Category Archives: Creativity

Getting In Touch with the Inner Me!

Good evening!

I don’t know exactly where to start, but I had the opportunity to take a Soul Collage class and I am so VERY GRATEFUL that I did. First of all this class was given by the FABULOUSLY GRACIOUS Glenda Goodrich, AKA GG! This was a full class of  9 very different ladies, all different ages, coming from very different backgrounds, each with different life perspectives.

It is very difficult to describe this class; more something that you need to experience to really understand, but if I had to try and describe what it is to you I would have to say that this is a class that uses imagery to help you tap into your inner self to help you answer questions and guide you throughout your life. It is kind of like a process to help you build your own deck of personal cards to help you look at anything you have going on in your life with new eyes.

Here are the three cards that I had made, and what they symbolize to me, (please note: these images are not mine and may be subject to copyright laws):

This card represents to me Womanhood.

I Am One Who embodies happiness, wisdom of myself to come, am comfortable in my own skin, and able to live my life in my own way without worry about what others might think of me, while living generously, and with compassion for others .

This card represents Vanity:

I Am One Who looks through a skewed looking glass, I am my inner critic, constantly judging and critiquing and never quite feeling like I measure up, and reminding myself that I never will.

This picture represents Compassion:

I Am One Who loves boldly, deeply, richly, and with my full self. I am the nurturer, the comforter, the nurse, and the protector.

Are you still scratching your head? Well, I was confused too until I actually made a couple of cards, and then did a “reading” for myself using them. A reading is where you look at your card, and you tell yourself what you think your card is trying to “tell” you – AKA what was trying come through to you from your subconscious? During my self-reading of my first card I had quite the emotional breakthrough, which was embarrasing, but also quite surprising, in a very good way. Anyway, while I was describing what I felt my first  card was saying to me, and for some reason I realized that every quality that I have been so envious of in others were actually qualities that were already there in me, and I just needed a way to tap into those feelings. Well, I started crying and wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish. Thankfully I did, but what I realized afterwards is that I was crying tears of amazement, happiness, and joy. Not what I expected to get out of just another art class. No, that is NOT what this class was.

I know I have said this before, but I just can not say it enough, I am so thankful that I was able to take this class. I highly recommend anyone interested in taking this class, to do so. For me it was eye-opening, and I believe will ultimately be life changing and healing for me. Soul Collage cards are a going to be a great resource for stopping and listening to what my authentic self is trying to say. What a GREAT and extremely helpful resource to add to my already growing artist repertoire.

GG, I know you didn’t invent the technique, but I thank you for being brave enough and generous enough to pass on the technique! I am grateful!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!

This card represents to me womanhood.

I Am One Who embodies happiness, wisdom of myself to come, am comfortable in my own skin, and able to live my life in my own way without worry about what others might think of me, while living generously, and with compassion for others .

A New Portrait!

Good evening!

I have spent some time in the art studio today doing some painting, and I have finished my next piece of art. This piece was inspired by a couple of things:

  1. I have always wanted to do a self portrait; it has been on My Life List since almost the time I started this list, back in 2004.
  2. I needed to give myself permission to do a piece of art that was for my eyes only – so to speak. Completely no pressure, with no thought of having to worry about trying to make something that would do well commercially.

I believe that I have done that. I captured a part of me that I sometimes forget is there, to me this painting represents a kind of strength that I am trying to get comfortable with tapping into. At least, I think I have caught that feeling, at least in spirit. I have NEVER drawn, or painted any faces of any kind before, matter-of-fact, the idea of trying to create faces in art really scare me. I am not exactly sure why but I feel it takes someone with real skill and talent to capture someone’s true likeness. There is an intimacy there that I do not yet have the talent to capture, not that I won’t have it someday, I am just humble enough to know that I do not have it now. 😉 With all of that said, I am very happy with this portrait, especially since it is my first attempt at one.

I would love to hear what you think of this piece; please feel free to enter your thoughts in the comments up above.

On to other news, I am very excited that there has been an opening in the art class that I was wanting to take, for tomorrow. They called me today to ask me if I was still interested in taking it,I immediately jumped at the chance, and said, “YES!” It is a collage class called, Soul Collage, and is taught by my friend Glenda Goodrich, AKA G.G. I will hopefully have something to show you from that class sometime this weekend!!

Anyway, I am going to get some class reading done this evening for Flying Lessons.

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

PS. Please feel free to share this post with your friends! 🙂

Motivational Quote of the Day!

Here is your motivational quote for today!

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.
~Martha Graham

Have a FABULOUS afternoon!! ;-)

Getting Back to Art!

Good evening!

I have spent a portion of this evening getting back to the art! I have really been pressuring myself to do a great job, so needless to say, it really hasn’t been going too well! So, today, I came home from work early – I think I have a double ear infection – not fun, thank you very much!! Anyway, I spent a little time actually sitting in my art studio and actually painting, with no pressure, no real thinking other than just playing. That is the way it outta be. So, other than my ears still hurting, I am feeling pretty FAN-TAB-U-LOUS!!

Also, this evening my sis, and two of her kids came over this evening to go swimming with Jason. I had to miss out because of my ears, but before they went the kids had let me take pictures of them so that I can use their pictures later on to practice my drawing skills. I am teaching myself, for the most part! I thought I would share two of those pictures with you tonight!

This is my niece, Megan! She is my little girly-girl who is also very good at soccer! I am very proud of her, and she is absolutely beautiful!!! 😉  She was very patient with me and let me take something like 10 different pictures of her in different head tilts and angles!! She is going to be very fun to learn to draw with!

