My Two Year Blog*a*ver*sa*ry!

This picture was taken this past weekend

while I was in New York City!

I was walking in SOHO

and I was thinking about my two year

blog anniversary!

I was thinking about what I wanted to relate

to my friends, my followers and to myself

about just what my blog has meant to me,

it will be hard to put into words.

I printed my first year into a book with Blog2Print,

so I would always have a keepsake,

looks like I will now have a second edition.

I really didn't believe I would get this far.

So have a seat my friend, let's get started.

When I began my blog two years ago,

I felt it would be all about the things I would be creating,

sharing ideas and techniques I had learned.

As time has evolved, my blog has grown into so much more,

more than I ever expected.

Gentle Threads has taken on a personality and life

 all on it's own.

It is a place I come to for comfort and expression.

I feel safe and at home here.

I have grown in my writing abilities,

I learned to manipulate my E-Blogger skills,

oh my, I didn't even know how to set up a blog.

I have learned to share my thoughts from the heart

and put them into words.  I have fallen in love

with writing poetry.

 I have developed soul sister friendships

that I cherish with each and everyday!

I enjoy following  their blogs and hearing

their thoughts each morning with coffee.

I have enjoyed the comments given to me

and they have gone 

straight to my heartstrings.

 I am truly grateful for each and everyone.

There is so much love and light 

that is shared in this creative community,

the blessing has been all mine.

I look forward to beginning my third year.

I want to grow even more, share even more

and learn even more, 

I know it is possible.

I don't know what is in store in my 

creative world,

but I know it will be an adventure,

I am so wide open to it all.

Thank you for your support, your love

and your following.

This blog world is amazing, it is heartfelt and it is so very special.

So many adventures, so many different experiences to share,

so many flavors is this life of ours, 

all for the choosing.

I am a creative girlie

in love with all that is around me,

eyes wide open . . . 

to see, to experience and to grow.

I look, I listen, I watch, taking it all in.

I can't wait for the next 

creative experience and sharing it

through pictures and words.

Come along with me 

as I enter into my third year

of blogging

won't you???

all of these photos were taken during

my trip to NYC last weekend

Always taking photos,

looking for just the right subject,

how I love my camera.

Donna Lee

Thank you Lisa Gonzalez for teaching

me to shoot myself, have fun with it

and just let go.

Art and Soul . . . Year two!

Art and Soul Retreats

Well another year, another Art and Soul experience and I have to say that this year

was all the more awesome!  I took two wonderful classes over a four day period and I enjoyed

each one as much as the other.

Each class was a totally different experience.

This year they held it in my own home town,

Virginia Beach, VA

so of course I had to attend!

It first begun with a Needle Felted mini-journal class

with Liz Kettle,

she was amazing!

I haven't stopped reading her book "Threads the Basics and Beyond"

 since I returned home.  

If you get the chance to take a class with her,

don't miss the opportunity.

 Loved the felting machine

 Liz Kettle

 Me and my specs

 Had to doodle on the watercolor pages

My finished book!

Liz began by demonstrating needle felting on a sponge, by hand,

which is the way I have always learned.  We then were able to use the new 

Simplicity Needle Felting machines

and it made the experience so much easier.

Every person in class was able to stitch on the felting machines,

it was so much fun.

I loved adding each and every embellishment to my book cover.

You know I am a fiber artist first, so playing with

all of the fibers made me a very happy and creative girl.

Sitting across from me was a girl I knew as familiar, and

finally realized that we had attended the

Serendipity Art Retreat together last fall.

Heather Smith was such a love!

This art world of ours is very small

and I love how we continue to re-connect with each other.

She also was signed up to take my next class,

with Jesse Reno!

Yet another incredible experience.

I signed up for a two day workshop with

Jesse Reno called Freedom to Create.

I have always heard his class was incredible,

but hearing it and experiencing it

are two totally different things.

