My Creative Space

Do you have a creative space?  I recently was given this wonderful canvas picture for my birthday.  I immediately knew that it would hang somewhere special is my art studio.  I took a look at all the beautiful things in my studio and realized how blessed I am to have a room to call my own! 


As I look through my studio space I see my weaving loom, my yarns, special gifts, paintings, trinkets, treasures, pictures of friends and experiences, beads, my watercolor palette, paintbrushes and so much more.  I realize that this is a room all of my own, no one but me!  That is a pretty awesome feeling.  As we raise our children and go through life doing all the things we must do, we try to fit in our creative time when and if we can.  Our "creative tools" are stuck in boxes, drawers, closets, on our dining room tables, the utility room, anywhere we can stuff our stuff! Does this sound at all familiar to you?  Rooms in the house were for raising our precious children; bedrooms, toy rooms etc.  I will cherish those years forever and I am reminded of how quickly that time in my life passed by,  but now my children are both raised and married with homes of their own. 

All my stuff!

View from my loom

Some of my art book collection

I took over my son's bedroom, probably the day he moved out!  He never seems to forget to remind me of that.  I couldn't wait to get the walls painted and move into my studio. I will always cherish the day when my daddy and I painted the walls together and we were singing Frank Sinatra tunes all day. I began to envision how I wanted it laid out, where all of my art supplies would go and how it would feel to me when it was completed!  I was not disappointed, how awesome it is to have all of my supplies in one special place.  I still get tickled about having a studio and it has been years now. 

Another view!

Entering my studio

As I enter my studio there is always a sense of calm, peace and familiarity.  I know that my creative senses begin to emerge and I am totally lost in the moment.  Those moments can turn into hours very quickly.  I enjoy just spending time glancing through my books for inspiration and ideas.  I listen to my music, light my candles and incense and time gets quickly away from me.


I realize now that having a creative space all of my own has enhanced my artwork immensely.  When I had to pull out my art supplies to create something, the effort was more than the time I had to create.  Now that I have my studio, everything is there for me.  My watercolors are ready, the loom is sitting there for me, the books are waiting for me to reach for them.  Most important of all, are the objects hung on the walls, the yarns full of color and texture,  the gifts I have been given by friends, all of the little things I have collected over the past years.  These are the things where my inspiration lies.  I cannot begin to tell you what seeing my special things do for me.  


I am blessed, yes I know it and in so many ways.  I could go on and on in sharing with you the blessings in my life, but this post is about creative space.  I have read many blogs, and magazines about where women are doing their work, I am truly not alone in this quest for privacy and creativity.   I highly recommend the magazine "Where Women Create" published by Stampington  & Company's Somerset Studio.  This was created by a brilliant lady Jo Packham, there is also a website www.wherewomencreate.com.  I encourage you to check it out, it is filled with inspiration and beautiful photos and stories of women who are doing far greater things than I!

Letting the creative light in!

A space for everything creative!

I wanted to share with you my little spot of creative heaven.  If you cannot have a room of your own right now, how about a corner of your own.  There are many ways to turn a small room, closet or corner of your home into a working space.  I used my utility room for years when my guys were little.  There was my loom and yarns right along next to my washer and dryer.  It can be done if you want it badly enough.


I hope you have been inspired by my creative space and that you find a special place to call your very own.  I would love to hear from you and share with me your thoughts and ideas.  Find delight in every day and in all that you see.
Donna

Time for Retreat

405 Queen Elizabeth Avenue

This past weekend was my 53rd birthday getaway.  My husband took me away to Manteo, North Carolina in the Outer Banks.  We stayed in the beautiful Tranquil House Inn, my favorite place to rest and retreat. It sits beautifully on the waterfront surrounded by wooded boardwalks, iron benches and amazing sailboats that sat docked.  The town is quaint, quiet and oh so charming.  Each little shop carries a charm of their own.  My eyes were filled with beautiful colors from plants on the street to the beauty of pottery, paintings, jewelry and art galleries.  I could feel my creative senses in their full awareness!!

Ready for my Birthday weekend!

So many times we let our lives get so filled with what we must do; then when we are home we fill it with the sounds of television and play on our computers, we forget to see the beauty in stillness and quiet. That hurts my heart and I include myself in that statement.  I know I have touched on this subject before, but it keeps returning to my thought process.

