Empowering Gratitude through Grief, Beauty, and Healing

Trusting God One Page at a Time: Art Journaling Through Life with Faith

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with art journaler and teacher Casey Turner of Express Your Artsy Soul to explore how creativity can become a pathway to healing, prayer, and deeper trust in the Lord. Casey shares how art journaling became a lifeline during her mother's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, helping her process grief, pour out prayers, and discover God's presence in unexpected ways. She also shares the remarkable story of how God guided her family through a season of waiting, through faith, surrender, and divine orchestration. Together we talk about: * Art journaling as a spiritual practice * Creativity as a way to process grief and difficult seasons * Trusting God when the path ahead is unclear * Childlike faith, messy creativity, and letting go of perfection * Finding rest, peace, and renewal through creative time with God If you've ever wondered whether creativity has a place in your faith journey, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that God meets us right in the middle of our paint, paper, prayers, and everyday lives. Casey has a special offering for listeners: Join her in making a sweet art journal page that anyone can make! Have fun with collage, inks, and paint. July First Tutorial [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_po-mS4LuBo] Connect with Casey: https://linktr.ee/Expressyourartsysoul [https://linktr.ee/Expressyourartsysoul] / expressyourartsysoul [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmhVRTJoTFcxLW1oUzVSOFF2SXpHU1ZPVTFld3xBQ3Jtc0tsUWpEOGw2LUJfZVVueUdFVld6bzAwSmpab3BfakJ5Zlc0Rzk2TEZYQjZEUkJLSFJOeURjckxuLWl3alpXZVduT3hOLU8xWElJR244Y1RlSVN2bV9iSHJHbkNSUGZ3SFhvYml4YzVaQmloVE9jcU9VNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fc%2FExpressYourArtsySoul&v=RwO7TSdqWdY] / expressyourartsysoul [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbndWcUNXOE1VZWpYdEFxRHJjVVRjM2tEOVFwUXxBQ3Jtc0ttNHpMWFAzMnlxNzRGa0h4NFdTTEUtRk11UTllZjZQZFk4Sk1rWGt1NWRmWWJvR25Rdlc0d3MteE5QNHlTVkZEWko5RHZMcXU0N1F0TWdFQ0VKYWxVbE1lSDlqSXdPVnhDbmtLUDdFZ1ZSQUp5MmM5UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fexpressyourartsysoul%2F&v=RwO7TSdqWdY] / @expressyourartsysoul [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKm7NPpzto6XffFTHejTEhA] --- Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart Free Online Library of Goodies: https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free- [https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free-]... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVV5aUxpa2xtalBCeFk4andWSEtxTlBDLXppd3xBQ3Jtc0ttaURsZVNGNk9oMUpreWZpSTFDWkc5ZVdTRkVPTFNRYi1MaHA3LXVKZm4wM0hDcGMtRGNsXzd1VEtnSVNlT0liczQ2dzlRcUtmSUJwNWl3a1E0Wm9fUzA0REFadnFRdWF6RkpfVU96Vno4d0hlNHBsYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.melaniefaganart.com%2Ffree-library&v=RwO7TSdqWdY]

Empowering Gratitude through Grief, Beauty, and Healing

In this inspiring and deeply honest episode of the Creating with Beauty Podcast, I sit down with artist, teacher, and soulful writer Stephanie Lee for an insightful conversation about gratitude, creativity, faith, healing, and learning to embrace life with intention and authenticity fully. Together we explore how beauty awakens us, how gratitude renews us, and how creativity becomes a sacred practice that helps us reconnect with ourselves, with God, and with the life we are living right now. Stephanie shares wisdom on: - Living with gratitude and presence - Creativity as spiritual practice - Journaling as conversation with God - Striving vs. surrender - Trusting your creative voice - Creating messy, authentic art - Healing through gratitude, beauty and intention - Loving yourself as God’s creation - Letting go of perfection and fear - Finding joy in everyday moments We also touch on how gratitude can sustain us through difficult seasons and help us continue seeing beauty even when life feels heavy. This conversation is filled with heartfelt encouragement, honest reflections, laughter, wisdom, and reminders that we do not have to wait for life to be perfect before we begin to live and create fully. “If you only do those things and you never actively choose gratitude in the moment, all of them pale in comparison to mindfully being grateful.” — Stephanie Lee If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who may need hope and inspiration today. --- CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE LEE About Stephanie: Bio - "I believe our creative power is meant to shape not only art, but the life around it. Through plaster, gesso, mixed media, and encaustic, I create luminous, tactile work that invites others to trust their creative instincts and make something—anything—of their own. My online courses and eBooks guide artists through metalsmithing, sculptural plaster, and encaustic with a practical, liberating, & rule-bending approach." Website: www.stephanieleeart.com [http://www.stephanieleeart.com] Instagram: @stephanieleemaker YouTube: Make & Grow with Stephanie Lee --- Connect with Melanie: Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart [https://www.patreon.com/cw/melaniefaganart] Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd [https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd]

