Tracy Weinzapfel Studios: Mixed Media Monday Re-Cap 4/29/13

This week I was inspired to look back at some baby photos of myself...(sorry mom & dad for this look back LOL)

and what would I say to that girl....who has years ahead of herself to change and grow.

So I did just that......

May 4th, 2013

Dear Me,

Tracy here.........43 years your senior. 43 years of life behind you and I want to recognize how far you have come. You come from a GREAT family and every day of your life you will be grateful for that. They will never stop being in your corner. When times are tough they will be there. When times are great they will be there. They will make you laugh, make you proud, make you sure of your foundation. You will be educated, even go to a Big 10 school but I am sorry to say it is not the maize & blue one you originally thought but Mrs. Vukosvich's alma mater like she encouraged you in first and third grade. Great choice in the Green & White!

You will find out what it is like to lose someone early and value the importance of life. You will think of Alicia often and hope she sees what you are doing. YOU WILL move to where the ocean is after all.......sunny California. Make sure to take advantage of that and never lose sight of the Michigan girl you still are. Be proud of your roots always while taking splendor in the new scenery. It is gorgeous.

You will have a home, family and so much more. You will have three great kids that every day of your life you will wonder am I getting this right. You will pray, you will not be their friend yet and endure attitudes you gave your mother so I recommend you go easy in your teens. Your mom's wish of experiencing what she did will happen in doubles! YES...........NEVER joke about twins. They will forever change your life for the better.

You will experience love, loss and pain. Those times are not easy but will make you stronger. Trust me, you make it through them, look back over time and realize why those crossed your path and made you who you are today. You really are blessed. Things will not ALWAYS turn out like you thought. There is a greater plan and you will not always know what it is for awhile but you will get the lesson. Don't try to control it as that is useless.

You will have great friends.......girlfrends. Friends who stick by you...friends who come and go and those girlfriends that will make you laugh until your stomach aches. Speaking of laughing. You will learn to laugh at yourself but it takes awhile. You go through a lot of serious years but make up for it in your 30's and 40's. In fact, now you laugh at yourself more often than not to make those around you feel comfortable. Even in the tough times you realize the value of a smile/laugh.

You will forever be artistic, will embrace it and will be empowered by it. You will not try to hide it, will share it and in fact will live your life by your passionate artistic spirit. You are no longer afraid to be you and share it with others no matter what. Keep writing and sharing yourself. Even though you think no one cares or is listening you may have an impact on someone. You will love the color yellow! Who knew from those yellow rooms your mom painted with daisy wallpaper! You can guess that your favorite flowers are daisies too. Thanks Mom.

Speaking of your mom. You will put her through years of attitude (bitchiness) and fight every step of the way that you are not like her. You are a taller mirror image of her so no use fighting it. Embrace your similarities, agree to disagree at times, thank her for her OCD tendencies that she passed down so you don't live in a pig sty. She is a strong woman who is educated, smart, way funny, and has great taste in men. She made you who you are and was your first example of how it is done!

You will not know where you are going and your Dad will still be telling you at age 43 that "Some Days are Diamonds and some are stones". You will hate to hear it at the time but you know he is right.. Speaking of your Dad...you will always be Daddy's Girl. You will still call him to confirm what you already know He will still tell you he loves you through the tears no matter what time. In fact, you find 3 am the best time to call him. When you ask him about the car or lawnmower he will go on in great detail thinking you are following him. Best to just cut those conversation as short as possible (and find a good mechanic).

You have great parents and often find yourself asking "what would they do". Everyone who meets them knows just how special they are and you are proud of that.

Don't make fun of dog people....one word Penny. Just sayin' that one Furball may change your outlook on the whole deal.

You will find great happiness in yourself. It is not always easy. Every person that crosses your path will leave an impression on your soul......great and small. YOU in turn will do the same to them so make sure it is a pleasant one. You are trusting, affectionate, giving and at times have known no boundaries. But you will learn from that and empower the word "NO". It will feel great and at times will be very hard. In the end though you could only give so much.

To bring this to a close...............you will know LOVE. You are blessed and every day you will be thankful even when is not easy.

Love,

Tracy A. Weinzapfel

This is what inspired me to create Mixed Media Monday's Page....

MATERIALS LIST: Gesso, Decoupage & Paints (DecoArt - Cool White & Admiral Blue), PITT Artist Pen & Gelato Faber Castell Design Memory Craft - Acqua, Boysenberry, Watermelon Rasberry, Margarita Mix, Blood Orange, Banana & Snow Cone), Stencils (The Crafter's Workshop Ink: Tim Hotz, Charcoal Pencil,

If you missed it LIVE it is recorded for your viewing pleasure and available on my YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/TraceB5....HERE:

some of the finer details....

Thank you for joining me. This week I will be announcing the formal Creative Dare so make sure to start writing those letters to YOU!!!

Thank you again for filling my heart and my Mondays with Mixed Media Mania! I welcome everyone to join the Facebook Group HERE and share your projects! Don't forget our April 2013 Creative Dare too! See you Monday, May 13th as I am off next Monday for travel!

"The more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract things to be grateful for."

11 Comments

Love it!!!!! You are good, Girl!!!! No, Great! Maybe I should say awesome! ;-)
Andy

Posted by: Andy | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 07:37 AM

Thank you friend..humbled to hear those words and feel good. That is what is important. Sharing this journey with so many others such as you is awesome!

Posted by: Tracy Weinzapfel | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 07:51 AM

What a wonderful show, Tracy! Full of laughter, tears and art! I love the May Dare, but must confess that writing a letter to myself is one of the things on my list for my 70th birthday next January. I may still go ahead and do the journal page to "receive" my letter at that time. What else is on my list? Getting a tattoo (with my daughter), changing my name legally, and getting my hair cut really, REALLY short and spiking it! And, yes, from my bucket list you will remember skinny dipping...but will likely not do that in January unless I am in the Caribbean! Thanks for sharing your letter with us!

Posted by: Kay Wallace | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 09:05 AM

Wow I love it, I guess it is the mood that I am in it made me cry.
Keep throwing them at us you are very good making us grow and become what we are to be
Thank you,
Teri

Posted by: Teri Barefoot | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 10:14 AM

So glad that you guys get it. That idea just came to me and I am so glad I partake in the challenges too! ♥

Posted by: Tracy Weinzapfel | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 02:23 PM

You rock it Kay! Man, at 70 I will be emulating you my friend (however I have already crossed off the swimming part LOL). Rock it my friend. and I am excited to share in all the letters that are written. Thank you!

Posted by: Tracy Weinzapfel | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 02:24 PM

Tracy its always so fun to see your finishing touches! As usual, they are perfectly perfect!! This month's Challenge was more of a challenge I than expected ... but am glad to have gotten it done. We're not going to discuss May's challenge and I. :-P

Posted by: Von Reeder | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 02:46 PM

thanks so much Von! your words of wisdom always inspire me!

Posted by: Tracy Weinzapfel | Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 03:06 PM