What has my attention lately!

A treasure found while visiting Edenton, NC

Well I certainly let a whole week go by without posting!

I told myself in January I would try to post

regularly, every Wednesday on my blog.

I made to March 29th, 2017!

One thing I have learned for sure,
is that life is full of unpredictable moments!
Moments that take your breath away,
Moments that occupy your time in ways you never dreamed of,
Moments that just fly by.
Moments that keep you from accomplishing
all that you want and need to!

I have been weaving a lot lately,
I am currently weaving on my beloved Mirrix loom
and creating a Tapestry Woven Pouch Necklace.
I am blogging from start to finish
for the Mirrix Loom Blog,
this project is amazing
and the hand painted silks are beautiful
to work with,
I am having a wonderful and creative time.
The first post is posted on the Mirrix Loom Blog,
you can follow my journey HERE . . .

Currently on my Mirrix

Adding in some Beads

I have been reading a lot of blog posts
about building your own pipe loom,
either from copper or galvanized pipe!
The weaving community is so generous
and always sharing knowledge with each other,
for that I am truly grateful!

My weaving mentor, teacher and friend
Rebecca Mezoff
wrote a great post HERE ...
So I went to the hardware store
and bought what I needed ...
if you want to know exactly what to buy,
HERE is the link that Tommye Scanlin so generously shared!
I actually bought the pipe pieces about a month ago,
and have just gotten around to building it on my day off today!

I thought it was going to be overwhelming,
but opening the pipe pieces
actually took longer than building the loom itself!!!
Cleaning the scanner price tags
took longer than building the loom!

So here is the finished product!

Tightened up with my hubby's strong hands

and a really good wrench!!!

My finished loom

So I immediately wanted to get a warp on the loom,

I used my 12/6 cotton seine

sett at 8 ends per inch

I plan on weaving a small tapestry diary

and getting used to the loom.

I am totally in love with Washi Tape,

so I marked off inch and half inch increments on my tape

and then added it to the loom.

Setting at 8 ends per inch

So as you can see Tapestry has gotten

a lot of my attention lately,

and I think that is a good thing.

In order to do anything well, we must spend time with it.

Sometimes I spread myself too thing,

doing way too many things.

This morning was quiet, the birds were singing,

the breeze was blowing through the window

and I was weaving before work.

Thoughts often come to me while weaving,

this morning in honor of National Poetry Month,

I wrote a poem on Tapestry!

It was a very good morning indeed!

Poem Writing while Weaving

May your week be filled with

love, creativity, happiness and joy!

Thanks for being here

Donna Lee

My Summer Slow Down Continues!

Reminder for me written in the sand

I look over my blog this morning 

and realize it has been a month since I have written anything!

I must be having a great summer slow down,

just what I needed for sure!

Summer is such a great time for rest and renewal.

We all need that don't we?

I spent a week with my precious family

in the Outer Banks.

(If you are a mommy/grandmommy

you know how wonderful it is to have

your whole sweet family under one roof

for an entire week!)

Oh the kisses and hugs and joy I received.

My treasures!

 Intention setting on the beach

 Re-creating one of my favorite photos of my precious boys

(They were troopers!)

How blessed am I!!!!!

Poetry and Latte in the mornings

So as you can see, I had a very good time away.

The ocean always brings me back to focus.

How grateful I am for family, time away and rejuvenation!

As I have returned home I have been able to 

have quiet mornings to pursue my artwork,

and I am learning new things all the time.

Here is a peek at some of my work:

 Playing with Inks, Words and of course Mandalas!

 Playing with Abstract Watercolors

 Creating Originals for cards

Playing with White Ink on Black tiles

for a future Zentangle® class

Fun collecting botanicals for my flower press

My lace shawl I started at Squam is progressing

I love creating my art . . . it truly soothes my soul.

There are days when I have no time to create anything,

and then there are mornings I feel like I have all the time in the world

to explore new ideas!

Funny how life works that way!

So here I am less than two weeks away from

turning

59 years old

and I am having a most beautiful

summer slow down.

No worries, creating my art,

spending time with family,

writing and of course ... napping!

My creation of Zentangle on a  24" x 24" wooden panel

I am just beginning to try weaving

a small tapestry face . . . something I have been wanting to try.

So I sketched a sweet little face

inspired by my friend and teacher

Mindy Lacefield

Instead of painting a face,

I will be using fibers . . . wish me luck!

A weaving cartoon to create by

I hope that you are able to have a slow down 

of your very own this summer season.

I encourage you to do something out of the ordinary.

Walk the ocean shore if there is one nearby,

hike in the woods and explore nature,

try writing a poem,

learning something new,

hey ... how about stopping what you are doing

and have a long three hour nap!

Wishing you peace and love

these final days of summer!