This past weekend was truly a gift for me in so many ways.  Of course as I turn another year older, my mind had to settle in to the new year mark and we must sort out any feelings of "getting older" that I needed to.  This year I truly had no problem with the number 53, imagine that!  I am grateful that God has blessed me with a wonderful life.  My children are strong, healthy and self sufficient.  Each one of my boys are now married to wonderful mates, and I have the blessing of being a mom to my wonderful daughter-n-laws.  My husband and I celebrated 33 years of marriage this year and we are both healthy and truly still in love with each other.  That my friends is an accomplishment in this day and time.

So I spent time in retreat this weekend.  Being quiet, sketching, reading, knitting and spending quality time with my husband.  Praying and thinking about my past and how far I had come in this wonderful gift called life.  I took the time with my thoughts about all the things I want to accomplish in the future and thought of the wonderful artwork I wanted to explore!  The list is long but attainable!

A future watercolor!

It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to get away.  What a beautiful place this was and just a few minutes away was the ocean, another retreat place for me.  Walking the beach, hearing the waves roll in, watching the sea gulls....God's world is pretty amazing.  We all have to just take the time to slow down and see it.  My birthday was a beautiful day, my weekend was inspiring and time with my thoughts was immeasurable!  I am ready to return to real life, full of hope and promise for creating some beautiful artwork.  Whether it be with a paintbrush in hand, time in my journal or knitting a lace scarf.  Fall is fast approaching and this is my favorite time of year.  Time to stay home and nest.  Letting your creative spirit retreat and rest is an opportunity to hear what is inside. Try . . . it's amazing!

Sheer Blissfulness!

My Creativity Challenge for Summer

I have just purchased this incredible book entitled

Taking Flight

(Inspiration & Techniques to give your Creative Spirit Wings) 

 by Kelly Rae Roberts  

Now I have had it on my Kindle since April and was enjoying the read; but when I was in Borders last week I ran into the physical copy in the artist section.  It truly leaped out of the shelf and into my hands!!!

As I began to flip through the pages, the colors and photographs were stunning to me.  Now that my friends is something reading on the Kindle can't do for you! (There is a lesson for me, anything about creativity must not be read on an electronic reader, I need visuals!)

I have followed Kelly's blog for quite some time.  You can find her link right here on my blog, please take the time to check it out.  I find her to be delightful, whimsical and inspiring.  When I grow up as an artist,  I want to be just like her!

How incredible it must be to follow your creative dreams,  be able to do what you love all day long, inspire others and make a living at it at the same time!  She has reached so many with her artistic abilities, I love to look at her work.  Not only does she share with us her techniques, she also invites other artists into her book to share their techniques as well.  She promises the book is overflowing with inspiration and the book does not disappoint.

While reading her book this weekend, it came to me that I needed to challenge myself to create something each week for the remaining of summer. I wanted to do an exercise that inspired me from her book.  I have been intrigued with collage techniques for awhile now and wanted to incorporate the technique into my watercolors.

So starting this week, I am going to try to create something magically inspired from Kelly's book.  Along with my Creative Thursday E-course, I feel the creative juices are starting to flow.  I will challenge myself past what I am comfortable with.  

The time I spent taking care two very ill parents was a very difficult period in my life.  It took all of me just to get up in the morning and make it through another day.  My creativity dried up and the desire to be artistic completely went away.  I am sure many artists have experienced this scenario.  I am grateful for the lessons I learned and I now know that we must take the time to nurture our own creative spirit, even during the most difficult of times. 

I recognize that my inner artist now wants to come out and play.

I have been truly inspired and I anticipate where my art journey will take me.  I am grateful that there are artistic ones who are out there writing excellent books and beautiful blogs to inspire us all.  I encourage you to explore the wonderful teachers and instructors that are out there. You just have to be willing to be open and receive what they have to say.  Be willing to try something new and challenging.

I look forward to my first piece inspired by Taking Flight.  Thanks Kelly for inspiring me in such an easy and inviting way! I am sure there will be another blog post soon!

Get back to my fibers and artwork

Finishing my socks

I realize that I haven't been knitting or weaving recently! I recently picked up a pair of socks that I started over six months ago and they still aren't finished.  That makes me sad.  They are full of lace and cables and beautiful, I want to get them finished.  Living a life in balance is hard.  The demands of life with family needs, spousal attention, work and life commitments all take us away from our artistic journey. I want to do these things, but I also want to be a creative individual.

I know for me I always feel better when I can have creative time in each day.  I purposely get up early each morning, to have some type of creative time for myself.  The emails, blogs and facebook have begun to take more and more of my time.  I find that the fiber arts and  painting gets put to the side.  I am not sure how to fix that.  I know all artists struggle with this.  I am not a full time artist and it is not my financial support for life, therefore I don't give it as much importance  or validation.

