Christmas Outreach in Peruvian Amazon

As I promised in a previous blog, here are the photos to one of the JOY BAG outreaches that 

we've done this year.  This one was just a few days ago in the remote village of Poyeni, Peru.

This even has great meaning to me because I was in this village in the mid-1990's and

fell in love and served the parents of these Ashaninka children when they were just children.

It is further sweet to me because it was headed up by Lourdes, (this is her home village.)

She is now a grown woman who I've known since 

she was a small girl living in a children's home outside of Lima.

I first did Poetry Art to benefit this orphanage and the Ashaninka children who came

from this very village, who called, "Camino De Vida" home.

(This orphanage is one of the many outreaches of Life Ministries/Karyn and Robert Barriger)

Many of my collectors may recall a print from that period called, "Lourdes' Dream"

This is the actual person who inspired the poetry to that piece of art.

JOY
JOY 
JOY...I haven't posted anything in here in months, but it isn't because I haven't been busy or have not had anything to say.
To the contrary!  As one of those ridiculous commercials say,
"Life comes at you fast!"


In the last two months, we've buried both of our beloved Papillons and yesterday my husband and in-law's beloved kitty...all were 16 years old.  We are starting a "Hobby Farm" on our beautiful Arizona acreage.  Right now, we are feeding 32 PEEPS! Who would've thought I'd be a farm girl...I am doing it to enrich my children's lives and teach them the joy and responsibility of caring for livestock, but I know, I'll be the one carrying water and feeding the critters in the deep reaches of winter. (We've already experienced this with the girl's bunnies.)

An important aspect of my life is outreach.  As many of you know-who have followed my art career for almost 20 years, what I do is intermingled with aiding those who are vulnerable.  One of the ways we do this is through, "JOY BAGS."

(See Globalimpactworldrelief.org)

This summer, we did orphanage outreaches with JOY BAGS in Romania...see one of the blogs from this summer for more details.  It was exciting for me because my children participated.  My oldest daughter is from an orphanage in Viet Nam, so that was especially sweet.  Presently, we are doing Christmastime outreaches with JOY BAGS in southern India, to a boarding school for children and young adults with special needs.  We are also doing it in a barrio of Peru for 100 children who would otherwise not have something special for them for Christmas.

What is amazing about this outreach is that it is being head-up by a dear young lady that I have known since she was a girl.  She was one of the children that lived in a children's home outside of Lima who I did Poetry Art prints to help support! This sweetheart is making puppets to do a Christmas gospel presentation and is doing the outreach to the children in her own neighborhood.  She has the desire to give to those who are less fortunate than she because she herself has seen firsthand what this is all about.  (I got to spend Christmas with her and the other children in that children's home in 1994.)

Beyond international JOY BAG outreaches, we are also doing two in the United States. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, my children and our homeschooling group are taking JOY BAGS to an orphanage in the Phoenix area...YES, I said, "orphanage."  This one is called Sunshine Farms and it is a home for children without families.  In December, we will be doing an outreach with JOY BAGS to the senior citizens that my daughters and I visit every month at a senior day center in our town.  We will fill the bags with lotion, fuzzy socks and miscellaneous items that will bless our friends there.

SO, if you would like to participate on any level in the JOY BAG project, whether that means sewing bags or making a monetary donation, please do, information is on the Global Impact website. Beyond that, I will do my utmost to update this blog with photos of some of these events that I've talked about.
Happy Thanksgiving...I am counting my blessings more than ever this year, I'm sure you are too!

I lost a dear friend for almost 17 years, our oldest Papillon recently.  No matter how you try to prepare yourself for the inevitable, it still is difficult when the day arrives.  Over the years, I've had people order the print "Until My Arms Ache" to give to a loved one (or themselves) after the death of a pet.  So many vets have it hanging in their offices to offer solace as well.  I thought it would be fitting to share it on my blog, with a photo of my eldest daughter (who was glued to this beloved dog.)  In memory of Mariposa...

Until My Arms Ache

“My dearest friend, do I appreciate you enough?

When we touch, can I feel your soul?

Life is so brief and often tough

All we have is this moment, we may not grow old

And things change so fast…

Is happiness for us?

Or just for the bold

The strong and the brave

I don’t want to behave

In the way I’ve seen others do

What about you?

They look at each other without seeing

Live in the future, but not being

A part of the now

Will you bask in the glow of my smile…

At least for a while?

And let me hold you

Until my arms ache.”

(c) Launa

To view this print, see WWW.Poetryart.net

POEMA scarves...

getting packed up to debut at the 2011 NACAC Conference

(North American Council on Adoptable Children)

at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, August 4-6, Denver Colorado

Hope to see you there!

Wear the poetry...

