My latest work . . . living confidently as an artist.

I recently created a collage piece for a frame rep of mine from Lafont Eyewear.  She is also personal friend and I wanted to create a piece for her representing the eyewear line she carried and everything had to have a French influence.  We recently had a trunk show this week in my office and I wanted it to be finished when she came to town.  A trunk show is really having her come to town to premiere the latest in eyewear styles direct from France.  We had French Cafe music playing, french foods and goodies, a large crowd and we were playing with French eyewear all day!  Trust me, bright colors and incredible shapes are the latest in eyewear this spring!! I had placed my artwork in between my frame boards as part of the display and then presented it to Melodie from me.  I love creating artwork that way!  


When I start with a blank canvas, I stop and pause first.  This is something Juliette Crane also reinforces in her painting course I am currently taking.  I like to pause and think about where the piece is going, who I am creating the piece for and what is the message of the piece that I am wanting to convey.  I do take this a step further and take a long and meditative breath before beginning.  I have learned in my yoga practice to set my heart and mind clearly on what is ahead of me.

My daughter-n-law Heather came over this weekend with her incredible camera and macro lens and she offered to photograph some of my collage pieces for me.  She has an eye for perspective and made my work look so beautiful.  So I am sharing her work with you!  She has just launched her very own Etsy shop this week and I am excited for her.  If you get the chance check out Four Corner Decor.

I am proud of this piece and I remember Melodie's only requests were that she loved bright colors, but absolutely NO BLUE!  I collected pieces that I wanted to use in the piece that represented France, Vision and Eyewear.  I think I accomplished that.  I bought a book totally written in French when I was at Rizzoli's in New York (ahh . . . I want to go back), so I cut out the little hearts from the French pages.  I painted the background using the technique that Juliette taught me in my Paint and owl course.  For the finishing touch I added beads to the top of the canvas to add some extra pizzaz!  I had learned this from Shona Coles book, The Artistic Mother.

With each piece I am gaining more confidence in my artwork.  When my rep was so happy with the piece and was showing it to others, I found myself almost shy about it all.  Why is it I don't feel confident in my work as an artist yet?  Why don't I quite see what others are obviously seeing when they look at my work?  Why is it I feel my work isn't quite good enough?  Do any of you find yourself with those feelings? Do you find yourself asking these questions?  Am I being too hard on myself?  When do you really feel as if your work is good enough?  Do we ever feel like we have arrived with our artistic visions?  My inquiring heart wants to know.  I am not sure why I keep struggling with this part of my life!!

I can just say that my rep Melodie is going home with a Donna Wynn original and she is very happy with the piece that was created just for her.  I like the sounds of that Original Artwork by Donna Wynn.   

That has to be my new mindset . . . thinking of myself truly as an artist.  I need to know that with confidence.   I know that my mantra is to live creatively every day and I do strive to do achieve that; even with having a full time career.  It gives me an extra sense of purpose and satisfaction.  I have been thinking of opening an Etsy shop with some of my work for quite some time. I have so many artistic girlfriends who are successfully running their own Etsy shops . . . maybe just maybe it is time to seriously consider it!

Wishing you love and peace and all good things this week!

Donna Lee

My Paint an Owl E-course

My first backgrounds

I signed up for Juliette Crane's How to Paint an Owl E-Course and it began two weeks ago.  First I want to say when I signed up I had to wait for almost four weeks for it to begin . . . I could hardly wait.  I have always admired Juliette's work and I follow her blog and Etsy shop regularly!  When she advertised that she had created her lovely owl painting course I knew it had my name written all over it!

Week one:  Was learning how to create backgrounds . . . using acrylics, stencils, spray paints and whatever we wanted to have fun creating beautiful backgrounds for the owls to be painted on.  On Monday she posts the lesson, through her written word, pictures and videos.  She is giving it her all so that we can learn from her experience.  I posted my first background on facebook, and I couldn't believe the comments from friends that came that day.  They couldn't believe that I was going to actually paint over it.  I learned from Juliette that it is all about the painting process, that learning and painting and enjoying the process is as important as the finished piece.  So here is my very first painted background . . . I painted it on a 6 x 6 canvas that I purchased from Dick Blick when I was in New York City (that has meaning in itself to me!)

I believe I am hooked on spray painting with lace and doilies . . . it gives such a beautiful adornment to the piece.  I started hunting through some of my mommy's old crochet pieces and found some really beautiful little doilies . .  they were already stiffened so it made them easy to paint with.  I know this sounds sentimental, but I lost my mom not too long ago and using her work is like having a little piece of her in every piece I create . . . it comforts me.  Art is like that, there is sentiment in everything we do.  I love having hidden treasures lying within my artwork.

