Retreats are good for you!

Squam treasures

Gathering special mementos along the way

I am not sure where to begin with my blog post (which is certainly way over due) but to let you know I have returned after five amazing days at Squam by the Sea Retreat at Pine Island, in Corolla, North Carolina. It was a retreat that was full of so many memories and good things, I wanted to share with you.  I was able to re-connect with friends I had met two years ago and gather new friends as well.  There were so many first timers this year, it was fun seeing Squam through their newbie eyes!  I remember that was me just a few years ago.  I got to meet teachers I had never met before, learn new painting techniques, write poetry in my journal during quiet moments, spend time with my roomie Karen D and share fellowship and giggles with my housemates, take in the early morning sunrises, knit socks with the sound of ocean waves in my ears, look for the meteors with my roomies at 1:00 in the morning, capture photos and experience the beautiful sunsets over the sound.

It was an amazing soul searching experience and I came home renewed with my spirit and with my artwork.  Re-entry into normal life was extremely difficult this time around. I still am not ready to let go of all I took in.   I went with the mindset of wanting to experience and receive as much as I could, and I certainly came home overflowed with emotions.  So here are a few memories of mine to share with you, and you can perhaps understand the Squam experience with me. Next time around, perhaps you will be able to join me.

I was so excited to be here!

This was there to greet us as we arrived

My classmates gathered for dinner the night before class

I took three days with Flora Bowley

"Release and Become"

Maya Stein brought her "Type-Rider" for all of us

What a privilege to type from her writing prompt

it was such a thrill for me

A small and precious gift from Flora

we chose before starting class

Trust Your Intuition

I picked just the right one for me!

Opening ceremony with Flora

Letting go of  . . . 

Watching Flora demonstrate for three days

what a beautiful experience it was

I learned so much

My art table ... full of goodness

My painting view

Twinkling lights all over the room

Early morning sunrise

each day got more beautiful than the last

Candlelight closing ceremony

on the beach

My word to Elizabeth

"Fullfillment"

Gallery night and sharing our work with others

"Love on the Beach"

I brought this with me from home

created by Ro Bruhn

Of course there is always treats to bring home

Flora bags, Maya tee shirt and poetry book

Ish (read by Flora during class)

and new Mary Oliver Poetry book

found at the local Island Bookstore

Somehow these pictures just sum up my Squam experience.  Perhaps another post will be all the wonderful pics with friends along the way.  I did post a Squam 2012 photo album on my flicker page if you care to see more! I felt that these favorite moments expressed my retreat for me.  Thank you Elizabeth for your vision to gather women together in a beautiful surrounding and let them let go, create, share, cry, dance and let the experience unfold just the way it is supposed to.  I am grateful . . . so very grateful!

Donna Lee

Heading to Squam by the Sea

The sunrise view from my room last time

I am so excited to be heading

to Squam by the Sea

this week.

I have been so ready for this

experience

for quite awhile now.

My bags are packed,

the art supplies are

ready,

 my camera is packed 

and ready to capture

unforgettable moments.

Squam is a time to rediscover

yourself,

it is a time to reconnect 

with special friends

and make new

connections along the way.

My heart and my soul

are ready for what lies ahead.

My first Squam experience was
after I had just lost my mother.
I was afraid and unsure of myself
 I didn't know anyone
but one person.
It didn't take long for everyone
to embrace me
and I grew as a person
and as an artist that year.
I still carry memories of that
first Squam experience
and cherish the friendships
today that were made there.

I am grateful to be able to attend

this amazing event

I never want to take it for granted

I will be missing a few friends

who won't be there this year

my heart is already missing you

So off I go . . .

to the Outer Banks

eager and ready

to experience my art, 

to fill my creative self

and to find new things along the way.

I promise to share and have

lots of photos when I return.

Incredible moments are

just waiting for me

to come and receive.

I wish you a week of 

peace and beauty

until I return home.

