its been a while...

hey everyone!! long time no see!

its been a while, i have taken some time off from the blog...finding my balance, being a mom (loving the time with my kids), but that doesnt mean i havent been busy.

thought i would welcome you back to the blog and share some sneak peeks at what i've got in the works over the next few months!

 Mixed Media Showcase workshop

with Big Picture Scrapbooking

begins october 23, 2014

"EVOLUTION : Finding your signature style"

 

48 Weeks

the full 48 week video series (all 49 weeks, hee hee theres a bonus week!)

will be available Oct. 1st

for more details cleck here

(this online workshop is student paced and you can start at anytime)

finished A3 Moleskine (11-3/4" x 16-1/2") each weeks lesson includes a downloadable full length step-by-step video, lifetime access to classroom, downloads and private group.

 

LIFE BOOK 2015

REGISTRATION OPENS Oct. 6, 2014

Class Begins: January 1st 2015

"finding strength"

"metamorphosis"

my first fabric "Artbooking" workshop

will be released as a 2-day in person workshop, as well as, an online workshop

coming november 2014

and

I'm bringing wednesdays back!!

launching january 7, 2015 (first wednesday of the new year)

more details coming soon!

 

i would love it if you posted a comment today and as a little encouragment...

post a comment to this blog post by wednesday (midnight on 9/10/14)

and be entered to win

1st semester registration to my 48 Weeks online course 

(valued at $199)

i've been gone so long, i miss you!!

Comments

[Denise]

So glad you're bringing back your Wednesday videos!

[Beth Hardage]

We've missed you too, though I have enjoyed Stephen Lursen's posts! So excited about Inspiration Wednesday!

[Angela Weber]

Yay! I was so excited to see that you're a part of Life Book 2015 and now I see that you're bringing Inspiration Wednesday back!!!! I feel like Christmas came early!

[HeatherRunion]

Wednesdays! Wednesdays! Wednesdays! Yeah!

[Nic]

Oh my goodness this is fantastic news!!! I have missed Inspiration Wednesday!!!!!!!!!

[karen]

so happy to see Wednesdays coming back!! ! :):):)

[Hetty Prins]

That's NICE !!! Missed it ...

[Mary Dean]

I have missed you and am sure glad you are bringing Inspiration Wednesdays back! yay!!

[Camille Petrocelli]

Thanks for bringing "artsy" back!

[Dawn Craumer]

excited to see inspiration wednesday come back. always looked forward to it.

[Kristina Slocum]

Oh my goodness. I would love to (and putting this on my wish list) do this course.

It would force me to create, something I haven't made time for of late.

[Heather Millar]

Yahoo!!! I have missed your Wednesday videos tremendously!!

[Cynthia Pettigrew]

I am thrilled that you are bringing back Inspiration Wednesdays. I miss learning new little techniques from you! Yay!!!!

[Allison]

Hooray! Inspiration Wednesdays are coming back! i
m so excited!! :)

[Karlene Boss]

Wow! So many wonderful class offerings!!!

[Marsha M]

What great news! I always loved Wednesdays! You obviously needed a break but we are delighted we will get to share you again. But those little bodies at home are the most urgent calling you have right now. It passes way too fast.....ask how I know?

[Jasmine]

This is Great!!! Cannot wait❤️

[Carol M]

I am so excited you are bringing back Wednesdays! I've really missed them.

[pam]

Hump day just got a whole lot more colourful !!! YAY !!!!!!!!!!

[Rosann]

Welcome back ! Looks so awesome , love the samples ( of course I like your style) !!

[Hope Amen]

Hello Donna, I watched Inspiration Wednesdays from the beginning and it really did inspire me to try and experiment. You should us not to be afraid to just go for it. I am beyond happy that you are bringing it back. I know it takes a chunk of your time to do it, but know there are so many out here that benefit from you doing so. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I miss you saying "happy place"!

[Rose D'Angelo Designs]

I've missed you!!!! Thanks for bringing Wednesdays back!!

[Louise List Petersen]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! Missed your inspiration wednesday sooooooo much!! Can't wait!!

[Hope Amen]

You showed us; not should us...geez!

