My SoulCollage® Facilitator Training

How do you put into words what you don't even know what to say yet?

I have just returned home from training with

the amazing Catherine Anderson

for SoulCollage® Facilitator Training

January 16 -18, 2015

in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I had signed up in October

and was counting the days to get there!

I went this weekend with my dear friend

and Artful Spirit partner

Dr. Suzan Thompson,

which was a gift in itself 

to spend such beautiful and quality time

with my soul sister.

We wanted to learn this process together,

and share it in our own art workshops.

Six hours of conversation in a car (each way!)...

we got a whole lot of brainstorming done too!
I love it when we put our creative minds together.

From the moment we entered Catherine's studio,
I felt a sense of belonging, I knew it was going to be
a magical three days of learning.
My heart was wide open and spilling over!

The studio was a feast for the eyes,
inspiration everywhere and such beauty,
Catherine is an incredible artist.
She freely let us photograph whatever we wanted to
so I am sharing with you!

Catherine opened with the reading of a poem
which was one of my favorites by Hafiz.
I was overjoyed to hear so much poetry read
this weekend,
the Poet in me was delighted to hear
Catherine's beautiful soft voice
reading the words of so many poets.

Each moment, each exercise, each lecture
was thoughtfully carried out,
so much love and attention went into
the care and feeding of our souls!

First Day was wonderful,
and we still had two more to go!
We loved where we stayed,
I had looked into a Bed and Breakfast
 called
803 Elizabeth Lane
that was recommended
and we were not disappointed at all!
Martha and Will, the innkeepers were charming,
the room was delightful
and our breakfasts were created with
love and care each morning ...
a great start to the day ahead!

Days Two and Three we continued to gather,
share, learn, open our hearts, learn from Catherine,
dig even deeper ... and all the while not wanting the day to end,
and I am sure I speak for all of us.
I have attended many retreats in my lifetime,
each one teaching me something wonderful.
I am so grateful and beyond thrilled with
this Facilitator training,
it has changed me, re-directed me
and for that I am over the moon.

 SoulCollage® is a beautiful and self-directed process.
It is a gift you can give to yourself.
It is an intuitive card making process
using images that inspire me.
There are no words or adornments, only images.
My cards are created by me and carry along
the wisdom I need when seeking
life questions for myself
(my written definition created during an exercise)

We browsed through image after image,
Catherine supplied unending images,
We created our cards with beautiful and inspiring music,
each one of us in our own zone,
not much talking going on . . .
we then shared our cards in a small group,
answering with a question . . .
"I am One Who ..."
we were guided through meditation,
we were touched with poetry read to us,
danced to music,
ate delicious meals,
had tea and snacks
cried many tears,
hugged lots and lots,
we opened up our hearts to each other,
twelve women became twelve sisters
in the course of three days,
how hard it was to leave Sunday.
I always capture my world through my camera,
I think the best thing is to share my pictures with you,
they truly say it all ...

I look forward to sharing this process with others
in my hometown, or even further away.
If you have a chance to have a session,
I encourage you ... I strongly urge you to do so!

It seems that each art form I pursue,
grows me deeper and deeper
to finding my own self . . .
My Zentangle® practice,
My SoulCollage® process,
Art Journaling and Poetry writing.
I am on a path to self discovery,
growing a little bit more each and every day.
I am so grateful to have experienced
so much this past weekend;
bringing me closer to my heart,
my dreams and my soul longings.

My 2015 is definitely off to a terrific start!

I was totally overtaken with emotion, joy and heartfelt feelings.
How blessed I will always be to have taken my
Facilitator Training with Catherine.
She is light, she is love and she is a total inspiration to others.
Thank you Catherine for making every minute
of these three days so beautiful!

Donna Lee

This I know . . .

Photo taken at Historic Adam Thoroughood House

Life truly is a precious gift

Creativity is time well spent

Grandchildren are an incredible gift

One should always live by their principles

Follow your heart ... it knows where to guide you

Seek stillness ... it is good for the Soul

Connect with like minded people

Nature is a gift from God

Quiet and stillness should be an everyday occurrence

Learning something new it's good for you
Candlelight is beautiful

Reach high and far

Writing your thoughts down is healing

Music is soothing

Listen to your inner voice ... there is always truth to be found

Yoga gives life . . .  it connects mind and body

Be grateful for the friendships in your life

I love writing on my blog

I am grateful you read these words

Blessings to you today!

