From Where I Stand ... (Best Shot Monday)

These are the things that are pleasing my spirit right now:

Saturday mornings at the farmer's markets (yes, we have many to choose from!) and the excitement of new discoveries such as this:




Chinese Spinach which is a magnificent purple color. It is so pretty, it has to be healthy!

New projects (can we say electric drill - yes, learning how to use new tools) from The Artistic Mother by Shona Cole. I already made a name plate for Cowgirl and was inspired to make this one as a gift for a dear friend's new baby. Look at those impossibly tiny and equally precious toes!




Speaking of new tools, I am dabbling more with Photo Shop and learning tons from Susan Tuttle's new book Digital Expressions. If I only had hours to spend playing around. This digital collage sums up where I am right now:






But at the end of the day, here is where my passion and my heart lies:














Seriously, can it get any better?

Happy Memorial day ... what are you taking time to celebrate?

Weekend moments

It was a lovely Easter weekend spent at the zoo with some friends ...




Coloring Easter eggs ...




and hunting for some more ...




and enjoying the bounty of the day ...





And even finding a spare moment to try a new project ...

Easy Peasy fabric flower ... directions found here

Hope you had a shining day (or night!)

Baking Madness

Here is my version of the chicken or the egg:

Which came first, the apron or the baking?

I am not a baker ... I am not patient nor do I enjoy being precise which seem to be rather important character traits for a good baker. But for some reason, I have been stirring up a storm in the kitchen. In addition to checking out new recipes from for banana nut muffins (secret ingredient - olive oil! - makes these velvety smooth) I also made a raw desert comprised of 5 ingredients: raisins, walnuts, dates, lemon juice and strawberries.



Yes, I was a bit skeptical and concerned since I was making this dish for a gather of friends later that afternoon. All I can say is OH MY GOODNESS!





Incredibly easy and yummy. Only one small bite of this date torte survived the afternoon and I ate that while cleaning up. I am off to check out more recipes from happyfoody.com as both these offerings were gobbled up by family and friends.

Meanwhile, I ask you: what is up with me and my new fetish for aprons? I dug out this one which had been an engagement gift from a family friend.



And I have a new flower power apron from this Etsy vendor (see my previous post for a picture.) I cannot say which is true - the apron inspired the baking? Or the baking created a craving for aprons? Just don't you dare call me a domestic diva!

Knitty Momma and other Projects

We had a little preview of Spring last week. One glorious day of sunshine and warm temperatures that had Cowgirl and I skipping outside the shops of a pedestrian mall, our arms filled with pussy willows, flowering bulbs for my mother's 85 birthday and honey scented blue flowers selected by Cowgirl for the dining room. After visiting the florist's shop we dashed into the yarn shop as that morning I had the wild impulse to knit Cowgirl a poncho. That weekend. As fast as possible so we could be poncho twins while the weather still holds.

The sunshine didn't last - we had snow the next day and blustery conditions the day after that. But the poncho got made! It was super easy and fast as I knit it on large needles. Now, I knit like I bake: I think I've read through and understood the directions, but always some not-so-minor detail escapes my attention. Like how I was supposed to knit this in the round (using circular needles, not straight ones.) Not wanting to run out and buy the right needles, I figured I could adjust the pattern and just sew up the one side. Well, not exactly. And I still ended up having to dash by the yarn store for the right needles when the blasted thing would no longer fit on my long but not long enough straight needles. Sigh.

But here's the thing: I realized this weekend that what I may lack in skill, I make up for by pure determination and commitment. Somewhere along the line, I let go of the need for perfection which usually halted me from even starting anything new or unfamiliar. My style may be home-made rather than hand-crafted, but things do get made. And I am beginning to love the signs of imperfection that reveal the story within the piece. This poncho will always be my Spring Fling poncho, filled with the exuberance of me rushing madly to embrace the new season.

