Emerging She

I recently was in the Outer Banks
for yet another
peaceful and creative long weekend.
I spent so much time writing and creating art.
One early morning, I decided to create a Zendala face.
 Recently I had seen one similar on Pinterest
and it caught my attention.
I wanted mine to be different than what I had seen.
I was anxious to try out the Zentangle round tiles.

I first did a watercolor wash with a subtle metallic color,
I then sketched a small face off to the side
and then began zentangling,
I wanted the piece to evolve as it should.

I slowly began to start with Zentangle designs

I kept letting her evolve as she spoke to me

The process became so beautiful and relaxing

Now try to imagine her being created with a

gentle breeze and the ocean waves
roaring in the background!

"Emerging She" finished!

The entire time I was working on this project,
a poem was forming in my head
I love how art and writing are intertwined!
I'd like to share it with you . . .

Emerging She

Who is this she I see emerging
slowly making her presence known
every now and then something
new and magical begins to emerge

Life carries with it a pattern to follow
we learn this as a little child
we grow, we seek
and then we become

We continue to walk through our lives
living out day to day moments
childhood growth, teen adventures,
schooling, marriage, children and more

Slowly she continues to emerge
at times being tucked back inside
being told stay put ...
this just isn't your time

So she patiently waits, listens and watches
for the perfect moment to appear
when she knows she is needed and wanted
ready to be fully embraced

Emerging She I like who you are
you have found your true voice now
free from the stresses of what others might think
walking through your life with arms open wide

For you see I am Emerging She
I've lived my life well
now I am changing and tweaking
my life along the way

Emerging She
patient and strong
loving the woman I now have become
I wonder which way she will lead me along?

(written in Corolla, North Carolina 9-15-13)

Today I Will Write

A writing affirmation

I have always been in love

with the writing process.

I love words,

I collect them,

I breathe them in,
always wanted to put pen to the page!

Recently I had the pleasure
of taking a writing course at our
local writing center
The Muse
in Norfolk, Virginia.



It was my first visit there
and I wanted to see what all the
happy comments I had been hearing
were all about!
It was a Saturday morning
workshop entitled
"Creative Lab"
It certainly sounded 
like it was just for me!

I learned so many wonderful brainstorming ideas,
inspirations and activities
to spark the creativity inside of me.
I learned also how to apply
the ideas to my artwork as well!
How much fun it is to sit around
a large table with eight creatives
and brainstorm together
about the creative process.

I took away with me a wealth of resources,
ideas, creative exercises and handouts
to pour through
over and over again.

What I learned also reinforced
within me
that I am getting it right!

Some of the information I had heard before,
maybe presented differently
but with the same message.
I knew I was already applying what I had learned,
this was reinforcing those creative lessons!
That is a really good affirmation!

It is good to step out of your comfort zone
and try something totally new!
I have always leaned toward art classes
and learning a new art technique.
Coming to the Muse
(love that title!)
was a totally first time great experience.
One of my classmates was a student
in my first
Artful Spirit Workshop
talk about a small world!

We are all connected in this
beautiful world of ours,
through poetry, through words,
through art and learning,
through internet and social media,
it's all there
if only we will see.

Try something new!
Look for opportunities
to stretch your creative wings just a bit!
Get out there and share your own talents
with others,
see where it will lead you!

Donna Lee

Woven Thoughts of Mine

 A Meditative Process

It feels as though I have been a weaver for my whole life.

When my son Curt was not even a year old,

(he is now thirty three!)

I remember taking him to my mother's house

so I could take a two hour weaving class,

for six weeks.

I fell in love with the process then

and I still love it today

all these years later.

I think that weaving is such a gentle art,

I even named my Blog Title

"Gentle Threads"

because I believed in the magic of weaving,

the intertwining of fibers,

creating a beautiful cloth.
I wanted the title to reflect my life.

My loom prepared for weaving

Now it means even more to me,

I relate it to the creative process,

whatever medium I choose,
and how to live my life.

You see I believe you and I weave our lives
 in and out day after day ...

in the relationships we are building,

in family love, how we treat mankind,

with our talents, our wants and desires.

We are constantly weaving with

our hearts and the process it takes

us to get where we are going.