Donna Lee

Positivity ... My new word for 2015

Positivity

So many of us have chosen a word of inspiration for our 2015!

I think long and hard before choosing just the right word.

In fact, this year my list had over thirty choices ...

I kept scratching them out and narrowing down

over the month of December.

I was down to two words

Contentment and Positive

after taking my walk through nature

at New Years

I finally decided on my word!

It had to be POSITIVITY

It was perfect, it felt just right!

I felt a bit negative in 2014,

so I was really glad to leave that all behind!

I am participating in Documented Life Project 2015,

I enjoyed it so much last year

and I was thrilled with my

journal at the end of the year.

So many wonderful pages filled with memories

of my life

through artwork, quotes, pictures and more.

I thought I would give you a peek of my new journal

starting for 2015

and of course documenting my new word for the year!

My First Week complete!

My decorated journal cover!

A Soul Collage page starting my new year!

I am excited about my new year
and I hope you are too!
It is wide open with possibilities

I am leaving next weekend
to attend a Soul Collage Facilitator Training
in Charlotte, North Carolina
and I am so excited about this new phase in my artistic life!
I am looking forward to teaching and guiding
others in this soulful and artistic process.

Wishing you all good things in your new year,
Let me know what your new plans are, 
what your word of the year is,
or anything you would like to share!

Donna Lee

2014 ... What a year it has been!

 I participated in A Documented Life Project,

held several amazing Artful Spirit workshops,

Taught Zentangle privately, at the Muse,

 at Harbors Edge

and at the Hermitage Museum,

I lost 43 pounds!!!

I sadly left my church home,

I semi-retired! Working just 3 days a week now!

Had another grandchild born, Grayson Blake,

Went to New York City,

Providence, RI,

Myrtle Beach, SC

The Outer Banks,

West Friendship, MD,

Wrote more Poetry,

taught creative writing to senior adults,

took several art e-courses,

Went from size 14 to 8! WOW!

Created many mandalas and deepened my practice,

Participated in A Desire Map Book Club

with an amazing group of women,

Celebrated 37 years of marriage,

Deepened my writing practice,

saw Tony Bennett in Concert

saw My Mother Has Four Noses in NYC

attended Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

participated in several Poetry Readings

Vacation for a week in the OBX
saw the big rubber duckie when he came to Norfolk,

participated in the Conscious Booksmith E-course

with Christine Mason Miller

and began my future book!

I took 3 Sketchbook Skool courses,

fell in love with Urban Sketching,

got new windows for my house,

learned the Soul Collage process,

my boys turned 34 and 31!

Annabelle had her first birthday,

Participated in The Love Notes Project,

Attended Squam in the City
and
got my new Macbook!

I would say it was a most beautiful year

full of hope and promise,

growth and experiences.

I lived my life with Intention,

which was my word for 2014 ...

it was the perfect word for me.

I look forward to 2015

and all that it has to offer!

My new word is Positivity ...

another word I plan to live up to its potential.

As our 2014 draws to a close today ...
I hope you will take the time to recall
all this life brought you ... it's fun to just remember.

I wish you blessings in your new year,

love, health, well being and creativity.

Be good to yourself and those around you!

May it be a year of self growth!
May it be peaceful and full of contentment.

Let's walk this life together ... shall we?

photo compliments of Xanthe Berkeley

Providence, RI

Season Beauty

Williamsburg Beauty

It is such a wondrous time of year!

Every one of us can say we are way to busy,

we have so much to do,

our lists keep getting longer not shorter,

there are so many gatherings to attend,

we are a bit more stressed than normal,

and that we we will truly 

"never get it all done"
and forget getting anything creative done right now!!!

Yet there is so much magic and beauty

all around us

if only we will take a look and see!

I wanted so much to let this be 

the holiday that I didn't stress to get it all done,

that I slowed down to bake the cookies,

that I stepped lightly through it all,

that I enjoy my grandchildren,

wrap the presents

and watch every holiday

Hallmark movie

I could!
So far ... so good!

I think I've done that
and with a strangely sense of calm.
I am just writing to remind you
that YOU CAN control how you act,
how you feel and how rushed you choose to be.
Each holiday is truly made of
the effort you put into it!
Return to self, return to calm,
return to simplicity.
Let your holiday season be
one that is filled with accomplishments,
love for one another,
and a sense of wonder.

