Stepping Gently

 A window view in Washington, NC

Summer is such an amazing time,

there is so much to do,

a relaxed feeling each day,

beautiful sunshine,

vacations and mini getaways,

hot temperatures

and an awakening of the spirit.

People seem happier

and

more relaxed to me!

There are gatherings with family,

vacations and times to slow down from the norm.

More books are read for sure

and 

many more naps in hammocks, right?

Even my Josie Grace finds time to chill

It is already mid August

and I find myself wanting to step gently

for the rest of the summer.

My tapestry camp is over

(and I looked so forward to that!),

we were able to sneak in a day trip to the OBX,

it was our first trip this summer :(

Finding time for a little play at the ocean

We have had so much going on

with our family this summer,

and we are learning to appreciate

each and every day and moment.

Stepping gently has taught me so much.

I look at the wonder around me

and appreciate all that I am seeing!

Here are just a few of my favorites:

My birthday is fast approaching and I will be 60 years old!!!

It will be on August 21st

and I must say it is a very special day this year,

there is a full eclipse!

I call that pretty special don't you?

So in the meantime,

I will continue to look at my surroundings

with a keen eye of appreciation

for all that I see,

I will step gently and quietly,

calming my heart and my spirit each day.

It is so important!

I am totally smitten with my new

Midori Traveler's Notebook,

and am recording my thoughts,

dreams and desires inside the pages.

I'm sketching, writing poetry,

collecting quotes and so much more!

It goes everywhere with me,

and it feels so good in my hands.

Have you heard about them?

They are all the rage for journalers these days.

Here is a link to the one I purchased!

(There is something yummy about red leather!)

Last, but NEVER least ...

I am weaving a little bit each day,

making my time at the loom special.

I have committed to weaving something each morning,

and I must say it starts my day off perfectly.

Weaving always calms my spirit

and I can get so easily lost in the process.

I am still trying to finish up

my woven sampler I started

at Tapestry Camp a few weeks ago,

I'm not rushing at all,

just trying new techniques

and working them out.

My new Lani 8" loom is portable,

and I am enjoying weaving time

outside on the deck!

Weaving row by row and learning along the way

My finished sample of techniques

Dear friend stop and pause,

if only for a moment.

Enjoy this season of fun and play,

relax your spirit,

find time to step gently . . .

Look at the beauty around you

and embrace what is right in front of you.

Don't be too busy,

distracted by your phone in your hand,

put it down,

embrace a slower pace.

Summer is a gift we are given,

what are you doing with it this season?

Donna Lee

The Joy of Family

Our OBX family photo before leaving

I believe family is the greatest gift we own

Loving each other

Sharing our lives together

Having fun and giggles

Watching our family grow

Loving and Supporting each other's efforts

My week in the OBX with my entire family was great,

how rare it is these days to get to spend

a whole week together

playing with grandchildren (and children)

spending a block of time together,

forgetting about what we left behind,

if only for a short time.

Since we've returned ...

of course life marches on

and we try to connect as much as we can!

I'm just grateful for treasured moments,

where time stands still for a little while

and we are reminded about what is truly important.

Now, oh so very soon

we are anticipating the birth of our third grand baby,

and in three short weeks,

we are bringing our new labrador puppy home . . .

(still trying to come of with a cool name for her!)

things are about to get real busy in the Wynn household!!!

This I know to be true:

Time stands still for no one

Love is the greatest gift of all

Grandchildren change your perspective on life

Each moment should be treasured

Even when your children are grown they need you

You still need to carve out time for yourself

Finding time to do what you love is important too

Reach out to extended family,

my summer has been blessed 

with re-connection with cousins I cherish!

I can't get enough of my sweet family,

which is growing with each passing moment.

The Joy of Family ... I know I'm truly blessed

and grateful and gifted for sure,

how about you?

Celebrate your loved ones today,

find moments to be together,

heal broken relationships with extended family,

it's so important,

for family is what matters.

