Simply Margot

 For almost 10 years I have been choosing a word or words to be my focus for the New Year. I'm not a big fan of resolutions because the seem to come with a lot of guilt when you realize you have not lived up to your intentions. I started choosing words while I was in ministry school at the Spokane International Healing Rooms. People always laugh and say "Don't ask God for patience"  Not that having more patience would not be a good things. As those who have asked God for patience can attest - God is not your fairy Godmother who waves a magic wand and poof now you are patient. No, God will answer your prayer by giving you ample opportunities to practice and grow in patience. I find this is true of any word you choose. To ask for wisdom you open yourself up to opportunities to grow in wisdom. What I like about choosing a word or words for the year is they keep working in the background even when I am not particularly focusing on them. The opportunities for growth and to...

I was so delighted to get a text from Denny at Chrysalis Gallery asking if I would have my art available there through the end of the year. I gathered up most of what I had on hand that wasn’t already on my new website (www.SimplyMargot.com). I wasn’t sure how much he was going to want but he said he’d take it all.  Here’s some photos. He did a great job displaying it all. Stop by and shop local! My Hearts - Birds & Dragonflies FUSED Glass Earrings and Pendants Framed Mosaic Heartd Cards, Mosaics and Jewelry Sets  

 This is part of an on going project to improve in both my painting skills and my poetry writing skills. I don't know if these will make it to prints on my new Website or not. I suppose if you are interested in seeing prints created let me know and I will happily add them for you. I am embracing imperfection and all of its interesting beauty.  I've been working though a book called Writing the Sacred by Ray McGinnis. I am currently to chapter three. Where we are looking at Psalms of Thanksgiving and Praise.  The first question is "How would you like to name God in your psalm?"  I am currently mystified by the Paradox that I see all around. "a paradox is something that initially appears to be inconsistent or contradictory, but might not be a contradiction at all inside of a different frame or seen with a different eye." Richard Rohr from  The Naked Now - Learning to See as the Mystics See.  To say the book has been an eye opener would be an understatement....

             Soiree’ on the Savannah   The Power of Humming in the Dark by Art work and Essay by Margot A Jurgens  Soiree' on the Savannah by Margot A Jurgens                 Where does inspiration come from? I often see images in my mind’s eye. Sometimes they are powerful and fleeting and I race to capture a quick sketch before it fades. Others hang in the background as if waiting for me to slow down and acknowledge their presence. It is an idea that only I can see at first and then I work to make it something others can experience. At that point the project takes on a life of its own. This may seem odd to you but I feel I am in good company. Michelangelo once said,  “I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”   This giraffe has been waiting patiently in the background of my mind for several weeks.    I had a hunch it was there because it needed to be p...

My Studio Space I wanted to give you a look at my Art Studio Creative Space.  It used to be a family room when my kids still lived at home. It allows me several work spaces and lots of storage. A Multi Purpose Work Space where I can work on making paper flowers, drawing, painting, beading. I do most of my glass fusing work on this table. My small kiln generally sits on the small desk to the right of the white door. It's not shown in this photo. This space also allows me to teach small classes from time to time.  Mosaic Work Space  I like to have a dedicated space for mosaic work. It is generally time consuming and having a dedicated space allows me to leave projects out so that I can come back and work when I have time.   Lots of Storage Since my art interests are varied I need space to store the things that are not currently being used. I seem to cycle through my various interests.  I have some display space for finished projects in the hallway outside of ...

Creativity and the Butterfly Life Cycle    by Margot Jurgens Thanks to Unsplash photographers: Nathan Dumlao, Yoal Desurmont and Boudewijn Huysmans. I dreamed about a beautiful butterfly. It was like a family pet that followed us around. One day it became weak and was no longer thriving. I decided to released it in the yard and hoped that nature would revive it, and it would not stepped on or eaten by a dog.   Most often we think of butterflies in their adult glory as they grace the fields and flowers with their marvelous beauty. I generally think of butterflies as a representation of transformation taking place in the lives of people. The well known story of how the ordinary, even ugly caterpillar eats and eats and one day becomes creates a cocoon from which it eventually emerges as the delicate beautiful butterfly. We celebrate the butterfly for emerging from the mundane. The mundane process is all to soon forgotten and rarely celebrated.   The b...