The Beginning...

Hello Everyone. I just wanted to start my blog off introducing myself to you all.
I am an artist, mother, step mother, wife, animal lover and many other titles, but won't bore you with the many other hats hanging in the closet. The real reason for starting this blog is to keep myself in check along this journey, but to also share with anyone who maybe interested.

This past year, I have done a lot of soul searching as to what the meaning of all that I have learned over the past 40 years of life has meant. Or should I say to give it all some purposeful meaning. Well, it came to me sitting still and listening to my heart.

It was the two vacations I took this past summer that changed everything...

Who would have thought that Kanab, Utah and St. Louis, Missouri would have the answers...

The first trip was to an animal sanctuary called Best Friends (http://http//network.bestfriends.org). Located in a small town in southern tip of Utah called Kanab. This heaven on earth animal sanctuary is the forcing energy that draws animals lovers from around the world to make the pilgrimage. What made this vacation even more meaningful was that my best friend Stacey Turcotte was able to join me. The week long artist retreat gave us the time to give, reflect and recharge. Our days were spent visiting the many different animals and listening to the words of wisdom of Cyrus Mejia, one of the original founders and resident artist of Best Friends. He shared with us his views on his art and what made him tick. Art with a purpose...

The second trip was to St. Louis, Missouri to visited another best friend Jeannie and her lovely husband Eric. Meeting Eric changed my life as well (that is another story for later). While there I was also lucky enough to be able to visit the beautiful Missouri Botanical Garden (http://ww.mobot.org/). It just so happened that the great sculptures of artist Niki de Saint Phalle were on display in the garden . Her sculptures have always inspired my own work and my life. I believe there are no coincidences in life... Her work gave me my direction. (http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/tuscan/index.shtml)

After several months of planning I have come up with the path to my future... I am now planning to create my own place of refuge to share with the world. A place to give, reflect and recharge. A Kindness Garden. With 10 to 12 large mosaic sculptures to intrigue the visitor while informing them of the beauty of all living creatures. This is my dream.
Where will this place be? That is yet to be discovered!
Alicia