Painting my Story . . .

I have been taking Mindy Lacefield's class

Paint your Story

and I am having such a fun time.

What a gift I have given myself.

It is hard for me to share

my little doodlings

and drawings,

but here they are.

Exposing your raw artwork

can be intimidating to oneself.

I am learning to play

with my seven year old

 inner little child,

I think mine has enjoyed

coming out to play.

We are learning to play with faces

drawing, watercoloring,

expressions, markings,

different personalities,

what fun this is for me.

We are creating Pin Boards with Pinterest

here is a link to all of my Pinboards,

(I could write a whole blog post on just

the fun of Pinterest and how addicting it is)

I am marking, drawing, painting,

doodling, writing with my left hand,

and having so much fun.

Mindy is an incredible teacher

and I love her very much.

I first met her at Squam by the Sea

in October 2010,

we have continue to connect

over and over again,

what a beautiful and creative

spirit she truly is.

I have a lot of her beautiful artwork

in my studio, to give me 

inspiration

over and over again.

Collecting words for future paintings

Some of my favorite words 

that speak to me

I have created a list of over

a hundred words to use 

 again in my own artwork.

I encourage to you try this exercise,

you will be amazed at how the words

just come to you.

Marks and scribbles

with just my

Pitt pens

Marks and scribbles with my

watercolors

You know I have to get my watercolors in there

somewhere.

I recognize that this is an extremely

creative time in my life,

writing poetry from the heart,

playing with my inner baby girl,

Painting my own story,

I am deeply blessed . . . 

to have the time, the resources,

a beautiful studio to create in,

creative friends that inspire me,

and the desire to create all that

is deep within me.

Can't wait to see what comes next

this week in Mindy's class.

If you EVER get the chance to take this,

I strongly urge you to do so.

You can have Mindy right in your

own home, you don't always have to travel

to these amazing art retreats,

(even though I highly recommend you experience that too)

This week:

Be creative

Write Poetry

Take pictures of the world around you

Write a note to someone you love

Learn something new

just express your beautiful self.

Expression from the heart

52 Photos Project . . . The Golden Hour

Last night's clouds before sunset!

This is our final week of 52 Photos Project

and I wanted to make this my blog post for the week!

What an amazing experience it has been!

I purchased my Canon Rebel T1i

just one year ago on Ebay 

(my first ever Ebay purchase)

 and I couldn't wait

to jump into taking photos.

I had the pleasure of first meeting Bella

at Squam by the Sea

the fall of 2010

and I had been reading about her

photo project online,

I decided that was exactly what

I needed to do.

This 52 Photos Project with

Bella Cirovic

has taught me so much!

Each week we had a theme,

we were to try to capture a photo with that them

from our everyday lives.

She had interviews, stories and so much

inspiration to guide us along.

She did an amazing job

and I tried to be as faithful as I could.

You can see some of my 

52 photos on my Flicker site

here

I got 45 out of 52 . . .  

Not too bad

for a new photographer.

So the last theme for this week's project was

"The Golden Hour"

that beautiful time as the sun

is setting

before it disappears.

I reached into my photos taken

this past year and decided to share some with you.

The sun setting is so beautiful.

Bella is starting her next 52 Photos Project next week!

I am jumping right in,

won't you consider joining us??

I took this photo in the Outer Banks a few weeks ago

on the sound side in Duck

Took this photo just before sunset in Corolla, NC

Another cloud photo in my own 

Virginia Beach Oceanfront

one evening

Sunset on the Beach in the OBX

It doesn't get any more beautiful than this!

My favorite of all photos

At Serendipity Retreat

October 2011

This is the photo I am most proud of

I think I am getting the hang of it

Poetry on a Sunday Morning

Stepping forward
(of course with hot pink shoes)

I have been in love with my Poem It Out E course . . . haven't done much painting lately,

 just reading, writing and absorbing the beauty and the magic of words.

How wonderfully perfect to be taking this course with Liz Lamoreux during April,

 since it is National Poetry Month.

I encourage you to re-visit poetry

if you haven't been with it in awhile.

I have loved writing for so very long

the yearning to write is always

tucked way deep inside. 

So I decided just to share a small poem of mine with you this morning . . .

this beautiful Sunday morning . . . 