 Creative exercise with Jesse

 My little Owlie

( I was thinking of Juliette Crane)

My four finished pieces

 The amazing Jesse guiding us along

 I could watch him paint all day

 His finished class demo

I was very excited to re-connect with

Mindy Lacefield

a precious friend of mine.

We got to paint beside each other for two days

 and the

blessing was all mine.

Watching her in her zone is all inspiring to me.

I am excited to be taking her 

"Paint your Story" e- course

starting in a month,

I encourage you to check it out.

 Mindy Lacefield right by my side

I love this woman!!!

Anytime I can attend something artistic,

 I truly consider it a gift.

It is a time where I can re-connect with myself,

be playful and learn a new technique.

I fill my eyes with the work of others and I

am inspired by their creativity.

Learning and playing are good for the soul.

When I can step away from the demands

of real life,

if only for a moment in time,

connect with friends,

be with like minded people and

create art,

listen to someone else's philosophy

about creating art,

I consider it a very good thing.

I returned home inspired and motivated

to do good work.

It was wonderful, enlightening, inspiring

and a very happy experience.

Hmmm . . . I wonder who I will

study with next year?

Jesse's beginning of painting

done with his hands

Sheer Awesomeness

Being Open

I am open to a world of wonder!
A recent Instagram photo of mine!


Open . . . 
such a beautiful word!
It makes me contemplate
all that is around me,
all that is in my heart and soul,
all that I am dreaming of and
all that I have become.

I am open to new things,
creative ideas,
learning something new,
I am always open to change.

My heart is open wide,
I am learning more and more
with each new day!
I never want to get
close minded,
negative or hard hearted.
I want to keep the door open wide.

Life is full of beauty.
I am surrounded by love,
growth, family and friends.
My heart is open wide,
open . . . open . . . open
to what comes next.
what will be next?

My creative life is growing and exploding,
open to new techniques,
new friendships
and new artistic experiences.

Open . . . 
the beauty of one simple word!

Trying new things

Always playing with my watercolors!

I have been playing a lot with my watercolors lately
and have been away from my collage work.
I have been working on Alisa Burke's
Sketchbook Delight Two
Playing is the perfect word for it,
she is teaching us to enjoy the process
and play with our watercolors and our sketches.

There are so many creative avenues I want to pursue,
I just don't have the time to play all that I want to!
I was down with a bug this past week and forced
to stay home from work for a few days (oh darn).
I enjoyed the slow down immensely.
I think it is wonderful how your body has a way of
slowing you down and forcing you
to rest and restore.
We all need that from time to time!

I love playing with black and white photography!

I wanted to experiment and take that exact image
and play with collage and acrylics.
So here is my project!
I first started with collaging papers
on an 8 x 8 canvas
(I love the squared sizes!)

I then used my palette knife to scrape colors over the papers.
I love that technique.  I know below the paint are 
images and words just resting there.
It just speaks to my heart while
I am creating.

I then decided to paint the flower pot with my
 palette knife as well.
All the while, this was feeling so very different
from my watercolor painting.
I knew I would be getting a different effect.

I then added my flowers and leaves, using my fingers
and the palette knife, it was starting to look
like something!  It was beginning to take
on it's own form.
(artwork does that you know)

Long after I stepped away from the piece 
and allowed it to dry
(something I am not used to)
I came back in with my Pitt Artist Pen
(my favorite for pen and ink detail)
I did learn it didn't do as well over acrylics!
So I also used my 
Stabilo Aquarellable Black Pencil
(another tool I can't do without)
With each stroke, more and more
detail was added to the flowers and leaves.
It is hard to stop when you get to that process.

My finished work!

So here you see my finished piece.

I like it because I learned a lot while creating it.

I do believe I love the watercolor piece more.

There is something so beautiful and fluid

about watercolors.

I call myself a Mixed Media Artist

and that is because I never want to stop at just one

art medium.

I am learning to put them together,

to create with something new,

to experiment with the process.

Isn't that what being artistic means?

