Random Donna Lee thoughts . . .

My Beaded Cuff Project

I promised myself in 2017

that I was going to create

only the things that spoke to my heart

whether in painting, weaving, drawing or writing.

It seems that Tapestry Weaving

has been taking most of my time lately.

Time seems to be such a precious commodity,

so I am trying to manage it wisely,

create beautiful projects that speak to my heart

and slow myself down a bit!

Here it is mid February

and it just feels like things are going at such a fast pace.

I've been caring for family needs; they always come first.

So if there is ever time leftover to play it is a gift for sure.

I haven't taught any Zentangle® classes yet this year,

I needed to take a small hiatus after the holidays!

I feel as though teachers need to fill their personal well,

in order to give to students what they need

don't you agree?

I know I am a day late, but here is

a small heart creation for you to enjoy!

I have just had a micron pen in hand

and creating and drawing for the love of it.

Happy Valentines 2017!

My Beaded Tapestry Cuff is coming along,

I can't wait to put it all together,

promise to show you at another date!

I am in love with weaving with beads!
I wrote a blog post for Mirrix Looms
about this project ...
you can find right here!

This weekend I went to the hardware store

and I bought a lot of galvanized piping

to create a new loom,

I found the link here . . .

and so wanted to try it,

one can always use an extra loom right?

I plan to blog about it later,

when it's all put together!

Tapestry weavers are amazing

and willing to share with each other.

I wanted to share this Mandala painting

I was able to create for my co-worker Janel

for her new home ... for her Harp Room.

It came together beautifully,

the entire time I painted it I listened

to Harp Concertos!

I really love the way it turned out!

I am always grateful for taking Louise Gale's
Mandala Painting Course years ago,
I learned so much and still use all of her techniques.

Spending any time creating Art is a gift!

Don't waste a minute ... time is precious.

You have a lot to say . . . so SAY IT!

You are Unique

there is NO ONE exactly like you.

Thanks for dropping by

Donna Lee

Diving into Soul Collage

My first Soul Collage

"Just about Me"

I have been wanting to learn

more about the Soul Collage technique

for quite some time now.

I thought it would be easy,

for I collaged on canvas all the time!

I even sell my own collage work

in my little Etsy Shop ...

I have taught a different technique

at An Artful Spirit Workshop

entitled Images and Words

but this is totally different!

"Shattered Visions"

I have had a copy of the book

"Soul Collage Evolving"

by it's creator

Selena Frost

for over a year now,

I have glanced through it,

put it up because something else

caught my attention

(sound familiar?)

Until recently,

I wanted to learn more about it.

"Yoga has my heart"

So this past week I poured over the book,

I have created several Soul Collage Cards

and I must say

I am enjoying the process so much!

It teaches me to just slow down,

I light a quiet candle when I begin

creating a sacred space

then I just enjoy the quiet process,

searching for images that speak to me

(no words just images)

and to create a card

that I will return to over and over again
for self inspiration.

"Stepping Forward"

Now I find myself looking

for images everywhere,
looking forward to creating
my next Soul Collage card.

This process is unlike
any other art form
I have worked with.
It calms my heart
and calms my fears.

"Taking in the Beauty"

I always like to let you know what I

am working on,

so sharing this technique is special to me.

It requires very little ...

a 5 x 8 matte board

scissors, glue or cement

and your heart imagination.

That's it!

"Seeing through a grandmother's eyes"

I encourage you to give it a try,

I know there are teachers of this technique,

none in my immediate area,

but check it out online,

there are resources as well.

If you want to learn something,

you will always find a way to learn it,

as I have here!

"The Writer Within Me"

I'm not finished with
this technique yet,
and each time I finish a 
Soul Collage card,
I am ready to start another.
I am gaining more understanding
into my own thought process
with each an every card I create.

It is truly a most
beautiful creative process.
Try it and you will see!
Make sure you let me know
that you have tried it!

(disclaimer ... the images I have used are for my personal use only ... not for sale or trade,  I am grateful for them)

Happiness Is . . .

I was just reading a blog I love to visit this morning

Book Chatter

"Chatting with friends about books and life"

I encourage you to get on her mailing list,

her posts are always inspiring for the reader.

