A Little Something Beautiful

By Brenda Scott

Have you ever had a dream but needed the courage to take that first step? Discover how God worked through one womans talents to turn her dreams into reality.

Life has often been a series of hurdles and obstacles for Brenda Scott that could only be overcome with her unwavering faith and constant determination for continuous improvement. This self-taught artist found her way through many art mediums with no formal training but was instead empowered by many strong, creative women along the way. Learn lessons of humility, gratitude, patience, and forgiveness as she takes us on a journey of her lifetime path of art and creativity.

Discover how her goal to become a successful artist led to the biggest project of her life: renovating her old country Victorian home. It became a major undertaking that would test both her spirit and her resolve to see the process through to the very end. Savoring country life while taking on the challenges of that renovation taught her the beauty to be found in the ordinary, everyday life all around her on the acreage. Through this endeavor she began to realize that she was on a course that would determine who she was as an artist and that the real restoration project was within herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Mar 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504352901

Brenda Scott

Working from her studio in the idyllic Iowa countryside, artist Brenda Scott spends her days sculpting, painting, writing and photographing the world around her. She has found her path in life by using her talents as an artist focusing on the extraordinary moments of day to day living.

Book preview

A

LITTLE

SOMETHING

BEAUTIFUL

Brenda Scott

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Copyright © 2016 Brenda Scott.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, Life Application Bible. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5289-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5291-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5290-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016903763

Balboa Press rev. date: 03/31/2016

Contents

Chapter One The Greatest of These is Love

Chapter Two A Gal Named Belle

Chapter Three It's a New Day

Chapter Four A Woodworking Shop For Sure

Chapter Five A Blessing or a Curse

Chapter Six Angels Among Us.

Chapter Seven The Write Step

Chapter Eight The Studio

Chapter Nine A Mother's Influence

Chapter Ten It's the Little Things

Chapter Eleven Finding Your Own Style And A Kitchen for Belle

Chapter Twelve Seasons of Growth

Chapter Thirteen Finding Home

Chapter Fourteen Chicks in the Chicken House

Chapter Fifteen The Ordinary Elements of Designing our World

Chapter Sixteen Counting the Cost

Chapter Seventeen The Path of the Feather

Chapter Eighteen Doorway to Creativity

Chapter Nineteen Sculpting with the Angels

Chapter Twenty Following Your Dream at Any Age

Chapter Twenty-One Finding a Purpose

Chapter Twenty-Two A Little Something Beautiful

I have searched a lifetime to find

A Little Something Beautiful

Only to find it residing

Within my very own heart.

I send out A Little Something Beautiful

To my lovely daughters that helped with this book.

To My daughter Amy You deserve a medal for all

The hours spent editing this book and for working with me diligently,

In order to make this project as lovely as it is.

To my daughter Lisa I say a special thanks for her efforts

To teach me how to use the computer for a website, face book page, and

Designing fabric. Lastly, she deserves my

Gratitude for my author portrait.

Blessings

A LITTLE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

AT BELLE LA VIE

I went to bed with big questions for God.

I wanted direction, focus, and clarity.

I wasn't sure which way to go,

What to do,

Or how to move forward.

And . . .

So I prayed.

Not just a regular prayer.

You know the kind . . .

Where you ask for all the things you want,

Like God is only there when you want something.

No, I prayed for the clarity, wisdom, understanding.

I also prayed for my path in life, and what I should be doing.

Nothing seemed clear, and I was discouraged.

I had been working on a project that was

Becoming too difficult. It was something new for me.

Most of my projects were easy

And accomplished with joy. Not this one.

It was like putting a puzzle together

With some of the pieces missing.

I wasn't sure I should even continue with it.

But . . .

I believe in prayer.

I believe in God.

I believe that life is meant to be lived abundantly.

And,

I believe that there is a little something beautiful just waiting for me.

Asking for guidance, I was expecting answers

I was serious.

Clearly stating I wanted an answer before morning.

I finally fell asleep.

Just before waking I heard these words ...

I do not know if I was dreaming or if the words were actually spoken.

And, I don't care.

The words were real and reverberated within me.

I have written it in your heart.

Waking with a start, I thought about those words as I went about my day.

First I did some research and found a lot of verses that referenced the heart.

And I came to the conclusion that . . .

I no longer needed to worry or wonder if I'm fulfilling my purpose.

My path has been placed in my heart.

Everything I needed to know was already there.

It had always been there.

I just needed to step forth in faith

And begin to believe in myself

And in the talents I had been given.

I was ready to be the artist I had always dreamed of being.

It Has Been Written in My Heart

CHAPTER ONE

The Greatest of These is Love

There is something spiritual about being immersed in the joy of living an art-filled life. Beginning to create with intent and following your bliss becomes almost magical when you go all in and trust in your own unique God given talents. Letting go of the fear of failure and having faith in our own abilities gives us the opportunity to succeed in life beyond our wildest dreams.