Writing Poetry

Thoughts from my heart

spilled on to the page,

scary and cleansing

both rolled into one.

Putting pen to the page

writing freely from my heart,

no holding back

no holding back.

I find myself at peace

with myself being here,

the words continue to come

they say to me . . .

you are safe here

you are treasured here

you are loved here.

I think I will stay here

for awhile.

Donna Lee

Yearning

My Art table . . . full of goodiness

I have recently signed up for
Liz Lamoreux's online course
Poem It Out
This is a real stretch for me
and I wanted to spend time
learning and writing more poetry.
My precious friend
Jennifer Belthoff
of Giggling in the Rain
is taking this course as well,
and it gives me joy to know we are
sharing this together.
Her words go straight to my heart
every time I get to read them.

Each day Liz sends out
a lesson for the day,
she gives writing prompts
 to get you to think,
 to reach deep within.
  She also comes to you througha video to be right there with you.
Her voice is always so calming and peaceful.
She also shares an interview
 from another poet,
so we can learn and experience
what other poets have to say.
I am so excited to be here
for the next four weeks.



I anticipate those words that are deep inside
will begin to  flow freely.
Poetry is so very personal.
We also have a flicker page to share our photos,
my photo above went with my writing.

I decided to share my first poem with you,
so here goes . . . 


Yearning
As I sit this morning, this very quiet morning
I yearn for time, any time
Where I can sit and play with my art,
It gently calls out to me
those brushes and paints of mine.
The blank pages say come
and play Donna Lee
come and let loose those creative
yearnings of yours.
I long to play and not have to work
I yearn for more creative time in my studio,
with just me and my creative self,
to just be here in the moment.

so there it is, straight from my heart.

Already this week I am learning
to be awere, to reach deep within,
to capture words and phrases,
to be open to what my inner girl
wants to say.
I am excited about what lies ahead.

Thank you Liz
for your beauty and strength,
but most of all for sharing your
passion of expression
for all that is surrounding us.

Words are a gift to us,
being able to express through words
is a journey from within.
Donna Lee

My Two Year Blog*a*ver*sa*ry!

This picture was taken this past weekend

while I was in New York City!

I was walking in SOHO

and I was thinking about my two year

blog anniversary!

I was thinking about what I wanted to relate

to my friends, my followers and to myself

about just what my blog has meant to me,

it will be hard to put into words.

I printed my first year into a book with Blog2Print,

so I would always have a keepsake,

looks like I will now have a second edition.

I really didn't believe I would get this far.

So have a seat my friend, let's get started.

When I began my blog two years ago,

I felt it would be all about the things I would be creating,

sharing ideas and techniques I had learned.

As time has evolved, my blog has grown into so much more,

more than I ever expected.

Gentle Threads has taken on a personality and life

 all on it's own.

It is a place I come to for comfort and expression.

I feel safe and at home here.

I have grown in my writing abilities,

I learned to manipulate my E-Blogger skills,

oh my, I didn't even know how to set up a blog.

I have learned to share my thoughts from the heart

and put them into words.  I have fallen in love

with writing poetry.

 I have developed soul sister friendships

that I cherish with each and everyday!

I enjoy following  their blogs and hearing

their thoughts each morning with coffee.

I have enjoyed the comments given to me

and they have gone 

straight to my heartstrings.

 I am truly grateful for each and everyone.

There is so much love and light 

that is shared in this creative community,

the blessing has been all mine.

I look forward to beginning my third year.

I want to grow even more, share even more

and learn even more, 

I know it is possible.

I don't know what is in store in my 

creative world,

but I know it will be an adventure,

I am so wide open to it all.

Thank you for your support, your love

and your following.

This blog world is amazing, it is heartfelt and it is so very special.

So many adventures, so many different experiences to share,

so many flavors is this life of ours, 

all for the choosing.

I am a creative girlie

in love with all that is around me,

eyes wide open . . . 

to see, to experience and to grow.

I look, I listen, I watch, taking it all in.

I can't wait for the next 

creative experience and sharing it

through pictures and words.

Come along with me 

as I enter into my third year

of blogging

won't you???

all of these photos were taken during

my trip to NYC last weekend

Always taking photos,

looking for just the right subject,

how I love my camera.

