Our Next Artful Spirit Workshop

Community of Creative Spirit

I am so excited to announce our next 

artful spirit gathering!  

suzan and I have planned 

a spectacular creative day 

january 25, 2014 

I wanted to share with you 

here on my blog

WELCOME TO AN ARTFUL SPIRIT!

We are a collaboration between two creative spirits: Donna Wynn and Suzan Thompson.

OUR NEXT WORKSHOP...

Join us for some creative fun that will deepen your sense of self,

opening your heart and mind to the flow of your own artful spirit.

Play and Create With
An Artful Spirit

Donna Z. Wynn & Suzan Thompson

Saturday, January 25, 2014  from 9am to 5pm

Only $99 for an art-filled, spirit-infused playful day!

in Virginia Beach

Needing a transfusion of play and creativity to rejuvenate your life?

Want to connect with others and feed YOUR artful spirit? 

We’ve planned another 4 mini-workshops for this one-day retreat:
* Painted Papers *

* A Taste of Zentangle *

(Donna is now a certified Zentangle Teacher!)

* Artful Affirmations *

and

* Art Card Collage *

(This one will be taught by guest artist Michal Mahgerefteh!)

Just $99 for the whole day!!!

Includes materials (what a BARGAIN!!!)

Register soon!

(Spaces are limited to 8 Artful Spirits)

www.anartfulspirit.com

P.S. We'd like to create community in this retreat-style workshop by sharing lunch. Will you bring a dish and join us?

2014 Is off to a great creative start
I am excited about where my art is leading me
Just click on the link above for full details
Wouldn't this be a great gift idea to give yourself?
Hope to see you there!
Donna

Creative Thoughts on a Wednesday

My recent works

Life is certainly rushing past me lately.

The Thanksgiving Holiday preparations,
wonderful company, family gatherings,

cooking, cleaning and cooking some more!

It all went by so quickly.

We all have holiday stories to tell I am sure,

how fast my five days off passed me by,

and without being creative during those days!
Oh I thought I was gonna get so much done.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have changed
a moment of it all.

I find that I need to create daily,

something anything!

I strive to be creative everyday,

yet it didn't happen!

I believe that is my "creative slogan"

I let my own self down.

December is here

and now the hustle bustle of the 

Christmas Holidays has come along with it.

There is baking to do,

presents to buy and decorating the house,

staff parties and friends to gather with.

All good things certainly.

I need more,

quiet space and contentment,

time to create and paint, draw

or just playing in my journal.
There is so much Zentangle
I want to explore.
For I find being creative helps to center me.

My goal for my month of December

is to slow down,

way down

to enjoy each day during this busy season,

to breathe it all in,
one moment at a time.

I want to take time just to be!

I celebrate this holiday season,

for I have so much to be grateful for,

especially a new little life brought into our family 

what a special holiday it will be!

I don't want to rush through it,
not a moment of it.

I want to purposefully live each day,

and walk meditatively through it all.

I realize this isn't an easy task!

We all can make choices

of how we live our lives.

I can control my time,

that is for sure!

I had hopes of creating my own

holiday cards this year,

not sure that's gonna happen!

Time is a gift to all of us,

it is up to us as to how we spend it.

Take the time

to be happy this holiday season,

accomplish all that needs to be done,

and enjoy the process of being happy,

truly happy!

Do everything with a joyful heart!

I certainly plan to!

Practicing Gratefulness

New Doorways of Opportunity 

 Enchanting words

 Beauty in all things

Nature

 Stolen Moments to be creative

 Beautiful flowers

 Poetic Moments

 Taking the time to write

 Yumminess

 Candlelight's gift

 Cupcakes!

 Learning new things

 Making Art

Being a grand mommy for the first time

This week of Thanksgiving

take the time to think about

what you are grateful for.

There are so many gifts we are given

in our lifetime.

Sometimes our vision gets blurred

and we lose sight of what is truly important.

Let this week bring you back home.

I am grateful for YOU

my friends and readers!

Blessings to you

May your Thanksgiving be filled

with love and precious moments.

Donna Lee

Ten things on a Tuesday

Inspiration found in Providence, RI

Inspiration can be found in so many things

Traveling alone makes you stronger

Discover what you love to do and pursue it

When a door opens ... walk (or run) through it!

Love Notes in the mail add delight in your day

Discover a new poet and soak in the words

Candlelight is a beautiful thing

Always look for moments to practice being grateful

Connecting with friends is a treat beyond measure

Try a latte with coconut milk ... you won't be disappointed

my ten things
on a Tuesday Morning

My Zentangle Experience

Greeting me as I entered Hotel Providence

We were off to a great start!

Where do I even begin to tell you

about my Zentangle Certification weekend?

I am not really sure that I can put into words,

but I am going to try!

I have truly been drawn to this 

beautiful and meditative drawing process

for quite some time.

I have taken classes at Art and Soul,

had private instruction,

and sought out any CZT

I could find in my area,

it just didn't seem to be enough.

My interest continued to grow,

I was constantly finding myself

with a Zentangle tile and Micron Pen

in my possession.