Here is my nephew, Morgan! He is so serious in this picture, as soon as I snapped this pic, he turns my camera to see the himself, and he says, “Did you get my muscles?” He is just soooo funny!! But I am so thankful that he was willing to hold still for a few minutes just so I could take his picture.  What an awesome kid!!

Before I leave for the evening, I just wanted to give a big thank you to my sweetie, who very patiently cut a bunch of wood (the pic at the top of this post is some of what he cut for me)  for me so that I have some practice canvases for my art. He is just so supportive, and I am still in awe that I am so lucky to have been gifted a man such as WONDERFUL as him!! Thank you, Baby!! I will work very hard to make you proud!!

Anyway, I should have some ACTUAL art to share you with you tomorrow, I can’t wait!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

Freaking Out!

Good evening!
After having such a FABULOUS creativity inspired weekend, and quite honestly a really good day at work today, I had EVERY intention of coming home and diving head first into getting some more work on my budding creative business done.

BUT…

apparently I have decided that I first need to FREAK OUT before I make any true headway this evening!

GAAACK!!

I have let my negative inner voice get to me so badly that now I am near paralyzed with fear!

I am not sure what to do!

I don’t want to make the wrong decision!

HEE! HEE! HOOO!

HEE! HEE! HOOO!

Ok, now that THAT is out of the way… I KNOW that everything is going to be ok! I just have to

STOP FREAKIN” OUT!!!

You know, Kelly Rae has been talking about this since almost day one of our class. She says we all have our fears, it doesn’t matter where in the process you are – we are all  going to be afraid of SOMETHING!! You have to acknowledge your fear, thank it for looking out for you, give it a time-out and do the thing your gut tells you to do anyway!!

Ok, I hear you, I am going to feel the fear and do it anyway! You see, I have been trying to decide what to name my business, which also means that I have to decide what I am going to re-name my blog, my professional Facebook page, Flickr account, Twitter, etc, etc, etc! Your business name is a VERY BIG DEAL!! Once your reputation is established, it could be VERY expensive to go through the process of completely revamping your name!! So, I really want to take the time to get it right on the first go around!

I have a couple of ideas in my head, and some thoughts on all my choices, but I just really can’t decide! As I hear myself say all of this, I am not sure why I feel like I have to decide this right this second. Hmmmm…good question, self! Very intuitive of you!! I think I am going to make sure that I have  a mini journal next to my bed, and jot down any ideas that come to mind. I will know the right one when I hear it. It will just feel right!!

Crisis averted!!

WHEW!!

That was a close one!

I am sure that my sweetie was on standby with a small plate of dark chocolates, and foot massage chaser in case I was about to go to FULL MELTDOWN MODE!!!

Have I told you I really LOVE THAT MAN!?!?!?! 😉

Anyway, now that my freak out has passed, my official plan for the evening is to spend some time “Arting” up in my art studio, and do some more class reading – I am ALMOST caught up, so I have got to keep on keeping on!!

Thank you for hanging with me during my time of “crisis”!! If only ALL crisis blew over so smoothly!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!

A Weekend of Artist Mentality!

Good evening!
I have literally spent ALL weekend, in artist mode!!! I am sure my husband must be thinking that I am MIA or something!! This weekend has been such an inspiring weekend, and I am feeling WILDLY validated by my new artist community friends that have been commenting like crazy and cheering me on from all over the world!

I FINALLY feel like…

I have found my calling.
I have found my artist medium.
I am finding  my courage.
I am finding my voice.
I might even have found ME!

Before I spend the rest of my weekend totally and completely focused on spending some quality time with my sweetie (I really am married to the GREATEST MAN – Thank you, Love!!!), I really wanted to show you a few of the projects I have been working on this afternoon!

This one is the only project I have actually finished this evening. I used decorative papers, ink, acrylic, and polymer clay to make this piece. I am calling this one, “Mamma’s Lessons for a Happy Life”.

These next two projects are still works in process. This first one, so far is acrylic paint and ink. I am not sure where I am going with this one yet, but this is a much different color palette than I am used to, but I am playing with textures on this piece.

This one is also a work in process, and this one is made, so far, with decorative paper, crackle medium, cardboard, ink, and polymer clay.

and finally…

This is not a piece in itself, but more of an experiment that I tried today, that I really fell in love with, and that is creating words from metal stamps and polymer clay. I LOVE using words in my art, and this is such a fun way to do it, I am very happy with the way these turned out.

Anyway, I am back to my regular, non-creative  full-time job tomorrow, but I have to confess that I will probably have a hard time concentrating knowing that I have got so much that I still want to create back in my art studio!! I will have to be patient!!

IT WILL BE WORTH IT!!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 🙂

Someone Went to the Craft Store Today!

Good afternoon!
Before I spend the afternoon playing in my art studio, I just wanted to share that SOMEBODY went to the craft store today…hmmmm…that someone was MEEEE!! I am SUCH a sucker for a trip to the CRAFT STOOOORE!!! Ok, so I MAY have gone a LITTLE overboard!!! EEK!!!

(Click to enlarge!)

Please tell me I am not the only one who has this issue!!! LOL!!

OH, but I did tell the cashier that I was a mixed media artist!! YEAH ME!! 😉

Stay tuned…I will post my next project this evening!!

Have a FABULOUS afternoon!!

Motivational Quote of the Day!

Here is your motivational quote for today!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous ? Actually, who are you not to be ? Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
~Marianne Williamson

Have a FABULOUS afternoon!! ;-)