My artist date

I had an amazing afternoon yesterday at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. I took my little self to the museum wanting to renew my spirit and it did just that.  I have been wanting to get away on a mini Donna retreat for quite sometime and couldn't figure out where to go or what to do.

Then I had the idea that I had this beautiful museum right in my backyard

(well just twenty minutes away)

why wasn't I spending more time there?

I took my trusty camera, my sketchbook and watercolors

and off I went for the afternoon.

I started first with a free soy latte from Starbucks

when I got to the museum

the entrance fee was free yesterday

and I spent $1.00 for a ten pack

of postcards

all in all I would say that was an inexpensive outing

but what I received in return

could not be measured!

As I walked through the galleries 

I was filled with inspiration, 

just being in the presence of such artistic greatness 

made my heart stir!

I took so many photos, because I was needing them for my two blogs

I am always looking for wonderful images to use with my poetry!

I was alone with just me

taking the time to sketch some memories

capture some images in photo

and watercolor a few vignettes

I can't tell you how renewing and refreshing the experience was

There were artist drawing stations throughout the museum

and I took the time to capture some of the symbols

I found in rugs and paintings

you know how I love to doodle

They provided all the supplies needed 

black construction paper, clip boards to walk around the museum

and white Prismatic colored pencils 

that was something I had never tried and I loved it

I encourage you to find yourself a place

to take a day trip

or an outing

somewhere you can retreat to for just a short time

breathe in all that is around you

and recognize that this is one of those moments

being alone with yourself

your thoughts

your art supplies

is a gift

truly

Sometimes we can't always run off to weekend retreats

with amazing artists

but we can retreat right in our own

backyards

look for opportunities

to renew your spirit

you won't be disappointed

I am sure there is a poem brewing

in here somewhere!

Beauty is all around . . . just listen . . .  just see

Fun with Zentangle and Doodles

I have been intrigued with Zentangle for quite some time now.  I have read every book there is on the technique and have so enjoyed the process of it all. Zentangle is a form of intuitive and meditative drawing, repeating of shapes into a design.  It is a great release, it is relaxing and a great way to stretch the imagination.  None of my designs carry a theme, I just find myself in a zen zone and draw for hours.  I find myself totally into the creative moment and enjoy the relaxation that this art brings me.

I have been "doodling" for quite some time.  In fact, I have quite a passion for this art technique.  I nicknamed my drawings "Donna Doodles" because my co-workers came up with that name for me and it has stuck with me.  I am always doodling on employees birthday card envelopes or notes!  I always like to keep a journal and a Pitt Artist Pen with me in case I find myself with a few minutes to spare.  I find the process so calming and enjoy drawing pages and pages of designs.  There are times I will watercolor my completed pages or use colored pencils to fill in my designs. The possibilities are endless for this escape!  I see it as a way to stretch my creative wings.  I usually do a small meditative drawing while thinking of a poem to write, or contemplating a writing prompt.  I find it helps me along the way.

Zentangle was originally developed by two people, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas many years ago, you can find their website here.  Since then there has become a Zentangle revolution!  There are actually certified Zentangle instructors around the count "Zentangle Untangled" by Kass Hall is a must for every library.  It is a book filled with inspiration, you won't be able to put it down and her website will keep you coming back for more!  You know that I LOVE Alisa Burke and she has an awesome Doodle Delight e-course available, I strongly urge you to check her out if you are even thinking about beginning this adventure.  She has a way of presenting it in such an easy way.  I just decided that it would be fun to share some of my designs with you here . . .

So when I am not in the studio creating a collage or watercolor painting, or writing over at my poetry blog 100poemsjourney, you will usually find me at my local coffee shop doodling away.  I am having so much fun with this.   I encourage you to grab a small sketch journal, buy yourself a great art pen and have a try at it.  You will find it relaxing, rewarding, grounding and so meditative.  Letting your mind go, playing and engaging in this art form is truly captivating! I love it because it is portable, it doesn't require a lot of supplies and you can take it with you where ever you go!  I'd love to hear if you have had any experience with Zentangle drawing you would like to share with me. 

I leave you with my heart as I always do, this time created in a Zentangle!

(This project is not yet completed as you can see)

I wish you joy, love and all things creative

Donna Lee

In July . . .