Week Two:  We get to actually paint on our owls!  Juliette is wonderful with sharing her techniques.  We learned to draw our owls by first sketching out what we think we want our owl to look like by using simple shapes and then actually drawing our owl on top of our background. See there I go covering up my beautiful background!  I think I will call her Lovie!  

So I began by sketching my little love owl on top of my background and then I began painting and embellishing!  I definitely have a long way to go and still have three weeks to learn even more from Juliette.  This is such a great experience and I am so happy to be a part of it.  I can hardly wait until the next lesson!

Art is about continuing to reach outside of your comfort zone.  Painting owls is definitely outside of mine!!  With Juliette's inspiration I am open to exploring new painting ideas.  I love learning, learning and learning some more.  It is so much fun to take an e-course.  You can learn at your own pace, paint in your own studio and take the time to learn the way you need to.   We have videos for instruction, Facebook to share our thoughts, Flicker and Picasa to post our artwork, blogs to share our excitement and discoveries and so much more which brings the class community so much closer.  I will keep you posted and promise to post another owl that is refined and has her own definition!  Everyday I am feeling more confident in my artwork and in my abilities to create.  Have a blessed week and don't forget to create something wonderful, it is good for the soul.

Metropolitan Museum Magic

I absolutely adore this museum!

A few weeks ago I had the ultimate pleasure of being in NYC for four days.  I was there for a vision conference and took a few extra days to see the city.   I attend this conference every year, so NYC is like home to me.  I love the magic of it all!! I wrote about this a few blog entries ago;   but I wanted to take the time and talk about my visit to the Metropolitan Museum and what it meant to me. The greatest magic of all is when I get to visit the Met . . . it is truly life changing.

My absolute favorite stop from this years trip was visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  It takes my breath away every time I visit there.  I love the hustle bustle of so many people.  I love just sitting on the steps outside and people watching; it is amazing to see so many people and so much action. Of course I couldn't get this shot of me without my precious hubby taking so many clicks on the camera!  He is wonderful!  We began by taking a beautiful and very long walk through Central Park and then walked under a tunnel leading directly to the Metropolitan Museum, it was truly majestic.  My hubby planned it all and knew right where we were!

I could sit there all day!

From the moment you enter the museum you feel an overwhelming sense of anticipation for what you are about to see.  They ask for a $20.00 donation to enter, but what you receive is far greater than that amount.  Walking through wing after wing of incredible art history, you feel blessed that your eyes and your mind can take it all in.  It must take amazing funds to preserve these works of art.

It wasn't until I finally reached the European Art Wing when I began to feel an incredible inner feeling of excitement and admiration.  I so wanted to visit the other man in my life Claude Monet.  I was not disappointed!  Two full rooms of nothing but Monet paintings.  I had goose bumps and even tears in my eyes as my sight was fixed upon my favorite Water Lilies.  Why do I love his work so? It is as if he is present in the very room!

To be so very close and be able to almost reach out and touch works by Claude Monet filled my heart beyond measure.  I have always loved his choice of colors.  I believe that his later works in life he did struggle, his paintings were no longer as detailed as his beginning pieces.  I could sympathize with him because he became almost blind near the end of his life and yet he wanted to continue to paint.  Working in the medical field of eyes my whole life, I knew his vision was dimmed by cataracts, they probably didn't even know what that word meant in Monet's time.  It can be described as trying to look out of a dirty window and never being able to see clearly.  I imagine that frustrated Monet so.

What a wonderful Sunday afternoon it was, in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I love being an artist.  It is a way of life for me now.  I want to take in colors and shapes and visuals, I want to record sketches in my little sketch book that I carry with me.  I want to photograph images in hopes of painting them, or be inspired by them later. If you ever have the chance to visit this incredible Museum, don't miss the chance. Give yourself plenty of time, you don't want to rush through it, it will change your heart forever.

Walking through one of the mighty halls in the Met I came across this beautiful fountain and of course I had to throw a penny in for a wish, (sorry I can't tell you or it won't come true).  It also reminded me of the term a penny for your thoughts.  Here are mine . . .