Other exciting developments include a new space for me to make art. I had been using the kitchen and dining room areas for my projects, large tubs perpetually lining the kitchen island with all my art supplies. Every day I would pull out my supplies and then frantically tidy everything away in time to make a late dinner. (Or rush out to buy pizza!) Reading The Artistic Mother, I realized I really do need a space I can call my own. (Seems like I am requiring more and more space; I already have my yoga room which I am vehemently defending from clutter which now can flow downstairs to the art space.) We have lived in our house for 2 years and the finished basement/play area is rarely used. Cowgirl will not go down there unless someone is with her. My drafting table was down in a corner of the room, transformed by blankets and pillows into her doggy den and I decided it was time to reclaim my workspace.

Once I decided to make the move, I realized how much more practical this space will be. I have a bathroom with empty cabinets and drawers to stash all my materials; an empty chest for pads, papers, stamping materials and books; and a large table that I can use to lay out pieces as they dry. And the stereo system and all our cd's are downstairs. I let Cowgirl pick out a wild sari patchwork curtain for the window and after moving things around a bit, I moved in. I still want to get a bulletin board and hang more pictures, but I was able to start working this weekend and finished the background papers for week one of the Artistic Mother project.

I am loving these pages! So much fun to make and since they will be cut down to scraps for collaging, I can really go wild and experiment. Having seen the work of others (I know, no comparison, but how about inspiration?) I think I can go a little wilder with the stamps. And I've spied many cool stamps that I would like to add to my collect ... ahem ... not that I need encouragement in adding to my stash of art goodies. This week we begin working on a poetry journal which I am really excited to make. One of the goals in my Goddess planner was to write and to read more poetry - two exercises suggested as part of a weekly schedule for Artistic Mother. And here is the schedule form I created as a way of making myself more accountable to my art:

We'll see how much I get to ... the sunshine is finally back and the poncho twins are ready for action!

New project: the Artistic Mother

(Warning: Long post ahead. Gather necessary provision (coffee, tea, water) and take bathroom break if necessary ...)

Excuse me while I multitask here ...

I had an incredibly revitalizing, fertile, and nurturing day on Sunday. A reminder that rich gifts come in those moments in between the this's and the that's of the day. I had an art journaling workshop to teach Sunday afternoon and for some reason, I scheduled it 2 and a half hours after I finish teaching my regular yoga class. Armed with my Goddess Planner sheets, To Do Notebook and a new treat - a book by Shona Cole called The Artistic Mother - I headed next door to the coffee shop for a little me time.

It was the perfect day for some internal sifting and examining: cold, cloudy and quiet! I finished up the pages to my planner (dreams for my creative life, home life, career and finances and 10 things I want to celebrate about myself in 2010) and then wrote out a list of things to tackle in the coming week. It all seems so commonsensical to take time to verbalize what I want my life to be, but do I do it? Words, dreams spilled onto the pages and I found myself flipping between pages listing new ideas and projects and then adding steps to existing plans and back over to another page for snippets of poetry. Yes my friends, it felt pretty sweet.

And then ... I opened up The Artistic Mother and discovered a dear friend and mentor residing in those pages. The day before I somewhat cavalierly tossed my hat into the ring with a group that is working together through the projects in this book. Check out the button on the right hand side bar - they just got started and the more the merrier! What I am finding in all of my obsessive online challenges is an accountability for my goals and my growth. Left on my own, I know I would not do all of the projects in the book, but knowing I will be supported and inspired by others with practical and creative advice, well I am jumping up and down like a kid with a new pencil case, freshly covered school book and 3 subject binder! I am ready to go!

I have to admit, I had glanced at this book through the preview feature on Amazon and decided it looked a little "basic" for my needs. What I have discovered after devouring the first 4 chapters in one night is how richly packed each sentence and every segment is in this book. The introduction itself is a manifesto for the power and the need to create. Shona Cole writes "Creating art leads to a glorious sense of personal fulfillment. When we have a project germinating in our minds ... we experience a surge of motivation, anticipation and excitement." This is the love affair I experienced in Art Journal Love Letters! And for anyone questioning the time taken out of an already busy schedule for one's art, here is the truth I've incoherently babbled about on this blog and which Shona so succinctly states: "The sense of well-being and fulfillment our creativity generates often spills over into other areas of life, including our mothering."

