End of March

March came in like a lion and is leaving like a lamb. My emotions were all over the place grief, sadness, sickness, joy, pride, numb, pain, cold, hot, beginnings, endings and answered prayers. Finally, peace. I did finish some projects and continued to work on UFO's, started a new one. All of this as I am walking out my #dreamlife.

Empowering Girls

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at the Dare County League of Women's Voters 'Girl Power' presentation.  The purpose was to provide information to assist parents and grandparents in empowering girls in 4th - 8th grade.  I was part of a panel of six professional women who spoke on different techniques and strategies for assisting girls in navigating the present and preparing for their future success.  

My presentation was on empowering your daughters at a young age to become whomever they dreamed of becoming.  Parents lead by example so, I encouraged the parents to bring their daughters to work.  Allow them to participate in the household and support their dreams, goals and desires.  I also, spoke about bullying and how to transcend the negative side and allow the bullying to become a challenge to over come that foretells future success in navigating life's ups and downs.  I also discussed my 'Create Your Dreams with the Crafty Diva's' girls leadership, team building and empowerment program that I have designed and developed.

 My focus is using creativity and the arts to empower girls to identify, create and manifest their dreams into reality.  The other participants were a school nurse, physician, therapist, retired teacher and college professor. I enjoyed participating in this event and hope that I was able to empower the parents to then go out and empower their girls.  'Girl Power'!

My Spring Dreams

I've been following Pamela Arias @Embrace the Journey for almost a year now.  Her success and approach has truly been life changing for me.  This has changed my mindset about health and wellness and weight loss.  I am 53 yrs old and had my first stomach stapling at age 23.  I had lap band surgery at age 45.  I have fasted and dieted since I was 12 yrs old.  I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on every single weight loss plan and exercise equipment they've offered since 1986.  Two years ago I was almost bedridden and needed mobility assistance.  I sold my home, moved, changed my life and moved again.  I'm now living in my dream cottage and my dream life that I worked so many years to obtain, but I can't enjoy this lifestyle in this physical condition.  I had to change my mindset and release all that wasn't working for me.  I released medication against the doctors orders.  I released all complex carbs, sugar, diet coke and fake sugars.  I can walk again unassisted for more than 15 minutes.  I've released over 50 pds of excess weight.  Thanks to Pamela I feel empowered to get healthy 'MY WAY!' Not their way.  I'm ready to pursue my 'Spring Dream' of walking on the beach with my dog and collecting sea shells.

Spring Dreams Workshop

Come join me for the Spring Dreams Workshop this April!

Fiber Arts Open Studio

We had a great time this morning knitting at Crafty Diva Fiber Arts Open Studio at Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn. All the ladies were present. It was fun catching up on everyone's adventures. Melissa the Blue Pelican store manager was back from her winter's vacation. Linda Sue dropped by to show us the yarn she handspun and the great knitting noddy her husband made out of plastic plumbing pipes. Claudia finished her fur trimmed hat. It's just beautiful. Everyone will be traveling over the Easter Holidays so see you all in a couple of weeks.

Crafty Diva Cottage Accessories

Throwback Thursday TBT. Crafty Diva Cottage Accessories for a crafty lifestyle circa 2005. New designs and fabrics coming later this year.

Fiber Arts Open Studio

We had a great morning learning a new technique.  YO Yarnover or increasing one stitch.  Knitting a triangle shawl out of beautiful ribbon yarn is so much fun.  Join us next week.  Same time, same place.

Spring Dreams 2015

Cone join me for our Spring Dreams Workshop!

Fiber Arts Open Studio

The ladies have been really pumping out the product.  Amy knitted this glamorous cashmere mix black and grey cowl in the round no less.  I'm impressed this is only her 3rd project.  Claudia is continuing on knitting for her family throws and ponchos.  Next week we learn how to purl and knit hats with some fun fur.  Come join us next week.

Fiber Arts Open Studio

It was snowing 'to beat the band' yesterday on Hatteras Island up to three inches total.  But the ladies and I were warm and toasty embarking on new knitting projects and casting off old ones.  I'm so proud of this beginning group they've caught on fast and have created fashionable accessories.  Amy mailed her scarves off to Cali, and is learning to knit in the round; Jane completed her first scarf and is working on a novelty yarn cowl; Claudia has knitted scarves, throws and now this beautiful shrug.  Come join us at Blue Pelican Gallery & Gifts and learn to make your own handcrafted fashion.

Snow Day

Today is the first real snow storm I have experienced on an island.  It's very raw and beautiful.  Normally I see this kind of snow in the mountains is so different seeing snow on a beach.  It's very beautiful and raw.  I love the different faces of Mother Earth.

