In 5 days, a group of women, most of whom have never met each other OR Ashley Swenson Hackshaw, (of the now officially famous – since someone asked for her autograph yesterday!!) blog, Lil Blue Boo, will be posting their best creations on an online auction website. The goal is to help sweet Ashley defray mounting medical expenses that are inevitable when one fights like heck to beat cancer. Ashley is a designer, a writer, a mother, a wife, a daughter, sister, friend. I highly encourage everyone to read her blog. You will laugh a LOT, you will cry a little, and you will come away feeling crafty, inspired and empowered.

You can read about the auction here. And keep up with general auction updates and happenings on our friend, Amy’s blog over at Evy’s Tree.

Ashley didn’t ask us to do this. She would never. She is likely hugely uncomfortable (though grateful!) at the thought of so much love, prayer and attention being funneled her way. But that’s how it often is with those people we want most to help. They are humble, and giving, and lack even an ounce of self-centeredness.

Team Ashley, as we have come to call ourselves, is a motley crew. We are scattered all across the country (and CANADA!). We are crafters, business people, moms, friends, tellers of bad jokes(ha!)  and sayers of prayers. So many prayers.

We hope that many will join us, and the 200+ generous-beyond-words-contributors to this auction which runs from February 27 thru 29th. Wait til you see the selections! Each contribution has been eliciting oohs and ahhs as photos have been coming in. Its like Christmas! You can actually SEE the love in each item, the care that has been taken in its creation. Folks have pulled out all the stops and sent us the most beautiful things. You won’t want to miss it!

For me, i wanted to create a painting that summarized my admiration for Ash, this person i have come to know as we’ve done projects together over the past year or so. Knowing how she loves to document HER experiences, i went ahead and videotaped the creation of the CHOOSE JOY painting shown above. CHOOSE JOY might be all you see in the finished piece, but the underlying meaning?….yeah…..its hidden in the paint. Its what i really feel when i think of my friend. She is outwardly so unassuming and easygoing, but its so clear her heart is full, and her compassion and generosity fuel her from within. i picked a song that seems so beautifully appropriate to her. i’m absolutely positive God pointed me to it online as i was sifting thru a sea of possible soundtracks. i’m sharing it here and hope you will enjoy….and maybe bid? i would surely appreciate it.

Choose Joy from Stephanie Corfee on Vimeo.

To all of my friends, family, followers who are reading this; the other items i’m offering in the auction are shown below. If you think any of them would appeal to you or your loved ones, i’d be so grateful if you would share the info for the auction. Or, if auctions aren’t your thing, there is a secure DONATE link in the right sidebar here. Did i mention THANK YOU? in advance?

Have a wonderful day everyone! Choose to be joyful!

xo,s

DECORATOR SET – a pillow featuring my original artwork, a print with a quotation from Ann of Green Gables, and a3.5″ diameter decoupaged trinket bowl with one of my illustrations, JOYFUL

DOODLE SET – a wood-mounted print of my artwork, “Doodle Sky”, a signed copy of my book, Creative Doodling and Beyond, and a 3.5″ diameter trinket bowl decoupaged with my artwork, “JOEY”

BLUESY – an original 12×12 acrylic painting on canvas inspired by Lil BLUE Boo

CANDY NECKLACES – a 20×24 original acrylic on canvas

A CUSTOM ILLUSTRATION OF YOUR CHILD – a “Lil Fashionista” sketch in the style shown above (the above is an actual custom i did in the past for a client). This auction listing will be completed by my own little hands, but was purchased by my dear friend and repeat customer, Kristina, for DONATION into the auction. She asked me as soon as plans were underway if she could buy a custom slot from me as her contribution to the auction. Is she the sweetest ever? or what?

Artsy kids might seem shy at times. They might retreat into their sketchbook, or coloring book or picture book. Their christmas list might be filled with items like colored pencil sets, air dry clay, and anything with “Crayola” in front of it. And if an artsy kid grows and matures into an artist as an adult, the wish lists hardly change.

i was a super shy kid, always had my nose in a schoolbook or sketchbook. My family consisted of 4 kids, plus mom and dad, and we were all scholar athletes as was demanded by our parents. Not demanded in a bad, restrictive, “you’ll do what i say” kinda way, but in a “we want you to be all you can be and we think developing your body AND your mind is a good route to take” kinda way. The only problem was, that as much as i excelled in school, i never really got past “so-so” in sports. My siblings could all kick my butt up and down the court, or field, or driveway blacktop. i was a little jealous, but i was also super supportive of them. i’d cheer the loudest from the stands and be fiercely protective if someone knocked them down. Those 3 had a drive for sports and an affinity for competition. i loved watching them dominate their competitors. i was so proud of them.

But i just wanted to draw.

i guess you could say my childhood artistic inspiration sorta came from feeling like the odd man out. i needed something that was just mine and that i was passionate about, good at…something that spoke to ME. Art fit the bill. It should be no surprise to anyone who has seen my work that COLOR, and the possibilities contained within a box of vibrant new pencils were my muses. i drew clothes. i drew houses. i drew people. i once drew a picture of a hamburger ~ or was it a cheeseburger?  And my Mona (mah-nah), my paternal grandmother, put it on the cover of the menus at her old-fashioned soda-shoppe type luncheonette. She was so proud. i was so proud. She bragged about me to the older gentlemen sitting at the counter an they’d nod their heads to appease her.

When i think back on my childhood, i remember more broad feelings and snapshots than i do specific events. But i surely remember getting a Crayola interior design kit one year for christmas. i remember getting my first sewing machine when i was probably too puny to even pick it up. i remember paint sets and big, blank drawing tablets. i even remember sitting on the beach during one family vacation, sculpting figures in the sand with all my concentration while my siblings dunked each other in the surf. It was totally ok. Being the odd man out provided me with a quiet space in which to create and dream. It gave me my own unique voice. It lead me to enter and occasionally win little art contests for kids. It made me feel like i had something special to offer.

…and every once in a while i’m pretty sure those lovable, knucklehead siblings of mine were pretty proud of me.