Yesterday I started in earnest working through the book. I cluttered every available flat surface with painted papers that will be used as background pages for future projects. Amid all the chaos, I created yesterday's "Mistakes" journal spread and decided if the sun was not going to cooperate, well then, we will have our own sunshine!

I also want to introduce the newest members of our household, our Flower Fairies inspired by McCabe's Mermaid Warriors workshop that Cowgirl and I are currently taking. And I am declaring this another one of my 52 Projects as it entailed the purchase of a glue gun and oh, lord-have-mercy am I in need of glue gun mentoring!

Doesn't our Gnome Fred look happy with his new lady friends? (And yes, the husband is nervously looking about as he sees the home swelling with more and more decorations ... they have yet to wage an assault upon his inner sanctum, his office, but they are rallying the troops!)

Did I mention this was a bit of a housecleaning post? Phew!

But wait - there's more!

Reaffirming my commitment to getting my photographs out there, here is my entry for Best Shot Monday which asks for my favorite face. You guessed it:

Cowgirl napped through all of the chaos and awoke in time to check out our sun.

And because I tend to do things in splurges, here is a project I wish to share from The Artistic Mother - my Artistic Vision statement. Even though there is talk of additional snow on the first day of Spring, I am feeling my pulse strengthen, a sense of ripeness in the air and a strong desire to declare my commitment to this path of creativity that has dovetailed beautifully with my spiritual/yoga practice (can you sense another topic in the making?) The task of defining my vision, stating my intentions and aspirations is incredibly empowering and energizing. I would love to see your artistic manifestoes publicly declared for all of our support and inspiration.

My Artistic Vision Statement

I am a creative being who requires a regular outlet for expression. Art is my way of replenishing my energy levels, nurturing my soul and giving voice to the truths of my life.

Art is the means by which I explore and express my love for my life, my world and most of all, for the complex and lovely messiness that is me. Every day I choose to create in some form as my way of showing up for my life.

I am a loving person who chooses to shine love out through artistic expression. Art is my way of expressing my truths and I share my work in the hope that it will encourage others to come to know and embrace their experience and their voice.

Every act of creation - be it writing, painting, photography, cooking or nurturing engagement with my family and friends - is a declaration of who I am and of my right to be.

I use photography, poetry, painting and journaling to celebrate my life and all of the gifts that the Universe so lovingly offers to me in any given moment. My art is a path for self discovery and an expression of celebration for all of the gifts and lessons I have received.

Art is my practice. I commit to showing up every day and accepting the teachings that come my way. Even when I am besieged by doubts, negative comparison, frustration or feelings of lack, I continue on. My practice is to embrace learning and growth. I believe in art's power to heal and to mentor me in the experience of knowing myself as complete and whole.

Do tell: how are you going to make it an art-filled day? ♥

Weekly Reflection (Week 10): Finding Home

What is homing? It is the instinct to return, to go to the place we remember.... The exact answer to "Where is home?" is more complex ... but in some way it is an internal place, a place somewhere in time rather than space, where a woman feels of one piece.... Home is a sustained mood or sense that allows us to experience feelings, not necessarily sustained in the mundane world: wonder, vision, peace, freedom from worry, freedom from demands, freedom for constant clacking. All these treasures from home are meant to be cached in the psyche for later use in the topside world." - Clarissa Pinkola Estés, "Women Who Run With The Wolves."

How do I create Home for myself?

After 88 days of snow on the ground, the thawing out began last week. While I am anxious for the green buds and blue skies of Spring, the reality is a period of mud, grey skies and grit and grime has to be gotten through. Emotionally, I feel excitement swelling up followed by a sinking backwards into inertia. Yes, I am feeling stuck in the mud of my life.