Life is beautiful, we have so much we can experience if we only look around us, time is a precious gift, peace is a state of mind, talent comes in many forms, beauty is in the eye of beholder, friends come and go, love will always continue.  Breathe, experience, take time to slow down, forgive, love, see all that you can see, never walk away angry, see the good in all things and in all people, know that you are special and life is a gift given each and every day! Don't miss the opportunity to learn something new, rejoice.

One Way . . . 5th Avenue . . . where is the shopping????

I am truly in love with New York City

Love,

Donna

Happy Blogaversary to me!

See Blogaversary really is a word!

Exactly one year ago today I began my little blog by posting my very first blog entry.  I was writing on my Macbook and didn't have a clue really what I was doing!  I went back and read my first post, it was very short and my words were raw and sincere (I honestly don't think that has changed).   I had watched the movie Julie and Julia about a girl who started a blog about cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook for one year.  It gave me the inspiration to begin mine.  I had already read the books and was contemplating starting my own blog, so I jumped in on Friday, March 26, 2010.

Little did I know back then that I would grow immensely by writing my blog and sticking with it.  I have grown in so many ways, it is hard to put into words.  My confidence in myself and in my writing is stronger, my computer abilities and knowledge are way better, my connections with other bloggers have grown and my blog has taken on its very own personality (they do that you know!)  I believe my intention was to just write about knitting and weaving and the creative thoughts that come along with that in the beginning.   Now I have encompassed all of my creative adventures into my blog . . . from knitting and weaving to watercolor painting to my newest love mixed media and collage.   I write and share about all of it, including workshops, classes, e-courses and retreats.

Most of all I feel that I have joined a community of like minded women and friends.  There are some amazing blogs out there, with women who are doing far greater works than I. Trust me, just pick up a copy of Artful Blogging magazine.  I have become a part of a tribe of creative women, who write and share their feelings and who support each other with comments and words of encouragement along the way.  I cherish each and every comment and my heart is full.

I look forward to the next year with Gentle Threads.  I always look forward to posting on Monday mornings, it has become a way of life for me.  I write my words during the weekend,  I contemplate any changes I want to make, making sure I have written well the message that I want to relay.  Then there she goes . . . out into the virtual world she goes.  I have learned to share it on my Facebook page, my Ravelry page and now I am Tweeting!!!  Everyday is a new adventure and I am loving every step along the way.  I now have 44 followers and counting!!!  Thank you for all your love, support, friendship and amazing comments along the way.  I plan to print my first year postings into a book, so I will forever have a treasure of this experience. 

I will see you along the way and I look forward to what comes next.  My blog has become my friend and it has taught me to reach out and trust myself, it has taught me that I do have something to say and that others think so too!  It is far more than writing words on a computer!  Thank you for being here and I will see you on Monday!  In the meantime, share some goodiness with me . . . my wish for you is peace in your own life and happiness in all that you encounter.

Love to you

Donna Lee

NY inspiration

I have just returned from spending four wonderful days in New York City.  Every year for over twenty years I have attended the International Vision Expo.  This is an incredible Eyewear market where all of the latest in eyeglasses frames and trends are being featured.  I found myself in color and shape overload, it was exciting and so much fun to be attending.  This is where I get to buy frames for my Optical boutique and stay ahead with the fashion and styles.  Believe me, there is a lot of art in eyewear and bright colors are definitely the new trend for this spring!

When the expo was over and the frames were purchased, the classes were taken and there was no more for me to do . . . it was time to shift into Donna the artist mode!  I had two days alone in New York before my husband came.  Independence and time with yourself is a very good thing! I was able to spend precious girlfriend time with two friends I had met at Squam last fall.  How wonderful it was to catch up with both of them.  Jennifer and Riva, you are two amazing women.  My husband came on Sunday morning, right in the hectic crowd of the NYC half marathon, happening right outside my Park Central Hotel.  I had a list of things I wanted to see and accomplish and my wonderful husband Jimmy made sure I did all of it.  Did I say wonderful???  I gave him my list of places that I wanted to go and he made sure whether by subway or taxi, we got to every destination!!  With some latte breaks at Dean and DeLuca, wonderful lunch at a Soho cafe, exploring many miles of walking, we made it to everything on my list!!  He patiently waited for me in every store and with every picture I wanted to take.   I did say wonderful hubby right?

It was a wonderful trip and I was filled with inspiration.  Here is a summary of all that I got to see! 