I then looked into the certification weekend,

got on a waiting list for this year,

never dreaming it would happen ...

yet the email came that there was a slot opened!!

All the doors began to open up for me

and I knew I was intended to be there.

I shared with the hubby why I truly wanted to do this,

booked a flight to Providence,

cleared my work schedule,

(even had my baby granddaughter born in between!)

and I found my way there.

Never truly realizing what was just ahead.

Hotel Providence 

It truly was a magical four days,

I learned so much ...

Rick and Maria's philosophy of Zentangle,

their love story,

met their wonderful family,

learned techniques and tangles,

the responsibility of being a CZT,

I met wonderful new friends,

cried a little (it was so wonderful)

and of course

bought some treats from the store

to bring home with me!

I was truly immersed in the

Zentangle experience,

knowing all the while

 what a gift this trip truly was

and I didn't want to leave.

My classmates!

I got to learn and create next to them every day

We put our names in

a hat (Zentangled of course)

and I won this amazing 

artwork created by Maria

a treasure beyond words

and can you believe it ... a Mandala!

Everything unfolded just as it was supposed to.

"It is good to have and end to journey towards ...

but it is the journey that matters in the end"

Rick and Maria

and the entire Zentangle team

(all family by the way)

presented in such a beautiful way.

From the moment we entered the hotel, 

to the incredible meals,

fellowship time between sessions,

hand calligraphy autographs,

name tags, journals and certificates,

a collaborate art piece,

a graduation ceremony

and the very fun group photo!!

Every detail was thought out with such

love and attention.

Maria hand calligraphed by book!

How I love the name Donna Lee even more now!

There were 108 attendees

and we each participated in a collaborative art piece,

which one lucky attendee

got to bring home!

(The section I added to)

Here is the finished piece ... Breathtaking!

I am grateful for what I learned,

all that I experienced and took in ...

I am so proud to represent

 the Zentangle art form

to others now.

I will hold true to 

Rick and Maria's philosophy

and protect it.

They have worked so hard

to develop this technique

in such a beautiful and amazing way.

Working in this art form

has changed my artistic perspective

and I just can't wait to share it with others.

I already am booked to teach

this amazing process.

I realized that after much searching,

I have found my artistic home.

Zentangle is yummy

and full of such possibility!

If you are interested in spending time learning

with me in a safe and creative environment, 

I think you know where to find me!

Our celebration cupcake after graduating!

Donna Lee, CZT

Certified Zentangle Teacher

(wow ... that's me!)

Gratitude ... Day One

Gratitude Day One

The Love of Family

I am starting my 30 day Gratitude Project today

for there is so much in this life

to be grateful for!

I took the time to quietly list thirty things
I was grateful for during this month of November,
I cut them up and put in my favorite pottery bowl,
each day I will pick a gratitude moment out.

I decided I would post each day on my facebook page

my thoughts on gratitude.

I will also share my own personal photography,
(for I am truly grateful every time I have my camera in my hand)
you can find me here each day
https://www.facebook.com/donna.z.wynn

I am also participating in Louise Gale's

30 Days of Gratitude

check it out here

She is such a beautiful soul!

I have learned so many things from Louise.

It's not too late to begin.

The love of family

is such a precious gift.
Cherished times with
extended family is awesome,
and always never enough time to be together.

How blessed am I

to have such an incredible

family life,

and recently the birth of my

precious new grand daughter!
For she is another extension of this gift.
For there are truly no words
to describe how I feel.

Love and family is a precious gift

for that I am truly grateful.

Donna Lee

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Serendipity for a Day

Beach treasures and my chosen word

This year I wasn't able to attend the full Serendipity Retreat

in the Outer Banks

because my daughter n law's due date

was at the exact time the retreat was happening. 

But as luck would have it,

Annabelle was born two weeks early ...

So I was able to come for the day and take one class,

fellowship with cherished friends

and have a tiny Serendipity experience,

it was a most perfect day!

There is always something so magical

about the Outer Banks,

but add in the retreat experience

and it becomes hard to put feelings into words.

I took a writing class with Amy Tingle and Maya Stein,

Writing the Collective:

Transcending Creative Solitude

It was a small intimate group

and I so enjoyed spending the day

with kindred writers,

being motivated to write from the heart,

to share my feelings,

being inspired to write

for the entire day.

I remember thinking to myself

I could have been working,

instead I am in this magical place

writing all day long!

This class was a gift in so many ways,

it opened up feelings I had kept buried deep inside,

for they found their way onto the page.

It is sometimes difficult to write

the hard stuff

all the while so good for you

 to share with others sitting in a room

feeling safe and secure.

One of the exercises we did

was to walk the beach,

find three white objects

and return to the room.

We were to then write

a word or phrase on each item,

we put them in a collective bowl

and we were to pick from the items,

not our own ...

I chose Amy's word

Fortunate

We then found a corner outside

and wrote and wrote and wrote

using our chosen word.

We then shared our writing out loud

with each other

and it was awesome!

Thank you Amy and Maya

for showing me how to express

myself in different ways.