Cerulean Blue

I recently took a Poetry Workshop 

with the Poetry Society of Virginia

with the amazing Daniel Pravda

a Professor from Norfolk State University

on a beautiful Saturday afternoon!

We shared poems and lunch together, 

analyzed and broke down poetry,

shared our interpretations and insights

along the way.

He then gave us a poetry prompt

to write about an object that we can relate to

that will bring the reader in about the object

for me it was a tube of watercolor paint

Cerulean Blue

it just seemed right.

So this artist (slash poet) would like to 

share her words with you today . . . 

Cerulean Blue

This dried up tube of paint

still sits upon her art table

covered in dried up smudges

no more life to squeeze from within

Every ounce of color poured out

from it's crumpled little body

Now only showing the letters

U and E and C

Beautiful paintings of skies and clouds

found it's way from this tube

to the painter's palette

to the empty canvas

Cerulean Blue  . . .

bright and magical

soothing and calming

such a feeling of serene

It's color will exist here

upon the canvas

hanging in beauty for

the eyes to behold

Long after this tube of

Cerulean Blue

has been thrown away into the can

(poem inspired by Daniel Pravda Poetry Workshop)

Life's Yummy Moments

Yummy Red Velvet!

Special times with family

Quiet writing time

Afternoon naps

Walks in the beach

Vacations

Girlfriend time

Creating my Art

Seasons changing

Cupcakes

Riding bikes

Delicious food

Candlelight and Incense

An intimate restaurant

Laughter

Hugs

Good Music

Bubble Baths

Gardening

Aromatherapy

Long walks

Starbucks

Retreats

Life is full if yummy moments, 
just look for them and you will see! 
Tell me what's yours?

Artist . . .

Self Portrait on a Sunday Afternoon

I just had a quiet day to myself in the Outer Banks,

as I was shopping I came across this sign in an art store

it read

"Artist at Work"

it was for sale.

I am always playing with my camera

looking for just the right Instagram photo,

and the word Artist

just kept speaking to me

I took out my camera

and focused just on the word Artist.

I also saw my reflection from the glass

staring up at me.

I began to realize and begin to think

YES little girl inside

I truly am an Artist!

I am seeking to live creatively

each and every day.

Art is personal, it is reflective,

it is expressive.

There are no rights and wrongs.

As I saw my own reflection

in the window yesterday

I spoke to myself

"Be proud of yourself Donna Lee"

and the work that you

have accomplished so far.

I have come a long way in my 

artistic life.

I have learned so many things about

myself along the way.

Art truly makes me happy.

Writing expresses the thoughts from within.

Creating gives me peace.

I love painting on the Beach

I do have something to offer others.

I am truly an

A R T I S T

Little Red Boots

My Little Red Boots

Well it all started with Pinterest!

I created a Donna Lee's Wishlist Board

there they were

Red boots from the Sundance Catalog

Oh how I wanted them,

drooled over them,

kept returning to the catalog,

looked at others,

but nothing took their place!

One day my hubby said

"Why don't you order them?"

It didn't take me long to call

1-800-Sundance

and they were in within a week.

I am just a happy little girl.

I love them,

I can't believe they are

finally mine.

Isn't it amazing how something

wonderful can make us feel

so alive and new?

Can't wait to pack in my suitcase

and wear at Squam By the Sea!

Now I need a cute jean skirt

to go along with them,

the list is never ending.

I am giddy over them,

happy to get them,

love my hubby for his

generous gift,

Me and my Little Red Boots!

How happy we will be!

Learning to Sew

Learning new stitches

I used to have a Kenmore sewing machine that I purchased over 

thirty fives years ago when I first got married.

Every girl needs to learn to sew right?

Especially when she first gets married (I thought).

As the years went on, I never really learned to sew.

I hemmed pants and did an occasional straight sewing,

I even tried my hands at quilting, ONCE!