[Wendy W]

Did you hear that? You must have! I literally squealed (I think I might have broke something)!! I am beyond excited!!! Coming to all three of your classes in Oct so this would be a wonderful top off don't you think?! As for Inspiration Wednesdays...couldn't come at a better time. Okay time to sit back a breathe...breathe...in through the nose - out through the mouth....breathe! Yippee....

[Lisa Cooper]

I am so happy that inspiration Wednesday will be back. I love watching them and learning new things from you. Your family is the most important thing, so glad you were able to take the time to spend with them. I am hoping you are coming back to Oklahoma sometime soon. Love you and your art. Coming back to your studio for another workshop so etine is on my wish list.

[Tracy Wallace]

Oh Donna, so very glad you're back and that you took some time to re-center yourself - you and your wonderful family deserve that.

I'm so excited to see the new classes and on your blog that you're heading back to Clipper Street? I absolutely loved the courses I took from you and learned so much. Can't wait to immerse myself in all things Donna again.

You have been missed and so has your wonderful talent and colour!

[Misti K]

I discovered your Wednesday videos long after you stopped doing them and was so disappointed once I'd worked my way through them all; what fantastic news!!

[Laura E.]

Donna you are never gone! your art is everywhere and so in the inspiration you provide to all of us who follow you! I am glad you took some time for you and your family! It's a good example to all of us! I can't wait for your new classes! xoxoxo! Your Esa-Barrio Texas!

[Lynn]

I'm addicted to Big Picture and Lifebook ALMOST as much as I'm a Donna groupie :) YAY YAY YAY!! And OMG!!! WEDNESDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! Love every WORD of this post.

[jodyjogirl]

So glad that you can juggle all of lifes gifts and create so much! You are truly inspirational.

[shalina]

I love Wednesday because of u new crafts.
Only some has ability to share with open heart
more u give more u get.
good bless you.

[cheiron]

Glad to see you are bringing Wednesday back! All of your new classes look wonderful.

[shalina]

I love Wednesday because of your new crafts.
Only some has ability to share with open heart
more u give more u get.
god bless you.

[Cheryl R.]

We've missed you, too! So happy to have your Wednesday Inspiration coming back! Now I just need to drive down to see you ❤️

[Denise Keller Kochan]

Keep doing what you do. You inspire so many of us. :)

[KimSim]

I'm so excited for Inspiration Wednesdays again! That's what inspired me to paint in the first place! Now I've actually sold art! I've loved Stephen's videos too! Thanks!!

[Dawn Moseley]

All of this looks so exciting! I've truly missed the wednesdays and I've longed to an in person class with you. Maybe one day soon! Welcome back!

[Happynall]

My best friend and I were just talking about missing the Wednesday shows....and now this wonderful news!!!! I gotta call her now! :)

[Birgit Koopsen]

So happy to see you blogging again! So much inspiration in this post already! Love your use of color! :)

[Jessica Postema]

So good Donna to have you back on your blog àgain. And i love it so much that the inspiration wednesdays will come back.

[helen b]

YAY!!! love, love, love, Inspiration Wednesday! thanks for bringing it back!

[Susan Hamilton]

Wednesdays have been a real drag without the inspiration. So glad you are bringing them back. Thank you. :)

[Lisa]

are you going to do another 48 weeks for 2015?

[Cristiana]

I'm crazy curious about metamorphoses because I love fabric and I'd love to incorporate it in my art!

A big "CIAO" and a big big "ABBRACCIO" to you and to your mom!

[Marlene]

I'm doing a happy dance - missed Inspiration Wednesdays sooooo much!

[Sandy Derryberry]

So happy you're bringing Wednesday play time back!! I sure missed it. I saw your name in the LB 2015 line-up of teachers!!! Another hip hip hooray!!!

[Suzanne Eaton]

SO glad you're bringing back the Wednesday videos! Those are what got me started in journaling and then into painting. YAY!

[Sena]

It's so exciting to see everything you have going on! The metamorphosis artbooking class looks especially cool. Super excited about you bringing back inspiration Wednesdays too :)

[Joanne Martinson]

I'm so happy you're back! You have been missed...
I can't tell you how excited I am that you'll be doing Wednesdays again, I've missed them so!!
Glad to hear you got some good family time, and things are well too!
Missed you dolphin!!