I can't even say I am feeling stuck so much as continually dragged back by - what? By the necessities of life. Things just keep cropping up. Cowgirl has begun her usual March cough which either is allergies or a cold (whatever I think it is, it will be the other) and now my mother is having some issues that need to be discussed with her doctor. And I am anticipating - because I do that so well! - rounds of doctors visits in the coming weeks which result in a suspension of the seemingly stolen moments of me-time.

That I consider tending to my needs as stealing is curious. Who am I stealing from? My family and work of course. And aren't they really taking from me? In the rational part of my brain, I know that to be able to care for others I must first take care of myself. Not the prevailing attitude of our culture nor of many of my friends who I see drained by the demands of their lives.

What has me gulping for air as if I am being dragged under is a rising fear of losing momentum, of losing myself after a long, long absence from my life. I think this is a healthy reflex as long as I pause to recognize what is really going on here. In the past, I had been swept away by the demands of my life, letting drop by the wayside those things deemed nonessential.

But that was in the past and I know better now. I know that even the briefest return to my center is more than enough to sustain me. I may crave more time to create, read, be outdoors but I can get by on smaller doses until opportunity allows me the chance for a complete restocking. I also know nothing will be lost; that the side journeys are opportunities for me to gather from my life the materials to be used when I able to return home.

How do I find Home for myself? In those minutes, no matter how brief, when I pause and let myself feel what is going on inside of me. The pause is essential. I tend to rush through my life, late it seems for everything. But when I can stop running, I can see I am exactly where I need to be. This requires me to acknowledge I am not some kind of race with a prize waiting if I finish. No, life is happening in the Now that sometimes just feels like an obstacle course.





Each moment I catch myself forgetting, I am given an opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to standing fully in this moment. When I come into the Now, I come home to myself. I then am present enough to embrace the gifts of pure magic that always sparkle around me. I allow myself to sink into moments of pure being, whether that be through yoga, painting, writing or taking a walk with the dog. All that has come into me, is given this space to flow back out onto the page, the mat, or my mind as new perspectives emerge. I celebrate my life in those moments. They are my dance, The Dance, of being alive. And the process of emptying is strangely an experience of being filled. Emptying and filling, cleansing and releasing, like the breath and the tides that come in and out.

It is no coincidence that lately I have been fascinated by the stories of creatures who live their lives straddling two realms. The story of the Selkies, sea women who shed their skins in order to come ashore and dance, is about the necessity of returning home. Unlike the traditional stories, I have rediscovered my "skin" and am in control of it, putting it on and taking it off when need be. I know I will not lose my seal skin, my ability to dive back into the seas of restoration and nurturance. And I know I can dive within in any given moment, if only to touch briefly my essence as a reminder: I am still here.

For those creative souls over at 52 Projects, I have not abandoned you! Each day I am aware of acting upon that which was merely an idea or an inkling a moment before. Things I might normally have put off "to do later" - baking cookies, starting a new knitting project (that may end up taking me 52 weeks to complete), another journal page - I have jumped right in and done! The final product is not important, but this shift from thinking to doing is. Have I begun any new projects? I believe in each moment I am choosing to begin anew. Does that count?

With each wave that knocks me over, I stand up again and look out to the sea, deciding when I need to dive back in, and when I will stay ashore. Home is safe within me and the only one who controls the key is me. Have you heard the call? Are you prepared to answer?

projects, projects all around

Despite a hectic weekend (Chinese New Year luncheon; fundraiser at Cowgirl's school; a workshop and my regular yoga class on Sunday) I somehow managed to try a new project for 52 Projects. Funny, I said I was not committing 100% of the time to this challenge, but am feeling the pull each week to at least try something new.

This week's project was super fun and easy. We tend to make our own greeting cards at home (I wish I could say it was to be green or be creative but the reality is, there are no convenient card shops nearby and once home, I tend not to venture out again) and needing a card for a friend's new baby, I decided to try a Strip Animation card. A friend gave me this great book "Magic Books & Paper Toys" which has been sitting forlornly on my bookshelf.