Today she posed the question

"What makes you happy?"

and she listed her 100 things

Okay so here goes mine ...

Happiness is 

my family's love

my relationship with God
my two sons and their wives
expecting our first grand baby
loving my hubby of 36 years

time spent with girlfriends

feeling my toes in the ocean

painting and creating

writing

reading poetry

time away from the office
feeling a cool and gentle breeze
moonlight
summer solstice

good music
watching the sun rise and set
taking an e-course
having good conversation
a clean house
Instagram
a cozy fire
new furniture
birthdays
picnics
weddings
outdoor music concerts
sharing my thoughts
wearing my red boots
watching Parenthood
dreaming
collecting sea shells
early morning coffee
quiet time
weaving at my loom

long naps in the afternoon

a delicious meal

shopping just to shop

creating zendalas
dancing (when no one is watching)

being with sheep

knitting

journaling

collecting words
playing with my grand doggies
meeting someone new
cooking with my own herbs
reading my poetry at open mic night
learning something brand new
forgiving someone
loving others
time spent with my senior writers group
good conversation

picnics

bike riding

 early morning walks
reading an awesome book
writing my blog
vacations
hugs
birds singing
going to poetry readings
artist dates with myself
time alone
being healthy and well
love notes in the mail

my hot tub
giving gifts
spending quality time with others
listening, really listening

art galleries

coffee shops
Aromatherapy

Jerry's Artarama
meditation
buying fresh flowers just because
Trader Joes
time spent with my best friend Minna
Holiday celebrations
quaint book stores
Popcorn and a movie
Pandora
the smell of lavender
Zentangle
Art Retreats
Squam by the Sea
Thunderstorms
photography
pajama days
candlelight
incense
hot baths
watching my boys play softball
eating gelato from Strawberry Fields
wearing cool eyeglasses
bird feeders

my backyard sanctuary
old movies on TCM
gardening
yoga
time in my studio

I guess I could list so much more
but especially today ...
I am celebrating the birth
of my baby boy Drew!
He is 30 years old today.
Happy Birthday Son
your mom loves you so very much,
everyday watching you live out your life
makes me so very happy!

It's hard for me to believe that
last year on Drew's birthday
I began my 100 poem journey
you can visit here ...
Wow time is passing quickly!

donna lee

Creating Zendalas

Using metallic watercolors

Zendala

I have been creating with doodling and Zentangle
for quite some time now,

I am just fascinated with how it all unfolds.

Zentangle is a process of meditative drawing,
usually starting with a small dot in the center
and working outward, one step at a time.
It creates a calmness, a certain patience
and it teaches you to slow down,
be alone with your thoughts
and just let the process unfold.

I was first introduced to creating Zendalas
(a mixture of Zentangle and Mandala art)
from Dion Dior
an incredibly talented artist
who I took a workshop through with 21 Secrets in 2012.
It was called Wisdom Circles.
She is now offering it as a small eCourse
through her website.

Here is a sampling of some of my work through
her guidance and instruction:

A recent work still in progress

 Watercoloring each section!

 Using a metallic watercolor background
then drawing on top of it

 More watercolors then drawn

Circular watercolor background

The example below is completed
on an official Zendala tile,
it was so much fun to create.
I love trying new techniques with Zentangle drawing.

Mr. Owlie!

There are so many different

interpretations of this art form today

(for that is what truly makes it all so unique).
No Zentangle is exactly alike,
 for each of us have our own handwriting style,
drawing techniques and personality.

Just look at Pinterest and you will see that

Zendalas have become quite popular. 

You can check out my personal board here . . . 
there are so many beautiful examples there.

I have fallen in love with this art form

and I encourage you to give it a try.
I will be teaching a class in this technique
 at my next Artful Spirit Workshop
in July!

I look forward to sitting with my pens,

watercolors and blank paper.
I find myself making time for this each day.

Time passes so quickly when I am sitting still

creating my zendalas.

It is a relatively inexpensive art form,

a set of watercolors, some good Micron Pens,

pencils, a compass and ruler,

 good paper, and your intuition . . .  that's it!

It is portable too!

I always carry a little Zendala kit with me,
for I never know when an opportunity to draw
will pop up for me!

I wish you peace, well being and lots of creativity!