I am in love with the creative process,

envisioning, drawing, painting,

detailing, sharing,

and knowing when to stop 

and say my work is finished!

I would love to hear your ideas on 

your own creative process!

Inspired by others

Work by the lovely Danielle Daniel

As I look around my studio, on a rainy (and finally cold morning in Virginia Beach), I see so many beautiful and amazing pieces of artwork I have gathered over the years from artistic friends of mine.  When I enter my studio, {my own private and creative place} . . . where all of my art supplies are, where paintings are hung, fibers are stored, paint brushes sit waiting for me to pick up;  the thing that inspires me the utmost are the views of my girlfriends creative works that I have the joy of having there with me!  Each piece of artwork is a reminder of "creative sistership".  I can't even begin to describe the feelings inside when I am reminded of these women who have guided me along my creative path!  We encourage each other through written words, comments on our blogs, cards and treats sent in the mail, e-courses guiding us along, retreats and art workshops and so much more.  If creating alone was all there was, I would be a lonely girl.  I have developed so many wonderful friendships over the years and I am grateful and inspired by so many.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

Lisa Gonzalez "Happy Mama Artworks"

Harmony Lenasblunt  "Feed your soul art"

Kelly Barton "Art + Design"

 Cathy Bueti "Artsy Butterfly"

Mindy Lacefield
Tim's Sally

We are all scattered around the country, each coming together through our blogs, our Facebook pages, Tweets and Instagram photos.  (I must admit right here and now, I am addicted to Instagram)  For those of you who are not familiar with Instagram, it is an app for Iphone users where you can take a picture . . . wherever you are at the present moment, something that stirs you and you want to share . . . it has wonderful filters you can change the look of your photo and even add a comment.  Each day we get to see things we might never get to see and share our worlds with each other, I love it.  It is a beautiful way to let each other into our day to day lives and be with each other.  So fun to share in what we are doing.
The internet has connected us in a whole new way.  When we leave art retreats with each other, we can still connect daily on a different level, until we can come back to one another in a different experience.

One of my latest Instagram shares

"Enjoying the process of it all"

"I am a thriving Artist"

My apron by Marisa

Creative Thursday

Inspiration comes in many forms, personalities and styles of art.  How lucky we are to create art and do what we love.  Each artist has their own unique techniques, their own marketing ideas and designs.  Just visit ETSY online and see how many art shops are there.  We learn from each other, we share with each other, encourage one another, respect each other's creative domain and
celebrate each other's successes.
I know I am truly blessed to be a tiny part of this
artistic community.
I thank you my creative friends for encouraging me to step forward,
to reach for my dreams and
find my own creative voice.
Inspired by many
how blessed am I!
Donna Lee

A "Donna Doodle"

The Art of Writing

Writing and Art just go together!

I have recently begun taking a writing course with

 Michelle Ensignmer at The Wish Studio called

Ordinary Magic

and I am falling in love with the written word

all over again!

I couldn't wait to take this course and

anxiously awaited for it to begin in the new year!
I first met Michelle at Squam by the Sea in 2010,
what a beautiful heart and spirit she has.
We have stay connected ever since that
incredible experience!
The joy has been all mine!

2012

is my year of self care.

Taking time to nourish my soul,

Anticipate new opportunities,
strengthen my yoga practice,
begin juicing for health

and re-connect with my writing life.

I knew that this course would be just the

jump start that I needed and it is.
I have always loved to read and write,
it was always my favorite subject in school.
I excelled in English, did not so good
in Mathematics,
crazy since I am an Optician, and all I do
is work with numbers!

There is something magical when I can put thoughts to page,
or nowadays to computer.  I think that is why I love my blog so much,
I have been able to write and share all the things that are
rolling around inside my head.

I recently attended a poetry reading for a friend and I fell in love with
poetry all over again.  Hearing so many different styles of
poetry, spoken with such rawness and openess,
it made my heart spill open wide.
I immediately came home and the words just began to pour out
on the page.

