of Fort Collins in the town of Livermore to be exact. It is an unbelievable place, a ranch in the middle of 5000 acres of the most beautiful countryside I have ever experienced.

I come here yearly with several of my friends for the purpose of designing jewelry. But it is oh, so much more. When I am here, my soul is at peace. I feel closer to God here. I feel more creative here. I feel more in tune with who I am, and who I am supposed to be. I take time to reflect on the people nearest and dearest to me. And I take time to hear God speak to me...something that often gets lost in the shuffle everyday noise.

It is in this place I am able to celebrate beautiful friendship with women I love and admire. We laugh and smile and act giddy like school girls...it's wonderful. It is good for my soul.

And I design...for me. I design for the pure enjoyment of working with the metal. I design for the pure propose of doing what I love. I design for a pure celebration of the art form I have embraced as my own. NOT because someone commissioned me. NOT because I have an order to fill. NOT because I have to. I design because I want to.

So my friends....welcome to Colorado. Take a deep breath , grab a nice hot cup of coffee, and join me as I share little tidbits about my trip over the next several days. Take your time...I'll wait for you.

We have our Winners!

Ok next to hosting this contest, announcing the winners is probably one of the more exciting moments in my life! Not just because I love to give away jewelry, but I was able to meet so many interesting woman. Your comments, your enthusisam...well....it made me smile.

{{thank you}}

Oh yes, the winners :)

and don't worry I've already emailed them and given them the "heads up"!

3rd place - $100 of jewelry goes to Marilyn

2nd place - $250 of jewelry goes to Christi

1st place - $500 of jewelry goes to Malia

Again, thank you to each and everyone of you for entering!

Thank YOU!

To all of you who entered my contest....

and to all of you I met during the BlogHop....I say a

HUGE giant Thank YOU!

It was a crazy whirlwind weekend. Between manning the contest, responding to blog comments, blog hopping (thanks to Robin at Pensieve), my daughters softball tournament and THEN two of my girls were baptized today....whew, I'm tired just writing about it.

But truthfully? I had a blast! I met so many great women, and I'm grateful for that opportunity!

For those of you who entered my contest, I will be posting and contacting the winner on Tuesday! I'm just as excited as you are.

And then? Then it's time for ME. It sounds selfish and maybe it is a little bit, but on Wednesday I had to Colorado for my week long jewelry design extravaganza. I do this every year with four of my very favorite jewelry friends in the world. We eat, drink, laugh, sometimes cry, and design A LOT of jewelry! Usually most of my designs for the next year come out of this week. So I guess it's exciting for you too.

I'll be posting and blogging all week long, please keep on checking in...and commenting, I love that!

Have a good week my new friends...you kept a smile on my face this weekend and I'm grateful!