Inspiration Deck

Well, I’ve been hemmin’ and hawin’ and finally decided to go ahead and participate in an “Inspiration Deck” swap with some of the ladies in my latest business class. Jessica Brogan is sponsoring it.

Hard to imagine that you could take a deck of cards and turn them into something inspiring, but that’s the plan.

The idea is, you take the deck of cards, coat each with gesso, both sides, then quickly decorate each with an inspiring quote on one side, and your blog info on the back. You’re not supposed to spend a lot of time on them. In fact they are supposed to be just quick little ditties that can be fired out in two evenings. Then we send them in to Jessica, and she makes up new decks, sending back an assortment of every one else’s!

I just happen to have a spare pack of cards laying around, so, I’ll be off to get some gesso tomorrow, then see if I can do it that quickly!

Do What You Love

I am taking a business class called Hello Soul, Hello Business. The Class is a collaboration between Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls. Kelly Rae is a wonderful artist I have adored for a year, and who has invited me to work with her as an unpaid intern on a special project. Beth has a business called “Do What You Love.” She puts on classes to help people discover what it is they love and how to do it.

I’m having a hard time remembering exactly how Beth and I first crossed paths, but somehow I was invited to send my “story” in to Beth for inclusion in a weekly blog she does sharing the stories of people who are doing what they love.

Well, I was featured this week! OMG! What an exciting couple of weeks this has been for me!

Anyway, I wanted to invite you to pop over and see my story. Mine is the second, so read about Pauline, then scroll down and there I will be in all my glory!

ANOTHER CLASS! Seriously?

K, I’ve officially lost my mind (I know, for the gazzillioneth time!)

Just signed up for yet another on-line class. I couldn’t help it. It’s Christy Tomlinson again…

I did SheArt #1 and SheArt #2, and just loved them… Of course I say, “did them” like I actually produced product, which I did not. I diligently watched the videos and dreamed about “doing” them. But I don’t want to actually “do” them. I want to be influenced by her, not do the same work, so I’m just watching the techniques and applying them to my own work. Does that make sense?

Anyway, my favorite enabler (you know who you are Lynda with a “y”) pointed out that Christy is having a sale on one of her classes I haven’t done yet, so off I went to check it out. I don’t know why I didn’t just get the credit card out first, cuz I knew I was toast.

This just has me written all over it! And did I mention it was on sale? I didn’t stand a chance! Come on! Regularly $44.95 for $24.95. What a deal!

The best part is that you have access to the classroom for a full year from when you buy it, so even though I am pretty busy right now, I KNOW I’ll get to it within a year. Who am I kidding?  I’ll be sneaking into the classroom as soon as everyone has gone to bed.

Today, I’m a Slug!

Do you ever have one of those days when you just don’t want to lift a finger?

That was me today. I was a slug, but a happy one. I just didn’t want to do anything except sit with the computer on my lap. I didn’t watch t.v. or listen to music. I just read and typed. I jotted down notes for a project and visited with friends on-line. All day long. I drank hot coffee in the morning, and iced coffee in the afternoon.

Mr. Tattered asked me if I felt bad that we weren’t doing anything. I told him I was trying to feel bad, but I just couldn’t quite make it happen.

I did work on my canvases just a bit. Oh, and I made myself a sandwich for lunch.

I stayed in my jammies all day until it was time to join friends for a quick dinner before coming home to watch the final episode of Downton Abbey for the season.

It was quite a strenuous day. Not!

I am reminded of the warning to be mindful of what we do with our day, because we are trading a day of our life for it.

I may not have accomplished a thing, but I’m relaxed and ready to start a new week. Every once in awhile, a day full of nothing important is a good trade.

Hope you are happy with yours!

Checking in on my Word

You may remember that instead of doing New Year’s Resolutions this year I opted to do instead, “one little word.”

My word this year is “create” and you can go back and read about it if you want to refresh your memory (or never read about to begin with!)

My friend Renee made me a charm for my word. I added it to the necklace holding the charm I was already wearing to keep my fly tribe close to me. I tend to “fondle” it a lot during each day so I think about it often.

We are now well over a month into the new year and I thought I’d check in to see how I’m doing on my word.

I’m feeling pretty good about my progress. Of course, I knew when I chose it, I was choosing a word that was vague enough that I could feel successful without a lot of effort… I use my creativity in a lot of my endeavors, maybe even most of them.

But even if I keep it to the strictest interpretation, I’m still pleased with how I’m doing. I am in the studio often. I’ve done cards for 2 ATC swaps, made a gift for a family wedding, a prize for celebrating my 100th post and a gift for my most frequent poster at that time. I’ve done several new canvases, including one for my “word.”

I’ve also done the art work for an internship I was applying for, knitted a couple of scarves, and made a few new pieces of jewelry.

So, yeah, I’m feeling pretty good about my word. Much better than I would have felt if I had made resolutions!

How about you? How are doing on your word, OR your resolutions. I’d love to know.

Dear Pinterest…

It’s not a secret. I LOVE Pinterest.

It is an amazing place where you can make what amounts to digital scrapbooks of stuff you like…everything from jewelry to DIY projects, furniture, clothes, food and recipes, artwork, gardens, floral arrangements, shoes, funny sayings, beautiful photography and so much more.