Writing is . . .
cleansing
beautiful
sheer openness
love on a page
raw emotion
a sincere way of expressing oneself
communication
healing
stimulating
thought provoking
I love the written word

If you ever get the chance to take Michelle's e course, please do so,
each day she fills your screen with a thought provoking lesson,
or an interview with a writer that she admires.
You can comment all you want and she responds,
 she offers a writing prompt . . .
sometimes we need those to get the
creativeness going.
My journal is filling up and will be a
resource of joy long after the course
is complete!

I love writing,
I always have and I always will.
thank you for reading my blog faithfully
and hearing what my heart has to say!
I am fast approaching my two year
blog anniversary, I can hardly believe it.
I have grown in my writing voice in
more ways than I can say.
I am yours!
Donna Lee

Decided to add little Donna Lee in here!
This little girl is still inside
guiding me along the way.

Creating Daily

"Creative Doodling"

I have been following artist Alisa Burke for quite awhile now and have enjoyed her online classes.  She is such a talented lady and I have enjoyed learning how to keep a sketchbook, how to watercolor better and how to even carve my own stamps! She was also one of the featured artists in 12 Artsy Ornaments with Christy Tomlinson, and I created a sweet watercolor heart ornament.   She inspires you in a way with your art to be relaxed and comfortable with it, and to just go with it!  I like that.  Her videos are full of info and it truly is like having her right in your studio with you!!! I encourage you if you ever get the chance to take a class with Alisa, do so, you will not be disappointed!

This year, this brand new 2012 year, she started on January 1 an online class called Create Daily and I thought it would be fun to jump in the new year and follow along.  I have not been disappointed at all!  Each morning when I turn on my wonderful Macbook, ( just saying!) there she is in an email giving you a creative adventure for the day!  Something that doesn't require a lot of time, or you can take as much time as you want to, it really is brilliant!  I have watercolored, doodled, taken pictures and experimented with things I might not have if it weren't for this course.  She even talks about time management and cooking!  Being creative in your life includes every aspect of your life.  Each day is like receiving a creative morsel from someone who does it so well.  I have kept a journal everyday, cause I don't want to forget anything.  I have been inspired beyond measure, and it is only day ten!!!

We all feel the need to be creative in some way, if you can just take the time to structure your day so that you are able to play for just a little bit of time, you will be a happier and more fulfilled person.  Life is so full of demands, work, phones, computers, emails, life tasks . . . I find myself always yearning for more creative time.  I have been waking up earlier in the mornings, with my coffee in hand, I am headed straight to the studio to try and create before starting my job.  I can't explain it, I am happier, more fulfilled and am actually accomplishing work.  I need it and feel more at peace when creating my artwork.  It's an awesome way to start the day!! It allows me to then get through a demanding day.

In 2012, I promised myself that I would take the time to nourish my inner artist a little bit each day.  It has caused me to listen to more music and shut the television off!!  It is amazing how much more time we have without all the extra junk we throw into our days. Yes there is always the things we must do, but we can all structure our free time differently.  It is a beginning of a new year, this is the time to re-evaluate the way we do things and to change the patterns that took us years to form.

So spend more time with yourself, sip more cups of delicious tea, read more wonderful words, spend time with your thoughts in journaling and writing and get in that art studio!  Create what makes you happiest and find your own creative style, there is plenty to go round.  It is wonderful to see other artists and their work, learn techniques from them, but it is so important to find your own artistic style!  It will come, I promise you.  It does require spending time with yourself and something inside just clicks and you realize you created something wonderful all on your own without the help of the pros!

I wish you blessings in this new year.  Remember to nourish yourself, however that is possible.  I know I am a happier, healthier and more grounded artist when I remember to take care of myself.  Right now, for me it is enjoying Alisa's Create Daily, and I get a little creative nugget everyday!

My sweet watercolor heart ornament!

Happy a very blessed and creative week my friends!

