alisaburke: ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!

alisaburke: ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!: I've got another giveaway today! I am giving three of my new pouches each will be filled with my favorite supplies!!! To enter t...Congratulations on ten colorful creative years!  My favorite supply right now is my small collection of mark making tools.

Inspired

One of my driving forces is looking for inspiration. I see it in words spilled upon the page, in watching the birds, in the splash of paint on canvas, in the rust of iron on the pier, in the way the clouds move across the face of the moon on a windy night. Subconsciously I look for it all around me. The creative force that cannot be turned off at will, but that can, upon occasion go into hibernation, always looking at the world without and within for the next thing that ignites it's spark. My task is simply to be open. I love the surprise when it comes to me from some obscure place or event. Hoping that in the unfolding of your day you find an unexpected source of inspiration.

Hello . . . is anybody there?

Creakkkkly the door opens, (cough, cough!! as the dust goes up my nose!), I slowly open the door to my little place here. I look inside to find dust has settled on every flat surface. The windows are dirty. The sun is trying to come in and light the corners of the room with it's yellow warmth once again. When I last closed the door to this little art room in the back, I did not anticipate I would have been gone this long. My going was a necessary journey. I needed some time away. A time of not sharing every little thing going on. A time to create art just for me. A time to reflect on where I was and where I wanted to go. I return standing better on my feet when I am on the ground. I return more comfortable in my flying wings when I am skybound. The art chair feels familiar, the contours of my body still embedded in it. I have been anticipating my return here with hopefulness. I always knew I would come back here. I am not disappointed.

Happy Birthday BFF!!!

Some good things going on, like my BFF's birthday - Love that you were born xx years ago today! An email from my neice, which made my day - love you Chelsea and you made an auntie's heart happy today - it was really good hearing from you. I am looking forward to following along on your blog! A new little one has joined our family, a big welcome to little Fiona!!! And yes, even the swarm of bees resting at our house while they look for a new place to live is a good thing in my book.

I have been away from here for so long, I almost feel like I should not be allowed to post here anymore. But moving beyond that, I am here and hoping to get comfortable back in the saddle again. I have been playing with a fun art group, making some cool art projects and really enjoying the altered book group I have been participating in lately - love doing those altered books! I have a new camera to replace my old one which took a dive off the mountain on one of J's last hiking adventures - will get some photos up of some of the newer projects, soon. Good to be back in familiar territory, I've missed my blogging friends!

Another good day . . .

Another good day! It was a wonderful day for teaching a PMC class at Stamping Details with two great women. This was the type of class where it felt more like play than work, and a good time was had by all! I am inspired to work on getting some more ideas out there and to put together a couple more classes that will bring some freshness to my teaching - I am ready for that (thank you Tamsie!). I am listening to the universe and my BFF - neither one of which has ever steered me wrong!! Looking forward to a relaxing weekend of reading, some more of Mystele's online art lessons and a couple of good movies I hope! See ya'll next week!

Rambling around in a familar space . . .

I didn't want to write, "I can't believe it's been so long since I've been here!", but here I am writing that!! I don't want to explain why I have been away, I just want to jump back in and pick up with being in my blog space again. So that's what I am doing. I have been wondering about many things recently, one of which is how I want to spend my time. Isn't that a huge luxury, actually getting to chose how to spend it instead of  not having any choice in the matter?! Reading, writing, creating little art pieces, all are wonderful ways I choose to spend the gift of time. I have also been recently increasing my physical phitness (love the play on that word!!) to keep my health moving in a good direction. The funniest thing is I couldn't wait for my birthday this year so I would be able to join the Senior Center so I could use their gym!! That cracks me up about myself!! I have not been the most physical person I have known, but I am starting to appreciate the benefits of  moving my body around and finding a strength I didn't realize was there. I challenge you to get moving in the world today!

A shifting perspective . . .

Carolyn, I too, am saying, "A month!!" I thought for sure I would have been back here long before now. Where have I been?! Really, not very far away, just out of sight around the bend. I've been reassessing some priorities, some things I want to let go off that no longer work well for me. I have been looking at art making and the role that plays in my life, writing and the role that plays, people I know and people I want to know better, books I know I will never read and can release, and books I can't wait to devour and savor, always on the hunt for words that speak to my spirit. I am getting more comfortable with who I am and  trusting my instincts and searching out some new experiences. I am settling comfortably into my routine and trusting it is exactly where I am suppose to be right now, right here. The Universe has a way of letting you know when it's time for things to change. Oh and by the way, if you haven't seen Alice in Wonderland, run, don't walk to your nearest theatre!! The trip down the rabbit hole is so worth it!!!