Reflection

Little Spy. Image copyright Vlad Dumitreanu

I am reflecting on what I am creating these days. I have been painting and writing in my journal trying to figure out what direction I want to go. Maybe I am thinking too much. Sometimes I feel when I just sit down to create art, start without an idea and just open my soul I receive inspiration. Then there are days when I just need to take a break. I am always looking at other peoples art work for inspiration, then comparing, analyzing, searching for me. I think I need to just paint, paint, paint and the me will show up.

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Today my mother in law gave me a dvd Transformation through Art: A Personal Mythic Journey by Patricia Waters. Patrica Waters has a unique style of Goddess, Mother Earth, Mandala art. I will let you know what I think of the dvd after I view it. It is the story of a woman's inner journey through over 50 years of her artwork. She also invites others to use art as a medium for healing.
Patricia Waters link

I hope by viewing this I can soften my inner critic and allow myself the time needed to find the style in me which truly defines me. I promise to share more of my art journal and work soon~

Who has helped you when your art journey has had stumbling blocks? What art books, dvds, artists have inspired your style? Have you come across your inner critic?
What do you do to push through and find your voice?

"What is my identity? This question produces a kind of crisis in my thinking about my painting and myself." Gunther Guerzso

Time For Growing and Learning

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Sometimes when you love doing something you need to see it through someone else' s eyes to make what you are creating better~


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There is a time to gather around with people who share a common goal and love~


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You reach out to someone with more experience who is willing to share~


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Learning can be a balancing act~


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When it all comes together what you learn and love sit side by side~

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. ~Chinese Proverb

Queen of Hearts

Queen of Hearts~ This is my first doll using a paper clay technique. I took a class at Gritty Janes ning group. I have made cloth dolls before and enjoyed the process. There was a challenge up and I guess you could say I was up for another challenge. I don't expect to win anything, just stretch what I am creating and the mediums I use. There are some fabulous doll artists over
at Cloth and Clay dolls! The class I took was for making a folk art doll. I just changed it a bit to fit the theme. I didn't antique her as when I envision the queen of hearts I see her as very white, never getting sun on her skin and someone carrying a parasol for her. I admit her face isn't like a pretty doll and it might of helped if I had sanded her face prior to painting but I was so excited I just plunged in and created her. I can't wait to make another paper clay doll and antique the next one so she is more like a traditional folk art doll. I also must admit I love to sew. I am not the greatest seamstress but my mom and grandma were. I wish they were still here to help me grow in my skills. But for now I am happy to sew simply and if I need to struggle to grow in any craft I am willing to do the work~ for the outcome far exceeds the minor struggles. Learning and creating is a process. What mediums have you wanted to learn? What have you wanted to try and create but haven't taken the leap? I know I am going to challenge myself more and can't wait to share some more with you~

Social Media And Your Crafty Business

Kanzashi In Bloom Book review from Threadbanger
Social Media for your Crafty Business e book
E book also by Diane Gilleland
I was able to preview and review this e book and here are my thoughts~

This is a great introduction to the world of social media and explaining the ins and outs from setting up an account to what it is like to interact via the social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Diane has offered tips and scenarios that often come up when you are new and engaging in these social media sites. Diane offers good sound advice for the novice and also has some links to resources. These are valuable and can save you time from having to search them out or try or learn as you go. I would recommend this e book to anyone who is starting out with social media to advertise their crafty business or wanting to establish their brand or even using for personal networking.
Diane has a one week special going on at her web site.
Diane is offering a $3.00 discount on her e books. For one week, you can get $3.00 off each and every ebook in her online store. Just type in the coupon code GETINGEAR at check-out.This coupon will expire at end-of-day on Wednesday, January 20, so hurry!
Diane has a great web site The Crafty pod I hope you get a chance to visit her sometime~ Her twitter is SisterDiane.

Project 365

Morning coffee with camera in hand ~ sunshine and coffee warming me!

You know how much I love photography~ I love taking pictures daily and I didn't realize there was a group on flickr just for that! I had been looking at a photograph Sheila did for the group. I hopped on over from twitter I was inspired! Sheila tweeted the links and of course I thought better late than never!! I do photograph daily, why not post them too~ Of course it is great practice to know your camera better, chronicle what is going on, savor special moments and experience life with photography! The group on flickr is Shutter Sisters 365.

I am going to try and post daily and have the link Project 365 on my side bar. You can also see what I am up to by clicking my flickr link and going to my set 365.

If you love photography and want to be inspired or grab your camera and make a daily practice of growing and seeing things through the eye of a camera, and cherish daily practice this group may be a good fit!

Right now I am using a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 8.1 mega pixels
What kind of camera do you have? What inspires you to take photographs? What groups or links do you have to share?


There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it. ~Author Unknown

Unlock - Journal pages

Unlock the path to a good nights sleep~

I wrote a letter to my sleep. Why is she eluding me? Could it be that that past few years have been filled with big changes? Death, birth of a grandchild, career changes,wanting to move, aging.....full of motion leaving my brain no time to slow down at night when it is quite. All the feeling from my heart and soul pouring in. Things I am not wanting to deal with in the day, or feelings put aside that I to try and release so I can move on.

Here is the letter I wrote to my sleep:
There was a time when I laid down and sleep was my friend. It wrapped its arms around me and held me tight until the dawns light. Why now do you escape me? No longer at my side. Toss me and turn me ~ I am no longer heard. I call you and the time ticks and hours go by. Why have you abandoned me and made me cry?

Have you ever had sleep problems? Occasionally or often? How has it made you feel? Did it take you a long time to get over it? What do you do at night to relax your mind and body to get a good nights rest? Do share your thoughts with me and consider doing a journal page about your body and sleeping~ Post a link in your comment if you do a journal page.

It appears that every man's insomnia is as different from his neighbour's as are their daytime hopes and aspirations. ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Phyical Body Spiritual Body Journal Pages and Thoughts

Body~ Constantly changing, constantly in motion. I have a love hate relationship with mine as I am sure a lot of us do. As women being bombarded with media. Loving the images yet comparing it to ourselves. I have seen half a life of change right before my eyes. Ah youth we start out so pure and nature has us running out doors, playing and keeping fit without even realizing we are nurturing our bodies and souls. Adolescence has our bodies developing and we change into young adulthood. As women our journey is so vast whether we have children and reel from the changes that does to our bodies. Also depending on when we have those children in young adulthood or in the middle of our lives. Then coming of passage when we step into the challenge of fighting natures path. To slow us down, to feel what we have done to our bodies over time. I am only trickling on the edge of finding out what is to come. But one thing I have found out is if we don't take the time to care for ourselves spiritually and physically it has a great affect on our daily lives. Spiritual Body~ I am trying to open my mind to being more positive, continue learning, be open to accepting where I am and open to where I want to go. Finding that connection of mind and body. When you are taking care of both you are truly at one with yourself. I am opening my hands to accept the challenge of living a more fuller life by connecting my mind and body and exercising them both equally in 2010.
I am participating in Creative Everyday 2010. I have Leah's logo and link on my sidebar. For January she has a prompt befitting the new year "BODY". I am challenging myself this year to make changes necessary for a healthier me although this prompt is for January I am sure you will see more journal pages around the subject. If you would like to participate go visit her site.
Let me know what challenges you have faced now or in the past. How did you overcome those challenges? What pushed you not to settle? What caused you to look in the mirror and say now is the time to love yourself better? What made you want to be a healthier you?