Donna Lee

Thank you Lisa Gonzalez for teaching

me to shoot myself, have fun with it

and just let go.

Art and Soul . . . Year two!

Art and Soul Retreats

Well another year, another Art and Soul experience and I have to say that this year

was all the more awesome!  I took two wonderful classes over a four day period and I enjoyed

each one as much as the other.

Each class was a totally different experience.

This year they held it in my own home town,

Virginia Beach, VA

so of course I had to attend!

It first begun with a Needle Felted mini-journal class

with Liz Kettle,

she was amazing!

I haven't stopped reading her book "Threads the Basics and Beyond"

 since I returned home.  

If you get the chance to take a class with her,

don't miss the opportunity.

 Loved the felting machine

 Liz Kettle

 Me and my specs

 Had to doodle on the watercolor pages

My finished book!

Liz began by demonstrating needle felting on a sponge, by hand,

which is the way I have always learned.  We then were able to use the new 

Simplicity Needle Felting machines

and it made the experience so much easier.

Every person in class was able to stitch on the felting machines,

it was so much fun.

I loved adding each and every embellishment to my book cover.

You know I am a fiber artist first, so playing with

all of the fibers made me a very happy and creative girl.

Sitting across from me was a girl I knew as familiar, and

finally realized that we had attended the

Serendipity Art Retreat together last fall.

Heather Smith was such a love!

This art world of ours is very small

and I love how we continue to re-connect with each other.

She also was signed up to take my next class,

with Jesse Reno!

Yet another incredible experience.

I signed up for a two day workshop with

Jesse Reno called Freedom to Create.

I have always heard his class was incredible,

but hearing it and experiencing it

are two totally different things.

 Creative exercise with Jesse

 My little Owlie

( I was thinking of Juliette Crane)

My four finished pieces

 The amazing Jesse guiding us along

 I could watch him paint all day

 His finished class demo

I was very excited to re-connect with

Mindy Lacefield

a precious friend of mine.

We got to paint beside each other for two days

 and the

blessing was all mine.

Watching her in her zone is all inspiring to me.

I am excited to be taking her 

"Paint your Story" e- course

starting in a month,

I encourage you to check it out.

 Mindy Lacefield right by my side

I love this woman!!!

Anytime I can attend something artistic,

 I truly consider it a gift.

It is a time where I can re-connect with myself,

be playful and learn a new technique.

I fill my eyes with the work of others and I

am inspired by their creativity.

Learning and playing are good for the soul.

When I can step away from the demands

of real life,

if only for a moment in time,

connect with friends,

be with like minded people and

create art,

listen to someone else's philosophy

about creating art,

I consider it a very good thing.

I returned home inspired and motivated

to do good work.

It was wonderful, enlightening, inspiring

and a very happy experience.

Hmmm . . . I wonder who I will

study with next year?

Jesse's beginning of painting

done with his hands

Sheer Awesomeness

Being Open

I am open to a world of wonder!
A recent Instagram photo of mine!


Open . . . 
such a beautiful word!
It makes me contemplate
all that is around me,
all that is in my heart and soul,
all that I am dreaming of and
all that I have become.

I am open to new things,
creative ideas,
learning something new,
I am always open to change.

My heart is open wide,
I am learning more and more
with each new day!
I never want to get
close minded,
negative or hard hearted.
I want to keep the door open wide.

Life is full of beauty.
I am surrounded by love,
growth, family and friends.
My heart is open wide,
open . . . open . . . open
to what comes next.
what will be next?

My creative life is growing and exploding,
open to new techniques,
new friendships
and new artistic experiences.

Open . . . 
the beauty of one simple word!

Trying new things

Always playing with my watercolors!

I have been playing a lot with my watercolors lately
and have been away from my collage work.
I have been working on Alisa Burke's
Sketchbook Delight Two
Playing is the perfect word for it,
she is teaching us to enjoy the process
and play with our watercolors and our sketches.

There are so many creative avenues I want to pursue,
I just don't have the time to play all that I want to!
I was down with a bug this past week and forced
to stay home from work for a few days (oh darn).
I enjoyed the slow down immensely.
I think it is wonderful how your body has a way of
slowing you down and forcing you
to rest and restore.
We all need that from time to time!