This Poema scarf is 100% Cotton and is embellished colored rhinestones,

the poetry is done in a Batik style which gives it a soft hand...

isn't the pom pom trim fun?

#DIAP01 $35.

Another POEMA Creation Sneak Peek:

This scarf is made from Rayon and has a resist process applied,

this keeps the scarf soft and supple...#LOTU1 $30.

Here's another sneak peak of my

newest line, POEMA...

this is a cotton scarf with fringe,

tie dyed with Shibori technique at

the bottom and embellished with

metallic silver butterflies

#DENBU3 $35.00

Well this is a little teaser about what I've been up to lately...

Drum Roll please,

Introducing

POEMA Textiles

These are fashion scarves in silk, rayon and cotton

Each Designed, Hand Dyed & Embellished

by me

They will be available to purchase in August

and will premiere at NACAC in Denver

(Designed to benefit the projects closest to my heart---

Project JOY Bags.)

Stay tuned for more photos!

I had the rare opportunity in June to do an orphanage outreach with my three children and husband in two locations in Romania. We brought JOY BAGS and stylish t-shirts to a private children's home in the village of Arpasu. I was especially taken with a four year old boy who is deaf and mute...I was particularly sad that there are no plans to educate him with sign language.

He is exactly the age of my own son and looked very similar.

I have to wonder what kind of future this little guy has to look forward to? We also brought food supplies and special treats to a government run orphanage in the bigger town of Victoria.

One teenager impressed me very much, his name is Aurel, he taught himself to speak perfect English by viewing American television programs! He was quite the agile Break Dancer too.

A huge thank you goes out to all who donate time to sew JOY BAGS, Fang Fashion who donated the fabric for them and also girl's tops. Thank you also for the monetary donations, so that we were able to fill the bags with quality school supplies and art supplies!

JOY BAGS...we have now brought this special gift to children in crisis situations in Afghanistan, India, Zambia and now to Romania!

WWW.Globalimpactworldrelief.org

I'm back from an amazing month long trip to Europe!

I will do some updates to the blog soon...but first, I need to sleep and catch up.

I am embarking on a brand new chapter for Poetry Art!

After almost twenty years of doing this art on paper and canvas,

I am moving forward with a new line on textiles. Can you guess what "POEMA" is?

Here's a photo of the hang tags.

I will be sharing more on this blog soon and will be premiering

this new product line in August in Denver.

Poetry Art Exhibit and Testimony about Poetry Art

Saturday, April 16 at the Hasayampa Inn

for AGLOW International

122 E. Gurley Street, Prescott, Arizona

Breakfast at 9:00 ($11.00)

Presentation only at 10:00 (free)

Bring a friend!

"See the Art in Me"

New Cards with 3-D butterflies

sold to benefit vulnerable children around the world

through Project Joy Bags and

Art that Heals the Heart Camps

$5.00 each

WWW.Poetryart.net

WWW.Globalimpactworldrelief.org

Dear friends-Char and Lee stopped by to visit me at the San Diego Conference...

I enjoyed meeting new friends

and reuniting with old ones in

San Diego at the

RADY Children's/Chadwick Center Conference

last week!

So many great memories to cherish...when I find my camera cable I'll post the photos.

This bit of poetry is one that I've noticed resonates with many people. I've seen it on a ton of other blogs, so I thought I'd better share it too. It is from my book, "Unbutton My Heart."

It doesn't have an image that goes with it, but that doesn't mean I won't do it in a

Poetry Art painting in the future...it only takes time, right?

Letting Go

My fingers have gripped this thing

Like a child, grasping what will only bring him harm

So my cry to you today, O God is help me

To finally let go

Let go of the pain of rejection

Of words that fractured both bones and spirit

And the heartache that clings to me, like a musty old quilt

That has been locked in mothballs for so many years

Just let it go

Let go of the brokenness that is written all over my face

And the tears that cascade, when I'm all alone

I need to let go

All the dreams that I cannot fulfill in my own strength

And the anger that bubbles up

Sometimes, without warning

Toward those I am desperate to love

Help me to let it go and cast it away

As though it were a rusty anchor from my boat, adrift

Teach me how to let go

Then cut the rope and watch it sink

Let it go

Let it all go...

Will You empty me of myself?

Banish this lifetime of selfish desires

Of clutching for happiness, approval and renown

And my endless search for love

I am letting go

Right this moment

Because I want to make room for hope to dwell

Uncluttered by the tarnished souvenirs of pain

Please, fill me with Yourself!

I know that in losing the things that I think I need

I will gain what I truly desire

You

To overflowing

And soon, the liquid peace that spills from my heart

Will give another the courage

To let go...

I surrender

(c) Launa Stan