My sunrise morning video

I created this video on my last trip to the Outer Banks,

playing with my I Phone and the video feature.

I am not an expert video girl

I can tell you that right now!

I had so much fun

rising early,

determined not to miss

a single moment of the sun rising

over the horizon 

right before my eyes. 

So I decided to create a video 

of the waves coming ashore

the beauty of that morning,

I will never forget.

It's a little meditation for me.

Why is it we get so busy in our

day to day lives,

that we don't take the time

to enjoy the free gift of nature?

It is right there for the taking!

I was just reading Liz Lamoreux's

blog post this morning entitled

"In July, I will . . ."

and she asked us to comment

to her prompt.

I left her a comment but 

I also decided to put my comments 

on

my blog today, 

cause it really got

me to thinking!

(I love that when a subject comes for your blog 

to write about, cause it is hard to always come up 

with something 

that you truly want to write about!)

I love Liz and all that she has to offer,

I encourage you to head over to her blog,

she will inspire you

way past what you expect!

So here goes . . .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In July I want to:

 read The Shoemaker's Wife

write more poetry

continue to take my morning walks

enjoy my last month of being "54"

relax more

take long summer naps
practice more yoga

visit the farmers markets once a week
eat all the fresh veggie yumminess

watch old movies on a hot summer day

make my homemade limeade

keep eating my kids yummy gelato

play with my grand~doggies

go to the ocean as much as I can

paint on the beach

relax with my family

take lots of photographs

dream more

love more

find my gentle side again

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Gift Beyond Measure

I received a text this week from a friend of mine,

it said "Sam has a little something he would like to give you . . . can you drop by this weekend for a couple of moments?"

Of course I replied "sure" with curiosity written in my response!

So on a beautiful Saturday morning,

I woke up to no electricity

which means NO COFFEE FOR ME,

so off to Barnes and Noble

with my laptop in hand,

I knew I could get some writing done,

recharge my Macbook

and of course look around

the Poetry section!

Somehow I always find myself there!

I have also been looking for a good book

on Grammar and found

Woe is I

by 

Patricia O'Conner

I always excelled in English

and felt like I was pretty good at writing;

but there are times with my poetry,

I question where the grammar rules

apply or don't apply!

So that was my purchase for the day.

Back to the beginning of the story,

remember Sam had something for me?

On the way to the bookstore

I stopped by to see my friends,

Chuck and Sam.

It was a lovely visit, as it always is

and the birds outside their windows

were breathtaking!

We talked of knitting, good things, bird feeders

 and writing poetry.

Sam then lead me into the dining room,

 there was something tucked under a towel sitting on the table.

When I uncovered it I saw there was 

a vintage Remington typewriter

that he had used at work for

over forty years.

There in the typewriter was a typed message for me

and I was so overwhelmed with emotion,

I couldn't speak!

I had shared with them a few weeks before

about Maya Stein's type-rider adventure

{oh my gosh . . . he remembered that}

Sam knew I was a writer,

that I loved Poetry

and that his typewriter

would be going to a 

place it would be loved.

So here is the message that was sitting in my new baby!

What a gift I will treasure

for always.

I received this gift of a typewriter

on 

National Typewriter Day

and didn't even know the significance of the day

until I read a post on Facebook

about a friend ignoring her typewriter

on National Typewriter Day

that evening.

That made this gift, on that particular day,

even more significant to me!!

At the end of our visit, I was handed

a small brown envelope and told to 

read it at a relaxed time,

when I opened it later that evening

tucked inside was a book of

Sam's own poetry published in the

early eighties.

My day just kept getting better and better.

I am not sure yet which gift I loved more,

the typewriter or the gift of words!

When someone pays it forward

in such an incredible way

it makes you feel like everything

else in the world will be okay.

Thank you Sammie!

The poems and words that will come

from this typewriter

will be 

 rooted deeply

and always

from my heart.

For whatever reason

I keep being called into the

wonderful world of poetry.

Please join me over at my

100 poems journey blog

 when you get a chance!

The link is at the top left of my blog!

May you reach out this week

and touch someone with a small gift

of love 

somehow

some way!

