Transitions and adventures

Getting ready to go to Arizona in two days! Haven't even started packing. I want to start another project but there are time constraints and things that actually have do be done. Sucks! Oh well I did do some new stuff this week that has been really fun and a departure from my usual embroidery and blankets. I'm so looking forward to going to AZ away for 16 days for a certification course in Lase Technology, you know hair, tattoo removal, teeth whitening etc. Must work in the mean time until my arts can support me and I might as well make good money to support my compulsive supply buying....

Anyone out there watching So You Think You Can Dance? FABULOUS! But I'm so so sad about Alex's injury. I wish him a speedy and full recovery.

Declan flollowing his heart paint swirls and potions!

Follow along people you will find I just jump all over as it comes to mind. This was also a great week because my son Declan was painting right along side me! He's loving being involved with anything creative including dancing. Flinging himself around the room, doing handstands etc. Then he said the most profound thing the other day when I asked if he wanted to take dance classes. He said: "They didn't teach me in a class mom, my heart teached me" So that has now become my new motto not feeling like I need to copy someone elses rules but to find my own. So if you hear of some home being destroyed because some chemical or tool was not used properly you'll know it was me just finding my own way!

Gonna try and squeeze in a post tomorrow before I head to AZ. Don't know if I'll be able to post when I'm there because I'll be vera busy with school.

If you can't walk a tightrope then you better learn how to fly!

My Cup Overfloweth

(Arthur's Midnight Romp)

Good morning! I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. We went to a party on Saturday, lovely, and just a quiet family bbq on the 4th and fireworks just down the road from us that were great.

I am just filled to the brim with ideas lately, I keep writing them in my little idea book, sketching, printing my photos on watercolor paper. Was introduced to Fotoflexer recently Love It! I don't currently have photoshop or any other type of enhancement feature on my computer, waiting until I get my own "buisiness mac, computer so this is a fun way to start. I'm painting, doing some collage trying new things making them my own but finding inspiration from all the different blogs I've been looking at and also from the lovely people who took the Flying Lessons e-course with Kelly Rae Roberts (highly recommended when she has another)

It seems like the more you do, the more you try, the more you leap in faith, the higher you soar! And I am just gliding on the wind that is creativity and joy.

I'll post photos when I'm done with what I'm working on but posted little Arthur above. A recent commission, just love him! He's embroidered by hand, loved making him fuzzy. Hope you like him too. I have a small penguin hanging that I'll be finishing soon and am starting to work on a Pirate quilt as well, plus so many others......I think I need to live to 150 to get it all done. How blessed am I?

Lovely day to all, follow your hearts desire and you will always be rich!

A space of ones own

I do so wish I had a space with windows and lots of light. Currently my studio is a little area in the basement, no windows, surrounded by stored items, kitties (they are my muses) and yes cat boxes! Not so inspiring. I'm finding more and more that I go down get what I need and drag it to the dinning room table to work, there are windows, I can keep an eye on my almost 5 year old and still get things done.

I have been driving around lately taking photographs of whatever grabs my attention and found this above photo. Doesn't that just scream MAKE ME A STUDIO? I would have plenty of room to spread out, add some window and fling open the doors I could put in a loft and hold classes to teach embroidery, mixed media, crochet etc. I'd ask to keep the clock too, isn't it fabulous? Someday!

We're invited to a 4th of July party today and currently unsocial me would rather stay home and create something, currently working on a series of embroideries from Alice In Wonderland, I'm quite excited, I just adore that movie. Will post when I finish the first, Mad Hatter. Alas, I will go to the party, maybe meet potential "clients" LOL this is how I have to think now to build the business. Extra cards in my purse.

Everyone have a wonderful 4th! Keep safe and think how to incorporate fireworks into your work and life! Mmmmwah! (kiss)

First Painting

Here's a quick photo of my first painting. I'm actually quite proud for my first attempt. It's so cool to try new things it makes you feel free and light. I had such a good time doing it too. I've had that canvas sitting around for more than a year, to afraid to put paint to it because of fear of failure. My sister and nephew are amazing painters with two very different styles but you become afraid because you wont measure up.

That's probably been my hardest hurdle along my path to creativity. I couldn't find what my creative gift, talent, calling was. I only knew that I had one. So quite often I would find someone who's stuff I liked and start doing something similar. But that doesn't speak to your soul and give you the joy of creating something that people recognize as you.

I still think my quilts are a lot me, but this could be something too, along with photography. It's so nice to have all the possibilities.

Learning to Fly

Once again I begin. I've always thought of bloggs as overwhelming and what would I say, who'd want to listen to me? Now I realize the importance of a blog as a creative person reaching out to others with the same interests and wanting to share and create a community.

I've been taking Kelly Rae Roberts e-course Flying Lessons the last 4 weeks and it's given me the courage to start reaching out and really believing in myself (Thanks Kelly) It's been at turns overwhelming, informative and most of all fun. If she offers it again take the course!

I'm hoping that through this blog I will find my people so to speak. I long for creative community and friends who also think outside the box and who will turn the car around to check on a piece of junk on the side of the road!

Mainly I do embroidery and small art quilts but also like to paint and crochet and garden and and and....

Welcome to anyone who reads and decides to follow as I embark on this creative journey to develop a creative business and more expansive creative life.

I'm back once again. Jumping back on the creative part of my life. It's been a really really tough year this year, suffering from severe depression and if you have ever dealt with that yourself you know how impossible it is to get anything done. But with the help of modern medicine, therapy and friends I am doing better and getting to know myself again.

I feel better about my creative self, doing a commission, have two exchanges to work on etc. I'm still holding back on painting, will be pushing past that fear soon. Have loved trying new things for my embroidery and art quilt work and will post when the project is done.

It's amazing how we know that we are creative yet fear of failure or success holds us back. It's like we have to instantly be fabulous and making a living. Yes in some aspects of my life I can be a perfectionist and very black and white, all or nothing. Yet I've taken some recent leaps of faith, teaching an embroidery class at the library for kids 10+, becoming a founding member of our local arts council that is just starting. These are big leaps for me. Plus I will be opening an Etsy Shop soon.

It's a journey and something I must do. The whispers have always been there now, I can no longer ignore them.

Sleepy Sunday. Feeling out of sorts, unmotivated and out of step. My mind is muddled and confused and I just want to disappear or be lifted to love.