I weave with words

when I am creating my Poetry,

I weave with pictures

when I am capturing an image

in my photography,

I weave love and attention to detail

as I take care of my

optical patients,

I weave with romance

when loving my husband,

I weave with love and care

when watching over

my four children,

I weave magic into my art,

creating beauty along the way.

The view from my loom bench ... inspiration everywhere!

For you see I have realized that 

weaving is a part of my life and yours,

we are weaving something

each and every day.

It doesn't have to be with fibers!

I am lucky to take it a step further

and create woven cloth

at my loom

my constant companion

for oh so very long,

it's where my best thoughts come to me,

it is truly where the magic happens.

A view from the back of the loom

So just pause for a moment,

and think about exactly what it is

that you are weaving in your life today.

Is it love and compassion,

or worry and strife?

I sure hope it is all the good stuff,

cause anything else would be a waste,

WEAVE SOME MAGIC TODAY

You can do this!

A Dozen Thoughts on a Wednesday

My latest Zendala "A Different Perspective"

I don't usually post on a Wednesday!

I find myself with thoughts to share

so here it goes ...

Life is full of ups and downs

Writing for me is a lifeline

 Singing in the shower starts the day off great

Heartbreaks come in life

Our mind thoughts can be so very powerful

We are constantly evolving and changing

My artwork is where I retreat to

Faith is needed in difficult times

The older I get the more introverted I become

Everyone is so different .. it's hard to grasp that thought

Creating Zendalas is therapeutic for me

A kind word goes a very long way 

Donna Lee

Last Tuesday ...

Let's sit awhile and share a cup together

Yes today is my last Tuesday

of being 55 years old.

So I say ... on to another year!

I guess we all get a bit reflective 

when birthday time

rolls around,

I am truly no different than you!

I have just sat and reflected on how

wonderful the past year has been for me.

How I found myself creatively:

My Artistic Soul woke up

My Artwork truly took flight on its own

An Artful Spirit was launched

I now have facilitated two art workshops

Poetry and Writing became

a lifestyle for me

My Poetry was published

I have read my poems out loud to a crowd
I purchased a new awesome camera
Photography became a new passion

I have fallen in love with

the Art of Zentangle

I made a commitment 

to try and live creatively

each and every day

and I have!

So I say on to 56!!

I look forward to what will

be in store for me

for Donna Lee

is still a little girl at heart

loving her life

I step forward into another year 

full of promise

soon approaching grandmotherhood

something totally new to experience!

Life is such an incredible journey

each and every day.

I love the woman I have become,

it's taken many years and experiences

to get to this very spot.

But I am finally here!

So on this last day of being fifty five,

I embrace what lies ahead

bringing with me

life lessons learned.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Finding My Way to a Poem

Inside the Atrium at Moca

Last night I participated in an Open Mic Night

at the amazing Museum of Contemporary Art

here in Virginia Beach

It was a summer celebration of the Arts

with Poetry, Interpretive Dance, Comedy, Guitar Music and Art!

It was a perfect Tuesday Evening.

The tables were covered in

brown wrapping paper

and a bowl full of crayons was provided

(always nurturing the artist within us)

So to calm myself before my poem reading

Yes

I created a small Zendala!

They are truly a part of me now.

My precious friends Jack and Judith

 (taking in all the poetry they heard)

they have been my writing mentors,

my poetry cheerleaders,

my friends in the written world.

How I value their encouragement in my life.

Even their gentle nudges and pushes

to step out there with my writing even more!

Writing is a huge part of my life.

Poetry is an even stronger force.

It is who I am,

It is where I want to express

my truest self,

I am in love with the writing life!

So I decided to share my poem with you today!

I have many Poetry moments here on my blog,

today is even more special

sharing what I read out loud last night.

Finding My Way to a Poem

Life moments come

I choose not to forget

Experiences of where I have been

My pen finds it way to the page

For here ... here on the page

they seek refuge and meaning

They don't often rhyme

my sentences you know

but they have their own

kinda rhythm and flow

I write for myself

and sometimes I share

to kindred hearts like mine

who are willing to hear me

just finding my way to a poem

(this poem was written on Summer Solstice 2013)

I encourage you to step out of your

comfort zone

try something new,

meet new people,

expand your horizons,

for there is a beautiful and artistic world 

out there 

just waiting for YOU to explore!