Donna Lee

The Art of Saying Nothing

My 100 day poetry adventure

I have always loved this watercolor of mine!

I am going to be not as present on my blog

for the next few months

I'll still be around just not as active with

regular postings.

Why you ask me????

I just wanted to share with you my latest adventure!

I have created another blog, but this one is different.

It is my very own poetry journey.
I will be writing and sharing my own works.

You can find me here:

 One Hundred Poems Journey

I have taken so many wonderful e-courses

this past year on writing and poetry, 

so the idea of having a book with my own poetry

and my photography has been sticking with me.
In fact the thought just doesn't go away!

I thought about publishing it through Blurb or Shutterfly,

two companies I have used in the past.

I wanted something more substantial.

I just couldn't ignore the inner messages

that kept coming from my own heart!

Then recently after reading a book entitled

"How to Blog your own Book"

by Nina Amir 

I decided to create a blog

with just my poetry and photographs.
As summer was approaching, 
I thought this was a perfect time to slow down,
develop a regular writing practice
and perhaps a blog was the way to accomplish this.

Then the idea of 100 days came to me,

this will be certainly be a discipline for me.

I am excited about creating
a daily poetry writing practice.

I think starting it at the beginning of summer

and 100 days later it will be the beginning of fall

is sounding like magic timing for me!
When I am finished, I will have
100 pages of poetry and photos!

So please stop by for a visit within

the next 100 days!
I hope I can grant you a small bit
of inspiration in your day.


I promise to still keep you up to date here
at Gentle Threads with my
creative adventures
Promise!
So much to do . . . oh so little time

Wishing you blessings and love

Donna Lee



Endless Possibilities . . . Connecting with my weaver self

This past week I was able to spend some time in my favorite place ever . . . The Outer Banks.  (did you think I would say anywhere else???)  My husband and I were able to to spend time in Manteo at the Tranquil House Inn, a beautiful and familiar friend to me.  We have spent many nights there over the years and I find it to be a place of rest and renewal of spirit for myself.  Vacation time away is always a good thing, but somehow this trip was different to me; I re-connected with my weaver self again and what I discovered was profound to me! I decided to share it with you today.

Down the street from the Inn, quietly placed on Budleigh Street, is a wonderful store called "Endless Possibilities".  I have shopped in there from time to time over the years, even woven there with a group of girlfriends over ten years ago. I decided to take a peek inside and see what was new or what had changed.  I had no idea what was in store for me, myself and I, not for one moment.  I rediscovered something about myself and I am still thinking of it.


Endless Possibilities began in June 2002 and has been thriving ever since.  "It is an innovative recycling project that utilizes castoff fabric from the Outer Banks Hotline (Crisis Intervention and Prevention Center) thrift stores to create woven fabric that is then transformed into beautiful handwoven items.  These items include unique rugs, handbags, totes, clogs and other items and are created primarily by volunteer weavers.  This creative process echoes Hotline's philosophy that everything and everyone deserves a second chance."  
                       (quote taken from their brochure given to me that day)

The Outer Banks Hotline is a nonprofit organization that provides a 24-hour crisis phone line as well as shelter, support services and advocacy to victims of domestic and sexual violence in the Outer Banks communities.  Their funding comes in a large part from the sales at their thrift stores.  How wonderful to see these two organizations at work with each other for the good of others.  My heart is so deeply touched by this, I hope that if you are ever in Manteo you will take the time to stop in their delightful store and see what is happening there.

Here is a peek inside the donation room . . . all these goodies waiting to be cut into strips to be woven into articles.  It was truly overflowing!  It did my heart good to see such goodness in all of these donations.

Here is a peek inside the loom room.  So many looms lined up waiting to be woven on by volunteers, again, even the looms have been donated by others to help this cause be a success.  I remember being here about ten years ago and it was as if nothing had changed! What fond memories I carry with me of that day in May so long ago.  When I first came into the store it was just to check it out and see if anything had changed since I had been there last.  The manager asked me twice if I would like to sit and weave for awhile, each time I said "no thank you", but then after seeing these looms threaded and ready, I wanted to sit for awhile.  The question was, which one would I choose???