Donna Lee

My word for 2012

My Mindy Macefield Original
Created just for ME!
My donna lee

I have been pondering a lot lately about my word to focus on for 2012
This seems to be an easy thing, but after concentrating hard on it
I found it to be not so easy!
I thought of so many words, and finally decided to 
write them all down.
I had bliss, calm, peaceful, know, creative and ponder!
None of them fit or gave me the peace I was looking for.
Then it came to me . . . just perfectly,
and there was a calmness and excitedness
that came over me

A N T I C I P A T E

* to give advance thought * to foresee * to look forward to as certain * to await * to expect * to hope *
Is that not the perfect word????


My new year came in quietly and with much anticipation.
I enjoyed a quiet new years eve and spent time thinking about
my past 2011 and how much I had grown; especially as an artist!
My Blog got stronger, I opened my very own little Etsy Shop,
I attended incredible art experiences throughout the year,
I developed my own personal art style.
I deepened precious friendships,
my wonderful married children each bought new homes
 and settled in to their precious lives.
My life was and is full of blessings.
Through it all I found ME!


I set creative and life goals for myself,
I had my own burning ceremony of things
I wanted to forget and let go of.
Yes, it was a wonderful end of 2011.

In 2012 I anticipate:
a life change, a quieter heart, a stronger body,
a calmer mind, happiness and peace.
I am excited about taking Michelle Ensignmer's online writing course,
through The Wish Studio.
I know it will be awesome!
I have spent so much time taking art classes,
this will be fun just allowing myself to write from the heart.
I met Michelle at Squam by the Sea, 2010
and I can't wait to be with her again.
I look forward to Art and Soul in March,
Squam by the Sea in October,
and whatever else comes my way!!!

I wish you creative blessings on your new year,
I hope you will take the time and discover a word
that suits your new year perfectly.
Always strive to grow, to learn and to experience.
See you again soon!


Donna Lee

Some creative doodling!
It's going to be a great and artistic year.

52 Photos Project / Week Thirty Six

WOW!

I can hardly believe that it is week 36 already

of 52 Photos Project

and that this is the last post

of 2011!

I have enjoyed participating in this project since it began.

I have grown as a photographer and have

gained courage in posting my work.

It is a scary thing to put your stuff out there!

There are some pretty amazing photographers in this group,

each one encourages the other.

Bella Cirovic has done an awesome job creating

this photography adventure!

Thanks Bella, I know it takes an amazing

amount of energy to pull this off each week for us.

I am inspired by what my eyes take in 

week after week!

This week's challenge is entitled:

"What will you welcome in 2012"

or

"What will you leave behind in 2011"

hmmmmmm....

I took my time with both of these and this

is what I came up with.

I have been playing with a photo app

for my new Iphone called Word Foto, 

so I used my own

pictures from 2011 and added my own text!

Hope you will like what you see!

Photo One:

I carry with me . . . 

openess  quiet  growth  new  writing  calm

Photo Two:

I will leave behind . . . 

negativity  doubt  fear  restlessness

(qualities I don't like to see in myself)

That's it!

My words explain exactly where I am

at the ending of 2011.

This new year is going to be filled with possibility!

I am anxious to get it started!

Thank you for your supporting words on my blog

this past year,

your friendship has meant the world to me!

I wish you blessings and peace.

Donna

Sharing my spotlight!

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Artist Interview: Donna Wynn

Name:  Donna Wynn

Name of Business:  Yogiknitgirl Designs

Creative Influences:  Watercolor, Collage, Mixed Media and Knitting, Photography

Creative Artist Influences:  Definitely YOU!, Misty Mawn, Mondo Beyondo, Jen Lee,  Kelly Barton, Mindy Lacefield, Lisa Gonzalez, Cathy Bueti, Juliette Crane, Pixie Campbell, Danielle Daniel, Marisa of Creative Thursday,  Alisa Burke . . . so many along my creative way!