I love the contrast of the bright colors of the house with the snow.

Nala loves the snow.  She's watching the kids snowball fight.

My son went to the beach to take these beautiful photos of the snow on the sand.

5 Day Artist Challenge

I was nominated by Delia Marsellos-Traister who is a Fantastic Fine Metal Jewelry Artist in the Los Angeles area to participate in a 5 day Facebook Artist Challenge.  I took it as an opportunity to present my past work on line and to nominate some wonderful artist friends of mine.  I'm currently moving in a different direction fine tuning my skills in other mediums.  I enjoyed revisiting the past and seeing the continuity in my artistic journey.  Vibrant color, texture and whimsy was the constant theme through the use of a variety of artistic mediums. Here is a brief example of my work.

Day 5 - I presented my 'Soulful' collection.  I express my soul and creative spirit through vibrant colors, textures and all kinds of materials. 

Day 4 -  I presented another phase of my artistic journey, Hand weaving.

Day 3 - I presented another phase of my artistic journey, Ceramics. I found my voice in hand building clay after many poor attempts at the wheel. Once I went to hand building I was singing. So here are examples of my storytellers and baskets of course.

Day 2 - I presented pictures of my next phase of creativity, my knitting.  I began knitting again as an adult while going through some heavy duty life issues.  Knitting brought me comfort and joy and helped me find a new way to express my artistic voice.

Day 1 - I began my work as an artist when I found my voice in basketry.  Here are three examples of my work.

Vibrant Color

The past couple of days have been really bleak.  50+ mile an hour winds! driving rain! howling and swaying! rocking back and forth.  I couldn't even create anything the past two days.  I had to be patient and wait.  (not my strong suit)  yesterday I got my house cleaned, did laundry, ironed and ironed fabric.  (I told myself. 'Let it cure one more day.'). Then bam I couldn't wait I had to wash the fabric.  I would try one piece and let the rest wait until tomorrow.  Once the water hit the fabric I was in Heaven, the reveal.  Brilliant, vibrant colors better than I had anticipated.  I'm going to wash them all.  I Hand washed each piece with loving care.  Draped them over the bathtub, stood for a second to admire my work.  Then BOOM!  Power out!  What?  The storm is over WTF!  Just when I got happy and excited and almost literally jumped for Joy, and all goes to black.  I freaked for a minute got out candles and flashlights and waited patiently.  And waited and waited, visions of vibrant colorful fabric dancing in my head.  Almost an hour later and boom, lights again.  Reality set in and I had to drive my daughter to basketball practice.  I would have to wait a couple of more hours until I could revel in the reveal.  But, it was so worth it.

Fiber Arts Open Studio

Yesterday we had a wild, wooly and windy time at Blue  Pelican Gallery and Gifts.  Hatteras Island had up to 50+ mile an hour wind gusts and the rain and noise was deafening.  But, we were cozy and warm knitting and spinning up our own storm at the Fiber Arts Open Studio.  Linda Sue was mastering the art of using the drop spindle and Claudia revealed her beautiful Yarntaster throw.  (The picture does not show the depth of color or the many beautiful yarns she used) Come join us next week.

Fabric Painting and Duck

Yesterday I finally got out my paints and stamps and made a real mess in my cottage.  I've been chafing at the bit to get going on my fabric experimentation.  My intent is to find my voice in fabric, I just haven't found it yet.  I'm continuing to explore all avenues and can't wait until I sing.  But, until then I'm enjoying the process.

When I began painting I felt great, I was in a rhythm.  Then it became work, but I wouldn't stop.  I keep pushing myself.  This is a long process.  It takes a couple of days to see the end result.  I was hand painting on cotton and faux batiking using a resist paste.

Then I decided to take a break.  I had been in the house all week through all of the weather changes.  The sun was shining it was almost 60 degrees so I went to the beach.  The wind surfers were out.  It was extremely winding, but felt good.  Nala and I got out to touch the sand.  There were a lot of washed up seashells.  So I started picking them up and before I knew it I was strolling down the beach.  This had been a visualization of mine a few years ago when I was almost immobile and very sick.  Wow, dreams do come true!  I couldn't believe it I wasn't huffing and puffing. Yay!  When I got back home I was ready to paint, but had a duck to prepare and cook.  My sister had sent me it for New Years and I was ready to cook it.  So, as the duck was cooking I was painting more fabric.

I went to bed tired, yet fulfilled.  I had accomplished a lot and my visions were manifesting before my eyes.  Bright colors on fabric, collecting shells on the beach and beautifully roasted duck ala orange served with baby peas.  Healthy goodness.