I have made a commitment to myself this week, to watch less mindless television, to stay away from my social networking "facebook" and concentrate on more creative time with myself.  Can I do it???  I surely hope so.  I don't feel good when I am not allowing my creative spirit to soar!  It has only been a day and the urge to cut the television on is strong.  Hmmmmm something is out of balance here!

I look forward to coming back to myself and my art.  I need that.  Everything in my life is pretty wonderful, so this little area of concern can be fixed.  Living a life in balance is a very hard thing to do, but it can be done.

I went to the art store yesterday, I am fortunate to have a Jerry's Artarama just FIVE MINUTES from my house, how cool is that!  I bought myself some artistic treats.  I was looking for a nice set of watercolor pencils and found them.  I was stirred up with excitement as I carried my little bag out of the store and I look forward to quiet time and experimenting with them.

I am trying to finish my socks before fall and they will be a pair of hand knit socks just for me.  They will remind me of  over coming procrastination and getting things accomplished.  My desire is to live my life more creatively and I am giving myself permission to do so!
Blessings

"Serenity"

I was creating this week and was enjoying painting this simple little tree.  As I finished it I was able to take a look at it and the title "Serenity" came to me.  Somehow it seemed to fit perfectly.  It is often hard to work on a piece and then give it the perfect title.

In creating art, sometimes we over do things, over think the process and carry a project too far.  Lately I have been concentrating on knowing when a piece is finished and doesn't need anymore!  That is harder than you think!

Serenity comes in many forms.  A quiet morning with no distractions, the beauty of your  own backyard, the birds singing their melodies, the written word, a quiet bath, a beautiful song, candlelight...I could go on and on.  I have been trying to find Serenity in my life lately. 

I yearn for quiet and am trying hard to not get distracted in the business of life.  Retreating to my studio and painting seems to work for me lately.  I love the quietness when my own inner muse speaks to me.  It is always there with me, I just need to take the time to listen and hear.

So I look at the simpleness of my little tree and remind myself to look for Serenity in all things. I know for me I feel more at peace when stillness is involved.  I truly believe my creative soul is beginning to flourish again, and for that I am grateful.  It has been a while since I have come out to play!!  I welcome the opportunity. 

I invite you to look for the Serenity and stillness in your own life and be grateful when you find it.  Life is one amazing adventure and there is so much out there for us to seek.  

Blessings always to you my friends.

My Creativity Course Challenge

www.creativethursday.com

This has been such a fun week for me.  I recently enrolled in the Creative Thursday E-Course by Marisa Haedike and we began our projects this week.  I had never enrolled in an E Course before, but I was looking for some motivation to come my way and there Marisa was!  I had always followed her blog and enjoyed her posts and her website.  The description of this course truly made my heart leap and I knew it was something I wanted to do.

Each week she would post a video and a "Creative Challenge" that we would each participate in.  You also get to communicate with the other fellow "Creatives" as Marisa calls us.  (I like that)  You can leave comments  for each other on her blog, or post pics on the Flicker Site.  I am already learning more than I thought and it is just week one.  I didn't even know what Flicker was!

This weeks challenge was to create something from Photography or Writing.  I love the writing, so I decided to do something out of my comfort zone, Photography.  I have a great little Nikon Coolpix, but what I don't have is a fancy dancy incredible camera.  I started taking lots of shots of gardens, my own plants, and things in the Outer Banks this past weekend.  I settled on a plant that my four children put together for me for Mother's Day.

I love the colors and the different hues in the Elephant Ear leaves, so I took a picture as you can see.

I took several pictures of the plant, but what I wanted to concentrate on was capturing the beautiful colors and doing something with them.  How would I do that?  I chose watercolors, my favorite medium of all! I got out my paints, paper and brushes and started to blend and see the colors start to come together.  I then even added a little texture medium to the watercolors.  I started to play with the painting, still knowing I was not done with my project yet.

So I got the idea to create a paper weaving with my painting.  I began to cut up the painting in little 1/2" strips.  I learned never to be afraid to do something different with your work, not all watercolor paintings are meant to be framed and hung on the wall!  I began paper weaving and liked what I saw!

I took a step back to observe my work and realized that I had come to where I wanted to be.  What had I learned from this experience???

Visualization

Creative Play

Photography

Project deadlines work!