Preferred Medium of Creativity: Mixed Media (that way so much is included!) and Photography

Bio:  I try to live creatively everyday. I work full time as an Optician and Optical Manager for a high end optical practice and I say I get to play with creative eyewear everyday! I have to fit my time in my studio very selectively, It is my release from the demands of a busy "day Job" and I love it when I can spend time painting and creating whatever comes to mind and heart at the time! You will always find me behind a camera, trying to capture life moments and I practice hot yoga faithfully, love to knit . . . especially socks, that is why the name Yogiknitgirl came into being, and even though I am 54, I still consider myself a little girl!  I have been blessed with a 35 year marriage to a husband who supports me in every way, I have two adorable sons, 31 and 28, and they are each married and I have been blessed with two precious daughter n laws.  I believe in a powerful and loving God, who has blessed my life beyond words! I am truly living, right here and right now, the best time of my life.  I have discovered me and I like her!  

Links:

  

http://www.gentlethreads.blogspot.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/yogiknitgirl http://www.ravelry.com/people/yogiknitgirl http://www.twitter.com/yogiknitgirl http://pinterest.com/dwynner 1- What is one of your earliest creative memories?  Learning to knit with two very special little old ladies when I was seven years old!  Loving art classes in elementary school and all the way through high school. 2 - How did you find your creative voice?  I think first by creating my personal blog, Gentle Threads.  I had always loved writing and wanted to get the nerve to put my words out there.  I (along with many) watched Julie and Julia about a woman creating a blog about cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook.  It truly gave me the inspiration to get out there and learn my way through the blog world.  My first entry was in March 26, 2010, and I have been going ever since!  I have grown in knowledge, words and in confidence. I have learned to navigate a blog on my own, write about my innermost creative feelings and adventures, and share my latest activities and artwork with others.   I look forward to writing each week and it has become a strong part of who I am now!  3- Did your creative habits make a smooth transition into your adult life?  What did the evolution look like?   Well, I think we tend to put our creative passions aside when we are building a life, for me marriage and raising two little boys, going to Opticianry school and working full time.  I always knitted, that was a given, then I purchased a weaving loom when my boys were little and piddled with it. I was a weaver, for a long time, but found for me, it just wasn't enough!  I was always fascinated with watercolor painting, but again, life just kept getting in the way to pursue anything.  It wasn't until my guys were in college and I was home without them, that I began to truly pursue artistic outlets.  I signed up for a watercolor painting class, took some workshops here and there, read anything I could get my hands on.    With the internet exploding, I was able to sign up for some amazing e-courses and learn in the comfort of my own home (and stay in my jammies!) I have attended Squam by the Sea, Serendipity Art Retreat and Art and Soul in the past few years and I found that through those experiences, my artistic life has exploded!  My children are married now and I have a beautiful studio to create in, more time to pursue my creative dreams. 4- If you had a creative hiatus, what event/circumstances brought you back to your creative lifestyle?   This is an easy one for me to answer, I lost my father to Lung Cancer just four short years ago, and two years ago I lost my mom to the devastating disease of Dementia, I was a care-taker for quite awhile, fitting in some art whenever I could, but hardly ever. I felt as though my inner artist was drying up inside.  It is a time in my life I would do all over again, but yearned to find my creative little girl inside.  Just a month after losing my mom, I attended Squam by the Sea in the Outer Banks and my life was changed forever!  I met amazing women, took incredible art classes and mixed media opened up to me.  I came home full of creative ideas, new friendships and I have been going strong ever since.  I seek out creative time for myself and I even created my own Etsy shop for my creations.  shop link  5-How has GOD been a part of your creative process/lifestyle?   I have been a Christian for most of my life and am married to an incredibly strong and faithful man, I am very blessed.   I feel that I have learned to set priorities in my life, always doing what is right and what I must, before I can do what I want to.  That takes an enormous amount of energy.  I am balanced in my life, and I know that having a relationship with God, centers me.  It centers the way I live my daily life, my heart thoughts and my words and actions.  Because I am a truly centered and faithful person, God has blessed me with my talent and my strengths.

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