Creating has always been an ancient act that traces back to the beginning of time. Cave dwellings attest to the fact that artists have been around for a long time, and they have made our world just a bit more lovely because of their quest to bring their inner vision to life. As humans, we are intended to create and make our dreams a reality. It is through our everyday life that we bring out the truth in our art that reflects our heart and soul. Where would we be without the artists of the world?

Moving to twenty acres in the midst of Iowa's rolling hills was the beginning of trusting my own instincts and following my calling. All the puzzle pieces of my life found their place fitting together into one big beautiful picture. Falling madly, deeply, and completely in love with life, I began to view art from a new perspective. I found it in the ordinary, seemingly insignificant, little moments of everyday life.

I found myself learning to breathe deeply and taking a moment to enjoy the country atmosphere. Living this quiet life on the hillside has been where my art began to blossom, and I found my voice, my path, and my place in the world.

While advancing in the direction of my dreams, I found myself enchanted by a big old Country Victorian home. This home welcomed me with open arms and nurtured my artistic spirit, giving me the opportunity to stretch my imagination and hone my skills. In that process, it came to life with grace and charm. This is a story of celebrating a life lived bountifully, the manifestation of hopes and dreams, and finding your true self along the way.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Life Application Bible

For me, faith and creativity walk hand in hand. I believe that we were each designed to bring something brilliant into the world while we are here. In order to do that, we must have faith that we are always on the right path, and that we have everything we need inside us to accomplish our dreams. God is our source, and He works with our inner being to bring about the life we are reaching for. Everything we need to make our dreams a reality is already within us, and His word says He has prepared in advance for us to do good works.

Whether it is something simple or a masterpiece, I know for sure that the most beautiful thing you can give to the world is a loving heart, a joyful spirit, and a positive attitude. I am convinced that we are born with a dream in our heart that only we can reveal and bring to life.

Along the way we are fortunate if we have the opportunity to love and give love. Perhaps recognizing love in all its forms is one of life's greatest treasures. Love, for me, was a little like opening a big, gorgeously wrapped gift topped with a bow. Unraveling each loop and peeling off each perfectly pleated piece of wrapping paper revealed the precious gift inside: love.

I knew love first as a child, as most of us do. One moment it was there, and the next it was gone. It was replaced with sadness and grief after my mother's passing. At the tender age of six, I quickly learned how very easy it was for someone you love to slip out of your life, never to return. At that age you don't understand it, and you aren't sure what to do about it. One minute I was planting bleeding hearts with my mother, and the next minute she was leaving her earthly life to join God in Heaven. I will never forget how easy it is to lose someone. As a young child, it was frightening. I was told that she had gone to Heaven, and she was in the clouds. For years, I watched the clouds with the hopes of seeing her face, and I was sure that she would come back to me. I still catch myself watching the clouds today. Due to that tragedy, an unlikely set of events occurred, and I saw the harsher side of life. It would take years before I would know, feel, or express love of any kind. It was as though a great cloud of sorrow descended upon my heart.

After many years of sadness, a miracle happened. I went to live with my grandparents, and I found comfort living on their acreage. My heart was healed during the next four years, and there were so many positive and wonderful things that happened during this phase of my life. I came to realize there was a God, and He was good. He was not only good, but He was loving, kind, generous, and forgiving.

It became apparent shortly after I arrived at my grandparents' acreage at the age of fourteen that I could live in the past and become bitter, or I could make a whole new vision of what I wanted my life to be. Through both positive and negative experiences, I discovered that life was about choices. We choose to be happy or sad or whatever is in between. There is always a choice, and it didn't take me very long to figure out that I wanted to choose happiness. It was a conscious decision I made easily. After setting out on a path of positivity and happiness, I knew I was born to design the life of my dreams. So, I did. My grandparents encouraged my creativity, as long as it was directed towards something sensible, as in useful, productive, or necessary. They were very practical people.

Pairing practicality and creativity came naturally for my grandparents. For instance, my grandmother taught me how to can or put up vegetables, as she called it. But she didn't just fill jars with carrots, beans, or some other vegetable. No, she layered the vegetables. Might as well do it up pretty, she'd say. She was right too, because at the end of the day when we would put the jars of produce away in the cupboard, we would stand back and gaze at our work. In the late afternoon light, the rows upon rows of jewel-toned jars gleamed in the glow. It was a stunning sight, and it would stay with me forever. Might as well make it pretty has been a kind of mantra for me. Grandma was that way with everything she did, whether it was baking a cake or setting the kitchen table for a meal. Pleasing to the eye was a priority.