The pictures can be “pinned” or moved from nearly everywhere on the internet onto Pinterest, and from there they are repinned over and over again. This is a wonderful thing if original credit is given with the photographs. Your art, your ideas, can get a tremendous amount of exposure. You can get lots of new views for your blog, people who want to take your classes, etc.

But what if the picture does NOT link back to you? Your original ideas are now no longer associated with you. You don’t get any credit. Your trademark work is no longer yours.

There is a move afoot to begin protecting people’s intellectual property on Pinterest. Link with love is trying to raise awareness of the problem.

It is worth considering NOT pinning or repinning photos that don’t link back to the original source. If we all do our part, we can protect people’s trademarks, and still keep the amazing resource that Pinterest has become.

Finding My Happy Place

Do you ever have times in your life when you are so happy you just can’t hardly stand it?

I’m going through one of them now. For so many reasons, life is good. Not perfect. But very, very good. I’m in a good place with my husband, my family, I have found my tribe of wonderful friends and I am passionate about my art. I feel alive every minute of the day. The feeling that the creative part of me was withering away is just a distant memory. I am doing what I love.

I’m not taking it for granted at all. I know how incredibly lucky I am, and I’m taking the time to appreciate it, sending out words and thoughts and prayers of gratitude multiple times a day.

It wasn’t always like this. There have been times when I felt desperately alone, lost and had no idea where my life was headed. But I refused to accept that, and I worked hard to find the happy place I am in now.

So if you are not in a good place, if you do not love your life, if you are not doing what you love, change it. Figure out what you need and how to get it. Make a plan. Start working it. Day by day, make it better. Life is too short to settle for any less.

Exciting News!

I’ve been talking a lot lately about dreaming big, dreaming dreams that you never thought possible.

Well, I’ve had one come true. One so big I never even thought to dream it until the opportunity presented itself.

By now you know what a tremendous artist I think Kelly Rae Roberts is, and how much I have gotten out of her e-course, “Flying Lessons.”

Well, not too long ago, she announced a project she was was interested in doing, and put out an invitation to apply for an unpaid internship to help her with it. I shot her an e-mail letting her know I was interested in the position. She selected 15 people from those who applied and sent them further information and asked that they send in some sample ideas if they were still interested.

Drawing on the lessons learned in Flying Lessons, and the confidence gained from my fellow “fliers” I put together my submission and sent it in. I was so proud of myself for conquering my fears and putting myself out there. For those of you who know me, you know how outside my comfort zone that was.

I then convinced myself I would never get it, but that just knowing I hadn’t embarrassed myself was enough. I was happy!

Well, guess what? She offered me the position, and I gleefully accepted.

I am about to collaborate with my idol artist on a project. I am over the moon excited. I so believe in what she is doing, and how she is doing it, and now I get to be a tiny little part of it. There are not words.

I am honored and grateful, and so very excited to get started!

I’m Stuck!

Well, if you’re back to see the progress on my pieces from yesterday, you’re going to be as disappointed as I am. I’m hoping it’s just a temporary block, but I’m stuck!

Yep! It looks exactly like it looked yesterday! Heeheehee!

I had a terrible time sleeping last night. I was painting (and painting badly!) all night in my “sleep” but nothing was working. I just wasn’t getting on canvas what I was seeing in my head! I woke up this morning vowing to spend the day doing something other than thinking about it, and I did. Went for a great hike with friends and spent most of the rest of the day catching up on the blog hop for my tribe.

Then tonight I sat back down to evaluate my canvases, and I’m still not feelin’ it. It’s a little like I’m combining scrapbooking and painting with this piece. I love the background, and I don’t want to mess it up. Maybe all I need is to give myself permission to try, then start over if I don’t like it…won’t be the first time!

So, I’m going on to something else (maybe my ATCs for the March swap?) I’ll leave the canvases out where I can see them, and hopefully inspiration (or bravery?) will strike!

Thanks for checking back.

The Love of Art

I am a creative. Have been for as long as I can remember, and that is a really, really long time!

But, I have always considered myself a craftsman, rather than an artist. I always WANTED to be an artist, but just never felt like I made the grade.

Well, I am now actually creating mixed media art, on canvas, with paint, and brushes, and mediums…sounds artsy, huh? And for the first time in my nearly 60 years {{shudder}} I feel comfortable (well, almost) calling myself an artist. Not the paint an ostrich so realistic that it gives you goosebumps kinda artist, but an artist, nonetheless. And I LOVE it. Not like it a lot, but LOVE it!

When I am messing around with paint, whether I’m using a brush or my fingers, or one of any number of other textural devices, I am in my element. It makes me happy in a way that few other creative pursuits can come close to.

Today I went shopping to add to my studio away from home (It’s amazing how much I DIDN’T bring!)

And then I got back to the canvas I started yesterday, adding layers and colors.

…It’s taking on a life of its own, so it’s taking longer than I planned. Come back in a day or two and take a peek at the finished product if you get a chance!

In the meantime, be sure to check in with my “Fly Tribe” and see what they are all doing for this special blog hop celebrating our “Love of Art!” You’ll find great stories and amazing art!