I love playing with black and white photography!

I wanted to experiment and take that exact image
and play with collage and acrylics.
So here is my project!
I first started with collaging papers
on an 8 x 8 canvas
(I love the squared sizes!)

I then used my palette knife to scrape colors over the papers.
I love that technique.  I know below the paint are 
images and words just resting there.
It just speaks to my heart while
I am creating.

I then decided to paint the flower pot with my
 palette knife as well.
All the while, this was feeling so very different
from my watercolor painting.
I knew I would be getting a different effect.

I then added my flowers and leaves, using my fingers
and the palette knife, it was starting to look
like something!  It was beginning to take
on it's own form.
(artwork does that you know)

Long after I stepped away from the piece 
and allowed it to dry
(something I am not used to)
I came back in with my Pitt Artist Pen
(my favorite for pen and ink detail)
I did learn it didn't do as well over acrylics!
So I also used my 
Stabilo Aquarellable Black Pencil
(another tool I can't do without)
With each stroke, more and more
detail was added to the flowers and leaves.
It is hard to stop when you get to that process.

My finished work!

So here you see my finished piece.

I like it because I learned a lot while creating it.

I do believe I love the watercolor piece more.

There is something so beautiful and fluid

about watercolors.

I call myself a Mixed Media Artist

and that is because I never want to stop at just one

art medium.

I am learning to put them together,

to create with something new,

to experiment with the process.

Isn't that what being artistic means?

I am in love with the creative process,

envisioning, drawing, painting,

detailing, sharing,

and knowing when to stop 

and say my work is finished!

I would love to hear your ideas on 

your own creative process!

Inspired by others

Work by the lovely Danielle Daniel

As I look around my studio, on a rainy (and finally cold morning in Virginia Beach), I see so many beautiful and amazing pieces of artwork I have gathered over the years from artistic friends of mine.  When I enter my studio, {my own private and creative place} . . . where all of my art supplies are, where paintings are hung, fibers are stored, paint brushes sit waiting for me to pick up;  the thing that inspires me the utmost are the views of my girlfriends creative works that I have the joy of having there with me!  Each piece of artwork is a reminder of "creative sistership".  I can't even begin to describe the feelings inside when I am reminded of these women who have guided me along my creative path!  We encourage each other through written words, comments on our blogs, cards and treats sent in the mail, e-courses guiding us along, retreats and art workshops and so much more.  If creating alone was all there was, I would be a lonely girl.  I have developed so many wonderful friendships over the years and I am grateful and inspired by so many.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

Lisa Gonzalez "Happy Mama Artworks"

Harmony Lenasblunt  "Feed your soul art"

Kelly Barton "Art + Design"

 Cathy Bueti "Artsy Butterfly"

Mindy Lacefield
Tim's Sally

We are all scattered around the country, each coming together through our blogs, our Facebook pages, Tweets and Instagram photos.  (I must admit right here and now, I am addicted to Instagram)  For those of you who are not familiar with Instagram, it is an app for Iphone users where you can take a picture . . . wherever you are at the present moment, something that stirs you and you want to share . . . it has wonderful filters you can change the look of your photo and even add a comment.  Each day we get to see things we might never get to see and share our worlds with each other, I love it.  It is a beautiful way to let each other into our day to day lives and be with each other.  So fun to share in what we are doing.
The internet has connected us in a whole new way.  When we leave art retreats with each other, we can still connect daily on a different level, until we can come back to one another in a different experience.

One of my latest Instagram shares

"Enjoying the process of it all"

"I am a thriving Artist"

My apron by Marisa

Creative Thursday

Inspiration comes in many forms, personalities and styles of art.  How lucky we are to create art and do what we love.  Each artist has their own unique techniques, their own marketing ideas and designs.  Just visit ETSY online and see how many art shops are there.  We learn from each other, we share with each other, encourage one another, respect each other's creative domain and
celebrate each other's successes.
I know I am truly blessed to be a tiny part of this
artistic community.
I thank you my creative friends for encouraging me to step forward,
to reach for my dreams and
find my own creative voice.
Inspired by many
how blessed am I!
Donna Lee

A "Donna Doodle"