Creative Overload . . .

Well I have just returned from a weekend in the beautiful Outer Banks . . . the temperatures were in the low twenties, there was lots of freezing wind and parts of the OBX got two inches of snow!  Every time I return to the Outer Banks I feel like I have returned home again.  It is only an hour and a half away from where I live in Virginia Beach and we have vacationed there since my children were little guys.  My husband and I hope that we will be able to retire there one day;  so we always spend our time exploring areas to settle down in.  The ocean is beautiful and the sound side is majestic!  I truly believe it is an artist's paradise.  Perhaps that is why I feel such a strong calling to settle down there.

Sheer Beauty!

I had the opportunity to take a Soul Coaching Collage Workshop by Debbie Bishal this weekend at my precious friend Michelle Madden Smith's yoga studio Outer Banks Yoga.  First of all, whenever I enter her beautiful studio, I am overwhelmed with the feeling of peace and goodness and I have always loved to take yoga classes at her studio.   I knew I was going to be in for a day of soul searching and creative connection.  I was also able to share this experience with my daughter n law's mother Patti Dietrich and I was so glad we were able to share this together!

My "ongoing" collage

Our class first began with a guided meditation, taking deep breaths, the room was quiet, candlelit and soft music was playing.  It was relaxing and felt very inspiring.  We sat on yoga mats with lots of pillows and blankets to make us feel comfortable and safe.  No judgements, no expectations, just ourselves with our inner thoughts.

Four hours later I was able to complete my collage work, which I am sharing with you.  The questions that she asked that stuck out to me were the following . . .  What was my intention?  What is dropping away?  What seeds am I planting?  What is blocking me?

What is being nurtured in me at this time?  What do I need to begin now in my life?  What dreams do I need to imagine?  What does my imagination want me to know?  What do I truly value at this time?  What do I need to affirm or change to be all that I need to be?

There were so many more questions and thoughts we shared with each other.  I enjoyed the total experience.  I am used to working on my painted collages, but this technique totally spoke to my heart.  It was deep, revealing and opened my eyes to where I was leading myself.  When we completed our poster collages . . . Debbie explained the sections and their meanings.  I was amazed at the placement of my photos and words and how they pertained to the guidance that Debbie gave us.  Way awesome!

This has been a week of complete creative overload and I am loving it.  Misty Mawn's Stretching Within class has been teaching us about sketching and painting and of course writing a poem from a prompt.  Mondo Beyondo has been showing me the way to reach my creative dreams.  Creative Thursday's In the Fishbowl is teaching me how to strengthen my online presence!

So I have changed my blog appearance in celebration of Valentines Day and I leave you with my poem written after Misty Mawn's prompt . . .  Note to my 10 year old self  . . . it took me some time to write this one!

Live your life well . . . you are going to love your amazing life

Live your life freely . . . you are going to be a creative one

Live your life compassionately . . . you are going to love little old ladies

Live your life carefully . . . you will make good and wise life decisions

Live your life intentionally . . . you will come to love and need yoga

Live your life artfully . . . you are gonna love to weave and paint

Live your life lovingly . . .  you are going to have two amazing sons

Live your life passionately . . . you are going to love the same man for

a very long time

Live your life faithfully . . . you will love and follow and mighty God

Live your life healthy . . . you will learn to take good care of yourself

Live your life crazy . . . you will say what you feel and never hold back

Live your life on the edge . . .  you will learn to explore and see things with wonder

Live your life by example . . . so many will be watching how you do it

Live your life creatively . . . you are going to be an artist

Live your life playfully . . . you will come to need that through the years

Live your life happy and joyous . . . you will always be

Donna Lee Lee

Wow it has been a week full of inspiration, deep thoughts and time with my inner artist, whatever will be in store for me next week . . . stay tuned I am sure there will be a blog entry coming your way soon!