During my stay with my grandparents, I watched, as they set out their garden in precise rows, engineered with productivity in mind, as well as beauty. Bowls filled with pea pods, carrots, and tomatoes sat on the table like an organic floral arrangement. Grandma always fashionably wore an apron while she worked, using it as more than just a covering. It was a thing of beauty, and I have worn them while working in the kitchen ever since. Art is all around us, and it graces our everyday life, even in the most unexpected things.

My grandmother taught me how to sew, and I cherish the time she invested in developing my skills. As the lessons began, I dived right in, learning how to find the right pattern, fabric, and notions. She lovingly taught me how to use a pattern and proceeded to show me all the steps in making a garment. It was a heavenly experience, and it changed the course of my life. As soon as I started sewing, I was ecstatic about the whole process. There wasn't one part of sewing that seemed difficult or boring. The minute my hands touched the fabric and started seaming material together, I was transformed straight into bliss. Immediately it opened my mind to all the possibilities just waiting for me. The love of sewing was just one of the little loops in the bow sitting on my wrapped gift of love.

The passion I found in sewing opened up a whole new creative world. It was to be the beginning of a little something beautiful in my life that would last until the end of my time here on earth. Sewing was just one of the great loves in my life. I would eventually love writing, sculpting, painting, floral design, and photography. What I couldn't have known then, but know now, is that each art medium I would learn and master would lead to an even greater artistic creation and ultimately a rich fulfilling life.

Making things beautiful gave me a new perspective on even the most basic things in life, and I quickly learned that art is all about how you choose to apply it in your everyday surroundings. It was a thrill to find ways to make even the simplest things lovely to look upon. I think sometimes we think of art as something you would primarily see in a gallery, but for me it's really all about the world around us, and how we perceive it.

Love shows through in so many things. It surrounds us all the time, especially the love God has for us. We also love our children, our families, and our lives. Love also overflows into so many areas. Whether it is a delicious recipe or a bouquet of fragrant flowers, I'm always saying, I love it! It's a habit, probably, but I do mean it. I love it when something goes right, or the painting comes out particularly well, or something tastes absolutely divine. What a blessing to be able to find something you love in so many aspects of our lives.

Love is mentioned in the King James Version of the Bible at least 310 times. I've known a lot of different kinds of love over the years, including puppy love, crazy love, joyous love, unrequited love, happy love, sad love, and so many others. Among the various types of love I've experienced over my lifetime, I've been fortunate enough to know the kind of soul mate love that I always dreamed of finding. By God's grace, I stumbled onto that one. Thank you, God.

Some love, such as the love we have for a child, is forever and unconditional. Other loves seem to come and go . . . but some part of it remains forever within our soul. It is never wasted. Even imperfect love, if there is such a thing, leaves behind only the goodness it brought into our lives. Love is like that, because it adds to our lives, but never subtracts. It's in learning to recognize love and reciprocating it that a sort of magic seems to happen.

When I became a mother to five children, love was instinctual, maternal, and eternal. I felt lucky to have been graced with each of my children, and it was an automatic love. It wasn't until I turned forty that I found the love of my life through my husband. It's over twenty years later, and I still feel that way. No, it hasn't always been perfect, but our love has always been blessed.

Of all the forms of love that I've had the joy of knowing in my life, God's love has been the most important. I have always known that God loves me, because the Bible makes that so clear, but more importantly because I feel it in my heart. His love is unconditional, and thankfully ever present. I've been lucky enough to love and be loved fully, completely, and unconditionally. I've also been smart enough to recognize this love, and make it the driving force behind my life.

Don't you think there are just some things we are sent to earth to do and accomplish? While fulfilling our mission during this lifetime, we have the abundant grace to find so much to love and enjoy along the way. That love helps us fulfill our purpose in this world, and without it, we would feel so alone.

Along with a multitude of other emotions, love seems to be the one that adds so much splendor to life. It brought a multitude of gifts into mine. I've loved working with my hands. I've loved painting, sculpting, and a host of other art forms. I've loved the smell of fresh bread baking and the scent of roses sitting on the counter.

Amidst all the loves I have experienced, I have a new love in my life. I have fallen in love with the mother of all projects: my country Victorian house. That probably sounds a bit superficial, but it's true. I have fallen in love with the whole project and all its processes. It has been a real and true love, and one I think will last forever. It has been joyful, painful, irritating, frustrating, fulfilling, and so many other things too. I love creating, and this house has inspired me beyond my wildest dreams. Don't tell anyone, at the risk of sounding a bit like a goofball, but I think this house loves me right back.

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Life Application Bible

I am always reminded that every day is a new day. I found out early in life that anything can happen. What seems terrible one day can be turned around in a heartbeat. New life springs up in my heart when I think of all the possibilities that love can