Donna Lee

Renewal ... My Word for 2016

My first art journal entry of the year

My first blog post of 2016! 

May I first take the time to wish you well in this new year!

A time of new beginnings,

letting go of what wasn't working,

stepping into freshness,

where everything is new and hopeful!

As I look back on 2015,

I find it was a bit difficult for me.
I eagerly anticipate 2016
and bringing along a new beginning for me.

I recognize that I wasn't at my best.

My health took a slow turn, 

my neck issues kept me from my yoga practice,
and I missed it very much.

I didn't write as much Poetry . . .
and I yearned to put pen to page.

I was definitely creative,
I accomplished a lot artistically,
I taught so many art classes
and even attended a few awesome art retreats.
I made some wonderful connections too!
(filling up my own creative well)

I learned so many new things,
I'm learning to focus on what I am good at
and what truly gives me a sense of peace when I am creating.

 I found my way back to Tapestry Weaving,

which I am most happiest about.
I'm slowly working through
Rebecca Mezoff's online course.
I even brought my new "Gracie"
Dryad tapestry loom into my studio
(freighted here from Pennsylvania)
we are still getting to know to each other!

A few of my favorite moments

As I began the "Word of the Year" process,

I gently wrote down every word that came to mind,

over the process of the last few weeks.

I then scratched out some,

added a few more,

some remained on the list

and some went away, 

because they no longer felt right.

Renewal

became my word.

It was perfect in every way.

I want renewal in the things I love the most in my life.

It is time for me to choose those things that matter most,

let go of time wasters, people drainers,

commitments that rob me of my joy.

Time for a new and creative year,

renewing what stirs my heart and soul!

I look forward to seeing where this all leads.

Do you have a new word?

Have you committed to something new this year?

What are you letting go of?
What do you need most in this new year?

I wish you a year of love and happiness

and all good things.

Reach down deep, find out what makes you stir,

follow your dreams,

listen to your still small voice,

trust yourself and step forward or away!

Love,

Donna Lee

Twelve Things on a Wednesday

I always pass this tree when picking up my little Annabelle

 The smell of Autumn is intoxicating

One must always find time to nurture the inner self

Slowing down forces us to take a deeper look

Rest is important, so very important

Reconnection with friends is always a must

Time spent near the ocean is rejuvenating

Writing a handwritten letter for someone is a beautiful gift 

We are all too busy, we are forgetting to look UP

We should be asking ourselves "What truly guides us?"

Letting go is very hard to work through

Poetry is a gift that is often not appreciated

Life is moving way to quickly these days



Just found myself with these thoughts in my head
Sometimes we just have to get the thoughts down on paper
(or computer as it is here!)
I hope you have a blessed rest of your week,
take the time to listen to what's inside,
write them down, get them out,
sort them out,
they have come for a reason.
Stop and listen

Donna Lee

Living Poetically

There is a poem in all that I see

I have been in love with reading and writing and poetry

for as long as I can remember . . .

I was never great at math and science,

but I excelled in the Arts,

English and Literature!

(No surprise there)

Life has a certain way of distracting us

from doing the things we love the most.

(for me it was always writing)

Throughout the years I was

filling journals, scribbling poems,

reading and writing about my life.

I was also raising a family, working,

creating a life, 

so my writing didn't always get priority.

When I began care taking my parents

through their life taking diseases;

I found myself returning to the page.

I would write about the experiences I was going through,

it just felt good to get it all out.

I began writing poetry more seriously,

and the words were flowing at just the right pace.

I enrolled in several online courses, 

took writing classes at retreats

(instead of art) with some amazing writers

and I began to feel as though I had my voice back!

I am so grateful to those writing pioneers out there ...

they are truly amazing. Encouraging others to put pen to page.

I learned so much, something just for me from each and every one of them. 

Dare I mention them here, hoping I don't leave someone out ...

(just click their name ... I have linked you to their magic)

Jennifer Belthoff, Elizabeth Duvivier, Jenna McGuiggan,

Mary Beth Bonfiglio, Liz Lamoreux,

Amy Tingle, Maya Stein, Jen Lee, Lauri Wagner

Chris Frasier, Christine Mason Miller, Michelle Ensminger

In 2013, I wanted to write a poem a day,

for exactly 100 days.

 I wanted to add my own photography to each poem,

it was a true labor of love and I learned so much.

The discipline of that experience

I will forever carry with me.

They are simple poems and from my heart

you can find them all here . . .

http://100poemsjourney.blogspot.com

Now I have become the newest

Vice President of the Southeastern Region

for the Poetry Society of Virginia

and I am super excited

to be spreading the poetic news of Virginia!

I am honored, excited, humbled and ready to get working.