Sending Love and Light
Donna Lee

Summer Sketch Class with Alisa Burke

A new creative summer adventure for me . . . 

My favorite Canson mixed media journal!
Purchased just for this experience.

This summer I have had the pleasure of relaxing

and creating with Alisa Burke

with her 

Summer Sketch Online Class.

Each day for thirty days

there is a new post on a private class blog 

with something creative to learn

She is truly Amazing!!!!
I have been working on each lesson daily
and I am thrilled with what I have learned so far!

I have taken so many of Alisa's online classes.

She makes you feel so comfortable,

she teaches so much of her own style

and shares such inspirations with you!

I do love spending time learning with her.
I encourage you to visit her blog,
it is truly amazing.

This summer has been slower for me and I am

enjoying each day receiving a new post,

learning something new and trying it out,

 filling a page in my journal
and playing with my art supplies!
It just makes me a happy girl.

Here are just a few of the lessons

I have learned so far:

Masking it off

Doodle Collaboration (with my hubby)

 Exploring lines with things from nature

Embellishing a line

 Starting with a splat of paint

Working in small scale

White on Dark

 Free Write

 Collaged background

Repeated patterns

 Color Study

Blind contour drawing

I have many lessons more to go
and the learning is fun and easy,
just what I needed for the summertime!
I wanted to keep creating during
the summer months,
but in a simple and non-complicated way,
this course is perfect for me!

I just finished this piece from the
mask it off lesson,
I love it,
how about you?

I hope you are doing something creative 

during your summertime.

I know it is harder with kids at home,

vacations and family all around you.

Please don't push your creativity aside

and think you will get to it later.

Creativity needs to be nurtured

all of the time!

I know for me it is a part of who I am now.

Make time to be a creative soul,

you won't regret it!

Sending you creative blessings along the way

Donna Lee

Just me . . . what I have been doing

My photographer self

The summer is passing so quickly . . . I ask myself each day have I rested enough?  played enough? read enough? napped enough? written enough? taken care of myself enough?

Summertime is such a great time of year, it is always a time that we set apart for rest, play and vacations.  We have a different state of mind in the summer. 

Sure I am still working my full time job as an Optician

but I know that there is so much more to my life than 

just working all the time.

Summer reminds us to slow our bodies down, to soak up the sun, to play at the beach, put the busy stuff away till fall and I have so tried to do that this summer.  So I decided to just let you know what I have been doing . . . for the fun of it all!

painted a new canvas for my living room wall

rode bikes on the boardwalk oceanfront

hec . . . even swam in the ocean a lot

traveled to the Outer Banks numerous times

took a visit to the country in North Carolina

written poetry

taken so many photographs

gotten a suntan

relaxed in my hot tub (my mini vacation)

taken Mindy Lacefield's e course

Neat Stuff

(teaching me to play!)

cut my hours back some at work

saw the Batman movie

visited the Chrysler Museum

gone to candle light yoga classes

took up walking in the mornings

written Love Notes postcards
finished an amazing journey with
Liz Lamoreux's Inner Excavation

finished Laurie Wagner's e course
Telling True Stories

less Facebook

less Twitter

less time on the computer

enjoyed being with me

 and my precious family

there are blessings to just

retreating

playing when you want to

creating what you want

just slowing down with self

I even took the time to discover 

and photograph this beautiful little dragonfly

he let me play with my camera

and hung right in there with me

what a gift that was for me

because I love dragonfly's so much

they represent change

and I feel like my life is 

ever changing and evolving

It looks like I am doing a few things

this summer

but at my own pace

and in my own timing

and only if I wanted too!

Try it . . . for life is too short 

to keep rushing and being busy,

trying to get to the 

next Facebook post

you know what I mean

don't you???

Take time for yourself

do nothing

listen to your inner thoughts

take time for tea

you won't be disappointed!