Joanne

[Blam925@verizon.net]

Awsome.. I love your Wedsday videos. Yay!! Super excited to check out 48 weeks workshop series also. Thanks for giving us a chance to win a fabulous prize. You rock!! Leoda

[Bev Jensen]

Exciting stuff for sure! Getting really excited about Life Book- so many of my favorite artists! Glad to hear Wednesdays get to be my favorite day of the week again too :)

[Karenliz]

Taking time away for yourself is a wonderful thing. I have learned lots of things from Stephen. Like you, he makes trying new things so much fun. Can't wait for Wednesdays in 2015!!!

[Ellie]

I'm at the studio often, but I miss my weekly dose of Donna on Wednesdays!!

[Marie-Anne Raeman]

Looking forward ti the inspirational wednesdays again
Great your doing so well, it is good to have you back :-)

[Amber]

So excited to see that you are part of Lifebook 2015!!! Also, yay for bringing back Wednesdays!

[Debbie Wiliams]

Balance and moderation

[HEATHER GREENWOOD]

YAY!!! I've been struggling this year in my art journal... really miss your Inspiration Wednesday videos!!! So glad you're bringing them back and YAY for an awesome looking class at BPC!!!

[Sònia]

We've been missing you too!!! Welcome back again and thanks for the chance!

[Judysheart]

I've been keeping up with you a bit, but so glad to see you in our little art faces again. Family time is precious. They grow too fast. Can't wait for IW again. Thanks for your amazing offer.

[Annemieke]

WOW!!! I'm so glad to hear inspiratiebron wednesday will be back! And oh my... Oh my.... Those classes!!!! I'm having 2 weeks vacation in november with no plans .... Yet! So i might get myself a gift!!!! Can't wait!!!!

[Paula Hightower]

Welcome back.....looking forward to all the goodies you have planned!

[Wendy Fierro]

This is all so exciting, and I'm looking forward to your Inspiration Wednesdays again, woo-hoo! You are such an inspiration and I love your teaching style and that you make me laugh with your wit. Thank you, thank you!

[Gloria S]

WOO HOO.....Wednesdays have not been the same without you. I'm excited.

[Rebecca]

Missed you! Hope you had a fabulous summer!

[Judith kaufman]

So glad you are bringing Weds back! I've missed them and always learned so much from you!

[Debbie J]

I've so missed the Wednesday inspiration videos. I'm excited to see that you'll be bringing them back. I can't wait until January!!!

[Tristen M Dixey]

These all look amazing! I would love the opportunity to win - thank you! Looking forward to Wednesdays even more now!

[moira]

Yay! I loved your Wednesday videos and I'm so glad you are bringing them back! How exciting! I'm looking forward to them and I'd be THRILLED to win a spot in your new class, too!

[tejae]

woo hoo!! looking forward to Wednesdays!! I haven't been in my studio in over a year but at least I get to live vicariously through your Wednesdays!! :)

[Jennifer Samanka]

I am so glad that you took time to be with your family and love them!! The time flies. I will enjoy seeing you blog again!!

[Heather St. Clair]

Donna,
You have been extremely busy! I just had a baby that is almost a year (where does the time go) between work and kids (son who is 6 in Kindergarten and a full time job! I have this week off and what do you think I bought student picks of 48 weeks! My husband is so patient and giving! I just want to say I can't wait for the Inspiration Wednesdays to come back they help me get out of a funk and also teach me alot of different techniques that nobody around here teaches or understands what I am trying to do! We are all extremely blessed that you are out there for inspiring minds who need the extra push and motivation to not be so hard on theirselves. My new phrase is to LET GO! It doesn't have to be perfect and for some odd reason I have a hard time and get discouraged. I am sorry for the rambling just super excited about all your STUFF! Yipee! Can't wait! My birthday is 9/11 which is another big disaster (Oh boy) Thank God for you, Donna Downey and Bill who always answers my emails!

[Marie Sawicki]

So happy that Inspiration Wednesday is coming back. I have missed you, Donna, and the inspiration so much!! xo

[Erin Noll]

Yay Donna, so happy to see all the classes and that you are bringing Inspiration Wednesday back!!!

[Erin Schmidt]

SOOOO EXCITED to have Inspiration Wednesdays back!