Poetry is a gift to all

It changes lives and when shared can be a gift to others.

I am totally in love with words,

writing them, reading them and sharing them.

How about you?

I would love to hear your poetry and writing experiences!

I leave you with this thought . . .

Look at all the beauty around you day to day,

take the time to write about it . . .

Treat yourself to a sweet little journal,

jot any thoughts or feelings 

you might come up with throughout your life,

who knows it may just become a poem one day!

Life is an open door ... don't be afraid to just step through!

Donna Lee

My Tapestry . . .

Just Beginning

Now hanging at my studio window

I am a Weaver!

It feels good to say it,

because it has been way to long 

since I have done anything creative at my looms!

I am sure you have done this as well . . .

strayed away from an art form you love,

only to learn something new . . .

something that distracts you, interests you,

and pulls your attention away.

For me it has been learning the Art of Calligraphy,

teaching Zentangle® and SoulCollage® classes,

all good things, but take an immense amount of my time!

As you know I am a Poet,

I love to read it, share it out loud and write it!

I recently wrote a poem from my loom's point of view,

sitting in the corner . . . unattended, unloved and unused.

It certainly made a point with me!

I asked myself why I hadn't woven anything,

for so long ... even years?

Why have I let everything else get in the way?

I didn't have any answers, only to say that

everything has a season,

including our arts.

So I put a warp on my tapestry loom,

gathered some beautiful fibers

and began a trial piece,

just to see if I remembered the tapestry techniques.

It sure felt good to see it progressing!

Tapestry weaving is just like life . . .

taken slowly

you will grow in patience and knowledge

if only you will learn

to slow down and enjoy the process!

It feels good to just sit at the loom

and see where it leads me!

Fiber Stash

Just getting the feel of it again

Adding a little adornment

I learned Tapestry weaving when my son Curt

was only a year old,

I remember leaving him with my mom

once a week

for a two hour lesson,

Curt is soon to be 35 years old!

Weaving has been a part of my life for a long time,

it is something I turn to over and over again,

and also what I leave behind from time to time!

It is a constant reminder of who I am

and what I can accomplish!

I love the song "Tapestry" by Carole King

 (my favorite singer in the world!)

" ... my life is but a tapestry

of rich and royal hue ..."

Life is full of colors and textures,

experiences and life lessons,

friendships and family,

and so much more.

I am grateful that my weaving

reminds me of all of that ...

all creating the woven cloth of my own life.

Work in Progress

Wishing you fun and rest

during this Holiday weekend!

Sending out love

Donna Lee

Poetry on a Wednesday Afternoon

Poetic Wednesday

thoughts flow from inside the heart

spilled wide open onto the page

scary yet cleansing emotions

 all rolled into one act

putting my pen to the page

writing freely

no holding back

breathing deeply

no holding back

i find myself at peace

with this process

meeting myself here in this moment

just being present

with my own thoughts

with all the complicated emotions

words will continue to come 

they say to me "you are safe here"

i think i will just stay for awhile

breathe in words

let them allow to flow within

comfort my own heart

relax in the writing process

poetry is a gift

not everyone gets it

but i sure do

3-10-15

5:55 pm

Learning the Art of Calligraphy

View from my studio desk
(See my amazing cup by Alisa Burke???)

I have always been in love with the art of Calligraphy,

it's beauty and flow onto the page

or receiving an enveloped invitation in the mail.

It was something I always wanted to learn,

but other art forms kept taking their attention

in front of the line!

It was just one of those "bucket list" items

I hoped to get around to learning!

I took a beginning Calligraphy class

with my sister at the end of 2014.

It is where I teach Zentangle,

at The Muse in Norfolk,

it was only two and a half hours,

but it certainly got my interest!

I knew one class was just not enough!

I began to practice, practice, practice.
I created a Pinterest board for inspiration,
you can browse it here ...

Then I realized I needed more attention,

fellowship with other learners,

for reading books

(and there are some wonderful ones in my library)

just wasn't enough for me,

I need visuals, connection and motivation!

My book collection ... so far!

So like many of us, when you want to find out anything

you google it right?

I googled Calligraphy lessons Virginia Beach ....

up popped the name of

"Betsy Rivers-Kennedy"

went to her website, saw her work,

emailed her about possible classes coming up

and four weeks later ....

I attended my first class Monday night!

My work station in class ... oh my I loved it!!!!

We jumped right in ...

there were eight of us, some were returning students

that just couldn't get enough!

I found my little corner of the table,

received my supplies from Elizabeth,

made my introductions

and we began.

She jumped right in ...

learning how to dip the ink, care for your nibs,

how to properly hold the Oblique pen,

and began ... it was that simple.

Learning to hold the pen at the proper angle

is something that definitely must be practiced!