Inner pride for a job well done

Today I took it just a step further and decided to frame a little extra piece of the weaving.  I then proceeded to write words that spoke to me (don't think you can see in photo)  I began to write the words love, yoga, muse, create, think, awareness, zen

on the strip of weaving.  This will hang in my studio.

So my first week's challenge was fun and as I am finishing my blog entry to share with you, I realized that I did use both mediums Marisa asked us to use, photography and writing, here is my writing in my blog!

Creativity is about exploration, design, and listening to what is inside.  Sometimes it doesn't always work and sometimes you come up with delightful surprises.  To me creativity is all about finding the time to work at what you love and never being afraid to try something "out of my comfort zone".

Thanks Creative Thursday, can't wait to see what is up for next week!

Painting with my Watercolors

"Blissful"

I just finished framing one of my paintings entitled "Blissful" and I am pretty tickled with it!  I have been studying watercolor paintings for over three years and this is not the easiest medium to work with.  It does take time to get comfortable with it and I believe I have finally crossed over the line from fear into comfortable!


I will never be a traditional watercolor artist who paints faces or barns or houses.  I am definitely more spontaneous than that, I am just allowing the paint to go where it wants to go.  I consider my work to                   be abstract and I love that.  I never know what I will get.


I have had the opportunity to study with some pretty wonderful teachers over the years, through structured courses and workshops.  I think I prefer the workshop setting more than the classroom setting.  In a workshop you get your favorite teacher for two to three days, paint like crazy, fill your notebook with ideas and things you want to remember and off to your homes and studios you go.  When I look back at my photos and notes, I learned so much in a very short time.  


I have also learned with some wonderful watercolor teachers as well.  Each bringing a different approach to the medium and I have been able to learn from all of them.  To let you know just how serious I was about learning to paint, I went to  my teacher's home, every Friday morning at 8:00 am to be to work at my full time job at 10:00am.  I did this routine for months.   She would put a lot of effort in the classes for me and I will always be grateful for my watercolor beginnings.  Thank you Janet!  I then was able to learn from an incredible friend and teacher of mine, Louis Jones,  son of Herb Jones.  An incredible artist in his own right, he shares his gallery with wife Susan, and son Ryan.  What an incredibly talented family that is, and I consider my artistic journey blessed by being able to study with them.  I would go on Wednesday evenings, after working a full day and go to the art gallery where classes were being held.  There he would teach a technique and we would paint for hours under his direction.  If we were lucky enough, he would play his guitar for us while we were painting.  I loved the group setting, but at times that can be intimidating, so many artists on different levels!  Thank you Louis for your encouragement and direction.


Now I feel as if time in my studio is the best teacher of all.  I have learned that you can take the best classes and workshops, travel to learn, buy wonderful art supplies; but if you don't spend time growing with the medium it is worth nothing.  I am my best teacher.  I know what colors stir me.  I know when a painting is worthy of framing and I definitely know what speaks to my creative heart.


I will never be a famous artist, I know that.  I paint because it makes me happy.  Painting calms me during uncertain times and I love sharing it with others.  Watercolor is fun, it is mysterious,  it is frustrating, but all in all a beautiful medium.  Try it sometime, seek out a teacher, buy some supplies and try your hand at it, you will never regret it.  You never know, you might be framing something spectacular.


Hugs and Blessings to you my friends!

Learning something new!

I am really enjoying the blogging experience.  As you can see I have created a new background and added a few design elements into my page.  Before starting this blog, I had only read other people's blogs and enjoyed them.  I always wanted to have my own place where I could go and express what was in my heart and mind, but I was apprehensive about where to begin.  I doubted that I could accomplish it.  With time I have taught myself to write freely and create a place that I enjoy going to.  I have learned to design borders, add gadgets, incorporate pics, multi link myself to my "social networks" (see I am also getting the lingo down!).  The internet can be a scary and intimidating place but it can also be a wonderful place to connect with friends and family.  I  also met many new friends with the same creative interests as mine.

Learning is a good thing and as I soon approach my 53rd birthday,  I have learned that we are never too old to learn something new.  I like that all of my kids have MacBook computers.  They talked me into getting one and I have learned from scratch how to use it.  It is so intuitive and amazing at the same time.  I have jumped in with both feet and I know I haven't scratched the possibilities this computer gives to me.  Every time my son Curt comes to visit, he is showing me something new or fixing something I didn't get quite right!
I know that when I write down my feelings and post something for my blog, it goes out into that big computer world.  I know that I am creating words for myself and I hope that a few of you are enjoying it.    
I will continue to learn and grow through this experience.  So you see creating doesn't always have to be with yarn or paintbrush in hand or spending money on the latest new project!  It can be with writing from the heart.   The written word is magical and enlightening.  I knew English was my favorite subject in school for a reason!!  It wasn't until just now that I figured that out.

