The practice

A few weeks ago I struggled with Shannon's call to find time that week to do some creative/studio work. The thought of going into my studio just for me felt like stress, work and overwhelm. I was longing for something nurturing and fun. Doing art for its own sake somehow didn't feel nurturing. That week we had our annual snow storm. I took Natalie out for our first winter hike. The birds, lake, trees and footsteps in the snow provided for some amazing visual stimulus. It occurred to me that I really would like my artistic time to be something I do with Natalie in my presence. Before her I was working in encaustic on a series of dictionary pages - not exactly baby friendly. Maybe it's time to take up photography again? Maybe some new journal work? Maybe I need to focus on my poetry pieces? No answers yet. Grateful to realize I'm walking a new path. In the meantime I've find myself constantly arranging Natalie's toys into little vignettes. Here's one from today. I've also been moving my office/studio from one part of the house to another over the last few weeks. Time to get thing organized streamlined and find my practice.

Make Room For a Pot

Hi Ya'll,

It's another rainy day here in No Cal but we desperately need the rain so I shouldn't whine. Besides it's conducive to a studio day! I continue in my art class and it is good for me even tho alot of pressure.

This a painting from the most recent assignment. I did a small book called Pot-Pourri. It consists of pots in different sizes and in different environments ( blooming garden, flying in space, exploding, etc). I've done six paintings so far and have to do seven more before the course is done.

Hope you all are having good creative time!

Do you journal?

As I sit here this brisk Monday morning with my coffee in hand, and Kestan peacefully napping, I've been given some unexpected quiet time to reflect on a transformational weekend I just had. The thoughts are still swirling around which tells me it's time to journal. As much as I love typing, nothing beats putting pencil to paper. I guess it's like knitting - feeling the needles, the yarn, the texture - and getting the opportunity to watch my hands create something concrete while my mind settles and finds stillness.

Do any of you journal? If so, I'd love to hear about it. Why do you write? What do you write about? Do you share your journal entries with others? Do you save your journals? How has writing your thoughts and feelings helped you in your life?

I'll do some reflecting on these questions, too, and share more soon.

Happy writing, knitting or whatever you are doing today to express the full you!

Forecast for 2009 - Link

For any of you who like to read your horoscope, or have an interest in astrology, you might like this new site I just recently discovered.

Astrologer, Terrance Guardino, offers a really in-depth, rich description of a forecast for 2009 for each sign.   Grab a cup of coffee and a journal as his podcasts are a good 10 minutes full of information you may find helpful and especially relevant for this particularly challenging year.

Enjoy!

Creating in the Middle of Things

I've so enjoyed the posts.  Keep them coming and thanks for sharing!  You all are so talented and awesome.

Well, still trying to get a hold of things in my life.  Just when I feel like I'm "balanced" and "in control" another day comes of racing out the door, running around at work, making sure baby is fed, dogs are fed, house is cleaned up, oh..uh...what to make for dinner when there's no food in the house, and then all of a sudden it's 9 p.m. again and all I have energy or brain cells for is to watch the start of another season of "Survivor".  

As I'm living my own version of "Survivor" these days, faced with new challenges that test my mental and physical strength, I am finally starting to learn what it means to "create in the middle of things".  The evenings where I used to have time to work in my studio are now filled with bath and bedtime routine, and although I wouldn't change it for the world, I am accepting that I just don't have that kind of time anymore (or energy!).  So, instead, I am practicing creating in the middle of things. Whether that's reading my art magazine for a few minutes at work, or knitting a few stitches while Kestan's stacking blocks, I can still make art and create a little here and there, throughout the day, while I balance and juggle the other parts of my life.  I will continue to set time aside for myself so I can get some longer, quality time in my art room, and I can also rest a little easier knowing that I don't have to have something to show as a final product or make a huge production out of my art-making at this time.  I can go slower.  I can enjoy being.  I can let go of expectations.  And while I embrace all that I have to be grateful for in my life, I can actually enjoy being able to "create in the middle of things."

In the middle of everything, we enjoyed making Kestan's hand-print - our first art project together.

gratitude...

hello all. i have enjoyed each and every post that i have seen thus far. keep 'em coming. this is a picture i created a while ago. it is simple but i love it. partly because i would like to see it in the mixture of pages i am currently trying to combine for a book (if nothing else just to keep an organized version of my combustion of art pieces together), and mostly because it's a nice image to remind me of the bike season that lies ahead. i am trying to take advantage of my somewhat flexible schedule until the end of this month to dive back into my artwork. i am also sticking with gratitude with most things, where i am at today, where my art is today, and the fact that i get a chance to play with my art when other errands don't get in the way (which doesn't always happen). i hope to share more yet even that is an interesting process i am finding myself a bit uncomfortable with but still really wanting to attempt.

Bunny Hat For My Rubber Chicken

2/08/09

I wanted to share my inspiration of late. This is my chicken friend who is kind enough to wear the garments that I make for him without complaining even for a second, although having his picture taken is rather painful for him. Actually, I have only made him this one hat... but have plans for so many more creations. It is really nice to have someone to knit for who really appreciates all that goes into the finished piece... he seems to get that my heart and soul have been poured into it. Truly an artist's best friend!

emily sloan, (taffyyarn) designer of rubber chicken wear

Fairies!

Hello ladies!
Well, I finally take some time to write! Yeah!!!
I want to show you what I am working on these days...
somethings that look like this:




I am very happy to show you... you will be able to see more on my blog at this address: http://lesmainsreveuses.blogspot.com/search/label/ (start with the last message!)
I have translated all my new messages so you can understand me!!! :-)

About being an artist...
How do you deal with this?
What I mean is... I've been fighting all my life to become what I thought was a normal person. With a normal job... And now I find myself back in my studio creating and having a lot of fun while doing this... with my 2 feet jammed in an uncomfortable fear of finally making a real living on this... But now I know I can't do anything else than being my own artistic self! No other choice! And you, how is it, being an artist in this world, for you?

Have a beautiful day, fellow artist babes!


xoxox
ni

Iowa fiber arts retreat

Fellow artists babes,  Sounds like several of us have been expressing ourselves either by creating visions, works, or retreats. Laura Cater-Woods was the artist at my retreat.  I was a little intimated at first, as there were authors and speakers there!  I dug in with my fabric and sewing machine, and loved the energy around me. This is a work in progress, with my usual nature and texture theme.  Laura talked about that uncomfortable feeling...is recognizing you're getting out of your comfort zone.  Do it anyway.  I also want to be more committed to finishing works I start.  

Pots

Hi ladies,

Yes I worked hard this AM. I signed up for what I thought was a monoprint class and found out it is a water-media painting class (with a little bit of monoprinting). In a class of 30 I think there are two of us who do not paint. So altho I am scared I am going to stick with it as long as I can. This week's assignment was to produce two painting 11x15" Abstracting a Form. We have to choose a theme for the semester- mine is vessels-(all forms of receptacles). So here are the first two. I couldn't get them all in the scan but it will give you an idea. We are allowed some collage so the black /white one is done with fabric and paint. Wish me luck on my first critique on Wed- YIKES!!! Dayle

Knitting Retreat at the Elms

Here I am having a "moment" with my knitting at the Elms in Excelsior Springs, Mo. I had a lovely time and almost completed the "Mind Fire Bag" from the cool book, "KnitKnit" by Sabrina Gschwandtner. The book was given to me by my friend Deb who came all the way from L.A. to be at the knitting retreat. We both worked on the same bag over the weekend.... I forgot to take a picture of Deb with her bag, but I'll get one tomorrow!
Anyone else get to work on a project this weekend?