She came around and watched us,

wrote on our practice sheets for guidance,

all the while writing upside down!

She was pretty amazing.

Everyone quietly worked and shared

to soft beautiful music in the background.

I even found a new Instagram buddy!

The Art Studio we were working in was

so delightful for a learning experience,

I had NEVER heard of it before,

and had to use my Google Maps

to find it,

hidden quietly in our Downtown Norfolk area!

It's called One 11 Art!

So for four weeks, on a Monday night,

from 7:00 to 9:00pm

it will be my learning home!!

Practice sheets to guide me along

I feel as though I have found

what I have been searching for ...

sounds kinda silly huh?

I love the art forms that quiet my soul,

calm my heart and produce a gentle feeling inside.

My Zentangle, Watercolor Painting, Poetry

and now Calligraphy seem to all

go hand in hand with each other.

I can see how I can use all four mediums together

to produce amazing works.

We have to certainly try a lot of art techniques,

to finally give ourselves permission to settle in.

I have definitely settled into my art,

my life, my direction, my teaching

and I am here to say

it feels pretty darn good

at 57 years young!

I encourage you to not settle for just what is,

look beyond your normal routine,

find your own expression, not others!

Reach out and try something new,

search in your area for learning possibilities,

you won't be disappointed!

Change and Growth are all part of the process,

Learning forms who we are,

just step out of your comfort zone,

you may just find a treasure awaiting you,

I certainly have ...

Written by my teacher for me!

What do you see?

Taken during my SoulCollage® training!

Capturing a self moment

What do you see when you see yourself?

Look into the mirror and look, truly look.

See the beauty you hold within

Know that you are important and cherished!

What do you see when you see yourself?

Look deep into your heart,

 feel the emotions that come from within ...

what are they trying to say to you?

What do you see when you see yourself?

When you think thoughts that are negative,

do you speak words of self doubt?

Are you constantly unhappy with what you see?

What do you see when you see yourself?

Are you seeking moments of quiet,

calming your heart and your mind?

Finding those moments for self care and nurturing

What do you see when you see yourself?

Who is that girl staring back at you?

Fall in love with her again and again

Listen closely to what she has to say ...

Listen ... Carefully

and you will hear ...

if only you will Listen

(a poetic moment written in quiet 2-11-15 at 8:45am)

Ten Thoughts on a Wednesday

Ten Thoughts on a Wednesday

Beauty can be found everywhere ... if only you will look

Friendships are lasting treasures ... you must always nurture them

Poetry soothes a restless heart ... take the time to write or read it

Spring is a time for renewal ... in nature and in one's soul

You can't do it all ... so choose your steps wisely

We must choose to be happy ... for it is a state of mind

We all have a message to share ... what is yours?

Candlelight is beautiful ... take the time to enjoy it

Our homes are our safe sanctuary ... stay home and enjoy it

Be at peace with yourself ... and you will be with others

Have a beautiful day

and always look for the good in this life!

A Poem in my Pocket . . .

This is National Poetry Month

where we celebrate 

the gift of the poetic verse.

I am in love with poetry,

reading it, writing it, sharing it and teaching it!

I am always wanting to lead others to it.

Tomorrow April 17, 2014

is

Poem in Your Pocket Day!

It is where you choose a meaningful poem

carry it in your pocket all day long

and share it out loud

with as many people as you can,

sharing the gift of poetry.

I am so excited that it is tomorrow

and I can share it also with

my Senior Adult Writing Group!

I chose the poem

"Now I Become Myself"

by May Sarton

somehow these words feel perfect

for tomorrow,

so today I decided to share it with YOU!

Now I Become Myself

by

May Sarton

Now I become myself.  It's taken time,

many years and places;

I have been dissolved and shaken,

worn other people's faces,

Run madly, as if time were there,

terribly old, crying a warning

"Hurry, you will be dead before ---"

What? Before you reach the morning?

Or the end of the poem is clear

Or love safe in the walled city

Now to stand still, to be here,

Feel my own weight and density!

The black shadow on the paper

is my hand; the shadow of a word

as thought shapes the shaper

falls heavy on the page, is heard

all fuses now, falls into place

from wish to action,

word to silence,

my work, my love, my time, my face

gathered into one intense

gesture of growing like a plant

as slowly as the ripening fruit

fertile, detached and always spent,

falls but does not exhaust the root,

so all the poem is, can give

grows in me to become the song,

made so and rooted by love.

Now there is time and time is young

O, in this single hour I live

all of myself and do not move

I, the pursued, who madly ran

Stand still, stand still and stop the sun!

Little Donna Lee
Becoming Herself

It's not too late to gather up

just one poem

and put it in your pocket for tomorrow.

May your day be filled 

with happiness and all good things

Treasure what already is in your life!