May your day be filled with creative blessings today!

Inspiration from Vacation

How often do we get away from our everyday responsibilities?  Not often enough in my opinion.  We are so hung up on our everyday happenings that we are forgetting to slow down and learn to relax without our computers, phones, emails, blogs etc.  It is as if we have almost forgotten how to be still and quiet.  That scares me a little, because I am included in that statement.

I know in my own life I am busy being a full time Optical Manager.  Everyday of the week, someone else dictates my time and my schedule.  Rarely do I get to sit at my loom or knit on my lace shawl, or even read a good book.  By the time I return home and do my other responsibilities,  I am so tired the thought of being creative is thrown out the window.  Does this sound familiar?

 

Recently my son got married.  I shared with you that I was able to have some quiet reflection before the wedding.  It was a wonderful experience and I am so proud of my son and his new wife.  The wedding was a happy time for all of us. Our family is complete with two wonderful sons and their precious wives.   Life has given us such a blessing.  Right after that my husband and I were able to cruise on the Norwegian Sky to the Bahamas.  It was awesome and awesome some more!!!!

No television, cell phones,  no computers (well you could for 40 cents a minute!) just me and my hubby.  We had a balcony in our room and I was able to enjoy the mighty ocean and all of God's nature.  Me and my knitting needles while my husband chose to sleep late in the mornings.  It was so invigorating.  I had chosen to learn knitting socks on two circular needles.  That was a different learning experience for me since I have always knitted on double point needles.  How quickly it came with no distractions...hmmm.

We were able to tour the islands, go snorkeling, visit Atlantis aquarium and see the most beautiful fish and swim in beautiful waters.  By divine providence we met a couple when we went snorkeling from the cruise ship,  it was just the four of us on this sailboat.  We hit it off the entire cruise!  She was a fiber artist and I the weaver, obviously we had plenty to share with each other!!!  What a blessing it was to meet them.  God gives us little gifts all the time in our daily lives.  I even took an excursion Yoga on the Beach!  The beaches were heavenly and I was inspired by the colors of everything.  So much so that I can't wait to incorporate the colors of the tropics into my knitting and weaving.   I can visualize now a handwoven scarf full of teal blues and greens!!!

We all need to get away from time to time.  We need to listen to our inner hearts and what it is trying to say to us.  For me the lesson I learned is that I am too busy.  I need to slow down and appreciate what is right in front of me.  I need to take the time to create and not fit it in whenever I can, my work deserves better than that.  When we give quality time to our endeavors it will show in our work, when we do something half heartedly, guess what...it will show in your work!

I am happy to be home and I am returning to my busy schedule.  I have a renewal of mind and spirit and it can make the difference.  I choose to rest, I choose to slow down and I choose to appreciate all that life has given to me.  Each time I return to my studio I am refreshed in spirit.  I am ready to create with joy.  It is a choice we make everyday whether we will be consumed by busyness or not.  I desire to be calm,  quiet and refreshed.  I want everyday to matter somehow.  Let's see how long I can keep that frame of mind.  I am betting it will quite sometime.

Interwoven Thoughts...

Here is what I am thinking about today:


I love yummy cupcakes                                             
Weaving is my passion
I love to knit socks
Lace knitting is hard, but worth the effort
Time with friends is the best thing ever
Soy Lattes are delicious
Vacations rock
I appreciate God's beauty in nature
Yarn stores are addictive
Good music inspires the soul
Discover Aromatherapy...it's amazing
Creating whatever is what I need to do
Throwing the shuttle is relaxing
I feel calm doing yoga
I love spending time on Ravelry
My facebook friends keep growing
I am learning to spin again
I want to spin yarn for socks
I take a pair of socks to knit wherever I go
I love mixing fibers and textures
My favorite color is teal
I love my family
I want to retire in the Outer Banks
Being a fiber artist is the best thing ever
Watercolor painting is my zen
I love candlelight and hot baths
Watching an old movie with popcorn is great
I love a Sunday afternoon nap
I am grateful for the sounds of a thunderstorm
I love to read on my new Kindle
I love spending time with my hubby
Time in my hot tub is like a mini vacation
Tea time is always a royal treat


Try brainstorming your favorite thoughts, it can be very cleansing for the soul! It's about appreciating all that life has to offer us!