For guiding me to reach inward 

and to write deeply.

You two are amazing

and inspire so many of us,

you always have my heart.

Thank you Michelle and Jen

for creating such a beautiful 

retreat environment.

I am sure those who attended the

four days

were filled beyond measure

You are both beauty and light!

We need your insights and love.

How Fortunate am I

to live in such a creative circle,

to have wonderful

friends and peers along the way.

Serendipity was a gift for me,

if only for a day.

I am filled and refreshed, 

I am hopeful

and I am truly inspired

to keep walking gently each day.

I attended my first retreat

four years ago in the OBX,

it truly changed my life for the better.

While driving home 

from Serendipity the other day,

I realized just how far I had come

in that time, 

how much I had grown,

all I had accomplished artistically,

how I still cherished the friendships

 that were built then.

I knew just how much I liked who I had become

and for that I am truly grateful!

Donna Lee

Sending Love and Art in the Mail

Some finished Mail Art

I always love when I learn something new!

I am always on the look out for a new technique,

idea, e-course, or anything new I can try.

I truly believe we can get caught in a creative rut.

Don't you find yourself going to your art table,

and doing the same thing over and over again?

I recently signed up for an art workshop

"You've Got Mail Art"

with 

Roben-Marie Smith,

she is always amazing and I am never

disappointed in her courses,

she shares everything with you

and always gives 110%.

 The best part is that you

have life time access to the class!!!

There are so many lessons and techniques

in this course,

but I jumped to the cardboard mail first,

couldn't wait to get those postcards cut

and painted with gesso!

I love the way they turned out 

and I truly can't wait to make some more!

They are 9 x 6 1/2" 

so they are truly a little piece of artwork.

I used gesso, acrylics, pen, colored pencil and my fingers

I added one little message ...

I used a rubber stamp I recently purchased

"Life is about using the whole box of crayons"

Front Cover for mailing

"To the Amazing ..."

Now I am off to the post office to see

how much it costs to mail these precious babies!

I created four last night and they are all spoken for.

I can't wait to get back to the studio 

and create a few more of them,

what fun this project was!

If you would like some inspiration sent your way

I will be sending out more love soon ...

let me know if you would like to be on the list

for future productions!

I will draw out four lucky readers!

It might just be YOU!

I believe we all need a little treat in our mailbox,

it just makes us happy

right?

Wishing you strength to get through the day

Happiness in all things

and

Love enough to share with others

Donna Lee

A new phase in my creative life

Meet Annabelle Lily Wynn

I wondered what I would write about

on my blog this week.

It has been pretty busy around here,

as you can see!

Then I knew I wanted to share my good news

with YOU!

Our first grand child came two weeks early,

and we are all thrilled beyond measure.

She came into the world on her own time.

In just a blink of a moment,

when she was placed in my arms

for the very first time,

I knew my life would be changed forever!

I have already started a poem,

I keep revising the words ...

I will know when it is complete.

I have water colored some mini designs

for the nursery wall,

 of course knitted some hot pink ruffled booties,
and I can't even imagine how many
photographs I will be taking!

So you see, even having a new addition

to the family

there will always be avenues for creativity!

I can't wait till she is old enough to get

a paintbrush in her hand

and have some creative time at her

grandmommy's house.

I am filled with joy

beyond any measure,

for I know my life is truly blessed.

She is beautiful and healthy

and we have been given a treasured gift.

I look forward to showing her creativity in her life,

playing with paints, crayons, markers and so much more.

Teaching her that she can be anything she wants to be,

and guiding her to never be afraid to express herself

in whatever way she chooses,

for she is truly a special little spirit.

Welcome to the world

my little one

Annabelle Lily Wynn

(sounds like a fairy tale doesn't it?)

Donna Lee

aka Grandmommy

Creative Process

creativity happening here

Creative Process ...

We all have one,

a routine we create in order to start working

favorite items around us

music playing in the background

candlelight

incense

our favorite apron on

our special workplace

meditation

As I was creating a small Zentangle this morning

I took a look around my studio ...

it was filled with my favorite things

and I realized that I truly love my space.

My studio is filled with stuff,

my stuff

all beautiful reminders from friends 

and past experiences.

They all fill me to the brim with happiness

Oh yes I do have a beginning ritual

I perform before beginning any art project.

My candles must be lit,

I can smell my sage incense burning gently

I love my studio window to be open

so I can hear the gentle beginnings of the day,

I have a small meditation bell

tied to my work lamp,

I hit it before I begin

for I love to hear the small ringing sound

gently fading away

and I know it is time to begin.

If I am lucky and have the time,

how I love to begin by reading a poem

from one of my favorite poets,

it just seems to ground me.

It takes so much to get started

and when in the creative process,

"the bubble", the "zone,

it takes so much for me to stop.

 Enjoying the process

is such an awesome thing ..

I wonder

what is your creative process,

what does it take for you 

to stop living the day to day stuff

and come to your art space and work?  

To just begin ...

I'd love to hear

Donna Lee

(It feels so good to be back in the studio creating again after my little heart detour)