Enjoy the little things ...
hot chocolate ... hot apple cider,
24 hour holiday music channels,
smiles you receive from others,
decorations you pull out of the attic every year,
gaudy holiday lights in your neighborhood,
cards in the mail from friends and family,
ornaments on your tree that bring back fond memories,
Christmas Eve traditions,
making homemade gifts
and oh so much more ....

Christmas time in Edenton, NC

For me it will be celebrating my life
with two precious grandchildren!
Loving my family to overflowing,
having time off to enjoy and soak it all in.
Truly recognizing how blessed it all is!

My little Annabelle and Grayson

I wish you peace and joy
I wish you health
I wish you a happy heart
I wish you creativity in whatever form that is for you
I wish you a happy point of view
I wish you joy ... for it is truly a gift

Happy Holiday Season
from me to you!

With love and gratitude,
Donna Lee

Living and Teaching with An Artful Spirit

I love how the words "An Artful Spirit" sounds!

It took quite awhile for my creative partner

Suzan Thompson and I

to come up with a name for our

creative workshops ...

then finally Artful and Spirit came together so beautifully

(as we brainstormed for quite awhile).

We each had a word we wanted to incorporate into our title,

each expressing how we felt about creating art ...

I think we magically put it all together!

We wanted to create day long workshops

where someone would be able to escape for a day

to experience fellowship, to create a deep sense of self
and learn for just a short time.

We wanted to offer a safe environment

 of encouragement and learning,

choosing a new technique to explore 

with each and every workshop.

I believe we have truly done so!

I have learned so much from co-leading and teaching

our workshops.

The participants have each brought their own

beautiful energies

and have returned over and over again!

It warms my heart to see that.

When we began this workshop concept,

over three years ago,

I truly wouldn't have believed

just how much I personally have grown,

in confidence as a teacher,

in wisdom of art techniques,

of brainstorming and planning

future workshops.

The friendships that have grown out of our gatherings

and the beauty of each and every self expression,

surprises me over and over again!

I truly believe that I strive to live

with an Artful Spirit each and every day.

Looking for moments to express myself.

When I am not able to create my art ...

I find myself out of sync,

restless and yearning to create just one small thing!

I love Art ... it truly saves

it nourishes the spirit

it is a gift we can give to ourselves.

I find that my purpose is to 

lead others to find their own artful spirit as well!

Just enjoying sharing today ...
and wishing you a truly artful spirit filled kinda day!
Donna lee

Practicing Gratefulness

Fall Beauty

I was writing in my Documented Life Journal this morning

some Love Notes I wanted to say to myself:

then I realized ...

Why not share them on my blog today??

During this wonderful week of Thanksgiving

(a time of Gratefulness and Praise)

sit down with your own self

list what you are grateful for

list what good has come your way

list things you want to say to yourself

list all the things that make you smile

list all the thoughts that are in your heart

you will be surprised with what you come up with!

Here is mine:

Keep my family close

Accept what is

Be happy in all things

Never desire more than you can handle

Keep your wishes alive

Be strong in yourself

Grow and always try to learn something new

Step of your comfort zone

Practice gratefulness each and every day

Believe in your beautiful self

Reach higher and further

Love who YOU really are

May your holiday be filled

with love and gratefulness,

family gatherings, good food,

time to sit still and savor what is!

This life of ours is full of wonder,

but we must take the time to see it all.

Love and Light

Donna Lee

Collaborating with Annabelle

"Collaboration with Annabelle"

I have had a paintbrush in little Annabelle's hand

as long as I can remember!

I am anxious to teach her how to play and create

with all of her grandmommy's art STUFF!

We have created little paintings with watercolors,

when she was just getting used to holding the brush in her hand,

she was hesitant at first

(aren't we all when trying something new)

so it would take me several visits with her at the Art Table 

to have enough work to fill a page!

I knew I wanted to have Annabelle paint the background
and I would draw a Mandala on top of her play,
how fun was that!
I think I will have a keepsake for a very long time!
I already have ideas for future projects!
My little grandson Grayson is too little just now,
but I see some creativity in his future too!

Collaborating with others can bring
a new meaning to your own artwork.
It could be in writing, journaling or in painting.
I have had the gift of collaborating with friends
in Mandala work, Poetry and Mixed Media work,
how lucky I've been!
Is there someone you would love to work with
and create a collaborative piece?

Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
I'm always open to a new challenge if you
decide to look my way!!!