Be Brave, Curious, & Creative - with Stephanie Lee

In this beautiful and reflective episode, Stephanie Lee shares her journey as an artist, teacher, gardener, storyteller, and creative encourager. Through stories about family, art-making, curiosity, and self-discovery, Stephanie offers wisdom for anyone longing to create more honestly and courageously. Together we discuss: * How curiosity is at the heart of creativity * The connection between creativity, family, and identity * Vintage photographs as storytelling and emotional memory * Gardening as “dirt medicine” and creative restoration * Midlife creativity and continuing to evolve as an artist * Authenticity versus trying to be “unique” * The role of courage in the creative process * Facing the inner critic with truth and logic * Why comparison doesn’t define your worth as an artist * Creating as an act of healing, honesty, and invitation Memorable Quotes “I wasn’t striving to be unique. I was striving to be authentic.” “What do I need to do to be brave and bold in life?” “The biggest gifts we can give are to cultivate authenticity.” “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” “You can do this. Look, I’m doing it. You can do it too.” About Stephanie: Bio - "I believe our creative power is meant to shape not only art, but the life around it. Through plaster, gesso, mixed media, and encaustic, I create luminous, tactile work that invites others to trust their creative instincts and make something—anything—of their own. My online courses and eBooks guide artists through metalsmithing, sculptural plaster, and encaustic with a practical, liberating, & rule-bending approach." Website: stephanieleeart.com [http://stephanieleeart.com] Instagram: @stephanieleemaker [https://www.instagram.com/stephanieleemaker/] Youtube: Make & Grow with Stephanie Lee [https://www.youtube.com/@stephanieleemaker] --- Connect with Melanie: Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart [https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart] Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd [https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd]

Stepping Into Resilience as God's Beauty Heals

In this beautiful and honest conversation, I’m joined by mixed media and landscape artist Colleen Kastner to explore the healing power of beauty, creativity, and faith. Together, we reflect on the ways in which God meets us in our right where we are in life and how creativity can become a sacred pathway toward restoration. From mixed media art, landscape-inspired wonder, and claiming your figurative resilience, this episode is filled with encouragement for anyone longing to create from a place of peace, healing, and hope. We discuss: * What resilience looks like in the creative life * How God brings beauty out hard seasons * How creating can become a form of prayer and healing * The connection between art, faith, and restoration * Trusting God’s call through every season * Creating with honesty, softness, and hope This episode is an invitation to remember that you do not need to have everything figured out to begin again. God is still creating beauty within your story. --- Connect with Colleen in the links below through her art, online classes, and creative offerings. Free Class in her Art As Healing Series - Sketching Meditations: https://tinyurl.com/yf98k2n2 [https://tinyurl.com/yf98k2n2] Also, go read her bio on her website!! ;) https://colleenkastnerart.com/new-about-colleen/ [https://colleenkastnerart.com/new-about-colleen/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/] ⁨@colleenkastnerart⁩ [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCtlR8OrfKVBkfar98S-HWEw] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenkastner/ [https://www.instagram.com/colleenkastner/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Colleenkastnerartist [https://www.facebook.com/Colleenkastnerartist] Website: https://colleenkastnerart.com/ [https://colleenkastnerart.com/] --- Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: / melaniefaganart Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd [https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd]

Living with Your Eyes Wide Open

In this final episode of my conversation with artist Jodie, we reflect on what it means to live with our eyes wide open to the beauty and sacredness woven into everyday life. Together, we explore creativity, curiosity, simple joys, meaningful rhythms, and the ways God gently meets us through ordinary moments. This conversation is filled with encouragement to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover wonder in the life already surrounding you. Jodie shares insights from her creative journey and reminds us that beauty is not reserved for extraordinary moments — it is often found right in the middle of daily life. In this episode, we discuss: • Living with greater awareness and wonder • Finding beauty in ordinary moments • Creativity as a way of noticing and savoring • Curiosity, inspiration, and joyful living • The sacredness of everyday rhythms • Slowing down to experience life more fully This episode is Part Three of a special three-part series: • Part One — Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be • Part Two — This Is the Stuff of Life • Part Three — Living with Eyes Wide Open Jodi also shares where you can connect with her art, online classes, and creative offerings. YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yc7tf922 [https://tinyurl.com/yc7tf922] Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/4eernume [https://tinyurl.com/4eernume] - @jodene.s Facebook: /jodene.shaw [http://jodene.shaw] Website: https://www.whiteowlwings.com/ [https://www.whiteowlwings.com/] Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JodeneShaw [https://www.etsy.com/shop/JodeneShaw] Newsletter: Love Notes From The Gravel Road is available by subscribing on her website at the bottom of her home page. --- Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com [http://www.melaniefaganart.com] Patreon: / melaniefaganart Free Guide: Finally, merge your faith and creativity with passion and purpose! Download the Ask, Seek, & Knock Guide to Creating with Beauty. https://tinyurl.com/548zm6ns [https://tinyurl.com/548zm6ns]