I even made a few little jumpers for my little guys

when they were just babies.

For the most part, my machine stayed under it's cover, unused.

Time has marched on and my interests have now changed.

I recently gave up my little heavy duty Kenmore and

purchased a Bernina Bernette

during the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival this year 

(just a sweet and simple machine)

but it has more features on it

 than I will ever use I am sure.

A group of my precious friends have gathered together

and we are learning to sew from our good friend,

 the master sewer and quilter Toni Whitlinger.

She is taking us through the beginning foundations of sewing

and teaching us the right way to sew.

We are gathering about every two weeks

with supplies, machines, notebooks and tools

and we are learning the basics skills of sewing,

something I never did all those years ago.

Rachel, Maggie, Toni, Meredith and Me

I am not gonna say it isn't intimidating at times,

for learning something new always is,

but I know it will be worth the effort.

I have always wanted to learn free motion stitching,

and applying it to my artwork.

Now with my new machine, I know I can truly do it!

I even purchased the cool darning foot to go with it.

Somehow I find that whatever I am learning, it always brings me

back to my art life.  For creating anything is art, is it not?

I purchased Alisa Burke's book awhile back

Sew Wild

and now I think I can actually work on the ideas

presented in her book.

Toni is a wonderful teacher and friend,

and I know my sewing foundation will be strong.

As you can see,  from the photo above, 

I am the "oldest" sewing student,

but hey that's okay, we are never too old to learn something new.

I am enjoying being "one of the girls"

Beginning of my Hobo bag

So yesterday I learned how to cut out a pattern,

fuse material, the importance of measuring,

and cutting on the correct grain of fabric

(Have I impressed you yet with my terms?)

I am sewing my very own Hobo bag

and I will be carrying a knitting project in it

very soon my friend.

So . . .  don't be afraid to learn something new

It keeps you from staying comfortable right where you 

presently are

staying in your neat creative box my friend

I will have to revise this post and add my finished

piece so you can see I actually completed my work.

What fun I am having just learning to sew.

I know I haven't been as present on my blog

this summer

I have been working on my poetry blog

as I shared with you previously.

I can hardly believe that today I am

on day eighty six,

only fourteen days to go!

It has been a beautiful written journey

and I can't wait to produce it into my own book.

You can visit me there at

http://100poemsjourney.blogspot.com/

Please drop by for a visit there and we

can share a bit of poetry together!

Donna Lee

End of Summer Notes

My Summer was filled with wonderful memories

I took the time to slow myself down

to enjoy all that was around me

special times with family and friends

learning more and more about myself

I decided this would be the best way

to express all that I wanted to say

would be through some of my 

favorite summer photos

Beautiful Sunrises

New Beginnings

Farmer's Markets

Time for Creativity

 

Water Lilies in Manteo

Helping kids open their shop

Eating scrumptious Gelato whenever I want

Watercolor sketching on the beach

Playing with Self Portraits

Inner Excavation E course

Growing beautiful flowers

Summer Solstice

Lazy Days

The unforgettable gift of an 

antique typewriter

Neat Stuff E Course

Outer Banks beach cottage

More creative play

Artist Date

at the Chrysler Museum

More Neat Stuff play

Blue Moon

Learning to sew on my

new Bernina

Birdie play

Do what you love Postcard swap

Beginning of my 100 Poems Journey

Helping seniors with writing poetry

every Thursday evening

Seeing the Warhol Exhibit

here in my home town

Added new fun stuff to my Etsy Shop

Standing on my Grandmother's

old tobacco farm

feeling quite overwhelmed

Participating in the

Inner Excavate Along

Doodling whenever I can

Deepening my photography life

Promising myself to live simply

Love Notes Postcard Exchange

Participating in 52 Photos Project

All in all it was a beautiful 

Dragonfly Summer

Full of love, happiness,

creativity, writing,

beach walks

and

play time!

Come on Fall . . . let's see watcha got!