Nothing fancy, but it was fun to make! The most important thing I learned was to consider the length of your animation strip and not to let the "panels" be longer than the bottom or top of the card. When you pull the strip through, you can see the other images peeking out on the bottom or the top (I cropped my photos, so you cannot see that here) I figured a month old baby wouldn't mind, so I sent it off anyway.

I am thinking of ideas to do a strip animation in my art journal. I think they would be fun for holiday cards as well. What would else could I animate?

Maybe my dog?

Mama-crafting-kind-of-thing

I was not going to post this until I realized if not for "The Challenge" I probably would not have made time for this ridiculously easy and equally enjoyable project. You see, I take these kind of blogging responsibilities quite seriously. Having said I was up for the challenge of trying something new on a regular basis (note: I am not saying weekly!) I did not want to wimp out on my second week.

And it was Valentine's day after all! We had a nice ground blizzard (I had never heard of such things until I moved to the Midwest and yesterday I experienced how Mother Nature can totally whup our butts with some light snow and high high winds) and so the holiday was spent snug at home. Cowgirl was busy watching "Planet of the Apes" with her dad (I know, I know ... she and her dad have a special movie watching relationship that defies any kind of Dr. Spock logic) so I decide to make us some heart necklaces for our combined Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year dinner. I saw these over on the Mermaid's blog and they looked so cute.

Another plus: super easy and fun to make. I think Cowgirl is too young to master the heart shape with scissors but she added some bling to spice them up. I can totally see these made with cute fabrics and more buttons and maybe different shapes like flowers or butterflies for different seasons. But for a quick holiday/snow day project they worked their magic.

And so here I offer what one mama can do with a little paper and yarn ...




Take that mother nature!

(For anyone looking for more magical ways to connect with your child through art, I encourage you to check out McCabe's upcoming ecourse Mermaid Warrior Art Camp 3. Cowgirl and I have done her other camps and they were fantastic. We both love watching the videos and trying out the projects, all of which can be easily adapted to meet varying skill levels and available materials. Check out her blog for more testimonials and videos to give you a taste of what is in store. Cowgirl and I are enrolled ... come on, and join us!)

New Challenges

Emboldened by the spirit of adventure from a fellow blogger, I am offering my contribution to the notion of trying something new each week. I love the idea of pushing my boundaries wider and wider. With all the wonderful blogs and websites seducing me away from housework and current projects, I am continually reading about some new recipe or art project or technique that I think would be cool to try but which gets stashed way far back in the cluttered closet of my mind.

So here is what I did over the weekend.


Glue batik t-shirts. (And yes, given my bashing of Valentine's day, the irony of me making big heart shirts in celebration of Cupid's day is not lost upon me.)

These were so ridiculously easy and fun to make, I cannot believe I haven't done this sooner. I suppose I've spared family and friends a batik filled Christmas season, but watch out! Easter is coming and this is perfect for Spring themed projects.

The instructions are easy peasy and found here on That Artist Woman's blog. I bought inexpensive cotton t-shirts at Michael's craft store and use acrylic craft paints that I had on hand for other projects. I cut up some old cereal boxes and slide the cardboard between the front and the back of the shirts so the glue and paint would not bleed through. I did the initial glue "drawing" and let the pieces dry overnight. The next day I set Cowgirl up with water, a brush and paints and let her go at it. She put the paint on pretty thick while the directions have you water the acrylics down a bit. I helped her wet patches that were too dry to blend properly, but she got the hang of mixing the water with the paint. In fact, her shirt came out much more vibrant and fun than my more restrained piece! I don't know how the color will hold up to repeated washing; I will probably wash her shirt in cold water or hand wash as I am sure the colors will blend over time in warm water.




I love the idea of making seasonal banners and have loads of ideas for future projects. Maybe some napkins and a tablecloth? I used cookie cutter forms for my heart design and I can see gingerbread men for a holiday table setting.

Thanks Jane for the nudge! Now, if I could only figure out how to get paid to stay home and do all these great projects swimming around my head and the blog-o-sphere! If you want more ideas, just head over to Jane's blog for ideas!