May Zentangle find it's way onto your

Art wanna do list!!!

Donna Lee

What a great day!

It started early on a Saturday Morning,

8:00 am I arrived at the Hotel,

ready to set up and face the day!

I asked myself,

"Was this really happening?"

An Artful Spirit Workshop,

all the planning, working, and dreaming.

Was it really coming true at that moment,

oh yes it was!

How happy my colleague Suzan and I

were to see our name announced

It made it all seem so real!

There we were capturing every happy moment!

We knew it was going to be a day filled with 

creativity and spontaneity. 

We were eager to start our adventure!

We played with spray inks, acrylics, crayons,

stabilo pencils, spray paints, gesso, watercolors,

oil pastels, stencils, palette knifes, words, images,

papers, papers and more papers.

We learned the magic of painting with our fingers

and getting our hands dirty!
I have learned so many wonderful techniques
through e courses, retreats, books and magazines.
It was hard for me to realize that I was
now the teacher sharing what I have learned.

There were art supplies everywhere,

more than anyone could use in just one day,

there was relaxing music playing,

fellowship, conversation and giggling!

We created painted papers, 

journals, collages, bookmarks,

little notecards and

extras to take home and create

something unique of our own.

Each workshop was filled

with learning, experimenting,

a sharing of ideas and techniques.

Each class was two and half hours long,

there was plenty of time to relax

and enjoy the process

of learning something new!

We even enjoyed a nice lunch time

overlooking the

Chesapeake Bay!

A story read out loud

before beginning our next workshop 

The Art of Wabi Sabi Watercolor ... 

a Japanese view or process 

of accepting what is

and 

letting go of imperfection

It was the perfect workshop and ending to our day!

Learning to let go of expectations

Enjoying the process

Relaxing and Receiving

what was meant for each of us

that day

I even shared a little of my own poetry!

(For Poetry always finds it way into my life)

Gathering together

for just one magical day.

A day full of love and laughter,

fellowship, letting go and creating.

I am so very proud to have been

a part of this amazing experience.

YES to envisioning what you want to happen!

YES to making your dreams come true!

YES to stepping out and leading others!

YES to sharing your dream with others!

YES to happy successes!

YES to saying we did it well!

We are already thinking about 

our next adventure!

This time perhaps we will make it a weekend gathering.

Hmmmmm . . . I see a pajama painting party

stirring around in my head!

Thanks for letting me share today.

My heart is so full.

donna lee

Making journals

I recently treated myself to an online course

entitled "Art Journal Conversion"

with Roben-Marie Smith

what a treat this course has been for me!

I have followed Roben-Marie for

quite awhile and I absolutely

love her style of painting!
There is nothing this creative lady can't do!

I have had so much fun creating wonderful journals

using materials I already had in my studio, 

some mixed media paper, stencils, inks, paints,

whatever I could find!

I even learned to use Modeling Paste,

something I had never used before, 

but now am hooked on what fun it creates.

This was a quote I put on the cover of my poetry journal

I created

"She lives her poetry out loud each and every day"

I wanted to make each journal personal.

This was a canvas duck cloth I created

along with the journals

so I could have some creative book tabs!

I had so much fun with all of this.

Here is my Poetry journal and see the little tab there?

Each journal is hand sewn with a signature of various papers inside

I used newsprint, watercolor paper,

bristol paper and sketch paper sheets

for the inside pages!

This was a piece I created during Mindy Lacefield's class

"Paint Your Story"

so I decided to make it into a special journal for me

(this one carries a special place in my heart

cause I love my Mindy girl!)

Here I added a scrap piece of newsprint

that I used as a blotter sheet

Roben-Marie had suggested this in her video

(a surprise page inside the journal)

I love the way it turned out!

All I had left was to get out my sewing machine

and do a little free form stitching on the tabs.

What fun this class was for me

and I am not done yet!

I love creating

I love painting

I love learning something new

and

spreading my creative wings!

Roben-Marie shares all of her knowledge

so freely with you,

I encourage you to take this class

if you are interested in creating these beautiful journals.

Once you sign up you always have

access to the class!

Now each time I begin writing,

it is going to be hard for me to choose

 just which journal I want to write in!

Have a beautiful Friday

and find some time to be creative

during this weekend!