Cafe Europa  Lee's Art Store on 57th Ave   Rizzolli Bookstore  Laura Mercier makeover at Henri Bendel  Mary Poppins Broadway play  Times Square late at night  dinner at the Algonquin  long walk in Central Park  Metropolitan Museum  time with my other man Claude Monet  shopping on 5th Ave  famous frozen yogurt at Forty Carrots in Bloomingdales

dinner at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain  subway rides  taxi cabs  Soho shopping  Dean and DeLuca

Anthropologie  Purl Soho knitting store  Loopy Mango knit store  Dick Blick Art Supplies  The Ink Pad rubber stamp store  Empire State Building Yummy cheesecake 

and so much more!!!!!  

It was a wonderful time.  I am filled with inspiration to get into my studio.  I brought home lots of treats from unusual collage papers, to a new and fabulous paint brush, rubber stamps, French music CD for studio time and lace knitting yarn!  I loved being with like minded friends and being in a place where anything is possible!  Don't ever be intimidated by NYC and if you need a guide to show you the way, I am right here!

Donna Lee

What an incredible experience it was!

Wasting precious time

Creativity requires us to be present at all times.  To give our best to whatever is before us.  To concentrate on the piece, and allow it to come into being.  This past week has been a bit crazy for me, working a lot, having a little vein surgery on my leg, a cold that just won't go away and losing my voice on and off for over a week.  I truly believe this is my body and my world telling me to slow down, re-organize my thoughts and re-group my life just a wee bit!!!  Ever have those times?? You have to answer yes to that, because I believe we all have those moments.

I have always been one who prides myself on organization and being disciplined with my time.  Recently that just hasn't been happening and I find myself totally out of sorts.  With that feeling comes disorganization, no productive creative times and a feeling of pure yuckiness!!!  I love going into my studio, looking at everything and being inspired, yet can't bring myself to sit at my art table and actually finish anything.  Now just the week before, I wrote a blog entry about my beautiful six postcards I made for the exchange, mailed them out and was very happy about them.  Some people might say that it has only been a week since you have created anything, don't be so hard on yourself!!! I would say true!!


My thoughts have just been on not making the most out of the time I have lately.  I do work full time as an Optical Manager, so my time is not my own during the week.  I truly have to carve in time to play and be creative.  It is one of the things that centers me and calms me down, yet it is the last thing I am able to concentrate on at the end of the day!  This weekend was no different, I had all these plans, yet accomplished nothing, artistically speaking.  I watched mindless television with my husband and made Brunswick stew (now that was yummy I must say).


Monday mornings are great, that is why I always try to post on my blog on Mondays, to me it is a fresh new beginning of the week.  We now have daylight savings time, so no more driving home from work in the dark (truly depressing!).The days are beautiful and I choose to think differently.  I want to watch television less, be more productive and cherish each minute of each day.  I know that sounds a bit extreme, but I truly mean it.  As artists, we think differently, we think with dreams and a big heart.  I am so happy for my artsy girlfriends who get to devote themselves to their artwork fulltime, yahoo to them.  I have to just take another direction and use the time I have more wisely.  I can't do it all, it all doesn't have to be perfect and when my art is calling me...I want to run to it!  I have all these ideas running through my brain of what I want to create, now I need to put it into action.  I want to watch less tv, phone conversations, computer, facebook, twitter....wow those things do take an amazing amount of time to keep them going!!!  I am conflicted, because it is the way to keep in touch with my art girlies!


Next week I celebrate having my blog one full year . . . it has changed my life and I am so proud of it, more of that to follow!  Have a blessed week and if you have any suggestions for me, please share.  I always love hearing from you.  I know I am not alone in these feelings nor will they magically disappear!  I am living consciously that is the first step.  I am looking forward to my Big Wish Ecamp next week.   That is what  I am going to concentrate on fully and enjoy what is in store for me!! 

Donna Lee

My postcard swap adventure

This weekend I have been working on finishing up my stitched postcard swap from Beth Nicholls of Do What You Love For Life .  I must say I had a good time with it!  There is something so fun about getting all the paints and collage stuff out and start creating.  I had an idea where I wanted to go with my postcard, but it did begin to evolve all on it's own.

Stitchin up some LOVE!

