A turn in the path on the journey . . .

Wow, I don't even know if I have any readers left. I've been away a long time. I have been in many different places over the last few months, and I don't mean like to Paris or Rome. I have been in a crappy place with my health, both physical and mental. I'm sure they are connected. They have taken me away from the things that I had used to define myself with. My art has suffered, my friendships have suffered, my relationship with myself has been on a downhill slide. I truly did not know if I would want to write about it here, but I feel a need to share my journey honestly with you. The reason I can write about it now is, I have turned the corner into a better place. I am becoming a firm believer in the body/soul connection. Taking care of myself allows me to be better at being the kind of person I want to be. Truth be known, I have not been taking good care of myself for quite some time. I allowed myself to gain a lot of weight, I didn't eat to nourish my body or my spirit well, I put my head in the sand about health issues because I didn't want to deal with them. Well, that has had a way of catching up with me. Diagnosed with diabetes, fatty liver (sounds awful doesn't it?!), and still a few more things to check out, I have had to come to grips with my health and I am feeling better for it. I don't want this blog to be about my health issues, and I personally will find this very boring if I have to write about it much longer, but I feel I need to explain my absence from this place I have liked to come to and have been missing. My creative juices are starting to flow again. I am listening to an urge that is telling me to create with my own voice. I am glad to be back. In my isolation, I have missed being with you.

Checking in and tuning out!

I have just given myself the luxury of spending two whole days reading a wonderful book by a new author, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I could not put this book down, and while it was a pretty big book (444 pages), I loved every minute of reading it! I came to have a great fondness for the characters and their responses to their lives and I can not wait for her next novel to be released (I hope there will be a next one!!). The experience of tuning everything out for two days, relaxing under the fan, drinking iced teas and totally losing myself in this story was a treat for body and soul! Funny how I am using my blog for book and movie reviews!
I am seeing an odd pattern of once a month posting to my blog and I am wondering what that has to say about my relationship to this space. I know I have been sitting quietly these last couple of weeks, not creating at the usual pace. At 54 I am practicing my right to not have to do things that no longer feel right for me. I am getting better at listening to my heart and while I am not graceful at it yet, I am clumsily practicing voicing my desires out loud. I am realizing that while something may be not be right for me, it does not mean that it makes you wrong. I am getting the opportunity to practice loving kindness. Ahh, so this is where I find myself today, happy to have a wonderful story settling inside of me, grateful that I am able to continue to stretch and grow into my potential and making my peace with the heat of the summer!

Wow, summer is flying by!

I can't believe it's been this long since I last posted here! I have been having such a creative time this summer and I'm loving it! It reminds me of the carefree days of summer of my youth and while I don't like the heat of summer, I love the carefree feeling of summer. Today was the day to digest the fun and information learned in the Suzi Blu's class I was gifted from my BFF yesterday! I have been learning tons in the on line class, but it was a big help to have in person instruction and feedback. Suzi brought her friend Mara to help and that was an excellent decision. She also brought her little friend GiGi who was the absolute best with that large group of women all clamoring for Suzi's attention! I also was able to take another class with Karen O'Brien recently, and loved taking the next step with her techniques. So I am working on trying to keep it all in balance and took myself to see Julie & Julia today. I loved Meryl Streep's performance - award winning in my book! All that delicious food made you drool during the show! I am reading a good book right now, The Five Things we Cannot Change and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them by David Richo. It's the type of book I am highlighting like crazy and writing notes in the margins. When I finish it, I am going to go back and read it again. So in the forward movement of my life, I am happy. Making satisfying art, good reading, and there are rumors that another trip to Paris may be happening - it's all good today!

Lesson 5 and at the half way mark . . .

Wow, it's been a busy week or art, b-day celebration, reading and a new online class starting up with SuziBlu. The pictures posted are the 5th lesson in Julie Prichard's Layer of Love class. The object was to find a picture as inspiration and use the colors to create our piece. Well, my inspiration was a bit lighter in color, but I love the richness of the purples and golden colors my finished painting turned out to have. By the fifth lesson I can tell I am getting more comfortable with the process and can't wait to use these pages in a journal at the end of class. Julie is starting a journal class in September, I think I may just have to take a stab at that one, too! Yesterday I saw the Body Works exhibit in Balboa Park and it was fascinating! A fun day of lunch at the Prado for Linda's B-day and then an afternoon at an excellent museum exhibit. Last night was the Affirmation Card exchange group and after that - home to bed, it was a full day! My days are filled with art and at night I find myself dreaming of colors and shading and mastering technique. I am visiting with my mom and sister next week, but will be home in time to take another Karen O'Brien class at Stamping Details - I love her classes, can't wait to show you what we do in there!

Adding a little fiber art to my summer. . .

I mentioned a few posts back that I am also working on KC Willis' Collage Camp piece. Well, I am not quite done, but am posting what I have done so far. A few more additions to this and I will be able to call it complete. This was a fun project and I would like to work on this on a smaller scale and put some into a book form. I also signed up for a clay working class online and will post my pictures from that class when it has dried a bit more. Oh, and did I mention I also signed up for a face sketching/poetry journal class online, also? Okay, now you see how obsessive I get when I find something I like. I couldn't just buy one pair of cute shoes, I'd have to buy them in 3 or four different colors! I'm not the only one am I?!!! This creative spurt is keeping me up until after midnight these days. It is nice that these are the long days of summer . . .

The painting continues . . .

Today I am posting lesson 3 and 4 from Julie's class and I am loving this! I feel like I am learning so much and I love the way Julie has structured her class. I can see the progress I am making from my first attempts to just working through the 4th lesson. I am learning to trust my intuition and to find my way with the paint. That is a good feeling.
Speaking of good feelings, I have been lucky enough to work with a couple of groups of women this week and I am loving the sense of art community. I do like my alone time to create, but there is something fun about being with other people and chatting about the process. Ahhh, life is good.

Again, with the painting, lesson 2 .

This is my painting from Julie's online painting class, lesson number 2: The Old Sea Calls to Me. I love the blues and greens, and I have to say, the colors are richer in person than the scanned image is portraying. I am learning a lot about layering and blending and creating interest in my pages, and I am loving it! I can't wait to work my way through all 9 lessons. Yup, you are going to have to see all nine! The next one is in golds and browns, loving the rich colors we are using and learning how to age my work.
Today is a very quiet 4th of July here in town, Happy Birthday America! J is on a long hike. I am trusting he is where he wants to be on the trail at this time. I am looking forward to hearing from him stating that he has completed his hike and is on his way home. I am doing painting lessons, finishing up some pieces in the art room that are waiting for final touches and making ribs and potato salad for our dinner! A pretty darn good day I would say!