Snow day

Snow day in the south.  Or, rather ice...

Doodling and Painting

It's been a challenging few days here. When the unpleasant past bleeds into your hopeful future what is a girl supposed to do. Stop, breathe, pray, express gratitude, collect yourself and create. So that's what I'm doing. Working on some new creations. 

Winter Comfort Knitting

This past weekend was another 'polar vortex' weekend.  I am now further south so I'm not getting all of the snow that they are getting back in the DC area.  I love winter and cocooning, hibernating and all of that.  Down here in the south it's different.  The sun shines a lot and is bright, which I love, but I do miss my snow storms.  So, this weekend I cocooned and knitted a 'stashbusting' throw.  It's easy peasy, big needles, many yarns and fast.  Perfect for an ADD person like me.  I finished it in 2 days.  It's easier than knitting a scarf or hat.  I love picking the different colors and textures for the rows.  There is a method to making this light and airy yet very warm and comfy.  You have to mix wool, novelty, fuzzy, and mohair yarns together.  It's not scratchy at all.  This is my third color way.  I'm kinda over my pink phase, but I had been planning this one for a year. I had to make a fancy fringe, I am a fringe kinda gal.

New Edition

I began designing and developing this Journaling workshop in 2005.  This was the second edition of my "Weave Your Dreams Workshop".  I launched it in 2008 and have facilitated workshops and have personally used this journal since then.  It is now torn and tattered from traveling and lots of use.  My life circumstances have drastically changed since 2005.  I think it's time this year to began work on a new edition with a 2015 launch.  Wow, ten years have flown by!  I'll revise, revamp, renew and rejoice with this new 'Dream Journal.'  I can't wait to see where my past experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly) will take me in this new phase of journaling.

Mama's Chair

No family room is complete without a space for Mama to relax, regroup, read and create.  This is my new space.  I finally have a comfy, cozy chair all to myself.  For the past 27 years I've shared all of my sitting spaces with wiggly arms, legs, hugs and kisses.  But now that my kids are almost 'growed up' I have my chair all to myself.  It feels strange, spacious and scary all at the same time.  This is my new space of the future where I'll sit, dream, nap, knit, read, chat and contemplate new beginnings.

Today

A corner of my office this morning.  Letting the sun shine on new ideas.

Creating a Visual Collage

I use intuitive visual collage journaling to assist me in manifesting what I want to create in my life.  For this month I am focusing on wellness.  This has been a lifelong challenge for me since I have been hospitalized many times since the age of 3.  During my art therapy training I learned that creating collage art helps to take your ideas and visions out of your head and your body.  This then creates a visual picture for your brain to focus on, which then allows your subconscious to participate in the manifestation of your ideas and desires.

The early days of January

The early days of January are always slow. The energy rush to create a new life in a new year has died down. The weather is cold, snowy or icy. People are moving on autopilot speed. What I try to do is relax, release and rest. Just be in this stagnant, grey and solemn period. The animals hibernate, we humans don't. This normally ends up being one of my most prolific creative times. What do I do you might ask? Knit, crochet, play with color, search out new creative outlets on the computer. Here's just a few of my winter projects. I love the mix of these color tones.

Planning new workshops.

Today, I've been preparing and planning new workshops for this year using mandala art and zen tangle.

Rebuilding a Life with Grace and Ease.