I first began with painting my 4x6 Strathmore watercolor postcard with two colors of acrylic paints.  I used a scraper to apply the paint, instead of a paintbrush. I enjoy this technique a lot and I learned it from watching videos from Brave Girls Club.  I began to apply lots of different collage materials, from antique lace to old dictionary sheets.  I like to use Golden Soft Gel Medium (Semi gloss) to apply my collage materials.  After I had my postcard the way I wanted it, I decided to create more than one, since I have some girlfriends I know would love to get some LOVE in the mail!!  I then went to the sewing machine.  I have NEVER stitched with my sewing machine on watercolor paper before, this took me a little while to get the hang of it.   I have seen some beautiful stitched journals from girlfriends, this technique is certainly growing on me.  So I created six different postcards, each one taking on a personality of their own.  Creating is so much fun; with each added element, I got more excited.  The theme was LOVE, so of course I had a heart or two included.   There is nothing like it getting in your studio and playing with art materials, playing the music loudly and seeing where it all leads.  I believe at Squam we called that "In the Bubble".   We were meant to create and we are meant to share it.  I decided last minute to add a layer of Glitter Mod Podge to add some extra sparkle . . . we all need some Sparkle in our lives! Artwork does that you know!  I know how to begin a piece, but the artwork itself knows when it is finished.

Some postcard love

My recipient lives pretty far away, in Southampton UK and he was the first guy to participate in this swap.  He was also Beth's Nichols brother, so no pressure there!  I sure hope he enjoys a small little piece of art in his mailbox, coming all the way from Virginia Beach, Virginia.  So I am heading to the post office tomorrow to mail it.  I am in search of a really awesome postcard stamp to mail it with (the finishing touch!)  I can't wait to receive my postcard in the mail . . . I wonder where it is coming from and who is sending it? Just wanted to share my journey with you for it is always a joy for me to spend time with you!  How about you try sending a small postcard to someone you love? (I will be sure and send you my address if you need it)  Join in on a creative swap when you can, it forces you to get in the studio and create, which is always a good thing!  I am off now to post my picture on our Flicker group.

My finished piece to mail to Matt!

This is going to be fun

Look what I am participating in!


I just signed up for this postcard swap and I am so excited to be a part of it.  If you haven't heard about Do What you Love for Life  with Beth Nicholls you are missing out!  Her webpage is filled with so much inspiration, ideas, e-courses and this third postcard swap.  The theme for this swap is LOVE.
I am already thinking about what I will create.  Isn't it exciting to start a new project and see it come into creation?  What a beautiful website she has and I encourage you to visit her website.
This is certainly going to be fun and will keep me busy until Juliette Crane's Owl course begins!!
This is definitely going to be a fun next few months.

Art is beautiful!
Art is amazing!
Art is life saving!
Art is inspirational!
Art is just plain fun!
Art has changed my outlook!
Art just is! 

Just had to share all this art goodiness with you on a Monday morning.  May your week be filled with joy, inspiration and love all around.
Donna 

What I learn from E-courses

Well it is the end of February and it has been a very busy creative two months.  I took three E-courses and loved each one in their own way!  First let me begin with taking Misty Mawn's Stretching Within and that is exactly what she accomplished with this course.  There were over 205 participants and yet we seemed like we were a small and intimate group.  There was a private Facebook group where we were able to share our thoughts and ideas with each other, and yes, our very private poetry writings!  There was a Flicker photo group where we were able to post pics of our work if we wanted to and then there was Misty's weekly lessons, which absolutely blew me away!  She had so many lessons, examples, photos, references and stunning examples to learn by.  On top of that, she produced incredible videos with all of her techniques.  She was so willing to share her artistic spirit and knowledge with us, I received so much more than I ever thought.  I especially loved her music mixes she produced that we could create by.  I absolutely can not wait for her book Unfurling to come out soon, it is going to be such a studio reference for all of us who purchase it.  Misty took the time to link us to her favorite stores where she purchases the materials she taught us to use during the entire course.  Thank you Misty for your beautiful spirit, talent and guidance during this course.

I was very excited to hear that Art And Soul Retreat was coming to Hampton, Virginia just forty minutes from my home.  I signed up for a one full day handmade journal class and then last minute decided to take another full day class.   It was Misty's Painted Papers class; there was ONE SPOT LEFT and I got it!!  I love it when things like that happen.  I was intended to spend a whole day with Misty and meet her face to face!!! I also get to catch up with some of my beautiful Squam by the Sea friends, it is going to be an awesome experience, can't wait for April to come!!!!

Okay, second E-course was Mondo Beyondo.  Now how do you describe something that is so life changing in just a blog entry?  You can't.  I was wondering if I had indeed signed up for course overload, but each one was different and I needed each course.  If I had to choose which one I could have left off, well I just couldn't!!!! In Mondo Beyondo each day in my email inbox a daily lesson was sent to me with life challenges, thoughts, stories, audio interviews, affirmations and so much more.  There was a classmate discussion board where we could come together and share our thoughts and feelings.  I can't even put into words the amount of inspiration that came to me each day.  Now I am in Mondo Beyondo withdrawel, I miss my emails each day!  I did gain a pen pal out of the class and we continue to keep in touch with each other.  Please, if you ever get the chance to participate in this, do so, it will be a tremendous gift of self exploration you give to yourself.  It is life changing.