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

A Poetic Moment

Choosing Beauty . . .

Beauty is all around us

if only you will see

Look for the tiny moments

in every part of your day

Love is all around us

if only you will reach out

Seek out moments to make a difference

in someone else's life

Gratitude is a thing of beauty

if only your heart will change

practice being grateful

for all you have been given 

Choosing Beauty can become a lifestyle

just a certain way of living

seeking out the times to notice

every little thing around you

Life is truly a gift to all of us

appreciate each moment in your day

Choose a sense of wonder

Choose to see the beauty

(poem inspired from Choosing Beauty e-course by Liv Lane)

An Artful Spirit filled day

Suzan and I ready for the day

Our second Artful Spirit Workshop

was incredible once again!

What a great day we had at the 

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

this past Saturday.

Eight of us in attendance

ready for a fun filled

creative experience!

The Room was filled with bright light,

large work tables, dark chocolate almonds

and inspiration everywhere!

We started with our first journal exercise...

setting our intention for the day,

along with some meditative breathing,

 we then began with a Zen Circle exercise,

set the pace for the entire day together!

We read quotes about the importance

of journaling,

read children's story books,

and played with paint

(which is why we all came right???)

So much time spent on playing,

letting go, creating and enjoying the process.

Next workshop was to learn collage,

working with papers and gel medium,

the table was filled with whatever they wanted to choose,

each participant created a collage cover

for their journals

(when asked... it seemed to be one of the favorite sessions!)

(Oops ... my toes are missing!)

Time for a break ... after hours of creating

We all had lunch together

in a "circular" table

at the restaurant over looking 

the Chesapeake Bay.

Good conversation, brainstorming,

laughter and friendships being established.

As we gathered back for the second half of the day

we shifted gears ...

watercolor and doodling, 

we truly just got to play with

all kinds of watercolor sets and paints,

create fun things,

all the while incorporating these techniques

into our art journals.

I think they had fun, what do you think?

We then shifted our watercolor techniques

to creating a Zendala for their journal

(now you know I would have to get that in there!!!!)

We started in the center of a full journal page,

and began to work from the center out

they could finish their work at home

and watercolor later.

I had pre-painted 5 x 7 watercolor cards

for each participant

and let them choose which one spoke to them

to take home and play with.

We then chose another,

started the center design and

we did a round robin,

where each participant drew

part of the Zendala design

for their classmate,

what a treasure we all had when we were finished!

A small piece of new friendships formed that day.

(when asked again ... this was the favorite session)

We ended the last session with

creating an art board collage

using 6 x 6 aqua board

yet another keepsake of the day

We ended with photos, hugs and more laughter!

Sending out peace and love and light to our classmate

that had to leave early ...

When I think of what living an Artful Spirited life means ...

I think of living with a creative heart, mindfulness, 

soul searching every moment,

letting go of expectations and perfections, 

living with curiosity,

finding happiness in all things,

 seeking out moments to be artful and creative,

but most of all living with a 

sense of wonder and amazement,

it is an awesome way to see the world around you!

What a wonderful workshop we had,

one I won't forget for a long time.

We are already forming ideas

for Artful Spirit #3,

it just keeps getting better and better.

The Little Girl in Me

The Little Girl in Me . . .

Still wants to play each day

taking the time to just be

Wants to create magic with paints and crayons

they are just more expensive these days

Is in love with each and every day

cherishing all the happy moments around me

Just wants life to be simple again

pushing away all of life's complications

Loves to play outside with her friends

for girlfriend times are the best

Wants to play dress up and be pretty

finding it harder now to find her own style

Will write with her pencil and pen

now creating stories and poems from her life

Still bites her bottom lip when stressed

for she finds comfort still there

Is seeking new ways to discover life

for she never wants to stop growing inside

Always needs her afternoon naps

 recharging for the next get up and go

Is always seeking out beauty in the world

so happy to discover there is still so much out there

The little girl in me

soon to be a first time grand mommy

to a precious granddaughter

OH the things we will discover together . . .

Donna Lee