I then found this loom and fell in love with the rag rug that was being woven on it, so I turned and said I would love to weave for awhile!  I stayed for a good long time, adding one fabric strip after another, the pattern I kept repeating in my head . . . one flowered, one tie dyed, one solid, repeat.  As I began weaving a sudden feeling of "this is where I belong came over me".  You see I have a loom at home and I haven't woven anything for years . . . truly years.  The loom is my studio is half threaded with beautiful fibers, but I never seem to be able to find the time.  I am sorry about that, my heart hurts when I think about it.  So sitting here, at this loom and weaving . . . those wonderful artistic feelings came rushing back to me; on that beautiful Manteo Saturday morning.

How good it felt to place my feet on foot petals once again. I had forgotten that wonderful feeling of pushing the treadles to create a woven pattern, my feet knew they had found their home again!  It all came rushing back to me, in that very instance . . . I knew I was meant to be there at that very moment.

Life has a way of opening up to you . . . if you will only pay attention to it.  You must be ready when opportunities come knocking at your heart.

This beautiful sign was hanging above the loom room; a gentle reminder for all of us! It reminded me that I truly am a weaver and I LOVE the art that it is.  That is why I originally named my business and blog Gentle Threads!  It was good to be back in the presence of fibers again. I felt like I was being called back, so I wouldn't forget.  Last month while attending the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival I was reminded of that as well, I can't ignore these moments.

Endless Possibilities . . . what an awesome name for a shop.  I began to think about that while writing this entry; there is so much I still have to do, there are so many endless possibilities in life, my life . . . how about yours? So I am grateful that I happened to pop in Endless Possibilities while on vacation.  It taught me so much, renewed my weaving spirit and helped me to remember that there is a little weaver girl inside, and a painter girl, and a poet girl, and a knitting girl, oh so much more!  Life is one beautiful adventure isn't it??

When I was taking the Poem it Out E-course with Liz Lamoreux recently, she had given us a writing prompt of "A new voice or perspective . . . let something else speak for you".  I happened to write a poem from my weaving loom's point of view (looking back on it now I get goose bumps!).  I decided to share this with you today in closing . . . it says how I feel.  Poetry is hard to share, but this time I feel the moment is just right.

Her weaving loom says . . . 

i am sitting here in the corner

waiting to be used

waiting to be loved again

i have been half threaded

for oh so very long

i look over there

in the corner of the room

and I see donna

at her art table

playing

her paint brushes

and her art supplies

have taken her

attention and focus 

away from me

one day she will return to me

i know it, i feel it

i am still here . . . 

waiting oh so patiently

one day she will want to hear

my beautiful beater clanging

flowing in a rhythm

one day she will hold my shuttle again

passing through the over~under threads

repeating the sound over and over again

creating a piece of handwoven cloth

right before her big blue eyes

i ask myself

how is it she has forgotten?

don’t disappear from me

come back to me old friend

we’ve been together

for oh so very long

your weaving loom

your companion

your fiber friend

4-24-12

Think about your own endless possibilities and please remember that when life comes knocking, open the door and let it in.

Donna Lee

Poetry Thursday

Returning home

Here I stand . . . 
My grandfather built this walkway
Such a sense of connection


I recently took a trip to New Jersey
on the Amtrak
(my first train ride ever)
to visit my family
and connect with special friends.

It would have been my daddy's
82nd birthday
on May 19th
and I wanted, I needed 
to feel close to him.
So I went to his home town
in Little Ferry, New Jersey.
I spent precious time with my
remaining family,
laughing, giggling, taking pictures,
remembering special times.
I took a walk to
my Nanny and Pop Pop's house
on Henches Place.
So many feelings rushed to my heart
I was grateful to be there
at that exact moment
remembering what was.
I knew this was one of those life moments . . .

Life Moments

they come when you least expect them
times in your life
when you know
you just know
this is a special time

a time that is unlike any other
a time you know you will never forget
a time when your heart races
a time when you feel your
heart pounding outside of your chest
I call them life moments

my heart stood still at the house
on Henches Place
that still small voice inside
spoke to me
quietly saying
you are here
thank you for coming
we love you here
little Zeppieri girl
you came home
just once more
never forget
this very special life moment

Thank you Jennifer Belthoff
for a beautiful weekend
and delivering me to my family
that very special
Sunday morn.