Last and certainly not least, my Life in the Fishbowl with Marisa from Creative Thursday just ended this week.  I already miss Marisa and her beautiful voice and spirit.  She spent five weeks teaching us and sharing everthing about having an online presence.  She first had an audio lesson sent to us and a few days later she visited us by video.  You just have to see her smile when she shares with you.  We learned about blogging, twitter, fb, marketing ourselves, selling and pricing our work, where she gets all of her supplies from mailing to painting! I have taken other courses with Marisa and she welcomes you into her world, lovingly and supporting you all the way.  She has given me the confidence to go forward in my online exploration!

I am in a creative space right now and I am still absorbing all the wonderful things that I have learned these past few months.  I am grateful that I can learn in such a way when I am not able to always travel to these wonderful art workshops around the country and learn in person.  The online world is opening up opportunities for me to learn and grow right in the beauty of my own home and in my jammies!!  I encourage you to explore the many opportunities that are out there!  I have linked my courses for you.

Now I get to learn how to create and paint adorable owls from the gifted Juliette Crane.  I have followed her for quite some time now and I love her art style.  We both shared the Stretching Within E course together.  I know this is going to be so much fun, I truly can't wait to begin.  I am actually looking forward to painting for fun and learning something whimsical.  More to follow . . .

Yoga in my Life

Breathe . . . Intention . . . Rest . . . Focus . . . Peace of Mind

"Sitting with Intention"
My favorite sculpture

I have practiced yoga off and on for years, but seriously developed my yoga practice in 2006.  It has truly changed my life and my perspective on how I see things.  It all happened when I stepped into a beautiful yoga studio called  Hot House Yoga in Virginia Beach, VA and I have been practicing yoga there ever since!  I immediately felt a sense of peace and tranquility when I stepped onto my mat that day.  What a gift I gave to myself,  I didn't even realize the path my life was about to take back then.

I am currently working on the 40 day yoga challenge.  It is a challenge for myself to practice four days out of seven for forty days, easy I thought!  I was going pretty consistently anyway, so this would be a breeze!  It has turned into so much more. I am feeling motivated, stronger and am seeing the results of a disciplined yoga life.  I truly thought I was already committed to my yoga, this has renewed my strength and certainly my love for my yoga practice.

Strength . . . Stability . . . Calm . . . Quiet of Mind . . . Challenge

Yoga calms me, centers me, works with my body, heart and mind.  I am loving every minute of my practice and carry it into every part of my life. When my parents were so very ill, it was stepping onto my mat that gave me a time of quiet for myself.  A time to not think about illness, a time for regeneration of my thoughts and my body.  I was able to leave the cares of what I was living through and know that during that time, I could leave my cares at the door.  Hot House Yoga was a retreat for me, a safe place where I found peace.  I know when I came there, it had a feeling of home and comfort to me.  I am lucky to feel a part of the Yax yoga family!  They rock on so many levels!!!

My yoga practice has taught me to live with intention, to live carefully and to be sensitive to those around me.  It has gotten me through a rough day at work and has certainly taught me to be mindful of all things in my life, including what food enters my body!  My artwork has grown into something deeper.  I practice mindfulness when I am painting and I am expressing myself more freely through my art.  I know and believe that I have grown in strength and wellness.  When I am asked "what is it in your life that is important to you?",  I have to answer my precious family, caring for my home, my faith in God, friendships, being an artist and certainly my yoga practice.  I believe all are interwoven together to create the fabric of my life.  Yoga has shown me the way to living in balance and that is not always easy!  I know this to be true.

I encourage you . . . if you have never gone to a yoga class, please try.  It doesn't have to be hot yoga, just try it.  It is a gift of health and life that you give to yourself.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  There are so many types of yoga,  just experiment and see where you are most comfortable.  Practicing yoga in my life has been fun and certainly challenging;  but I am growing everyday and getting stronger with each and every yoga pose!  You will wonder how you ever lived without it.  If you try it for the first time, please let me know.  Just envision me tapping on your shoulder saying you are welcome here my friend!

Embrace . . . Growth . . . Mindfulness . . . Discipline . . . Practice

Namaste